tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60195882338083454892024-02-21T21:21:15.572-06:00Minnesota Theater LoveBecause we LOVE TheaterCarlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comBlogger393125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-3188345810800505042024-02-21T21:18:00.005-06:002024-02-21T21:20:43.484-06:00C.L.U.E. by Collide Theatrical Dance<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU58gtwEo9xwRRityp6Ty2dJaQL7kJtOoxRNR0Y14GgWUsPEOO79-P48Y5KDnxF4hZ-dpx4-nOCMRCmiBe0f9NP5nsyvYAwQ2dAvXyrm_SUML7bQw_nYWF4oac5zTdf7r0cgzOmbq79MiodynfwKzYV4Ao80-IfFrnrcHJC2c94lAhxdXIxxvgkuySXJvD/s504/C.L.U.E..jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU58gtwEo9xwRRityp6Ty2dJaQL7kJtOoxRNR0Y14GgWUsPEOO79-P48Y5KDnxF4hZ-dpx4-nOCMRCmiBe0f9NP5nsyvYAwQ2dAvXyrm_SUML7bQw_nYWF4oac5zTdf7r0cgzOmbq79MiodynfwKzYV4Ao80-IfFrnrcHJC2c94lAhxdXIxxvgkuySXJvD/w400-h320/C.L.U.E..jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The ensemble of C.L.U.E.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Collide Theatrical Dance's new production <b><a href="https://www.collidetheatrical.org/" target="_blank"><i>C.L.U.E</i>.</a></b> (playing at the Southern Theater February 16-March 10) is a takeoff on the popular board game, as you might have guessed. <div><br /></div><div>However, instead of Miss Scarlet and Colonel Mustard, we meet a different set of characters, introduced by Mr. Bottie (Nathan Huberty), who is being threatened by one of them. Each character has their own dance that tells their story and their relationship to the others. As with most Collide productions, the majority of the story is told through dance but Huberty does double duty as dancer and narrator, showing impressive breath control when he speaks right after an energetic dance!<div><div><br /></div><div>The simple set is augmented by projections (designed by Peter Morrow) that introduce the characters and show the different rooms. And of course, weapons are introduced. At intermission, the audience is asked to vote on the murderer, the weapon, and the murder location via a QR code in the program or by writing down choices on a paper form at the box office. The votes are tallied, and the most selected answers are acted out by the company. <div><p>The choreography (to mostly pop music) by company founder Regina Peluso is very fun to watch, and there are some nice touches that remind the audience of the show's board game origins, as each suspect character has a default pose and are moved by Mr. Bottie in a particular way when they are brought to the forefront of the stage. The dancers are very talented and have their own styles and specialties. </p><p>It's an enjoyable evening of dance and humor, with a satisfying ending (or endings) that brings everything together, more or less. If you enjoy dance that tells a story, Collide is a wonderful company to follow, and <i>C.L.U.E.</i> is another stellar example of their work. </p></div></div></div></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361693253856646761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-65408813355784374282024-02-13T21:29:00.005-06:002024-02-13T21:33:02.993-06:00Ashland at Chameleon Theatre Circle<p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKfZ5QLMiRPk451ijuuIm2PZK6tegQE421Tkk1SMqACkfrBfbcUDrTlyrDfOD5oj_iasaHUOCdq_cX95xgQvKOayWZyRLTY_JiJ9vuNCryFBgAzWQvCC1nvgL0CBEqxYItQbEKf8vNzhmj0Zc_RQp5yJ8K2TTlAB8DgGNneCXhlCFJBzVZl3DWToFedJu/s1118/Ashland-logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKfZ5QLMiRPk451ijuuIm2PZK6tegQE421Tkk1SMqACkfrBfbcUDrTlyrDfOD5oj_iasaHUOCdq_cX95xgQvKOayWZyRLTY_JiJ9vuNCryFBgAzWQvCC1nvgL0CBEqxYItQbEKf8vNzhmj0Zc_RQp5yJ8K2TTlAB8DgGNneCXhlCFJBzVZl3DWToFedJu/s320/Ashland-logo.jpg" /></a></div>Chameleon Theatre Circle is presenting the world premiere of <a href="http://chameleontheatre.org/productions/season2024/ashland/">Ashland</a> by Minnesota- and Oregon-based writer Isabel Estelle. The play was the winner of Chameleon's 2022 New Play Contest and had a staged reading in February 2023 at Theatre in the Round as well as an October 2023 reading at the Ashland New Plays Festival in Oregon. <br /><br />It's clear to see why this play is attracting attention. In a tight 90 minutes, it tells a difficult story with great humor and humanity. <br /><br />From the Chameleon website: A young woman is unexpectedly diagnosed with a terminal illness and chooses to pursue Death with Dignity. She and her new partner must navigate the beginning and end of their relationship simultaneously. As her health rapidly declines, her partner and two siblings grapple with the absurdity and hilarity of death, family, and what it takes to let go.<br /><br />Performed in a black box theater at Inver Hills Community College, the simple set is just a few pieces of furniture, enough to suggest a living space. Lisa Diesslin's costumes suggest the characters without being overly showy, and Mark Steffer's props range from appropriate to hilarious. Kudos for using real food. Andi Billig's lights and sound work to create scenes in and out of the living space and keep the action from slowing down.<br /><br />There isn't anything to detract from the performances or the relationships they build in a short time. Courtney Matula, Marlo Teal, and Phillip Zawieruszynski play siblings whose reactions to terminal illness are conveyed in a very natural, believable way. As Wes, Jessica Lynn Frederikson builds a relationship with the family and runs through the gamut of emotions, some so raw that it's hard to watch, but never overplaying. Nissa Frederikson as Susan is a calm, thoughtful presence throughout the events. Matula, as Vim, who chooses to end her own suffering, creates a delightful character and does a wonderful wordless scene showing the progression of her condition. <br /><br />It's difficult to tell whether the truth of the relationships on stage comes from the naturalistic writing or from the work of the cast, under Bradley Donaldson's direction. The two elements work hand in hand to create a difficult, but ultimately heartening evening of theater. <p></p>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361693253856646761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-1060253375924825362024-02-07T19:52:00.003-06:002024-02-07T19:57:33.581-06:00Crazy for You at Artistry<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbiPybofl-REtEXqm1KuTucAFtZwvn5WbozMtNsCBxhCRpkT88soulLIJFA2Jew1SfyuJJ_mFvzV9xJBmWas_GciwVAKjx4SHRufRBnIadS26c_obL1syNLJmy_p34jEyOcLaZ4XUD5RsNefP5tw_AC0P92nOW-EORl-oIJav5Jrt8gK-_aShZMaZ-tPK/s6000/Dance%20Pic;%20Photo%20by%20Sam%20Lavine.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbiPybofl-REtEXqm1KuTucAFtZwvn5WbozMtNsCBxhCRpkT88soulLIJFA2Jew1SfyuJJ_mFvzV9xJBmWas_GciwVAKjx4SHRufRBnIadS26c_obL1syNLJmy_p34jEyOcLaZ4XUD5RsNefP5tw_AC0P92nOW-EORl-oIJav5Jrt8gK-_aShZMaZ-tPK/w400-h266/Dance%20Pic;%20Photo%20by%20Sam%20Lavine.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The cast and orchestra of <i>Crazy for You</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Sam Lavine</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The production of <i><a href="https://artistrymn.org/crazyforyou" target="_blank"><b>Crazy for You</b></a></i> at Artistry is a rare treat. There's only one weekend left, so hurry to get your tickets before it closes on February 11.<p></p><p><i>Crazy for You</i> premiered on Broadway in 1992 as a "new" Gershwin musical. Creators Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent used the 1930 musical <i>Girl Crazy</i> as a rough outline and loaded the score with classic songs by George and Ira Gershwin like "Shall We Dance," "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "But Not for Me," and "Nice Work If You Can Get It," and many others. The plot is slight, involving a derelict theater in Nevada that needs saving, but it's just an excuse to get from one song to the next. </p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Artistry's production of <i>Crazy for You</i> puts the music front and center, with a 20-piece orchestra seated onstage and the action playing out in front of the musicians. The rarity of an orchestra this size can't be overstated. This orchestra is larger than those in most current Broadway shows! In June of 2023, it was <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/03/1179684527/broadway-big-orchestras-returning-theater-sweeney-todd-josh-groban" target="_blank">big news in the Broadway community</a> when it was announced that the new production of <i>Sweeney Todd</i> would feature a 26-piece orchestra and <i>Camelot</i> featured a 30-piece orchestra.<p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_bJcbJ4GD422vbzP2PRhdF1Gq09NQKx17yTR2gpm6LG6yRdckY0kt3nVhDH3sKJNRkmSwDnlt5bRaNTW0myYhe4MUl0vhr2Z7bYuhb-me7GXqP2rn0ErrHWdXnBxKpAnGaDfHPwB29TOYhJfzYlCRZ_6tT0-EaxZwTm6PEYW4BVCvdS-1rjhYtOlWulC/s1058/THE%20Anita%20Ruth;%20photo%20by%20Rey%20Heise.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1058" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_bJcbJ4GD422vbzP2PRhdF1Gq09NQKx17yTR2gpm6LG6yRdckY0kt3nVhDH3sKJNRkmSwDnlt5bRaNTW0myYhe4MUl0vhr2Z7bYuhb-me7GXqP2rn0ErrHWdXnBxKpAnGaDfHPwB29TOYhJfzYlCRZ_6tT0-EaxZwTm6PEYW4BVCvdS-1rjhYtOlWulC/w200-h168/THE%20Anita%20Ruth;%20photo%20by%20Rey%20Heise.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">THE Anita Ruth <br />Photo by Rey Heise</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The orchestra, under the direction of Anita Ruth, is top-notch. The Gershwin music is classic, and it's thrilling to be able to watch the orchestra and see the musicians and instruments playing the heck out of it. <p></p><p>Although I was excited to hear about the 20-piece orchestra, I was a bit concerned when I heard the show would be performed in front of the orchestra, "concert style." I should have had more faith. Although the show uses minimal sets and basic black costumes, it all works. The stripped down visuals in this production put the emphasis on the music and the dancing, which are both stellar. </p><p>The twelve performers play a host of roles, with just an accessory or two to distinguish them. Costume consultant Britt Hilton, Wardrobe Technician Emily Garst, and Lead Stitcher Laura Jones, with Production Manager/Props Designer/Costume Coordinator Katie Phillips, put together just the right pieces to clarify each character, leaving the rest to the actors, whose presence made it clear who they were playing at any moment. Instead of feeling bare bones, the minimal costumes and props feel very well-thought-out and deliberate. </p><p>And the dancing, choreographed by Elly Stahlke and Kyle Weiler, is outstanding. Personally, I'm a big fan of tap dancing, and watching people tap their way through the numbers in perfect unison makes me unreasonably happy. Leads Kyle Weiler and Annika Isbell as Bobby and Polly are charming and really get the audience invested in their relationship as well as dancing superbly.</p><p>Overall, this show, overseen by director Ben Bakken, is a master class in doing the most (entertaining show) with the least (distracting elements). It's a rare opportunity to see and hear this classic musical, so tap your way down to Bloomington this weekend!</p>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361693253856646761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-32806838947288065892023-12-02T07:12:00.003-06:002023-12-02T07:12:41.149-06:00All About Jane: The Eras of Austen at The Hive Collaborative<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PQEotI6DXJE5I-GRMdvMP_hTNyTN1nK7NBidn7TehrcEMpRxCOGEc3bwOIcW2fICcXxUp44QEjQ9ZFbDaRF5tkLS0GZim9JgeWhNOVvz8xXr12eFFs_UB1B1TKreanlbcUo4hVtDpv1Dzwp98KeNwCGZde-uMYBkrAZstDWKVJfIKAAWl7cCUbR-PQkN/s1000/ALL+ABOUT+JANE.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PQEotI6DXJE5I-GRMdvMP_hTNyTN1nK7NBidn7TehrcEMpRxCOGEc3bwOIcW2fICcXxUp44QEjQ9ZFbDaRF5tkLS0GZim9JgeWhNOVvz8xXr12eFFs_UB1B1TKreanlbcUo4hVtDpv1Dzwp98KeNwCGZde-uMYBkrAZstDWKVJfIKAAWl7cCUbR-PQkN/w318-h424/ALL+ABOUT+JANE.png" width="318" /></a></div>Austenite Alert! You have just one weekend (plus Monday) to experience the delightful concept-album-in-concert <a href="https://www.simpletix.com/e/all-about-jane-the-eras-of-austen-tickets-147557" target="_blank"><i>All About Jane: The Eras of Austen</i></a> produced by <a href="https://www.buzzmusictheater.com/" target="_blank">Buzz Music Theater</a> at their new home, <a href="https://www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/" target="_blank">The Hive Collaborative</a> (formerly the home of Dreamland Arts). <p></p><p>This theatrical concert showcases twelve songs by singer-songwriter Monica Livorsi, all based on heroines from Jane Austen's six published novels. Each song has its own style and feeling which captures the essence of the character given voice. The audience was enchanted by the performance, and the Austen fans we attended with loved it. </p><p>Livorsi sings and plays keyboard for all of the songs with simple costume pieces (by Sarah Christenson) and brief introductions to each novel and character. Her excellent band at the performance we saw included Jenessa Iverson on bass and vocals, Matt McIntyre on guitar, and Matt Nielsen on drums. </p><p>Director and co-production designer Eric Morris and co-production designer and builder Abbee Warmboe transformed the Hive's space into a cozy sitting room with hangings and furnishings evoking the Regency era. </p><p>While listening to the show, I knew I'd want to hear these songs again (and again), so it's wonderful to know that an actual album release is planned for spring 2024. Check out Monica Livorsi's <a href="https://www.monicalivorsi.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for more information. </p><p>To learn more about the plans for The Hive Collaborative, check out Twin Cities Theater Bloggers' conversation with founders Eric Morris and Laura Rudolph Morris on the <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/14016225-s2e10-mainstage-what-s-buzzing-at-hive-collaborative" target="_blank">Twin Cities Theater Chat podcast</a>. </p>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361693253856646761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-85152575355151133012023-11-29T08:48:00.002-06:002023-11-29T08:48:29.679-06:00Company National Tour at the Orpheum Theatre<p></p><div><b><i><a href="https://hennepintheatretrust.org/events/company-orpheum-theatre-minneapolis-mn-2023/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA3uGqBhDdARIsAFeJ5r0xVsviuxhZVlxHIZ9z-ElCajSsk3nHQTPNcGorMiEhRWeqAtTCLQYaAlX4EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds">Company</a> </i></b>is a Tony-award winning 1970 musical by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. It's a concept musical that features a series of vignettes about Bobby, a single man, and his married friends.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKTI25XvdJ5hJxDlgb3A5OKuUM_ctzVNSlJXHFJ2oMzUk2wEEAVNP54uP5Idi8KhWQfAEp_MzLcdvQhdzwnc1eVu0ehzEC0AVKovQ6rfn6uugxUDkaOfcybIApwfM17Ua7extDK34Ov4uqTcRupeYuToPOM2wydD0kKIdV3TvTowT9Ucu8LCTtBepWa5w/s7243/0380%20-%20Britney%20Coleman%20as%20Bobbie%20in%20the%20North%20American%20Tour%20of%20COMPANY.%20Photo%20by%20Matthew%20Murphy%20for%20MurphyMade.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4831" data-original-width="7243" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKTI25XvdJ5hJxDlgb3A5OKuUM_ctzVNSlJXHFJ2oMzUk2wEEAVNP54uP5Idi8KhWQfAEp_MzLcdvQhdzwnc1eVu0ehzEC0AVKovQ6rfn6uugxUDkaOfcybIApwfM17Ua7extDK34Ov4uqTcRupeYuToPOM2wydD0kKIdV3TvTowT9Ucu8LCTtBepWa5w/s320/0380%20-%20Britney%20Coleman%20as%20Bobbie%20in%20the%20North%20American%20Tour%20of%20COMPANY.%20Photo%20by%20Matthew%20Murphy%20for%20MurphyMade.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Britney Coleman as Bobbie in the National Tour of <i>Company.</i><br />Photo by Matthew Murphy for Murphy.Made.</span></td></tr></tbody></table> <br />The production now playing at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis is the first national tour of the 2021 revival that changes the main character to Bobbie, a single woman celebrating her 35th birthday and examining the relationships around her. <br /><span><a name='more'></a></span>Company is an unusual musical, since the book was originally written by George Furth as a series of short plays before being musicalized by Stephen Sondheim. These vignettes all occur in Bobbie's head as she braces herself for her "surprise" birthday party, or that's how it seems. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VkQsUWfezeBVaB0eqBweYth5Hij8Y7KJtSC0623eFJs7kcdeA8Xa2mfTWbWLa_Rt3l3bGTijXioaMJYmtyhIzXNeQ3zARf0D3snkFGL6Jwk_dZTj-AFWqWMexewTtSnLt-yhpWQstc-8nycpOcm3NT2krEpy_h2gNbRbkeXCIc8-jIVKaZxCdhbOf2Cn/s8192/0759%20-%20Britney%20Coleman%20as%20Bobbie%20(center)%20and%20the%20North%20American%20Tour%20of%20COMPANY.%20Photo%20by%20Matthew%20Murphy%20for%20MurphyMade.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7VkQsUWfezeBVaB0eqBweYth5Hij8Y7KJtSC0623eFJs7kcdeA8Xa2mfTWbWLa_Rt3l3bGTijXioaMJYmtyhIzXNeQ3zARf0D3snkFGL6Jwk_dZTj-AFWqWMexewTtSnLt-yhpWQstc-8nycpOcm3NT2krEpy_h2gNbRbkeXCIc8-jIVKaZxCdhbOf2Cn/s320/0759%20-%20Britney%20Coleman%20as%20Bobbie%20(center)%20and%20the%20North%20American%20Tour%20of%20COMPANY.