I know the look of an armed patrol. I’ve seen it in Baghdad, in Syria — in streets where fear ruled and peace was fragile. I never expected to see that same look on the subway in our own capital.

Traveling from my home in Northeast D.C. to Dupont Circle, I passed several pairs of National Guard soldiers in full gear — at stations, on trains and patrolling sidewalks. Some carried sidearms. One caught me looking and waved with an antagonistic grin. I stopped, showed him my military ID and spoke with him. We talked briefly about what it means to be a professional in uniform, about how the Army is judged not only by its strength but by its restraint.

I reminded him that the most important weapon a soldier carries in a city like this isn’t on his hip — it’s the trust of the people around him. He nodded politely, but as I walked away I wondered how much that message could stick when the mission itself pushes these young men and women into roles they were never trained for.

Dupont Circle isn’t some remote corner of Washington. It’s a hub — lined with embassies, think tanks, coffee shops, bookstores and crowded sidewalks. On any given day, you’ll find students debating politics over lattes, diplomats heading to meetings and activists gathering in the park that anchors the neighborhood. It’s a crossroads of international ideas and local community life. To see armed soldiers patrolling there is to see force imposed on a place built for conversation, exchange and civic trust.

I’ve been shot at in Iraq, led convoys through deserts scarred by war and spent nearly five years of my life on operations in the Middle East. Through it all, what unsettled me in those places was the fragility of trust between armed patrols and the civilians around them — the uneasy sense that one spark could undo any tenuous stability. I never expected to feel that same fear, not for myself, but for our society, while riding the D.C. Metro.

This past Sunday, I retired as a command sergeant major. In nearly three decades of wearing the uniform, I never carried a government-issued weapon into civilian spaces in the States. Even convoys between installations were tightly regulated. Civilians didn’t see us walking into Krispy Kreme or boarding public transit with pistols on our hips. What I saw last week didn’t resemble the disciplined Army I know.

That should unsettle us.

While no doubt these Guardsmen are proud patriots, they aren’t seasoned veterans. Most are teenagers, far from home, trained for battlefield tasks but not for the unpredictable realities of a major city. In D.C., much like most large cities, you don’t just encounter commuters. You encounter people in crisis — homelessness, addiction, untreated mental illness. A local might avert their eyes or walk around. But what happens when the person in crisis steps aggressively toward an 18-year-old with a pistol on his hip and limited training in de-escalation?

The risk is not abstract. Police officers are trained for these situations because they encounter them every day. A homeless man shouts in someone’s face. A woman in distress resists an order. A soldier, out of his depth, is all but certain to misread the moment and reach for his weapon. The spark becomes a blaze, and trust between citizens and the military burns with it.

I do not question the courage or commitment of these Guardsmen. I’ve fought beside them in combat and know their grit. But I also know their limits. Asking them to police a city is unfair — to them, and to the people they’re supposed to serve.

This is not what the Guard was built for. Its mission is to respond to disasters, provide logistical support and back up civil authorities — not to serve as an armed show of force on city streets. Yet that is how they are being deployed in the nation’s capital, as they were in Los Angeles earlier this summer.

The sight of troops with weapons patrolling sidewalks, boarding trains and standing post outside coffee shops has now spread from the nation’s second-largest city to the nation’s capital. What was once extraordinary is quietly being treated as routine.

That should alarm us all.

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The sight of soldiers with weapons patrolling D.C. and Los Angeles streets should feel jarring. Because once we accept it as normal, we begin to accept the very thing our military has always fought against — the idea that legitimacy comes from the barrel of a gun.

I’ve seen what that looks like in failed states abroad: checkpoints that divide neighborhoods, convoys that intimidate civilians, armed patrols that blur the line between protector and occupier. Those societies didn’t collapse overnight. They eroded slowly, as citizens became accustomed to soldiers carrying out tasks once reserved for police or community leaders. By the time people realized the cost, trust was gone.

That is not the America we should become.

