Experience the joyful sound of horns!

The Brass Messengers are a Minneapolis street band playing mostly original music inspired by global sources. The BMs first formed from the Heart of the Beast Mayday Parade and Ceremony in Minneapolis. The musical origins were found in the music of Africa, the Caribbean and Balkans, but now the BMs play whatever works, throwing in a country song to the crying drinkers, a high speed polka or two for the Midwest dancers, running in circles with the little ones, activating gatherings of our activist kin or a bit of Black Sabbath for the Metal crowd. But mostly, it is original music that rises from the heart of the band that can only be described as a homegrown Minneapolis street music sound.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

The joy of rhythm

TaikoArts Midwest presents their movement infused, heart-pounding, dynamic group drumming. A combination of music, dance, martial arts, athletics, and culture. TaikoArts Midwest Uses Taiko to strengthen and build community in the Midwest.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

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The joy of being physically present to hear and feel T.Mychael’s voice and presence.

T. Mychael Rambo presents selections from his one-man musical, Present, created in collaboration with composer, pianist Roberta Carlson and director Michael Robins. In this show, T. Mychael sings gorgeous melodies that span genres, from Musical Theatre to Jazz to R & B. T. Mychael Rambo’s engaging stage presence and singing voice have made him a beloved fixture of the Twin Cities Theater Community. In this show, he reflects on the stories and songs that have been meaningful throughout his life. No matter what T. Mychael sings or what story he is telling, what comes through is his generosity of spirit.

Roberta Carlson is a talented composer, pianist, and lyricist who has arranged, composed, and performed music for many of Illusion’s shows, and for many theaters across the country.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

The joy of music that makes your body move.

Music for your dancing soul! Celebrating Afro-Caribbean music.

Malamanya is a United States based band comprised of musicians who share a mutual respect and enthusiasm for traditional rhythms and melodies from the Caribbean and Latin America. Their onstage energy and compositions reflect the communal, complex, and celebratory spirit prevalent in these musical genres.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

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Experience the joy of seeing this internationally-renowned company beautifully turn and twist their bodies in this classical South Indian dance form.

The New York Times calls Ragamala “soulful, imaginative, and rhythmically contagious,“ 

Ragamala Dance Company is the embodiment of an immigrant story. The company’s work—on stage, in the community, and educating the next generation—exemplifies the intercultural narratives of countless global citizens and evokes a shared sense of humanity.

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Experience the joy of watching Seniors kick it up and jam out to popular songs.

The Twin Cities Premiere Senior Rock Ensemble!

Alive & Kickin’ gives voice to Seniors through personal stories and popular songs, empowering its members to entertain and enlighten multi-generational audiences. The highly inspirational group of spirited and charismatic Seniors spread their musical message as they explore contemporary genres of music ranging from Rock & Roll and Pop to Gospel and Motown.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

Experience the joy of imaginative puppetry and outdoor family fun.

Time for Binh to take a bath! Binh’s imagination comes alive as he pretends he is the captain of a boat that is part cow, part boat, and totally amazing! Together Binh and his Cow Boat set sail on a high seas adventure to search for the lost crown of Lac Long Quân, the Dragon Lord of Vietnam, making friends as they go, all before sailing home to his bathtub before bed time!

THE AMAZING COWBOAT is one of most popular shows in the Open Eye Driveway Tour repertory, and has an exciting new cast for 2021 as puppetry artists Liz Howls and Oanh Vu redevelop the script and the design of the main character puppet to reflect the image and experience of a young Vietnamese-American child.

Puppeteers Tri Vo and Ty Chapman will perform in THE AMAZING COWBOAT this summer.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

The joy of seeing young people perform their hearts out.

Based on a collection of whimsical poems by Phillip Van Wagoner, Could You Hug A Cactus? is a musical revue that follows a group of kids as they come together to create a show that’s bursting with poems and creativity.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

Experience the joy of live comedy and storytelling with innovative Jazz.

Beth Gilleland is a Twin Cities performer, playwright, storyteller. Her works have been featured on MPR, MHS and at the Minnesota State Fair. Joining her will be The Levi Schwartzberg Quartet with Vibrophonist Levi Schwartzberg , Denny Carlson on the Alto Sax, Charlie Lincoln on the Bass and Ben Erlich on drums.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

Experience the joy of watching youth express themselves on stage and make this classic their own.

Twin Cities Theater Camp is a five-week intensive theater camp for children ages 7-15 led by some of the best performing arts talent in the Twin Cities. The Camp is led by Ellen Fenster, John Catron, and Kate Guentzel — all of whom have appeared many times on Illusion’s stage.

Please note that this event does not have on-site parking. There is ample street parking on the surrounding blocks.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.

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Experience the joy of live storytelling and music.

RAIN HAS MOVED THE SHOW TO THURSDAY, JULY 15 AT 7PM

Kevin Kling is a well-known playwright and storyteller, and his commentaries can be heard on NPR’s All Things Considered. His plays and adaptations have been performed around the world. He lives in Minneapolis.

Simone Perrin, actress, vocalist and accordionista, has performed throughout the country, many times alongside Kevin Kling and Dan Choiunard. She’s performed on stage at the Guthrie, and on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion”.

For three decades Dan Chouinard has been pianist and accordionist of choice for a who’s who of Twin Cities performers, an enabler of community singalongs and a writer of hit shows for public radio, concert hall and theatrical stage, including Illusion’s.

For more information about Live at Lyndale Gardens including Covid precautions, weather concerns, and location information go here.