Saturday, December 15, 2018

Dread the Halls by Oncoming Productions at Off-Leash Art Box

Please note that this show runs from December 14-16 ONLY so we are going to make this fast, short and sweet!

Love horror? Love theater? Love Christmas stories with a twist? Get yourself to the Off-Leash Art Box in Minneapolis to Dread the Halls: A Gathering of Holiday Horror.

Presented by Oncoming Productions, Dread the Halls features four short holiday-themed vignettes interspersed with music by The Champagne Drops. Anyone who loves the Twin Cities Horror Festival (and you SHOULD--how many times do we have to tell you?) needs to catch this show.

Dread the Halls starts with Rogues Gallery Arts's "Naughty or Nice," a short piece about siblings surviving the zombie apocalypse. You may note overtones of Dawn of the Dead and The Ref. Written by Duck Washington and directed by Jena Young, "Naughty or Nice" manages to create strong characters and believable, touching familial relationships in a very short play. Lovely acting by Brynn Berryhill and Eric Thompson as Constance and Gabe add even more depth and emotion. I love the skilled way Washington sketches the setting with a radio voice-over and the lighting (by Julia Carlis) beautifully evokes the mood.

Between each segment, the lovely duo The Champagne Drops (Leslie Vincent and Emily Dussault) accompanied by Erik Ostrom (on a variety of instruments) add their distinctive blended voices to haunting original numbers as well as putting a dark twist on holiday classics. You'll never hear "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" the same way again. Also, they need to put out a Halloween album like now please.  

"777: A Very Crowley Christmas", is a Ghoulish Delights production created and performed by Tim Uren (also of the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society--a podcast you should definitely be listening to). Uren takes us through the complex history of Aleister Crowley and the concept of Anti-Christmas. His approach reminded us of his fellow Twin Cities Horror Festival alum Reverend Matt's Monster Science. That is, until Uren's tale ends with a mysterious, startling twist. 

Erin Sheppard Presents is up next with "Searching for Santa (You Better Watch Out)" which tells the story of a man (Joe Bozic) who heads to the North Pole in search of Santa Claus. He does not find Santa (spoiler!) but what he does find there is delightfully dark, creepy and funny. Written by Joe Bozic and choreographed by Erin Sheppard, this twisted holiday tale features Sheppard's signature fantastic blend of athletic, energetic dance and perfect contemporary song choice. We love that Sheppard's dancers are also compelling actors (Erin Sheppard, Regan K. Saunders, Jessica Chad) as well as dancers. And the costumes are spot-on--particularly Sheppard's first costume, which is hilarious. As we always say when we see her work: Yay, more Erin Sheppard Presents PLEASE.

The last play of the evening is Oncoming Productions's fantastic "Holiday Spirits," written by Sean Dillon and directed by Victoria Pyan. Simultaneously funny and genuinely spooky, "Holiday Spirits" tells the story of Jackson (Sean Dillon) and Tim (Rob Ward) who, upon moving into their new (old) house, find a bottle of cognac which gives them some very unexpected effects. To say more would spoil the magical surprise of where the story goes, but suffice it to say that we'd love to see much more of these characters and their story. Hilarious and chilling and a perfect way to end a winter's evening. 

Go! Quick! Follow and support these amazing theater companies! Happy Holidays! BYE!

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Black Nativity (2018) at Penumbra Theatre

Always a great way to start the holiday season off on the right note, Black Nativity is back at Penumbra Theatre, running through December 23.

This perennial favorite tells the story of the birth of Christ through music and dance, with many familiar faces and voices.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Alt-Holiday Show Guide for 2018

'Tis the season for holiday theatergoing!

Before you buy your tickets to the various Christmas Carols and Nutcrackers around town, check out one of our smaller theaters for something a little different, a little more intimate and a lot more lowercase letters. And sometimes? These shows aren't even about the holidays. WHAT. I know.

Monday, November 26, 2018

We Saw Some Shows - November 2018 Sum-Up

Here are a few short takes on shows we've seen lately.


In October, we saw The Haunting of Hill House by Theatre X at the James J. Hill House, which we were SO on board with immediately.


Saturday, November 24, 2018

A Weekend in Witch City: Salem Horror Fest 2018

This year, one horror festival was not nearly enough for us, so we headed to Salem for the 2nd annual Salem Horror Fest. It was crazy fun.

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

TCHF VII: Reverend Matt's Monster Science - Demons of the Deep Blue Sea

Show: Demons of the Deep Blue Sea
By: Monster Science Productions

Krakens are the best. Look at him hug that ship!
Genre: Theater, Comedy, historical, non-fiction, storytelling

What's It All About:
"Rev. Matt’s infotational talks return! Get the historical background, comedy jokes, and PowerPoint that you need about the monsters we create and the fears they embody. This year, the first two dates will feature a talk about Old Nick, the First Among the Fallen, the history of the Christian Satan himself. And the last three will be a piece about sirens, krakens, Great Cthulhu, and other horrors of the deep blue sea!"