For 28 years, I wore the uniform with pride. I deployed multiple times, led soldiers in combat and believed our service meant something larger — that we were defending a way of life rooted not in fear, but in freedom. As I take off the uniform for the last time, my greatest worry is that by placing young soldiers in impossible positions, we are undermining the very trust between society and service members that holds our democracy together.

The powder keg is real. And the sparks are already here.

Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Chastain is an adjunct professor at USC’s campus in Washington, where he teaches social analysis. He served as the Army’s first senior enlisted advisor in the White House. He wrote this column for the Los Angeles Times.

This will take some getting used to. While some major names are coming to town this fall — Paul McCartney, the Jonas Brothers and Stevie Nicks among them — perhaps the biggest news is that the downtown St. Paul hockey arena that opened 25 years ago as Xcel Energy Center is now known as Grand Casino Arena.

It’ll be interesting to see what nickname it eventually gets. Might I suggest the Ex X?

Here’s a look at the highlights of the biggest Twin Cities concerts. Listed ticket prices are subject to change and do not include VIP or other premium packages.

Evanescence

Sept. 19: Singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody began working together in 1994, initially performing acoustic sets at bookstores and coffee shops in Little Rock. The pair fused Lee’s love of classical with Moody’s taste for metal and hard rock and eventually released two EPs that earned some airplay in Little Rock. In 2000, Lee and Moody recorded a demo that helped land them a deal with Wind-up Records. Their 2003 debut album “Fallen” spawned worldwide hits in “Bring Me to Life” and “My Immortal.” Evanescence went on to earn five Grammy nominations and won best new artist and best hard rock performance for “Bring Me to Life.” But Moody quickly grew dissatisfied with the group and quit during a European tour in the fall of 2003. In the years since, the band has gone independent and has a new album in the works. 6 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $287.95-$66.35; grandcasinoarena.com.

Farm Aid

From left, Lukas Nelson, Willie Nelson, and Particle Kid will perform as part of Farm Aid on Sept. 20 at Huntington Bank Stadium. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Sept. 20: Willie Nelson is bringing Farm Aid to Minnesota for the first time. Now in its 40th year, Farm Aid is a nonprofit annual festival that has raised more than $85 million to support family farms, promote sustainable agriculture and strengthen rural communities. The lineup includes Farm Aid board members Nelson, Neil Young (and the Chrome Hearts), John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews (with Tim Reynolds) and Margo Price along with Kenny Chesney, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson, Trampled by Turtles, Wynonna Judd, Steve Earle, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, Jesse Welles and Madeline Edwards. The festival is expected to run more than 11 hours. Noon; Huntington Bank Stadium, 2009 University Ave. S.E., Mpls.; $437-$113; farmaid.org.

Keith Urban

Keith Urban will appear at Grand Casino Arena in ST. Paul on Sept. 26. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Sept. 26: Keith Urban has been a consistent presence on the country charts since his first hit, 1999’s “It’s a Love Thing.” He has landed at No. 1 with 20 singles, including “Somebody Like You,” “Days Go By,” “Better Life,” “You Look Good in My Shirt,” “Without You,” “Long Hot Summer” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” Last year, Urban released his 12th album, “High.” He told Billboard about the inspiration behind the record’s title: “What makes you ‘high’ can mean whatever you want it to mean. It might be physical, spiritual, herbal, meditative, chemical or musical, but it’s definitely a place of utopia.” Urban is a familiar face to local concertgoers and has played Target Center, Winstock County Music Festival and the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand. Last summer, he played a surprise club gig in front of 650 fans at the Fine Line in downtown Minneapolis. Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen and Karley Scott Collins are also on the bill. 7 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $156.15-$54.05; grandcasinoarena.com.

