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The Ladies Man

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Duluth Playhouse opens season with 'The Ladies Man'

The Duluth Playhouse’s season opens with “The Ladies Man,” a French farce that includes wacky characters, mistaken identity and door slamming.

The play by Charles Morey, adapted from “Tailleur pour dames” by Georges Feydeau, is the story of Dr. Hercule Molineaux (played by Jody Kujawa). His plucky young wife (Jennie Ross) suspects him of infidelity when he doesn’t come home one night. She is right. Sort of. His cover is blown when his alibi knocks on their door.

Cue the madcap.

GO SEE IT

What: “The Ladies Man” directed by Anthony Nelson

When: Opens 7:30 p.m. today; runs 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 2

Where: Duluth Playhouse, 506 W. Michigan St.

Tickets: $22 adults, $21 seniors, $15 students. Call (218)733-7555

Opening: This is the season opener and there will be music, refreshments and a cash bar starting at 6:30 p.m. today.

Duluth Festival Opera present 'Pocahontas: A Woman of Two Worlds'

Will you be at this:

Duluth Festival Opera presents the Midwest premiere of “Pocahontas: A Woman of Two Worlds,” which is a one-act opera telling the story of a Powhatan Indian girl who bridged gaps between natives and settlers in Virginia. It was written by award-winning composer Linda Tutas Haugen and librettist Joan Vail Thorne.

GO SEE IT

What: Duluth Festival Opera’s production of “Pocahontas: A Woman of Two Worlds”

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Where: Fregeau Auditorium, Marshall School

Tickets: $22 in advance at dfopera.org or by calling (218) 728-8949; $25 at the door. $12 students.

Or will you be at this:

'A Native American Music Showcase'

A few blocks away, there is an alternative event: “A Native American Music Showcase,” which includes Oshkii Giizhik singers — who are nominated for a Native American Music Award for Best Traditional Recording — Terry Goodsky, the fusion band Custer’s Last Haircut and Bryan Jon Maciewski.

GO SEE IT

What: “A Native American Music Showcase”

When: 7 p.m. today

Where: First United Methodist, 230 E. Skyline Parkway

Tickets: Donation

Rodney Carrington performs at the DECC

Rodney Carrington is a mix of stand-up comedy and guitar plucking. He’s got the black hat and collaborations with Toby Keith. And in a smooth, twang-y voice that suggests slow dancing through last call in a small town bar, he sings lyrics like: “If I’m the only one you ever loved, whose underwear are these? If I’m the only one you ever loved, how come you got so many Mardi Gras beads?”

He’s recorded eight albums and sold more than 3 million copies. He briefly starred in his own sitcom “Rodney,” which aired on ABC.

GO SEE IT

What: Rodney Carrington

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Symphony Hall, DECC

Tickets: $39.75 at Ticketmaster outlets including the DECC Box office, ticketmaster.com and (218) 727-4344

'Club BellyDance' Wednesday at Marshall School

The Belly Dance Superstars are a troupe of spinning, hip-swiveling, midriff twitching performers who have been likened to “the next ‘Riverdance.’” Expect dancing waves of sheer fabric and bodies that ripple.

The show “Club Bellydance” is a collaborative project that features local belly dancers during the first half of the show, the touring professionals during the second half.

GO SEE IT

What: “Club BellyDance”

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Fregeau Auditorium, Marshall School, 1215 Rice Lake Rd.

Tickets: $25 at the door

Note: This show is family friendly

Harbor City Roller Dames take on North Star Roller Girls

Modern-day roller derby is a mix of feminism and punk rock, fishnets and middle fingers. Events include a bout and a side show and bits of stand-up comedy from the emcee. It’s athletic and entertaining in a way that marries Apolo Ohno and Macho Man Randy Savage.

The Harbor City Roller Dames’ third season opens Saturday with “The First Day of Brawl” against Delta Delta Di from Minneapolis’ North Star Roller Girls at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center’s Pioneer Hall.

Throw in a bit of royalty: Mayor Don Ness is delivering the first whistle blow. DJ Path Annu is providing the music.

GO SEE IT

What: “The First Day of Brawl” roller derby bout between Harbor City Roller Dames and Delta Delta Di from the North Star Roller Girls of Minneapolis

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Pioneer Hall, DECC

Tickets: $10 at Ticketmaster outlets, including the DECC Box Office, ticketmaster.com and (218) 727-4344

Note: A portion of proceeds from the bout will go to CHUM’s emergency food shelf. Get a free Harbor City Roller Dames button with the donation of a nonperishable food item.

Erik Koskinen performs at Fitger's Brewhouse

Singer/songwriter/guitar man Erik Koskinen has been in the biz a long time, but he must have won over at least a few new fans in his latest stint with Dead Man Winter — an alt-country band where he shares the stage with three dudes from Trampled By Turtles and drummer Noah Levy.

Koskinen really ramped things up during Dead Man Winter’s show at Pizza Luce last week, particularly when he took over lead vocals from Dave Simonett for the rockabilly song “Detroit, Detroit” and then again when the entire stage broke out into a super jam at the end of Dead Man Winter’s catchy closer “Nicotene.”

Koskinen is a regular at Fitger’s Brewhouse and returns for a show at 10 p.m. Saturday.

GO SEE IT

What: Erik Koskinen

When: 10 p.m. Saturday

Where: Fitger’s Brewhouse, 600 E. Superior St.

Tickets: Free

'Red Interactive' art show opens in Superior

“Red Interactive” is the place where social media and art collide. The project started by John Heino and Ed Newman solicited the world for red-themed pieces and received virtual and physical submissions from six continents, 12 countries and a dozen states since it started this past spring.

Some of the work will be on display, mixed within acrylic paintings and mixed media pieces by Newman and photography by Heino.

Attendees are invited to wear red to today’s opening reception.

The show is part of Phantom Galleries Superior, in which art is given temporary space in storefronts.

GO SEE IT

What: “Red Interactive” art show

When: Opening reception 5-7 p.m. today

Where: New York Building, 1410 Tower Ave., Superior

Tickets: Free and open to the public

Country Band Rocket Club performs at Grandma's Sports Garden

In 2009, Rocket Club turned a friend’s poem about losing a child into the country tear jerker “One More Day.” The song, written to help raise money Faith’s Lodge, found a spot in the rotation on Twin Cities’ country stations and then landed on country charts.

The Minneapolis-based band is like a sliver of Nashville caught in a snow storm. They band’s most recent album, “American Serenade,” was released about a year ago. The recent single is “North Country,” and has the sun-anthem feel of Alan Jackson’s song “Chattahoochee.”

GO SEE IT

What: Rocket Club

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Grandma’s Sports Garden, 425 S. Lake Ave.

Tickets: $10 at the door

Tags: arts and entertainment, life, arts, entertainment, wave, duluth