Minneapolis is celebrating the legacy of Nina Simone with a series of events that blend music, theater, visual art and dance. The Pillsbury House and Theatre will stage a newly rewritten version of “Nina Simone: Four Women” from September 5‑27, featuring local talent and a fresh script that connects Simone’s 1960s civil‑rights anthems to today’s battles against federal immigration enforcement.
Live theater brings Simone’s voice to the Twin Cities
Director Faye Price, who first mounted the play in Park Square in 2016, says the production has been updated to reflect current concerns. “Her music is her weapon,” Price explains, noting that Simone’s protest song “Mississippi Goddam” still resonates as a call to action. The show imagines Simone speaking with three Black women—Sarah, Saffronia and Sweet Thing—who embody the archetypes from her 1966 song “Four Women.” Returning cast members Aimee K. Bryant, Thomasina Petrus and Traci Shannon reprise their roles, while newcomer Erin Willis steps into Simone’s shoes and jazz pianist Sanford Moore appears as Simone’s brother.
Tickets are pay‑what‑you‑can, starting at $5, making the performance accessible to families and individuals of all incomes. Showtimes are 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.
Free art exhibit explores migration and community defense
From now through September 20, the Find Furnish space at 2014 Central Ave. N.E. hosts “The Radical Act of Having Each Other’s Back,” a free exhibition that examines migration, displacement and cultural resilience. The centerpiece, “Iced Out Guernica,” is a 21‑foot collaborative reinterpretation of Picasso’s masterpiece that reflects Minnesota’s experience with Operation Metro Surge and ICE raids.
Local artists present paintings, sculptures, photography, installations, fiber works, graffiti and public‑art pieces that document how neighborhoods have organized demonstrations, raised legal funds and delivered groceries to families fearing deportation. The exhibit underscores the power of neighborly support in the face of federal enforcement.
State Fair celebrates global dance traditions
At the Minnesota State Fair’s Dan Patch Park, visitors can learn dances inspired by reggae, K‑pop, salsa, samba, Afrobeats and Bollywood. Pan Latino Day on Saturday, Sept. 5, features six music and dance acts, while Cultural Destinations Day on Sunday, Sept. 6, highlights Little Africa Fest, Fiesta Latina, Slavic Experience and the International Festival of Minnesota. Monday’s Hmong Minnesota Day adds performances, martial‑arts demonstrations and community‑leader talks.
Admission to the fair’s cultural programming is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65+) and children (5‑12), and free for children three and younger. The events provide a vibrant showcase of the Twin Cities’ multicultural fabric.
Why these events matter to families and faith communities
For many parents, churches and civic groups, the combination of theater, visual art and dance offers more than entertainment—it affirms the biblical principle of standing together against injustice. As Price notes, Simone’s call to speak the unspeakable when horror occurs mirrors the Christian call to bear witness and protect the vulnerable.
By offering pay‑what‑you‑can tickets, free admission to the art exhibit and affordable fair programming, organizers ensure that families of all economic backgrounds can participate. The events reinforce the Twin Cities’ tradition of faith‑guided community service and the constitutional right to free expression.
Plan your visit
- Theatre: Pillsbury House and Theatre, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis. Shows Sept. 5‑27, 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Pay‑what‑you‑can tickets start at $5.
- Exhibit: Find Furnish, 2014 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis. Open daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. through Sept. 20. Free.
- Fair: Dan Patch Park, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Ave. N., Falcon Heights. Pan Latino Day (Sept. 5), Cultural Destinations Day (Sept. 6), Hmong Minnesota Day (Sept. 7). Admission $20 adults, $18 seniors/children, free under 3.
For more details, visit the Pillsbury House website, the Radical Act exhibition page, or the Minnesota State Fair’s official site.
Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.
