Theater Latté Da

Fresh off its hit Broadway premiere, Gutenberg! The Musical! is a clever, offbeat, frequently absurd comedy that affectionately spoofs the world of musical theater. This love letter to new works is told through the lens of two aspiring writers earnestly pitching their wildly inaccurate musical about the invention of the printing press, blending infectious enthusiasm, witty songs, and irreverent historical twists. Twin Cities theater luminary Tyler Michaels King returns to Latté Da, this time wearing the (trucker) hat of Director. Equal parts satire and celebration, Gutenberg! is a fast-paced theatrical romp that revels in the art of making something out of nothing—one song and one dream at a time.

In this Latté Da-commissioned world premiere, Willa Cather’s beloved novel is envisioned as an intimate celebration of resilience and the enduring strength of women. Featuring a sweeping indie folk score by The Kilbanes and an imaginative libretto by Noah Brody, this poignant adaptation traces the immigrant experience on the Great Plains at the turn of the 20th century through the eyes of the lifelong friendship between orphan boy Jim Burden and Ántonia Shimerda, daughter of a Bohemian immigrant family. My Ántonia offers a timely celebration of the contributions of immigrants to the nation’s identity and spirit as America marks its 250th anniversary. Rooted in the land and shaped by memory, this powerful work invites us to consider how we remember our past, and whose stories we choose to tell.

Theater Latté Da’s NEXT Festival of New Musicals showcases three works that stretch the boundaries of musical storytelling. The creators of each Festival show culminate two weeks of workshop time with two public presentations, providing audience members the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the creative process. Following each performance is an in-depth conversation with the playwrights, composers, and lyricists.