%20Photo%20by%20Matthew%20Murphy%20for%20MurphyMade.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">North American Tour of Company</span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Photo by Matthew Murphy for Murphy.Made.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>While the story is non-linear and a bit disjointed, Company contains some of Sondheim's most beloved classics, including "The Ladies Who Lunch," "Side by Side" and "Being Alive." <br /><br />In addition to the gender swap of Bobby/Bobbie, one of the married couples has been changed to a same-sex couple. The cast in this touring production is fabulously diverse and all completely fantastic. If you'd like to hear what's it like to tour in a Broadway show, check out the Twin Cities Theater Chat podcast episode <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13915394-s2e8-mainstage-company-on-tour-with-emma-stratton" target="_blank"><b>S2E8: Company on Tour with Emma Stratton</b></a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The cast is led by Britney Coleman as Bobbie, showing loads of charisma and wearing a red jumpsuit to death! All of the performers are great, but we want to give special praise to Matt Rodin, who performs one of the most difficult patter songs in all of musical theater, "Not Getting Married Today" as Jamie, this production's version of the original show's Amy. Rodin makes Jamie a relatable character in the length of that one song. <br /><br />With this terrific cast, it's unfortunate that the production feels underthought. A few nods are made to updating the lyrics from 1970, and pronouns are changed, but it doesn't necessarily work to just switch out male and female characters. Some of the choices made in the process absolutely do not work. And adding a dream-sequence showing a bevy of Bobbies in various stages of pregnancy and motherhood just muddies the concept, as does an odd Alice in Wonderland visual reference. <br /><br />The staging of the musical numbers is done at a frantic pace, with excessive movement that distracts from the songs alternating with far too many opportunities to see how good the ensemble is at freezing. (They are very good, but when I spend time thinking about how good they are at it, it means they are doing it too much.) The pace also has an interesting effect on how the songs are received by the audience. I love how enthusiastic the audience response was, but was a little bewildered by all the laughter during "Sorry/Grateful."<br /><br />I had high hopes for this production, but found it ultimately a bit disappointing, despite the truly talented cast.<br /></div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361693253856646761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-70857706085084534162023-11-13T21:31:00.002-06:002023-11-13T21:33:32.660-06:00Twin Cities Theater Chat Addendum - Holidays 2023 Edition!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Haul out the holly, cause we need a little holiday fun. Luckily, our Twin Cities Theater community is ready to share some wonderful shows with you and your loved ones. Tip! Buy tickets for a show for gifts! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Find out about all the holiday theater fun on the latest holiday-centric episode of <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13967042-s2e9-recommends-holiday-shows-2023" target="_blank"><b>Twin Cities Theater Chat</b></a>!</div></div><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13967042-s2e9-recommends-holiday-shows-2023" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0Bmeqef5aX2WHleFo136AC55RVJyZHRy7jVoq2j_TAffvwoLejM2dMziO0i66pjEqR5O9LVWYEuCEFQljExPu2V68VvYRzWUSut-GdW6q9a6UpvXaZrEuGYcHSuo506L2BR9L_dSD5C2shK4K-NlUr-dsXpF6umo-4dFUgtnPmtRQTGwAyoXoLzgEcc/w200-h200/TCTC%20Recommends%20Logo%205.23.png" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>BTW, our podcast host site has limited space for show notes, so here's the full list of holiday recommendations from the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p>This episode features bloggers Rob Dunkelberger of <a href="https://thestagesofmn.com/" target="_blank">The Stages of MN</a>, Erica Skarohlid of <a href="https://letteredintheatre.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Lettered in Theatre</a>, Jill Shafer of <a href="http://www.cherryandspoon.com/" target="_blank">Cherry and Spoon</a>, and Julie and Carol Jackson of <a href="https://www.mntheaterlove.com/" target="_blank">Minnesota Theater Love</a>.<br /><div><br /></div><div><i><a href="https://yellowtreetheatre.com/everyxmasstory" target="_blank">Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)</a></i> - Yellow Tree Theatre</div><div><i><a href="https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/how-the-grinch-stole-23-24/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAr8eqBhD3ARIsAIe-buOTkL9H9PjuurqnQtvK2DUygYzo8GVpay242UAjFkmc1uDBq_oqBGEaAgI5EALw_wcB" target="_blank">How the Grinch Stole Christmas</a></i> - Children's Theatre Company</div><div><i><a href="https://www.latteda.org/christmas-at-the-local-2023" target="_blank">Christmas at the Local</a></i> - Theater Latté Da</div><div><i><a href="https://penumbratheatre.org/event/black-nativity-2023" target="_blank">Black Nativity</a></i> - Penumbra Theatre</div><div><i><a href="https://www.skylarkopera.org/events-calendar/2023/10/9/the-gift-of-the-magi" target="_blank">The Gift of the Magi</a></i> - Skylark Opera Theatre at Lowry Lab Theater</div><div><i><a href="https://www.lyricarts.org/the-wickhams" target="_blank">The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley</a></i> - Lyric Arts Main Street Stage</div><div><i><a href="https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/2023-2024-season/a-christmas-carol/" target="_blank">A Christmas Carol</a></i> - Guthrie Theater</div><div><i><a href="https://www.openeyetheatre.org/scrooge-in-rouge" target="_blank">Scrooge in Rouge</a></i> - Open Eye Theatre</div><div><i><a href="https://www.stillwaterzephyrtheatre.org/" target="_blank">A (Very Good) Christmas Carol</a></i> - The Zephyr Theatre at Lowell Inn</div><div><i><a href="https://openwindowtheatre.org/" target="_blank">Saint Nicholas</a></i> - Open Window Theatre</div><div><i><a href="https://www.ames-center.com/ll.html" target="_blank">I'm Dreaming of a Looney Christmas</a></i> - The Looney Lutherans at Ames Center</div><div><i><a href="https://bravenewworkshop.org/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-youto-elf-off/" target="_blank">All I Want for Christmas is You... To Elf Off!</a></i> - Brave New Workshop</div><div><i><a href="https://www.illusiontheater.org/miss-richfield-1981-holiday-2023" target="_blank">Miss Richfield 1981: Bad Advice for Christmas</a></i> - Illusion Theater</div><div><i><a href="https://www.hugetheater.com/shows/a-very-bearded-holiday" target="_blank">A Very Bearded Holiday</a></i> and <i><a href="https://www.hugetheater.com/shows/family-dinner" target="_blank">Family Dinner</a></i> - Huge Improv Theater</div><div><i><a href="http://www.strike.theater/shows.html" target="_blank">Holiday Office Party</a></i> - Strike Theater</div><div><i><a href="https://parksquaretheatre.org/box-office/current-and-upcoming-shows-2022-2023/" target="_blank">Holiday Hot Chocolate</a></i> - Park Square Theater</div><div><i><a href="https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/rescuing-christmas" target="_blank">Rescuing Christmas</a></i> - Hallmark Movies Now</div><div><i><a href="https://nimbustheatre.com/productions/a-very-electric-christmas" target="_blank">A Very Electric Christmas</a></i> - Nimbus</div><div><a href="https://www.croonersmn.com/calendar/" target="_blank">Crooners Holiday Shows</a> - Crooners</div><div><a href="https://chanhassendt.com/concertseries/" target="_blank">Chanhassen Holiday Shows</a> - Chanhassen Dinner Theatre</div><div><a href="https://calendar.boomte.ch/single/fH9W2zuL3zJ7cM6R5kR5ly?comp_id=comp-l5wi60zj&instance=KqAyLqDZ4TR3bB27ex70pwQGo034oMhxe72BN07pC8NiQsZD6l5vskEAN07xe72BeyJpbnN0YW5jZUlkIjoiMWRkMzA2ODEtOTYwOC00MGUwLWE3YzgtZmRmMmRlZGY3YmViIiwiYXBwRGVmSWQiOiIxM2I0YTAyOC0wMGZhLTcxMzMtMjQyZi00NjI4MTA2YjhjOTEiLCJzaWduRGF0ZSI6IjIwMjMtMTEtMTRUMDM6MDE6MDQuODM1WiIsInZlbmRvclByb2R1Y3RJZCI6ImJ1c2luZXNzIiwiZGVtb01vZGUiOmZhbHNlLCJhaWQiOiIwM2VhMzY1MC02Y2RjLTRmZTAtYjQyNS0zMmVmNzhlZDA1MjAiLCJzaXRlT3duZXJJZCI6IjM2NDE3MjAwLWRlYzMtNGEyMy1hMWQ0LWJkZTk2NjYwMTI5OSJ9&startDate=2023-12-15" target="_blank">Christmas with the Champagne Drops</a> - MetroNOME Brewery</div><div><br /></div><div>Twin Cities Theater Chat is produced and hosted by Carol Jackson of <a href="http://www.mntheaterlove.com/">Minnesota Theater Love </a>and members of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers collective. As always, you can find the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/twincitiestheaterbloggers?hl=en">Instagram</a>. Read our review round-ups and go see a show today!</div>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361693253856646761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-50858512160291693782023-10-28T09:00:00.001-05:002023-10-28T09:00:28.489-05:00Ghost Quartet at Theatre Elision<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NjpfMct3pU5HbDRjrxrScJtmJUSLnsdai_hNPaYkwSUu38hD1qo4oNdjt1dTjGmXFoFgBGkOw4LtfPOS_fNYbJVxLDUPN6yaT7LWsI1XmvuVfF9ys5g-Sldwb-ANnowryruimaZRPtnc47pG6-rrFpZHOtUp9EmL4W0bWHhPRMpaJmjxJi-E8E0aR9o/s456/a49fe4_2df7430dba69461d8d2536cc905fcb7c~mv2.webp" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NjpfMct3pU5HbDRjrxrScJtmJUSLnsdai_hNPaYkwSUu38hD1qo4oNdjt1dTjGmXFoFgBGkOw4LtfPOS_fNYbJVxLDUPN6yaT7LWsI1XmvuVfF9ys5g-Sldwb-ANnowryruimaZRPtnc47pG6-rrFpZHOtUp9EmL4W0bWHhPRMpaJmjxJi-E8E0aR9o/s320/a49fe4_2df7430dba69461d8d2536cc905fcb7c~mv2.webp" width="320" /></a></div>Our good friend <a href="http://www.cherryandspoon.com/" target="_blank">Cherry and Spoon</a> calls Theatre Elision's <a href="https://www.elisionproductions.com/ghost-quartet" target="_blank"><i><b>Ghost Quartet</b></i></a> "Musically gorgeous and truly haunting." Okay! We're in!<div><br /></div><div>This spooky season has been absolutely jam-packed with theater goodness, but we couldn't let another year go by without seeing <i>Ghost Quartet </i>(this is Theatre Elision's fifth production of this show.) which runs through October 28.<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're familiar with theater darling Dave Malloy, creator of <i>Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812</i>, you know you're in for atmosphere, a lot of story, and lovely music.</div><div><div><br /></div><i><b>Ghost Quartet</b> </i>is a little complicated, so we'll let Theatre Elision tell you about it!</div><div><br /></div><div>"A camera breaks and four friends drink in an interwoven tale spanning seven centuries, with a murderous sister, a treehouse astronomer, a bear, a subway, and the ghost of Thelonious Monk. The story draws from several fairy tales and "ghost stories", including Snow White and Rose Red, Edgar Allen Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, and One Thousand and One Nights (commonly known as Arabian Nights). There may also be some Legend of Zelda references you might recognize. Cast members present the story and music as a "concept album" and accompany themselves on a wide variety of instruments, including keyboard, ukulele, guitar, mandolin, banjo, autoharp, dulcimer and more percussion instruments than you can count."</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, okay then! Here's what we thought!</div><div><br /></div><div>This is our first visit to Theatre Elision's space and we had a lovely time. Spacious lobby/gathering space, ample restrooms, a small bar, and a very welcoming atmosphere. The theater space is spacious but cozy, especially with the eclectic <i>Ghost Quartet </i>set of lamps, comfy seating, and the feel of a beloved family attic space. Musical Director Harrison Wade welcomes the audience to the play and cautions us to not try to figure out exactly what's happening in this abstract collection of retold stories. Just let it wash over you, and let it wash over us we did.</div><div><br /></div><div>Beautifully sung and performed by the wildly talented cast, who switch off between an array of instruments seamlessly, the songs are introduced as tracks on an album with some slight dialogue in between. Only clocking in at 90 minutes with no intermission, the word "idyll" keeps coming to mind. It's not a completely passive experience, though. At times, the cast passes out a variety of percussion instruments and involves the audience in creating the experience. There's also a bit of whiskey tasting for those who imbibe. </div><div><br /></div><div>The entire cast (Maureen O'Malley, Abilene Olson, Christine Wade, Tristen Sima, Emily Hensley, Hannah Bakke, and musical director Harrison Wade) are all excellent musicians and singers. When the entire cast harmonizes together, it's truly magical. Even in this cast, Abilene Olson was a standout for us with her gorgeous voice. She and Christine Wade made a wonderful pair as they glide from character to character. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's true, we didn't 100% understand what was happening, but it was a lovely experience nonetheless. And the final song is so beautifully done that we left the show floating on a cloud of theater magic. We definitely recommend adding a visit to Theatre Elision to your theatergoing list.</div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-43432145930585091882023-10-28T08:09:00.006-05:002023-10-28T08:09:55.778-05:00Shadows Under Wabasha: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w9ZIlxPRObFFvEE5bTgLCiWOHLmo7lkbpu1U9epjlZA7KCpq8UOKxT2-Yl9NLEOTc5K8Xm_rPTw4Lr-UA3p5B2s5fOZANEODHhpeXkjjBsjb0knUJFL-f_KlViq-mJk_mlMHcuxNS0D7GWptQPP3gSL8BZRKD4WbqW6QElGY-vJNeMTecp54khVSvKs/s800/P03H9Dh8k3PO9AJa1bRK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3w9ZIlxPRObFFvEE5bTgLCiWOHLmo7lkbpu1U9epjlZA7KCpq8UOKxT2-Yl9NLEOTc5K8Xm_rPTw4Lr-UA3p5B2s5fOZANEODHhpeXkjjBsjb0knUJFL-f_KlViq-mJk_mlMHcuxNS0D7GWptQPP3gSL8BZRKD4WbqW6QElGY-vJNeMTecp54khVSvKs/s320/P03H9Dh8k3PO9AJa1bRK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Show:<br /></b><b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/P03H9Dh8k3PO9AJa1bRK" target="_blank"><i>Shadows Under Wabasha</i></a></b></p><p><b>By:</b><br /><b><a href="https://www.hotchocolatemedia.net/" target="_blank">Hot Chocolate Media</a></b></p><p><b>In Short:<br /></b>It’s 1920s St. Paul, it was an easy heist, a simple score for this crew. One mistake and they are trapped in a cave that was supposed to be their hideout. Four gang members must work together before their place of refuge becomes their tomb. </p><p><b>Selected Cast/Creative:</b><br />Rachael Dosen, Bridget Foy, Ileri Okikiolu, Addie Ripperger play the gangsters. Directed by Denzel Belin and written by Kyle B. Dekker, Denzel Belin, and Jacob Gulliver.</p><p><b>Our Thoughts:</b><br />Last year, Denzel Belin wrote and directed one of our favorite shows in the Twin Cities Horror Festival: <a href="https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/bad-egg.html" target="_blank"><i>Bad Egg</i></a>, a thoughtful and witty retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This is the second show we've seen in the Crane studio space (the other is <a href="https://www.mntheaterlove.com/2023/10/lock-in-twin-cities-horror-fest-xii.html" target="_blank"><i>Lock-In</i></a>), and the space has felt like a challenge in both. Last year, another TCHF favorite, <a href="https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/shabby-stab-stab.html" target="_blank"><i>Stabby Stab Stab</i></a>, made great use of the space, but it's not easy. </p><p><i>Shadows Under Wabasha</i> has a compelling premise. Or premises. The Wabasha caves are endlessly fascinating and, for the claustrophobic among us, particularly creepy. The gangsters and the agreement that they made with the city of St. Paul is another bit of great local history. Add in conflict between disparate characters trapped together with limited light and air and you have the makings of a great TCHF show. Strong performances by Bridget Foy and Ileri Okikiolu anchor the play, but there seems to be a little too much to successfully cover in one small TCHF play. </p><p><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b><br />Workplace conflict, caves, gangsters, meteorites, great menswear.</p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-35623754479708987432023-10-28T07:25:00.000-05:002023-10-28T07:25:02.854-05:00Ghost in the Machine: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjwj6vOqKtbXiXyegyGesyoWow5V7CL4i9PvQOF7lFIlHj-9LrJ555MaX-c-J2fC3vJhH80W7qStCLKQ5ZSAK8K5eD1-X_ktKBSBl4fvcOpks-5n8YKjppXgyhhApY2q6N9-5i24PQkCd0pQVCHvlAY7Wyg1rYPlqB7wGZSREvjrn0e9JmLcC6sLlyCc/s800/Jcqoo2S9yyTNW9ta8oD2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjwj6vOqKtbXiXyegyGesyoWow5V7CL4i9PvQOF7lFIlHj-9LrJ555MaX-c-J2fC3vJhH80W7qStCLKQ5ZSAK8K5eD1-X_ktKBSBl4fvcOpks-5n8YKjppXgyhhApY2q6N9-5i24PQkCd0pQVCHvlAY7Wyg1rYPlqB7wGZSREvjrn0e9JmLcC6sLlyCc/s320/Jcqoo2S9yyTNW9ta8oD2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Show:<br /></b><b><i><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/Jcqoo2S9yyTNW9ta8oD2" target="_blank">Ghost in the Machine</a></i></b></p><p><b>By:<br />Snikt! Bamf! Thwip!