New musicals include ‘Purple Rain’ and a Winter Carnival musical – Twin Cities

A purple rain will fall on the fall theater calendar.

The highly anticipated “Purple Rain” musical will make its world premiere at the State Theatre in Minneapolis for a monthlong run before it heads to Broadway.

Of course, there are plenty of other offerings, from classics (“Treasure Island,” “A Doll’s House”) to new works (“The Ruins: A Play Through Music,” “A Lesson in Love”) to a musical about the St. Paul Winter Carnival.

Here’s a look at what’s on tap.

‘Treasure Island’

Opens Sept. 9: Stuart Paterson adapted Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic swashbuckling novel for the stage. It’ll be the first time in more than two decades that Children’s Theatre Company opens with a new production of the show, which artistic director Rick Dildine called “a quirky adventure with real-world consequences (and a) timeless story of courage, personal growth and discovery.” (Recommended for those ages 8 and up.) Through Oct. 19; Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; $74-$25; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

‘A Doll’s House’

Opens Sept. 13: Housewife and mother Nora Helmer lives a delicately constructed — and seemingly perfect — life focused on keeping up appearances and meeting expectations. When a long-held secret comes to light on Christmas Eve, the foundation of Nora’s world begins to crumble. Henrik Ibsen’s seminal drama returns with an adaptation by Pulitzer finalist and Tony nominee Amy Herzog. Through Oct. 12; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $94-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘Don’t Miss Doris Hines’

Opens Sept. 18: This show by TyLie Shiders tells the story of Doris Hines, a local nighclub singer determined to establish a career in show business. The title comes from something Nat King Cole reportedly told Ella Fitzgerald, who did indeed see Hines live. Hines is the mother of Sounds of Blackness director Gary Hines. Through Oct. 12; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $70-$25; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.

‘The Ruins: A Play Through Music’

Opens Sept. 19: This world premiere will be the first in the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio since the pandemic shutdown. Playwright George Abud’s poetic play follows two people with existential questions about the meaning of life. Music helps the characters communicate with each other and the audience. Through Oct. 12; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $52-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘It’s Only a Play’

Opens Sept. 24: This comedy by Terrence McNally follows the opening night of a new theater. Wealthy producer Julia Budder hosts a lavish Manhattan party. Downstairs, celebrities are arriving, but upstairs, the playwright, director, leading lady and other insiders anxiously await the first reviews. Through Oct. 19; Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; $65-$15; 651-291-7005 or parksquaretheatre.org.

‘A Lesson in Love’

Opens Sept. 24: This world premiere was written by actor, playwright and educator Nubia Monks. It’s a romcom about a couple who unexpectedly cross paths. What begins as a simple conversation unfolds into something layered, tender and complicated. Through Oct. 19: Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis; $45-$5; pillsburyhousetheatre.org.

‘The Addams Family’

Opens Sept. 30: Cartoonist Charles Addams created this fictional family, who originally appeared in a series of cartoons that debuted in 1938. ABC made a two-season show based on the strips in 1964, which inspired a pair of movies in the early ’90s and the current Netflix series “Wednesday.” Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth starred in the original cast of the 2010 Broadway musical, which ran 722 performances. Through Oct. 5; Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $162-$45; 651-224-4222 or ordway.org.

‘A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical’

Opens Sept. 30: Created in collaboration with Diamond himself, “A Beautiful Noise” tells the true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting American rock icon. It’s structured around a series of therapy sessions during which Diamond reacts to his lyrics as they are read by his psychiatrist. More than two dozen songs are featured, including “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “America,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “I Am …I Said” and “Sweet Caroline.” Through Oct. 5; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $235.80-$62.55; hennepinarts.org.

‘Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile The Musical’

Opens Oct. 1: Aimed at younger readers than Dahl’s other works, the 1978 picture book tells the story of a hungry crocodile who is foiled by various other animals from his goal of eating children. This musical adaptation incorporates puppetry and debuted at England’s Leeds Playhouse in 2023. (All ages.) Through Nov. 23; Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; $74-$25; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

‘Marisol’

Opens Oct. 9: This surrealist play by Jose Rivera follows a woman’s journeys through an apocalyptic landscape trying to survive the vestiges of her lost city. No one is coming to save her. She must leap into the unknown, armed only with what she can carry, her hope a whisper against the storm. Through Nov. 2; Penumbra Theatre Company, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul; $45-$20; 651-224-3180 or penumbratheatre.org.

‘Primary Trust’

Opens Oct. 11: In a small town in upstate New York, 38-year-old Kenneth loses his beloved job and finds himself working as a bank teller and opening his heart to new people and possibilities. It debuted Off-Broadway in 2023 and received critical acclaim, including the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Through Nov. 16; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $94-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘Purple Rain’

Opens Oct. 16: Based on Prince’s smash 1984 semi-autobiographical film, ‘Purple Rain’ features a story, music and lyrics by Prince; a book by two-time Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient Jacobs-Jenkins, based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn; choreography by Ebony Williams; and direction by Tony Award-nominee Blain-Cruz. Newcomer musician/songwriter Kris Kollins stars in the lead role of the Kid. Through Nov. 16; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $290.65-$87.50; hennepinarts.org.

‘The Last Yiddish Speaker’

Opens Oct. 25: In a near-future dystopian America, where ideological and religious conformity is enforced, a Jewish father and daughter have fled New York City and are living as Christians in a small rural town. When a mysterious, Yiddish-speaking old woman arrives on their doorstep, they’re faced with navigating perilous circumstances. Through Nov. 9; Highland Park Community Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul; $40-$15; 651-647-4315 or sixpointstheater.org.

‘A Christmas Carol’

Opens Nov. 8: A longtime tradition returns to the Guthrie. Each Christmas, the miserly and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge greets the holiday with “Bah! Humbug!” and can’t be bothered to celebrate. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by three spirits who show him happy memories from his past, difficult realities from the present and a grim future should he continue his closed-hearted ways. Through Dec. 28: Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $148-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘The Notebook’

Opens Nov. 18: Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 debut novel was a hit out of the gate and spurred a 2004 film as well as this musical take. Indie singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson (“The Way I Am,” “Girls Chase Boys”) wrote the music and lyrics, which Variety called “tender and often lilting with introspective lyrics.” Through Nov. 30: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $144-$45; 651-224-4222 or ordway.org.

‘Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical’

Opens Nov. 20: When St. Paul city architect Clarence “Cap” Wigington is tasked with designing an ice palace for the Winter Carnival, he and his wife, Viola, get much more than they bargain for when the magic of the carnival enters their lives. Keith Hovis and Rachel Teagle wrote this new musical, which explores “the strange and wonderful world of the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the resilience, imagination and heart that make Minnesota such a wonderful place, especially in the snow.” Through Dec. 21; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $78-$30; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.

‘R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium’

Opens Nov. 21: Based on the popular spooky book series, this musical tells the story of Brooke and her best friend Zeke, who land the leads in their middle school’s new musical. They’re thrilled, until strange things start happening around the theater. Whispers of an old legend resurface, warning that the play might be cursed. Through Dec. 14; Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; $65-$15; 651-291-7005 or parksquaretheatre.org.

‘The Phantom of the Opera’

Opens Nov. 21: Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” returns to the road in “a revitalized production of this romantic and haunting tale about a disfigured musical genius known only as the Phantom who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House.” The longest-running show in Broadway history closed in 2023 after 13,981 performances. Through Dec. 7; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $213.90-$58.45; hennepinarts.org.