Mumford and Sons

Oct. 9: British folk rock band Mumford and Sons return to the metro for their first local show in nearly a decade. Led by vocalist/guitarist Marcus Mumford, the band quietly released their debut album, “Sigh No More,” in late 2009. It earned comparisons to American acts like the Avett Brothers and Fleet Foxes and quickly found an audience in England and the States. It topped 3 million in sales and earned the group a pair of Grammy nominations. The band’s follow-up, 2012’s “Babel,” was the first of three consecutive albums from Mumford and Sons to hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. It also won a Grammy for album of the year and spawned radio hits with “I Will Wait,” “Lover of the Light” and “Whispers in the Dark.” The group is touring in support of their fifth album, “Rushmere.” Michael Kiwanuka opens. 7:30 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $205.65-$54.85; grandcasinoarena.com.

Jonas Brothers

From left, Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers will perform Oct. 10 at Grand Casino Arena. (Charles Sykes / Invision via Associated Press)

Oct. 10: Siblings Kevin, Joe and Nick formed the Jonas Brothers in 2005 and rose to fame two years later when they signed a deal with Disney’s Hollywood Records. After making a guest appearance on Miley Cyrus’ Disney Channel show “Hannah Montana,” they hit the road with Cyrus as her opening act. Soon after, they began headlining arenas on their own. After releasing four albums, the trio canceled what was to be their fifth record together and a planned 2013 tour, citing a “deep rift within the band” over “creative differences.” In February 2019, the Jonas Brothers announced they had reunited and released a new single, “Sucker,” which entered the Billboard charts at No. 1. The tour will offer a “full, career-spanning journey” of the Jonas Brothers catalog along with sets dedicated to Nick Jonas’ solo career and his 2010 album with the Administration, which featured former Prince sidemen Michael Bland, Tommy Barbarella and Sonny Thompson. Joe Jonas’ solo career and work with DNCE will also be represented. The All-American Rejects open. 7:30 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $519.60-$75; grandcasinoarena.com.

Paul McCartney

Oct. 17: Could this be the final time the Twin Cities sees Sir Paul McCartney live? McCartney, 83, has taken long breaks between local performances. He first played here in 1965 when the Beatles headlined the old Met Stadium, and he returned for shows in 1976 (St. Paul Civic Center with Wings), 1993 (Metrodome), 2002 and 2005 (both at Xcel Energy Center), 2014 (Target Field) and 2016 (two nights at Target Center). A native of Liverpool, McCartney changed the world as a member of the Beatles. With John Lennon, he wrote the bulk of the Beatles’ songs and spearheaded 1967’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” But McCartney also pushed the band to record the back-to-basics “Let it Be” album, an ill-fated project that helped bring on the Fab Four’s demise and was revisited by director Peter Jackson in 2021 with the hit docuseries “The Beatles: Get Back.” Of all the Beatles, McCartney found the greatest success in the ’70s, fronting Wings and breaking records with his 1975-76 world tour. His current outing, dubbed “Got Back,” began in 2022 and included a two-night stand at Boston’s Fenway Park that drew more than 71,000 fans. 8 p.m.; U.S. Bank Stadium, 401 Chicago Ave., Mpls.; $532.40-$132.60; ticketmaster.com.

Lainey Wilson

Lainey Wilson will play Grand Casino Arena on Oct. 18. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

Oct. 18: Country star Lainey Wilson — who in 2023 became the first woman to be named Country Music Association entertainer of the year since Taylor Swift in 2009 — makes her local arena debut in St. Paul. The Louisiana native fell in love with music after attending a concert at the Grand Ole Opry at the age of 9. She began writing her own songs soon after and spent her teen years performing as a Hannah Montana impersonator at birthday parties, fairs and festivals. After graduating from high school, she moved to Nashville and lived in a camper trailer outside a recording studio. She released two albums on small labels before landing a deal with a major in 2018. Two years later, her debut single “Things a Man Oughta Know” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s country airplay chart. She has since found similar success with “Heart Like a Truck,” “Watermelon Moonshine” and “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.” 7 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $249.80; grandcasinoarena.com.

