"Xanadu," the hilarious, roller-skating, musical adventure, will roll into Hibbing later this month. 

With this production, Mesabi Musical Theatre (MMT) is expanding to a new location with a new format; "Xanadu" marks MMT's first time in Hibbing and its first dinner theatre.

"With our production of 'Xanadu' at the Elks Club in Hibbing's historic Androy building, MMT has taken another step toward its original mission: to bring the best of Broadway to Minnesota's Iron Range," said Jack Gritzmacher, MMT artistic director. "Over the next few years, we would ultimately like to establish a broad base of theatre-goers across the Iron Range." 

The musical, set in Venice Beach, California in 1980, follows Kira, a beautiful Greek muse who has come to the mortal world from Mt. Olympus. During her time in California, she meets Sonny, a man aspiring to create the first roller disco. Inevitably, Kira falls in love with the mortal Sonny, which is forbidden, and her jealous sisters find her love for Sonny as the perfect opportunity to spoil their perfect sister Kira.

Featuring chart-topping hits of Olivia Newton-John, such as "Magic" and "Suddenly," the music is sure to bring nostalgia to anyone who lived through the '80s, along with a retro-feel to younger audiences.  

According to Susan Nelson, MMT president and "Xanadu" director, dinner theatre is "exciting because it adds the artistic element of cuisine." She said, "The chef, Bob Paget, has a unique background in catering from corporate dinners at the Ford Motor Company to satisfying the palate of rock stars on the road. Our audience will get to indulge in fine dining and musical theatre all in one package." 

Performances are July 26-28 and Aug. 2-4, with a 6 p.m. social, 6:30 p.m. dinner and 7:30 p.m. show. Two matinees will be held July 30 and Aug. 6, with a 12:30 p.m. social, 1 p.m. dinner and 2 p.m. show.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the production of "Xanadu" with a Culture and Tourism grant. 

Get additional details and ticket information.

The renovation of Chisholm’s Kiwanis (O’Neil) Park is progressing towards completion, as part of a larger Chisholm Downtown Revitalization Project (CDRP). 

Numerous volunteers have given their time and talent this summer, including the Minnesota Youth Conservation Corps, who completed some of the Kiwanis Park landscaping and garden spaces.  

CDRP was created as a grassroots effort to enhance the vitality of the city, with five mini-projects: 

• revitalization of and improvements on Kiwanis (O’Neil) Park
• a new “pocket park” in the heart of downtown
• a new historic walking tour of Chisholm
• cosmetic storefront restoration
• construction of bicycle infrastructure

This project was made possible by a $50,000 matching grant from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, through its Downtown and Business Corridor Revitalization Initiative. Other CDRP financial partners include Chisholm Community Foundation, Owens Family Charitable Foundation, Minnesota Historical Society, Blandin Foundation, Northland Foundation, Minnesota Power Foundation, and Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability.

Additional Downtown and Business Corridor grant recipients were Ely, Eveleth, Tower, Hibbing and Virginia. Each of these cities identified projects designed to incentivize investment  in their downtown areas and business corridors by promoting safe and attractive environments for residents, shoppers, workers and visitors. 

The grant applicants provide a 1:1 match per project, and Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation awarded a total of $200,000 in fiscal year 2017.

Connect with CDRP on Facebook. 

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation's Development Infrastructure Grant Program is now accepting applications for its first funding cycle of the fiscal year. 

The Development Infrastructure Grant Program helps cities and townships fund development related infrastructure projects located within the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation service area to support economic development and prepare communities for future growth. 

For FY 2018, the program is funded at $6 million.

Application deadline for the first funding cycle is July 31. A second cycle will be open in February 2018.

Learn more about the Development Infrastructure Grant Program and other grant opportunities.  

An information session designed to educate business owners about the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Business Energy Retrofit (BER) Grant Program will be held from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 25, at Eveleth City Hall Council Chambers.

The BER program assists business owners within the agency's service area with funding energy efficiency improvements to their buildings.

The program offers business owners a grant to fund one-third of the total cost of the project, up to a maximum grant of $20,000.

Types of eligible projects, funding availability and information about other projects funded through the program will be presented at the information session.

Other potential sources of energy saving funding, such as MinnPACE, USDA, REAP, and area utilities, will also be presented at the meeting.

Business owners and community members are invited to attend.

Pictured above: A BER information session was held at Valentini's Supper Club in Chisholm on July 13.