</b></p><p><b>In Short:<br /></b>Artificial intelligence - true artificial intelligence - is impossible. You can't create a computer that thinks like a human brain. But what if the computer had a human brain? And what if the human wanted their brain back?</p><p><b>Selected Cast/Creative:</b><br />It's an intimate cast, consisting of Elora Riley, Philip D. Henry, Emma Inga, and Dawn Krosnowski.</p><p><b>Our Thoughts:</b><br />Well, first of all, I blame this show for the fact that snippets of songs by The Police have been running through my mind for DAYS. Our heroine, Arwyn, is obsessed with The Police and even a Police cover band. Hence the very appropriate title of this show. This is a really tight, compelling, and intimate show that follows a programming genius as she gets a mysterious invitation from a secretive company. </p><p>Compelled by a generous salary, Arwyn agrees to a job working with an advanced AI system called Phoebe. Naturally, she also investigates the company that employs her, but is not prepared for what she learns.</p><p>With the advances and potential dangers of artificial intelligence very much in the news, this is a timely story that's a little too close to reality. Tim Wick's strong script cleverly acknowledges its pop culture references. Elora Riley as Arwyn leads the excellent ensemble with an engaging, memorable performance as the cool coder girl. Although the set and special effects are minimal, this show provides some great shocks. </p><p>Don't make me send "a message in a bottle" that "every little thing [this show] does is magic" and will have you "wrapped around [its] finger." (Sorry, I couldn't resist!!)</p><p><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b><br />Being freaked out by AI, the idea of getting $50,000 for a job interview. Yes, please!</p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-39356733249277836752023-10-28T07:10:00.001-05:002023-10-28T07:10:13.318-05:00Overtoun: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYe9WIestrrUhrWJurSgfykBueTBG3Urivd_sK9amGU8AgpltA5Wg_1qiCLPJfyZWrgPpC7C8jG6m_vN7dYw-CXGC_wM8UIRLPMJJ-kNQ7GuhDzzpHhei9Uuyby8T4y3NyQkBbz1JjIie3qR1uDqb5fIobYL6yCAgSaD3uRx_dVxu7ZKjNXinj_onm5NI/s1100/overtoun-artwork-16-9-ratio-kevin-duong_orig.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="1100" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYe9WIestrrUhrWJurSgfykBueTBG3Urivd_sK9amGU8AgpltA5Wg_1qiCLPJfyZWrgPpC7C8jG6m_vN7dYw-CXGC_wM8UIRLPMJJ-kNQ7GuhDzzpHhei9Uuyby8T4y3NyQkBbz1JjIie3qR1uDqb5fIobYL6yCAgSaD3uRx_dVxu7ZKjNXinj_onm5NI/s320/overtoun-artwork-16-9-ratio-kevin-duong_orig.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Show:<br /></b><b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/Ffe4OId1dHz7csHNI6do" target="_blank"><i>Overtoun</i></a></b></p><p><b>By: <br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/spiraltheater/" target="_blank">Spiral Theater</a></b></p><p><b>In Short:<br /></b>Overtoun tells the story of Scotland’s infamous “dog suicide bridge”, from whose heights dogs have inexplicably leapt to their deaths. This horror-comedy explores our need to search for meaning in the unexplainable and our terrible realizations when we do not find it.<br /><br /><b>Selected Cast/Creative:<br /></b>Directed by Kevin Duong. Written and assistant directed by Kyle Munshower. Featuring Anya Naylor, Anjeline Mae Ramirez, Mar Burris, Carlyn Grande, and Alec Logeman. </p><p><b>Our Thoughts:<br /></b>They did NOT have us at the plot description. A show about dog suicide? <a href="https://www.doesthedogdie.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwnOipBhBQEiwACyGLuiodGPPhRe4eZKTcZEHuiySKTL3GcOUpmIaZs4ZsqTeluLVVPfe11hoCRpkQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Yikes</a>. HOWEVER, our dedication to seeing every show of the Twin Cities Horror Festival has absolutely paid off, cause this show is a delight.</p><p>How can a show about dog suicides be anything but grim? Here's a hint from a description of Spiral Theater from Springboard for the Arts:<br /><br />"Spiral Theater aims to produce seriously silly shows that celebrate our most absurd selves, the wild possibilities of language, and the creative spirit of audiences and artists."</p><p>Mission accomplished. With one of the most polished scripts in the Festival, this show uses the strange occurrences at Overtoun Bridge to play with the tropes of murder dramas and have so much fun with language. The characterizations of the town's characters are sharp and distinct and beautifully performed. We will absolutely be keeping an eye out for future work by Spiral Theater. </p><p>Several hours after the show, I realized that the form of the play reminded me of Tom Stoppard's <i>The Real Inspector Hound</i>, another script that plays with tropes. But Overtoun is also absolutely original and unique and a must-see. </p><p><b>You Should See This If You Like:<br /></b>Midsomer Murders and Police Squad! </p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-9665984066529511272023-10-25T08:17:00.005-05:002023-10-25T08:19:21.018-05:00Kin: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0-TuxpwSn5BmogtD-4j1YVj80Mn_L0opOvcHNrzHF-p7HV3vBW0HB5SOOhDOmQRF_eAP_ODUvXNSC3dm0L-hzfxgduJtN9BwOwvnY_Ck2FFiNySFkqfuZG2wYdf5USzN0oOepbFhvW4pKMqWhNsh8nDlXbv4wFsimfbGHEk8-xTZuAdk8kisN4aG4C0/s800/cb8Dgt64Lj1P0Ss9hOjE.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0-TuxpwSn5BmogtD-4j1YVj80Mn_L0opOvcHNrzHF-p7HV3vBW0HB5SOOhDOmQRF_eAP_ODUvXNSC3dm0L-hzfxgduJtN9BwOwvnY_Ck2FFiNySFkqfuZG2wYdf5USzN0oOepbFhvW4pKMqWhNsh8nDlXbv4wFsimfbGHEk8-xTZuAdk8kisN4aG4C0/s320/cb8Dgt64Lj1P0Ss9hOjE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Show:<br /></b><b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/cb8Dgt64Lj1P0Ss9hOjE" target="_blank">Kin</a></b></p><p><b>By:<br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/SpecialWhenLitTheatre/" target="_blank">Special When Lit</a></b></p><p><b>In Short:<br /></b>Newlyweds Mona and Rory are celebrating New Year’s Eve at a secluded cabin within the northwoods of Minnesota. There’s a full moon, and the wolves are howling. It’s a night devoted to change, to releasing the past and embracing the future. But are we truly able to shed our skin and begin again?</p><p><b>Selected Cast/Creative:</b><br />Nissa Nordland Morgan (Mona) and Tara Lucchino (Rory) play the newlyweds; Shanan Custer plays a mysterious guest to the cabin. Written by Nissa Nordland Morgan and directed by Kayla Dvorak Feld.</p><p><b>Our Thoughts:</b><br />Morgan has created an intriguing story of family and change. This is the second show in the Horror Festival that takes place in a secluded cabin in the woods, but unlike Dangerous Productions' <a href="https://www.mntheaterlove.com/2023/10/choices-twin-cities-horror-festival-xii.html" target="_blank"><i>Choices</i></a> where the characters are genuinely threatened by what's in the woods, Kin's story takes place almost completely within the cabin. The placid domestic bliss is interrupted by a visitor (Shanan Custer in a compelling performance) who has a complicated family story to share and Mona finds herself with decisions to make. Also, there may or may not be a severed hand. (See also <a href="https://www.mntheaterlove.com/2023/10/the-hand-that-washed-ashore-twin-cities.html" target="_blank"><i>The Hand That Washed Ashore</i></a>.)</p><p><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b><br />Howling at the moon</p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-85618533192890303992023-10-23T15:59:00.003-05:002023-10-23T18:18:41.688-05:00Lock-In: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdnV2eHtmoZEeuKjxFswTwDpQRSwg_73dCKFpEXcmTUlpv6trHYXUDmrqNQdXM_QorhbVxhuMIPrxYFromHPTMSdUV4eLro6qj_8_vtDuZQ10jdzfw_onz2iOteg2VrZw43WwLsYQplpTqPt3F_VKnyFWK4Mo6vfEZE7Fv2O7ut0cR5XezfWtB05Ihys/s800/nPekbh42Q2txGP7T3Gcr.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdnV2eHtmoZEeuKjxFswTwDpQRSwg_73dCKFpEXcmTUlpv6trHYXUDmrqNQdXM_QorhbVxhuMIPrxYFromHPTMSdUV4eLro6qj_8_vtDuZQ10jdzfw_onz2iOteg2VrZw43WwLsYQplpTqPt3F_VKnyFWK4Mo6vfEZE7Fv2O7ut0cR5XezfWtB05Ihys/s320/nPekbh42Q2txGP7T3Gcr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Show:<br /></b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/nPekbh42Q2txGP7T3Gcr" target="_blank"><i><b>Lock-In</b></i></a></p><p><b>By:<br />Wizard Wax Productions</b></p><p><b>In Short:<br /></b>Gabriel, a trans latinx pastor, is new to Bethel Lutheran Church. In his quest to unlock a century old mystery, he invites back the 1985 youth group for an adult lock-in.</p><p><b>Selected Cast/Creative:<br /></b>The cast includes Jex Arzayus (who also wrote and directed), B. Johnson, Danielle Lynch, Janelle Kloth, Julie Censullo, Laura Hild, Mahmoud Hakima, Maureen Bourgeois, and Will Schroeder.</p><p><b>Our Thoughts:<br /></b>We saw <i><b>Lock-In </b></i>on our second day of the Twin Cities Horror Festival. This is the first of two shows (the other is <a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/P03H9Dh8k3PO9AJa1bRK" target="_blank"><i>Shadows Under Wabasha</i></a>) that are held in VERY INTIMATE Crane Studio space. We're loving the Crane as a lovely, intimate setting for the Twin Cities Horror Festival, but the Studio can feel a little tight. Particularly when there is a "splash zone," where select audience members are provided with plastic rain ponchos. If they've got their splash zone that well planned out, then props to SFX Designer Celeste Williams.</p><p><i><b>Lock-In</b></i> is overwhelmingly packed with plot elements. We've got a youth group reunion, a mystery, an escape room, possession, an exorcism, drug addiction, spirit boards, multiple personalities, and probably more that I'm forgetting. Not to mention, we've got family relationships, first loves, Satanists, and murder. It's a lot! Some elements of this show worked very well. There was some good characterization (a standout is Janelle Kloth as the troubled Bo) and relationships, especially considering that this is writer/director/actor Jex Arzayus's first time producing a full-length play. Some of the special effects worked well and I also love the ambitiousness of the set (built by Lucas Nafziger), particularly a trick with a mirror. </p><p>Sure, it could use a little editing, a little smoothing out, but you know what this play has? Heart. When reading the program for <b><i>Lock-In</i> </b>after seeing the show, we could not help but be incredibly charmed by Jex and their heartfelt appreciation of the cast, the crew, the TCHF, and even "my 7th-grade art students at Parkview Center School for helping make props for the play." Love the effort, love the enthusiasm, love the heart.</p><p><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b><br />Taking a chance on a scrappy show in an intimate space. Also, if you bring your program to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/Wizard-Wax-100063486934782/" target="_blank">Wizard Wax</a> record/comic book store, you can get 20% off any item in the store!</p><p><br /></p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-60723287483823032742023-10-23T14:51:00.001-05:002023-10-23T14:51:14.490-05:00Rasputin: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYnrxXoydm_4ivEAG-xz1Cg98UY-vKE2NgfQbNVYqPuiaaUnrN8xDGk1o2amGiioglnK_lbkRQrHF9vbXXNqqQbqS6jymDk2omtVecAcUk5M03Qq7kN-98Ko7CAI6YTmaIA4aNSUS9EEdwF6fMxGWHmxPfOMw2_4F_qOsXFmQLeqBS72XFnXrn9ugfPu1/s1100/four-humors-rasputin-tchf-2023-ryan-lear_orig.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1100" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYnrxXoydm_4ivEAG-xz1Cg98UY-vKE2NgfQbNVYqPuiaaUnrN8xDGk1o2amGiioglnK_lbkRQrHF9vbXXNqqQbqS6jymDk2omtVecAcUk5M03Qq7kN-98Ko7CAI6YTmaIA4aNSUS9EEdwF6fMxGWHmxPfOMw2_4F_qOsXFmQLeqBS72XFnXrn9ugfPu1/w320-h213/four-humors-rasputin-tchf-2023-ryan-lear_orig.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Show: <br /></b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/5aIocO3PBZ9jNEo6nrwC" target="_blank"><b><i>Rasputin</i></b></a><p></p><b>By: </b><div><a href="https://www.fourhumorstheater.com/" target="_blank"><b>Four Humors</b></a><p></p><p><b>In Short: <br /></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Nunito;">Four Humors presents Rasputin: a bloody and hilarious investigation of all three true versions of Rasputin’s gruesome death and the uncertain fate of Mother Russia.</span></p><p><b>Selected Cast/Creative:<br /></b>Written and performed by Ryan Lear, Brant Miller, Matt Spring, and Allison Vincent. Moody cello music performed live by Christa Rübsam. The lovely costumes are by Mandi Johnson. Very effective lighting by Jon Kirchhofer. Informative projections and evocative sound by Brant Miller. Stage Manager Corie Casper and Fight Consultant Annie Enneking round out the creative team. </p><p><b>Our Thoughts: <br /></b>As I struggle for words to describe the utter genius of this show, I can't help but be reminded of what the great <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@nbcsnl/video/7175311649686162734?lang=en" target="_blank">Ed Grimley said when he was preparing to meet Pat Sajak</a>: "Like I suppose you could do better than that." </p><p>Like I suppose you can do better than the brilliant Four Humors putting their own unique spin on a historical event too wild not to be true: <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/murder-rasputin-100-years-later-180961572/" target="_blank">The Murder of Rasputin</a>. </p><p>Three men meet for dinner with a hidden agenda: Kill the fourth guest, the mysterious monk who has gotten too close to the Czar and Czarina. A little poison should do the trick, but when it doesn't, the would-be murderers have to improvise. Our tale begins with said would-be murderers being questioned about Rasputin's death. Then, with a bit of Rashomon, a hint of historical anachronism, and a whole big bunch of amazing comedic talent, we see each man's retelling of the story.</p><p>This show is PERFECT. It's hilariously written and acted, every element is beautifully designed, and the performers of Four Humors play off each other beautifully. They pack SO MUCH into the one-hour running time. And they make it look so easy.</p><p><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b> <br />History and humor, a little blood, a fair amount of swears, and excellent work from a stellar ensemble. Oh, and LAUGHING. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRNIFyPVHvo" target="_blank">SO MUCH LAUGHING</a>.</p></div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-20282944969272498052023-10-22T07:52:00.001-05:002023-10-22T07:52:24.120-05:00Songversation: We Have Been Told We Will Burn: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ69KEHA212QSZ7S8zm24Xy2Mud9qRQXvQzSd6oCUnYl8VsxKFsAigmgvZ3l5o-8-fafeB-WOA3-X4b-75Sd6yT_-BCYjkiR2ceU__g_C4ll2DVqBzOl8KeNDnEeFOZD0RTcRz9vKkegLw5ldkZUGkecf-_Tp8g-8noAYIkwLcSC8mH5-lyp1fhuWKW7vr/s1100/songversations-2022-71-websize-mama-faerie_orig.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1100" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ69KEHA212QSZ7S8zm24Xy2Mud9qRQXvQzSd6oCUnYl8VsxKFsAigmgvZ3l5o-8-fafeB-WOA3-X4b-75Sd6yT_-BCYjkiR2ceU__g_C4ll2DVqBzOl8KeNDnEeFOZD0RTcRz9vKkegLw5ldkZUGkecf-_Tp8g-8noAYIkwLcSC8mH5-lyp1fhuWKW7vr/w320-h214/songversations-2022-71-websize-mama-faerie_orig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><b><div><b>Show:</b></div></b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/ACMdUnOBiROhRvpKLpIg" target="_blank"><b><i>Songversation: We Have Been Been Told We Will Burn</i></b></a><div><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/ACMdUnOBiROhRvpKLpIg" target="_blank"><b><i><br /></i></b></a><b>By:</b><br /><b>Songversations (?)</b><br /><br /><b>In Short:</b><br />"<b><i>Songversations</i></b> is a 2-woman show that uses music, film, imagery, storytelling and scene to explode an idea, a theme or—as we put it—something that 'we have been told.' Songversations could be called a cabaret if a cabaret moved and breathed like a ceremony and felt like a ritual."