Playboi Carti

Playboi Carti comes to Grand Casino Arena on Oct. 23. (Chris Pizzello / Associated Press)

Oct. 23: Born Jordan Terrell Carter in Atlanta, Playboi Carti began posting his music online in 2011 and, four years later, began attracting attention for his singles “Broke Boi” and “Fetti.” At that time, he was also collaborating with artists in Atlanta’s underground rap scene, which led to a record deal with Interscope. His self-titled mixtape entered the charts at No. 12 in 2017 and spawned the multi-platinum hits “Wokeuplikethis” and “Magnolia.” The following year, his debut studio album “Die Lit” debuted at No. 3. In the years since, Carti has continued to release his own music and collaborate with the likes of Trippie Redd, Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott, Kanye West, Ty Dolla Sign and Camila Cabello. He’s also recorded several songs with the Weeknd and opened for the Canadian star at U.S. Bank Stadium in June. 7 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $235.70-$64.20; grandcasinoarena.com.

Maroon 5

Oct. 29: Maroon 5 will be back in town for their first local show since 2018. The band emerged in the early ’00s with a string of radio hits including “This Love,” “She Will Be Loved” and “Sunday Morning.” The band’s 2002 debut album, “Songs About Jane,” sold more than 5 million copies. Following up that success proved to be difficult, though, with the band making what looked like their final trip to the Top 10 with the 2007 single “Makes Me Wonder.” But after bandleader Adam Levine joined the then-new competitive reality TV show “The Voice” as a coach in 2011, Maroon 5 returned to the charts for a string of smashes including “Moves Like Jagger,” “Payphone,” “One More Night,” “Daylight,” “Maps,” “Sugar,” “Don’t Wanna Know” and “What Lovers Do.” The group released their eighth album “Love Is Like” last month. 8 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $204.85-$64.45; grandcasinoarena.com.

Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks will appear at Grand Casino Arena on Nov. 12. (Scott Dudelson / Getty Image)

Nov. 12: Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975 with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham. Two years later, the duo helped the band make “Rumours,” which has since become one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 20 million copies sold in the United States alone. Fleetwood Mac went on a hiatus after 1979’s “Tusk.” Two years later, Nicks released her debut solo album “Bella Donna,” which spawned the hit duets “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (with Tom Petty) and “Leather and Lace” (with Don Henley) as well as what became her signature song, “Edge of Seventeen.” Her sophomore record “The Wild Heart” included the single “Stand Back,” which features an uncredited Prince on synthesizer. The “Rumours”-era lineup of Fleetwood Mac reunited for a wildly popular 1997 tour and Nicks spent the next few decades playing with the band while also maintaining her solo career. Nicks is the first woman to have been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first with Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and then as a solo artist in 2019. 7 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $319.55-$148.55; grandcasinoarena.com.

Pentatonix

Nov. 20: The holidays will start early this fall when a cappella group Pentatonix bring their Christmas in the City Tour to St. Paul. The Texas-based five-piece group won the third season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” and a contract with Sony Music. They built a strong online following through the group’s YouTube channel, which now boasts 20.5 million subscribers. The group’s Daft Punk medley, which has been viewed 381 million times on YouTube, won them their first of three Grammy Awards. The single also went gold, along with the group’s covers of Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” While the group has released other covers and original songs, they’ve leaned heavily into seasonal music. In 2022, they released their seventh Christmas album, “Holidays Around the World,” and followed it up in 2023 with the compilation “The Greatest Christmas Hits.” 7 p.m.; Grand Casino Arena, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $155.90-$74.55; grandcasinoarena.com.

During the busy fall season, galleries are elevating art forms and artists you might not see elsewhere.

At various spots across the city and metro area, you can find artworks from museums’ permanent collections that are rarely exhibited; works that have been rejected from other shows; State Fair crop art; Cambodian bronze sculpture and Mexican paper-mache sculpture; and a close examination of rugs.

Here are some of the many gallery shows and exhibitions coming up this fall in St. Paul and the greater Twin Cities.