What We Thought:
Reverend Matt of Rev. Matt's Monster Science is presenting two shows at this year's Twin Cities Horror Festival: Sympathy for the Devil and Demons of the Deep Blue Sea. We've already gone on at considerable length about Rev. Matt and his Monster Science, who we first encountered at last year's TCHF. We've used the word delightful more times than we can count. We see his shows even when they are VERY LATE. What else is there to say?

We will say this: When Rev. Matt talks about cephalopods, his face lights up.

Many people can (and DO) talk about their passions endlessly, but Rev. Matt makes his passion (for monsters!) personal, relatable, informative and completely hilarious. His enthusiasm is endearing and infectious--especially for the topic of creatures of the sea, which is rich with mythological, historical, and literary wonder, plus a few Ray Harryhausen references.

In a Star Tribune article, Jason Ballweber of the TCHF says: "'You could talk to Reverend Matt all night if you just asked him, ‘Hey, what do you think about vampires?’" After seeing a Rev. Matt's Monster Science show, that's exactly what you want to do. Demons of the Deep Blue Sea is one of his most delightful shows. Don't miss it.

TCHF VII: Greenway

Show: Greenway
By: Tom Reed


Genre: Theater, Survival, Suspense

What's It All About:
"Late on a crisp fall night, a bike commuter’s worst nightmare comes true. Eva is riding alone on the Greenway bike path - a dark trench lit only by her bike light - and something unfriendly starts following her. And it's catching up. And she can’t pedal any faster. And her light just died."

What We Thought:
So far, Greenway is the spookiest show at the Twin Cities Horror Festival this year. Yay, spooky! Written and directed by Tom Reed, the play starts with a group of friends heading off after an evening at a show. Eva gets on her bike to head home and her coworker (boss?) Dave offers to accompany her home. He persuades her to take the Greenway instead of her preferred city streets. The conversation that ensues between Eva and Dave is freaking SPOT-ON and way too familiar, and soon Eva is on her own on the Greenway.

To say much more would be spoilery, but suffice it to say that she should have taken the city streets. Think Duel on bikes. The staging and use of lighting is ingenious and realistic. Greenway has a delightful slow burn and beautifully settles into a suspenseful, tense atmosphere which ends with a genuinely uncertain resolution. And I'm really glad I didn't have to ride my bike home.

TCHF VII: Book of Shadows II

Show: Book of Shadows II
By: Erin Sheppard Presents


Genre: Dance, Storytelling, Psychological

What's It All About:
"Book of Shadows II revisits the underlying theme of witchcraft from the first Book of Shadows, exploring more facets of magic through dance and storytelling. Dances delve into dark magic and the horrors that await when tampering with the unknown. Taj Ruler casts more delightful spells written as a young tween witch, which are interspersed between dances. Sometimes magic is the only way to get what you truly want.'

What We Thought:
Discovering the work of Erin Sheppard Presents has been one of the best things about the Twin Cities Horror Festival. Not being particular dance fans, we might not have checked out her work if not for TCHF. We caught Erin Sheppard's work back at TCHF V with Book of Shadows and loved last year's After the Party and have been avid fans ever since.

Book of Shadows II was listed as a sequel to the first, which, in addition to dance, featured stories by Taj Ruler. This time around, Heather Meyer (creator of the legendary Women's History Month: The Historical Comedybration) tells a story called The Five Tools of Sophia Turnbolt, about a girl who longs to become a witch. The dance numbers are a bit less related to the narrative than in past shows we've seen by Erin Sheppard Presents, but are still fantastic. We love Erin Sheppard's musical choices, which are delightful, and her dances are modern and fresh. The dancers (sporting AMAZING E.S.P. jackets) are strong and versatile, and portray emotions from humor to love to menace with equal skill. 

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Twin Cities Horror Fest VII: Review Round-up

Dear TCHF, Love us.
Friends, I can't remember: Did we mention that we LOVE the Twin Cities Horror Festival? Cause we do. And you should GO. Sincerely, us.

For your TCHF-going (or vicarious reading) enjoyment, here are links to our posts about the shows in this year's festival:

A Morbid History of Sons and Daughters by The Vincent Hovis Experience
"The performances are universally excellent and the songs are intriguing..."

Reverend Matt's Monster Science: Sympathy for the Devil by Monster Science Productions
"His delightful shows are a perfect intermezzo between more spooky offerings."