<br /><br /><b>Selected Cast/Creative:</b><br />There's no program or cast/creative info on the TCHF website, but they do introduce themselves during the show as Shanan (Custer) and Rhiannon (Fiskradatz). You can find their bios on the <a href="https://www.bryantlakebowl.com/theater/songversation-3-we-have-been-told-we-will-burn" target="_blank">Bryant Lake Bowl show page</a> when they did this show last year. <br /><br /><b>Our Thoughts:</b><br />We've been walking into the TCHF shows having done almost no research. We are going to see them all at least once, so why not be surprised? For this show, we knew little other than the title and the presence of Shanan Custer, one of the most endearing and hilarious theater artists in the Twin Cities. As we walk in, we are invited to take some materials for ritual that will happen later in the show. The stage is set with candles and glowing trees and creates a lovely, intimate setting. The performers come out in flowing white dresses and we watch a film about water and the Dakota that ends with a land acknowledgement. <div><br /></div><div>The show starts and the screen flashes images of witches as the performers sing and take turns declaiming in a beat poetry style. (I might have wanted to snap my fingers after particularly cogent parts. And order a large cappuccino. Hello?!) They also explored the life and work of Sinead O'Connor and showed a short film about Medusa. Lovely singing was done and very thoughtful points were made. The show is quite serious but a few times Shanan Custer had a small flub in her lines and her customary hilarious charm shone through. <br /><div><br /></div><div><div><i><b>Songversations</b></i> is a series of shows that Shanan Custer and Rhiannon Fiskradatz have performed at Bryant Lake Bowl over the last few years. The titles of past shows are equally enticing: <b style="font-style: italic;">We Have Been Told to Show Up, We Have Been Told It's Almost Over, and We Have Been Told to Drink More Water. </b>When <i style="font-weight: bold;">We Have Been Told We Will Burn </i>was performed at Bryant Lake Bowl last year, it had a two-hour running time. It feels as thought it might have been a challenge to condense a show like this into the short TCHF slot. There's a definite presence and tone that the performers were working to establish. The ritual mentioned above spoke to me more upon reflection after the show. During the show, it seemed like a bit of an afterthought rather than the intentional exercise that it could be. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b></div>As listed in the genre info on the website: Theater, Music, Film, Cabaret, Poetry, Feminist Horror, Body Horror, Political Horror<div><br /></div></div></div></div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-84397861676857292672023-10-21T12:34:00.001-05:002023-10-21T12:34:16.018-05:00The Hand That Washed Ashore: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKChSERcdECcxCw48ZROBq2pxg04qfMQgEWn0ixvMV6rAjUg52LI-nZ4GJyaRm0ei9ait_Opsex4wmugbLiZybzFE19IY4l_ezTWz3Oyamhy7WWm5EG_FZme8ylMfSJ8FCaevXmCIBp5BdF4tvJu9OL8kH5_gaYfddeaeA_jbRiOhH5RG2GdM4N2tpkcY/s1018/Capture.PNG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="658" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKChSERcdECcxCw48ZROBq2pxg04qfMQgEWn0ixvMV6rAjUg52LI-nZ4GJyaRm0ei9ait_Opsex4wmugbLiZybzFE19IY4l_ezTWz3Oyamhy7WWm5EG_FZme8ylMfSJ8FCaevXmCIBp5BdF4tvJu9OL8kH5_gaYfddeaeA_jbRiOhH5RG2GdM4N2tpkcY/s320/Capture.PNG" width="207" /></a></b></div><b>Show:</b><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/sDx5a55sJnstmyqYIIk3" target="_blank"><b><i>The Hand That Washed Ashore</i></b></a></span><p></p><p><b>By:<br /></b><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mischieftales/?hl=en" target="_blank"><b>Mischief Tales</b></a></p><p><b>In Short:<br /></b><span style="background-color: white;">A</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif;"> construction crew must clean up a tourist island on Lake Superior; but their plans are delayed when a vengeful disembodied hand is discovered among the debris. </span></p><p><b>Selected Cast/Creative Info:<br /></b>Performed by Ellen Apel, Amanda Chial-Stewart, Gary Danciu, Derek Dirlam, and Lewis Youngren. Written by Vincent S. Hannam, directed by Patrick Kozicky. </p><p><b>Our Thoughts:</b><br /><i><b>The Hand That Washed Ashore</b></i> grabs you immediately with the fantastic sound design. The rumbling of the storm that starts off the show rumbles through the theater, making vibrations that you can feel in your body. This is a great way to kick off a horror show. We then meet the members of the clean-up crew: family man Chubb, bitter vet Dutch, 'new guy' Pit, and the boss: Mac. All is proceeding apace when Tracy, a young journalist hops out of a helicopter, here to document the clean-up effort. Or IS SHE? But wait! What is in that mysterious old chest that washed up on shore? And why does is smell so badly?Check out the title for a hint! </p><p>Although there is a lot going on in this show, what really stayed with me is the characters. Derek Dirlam's Chubb was a likeable and sympathetic everyman. (Dirlam plays another "part" later on in the show after Chubb meets a gruesome end.) Gary Danciu is also now on our list of actors to watch as he gave Dutch more depth than you'd expect in such a short play, which also speaks to the writing by Vincent S. Hannam. I really enjoyed the nostalgic, old-fashioned ghost story aspect of this show (and check out the wonderful show art!). I do wish that the visual effects came off a bit more successfully. Although I enjoyed the story, the tone fluctuated unnervingly between serious and silly. Both aspects which may smooth out in later showings or versions, which I'll be keeping an eye (or a hand) out for. </p><p><b>You Should See This If You Like:<br /></b>Sympathetic characters, ghost stories of Lake Superior, Evil Dead-like horror-comedy, and disembodied body parts with a mind of their own. </p><p>Also, you know what's fun? Googling 'the hand that washed ashore.' APPARENTLY, this is not an infrequent occurrence. Eek. Yikes.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-81617370805456092332023-10-20T17:04:00.006-05:002023-10-21T12:12:06.595-05:00Choices: Twin Cities Horror Festival XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zXMVMSlzz_K3s2IdbFAdMKK4W7LSM850F_WPK778o-R0sDiXUR_Wpk2y_aaZro0tWv9AJ8cpJwjfmSBniDYg5o7RKIAj8Koy8CG_boBAAF1CUchZnaAp6TVBaLzPZHBF8ix3OzxcUvyPIRN-gx-oTxxPx_DuLe-Jk7xcXQn5pAet__vYSoApCnPR63w/s800/5mTztBnI4alrGZVjCEE7.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zXMVMSlzz_K3s2IdbFAdMKK4W7LSM850F_WPK778o-R0sDiXUR_Wpk2y_aaZro0tWv9AJ8cpJwjfmSBniDYg5o7RKIAj8Koy8CG_boBAAF1CUchZnaAp6TVBaLzPZHBF8ix3OzxcUvyPIRN-gx-oTxxPx_DuLe-Jk7xcXQn5pAet__vYSoApCnPR63w/s320/5mTztBnI4alrGZVjCEE7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Show: <br /><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/5mTztBnI4alrGZVjCEE7" target="_blank"><i>Choices</i></a></b><p></p><div><p></p><p><b>By: <br />Dangerous Productions</b></p><b>In Short: </b></div><div>When a group of old friends show up for a birthday surprise, it becomes very clear that the dream has become a nightmare.<br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Selected Cast/Creative Info: </b></div><div>A lot of faces familiar from past <a href="https://www.mntheaterlove.com/search?q=dangerous" target="_blank">Dangerous Production</a> shows including Leif Jurgensen, Jay Kistler, Laura Mahler, Haley McCormick Jenkins, Derek Sykes, Lily Mills, and Chad Heslup. Directed by Tyler Olsen-Highness. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Our Thoughts:</b></div><div>As we walked out of <i><b>Girls in Bins</b>, </i>and the <a href="http://www.dangerousproductions.org/?fbclid=IwAR1I5ue0GdsZE0zszGJEScypBGlY9vTub7hiqmVp2g9FkWp9AEkPBpvULOM" target="_blank">Dangerous Productions</a> folks walked in, we spotted the tarp and if you listened to <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13763195-s2e5-the-12th-annual-twin-cities-horror-festival" target="_blank">Twin Cities Theater Chat's episode about TCHF</a>, you know what that tarp means. Blood and lots of it, and this production did not disappoint. Set in a cabin in the woods, John is surprised by a group of friends ready to celebrate his birthday. But why is he so distressed? And where is his partner Greg? And who keeps knocking on the door? </div><div><br /></div><div>Although this show starts of with drinking games and laughter, as with most Dangerous Production TCHF shows, things go downhill very quickly and we just need to tell you that there are two (2) "Blood Assistants" listed on the program. Need we say more? The action switches between the birthday party shenanigans in the present and more intimate scenes with John and Greg in the near past. We were really struck by how beautifully Director Tyler Olsen-Highness made these scene changes. The lights in the cabin were constantly going out and the scene would continue until suddenly, the lights came back on and we found ourselves in an entirely new scene. The timing was fantastic. </div><div><br /></div><div>Although the question of what is in the woods remains a mystery, the cast is engaging and utterly committed, particularly to the gory scare. There's still some laughter along with the gasps at gore, with Jay Kistler's Nic a particularly bright spot. We also really enjoyed Derek Sykes whose portrayal of Greg showcased humor and heart as well as an endearing acceptance of his horrific fate. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b></div><div>Obviously, blood and/or gore, impressive special effects, a little laughter with your scare, and a little heart with your entrails.</div></div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-70544401660888203132023-10-20T16:33:00.002-05:002023-10-21T12:11:04.335-05:00Girls in Bins: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5l81HkSSQhlN0IqRSi0pv0QecaLCevzmekLZcuPKFNHh3oZadZhY17G-T6CsrXsufiVJm7NPLuo_ouHo_VnXRXsfoJ609MhZhTx0z14-DQeCh0E_TiK39QYtbIog71884rEhFchjbdC2wQyP75AvCbP6Wu_V-tKKvw9flGHfAKUt-srLNfRI1YOg4ZSo/s800/HWqxUllVATCNRiekbA8J.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5l81HkSSQhlN0IqRSi0pv0QecaLCevzmekLZcuPKFNHh3oZadZhY17G-T6CsrXsufiVJm7NPLuo_ouHo_VnXRXsfoJ609MhZhTx0z14-DQeCh0E_TiK39QYtbIog71884rEhFchjbdC2wQyP75AvCbP6Wu_V-tKKvw9flGHfAKUt-srLNfRI1YOg4ZSo/s320/HWqxUllVATCNRiekbA8J.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Show: <br /></b><b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/HWqxUllVATCNRiekbA8J" target="_blank"><i>Girls in Bins</i></a></b></p><div><p></p><p><b>By: <br />The Rachel Teagle Effect</b></p><b>In Short: </b></div><div>Trapped in her house with nothing to do but listen to true crime podcasts, Ruth is startled to discover a case that hits a bit too close to home. <br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Selected Cast/Creative Info:</b></div><div>An intimate cast of Siri Hellerman, Suzanne Victoria Cross, and Ben Tallen is rounded out by voicework from Rita Boersma, Heather Meyer, and Elena Glass. Written by Rachel Teagle and directed by Jenny Moeller, with a shoutout to 'Gore Goblin' Shea Roberts Gyllen.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Our Thoughts:</b></div><div>First of all, the Director's Note reads: "Thank you for coming to see a horror show about a pregnant woman." Thank YOU, <a href="https://rachelteagle.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Rachel Teagle Effect</b></a> for not taking the path way too frequently traveled in that area. Siri Hellerman's Ruth is a refreshingly cranky and funny pregnant woman who is utterly addicted to the podcast Murder Bitches and captivated by their coverage of a serial killer who kills women and put them in, yes, bins. BTW, did we mention that the stage setting is very spare, with only a sprinkling of plastic storage bins as set. Anyhoo. </div><div><br /></div><div>Rachel Teagle's writing of this show is witty and sharp and we immediately warm to Ruth as well as to her delightful and acerbic friend Yvette (played by Suzanne Victoria Cross in a performance that lights up the dang room). I just had to check and see if Murder Bitches IS a real podcast because the hosts Carrie Showers (ha) and Jennifer Boddy (double ha) as played by Rita Boersma and Heather Meyer respectively are so SPOT ON. A shout out to director Jenny Moeller for the beautiful job intertwining the podcast voiceover with the dialogue on the stage. The timing was impeccable. The entire show was an absolute delight. Another shout out to Siri Hellerman, who depicts the physicality of a pregnant woman with complete authenticity, which is not an easy task.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b></div></div><div>Murder podcasts and making fun of them, sarcastic and funny friends, husbands who travel a little too much, and the wonder and mystery in opaque plastic storage bins.</div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-86422676629952097002023-10-20T16:13:00.002-05:002023-10-21T12:08:26.527-05:00Marie Jeanne Valet Who Defeated Le Bete du Gevaudan: Twin Cities Horror Fest XII<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCRWpVLrf6V7NucXB9iBQpt1E9SE0_oxdY0v69zgOBm4zal6Zn0XsiK7DT3H8DqrxXeaSqBGiK4amH0pHafOSJegBXS6I5IyzhlC3td_gsD2rDlQ70OjOaUasPfCtqMpN7zeMvMuusRRio1hgYDe1sbrqtZ_ZTeq7AON70nmW60XD8nIf57OGc6BR_UY/s800/yAwqBNJ9yUj9LIMUAdgI.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCRWpVLrf6V7NucXB9iBQpt1E9SE0_oxdY0v69zgOBm4zal6Zn0XsiK7DT3H8DqrxXeaSqBGiK4amH0pHafOSJegBXS6I5IyzhlC3td_gsD2rDlQ70OjOaUasPfCtqMpN7zeMvMuusRRio1hgYDe1sbrqtZ_ZTeq7AON70nmW60XD8nIf57OGc6BR_UY/s320/yAwqBNJ9yUj9LIMUAdgI.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Show: </b><div><b><a href="https://tix.gobo.show/events/event/yAwqBNJ9yUj9LIMUAdgI" target="_blank"><i>Marie Jeanne Valet Who Defeated Le Bete du Gevaudan</i></a></b><p></p><p><b>By: The Winding Sheet Outfit</b></p><b>In Short: </b></div><div>France, 1764. Something is hunting the villagers in Gévaudan.<div><br /></div><div><b>Selected Cast/Creative Info: </b></div><div><i>MJVWDLBdG</i> stars lots of delightful familiar faces from previous The Winding Sheet Outfit and Transatlantic Love Affair such as Megan Campbell Lagas, Peyton McCandless, Derek Lee Miller, and Allison Vincent. Directed (and music!) by Amber Bjork with stage management (and magical assistance) from Andre Johnson, Jr. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Our Thoughts:</b></div><div>No matter what <a href="https://www.thewindingsheetoutfit.com/" target="_blank">The Winding Sheet Outfit</a> does, it's bound to be magical, mystical, and memorable. Originally produced in 2014 with <a href="https://sandboxmn.org/" target="_blank">Sandbox Theater</a>, this was a fantastic kickoff to the Twin Cities Horror Festival XII. While the theatrical magic is incredibly captivating, you may find yourself musing on the allegorical possibilities of this story of a wolf, a girl, a village in poverty, and a king who is heading soon for his own bloody ending. This provided great post-show discussion on the car ride home and a little googling of French history. Rich with story and atmosphere, it's amazing how much theater can be packed into one small hour. </div><div><br /></div><div>All of the cast were wonderful (and wore the hell out of those culottes), but we have to give special love to Allison Vincent, who always seems to beautifully balance the delicate line between heartfelt and hilarious. We will never forget Allison's hysterical portrayal of Louis XVI, which reminded us of <i>Hamilton</i> and the scene-stealing King George. How can a show that covers such dark times still make us laugh like crazy? Love ya, The Winding Sheet Outfit.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>You Should See This If You Like:</b></div><div>History, devised theater, shadow play, precision, dark fairy tales, capes, the aforementioned culottes, and big wolves.</div></div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-90690051015852900882023-10-18T07:25:00.009-05:002023-10-18T10:28:15.821-05:00Super Spooky Horror Recommendations<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzU14x6941nzSP-VMQjsBZGe6ndQ83wCMkWBhpBQrv3IEKEn4O4jSjijpHp21wrJ7PVXrAvT5Cs5Nz53Vlw_0PHJrqox9QwKRDvztSDTzvReEn7nKXsZGdZM0Y_pYZA3F4dNu_rrkY5dNrdQBYrG-h0gMd0qOpsno2QwKyQYSeug9kquSATNGf36n_Xk/s2048/halloween-show-banner.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1390" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzU14x6941nzSP-VMQjsBZGe6ndQ83wCMkWBhpBQrv3IEKEn4O4jSjijpHp21wrJ7PVXrAvT5Cs5Nz53Vlw_0PHJrqox9QwKRDvztSDTzvReEn7nKXsZGdZM0Y_pYZA3F4dNu_rrkY5dNrdQBYrG-h0gMd0qOpsno2QwKyQYSeug9kquSATNGf36n_Xk/s320/halloween-show-banner.jpeg" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BareBones Halloween Extravaganza<br />Photo by Max Haynes</td></tr></tbody></table><div>Friends, it's the most wonderful time of the year (if you like horror and theater). But there's a LOT to get to. We have a lot of recommendations and only a few spooky days left!</div><br />Don't panic, though! Just listen to the <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150807/episodes/13799345" target="_blank"><b>Super Spooky Special Edition</b></a> of <b>Twin Cities Theater Chat Recommends</b>. Unless you're too scared! Also, listen, subscribe, tell a friend, yada yada!<div><div><br /></div><div>We talk about the Twin Cities Horror Festival, comedy shows, cabarets and concerts, why this is clearly the year of the puppet, and strategize plans for staying up for late night shows.</div><div><br /></div><div>And since there's not enough room on our <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13799345-s2e6-recommends-super-spooky-special-edition" target="_blank">Podcast Show Notes</a>, here's a list of what we talked about AND a few late additions!