SEPTEMBER

Openings

Sept. 9, “Twentieth Century Irish Art: The Thomas Dillon Redshaw Collection” — Monahan Gallery, St. Paul: The University of St. Thomas’s on-campus gallery showcases work collected by retired literature professor Thomas Dillon Redshaw over six decades. The exhibition draws connections within the works between artistic modernism by progress-oriented artists and the strong conservative sociopolitical culture in 20th-century Ireland. Free; 2115 Summit Ave.

Sept. 13, “Gatsby at 100” — Minneapolis Institute of Art: In honor of the centennial of “The Great Gatsby,” the museum is pulling rarely seen pieces from its collection “that embody the decadence, excess, and social upheaval of Fitzgerald’s most famous novel.” Free; 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Sept. 13, “Bestiario: The Release from the Constraints of Reason” — Gordon Parks Gallery, St. Paul: Over at Metropolitan State University, the on-campus gallery is presenting works from five Twin Cities Latino artists working across paintings, puppetry, photography and more focused on bestiarios, or fantastical, mythical beasts. Free; 645 E. Seventh St.

A banner graphic for “Queering Indigeneity,” an upcoming exhibition at the Minnesota Museum of American Art in downtown St. Paul. (Courtesy of Minnesota Museum of American Art)

Sept. 18, “Queering Indigeneity” — the Minnesota Museum of American Art, St. Paul: This exhibition at the M downtown showcases a multiyear project led by artist Penny Kagigebi to amplify Indigenous culture bearers and the artistic voices of queer or 2-Spirit Native artists. Free; 350 N. Robert St.

Last Chances

Go before Sept. 20, “Rejected!” — Burl Gallery, St. Paul: The State Fair’s Fine Arts Center received 2,836 submissions this year, of which 336 were accepted to be shown on the Fairgrounds. At Burl Gallery in Lowertown, you can check out a selection of the rest of ‘em, by nearly 80 artists from across the state. Free; 308 Prince St., Suite 130.

Go before Sept. 21, “Queericana” — Calendula Gallery, St. Paul: A series of paintings by queer artist Kandace Creel-Falcón, who lives in rural Otter Tail County in northwest Minnesota. The work explores rural life and the unexpected links Creel-Falcón draws between spacious, nature-centric countryside life and a focus within queer theory on non-normative freedoms. Free;  275 E. Fourth St., Suite 110.

Go before Sept. 26, “Every Which Way” — Interact Gallery, St. Paul: Fiber arts are one of the newest but fastest-growing programs at Interact Center, a progressive visual arts studio geared toward artists with disabilities. This show presents work from 35 artists, from solo projects like weavings and felted sculptures to collaborative pieces like a large quilt. Free; 1902 W. Minnehaha Avenue.

Go before Sept. 27, “No Limit” — Xia Gallery, St. Paul: Tou Her is a local Hmong-American artist who works across mediums and genres, from galleries to children’s books. In this solo show, he pushes back against the idea that artists should restrict themselves to just one style or subject matter, saying that “all things are possible when you accept that the best type of artist to be is one that works with No Limit.” Free; 422 University Ave., Suite 14.

Go before Sept. 28, Cream of the Crop: A Minnesota Folk Art Showcase — Minneapolis Institute of Art: Over the past couple of weeks, like the rest of us, the museum’s curators have been at the State Fair looking at crop art. The pieces they select as “Best in Show” are now on view at the Mia till the end of the month.

OCTOBER

Openings

Oct. 10–12, “We Belong Together” — Solidarity Street Gallery, St. Paul: This three-day pop-up exhibition is not centered in one specific site but spread out among a couple of galleries and several dozen businesses along Payne Avenue. The event also includes live music and workshops. Free; art begins at 967 Payne Ave.

Oct. 11, “RugLife” — Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis: This fall’s exhibition at the University of Minnesota’s art museum asks us to consider the rug — a functional object, a decorative object, an artistic object, a form of storytelling and cultural preservation. Works by 14 artists from around the world are on view. Free; 333 E. River Road, Minneapolis.

