Many visitors come to Lanesboro, MN to ride the “Cadillac” of bike trails, the Root River State Trail.  Others come for the quiet and the beauty of canoeing or kayaking the Root River.  After a busy day outdoors many guests head downtown for an evening of quality, professional theatre.  The Commonweal Theatre has been entertaining Lanesboro guests  for more than 20 years.  From May through October the theatre offers two plays in repertory from Thursday through Monday each week.  The 2011 season offers three plays: “Sylvia” by A.R. Gurney, “Little Shop of Horrors” by Alan Menken, and “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
Sylvia is an outrageous comedy that challenges everything we know about love, sex, relationships and the meaning of life. A financial trader facing career burn-out adopts a stray dog who turns his home, life and marriage upside-down. Commonweal’s Sylvia includes a woman playing a dog and a man playing two women. That makes the play sound merely silly, but it turns out to be a fresh, entertaining and ultimately rewarding production (read the full review).  Sylvia runs through August 19.
Playing opposite Sylvia is Little Shop of Horrors.  Seymour is a lonely flower shop clerk living on Skid Row when an unusual talking plant – with a very unusual appetite – promises him fortune and fame…at a price. Don’t miss this smash hit musical comedy! Little Shop of Horrors was a Broadway and Hollywood hit, and with good reason.  The music is an irrisistible combination of girl group-pop and ’60s R&B, given a showtune polish.  The comedy is twisted, but is not threatening (read the full review).  Little Shop runs through October 28.
Starting August 26th is “To Kill a Mocking Bird” based on a novel by Harper Lee and adapted by Christopher Sergel.  The warmth of childhood and the bitter loss of innocence surround one woman’s recollections of growing up in the South during the Depression and the summer her father risked everything to defend a black man falsely accused of a horrible crime.  To Kill a Mockingbird plays through November 13th.
Make your visit to Lanesboro complete by staying in an MBBA member inn.  Lanesboro’s innkeepers have their welcome mat ready and waiting for your arrival.  When you stay at the Hillcrest Hide-Away Bed and Breakfast your stay includes a just-baked loaf of home-made bread delivered to your room each morning, plus a hearty breakfast.  Hillcrest guests may redeem a voucher for a $5 discount to the Commonweal Theatre.
