The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

ART
Installation 5

For the fifth year in a row, the creative appreciators at automotive giant Scion gather together the country's best and brightest young contemporary artists for a touring group show. Last year's Installation 4 at the Rogue Buddha was a smash hit, and this year's show brings the same hot game, with a fresh slew of amazing artists. Buddha owner and rock star artist Nicholas Harper is again featured; other notable faves include Jeff Soto, Mark Mothersbaugh, and Ron English; over thirty more well-known artists complete the show. Based around the theme of "self-portrait," the artists have created works in the form of paintings, photography, video art, and more. If you're looking for the hip place to be this evening, Rogue Buddha is where it's at.

Friday, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Rogue Buddha Gallery, 357 13th Avenue NE, Northeast Minneapolis, Free

ART
Coloring Outside the Lines II

Looking for something family-friendly, artsy, and inspiring to do this Friday evening? Bring the fam to Northeast gallery, Altered Esthetics, for a kid-centric art exhibit featuring dozens of works by budding young artists. Coloring Outside the Lines II is the second such exhibit at AE, in which child artists were encouraged to create art relating to their families, the idea of the family unit, and the ties that bind them together. Enjoy snacks and refreshments, and rub elbows with the tiny creative set tonight, then stock up on supplies tomorrow and launch a family art project of your own! Runs through April 25th.

Friday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Altered Esthetics Gallery, 1224 Quincy Street NE, Northeast Minneapolis, Free

THEATER
Cat On a Hot Tin Roof

The Twin Cities are fortunate enough to be home to a plethora of independent, community-devoted theater houses, from posh to experimental. Radical theater venue Bedlam falls into the latter category - in the best possible way. The Bedlam provides a year-round calendar of evolving local, national, and international artists in bold, playful, and sometimes "socio-political" performances. Head to this West Bank theater for the closing weekend of Lamb Lays with Lion Theater Company's rendition of the Tennessee Williams' classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Set  during a scorching Southern birthday celebration, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is the story of a crumbling marriage, and family secrets with more drama and innuendos than a Lifetime movie. Tennessee Williams' tale of mendacity and betrayal tosses hybrids of deep-seated emotions spiraling out of control. With the inventive minds of Lamb Lays with Lion at the reins, you can expect a never-to-be-repeated experimental portrayal of this classic. -Juleana Enright

Friday & Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, 2 p.m., The Bedlam Theater, 1501 S. 6th St., Minneapolis, $15

Extra: Come early on Sat-Sun (4 p.m. Saturday and Noon Sunday) for a Southern-style social featuring Bedlam's Polish-Fusion food menu, including southern-fried catfish and the "Cameron" specialty pizza.

Extra, Extra: Stick around after the performance Saturday night for a late show with legendary punk accordionist (yes, really) Jason Webley.

PERFORMANCE
Bent Broadway

Leave it up to the fabulous creatives at Minneapolis Musical Theatre to devise a fundraising concept so entertaining that you'll gladly shell out a measly $50 to support this amazing company.  If you're half the drama queen we are, you live and die by musical theater. So tonight's benefit show featuring "bent" performances of Broadway's best will be right up your alley. These kooky and unique renditions performed by 12 of the Twin Cities best-known theatrical luminaries will surely delight. Also featured is a silent auction filled with awesome items, tasty fare from local restaurants, and the entertaining antics of Twin Cities Live anchor John Hanson.

Saturday, 7 p.m., Illusion Theater, 528 Hennepin Avenue, 8th Floor, Minneapolis, $50

READINGS
Floating Worlds

If you missed last month's opening reception for Clive Murphy's Almost Nothing at the Soap Factory, tonight is the perfect opportunity to remedy that situation. The avant garde among us will appreciate this billowing installation of inflated trashbag sculptures that span the Soap Factory's sprawling warehouse gallery space, creating a geometric and maze-like experience. Tonight's special literary event is the writers' response to Murphy's exhibit, with prose and poetic verse questioning and embellishing on the body of work. Featuring writers Andrea Jenkins, Jen McClung, Meghan Maloney-Vinz, Heidi Rivers, Saymoukda Vongsay, and MNSpeak/SOTC fave Andy Sturdevant.

Saturday, 8 p.m., Soap Factory, 518 Second Street SE, Minneapolis, Free