This week’s Entertainment Spotlights!

Nellie

Now through Feb. 17

History Theater

30 East 10th St., St. Paul

651-292-4323 or www.historytheatre.com

Civil rights and labor activist Nellie Stone Johnson was a Minnesota hero. Her feisty spirit and drive to succeed made her a political force to be reckoned with on issues of social justice, labor rights, and equality. Renowned playwright Kim Hines tells the remarkable story of a young African American woman who moved from a farm in northern Minnesota to Minneapolis to attend the U of M.

Woke Up Black, a film by Mary F. Morten

Sat., Feb. 2, 7-10 pm

All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church

3100 Park Ave. S., Mpls.

612-824-2673

Woke Up Black followed five Black youth for two years. During this time they witnessed interactions with family members, educational institutions, and the legal and judicial system. They saw the social networking that is critical to the successful development of these youth. Mary F. Morten will be in the Twin Cities for this event and will participate in the Question & Answer segment following the screening with James Price, broadcast journalist and magazine editor.

Meklit Hadero

Tues., Feb. 5, 7:30 pm

The Cedar

416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls.

612-338-2674 or www.thecedar.org

Emerging from her adopted hometown of San Francisco, Meklit erupted to national notice with the 2010 release of On a Day Like This… on Porto Franco Records. It also announced the arrival, as the San Francisco Chronicle has put it, of “an artistic giant in the early stages.”

Blues at the Crossroads 2: Muddy & The Wolf

Mon., Feb. 4, 7:30 pm

Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage

818 South 2nd St., Mpls.

612-377-2224 or www.guthrietheater.org

After a successful tour with the Robert Johnson Centennial Concerts, Blues at the Crossroads returns to celebrate the two legends, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. The Fabulous Thunderbirds join Blues At The Crossroads 2 as the core band backing greats James Cotton, Bob Margolin, Tinsley Ellis and Jody Williams.