</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Theater!</h3><div><b><a href="https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/" target="_blank">Twin Cities Horror Festival</a></b> - October 19-29 at the Crane Theatre<br />Eleven days featuring a wide range of onstage horror. Whether you prefer historical hauntings, contemporary creepers, troubling true crime, spooky songs, gruesome gore, freakish funniness, or, like us, you love ALL OF IT, this festival is the perfect way to spend your Halloween season. </div><div><br /></div><div>The shows are under an hour, and you can see several in an evening. Make a night of it! Are you a bit of a scaredy cat? Check out their <a href="https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/" target="_blank"><b>very helpful website</b></a>, which includes ratings, age suggestions, content warnings, and genre info. AND check out our <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13763195-s2e5-the-12th-annual-twin-cities-horror-festival" target="_blank"><b>Twin Cities Theater Chat episode</b></a> with Duck Washington, Executive Director, and Nissa Nordland Morgan, Artistic Director of the TCHF!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="https://www.elisionproductions.com/ghost-quartet" target="_blank">Ghost Quartet</a> </b>- October 19-28 at Theatre Elision</div>Ghost Quartet is a song cycle about love, death and whiskey from Dave Malloy. "A camera breaks and four friends drink in an interwoven tale spanning seven centuries, with a murderous sister, a treehouse astronomer, a bear, a subway, and the ghost of Thelonious Monk. The story draws from several fairy tales and "ghost stories", including Snow White and Rose Red, Edgar Allen Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, and One Thousand and One Nights (commonly known as Arabian Nights)."<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.stagestheatre.org/spookley/" target="_blank"><b>Spookley the Square Pumpkin</b></a> - October 6-29 at Stages Theatre</div><div>Looking for a Halloween show for the whole family? "Spookley, who is teased for being the only square pumpkin on Holiday Hill Farm, doesn’t believe a square pumpkin could ever win ‘Pick of <br />the Patch’. But when a storm hits, he is the only one who can save the day! With the help of his friends, Spookley learns that what makes him different is what makes him special." And isn't that a lesson we all should remember? ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alpha-moon-a-monster-musical-in-one-act-tickets-693098013817?fbclid=IwAR3lgiV0qivOXSoLGvDgVHDaGvhNjubzCZsYeYbDuDE3N3t8L_nK-jjUxFk" target="_blank"><b>Alpha Moon: A Monster Musical in One Act</b></a> by Gnarly Bard Theatre Company - October 20-29 at Gremlin Theatre</div>"There are monsters in the deep, dark woods! Are you one of the monsters? If people call you a monster long enough, will you start to believe them? With original songs and music, with werewolves and other creatures of the deep dark woods, this is a show about those we accept into our community and those we shun."<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://hobt.org/the-haunted-avalon-a-puppet-theatre-showcase/" target="_blank"><b>The Haunted Avalon: A Puppet Theatre Showcase</b></a> - October 26-30 at The Avalon Theater – home to In the Heart of The Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre<br />A series of Halloween-themed cabarets. "Join emcees Harry Waters, Jr. and Orren Fen for an evening of kooky, spooky puppetry and live music as six teams of puppetry artists revisit Halloween, Heart of the Beast-style. Enjoy vignettes that employ a range of puppetry techniques including toy theater, shadow puppetry, and marionettes. Prepare yourself for some PG13-rated thrills and chills – BWA HA HA!" </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://barebonespuppets.org/halloween-show/" target="_blank"><b>The Annual Halloween Outdoor Puppet Extravaganza</b></a> by BareBones Productions - October 27, 28, 29, and 31 on the Midtown Greenway</div><div>"Since 1994, BareBones Productions has presented a community-created spectacle pageant of larger-than-life puppetry, drama, stilting, dance, fire, song, and music that honors the circle of life by celebrating its seasonal arc of death in the Fall."</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://phantomchorus.com/" target="_blank"><b>Trippy Triptych Vol. 1: Blacklight</b></a> by Phantom Chorus Theatre - November 3, 10, 17 at Bryant Lake Bowl<br />Rating: recommended for ages 12 and up. "A collection of three stories told through the art of puppetry and physical theatre, entirely in blacklight: a psychedelic electronica musical from another world, a dark fable about love and loss, and a morning routine disrupted by the surreal. See it the first three <br />weekends in November at the Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater!"</div><div><br /><a href="https://gremlintheatre.org/the-thin-place/" target="_blank"><b>The Thin Place</b></a> - November 10-December 3 at Gremlin Theatre <br />"A spine-tingling, “Twilight Zone” evening of theater. Everyone who ever died is still here, just in a different part of here. Linda can communicate with them. And if you believe, she can make you hear them, too — in the thin place, the fragile boundary between our world and the other one. With acuity and relentless curiosity, Lucas Hnath’s play transforms the theater into something else… crafting an unnerving testament to the power of the mind, which has a mind of its own."</div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Comedy!</h3><div><a href="https://www.hugetheater.com/shows/creature-feature-at-the-new-huge-theater" target="_blank"><b>Creature Feature</b></a> - Fridays at 7:30 through October 27 at Huge Improv Theater<br />"HUGE’s longest-running show – an improvised monster movie that takes a never-before-seen monster from the audience and explores the tropes of the monster/slasher films that we all grew up jumping from and laughing at." <br /><br /><a href="https://www.hugetheater.com/shows/twilight-zone-at-the-new-huge-theater" target="_blank"><b>Twilight Zone</b></a> - Saturdays at 10:00 through November 4 at Huge Improv Theater<br />"This is not a place in itself, but a passageway between places. It is that which cannot be described or explained, only felt and seen as the hairs on your arms rise inexplicably. It is place we call….The <br />Twilight Zone. Join us for two back to back, entirely improvised episodes based on Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone." </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.phoenixtheatermpls.org/project/spooky-and-gay/" target="_blank"><b>Spooky and Gay</b></a> - October 25 at Phoenix Theater<br />"Direct from an Off-Broadway run: Spooky and Gay is a queer horror variety fantasia featuring original scary stories, songs and stand-up performed in total darkness — like Goosebumps, only GAYER! Written & performed by award-winning Florida performing artist, Bruce Ryan Costella."</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://www.bryantlakebowl.com/theater/monster-science-halloween-monsterpalooza" target="_blank"><b>Monster Science Halloween Monsterpalooza</b></a> - October 26-28 at Bryant Lake Bowl</div><div>"Rev Matt is joined by a murderer’s row of top-flight local talent for a Halloween monster extravaganza! A different show every night! <br />Thursday: A horror monster variety show with Brad Erickson, Angela Fox, Heather Meyer, Hedy Rand-McKay, Tim Uren, Irene Weinhagen, and special muppet guest stars!<br />Friday: The music and comedy of the extraordinary Jen Scott, plus special guests!<br />And Saturday: A deep dive into one of the most acclaimed of all old-time radio shows, and one of the best monster stories of the 20th century, with Eric Webster of the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society! BE THERE!"</div></div><div><br /><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-mess-presents-frankensteins-monster-goes-on-a-date-tickets-728918223027" target="_blank"><b>The Mess Presents: Frankenstein's Monster Goes On A Date</b></a> - October 28 at Strike Theater</div><div>"The Halloween Horror Classic returns for one night only! On 10/28, discover if love is possible for...a monster with a heart of gold. Improv comedy at its finest and most serious <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">Concerts and Cabaret</h3></div><div><a href="https://www.cancanwonderland.com/events/musical-monster-therapy" target="_blank"><b>Musical Monster Therapy at Can Can Wonderland</b></a> - October 19 (Smartmouth Comedy)<br />"This spooky season, we're getting into what really scares all of us, our feelings! But this time, we're hearing from the monsters who have spent their careers scaring us. Join us for a night of musical hilarity as the classic monsters share their innermost feelings through the power of song!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.croonersmn.com/event/monstrous-melodies-cabaret/" target="_blank"><b>Monstrous Melodies Cabaret</b></a> - October 20, 26 at Crooners Supper Club</div><div>"Before the cavalcade of winter holiday shows begin, ’tis time Halloween gets its due! Come, music enthusiast mortals, join our haunted venue and experience a brew of bewitchingly obscure and frightfully forgotten vintage tunes (with a pinch of standards ) crooned, shrieked and howled by a concoction of the Cities’ most popular monsters. Costumes, beguiling, outrageous or understated, are encouraged. With Dan Chouinard, Prudence Johnson, Dane Stauffer, John Pescitelli, and Daniel Andersen."</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leslies-halloween-extravaganza-tickets-633957793827" target="_blank"><b>Leslie’s Halloween Extravaganza</b></a> - October 21 at Granada Theater<br />"Join Leslie Vincent & the Vibes for an evening of jazzy intrigue, murder ballads, and other sinister songs. Here she explores the more macabre side of music, with original songs and spooky covers to get you in the Halloween spirit. Featuring Ted Godbout on keys, Matt McIntyre on bass, Ben Ehrlich on drums, and Mitch Van Laar on trumpet."</div><div><br /> <a href="https://www.croonersmn.com/event/erin-dane-and-jay-halloween-cabooret/" target="_blank"><b>Erin, Dane and Jay: Halloween Cabooret</b></a> - October 29 at Crooners Supper Club</div><div>"What better place to celebrate the spookiest of holidays than outside on a fall evening. So grab all of your friends and family and celebrate the spooky, kooky altogether ooky songs of Halloween, werewolves, spells, monsters and more. Erin Schwab vocals, Dane Stauffer vocals, and Jay Fuchs keys, vocals."</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">UPDATE </span>UPDATE <span style="color: #ffa400;">UPDATE! </span><span>Just heard about this amazing show!</span></b></div><div><b><span><br /></span></b></div><div><a href="https://www.minnesotaorchestra.org/tickets/calendar/movies-music/get-out-in-concert/" target="_blank"><b>Get Out in Concert with the Minnesota Orchestra with The Steeles</b></a> - October 27 at Orchestra Hall </div><div>"The Minnesota Orchestra will perform Michael Abels’ original soundtrack as writer-director Jordan Peele’s horror film plays on a screen above the stage. Led by Sarah Hicks, principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall, and accompanied by the sibling vocal group The Steeles, the Orchestra will perform composer Michael Abels’ original score while the film plays in high definition on a screen above the stage. The score, which Abels describes as “gospel horror,” prominently features the harp, and at times unusual percussion and string instrumentation. Accompanying the Orchestra will be the sibling group The Steeles, who will perform the vocal portion of Abels’ score, including the main title, “Sikiliza Kwa Wahenga” (Swahili for “listen to the ancestors”). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3wYTml2aTTeHd62iqayTSqVSvRpqM96_Kd0E4VQtI7lyTsGAKb90lWcSpEaWW6YvyPkWidMX19qM-lJHQgD-mhg9D3hiCBbCGdkSy40vBP8cY0Sg-NpDTCw_-kcEDMJws9lV6CjraiLJCu9JKlt9EH-YjhiRRLG0QVy8yhfY3gM7Xe6gGs37RFfekIw/s660/EDP_Movies-GetOut-Universal_Studios.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="660" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3wYTml2aTTeHd62iqayTSqVSvRpqM96_Kd0E4VQtI7lyTsGAKb90lWcSpEaWW6YvyPkWidMX19qM-lJHQgD-mhg9D3hiCBbCGdkSy40vBP8cY0Sg-NpDTCw_-kcEDMJws9lV6CjraiLJCu9JKlt9EH-YjhiRRLG0QVy8yhfY3gM7Xe6gGs37RFfekIw/s320/EDP_Movies-GetOut-Universal_Studios.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">A couple of random extras!</h3><div><a href="https://www.travailkitchen.com/hauntedbasementbar" target="_blank"><b>A Party To Die For at the Haunted Basement Bar</b></a> - September 28 - November 4 at Travail</div><div>"Travail and the horrifically talented Haunted Basement have teamed up for another rendition of Haunted Basement Bar and this time, we’re throwing a dinner party with some unexpected hosts. Expect a gruesome multi-course tasting menu with tasty cocktails to match, in our decked out Basement Bar, complete with mayhem, scares, and delights to keep you entertained. Costumes encouraged!"<br /><br /><a href="https://realhauntedtours.com/" target="_blank"><b>Real Haunted Tours Presents The Mounds Theatre</b></a> - October Fridays and Saturday<br />"The Mounds Theatre has a strong history as a recognised haunted location, over the years there have been paranormal TV show episodes filmed there and professional and amateur investigations held there. On top of its haunted history, the Mounds Theatre has a historic one as well. In its lifetime it has functioned as a silent movie theatre & vaudeville stage, a warehouse and a children's arts venue."<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Halloweening and Theatergoing!</div></div></div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-68636517459539890022023-09-29T21:30:00.000-05:002023-09-29T21:30:20.900-05:00Opera Alert! Dark Sisters at Journey North<p style="text-align: left;"></p><span style="text-align: left;">Quick! Opera fans, particularly fans of contemporary opera, get your tickets to </span><a href="https://www.journeynorthopera.com/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><b>Journey North Opera Co.'s</b></a><span style="text-align: left;"> production of Nico Muhly's </span><a href="https://www.journeynorthopera.com/dark-sisters" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank"><i><b>Dark Sisters</b></i></a><span style="text-align: left;">, It's only playing September 28 through October 1 at the Southern Theater, so this is officially an opera emergency. </span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuqzHK6KjVs83ytUovy439_0gU47lRU3IU4IMn-NxWZQQoem0kwo3NHsMtlNtkIQ1ci9sQV67pFoIrbWH9rY7i49BAp2ztMDixN7cQe1vkZqiRDTNiDVLbqQdZSbBipOl7wcD56tWcnuKSqxnt_xUF5Yl3KiFiUJflPbmY7jKLe9uHJSpwQ6d2aprYaxX/s3200/Dark%20Sisters%20Cast%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1855" data-original-width="3200" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuqzHK6KjVs83ytUovy439_0gU47lRU3IU4IMn-NxWZQQoem0kwo3NHsMtlNtkIQ1ci9sQV67pFoIrbWH9rY7i49BAp2ztMDixN7cQe1vkZqiRDTNiDVLbqQdZSbBipOl7wcD56tWcnuKSqxnt_xUF5Yl3KiFiUJflPbmY7jKLe9uHJSpwQ6d2aprYaxX/s320/Dark%20Sisters%20Cast%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cast of <i>Dark Sisters</i>. <br />Photo by Steve Campbell at <br />Loco/FX Photography<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>We'll make this fast: <i style="font-weight: bold;">Dark Sisters</i> premiered in 2011 and provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of women living in a polygamous compound who are reeling from a raid in which the government has taken away their children after accusations of abuse. More details:<span></span><p></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="proxima-nova" style="background-color: white; color: #171717; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.15px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><i></i></span></span></p><blockquote><i><b>DARK SISTERS</b> follows one woman’s dangerous attempt to escape her life as a member of the FLDS Church (Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints), a sect that split from mainstream Mormonism in the early 20th Century largely because of the LDS Church’s renunciation of polygamy. The male founders of the Mormon faith (Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, chief among them) loom large in American history; Dark Sisters puts the women front and center. (Journey North Opera Co. website)</i></blockquote><p></p><p><i><b>Dark Sisters</b></i> is written by Nico Muhly, a prolific American contemporary classical music composer and arranger who has a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nico_Muhly" target="_blank">fascinating career</a> with a wide range of collaborators from Philip Glass and Metropolitan Opera to Bjork and Glen Hansard. The music is gorgeous and surprisingly melodic for a contemporary opera. Both the libretto by Stephen Karam (<i>The Humans) </i>and the music give each of the women a distinct voice beyond their recurrent refrain and reminder to "Keep Sweet."