YOU MAY remember me best for my early work on the stage. In kindergarten, I starred in Anatole the Mouse, a delightful romp about a beret-wearing rodent who secretly tastes and grades the fromage in a French cheese-making factory. This was quickly followed by lead roles ixiRumplestiltskin, wherein I spun fistfuls of straw into sprays of gold constructionpaper coins, andMoses, who, in our adaptation of the biblical tale, parted the Red Sea while wearing a fire engine-red bathrobe. It wasn't exactly Shakespeare, but I don't remember any tomatoes either.

Of course, some people still rave about my musical accomplishmentsthat year in the alto section of the Northfield Boys' Chorus or, later, my bassoon solo in Dvorak's "New World" symphony (improvisation was always my strong suit). Or perhaps you recall my contributions to the visual arts: the pen-and-ink sketch on the cover ofthat literary-arts magazine? You know, the one that contained a short story authored by yours truly?

This month's issue of Minnesota Monthly celebrates real talent- the performers, writers, and artists who make the Twin Cities' cultural scene the envy of the Midwest, if not the country. For decades, Minneapolis-St. Paul has been a magnet for créatives of all stripes, and our community's support of their work- through underwriting and even venue construction-continues to result in plays, books, paintings, and compositions that are homegrown in content yet astonishingly universal in appeal.

This fall is no exception. Check out "Hot Tickets," on page 53, and you'll find a smorgasbord of amazing arts offerings- from the opening of the Cowles Center for Dance and the unveiling of five new galleries at the Weisman Art Museum to former WCCO-TV anchor Don Shelby making his debut in a stage version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Writers Tim Gihringand Gregory J. Scott sorted through dozens of options to select 40 shows from the cultural calendar, no easy feat in a place that is home to two nationally acclaimed orchestras, dozens of theater companies, several book publishers, and- well, you get the idea.

So order your tickets and get ready for some entertainment. I'll see you at the theater. No doubt, you'll recognize me from my early work....

Author affiliation:

Joel Hoekstra, Editor

jhoekstra@miuno.com