In the Twin Cities arts scene this weekend, Teatro Del Pueblo celebrates Latina contributions to Broadway, while CLUES Art Gallery explores Latina strength and intergenerational memory through textile art. Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis will fill with color for Holi, marking the arrival of spring. And plans for a Pan-African Museum are taking shape at St. Paul’s Little Africa Plaza.
Musical revue highlights Latinx contributions to Broadway
Teatro Del Pueblo, a nonprofit Latino theater in St. Paul, is highlighting the legacy of Latin artists with “Voces Latinas: A Broadway Musical Revue,” a celebration of classic and contemporary Broadway songs.
Singers Rubén J. Carbajal, Katia Cardenas, Geri Jerez, Pedro R. Bayon, Isaac Quiroga and Isa Condo-Olvera will join a live band to perform selections from Latin American musicals, pop hits and Spanish adaptations.
Mark Valdez, the director of “Voces Latinas” and artistic director of Mixed Blood Theatre, said the show is about broadening the narrative of who belongs in theater.
“When people think about Broadway, they don’t think about Latinos,” Valdez said. “But we’ve been here. Our stories have been told — we’ve written the material, we’ve performed the material. Highlighting that and celebrating that starts to make a difference.”
“I’ve always been really interested in finding ways to include multiple voices, multiple stories, in what we view as the canon,” he added. “It’s not just classic European or Greek stories — your story and my story belong alongside those of Shakespeare and Moliére. We all have epic stories.”
The show traces those stories through decades of musical theater. “West Side Story” reimagines Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” with a Puerto Rican protagonist in 1950s New York, while “In the Heights” portrays Dominican resilience in New York.
“On Your Feet” celebrates Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan’s rise to fame, while “Selena Forever” honors the life and legacy of Selena Quintanilla, known as the “Queen of Tejano Music.”
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” follows two political prisoners in Argentina and “Miss You Like Hell” tells the story of a troubled teenager and her estranged, undocumented mother on a road trip from Mexico to the United States as they confront the fractures in their relationship and the looming threat of deportation.
“ICE raids, deportations — it feels like our identities are under attack,” Valdez said. “This is a moment where we can come together as a community and remind each other that we’re all here together. Let’s hear our stories. Let’s remind ourselves of the rich contributions that we make to this country, to the art form, to one another.”
Date: Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16.
Time: 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Location: Teatro Del Pueblo, 20 W. 7th Place, St. Paul
Cost: $20-38
For more information: Visit teatrodelpueblo.org.
Latina art and fashion trace the threads of womanhood
The CLUES Art Gallery will celebrate Women’s History Month with “Connective Thread,” an exhibit by Colombian American artist Adriana Gordillo and the Twin Cities-based fashion house Nena’s Atelier. The exhibit explores Latina strength and intergenerational memory through textiles, including jewelry, flowers and dresses. It reflects on the power of sewing and the ways it connects Gordillo with her grandmother, mother and aunt.
The opening reception, “Cafecito de Hermanas,” will take place on Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to noon. It will include art workshops with Gordillo, live music by DJ Maracuyá, coffee and treats, and a panel discussion on how Latinas are breaking barriers in their personal and professional lives.
Date: Friday March 14 through May 14.
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: CLUES Art Gallery, 797 E. 7th St., St. Paul
Cost: Free
For more information: Visit clues.org/latino-art-events.
Holi lights up Midtown with dance, music and food
The Hindu Society of Minnesota will host a Holi celebration at Midtown Global Market, marking the arrival of spring. The event will feature classical and Bollywood dance, violin, piano and singing.
Known as the “Festival of Colors,” Holi is a traditional Hindu festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil, renewal and unity. The celebration will conclude with a bhangra dance performance and an open freestyle session for attendees. Indian and Nepalese street food from Momo Dosa will be available.
Shape the vision for a Pan-African Museum
African Economic Development Solutions (AEDS), in collaboration with the consulting firm Five x Five, is planning a Pan-African Museum at Little Africa Plaza in St. Paul to showcase the art, history and cultural impact of the African diaspora. To shape the museum’s vision, AEDS has launched a survey to gather community input on themes, exhibits and visitor experience. The survey asks about preferred exhibit styles — historical, interactive or multimedia — and how technology, such as virtual tours and audio guides could enhance engagement. The survey invites suggestions for stories and voices to be represented. Take the survey here.