Arts roundup offers villains, violins, musicals, mayhem

Cockeyed optimism

Were you perhaps thinking that in this age of "Hamilton," we no longer need to bother with old-style book musicals like "South Pacific"? Think again. Despite some uneven signs of wear — the once-scandalous idea of mixed-race marriage no longer has the power to shock, for example; and Lt. Cable's dalliance with Liat does — this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic remains charming and entertaining in its summer run at the Guthrie Theater. It's the first show Joseph Haj has created from scratch during his tenure as artistic director, and it's a winner. At the Guthrie in Minneapolis, through Aug. 28.

Reason to go: Edward Staudenmayer as Emile de Becque, whose "Some Enchanted Evening" lives up to the name.

New Standards, MN Orchestra team up

How often does this happen? You arrive at Orchestra Hall, find your seat, open the program and read these words: "The program for tonight's concert will be announced from the stage." It might be alarming, if not for these additional words at the top of the page: "The New Standards with the Minnesota Orchestra, Sarah Hicks, conductor." The New Standards comprise Chan Poling, Steve Roehm and John Munson, and they're appearing with the orchestra one night only, on Saturday. There's some mystery about what they'll perform, but the program quotes Poling: "Yes, these are pop and alternative rock songs, but we take them seriously and the weighty potential (if I may say so) of having a full orchestral palette, I think, will elevate them to the kinds of heights we always imagined." That this show will be worth seeing is a very safe bet. At Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, Saturday night.

Reason to go: As Poling says, "We are serious about the music ... but mainly it's about having fun with everyone."

Back to 'Glensheen'

There are some events this summer that don't involve Chan Poling, but here's another one that does: Wednesday marks the return to the History Theatre of "Glensheen." It's the popular musical that Poling wrote with Jeffrey Hatcher about the infamous 1977 murders in the Duluth mansion-turned-tourist-attraction. The show got great reviews and full houses for its initial run last year. Hatcher told Euan Kerr that he and History Theatre director Ron Peluso might have done the play long ago, if not for the possibility that one of the characters would come burn down their houses. Those of us who missed the show last year now get a second chance. At the History Theatre in St. Paul, July 6-31.

Reason to go: You can laugh at death.

More musical murders

And "Glensheen" isn't the only musical about intra-family betrayal and murder opening next week: There's also "Disney's The Lion King," the touring production of which comes to the Orpheum for a month's run beginning Tuesday. The physical artistry of this show is unlike anything else you're likely to see. (And if you can't see well enough to appreciate it, there's a special "sensory-friendly" performance on July 30.) At the Orpheum in Minneapolis, through Aug. 7.

Reason to go: "The Circle of Life."

Where hip-hop and classical meet

If you don't know the music of Black Violin, you want to fix that — and here's your chance. The pair of classically trained, hip-hop-influenced string players will bring their hard-to-classify work to the Dakota Jazz Club this weekend. Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste argue that classical and hip-hop have a lot in common. "They had little shindigs going on back in the days, right?" Baptiste told NPR. "They needed music. So just think of it that way. Like, I'm this guy, I own this big palace — 'Mozart, listen, what can you whip up, man? I need some new tunes.' " Performing two shows at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis, Friday night.

Reason to go: Their music is addictive.