SMOKE HOUSE STAGE -
2026 season now announced; see below!
OUR STORY:
In the spring of 2020, just as the pandemic was rolling, we built a deck in our backyard – that, oh surprise! turned out to function beautifully as a stage.
That fall, as soon as we could gather 10 people together (outside, masked, and distanced), we started hosting mini-concerts – and by that point both artists and audiences were desperate for it.
As restrictions loosened, we got more ambitious, and on Memorial Day 2021 we hosted a spontaneously-staged reading of Shakespeare’s Richard II, complete with balcony scene.
Audiences loved it, and we hosted a few more concerts that year, as part of a series of barbecue parties.
That concept fully took off in 2022, with the launch of the first official Smoke House Stage season.
I, Jake Endres, am very best pleased to serve as your host.
HERE’S THE DEAL!
We host up to 10 different Friday Happy Hour barbecue parties, from Summer-into-Fall.
(See this year’s schedule below!)
THEY’RE FREE, AND EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
(No Tickets or Reservations Required!)
Bring your own sittin’ tools
Show up at 5:30
Grab some free smoked treats
Enjoy the week’s artist(s) at 6:00 for about an hour
We’ll pass the basket if you wanna tip the artist(s) – but no requirement
—>We also have a yard sign with a QR code to benefit *Ukraine if you’d rather do that<—
Hang out after, or take off to dinner or to see another show – we’re done by about 7:00
2112 Saint Anthony Avenue, St. Paul MN 55104
Conveniently located in the middle of the Twin Cities
right near Cretin & 94
(Plenty of free street parking out front)
You can bring something to share if ya wanna, or don’t if you don’t; it’s just a party!
*Since 2022, we’ve been partnering with Stand With Ukraine MN
Many of our guest artists have donated at least a portion, if not ALL of the proceeds of these concerts,
to benefit this great, low-overhead, MUCH NEEDED, grassroots organization.
In the first three years, we raised over $6500 in cash donations alone for Ukraine,
not including the untold number of direct contributions make through our yard sign.
We’re proud (if terribly saddened) to continue to benefit these people through these concerts.
Click here at ANY time to support this incredible resource: https://www.standwithukrainemn.com *
THE 2026 SEASON IS HEREBY ANNOUNCED!
JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO GET WEEKLY REMINDERS OF OUR AMAZING LINEUP!
(The signup may be at the bottom of the page if you’re on a mobile device!)
2026
FRIDAY 19 JUNE 2026
BEN & KEVIN DUTCHER
This father-and-son duo kick off our season in high style, as they bring their hit show Midwestern Nights: A Tribute to Glen Campbell to Smoke House Stage!
FRIDAY 26 JUNE 2026
MICHAEL CHING
Perhaps our country’s current best-known opera composer (most famously his Speed Dating Tonight!), Michael Ching is going to show off his singer/songwriter side which blends folk, storytelling, and opera/music-theater.
FRIDAY 3 JULY 2026
VANESSA & OBADIAH GAMBLE
Vanessa (music-theater superstar) and her son Obadiah (media & musical viral superstar) perform everything from bossa nova to Hadestown, and they might even take a request (but forget about Free Bird – not gonna happen)!
FRIDAY 31 JULY 2026
PRUDENCE JOHNSON & DAN CHOUINARD
present: The World According to Randy Newman (at least mostly)
Is there anything really more to say?
FRIDAY 14 AUGUST 2026
THE HEINEMAN KIDS’ ORIGINAL MUSICALS!!
Probably the most original show ever on Smoke House Stage! These kids, ages 10-16, are Jake’s great-nieces and great-nephews. As they’re all wildly imaginative, we’ve asked them each to create an original story, which Jake has set to music, and they all get their World Premieres tonight, featuring singer-actors Yvonne Freese, Natalie Nowytski, Paul Coate, and Jake Endres!
FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2026
TOM LEHRER STILL HAS A LOT TO SAY
featuring PAUL COATE and WESLEY FRYE, with Jake Endres
1950s-60s musical satirist Tom Lehrer wrote songs that skewered every aspect of American society – and it turns out that that skewering is still rather relevant today, surprise surprise. The show will also feature new songs in Lehrer’s style, written by this evening’s performers, in a show specially created for Smoke House Stage!
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2026
XAN MATTEK & JOE HAGEN
Singer and musical theater maven Xan Mattek and guitarist Joe Hagen share their love in a wide range of songs from Joni Mitchell to The Cars to Lianne LaHavas to Mac Demarco to musicals like Hair and Rent!
FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
OVERDRESSED DUO: CAROLE SCHULTZ & JORDAN BUCHHOLTZ
Featuring selections from favorite musical and operas, this pair of divas (soprano & piano) deliver these songs and arias with great energy, while they share with us why they geek out about this music … and of course in their signature glorious ball gowns!
FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2026
JAKE ENDRES does TOM WAITS … and Waits-Inspired Jake Endres songs
For his 11th all-new Tom Waits tribute show, your Smoke House Stage host delivers another whole spate of songs from our beloved Musical Poet Laureate, along with originals inspired by dear Thomas … will you be able to tell which song is whose??
