What This Is
Off Screen, On Stage is the theater side of The MN Movie Man. Since 2012 I’ve been reviewing movies here, and now I’m taking the same spoiler-free approach to live theater across the Twin Cities: musicals, plays, the big touring shows and the smaller stages too.
All Theater Reviews
The Spotlight Scale
Movies here get stars. Theater gets Spotlights, rated out of 5, with half-Spotlights allowed. The two scales are separate, so a stage score and a screen score aren’t meant to be compared.
5: Standing ovation. Get tickets now.
4: Strongly recommended.
3: A good night out with some rough edges.
2: Some strong moments, but hard to recommend.
1: Not this time.
How I Review
One standard: Every production gets the same honest review and the same Spotlight scale, whether the cast is professional, community or student. Each review’s info box lists the production type, so you know what kind of night out it is.
Spoiler-free: Same rule as my movie reviews. I won’t give away anything you’d want to discover in the room.
The performance I saw: Live theater changes night to night. Every review notes the date I attended and any understudies or alternates on stage that night.
Disclosure: If a theater provides complimentary tickets (or dinner), I say so at the end of the review. If I know anyone in the cast or crew, I say that too. A free ticket never comes with a promised review or a promised score.
Embargoes: I follow each company’s review embargo. Most reviews post after opening night.
For Theaters and Press
Quoting a review? Please credit: Joe Botten, Off Screen/On Stage
Media list: To invite me to a press night or add me to your media list, email joethemnmovieman@gmail.com.
Photos: I use production photos with the photographer credited, as provided by your press team.