</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMkeUPcQy5OC0NjDZCNAWfTADXzB82ZN5tAGxZbCZZdtHxQ0A2iXU-VHuQxyKgrPr3-3K481MEdqHKiwsXxmxTILCNYhSJm4624TXwdvvgn5_mKXb43fteNarza-oxGKRfXccKK0khpWjEqHZLlf95-4JQZVl6O4aZocy4gtTicBuRqO6dp-07ZAWXOM/s3200/Dark%20Sisters%20Cast%203%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2133" data-original-width="3200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMkeUPcQy5OC0NjDZCNAWfTADXzB82ZN5tAGxZbCZZdtHxQ0A2iXU-VHuQxyKgrPr3-3K481MEdqHKiwsXxmxTILCNYhSJm4624TXwdvvgn5_mKXb43fteNarza-oxGKRfXccKK0khpWjEqHZLlf95-4JQZVl6O4aZocy4gtTicBuRqO6dp-07ZAWXOM/s320/Dark%20Sisters%20Cast%203%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cast of <i>Dark Sisters</i>.<br />Photo by Steve Campbell at<br />Loco/FX Photography</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The opera is sung in English, with creatively designed supertitles to help distinguish the interwoven vocal lines right from the beginning, as each woman laments the loss of her children, and we see the names behind them. And speaking of those interwoven vocal lines ... There is nothing like beautiful unamplified voices singing in an intimate space and accompanied by a wonderful 13-piece orchestra conducted by Brian Dowdy.</p><p>A deceptively simple set, the women's uniformly conservative clothing, and the decayed gentility of the Southern Theater proscenium creates a timeless feel. Director Amanda Carlson keeps the focus on the women as a group and individually, moving the characters around the stage in formations that suggest the rigidity of their community. Although all of the performances are wonderful and the voices astounding, we want to call out Meagan Seubert, who played Eliza at the final dress rehearsal we attended, for her wonderful expressiveness, giving hints from the start of her character's discomfort with the status quo. Her early duet with her daughter Lucinda (Anna Beth Baker) was particularly moving. </p><p>If you need another reason to rush out and see this opera, Journey North Opera Co. is a "woman-led company striving for gender parity in a male-dominated field, prioritizing the performance of works by and the hiring of artists who identify as women, as well as those identifying as LGBTQIA2S+." <i>(Journey North Opera Co. website) </i></p><p>Tell your friends! And happy opera-going!</p>Juleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16361693253856646761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-64052755733633724692023-09-27T08:23:00.003-05:002023-09-27T08:25:38.015-05:00Passage by Pillsbury House + Theatre and Exposed Brick Theatre<p>We went to one of our of our favorite local theaters this week to see a co-production by <a href="https://pillsburyhouseandtheatre.org/" target="_blank">Pillsbury House + Theatre</a> and <a href="https://exposedbricktheatre.com/" target="_blank">Exposed Brick Theatre</a>: The compelling, thought-provoking <a href="https://pillsburyhouseandtheatre.org/passage/" target="_blank"><b>Passage by Christopher Chen</b></a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eQgHAhYw2BSRnA7Z88pirL3BCV4RZMf5SBFZZ7v9mz4Z899VzLvJ7Dljb8cbcYyBIkP5ZzvtEjXjywoLN7Tw0jk4MQfsj7iVZaKeiBq2WLKQEije3EZywN-NvKp-S2SMDtUI2MKd7YSE4ubdmNKWPGVCbVHutLXnhro8GnggZ4-Ntd0wOVwEnHymzbA/s1536/080723expsbrck032-1536x1025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1536" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eQgHAhYw2BSRnA7Z88pirL3BCV4RZMf5SBFZZ7v9mz4Z899VzLvJ7Dljb8cbcYyBIkP5ZzvtEjXjywoLN7Tw0jk4MQfsj7iVZaKeiBq2WLKQEije3EZywN-NvKp-S2SMDtUI2MKd7YSE4ubdmNKWPGVCbVHutLXnhro8GnggZ4-Ntd0wOVwEnHymzbA/s320/080723expsbrck032-1536x1025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 14px;">From left to right. Back row: Valencia Proctor, James A. Williams, Marisa B. Tejeda*. <br />Front row: Clay Man Soo, Aamera Siddiqui, and Oogie_Push</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The details from PH+T's website: <span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i>Pillsbury House + Theatre and Exposed Brick Theatre are thrilled to come together to present Christopher Chen’s deeply humane, poignant, and affecting drama, PASSAGE. Set in the fictional Country X, a neocolonial client of Country Y, PASSAGE examines colonialism, power, and how societal imbalances affect interpersonal dynamics through the story of B, a local doctor, and F, an expat teacher, after their friendship is challenged during a fateful trip to a local attraction. Performances will take place at Pillsbury House + Theatre September 21 – October 15, 2023.</i></blockquote><p>On Twin Cities Theater Chat (a production of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers), we <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13610335-s2e3-mainstage-passage-at-pillsbury-house-theatre-and-exposed-brick-theatre" target="_blank">chatted with co-directors Suzy Messerole and Signe Harriday</a> (S2E3), which was a fascinating conversation and we highly recommend checking it out.</p><p>We also just devoted a segment of <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13660397-s2e4-recommends-falsettos-passage-cookin-alcohol-and-more" target="_blank">Twin Cities Theater Chat Recommends</a> (S2E4) to our bloggers' thoughts after seeing the show. Check that out too! Although you can hear what we thought on the podcast, we did not call out the fantastic artists who created this production and I am correcting that now! </p><p>Passage was performed by an incredible compelling cast consisting of Alex Barreto Hathaway, Valencia Proctor, Oogie_Push, Aamera Siddiqui, Clay Man Soo, Marisa B. Tejeda, Antonio Rios-Luna, and James A. Williams.</p><p>Although it's a deceptively simple-looking production, the costumes, the set, the lighting and the sound were all beautifully done. Design work was by Sonya Berlovitz, Mina Kinukawa, Mitchell Frazier, Peter Morrow, and Stacey Schwebach. And it was Stage Managed by Lyndsey R. Harter and Assistant Stage Managed by Mayra Gurrola Calderón.</p><p>Branch out, theatergoers. Head to Pillsbury House + Theater to see a play that will capture your complete attention (110 super fast minutes, btw) and provide copious food for thought. </p><p>Happy theatergoing!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-5813667862363793572023-09-18T17:24:00.005-05:002023-09-18T17:28:24.065-05:00OH HELLO. Pardon our absence.<p>Have you ever noticed how sometimes doing things is hard? Like going places that involve leaving the house? And yet when you actually go and do something like seeing an awesome theater production with a delightfully engaged audience, you wonder why you stopped?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LJluTpIHcYFaySqB5C-qodeFmDVJxiUlTVyS3_5Whc-xewlzVNaKDx2akpCFzHtpvLEfE63CRGvGAlChsKwOUsDA1cgc--9XQB0U8-FoQfrF3rjzPK29qrQVCAXIR3eS9zKcmFa-k1TB1dFOJLlAygTJaN-gfy3-BvJHEA0W1fm3gwUT83Wk3oF2bL8/s480/tumblr_o1wcsphfNj1qlbn8no1_500.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LJluTpIHcYFaySqB5C-qodeFmDVJxiUlTVyS3_5Whc-xewlzVNaKDx2akpCFzHtpvLEfE63CRGvGAlChsKwOUsDA1cgc--9XQB0U8-FoQfrF3rjzPK29qrQVCAXIR3eS9zKcmFa-k1TB1dFOJLlAygTJaN-gfy3-BvJHEA0W1fm3gwUT83Wk3oF2bL8/s320/tumblr_o1wcsphfNj1qlbn8no1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="https://theluckyhell.tumblr.com/post/138514318207/me-in-crowdsme-everyday-mood-monday" target="_blank">Lucky Hell on Tumblr</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b><span></span></b></p><a name='more'></a><b>HELLO.</b> That's us. Life is complicated all around but dang it, thanks to the amazing example and warm support of our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers/" target="_blank"><b>Twin Cities Theater Blogger</b></a> friends--like the indefatigable <b><a href="http://www.cherryandspoon.com/" target="_blank">Cherry and Spoon</a> </b>and <a href="https://thestagesofmn.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Stages of MN</b></a>--we are going to do our best to return to seeing all of the utterly fantastic theater that the Twin Cities has to offer. <p></p><p>But in the meantime . . . don't forget that we have a podcast with our other Twin Cities Theater Blogger friends called <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/" target="_blank"><b>Twin Cities Theater Chat</b></a>! It's NEAT. It's available on the internets and wherever you access your favorite podcasts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb_xlorHIKZI-8sdWFhOcDxdvNtum9jmCvpQ2uvGkBCuKeK8_usihthQXtxUM4GMDMYkImOOISjUidkSTku98IvzJa1FJAnuRTYsm0R1elrb3XQipo9D1DLKDS7d9jXepCHgyZhiNheSuedaMt3EwhdG2gc36y7aaaBXOqAINO79DnpfZlKIju5oe4qg/s1400/TCTB%20Podcast%20Logo%201.23%20big.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb_xlorHIKZI-8sdWFhOcDxdvNtum9jmCvpQ2uvGkBCuKeK8_usihthQXtxUM4GMDMYkImOOISjUidkSTku98IvzJa1FJAnuRTYsm0R1elrb3XQipo9D1DLKDS7d9jXepCHgyZhiNheSuedaMt3EwhdG2gc36y7aaaBXOqAINO79DnpfZlKIju5oe4qg/s320/TCTB%20Podcast%20Logo%201.23%20big.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We have two types of podcasts: <b>Mainstage</b> and <b>Recommends</b>. On the <b>Mainstage</b> episode, we interview theater artists and ask them probing questions like: "How do you learn all those lines?" (In all seriousness, I have promised to stop asking that question.) </p><p>We've had the great fortune of chatting with a number of fabulous local theater artists and can't wait to chat with more. Even after so many years of loving theater, we are learning so much from these wonderfully thoughtful and creative artists.</p><p>Have trouble settling on which local theater show(s) to add to your busy calendar? Check out our <b>Recommends</b> episodes, where our bloggers share which local shows they're seeing, recommending and eagerly anticipating. Think of it as a bite-sized theater sampler!</p><p>Check it out, tell your friends, rate and review us, yada yada. And happy theatergoing to you! 💜</p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-9155858922564046222023-07-31T21:53:00.010-05:002023-09-04T20:51:07.727-05:00Twin Cities Theater Chat addendum<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">We've got a Minnesota Fringe-tacular new episode up at Twin Cities Theater Chat called </span><a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13315587-s1e10-mainstage-recommendations-from-the-voices-of-fringe.mp3?download=true" style="text-align: left;"><b>Recommendations from the Voices of Fringe</b></a><span style="text-align: left;">. Do check it out!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">BTW, our podcast host has limited characters for the show notes, so here's the full list of recommendations from the lovely people who record the show announcements you'll hear at the <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/"><b>Minnesota Fringe Festival</b></a>.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><br />The Voices of Fringe you'll hear today are Maria Ghasssemlou, Leah Cooper, Natalie Rae Wass, and Josh Carson. Below are their show recommendations, including that of fifth Voice Jennifer Walker. <br /><br />Maria Ghassemlou is "seriously expecting silliness" and recommends:<br /><br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Stabby Stab Stab</a> by Special When Lit and The Winding Sheet Outfit<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Climbing my family tree</a> by Kurkendaal Barrett Presentations<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Fire in My Veins: Blazing through Life with Invisible Illness</a> by Allison Broeren<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">The Windblown Cheeks Of Lovers</a> by Mike Fotis Productions<br />-<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">20,000 Leagues Under the Telltale Heart</a> by Wet Splat Productions<br /><br />Leah Cooper's favorite Fringe experience "is a mix of a little bit of known and a little bit of total discovery." Her five picks are:<br /><br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Baldwin's Last Fire</a> by Black Lives Black Words International Project<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/ha-ha-da-vinci">Ha Ha Da Vinci</a> by Phina Pipia<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/reincarnation-soup">Reincarnation Soup</a> by Viet Nguyen<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">What If We Hugged?</a> by Comedy Suitcase<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/two-stars-in-the-vast-dark">Two Stars in the Vast Dark</a> By Found Creature<br /><br />Natalie Rae Wass says about picking Fringe shows: "Follow that curiosity because it can lead you to some magical places!" and recommends:<br /><br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Behemoth</a> by Hey Rube!<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/lost-in-bear-country-birth-god-death-and-the-berenstain-bears">Lost In Bear Country: Birth, God, Death... and the Berenstain Bears</a> by Phil Gonzales / Raffish Ripoff Productions<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/a-jingle-jangle-morning">A Jingle Jangle Morning</a> by Spektakular Theatre<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/float">FLOAT</a> by Juliana Frick<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Pearl and Eugene: One Last Shtick</a> by Clucklesworth Productions<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">My Only Hope for a Hero</a> by Rogues Gallery Arts<br /><br />For Josh Carson, "the whole point of Fringe is to discover someone new, and there's a lot of opportunity to do that." His picks:<br /><br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Fargo Allegro</a> by Nightfall Productions<br /> - <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Dock Work</a> by Jackdonkey Productions<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">CHRIS DAVIS DOES STUFF</a> by Chrisdavisdoesstuff<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/john-wick-by-tim-wick-no-relation-">John Wick by Tim Wick (no relation)</a> by Snikt! Bamf! Thwip!<br /><br />Jennifer Walker's picks for the Fringe include:<br /><br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">5 Prisoners</a> by Ghoulish Delights<br /> - <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Let Me Say This About That</a> by Imaginary Podcast Network<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/star-trek-the-next-improvisation-presented-by-huge-theater">Star Trek: The Next Improvisation</a> - Presented by HUGE Theater by Boldly Go Productions<br />- <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-very-model-of-a-modern-monster-scientist">The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist</a> by Mermaid Productions<br />- <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6019588233808345489/5052643805996213505#">Yes No Maybe (please explain)</a> By Sandbox Theatre <br /><br />Twin Cities Theater Chat is produced and hosted by Carol Jackson of <a href="http://www.mntheaterlove.com/">Minnesota Theater Love </a>and members of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers collective. As always, you can find the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/twincitiestheaterbloggers?hl=en">Instagram</a>. Read our review round-ups and go see a show today!<br /><br />Happy Fringing, everyone!Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-50526438059962135052023-07-29T22:04:00.005-05:002023-09-04T21:01:15.010-05:00It's (Minnesota) Fringe (Festival) Time! 30 Years!<div><b>The Minnesota Fringe Festival</b> is celebrating its thirty years of bringing adventurous theater to Minnesota theatergoers. <b>Thirty years of the MN Fringe! </b>Thousands of shows! So much theater! So many amazing artists!</div><div><br /></div><div>But we're here to talk 2023 Fringe. Before we get to the shows we're looking forward to, here's some quick details:<span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaVlm7FfCVDkVd9rGReU5CUEKKnEQlbdfG7YOpIA52GLSE-qCRvNuRUZFPleVRwnx4YIMaENSxVfF8EE8K5BH9HlVM95j5tn1YQXvcSy0aXTlCzoMbrjHrlymqbHGzYcfHeklhbn5WOx-G_aEYObOuBCnBxhG5f59FZp9IfgsgC-V8brB4V6rN9XMPFw/s1001/FringeLogo2023-30Years-DarkGrayMulti3.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaVlm7FfCVDkVd9rGReU5CUEKKnEQlbdfG7YOpIA52GLSE-qCRvNuRUZFPleVRwnx4YIMaENSxVfF8EE8K5BH9HlVM95j5tn1YQXvcSy0aXTlCzoMbrjHrlymqbHGzYcfHeklhbn5WOx-G_aEYObOuBCnBxhG5f59FZp9IfgsgC-V8brB4V6rN9XMPFw/w200-h200/FringeLogo2023-30Years-DarkGrayMulti3.png" width="200" /></a></div>The Minnesota Fringe Festival is held August 3-13, 2023 at various locations in Cedar-Riverside*. You need to buy a button. And tickets. More info is at <a href="http://mnfringe.com"><b>mnfringe.com</b></a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><i>*See also Independently Produced shows at various locations around the Twin Cities.