The artwork “¡2020!,” by brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre, is among the works included in the upcoming exhibition “Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective” at the Cafesjian Art Trust museum in Shoreview. (Courtesy of Cafesjian Art Trust)

Oct. 17, “Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective” — Cafesjian Art Trust, Shoreview: In one of the first CAT shows fully organized by its new curatorial team — and the first time the museum has ever hosted a traveling exhibition — brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre, both born in Guadalajara in the early 1960s, present a body of mixed-media work that pulls together ancient Mesoamerican iconography, Mexican folk art, Baroque motifs and modern Mexican and American pop culture. Free, though timed tickets are required for Thursday and Friday visits, and Saturdays no reservations are required; 4600 Churchill Street, Shoreview.

Oct. 18, “Sculpture Court” — Walker Art Center, Minneapolis: Taking inspiration from 16th-century outdoor sculpture courtyards, this (indoor) exhibition explores the range of figurative human sculptures in the Walker’s collection. Unlike the works on permanent view in the Walker’s famous outdoor Sculpture Garden, many of the pieces in this exhibition — from artists like Joan Miró, Bonnie Collura and Mona Hatoum — have not previously been exhibited. Included with required timed-entry museum ticket: $18 for general admission; $16 for seniors; $12 for students; free for kids, teens and Walker members. 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis.

Oct. 25, “Royal Bronzes: Cambodian Art of the Divine” — Mia: A collaboration between the local museum, the Guimet National Museum of Asian Arts in Paris and the National Museum of Cambodia, this exhibition showcases more than 200 objects from the Khmer Empire period, which lasted from the ninth to 15th centuries, many of which have only recently been rediscovered in archaeological excavation. Tickets to this special exhibition ($20) are required for visitors over 17, but the exhibition is free for members at the “contributor” level and higher. Museum admission is otherwise free for everyone; 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Last Chances

Closing Oct. 4, “Refuge in Nature” — ArtReach St. Croix, Stillwater: Four artists “endeavor to make sense of the world and their place in it” with paintings that explore the deep connections and fleeting moments in wild natural spaces. Free; 224 N. Fourth St., Stillwater.

Go before Oct. 11, “Four Seasons” — Night Club, St. Paul: This pocket-sized contemporary and conceptual art gallery, once located downtown, is up and running in its new North End home. Currently on view is a solo show by artist Isabelle McCormick that blends oil painting and sculpture to evoke the virtual world in physical forms that question our relationships with technology. Free but gallery hours are very limited; 1096 Rice St., Suite B.

Minnesota Latino Museum director Aaron Johnson-Ortiz, center, stands with artists Edgar Israel Camargo Reyes, right, and Alberto Moreno Fernández, left, whose monumental alebrijes sculptures are on display on Raspberry Island through Oct. 2025. (Courtesy of Minnesota Latino Museum)

Go before Oct. 26, “Alebrijes: Keepers of the Island” — Raspberry Island: If you haven’t checked out this surrealist, vibrant outdoor public art exhibition yet, you’re missing out. On view since June, the show is organized by the Minnesota Latino Museum, which is planning a permanent home on the West Side. Free outdoors; on Raspberry Island.

Go before Oct. 31, “Snake Snake Snake Butterfly” and “Extra Gum London Bus” — Interact Gallery, St. Paul: A pair of solo shows are on view at Interact through the end of the month. In “Snake Snake Snake Butterfly,” you can see Kaia Burg’s expressive, playful, colorful drawings. In “Extra Gum London Bus,” longtime Interact artist David Wright presents a retrospective of his global cityscapes and portraits of landmark buildings.

A purple rain will fall on the fall theater calendar.

The highly anticipated “Purple Rain” musical will make its world premiere at the State Theatre in Minneapolis for a monthlong run before it heads to Broadway.

