Happenings in Minnesota

By Minnesota Today arts and culture contributor Lis Pederson

"To Kill a Mockingbird" has opened at Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts in Red Wind, Minnesota. It is presented by Phoenix Theatre, which has brought professional theatre performances to the area since its debut in 1993. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is based off of the novel by Harper Lee, and was then rendered into a play by Christopher Sergel. It presents a classic bildungsroman story of Jem and Scout Finch as they witness the trial of Tom Robinson, an African-American man accused of a crime he did not commit. The story explores the complexities of justice and racism within one town, while also providing a lens into our nations past. It challenges the audience to witness the injustices that have taken place, and to reflect it on our present state to see in what ways we have grown, and in what ways we can continue to learn. Performances take place Thursday, March 15th , Friday, March 16th, and Saturday, March 17th at 7:00 pm, and Sunday, March 18th at 2:00 pm.

The annual winter fundraiser Respect Your Old Man poetry Slam will take place in Duluth Friday at Norway Hall. The local band Brothers Burn Mountain are playing, and 15 contestants performing in a three-round poetry contest will compete. The winner of the contest will be provided with a plaque and opportunity to recite their original poetry during the celebration of Respect Your Mother Earth that takes place at Leif Erickson Park in July. This event in unlike any other in Duluth because of the focus on literary work, and the benefits that go toward Respect Your Mother Earth. It is a celebration to say goodbye to Old Man winter, and hello to spring bliss.

View the full Minnesota Today event calendar

• Editor’s notebook: Covering the environment in 2014
• Best of Minnesota Scenes from 2014
• 50 years of memory making in the Boundary Waters
• ‘Fargo’ takes home two Emmys