</i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>ALSO</b>, subscribe to the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers' new podcast <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/" target="_blank"><b>Twin Cities Theater Chat</b></a> for more Fringe. (Subscribe, like, rate, review, tell your friends and family, shout it from the rooftops that a new podcast has come, whatever works for you.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13209242" target="_blank"><b>S1E7, MN Fringe Executive Director Dawn Bentley</b></a> tells us more about the festival is surviving and thriving and why the motto at the Fringe office is: "There's always <i>something </i>at the Fringe."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>On <a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/2150807/13283269" target="_blank"><b>S1E9 How to Fringe with the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers</b></a>, Jill Schafer of <a href="http://www.cherryandspoon.com/">Cherry and Spoon</a>, Rob Dunkelberger of <a href="https://thestagesofmn.com/">The Stages of MN</a>, and Erica Skarohlid of <a href="https://letteredintheatre.wordpress.com/">Lettered in Theatre</a> share their tips for making the most of the MN Fringe Festival.<div><br /></div><div><b>To the SHOWS!</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone has a different method for picking through the copious offerings of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Mine is to go through the <a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023" target="_blank">Show Listings</a> on the website, in alphabetical order, and favorite any that sound intriguing. Of over 100+ shows, I have a mere 56 shows favorited. </div><div><br /></div><div>Elements that go into my decision-making include genre, cast and crew, how intriguing the summary is AND the relative merits of the show art. Below, my semi-arbitrary list of must- and maybe-sees.</div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Oh, the HORROR! And Monsters and Things:</b></h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/stabby-stab-stab" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41376/Copy%20of%20Untitled%20(3).png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></b></a><b><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/stabby-stab-stab">Stabby Stab Stab</a> </b></div><div>By Special When Lit and The Winding Sheet Outfit<br /><i>Two pre-teens are compelled to serve a modern monster; an eyeless watcher whose price for loyalty is blood. In the age of electronic loneliness, how far would you go for friendship? Based on true events in WI.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/5-prisoners" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41377/5prisonersanimated-2023-06-25-14-58-45.gif?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/5-prisoners"><b>5 Prisoners</b></a><br />By Ghoulish Delights<br /><i>This sci-fi/horror anthology features five short scenes about unexpected spaces that confine unexpected prisoners, written by Pat Harrigan, John Heimbuch, Ariel Pinkerton, Tim Uren, and Duck Washington.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/a-girl-scout-s-guide-to-exorcism-" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41375/GSG2E%20Show%20Image-2023-05-30-20-32-17.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/a-girl-scout-s-guide-to-exorcism-"><b>A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism</b></a><br />By Melancholics Anonymous<br /><i>In the summer of ‘08, plucky Troop 172 summons Rosalie Barrow Edge, a militant environmentalist obsessed with hawks and vengeance. Join the Girl Scouts at Camp Nawakwa as they earn their first exorcism badge!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/monster-science-s-greatest-hits" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/42344/Greatest%20Hits-2023-07-05-19-26-43.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/monster-science-s-greatest-hits"><b>Monster Science's Greatest Hits</b></a><br />By Monster Science Productions<br /><i>Remounts of five of the award-winning, Fringe-favorite Rev Matt's Monster science shows - different every night! As chosen by some people I found! Watch this space for the lineup!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/4-bisexuals-and-2-guys-named-john-kill-dracula" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41425/Add%20a%20heading%20(4)-2023-06-30-22-43-42.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/4-bisexuals-and-2-guys-named-john-kill-dracula"><b>4 Bisexuals and 2 Guys Named John Kill Dracula</b></a><br />By Lady Chamberlain Productions<br /><i>Bram Stoker's classic vampire novel "Dracula" is one of the most adapted works of all time. This is another one of those adaptations. They're all dating each other in this one.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br />Literary Theater! It's Like Reading, Kind Of!</h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/when-you-hear-the-chime-" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41313/Alchemy%20Arts%20Fringe%20Website%20Banner-2023-06-13-13-13-22.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a></div><div><b><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/when-you-hear-the-chime-">When You Hear the Chime</a> </b></div><div>By Alchemy Arts<br /><i>A nostalgic love letter to the stories that made us, come explore what it means to believe in magic at any age. This whimsical, poignant journey will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel like a kid again.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/20-000-leagues-under-the-telltale-heart" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41399/20KLUTTTH%20Fringe%20Site%20-%20FINAL-2023-06-30-18-03-09.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/20-000-leagues-under-the-telltale-heart"><b>20,000 Leagues Under the Telltale Heart</b></a><br />By Wet Splat Productions<br /><i>Verne! Poe! Dickens! Twain! Christian Andersen! Kafka! Join us for a series of improvised tableaus based on their real-life correspondence. Everything in this show definitely, definitely really happened!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/baldwin-s-last-fire" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41424/baldwin%201-2023-05-31-19-16-55.JPG?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/baldwin-s-last-fire"><b>Baldwin's Last Fire</b></a><br />By Black Lives Black Words International Project<br /><i>In this historical fiction, James Baldwin has retired to a life hiding away in France when he uncovers a gripping murder mystery. Witness the unravelling of his final masterpiece.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/h-g-wells-the-invisible-man" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/42358/Copy%20of%2060s%20poster%20(Postcard)%20(Facebook%20Cover)%20(850%20%C3%97%20320%20px)%20(1200%20%C3%97%20674%20px).png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/h-g-wells-the-invisible-man"><b>H.G. Wells' THE INVISIBLE MAN</b></a></div>By [Un]Qualified<br /><i>It's H.G. Wells' THE INVISIBLE MAN - like you've never seen him before! Witness the story of Griffin, the Invisible Man, in a new physical, farcical adaptation featuring a madcap cast of four!</i><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/omar-khayyam-club" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41295/OKCA%20April%201921-2023-05-26-11-36-12.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/omar-khayyam-club"><b>Omar Khayyam Club</b></a><br />By Thee & Me Productions<br /><i>What do a 12th century Persian poet, a bargain bin, a 1900's gentleman's club, the Titanic, the Kentucky Derby, the Grateful Dead, Peanuts, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and a loaf of bread have in common? Come find out!</i><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">It's Hard to Be the Bard, Baby (aka Shakespeare)</h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/butts-in-seats-how-to-get-people-to-attend-your-shakespeare-production-by-having-musical-settings-for-the-lyrics-in-his-plays-numerous-examples-included-" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41457/Robert%20Fludd,%20Theatrum%20Orbi%20(full)-2023-06-24-20-25-06.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/butts-in-seats-how-to-get-people-to-attend-your-shakespeare-production-by-having-musical-settings-for-the-lyrics-in-his-plays-numerous-examples-included-"><b>Butts in Seats: How to Get People to Attend Your Shakespeare Production by Having Musical Settings for the Lyrics in His Plays. Numerous Examples Included.</b></a><br />By Ken Takata<br /><i>Shakespeare’s plays contain over 70 lyrics, but most of the original music has been lost. Here we present musical settings in styles including the Great American Songbook and glam rock. (See more info & video.)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/breakneck-midsummer-night-s-dream" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41324/BMND%20MN%20Fringe%20Web%20Image-2023-05-28-18-07-40.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/breakneck-midsummer-night-s-dream"><b>Breakneck Midsummer Night’s Dream</b></a><br />By Timothy Mooney Repertory Theatre<br /><i>Shakespeare’s most beloved play! A dose of Renaissance Viagra! Three couples vault their way into the marriage bed via this whirlwind tale of Romantic Rivalry, Fairy Ribaldry, Love Potions… and an Ass!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/brutus" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41439/1-2023-05-31-22-34-27.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/brutus"><b>BRUTUS</b></a><br />By Rebecca Wickert and Ella Eastman-Kiesow<br /><i>Awaken in the depths of a tormented mind and follow the quest of Shakespeare's young, passionate, and tragic hero as they navigate political and social influences in their own nightmare.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/audacious-ignatius-lost-in-atlantis" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41342/audacious_siteimage-2023-05-29-18-18-35.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/audacious-ignatius-lost-in-atlantis"><b>Audacious Ignatius: Lost in Atlantis</b></a><br />By Kyle B. Dekker<br /><i>Ignatius Donnelly was a big player in 19th Century Minnesota politics, he is best known as a crackpot tied to pseudoscience, pseudohistory, and Shakespeare conspiracies. A legacy Lost in Atlantis.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">I Don't Need Anything But You (Solo Shows)</h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/dolly-who-" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41483/DOLLY_WHO_FRINGE_DESTINY_DAVISON_2023-2023-06-30-22-28-21.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/dolly-who-"><b>DOLLY WHO?</b></a><br />By Destiny Davison<br /><i>In her solo debut, DOLLY WHO?, Destiny/Dolly Davison pitches a show that doesn't exist (yet) with help from her cartoon friends, life lessons, a dash of improv, and you.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/my-only-hope-for-a-hero" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41294/duck_washington_fringe_2023_promo-1-2023-05-30-16-51-47.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></b></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/my-only-hope-for-a-hero"><b>My Only Hope for a Hero</b></a><br />By Rogues Gallery Arts<br /><i>Local theater maker, Duck Washington, returns to the Fringe with his one person exploration of bravery and cowardice. In this ever changing world, does Duck have what it takes to be a hero? Does anyone?</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/chris-davis-does-stuff" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41507/image0.jpeg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/chris-davis-does-stuff"><b>CHRIS DAVIS DOES STUFF</b></a><br />By Chrisdavisdoesstuff<br /><i>Comedian Chris Davis, brings 2 different one man shows across 5 different FRINGE performances. "Just Black Enough", exploring race and what it means to be black & "Seriously, I'm Not Gay", exploring identity.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/5-step-guide-to-being-german" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41212/Minnesota%20thumbnail-2023-04-23-02-34-13.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/5-step-guide-to-being-german"><b>5-Step Guide to Being German</b></a><br />By Paco Erhard<br /><i>Wanna be German? Of course you do. And now you can, as German comic Paco Erhard teaches you how. Sold out worldwide, this award-winning show finally hits America. ★★★★★ Broadway Baby. 2022 Patrons Pick Orlando.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/climbing-my-family-tree-" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41453/ClimbingMyFamilyTree.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/climbing-my-family-tree-"><b>Climbing my family tree</b></a><br />By Kurkendaal Barrett Presentations<br /><i>Les takes a test on Ancestry.com . The results are shocking . Watch him uncover an almost 100 year old family mystery and meet some cool new relatives in the process!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/reincarnation-soup" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41380/Main%20Image%20-%20Black%20Background%20copy-2023-06-07-00-01-58.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/reincarnation-soup"><b>Reincarnation Soup</b></a><br />By Viet Nguyen<br /><i>A mythic tale of soup, Saigon, & recycled souls. Journey through the Vietnamese heart in this multi-character memory play. (Best of the Fest, Critics' Choice for Drama, & Patrons' Pick at the Orlando Fringe)</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Death and Loss and Grief and More</b></h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/float" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41374/FLOAT%20photo%20website-2023-06-29-17-04-29.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/float"><b>FLOAT</b></a><br />By Juliana Frick<br /><i>On her way home from a ten-day meditation retreat, Myra Van Gloov loses her luggage, her house keys and then her phone. It only gets worse from there. A lyrical, funny and moving portrait of grief.</i></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/fire-in-my-veins-blazing-through-life-with-invisible-illness" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41398/Fire%20in%20My%20Veins-2023-05-31-14-41-54.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><div><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/fire-in-my-veins-blazing-through-life-with-invisible-illness"><b>Fire in My Veins: Blazing through Life with Invisible Illness</b></a><br />By Allison Broeren<br /><i>This romp with Allison about living with a rare autoimmune disease for 20 years has it all. Chronic illness is hard, horrifying, and honestly, sometimes hilarious. See the remount after a sold out opening run.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/behemoth" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41427/Behemoth%20Poster-2023-06-30-13-14-54.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/behemoth"><b>Behemoth</b></a><br />By Hey Rube!<br /><i>In an attempt to save her dying mother and reconnect with her estranged father, a cynical daughter sifts through her memories in search of hope. From the creators of last year's award-winning Orzel Rising.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/dearest-mother" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41446/DearestMother.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/dearest-mother"><b>Dearest Mother</b></a><br />By Juggling Act Productions<br /><i>John Berryman, Pulitzer Prize winning poet and popular University of Minnesota professor, had a complicated and dramatic relationship with his mother as told through their many letters until his death in 1972.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-definition-of-loss" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41479/TDOL%20Photo%202-2023-06-30-21-19-00.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-definition-of-loss"><b>The Definition of Loss</b></a><br />By Ashen Armor Productions<br /><i>After the death of her mother, a teenager struggles through grief, guilt, and growing up. Will she be swallowed whole by the darkness, or will she be able to find herself again?</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Based on the Movie (or TV or Podcast or Horrifying True Story or Game)</h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/fargo-allegro" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41458/DEB9E056-47F0-482D-958C-A7CE812C0DD0-2023-07-01-00-03-17.jpeg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></b></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/fargo-allegro"><b>Fargo Allegro</b></a><br />By Nightfall Productions<br /><i>Didja hear all about what happened up there in Brainerd then? …Oh geeze…<br /></i><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/kill-b-the-epilogue" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41445/KBlogo3x26e-2023-06-26-16-25-27.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/shark-grant" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41411/Fringe%20Web_Poster01_Shark%20Grant_GFX_v03zj-2023-06-21-19-36-28.png?