Of course, there are plenty of other offerings, from classics (“Treasure Island,” “A Doll’s House”) to new works (“The Ruins: A Play Through Music,” “A Lesson in Love”) to a musical about the St. Paul Winter Carnival.

Here’s a look at what’s on tap.

‘Treasure Island’

Opens Sept. 9: Stuart Paterson adapted Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic swashbuckling novel for the stage. It’ll be the first time in more than two decades that Children’s Theatre Company opens with a new production of the show, which artistic director Rick Dildine called “a quirky adventure with real-world consequences (and a) timeless story of courage, personal growth and discovery.” (Recommended for those ages 8 and up.) Through Oct. 19; Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; $74-$25; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

‘A Doll’s House’

Opens Sept. 13: Housewife and mother Nora Helmer lives a delicately constructed — and seemingly perfect — life focused on keeping up appearances and meeting expectations. When a long-held secret comes to light on Christmas Eve, the foundation of Nora’s world begins to crumble. Henrik Ibsen’s seminal drama returns with an adaptation by Pulitzer finalist and Tony nominee Amy Herzog. Through Oct. 12; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $94-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘Don’t Miss Doris Hines’

Opens Sept. 18: This show by TyLie Shiders tells the story of Doris Hines, a local nighclub singer determined to establish a career in show business. The title comes from something Nat King Cole reportedly told Ella Fitzgerald, who did indeed see Hines live. Hines is the mother of Sounds of Blackness director Gary Hines. Through Oct. 12; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $70-$25; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.

‘The Ruins: A Play Through Music’

Opens Sept. 19: This world premiere will be the first in the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio since the pandemic shutdown. Playwright George Abud’s poetic play follows two people with existential questions about the meaning of life. Music helps the characters communicate with each other and the audience. Through Oct. 12; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $52-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘It’s Only a Play’

Opens Sept. 24: This comedy by Terrence McNally follows the opening night of a new theater. Wealthy producer Julia Budder hosts a lavish Manhattan party. Downstairs, celebrities are arriving, but upstairs, the playwright, director, leading lady and other insiders anxiously await the first reviews. Through Oct. 19; Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; $65-$15; 651-291-7005 or parksquaretheatre.org.

‘A Lesson in Love’

Opens Sept. 24: This world premiere was written by actor, playwright and educator Nubia Monks. It’s a romcom about a couple who unexpectedly cross paths. What begins as a simple conversation unfolds into something layered, tender and complicated. Through Oct. 19: Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis; $45-$5; pillsburyhousetheatre.org.

‘The Addams Family’

Opens Sept. 30: Cartoonist Charles Addams created this fictional family, who originally appeared in a series of cartoons that debuted in 1938. ABC made a two-season show based on the strips in 1964, which inspired a pair of movies in the early ’90s and the current Netflix series “Wednesday.” Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth starred in the original cast of the 2010 Broadway musical, which ran 722 performances. Through Oct. 5; Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $162-$45; 651-224-4222 or ordway.org.

‘A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical’

The jukebox musical “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 5, 2025, at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. (Courtesy of Jeremy Daniel)

Opens Sept. 30: Created in collaboration with Diamond himself, “A Beautiful Noise” tells the true story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a chart-busting American rock icon. It’s structured around a series of therapy sessions during which Diamond reacts to his lyrics as they are read by his psychiatrist. More than two dozen songs are featured, including “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” “America,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “I Am …I Said” and “Sweet Caroline.” Through Oct. 5; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $235.80-$62.55; hennepinarts.org.

‘Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile The Musical’

Opens Oct. 1: Aimed at younger readers than Dahl’s other works, the 1978 picture book tells the story of a hungry crocodile who is foiled by various other animals from his goal of eating children. This musical adaptation incorporates puppetry and debuted at England’s Leeds Playhouse in 2023. (All ages.) Through Nov. 23; Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis; $74-$25; 612-874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

‘Marisol’

Opens Oct. 9: This surrealist play by Jose Rivera follows a woman’s journeys through an apocalyptic landscape trying to survive the vestiges of her lost city. No one is coming to save her. She must leap into the unknown, armed only with what she can carry, her hope a whisper against the storm. Through Nov. 2; Penumbra Theatre Company, 270 N. Kent St., St. Paul; $45-$20; 651-224-3180 or penumbratheatre.org.

