MN Shortlist is the MPR News weekly roundup of arts and culture recommendations statewide. A holiday book fair, “Urinetown” in Duluth and a community round dance in Red Wing are among this week’s arts and culture picks.

‘Urinetown’ in Duluth — through Nov. 21

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if private toilets were outlawed? Playwright Greg Kotis did, and he helped turn that premise into a musical that won three Tony Awards. The musical comedy is set in a drought-stricken dystopian city where residents must pay corporate overlords (known here as “Urine Good Company”) to use the bathroom. Much like a full bladder, a revolution cannot be denied.

Zeitgeist mounts the irreverent production in its 120-seat theater with Duluth locals Robert Lee directing and Beth Brophy serving as music director. Lee says “Urinetown” pays homage to the great musicals of yore: “West Side Story,” “Les Misérables" and “The Threepenny Opera.”

“It's self-aware, it's silly, but it's got a lot of heart,” Lee told MPR News. “It's about the commingling of corporations and politics and the kind of structure it creates where everybody pushes down. So, more timely than I think we'd all like. It's that pressure on the poorest of the poor that leads to revolution.”

Tickets are $35. (Alex V. Cipolle)

Merrily Indie After in St. Paul — Nov. 14

That stack of unread books on your nightstand could use some company. Merrily Indie After brings more than 70 indie authors, vendors, narrators and bookish influencers to Union Depot for a day of browsing, signed books and holiday shopping. Genres range from romance and suspense to fantasy and paranormal.

There are also hot cocoa, holiday cookies and assistance dog demonstrations from Can Do Canines. Come for the books, stay for the dogs, leave with a gift for someone else if you can manage it.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14. Admission and parking are free. (Annie Russell)

He Mni Can Round Dance in Red Wing — Nov. 14

Honoring Dakota Project, an initiative to build understanding of Dakota culture, will hold the first He Mni Can Round Dance in partnership with the Red Wing Public School District.

A round dance brings the community together to form a circle and dance, following the same direction of the sun’s orbit. Round dances are often accompanied by traditional drums and singing. They are an opportunity to connect with one another and celebrate cultural heritage.

Organizers say the youth-focused event aims to increase access to Indigenous arts and to foster unity, understanding and healing. Organizers invite people of all ages to join them in dancing and connecting with one another at Red Wing High School on Nov. 14 from 4-7 p.m. (Chandra Colvin)

‘The Shape of Place’ by artist Emily Walley in Stillwater — Nov. 14-Dec. 13

For the next month, Minneapolis artist Emily Walley will travel around Stillwater and the St. Croix River Valley on foot and bike, taking photos and creating sketches. Walley will then bring those experiences back to a studio at A House Unbuilt for the Stillwater arts nonprofit “Art & Water Space” residency.

Using these captured experiences, Walley will create paintings that draw on collage, digital archives and memory. Visitors can learn about Walley’s progress during open studio hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays, and A House Unbuilt will host a closing reception Dec. 11 featuring the art made during the residency. (Alex V. Cipolle)

The Romanian Film Festival Twin Cities at the Landmark Center in St. Paul — Nov. 13-15

The Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota presents the fourth annual film festival centered on contemporary Romanian film. The free festival features four screenings including two films about village life: the 2025 Romanian-Italian comedy “Catane,” about a fraud conspiracy, and the 2026 Romanian-French-Slovenian film “Malul Vânăt (A River’s Gaze),” about the struggles of a mother and son.

The cast mostly includes locals from the Romanian town where it was shot. (Alex V. Cipolle)

Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.