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/kill-b-the-epilogue"><b>Kill B: The Epilogue</b></a><br />By Six Elements Theatre<br /><i>"Kill B: The Epilogue", a satirical sequel to Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" duology, focuses on generational trauma, the manipulation of men, and the desire to be known and loved.<br /></i><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/shark-grant"><b>Shark Grant</b></a><br />By Flavorade Foucault<br /><i>Twelve artists begin this competition for one of our nation's most limited resources - grant money. To win, they must appease our panel of Sharks, who control the fund. Who will survive these.. Invested Waters?</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/let-me-say-this-about-that" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41249/Let%20Me%20Say-0152-2023-05-14-17-44-14.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/let-me-say-this-about-that"><b>Let Me Say This About That</b></a><br />By Imaginary Podcast Network<br /><i>Heather and Danna (with the "help" of their producer Raffi) host a podcast based on audience suggestions and "real advertisements". They improvise genres from true crime to conspiracy theories, or whatever else</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/_starved-the-astonishing-true-story-of-the-university-of-minnesota-starvation-experiment" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41460/mn%20starvation%20experiment-2023-06-01-13-29-47.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/_starved-the-astonishing-true-story-of-the-university-of-minnesota-starvation-experiment"><b>"Starved": The Astonishing True Story of the University of Minnesota Starvation Experiment</b></a><br />By Pat O'Brien<br /><i>As WWII ended, the Allies faced the task of caring for millions starving in Europe & Asia. The U of Mn. enlisted volunteers to study how to reintroduce the starving to food. First they had to starve themselves!</i></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/truth-or-truth" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="133" src="https://minnesotafringe.org/media-files/39277/41505/FRINGE%20LOGO-2023-06-30-14-20-51.jpg?&width=600&height=400&algorithm=fill" width="200" /></a></h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/truth-or-truth"><b>Truth or Truth</b></a><br />By DallaDanna Productions<br /><i>The audience asks our performers and guest storytellers the tough questions, and then we improvise scenes based on the stories being told. It's like "Truth or Dare?" without the potentially problematic stuff.</i></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br />More Favorite Artists, More Amazing Theater Companies, More Promising Newcomers</h3><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/coyfish"><b>Coyfish</b></a> By THEATRE23</div><div><i>When Benji meets Danie online, he falls for her. But this is not your traditional boy-meets-girl storyline. This piece dives into the complexities of the developing relationship between two Asian Americans.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/dock-work"><b>Dock Work</b></a> By Jackdonkey Productions<br /><i>An experimental, and devised show. Performed through moments of music, movement, and text. Follows the interpretive efforts of workers organizing a union.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/funny-like-an-abortion"><b>Funny, Like an Abortion</b></a> By EnCompass Theatre<br /><i>Monroe finds herself knocked up, and since abortions are illegal in the United States, she and her best friend Jade have an abortion party! A darkly comedic glimpse into a haunting future.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/grindr-help-desk-the-musical"><b>Grindr Help Desk: The Musical</b></a> By David Stillman<br /><i>This fun and raunchy show with heart has Candice working at the help desk of the gay dating app Grindr. With humor and sass, Candice helps callers with everything from dating advice to profile pics and more.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/joy-a-sketch-show"><b>Joy; A Sketch Show</b></a> By Rachel Buhman<br /><i>Experimental bits that cross through space, butts and various hands to find contentment in the night sky.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/opera-punks"><b>OPERA PUNKS</b></a> By SECRET CULT<br /><i>A wild web of improvised musical scenes. All dialogue is sung, and every scene is in a different musical genre. Accompanied by former Second City Music Director Kelly Shuda. You will die laughing. </i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/pearl-and-eugene-one-last-shtick"><b>Pearl and Eugene: One Last Shtick</b></a> By Clucklesworth Productions<br /><i>Once, Pearl and Eugene were a dynamic musical duo. They had big-time stage careers and throngs of fans. Now, they live in a Jewish retirement home and have no one to visit them. When a developer threatens to take their home away, they decide to perform one more time to raise money and save it. Can they overcome the drama that split up their old act? Will old secrets be revealed? Will the actors get tired of eating tapioca pudding? Find out!</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/primary"><b>Primary</b></a> By Alex Church<br /><i>Members of a powerful Democratic family are forced to confront exactly how far they'll go to win after their matriarch loses her primary to a progressive challenger. 15% of sales donated to Women Winning</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/reception"><b>Reception</b></a> By Downton Productions<br /><i>RECEPTION is a comedy-drama about family, acceptance, and Star Wars. A couple faces disapproval from both of their families during a Star Wars-themed wedding, which could end the marriage before it even begins.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-duet"><b>The Duet</b></a> By ThickWater<br /><i>A once famous country music duo, now grinding it out on the dive bar and casino circuit, is attempting to write the song that will take them back to the top.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-place-i-return-to"><b>The Place I Return To</b></a> By Cornucopia Productions<br /><i>Adapted from his poems & journal entries across five winters, we witness both the stagnation and the evolution of emotion as Abdimalik grows up between the ages of 18-21, stuck in his room with his depression.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-resilient-child"><b>The Resilient Child</b></a> By Fortune’s Fool Theatre<br /><i>Children should be seen AND heard. 4 local storytellers and 3 children use personal narrative, rhyme, and song to recount surviving childhood to come out strong, brave, and resilient.</i><br /><br /><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-shrieking-harpies"><b>The Shrieking Harpies</b></a> By The Shrieking Harpies<br /><i>The Shrieking Harpies are a musical improv trio featuring Lizzie Gardner, Taj Ruler, Hannah Wydeven, & with Justin Nellis on the keys. Our show blends musical genres into an improvised story!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/the-windblown-cheeks-of-lovers"><b>The Windblown Cheeks Of Lovers</b></a> By Mike Fotis Productions<br /><i>A staged documentary about the creation of the hit 1984 mini-series, The Windblown Cheeks of Lovers.</i><div><br /></div><div><div><b><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/what-if-we-hugged">What If We Hugged?</a> </b>by Comedy Suitcase</div><div><i>Stories of masculinity, fatherhood, and heart disease from a comedy writer turned race and gender justice worker.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><div><a href="https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2023/yes-no-maybe-please-explain-"><b>Yes No Maybe (please explain)</b></a> By Sandbox Theatre</div><div><i>Step back into the 90's with this heartfelt, awkward, sometimes cringy look at Kristina's notes from high school.</i></div></div><div><i><br /></i></div><b>Happy Fringing, y'all!</b></div>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6019588233808345489.post-90814935444512948602023-07-06T11:10:00.008-05:002023-09-04T21:03:18.510-05:00Update: We Left the House! aka Some Shows We've Seen (Summer 2023)<p>Hello friends!</p><p>Our friends over at <a href="http://www.cherryandspoon.com/" target="_blank">Cherry and Spoon</a> and <a href="https://thestagesofmn.com/" target="_blank">The Stages of MN</a> have persuaded us to finally get out and see some theater. So we have! And dang it, we're going to tell you about it.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><a href="https://artistrymn.org/pajamagame" target="_blank"><i><b>The Pajama Game</b></i></a> at Artistry</p><p>A very fun summer show. The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers did an event wherein people wore their jimjams. And we had a talkback with director Ben Bakken and some of the cast. Great chat about what it's like doing one of the great musical theater classics in 2023 and an interesting look at the role intimacy direction plays in a show like this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0lpOVfYyGrFEOf2lCzCeDQW0AGvbGEy-VQ8UsV-uIrcmuQWw38FNN_kfUvDdx8eNvrEOk_4nNDufTwG6-RyS86aBV-HZx5SVRNpkA_vfMgiy0YqXR5HSTTtGxcjeuBdXz2Pz_AzIOfvZwUFvnjvnkCtpXFXrijKeOyuaG4jImPomNxKVwAIpG8ej/s697/person-actual-photo-having-leave-my-house-go-somewhere.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="697" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0lpOVfYyGrFEOf2lCzCeDQW0AGvbGEy-VQ8UsV-uIrcmuQWw38FNN_kfUvDdx8eNvrEOk_4nNDufTwG6-RyS86aBV-HZx5SVRNpkA_vfMgiy0YqXR5HSTTtGxcjeuBdXz2Pz_AzIOfvZwUFvnjvnkCtpXFXrijKeOyuaG4jImPomNxKVwAIpG8ej/s320/person-actual-photo-having-leave-my-house-go-somewhere.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://www.historytheatre.com/2022-2023/defeat-jesse-james" target="_blank"><i><b>The Defeat of Jesse James</b></i></a> at History Theatre</p><p>We could not not go see this new musical with a book by Jeffrey Hatcher and music by Chan Poling because the cast was outstanding. Sasha Andreev, Jen Burleigh-Bentz, Hope Nordquist, Jordan Leggett, James Ramlet, Dane Stauffer, and Angie Timberman. Adam Qualls was a fantastic Jesse James. I would not have been heartbroken to also see his understudy Randy Schmeling in the role. Everyone was fabulous, music was great, and the way they depicted gun play was just right for a shell-shocked 2023 audience. Hope this has as long a life as <a href="https://www.historytheatre.com/2022-2023/glensheen" target="_blank"><i>Glensheen</i></a>!<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://mnopera.org/season/2022-2023/don-giovanni/" target="_blank"><i><b>Don Giovanni</b></i></a> at Minnesota Opera</p><p>Love MN Opera, love Mozart, love a big summer opera, but this was a misstep. You can't start an opera with a sexual assault by the main character and then pretend like he is just a delightful cad. The combination of Don Giovanni and Leporello was like the worst of toxic masculinity depicted onstage. Despite some amazing performances, particularly by Symone Harcum as Donna Anna and Sara Gartland as Donna Elvira, we left at intermission. If you are going to do Don Giovanni for a contemporary audience, you need to get the tone right. A rare misstep for MN Opera, who has given us amazing opera this season in <i>Rinaldo</i> and <i>The Song Poet</i>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58JrsIjV1czC8c5cm4wYcWaoCH5VeoFBsijwcdVDX-I2XhQQf8dCTf0UXH-f_0_wfeilpqc8OIpbXCMxtknpDX7UMndP2vjEszpkbsInklle1ybRa9x5sHEDrYNnpxJ5LeKb6a_Np9jNLBLOEC1lPhjyKmUgCrncm3zZ_zPFvxwSraDWWLsZniwdWkgA/s1621/3+Decembers+Updated+Credits.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1621" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58JrsIjV1czC8c5cm4wYcWaoCH5VeoFBsijwcdVDX-I2XhQQf8dCTf0UXH-f_0_wfeilpqc8OIpbXCMxtknpDX7UMndP2vjEszpkbsInklle1ybRa9x5sHEDrYNnpxJ5LeKb6a_Np9jNLBLOEC1lPhjyKmUgCrncm3zZ_zPFvxwSraDWWLsZniwdWkgA/s320/3+Decembers+Updated+Credits.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://www.skylarkopera.org/news/2023/5/1/happenings-at-skylark-may-2023" target="_blank"><b><i>Three Decembers</i></b></a> - Skylark Opera Theatre</p><p>We've loved Skylark Opera since it was Northstar Opera and performed a summer operetta festival every year at E.M. Pearson theater in St. Paul. They've continued to do amazing work for years and have performed some amazing new works. T<i>hree Decembers </i>was a treat. This chamber opera opens with the memorial of Madeline Mitchell, the late, great actress (Norah Long in a role she was born to play), attended by her two slightly estranged children (Siena Forest and Anthony Potts). Accompanied by two pianos and featuring outstanding vocal performances, this production was an utter pleasure. Beautifully done by all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_9Nh25j06PZqP7-KFmZn4Cr28OhBNdH-Prft6BrbD0VeHxDxbrLzQzuFOIv6DVG-x7Sd7DWI0ChhMCjZfcJFBI81KmxFBLZaCy6qQHjIQ01swDoayglzQ3nK7GUwdPCuh1usijhH0IIWTZHufszLXzjUkHWl7CzxhtyF4asobD7mOp2hmAe9Q7QqkFM/s528/Prom_400x528web.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_9Nh25j06PZqP7-KFmZn4Cr28OhBNdH-Prft6BrbD0VeHxDxbrLzQzuFOIv6DVG-x7Sd7DWI0ChhMCjZfcJFBI81KmxFBLZaCy6qQHjIQ01swDoayglzQ3nK7GUwdPCuh1usijhH0IIWTZHufszLXzjUkHWl7CzxhtyF4asobD7mOp2hmAe9Q7QqkFM/s320/Prom_400x528web.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p><a href="https://chanhassendt.com/theprom/" target="_blank"><i><b>The Prom</b></i></a> - Chanhassen Dinner Theatres</p><p>We missed the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers Date to the Prom event, but managed to get there in the last days. So glad we did! We saw The Prom on Broadway and loved it. The less said about the tv version, the better. I mean, casting Meryl Streep in Beth Leavel's role? James Corden? No. Chanhassen's production was absolutely wonderful. Tod Peterson gave a new sweetness to Barry Glickman, Jodi Carmeli was a delightful Dee Dee Allen, and we had the pleasure of catching Michael Gruber as Trent Oliver. And Monty Hays as Emma Nolan was a revelation. Loved Maya Richardson as Alyssa and JoeNathan Thomas as Principal Hawkins as well. So glad that the Chan took on this show! And the pride cake was wonderful. Want to learn more about <i>The Prom</i> at Chanhassen? Check out this <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2150807/12964371-extra-the-prom-at-the-chan-post-show-discussion.mp3?download=true" target="_blank">extra post-show discussion</a> on the Twin Cities Theater Chat podcast.</p><p><a href="https://www.jungletheater.org/the-courtroom" target="_blank"><i><b>The Courtroom: A Reenactment of One Woman's Deportation Proceedings</b></i></a> - Jungle Theatre</p><p>We were able to see this show when it was performed in a courtroom at Hamline University. Beautifully arranged by Arian Moayed from actual transcripts and directed by James Rodriguez, this was a fascinating look at how challenging our legal system is to negotiate for new residents. Original and powerful with an outstanding performance by Stephanie Anne Bertumen as an immigrant from the Philippines who is caught up in this legal dilemma.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96DP5fWduvZWsOMBH3WJhGRu0ilahA4WVCBf0-clp-I3Nn4CfMC60hmPz3WYVw3JRhwdOy8mTiUrZeb3OEWTfBq66_WCTpfdM4-8ApVfIyjTWrE5SFeTxfhE65lr6aneuGrZPj99zBN-R-yT_dJJgFStq4LL3JYJLxMWM8Q-Yphg8p-uIn4eO7f7Wa2k/s940/RedSpeedo_LucasHnath%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="940" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96DP5fWduvZWsOMBH3WJhGRu0ilahA4WVCBf0-clp-I3Nn4CfMC60hmPz3WYVw3JRhwdOy8mTiUrZeb3OEWTfBq66_WCTpfdM4-8ApVfIyjTWrE5SFeTxfhE65lr6aneuGrZPj99zBN-R-yT_dJJgFStq4LL3JYJLxMWM8Q-Yphg8p-uIn4eO7f7Wa2k/s320/RedSpeedo_LucasHnath%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><a href="https://www.walkingshadow.org/red-speedo/" target="_blank"><i><b>Red Speedo</b></i></a> - Walking Shadow Theatre Company</p><p>We returned to Hamline University, this time to the pool (!!) for Walking Shadow's production of Red Speedo. This show featured an amazing performance by the wearer of the titular red Speedo: Logan Lang. John Winston Stephens as his coach, Paul LaNave as his brother/manager, and Amanda Forstrom as his trainer/ex-girlfriend were all also wonderful as was Natalie Novacek's engaging direction. Seeing a play at poolside was unusual and compelling. </p><p style="text-align: center;">YAY! THEATER! Also, check out the Twin Cities Theater Blogger's new podcast: </p><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com" target="_blank"><b>Twin Cities Theater Chat</b></a>!</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kkyS8PCw_7kPEMKc1h3WW-5TTPzrfd2BQAc6MDJowg8QdP_Q6-3f_--qxIVb2zuyNZd9N43gyN_T8yQmwshpQedTpwSiQ5ufKTGWoFQmQH8w6bzJo5502VBR92lwlBwjEO13EWWybLo6QfsAFtJXOO-IUdtMvFgj3hFXpyRpPatwfT-LkML6QeCthl0/s320/TCTB%20Podcast%20Logo%201.23%20big.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Carlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07498558919844456129noreply@blogger.com