‘Primary Trust’

Opens Oct. 11: In a small town in upstate New York, 38-year-old Kenneth loses his beloved job and finds himself working as a bank teller and opening his heart to new people and possibilities. It debuted Off-Broadway in 2023 and received critical acclaim, including the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Through Nov. 16; Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $94-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘Purple Rain’

Opens Oct. 16: Based on Prince’s smash 1984 semi-autobiographical film, ‘Purple Rain’ features a story, music and lyrics by Prince; a book by two-time Tony Award winner and Pulitzer Prize recipient Jacobs-Jenkins, based on the original screenplay by Albert Magnoli and William Blinn; choreography by Ebony Williams; and direction by Tony Award-nominee Blain-Cruz. Newcomer musician/songwriter Kris Kollins stars in the lead role of the Kid. Through Nov. 16; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $290.65-$87.50; hennepinarts.org.

‘The Last Yiddish Speaker’

Opens Oct. 25: In a near-future dystopian America, where ideological and religious conformity is enforced, a Jewish father and daughter have fled New York City and are living as Christians in a small rural town. When a mysterious, Yiddish-speaking old woman arrives on their doorstep, they’re faced with navigating perilous circumstances. Through Nov. 9; Highland Park Community Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul; $40-$15; 651-647-4315 or sixpointstheater.org.

‘A Christmas Carol’

Opens Nov. 8: A longtime tradition returns to the Guthrie. Each Christmas, the miserly and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge greets the holiday with “Bah! Humbug!” and can’t be bothered to celebrate. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by three spirits who show him happy memories from his past, difficult realities from the present and a grim future should he continue his closed-hearted ways. Through Dec. 28: Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis; $148-$35; 612-377-2224 or guthrietheater.org.

‘The Notebook’

Opens Nov. 18: Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 debut novel was a hit out of the gate and spurred a 2004 film as well as this musical take. Indie singer/songwriter Ingrid Michaelson (“The Way I Am,” “Girls Chase Boys”) wrote the music and lyrics, which Variety called “tender and often lilting with introspective lyrics.” Through Nov. 30: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $144-$45; 651-224-4222 or ordway.org.

‘Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical’

Opens Nov. 20: When St. Paul city architect Clarence “Cap” Wigington is tasked with designing an ice palace for the Winter Carnival, he and his wife, Viola, get much more than they bargain for when the magic of the carnival enters their lives. Keith Hovis and Rachel Teagle wrote this new musical, which explores “the strange and wonderful world of the St. Paul Winter Carnival and the resilience, imagination and heart that make Minnesota such a wonderful place, especially in the snow.” Through Dec. 21; History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul; $78-$30; 651-292-4323 or historytheatre.com.

‘R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium’

Opens Nov. 21: Based on the popular spooky book series, this musical tells the story of Brooke and her best friend Zeke, who land the leads in their middle school’s new musical. They’re thrilled, until strange things start happening around the theater. Whispers of an old legend resurface, warning that the play might be cursed. Through Dec. 14; Park Square Theatre, 20 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; $65-$15; 651-291-7005 or parksquaretheatre.org.

‘The Phantom of the Opera’

A touring production of “The Phantom of the Opera” runs from Nov. 21 through Dec. 7, 2025, at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. (Courtesy of Hennepin Arts)

Opens Nov. 21: Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” returns to the road in “a revitalized production of this romantic and haunting tale about a disfigured musical genius known only as the Phantom who haunts the depths of the Paris Opera House.” The longest-running show in Broadway history closed in 2023 after 13,981 performances. Through Dec. 7; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; $213.90-$58.45; hennepinarts.org.