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Rogues Gallery Arts
"Just a beautifully done show. Bring your family--or anyone who is young at heart."


St Kilda by Jody Christopherson
"Atmospheric and dreamy, St Kilda is a unique theatrical experience."

Book of Shadows II by Erin Sheppard Presents
"Her musical choices are delightful, and her dances are modern and fresh."

Greenway by Tom Reed
"Has a delightful slow burn and beautifully settles into a suspenseful, tense atmosphere"

Reverend Matt's Monster Science: Demons of the Deep Blue Sea by Monster Science Productions
"Rev. Matt makes his passion (for monsters!) personal, relatable, informative and completely hilarious."


And here's what other reviewers are saying:

TC Horror Fest review: Danger on the Greenway, campfire tales, and other terrors - Jay Gabler (City Pages)



Monday, October 29, 2018

TCHF VII: St Kilda

Show: St Kilda
By: Jody Christopherson


Genre: Music, Theater , Badass Scottish/ American, Supernatural, Feminist, Travel Horror, includes some Comedy and Gore

What's It All About:
"After the death of her Grandmother, an American woman travels to an abandoned island off the coast of Scotland and unearths a dark family secret. St Kilda is a new horror play/theatrical mono-concert written and performed in near darkness by New York-based award winning theater artist Jody Christopherson."

What We Thought:
Atmospheric and dreamy, St Kilda is a unique theatrical experience. Alone on a bare, dark stage, Jody Christopherson (who also wrote the show) tells the story of journeying to the mysterious Scottish island of her beloved late grandmother's birth. St Kilda uses looping audio, interspersed recorded voices in conversation, and haunting song snippets to build an uncanny, unsettling story (and world) of secrets and mystery.

New York-based performer Jody Christopherson is an engaging storyteller, and her technical mastery is impressive as she manipulates her microphones, recorders and sound effect props to create this story. Although seeing the machinations steals a bit of focus, she creates a wonderfully magical soundscape. St Kilda is directed by Isaac Byrne, with Foley and sound design by Andy Evan Cohen, and you can check out this preview to get a sense of her work.

The setting Christopherson chose is a particularly intriguing one. According to the program, "St. Kilda is very loosely based on historical facts surrounding the evacuation of St. Kilda's only inhabitable island, Hirta, on August 29th 1930, following the death of 22-year-old Mary Gillies." Atlas Obscura provides more of the story: "Their lives had become unsustainable in the face of modernity and a rapidly diminishing population. The evacuation took place on August 29th that same year, when a ship called Harebell took the remaining villagers to their new homes in mainland Scotland. The villagers left behind a plate of oats and an open Bible in each cottage before boarding the ship." Fascinating!

Mysterious Scottish island? Of course this show reminds us of one of the greatest horror films EVER: The Wicker Man (1973). Won't some local theater company do a production of this? Or at least a concert of the amazing soundtrack? Please?

TCHF VII: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Show: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
By: Rogues Gallery Arts


Genre: Theater, Music, All Ages, comedy, historical, non-fiction, storytelling

What's It All About:
"Based on the classic American horror story by Washington Irving. In the old town of Sleepy Hollow Katrina Van Tassel meets the new schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane. He desires her hand, but several obstacles stand against their pairing including local ruffian, Brom Bones, and the ghostly spectre of a Headless Horseman rumored to reside in the area."

What We Thought:
I do love the HH. Not sure what that says
about my taste in men.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the only show in the Twin Cities Horror Festival that's listed as "family friendly" and judging by the giggles from the children in the theater, it's a success. (And children are a tough audience!) This show is beautifully adapted from Washington Irving's story by Duck Washington and Tim Wick. Although this is a familiar tale, the adaptation has rich characterization of even the supporting characters. (More of Jason Kruger's Reuben, please!)

The musical trio of Arabella (Erin Kennedy), Stan (Geoffrey Brown) and Burt (Tim Wick) narrate the action with clever, tuneful songs by Geoffrey Brown and Tim Wick. Andy Browers as Ichabod Crane and Missy Watson as Katrina Von Tassel are charming, engaging performers and their love story has a surprising, feminist twist. Mahmoud Hakima's sympathetic portrayal of Brom Bones made me reconsider the character entirely. The low-tech, but ingenious design of minimal props and projections focuses on the strong storytelling, creating a beautifully old-fashioned experience. That said, the depiction of the Headless Horseman and his chase of Ichabod is AMAZING. Just a beautifully done show. Bring your family--or anyone who is young at heart.

Last year, Rogues Gallery Arts brought us the most chilling play in the festival: Intuition and the Mantis. Remembering that show made us appreciate anew Duck Washington's writing and especially his gifts in creating strong characters, especially women. 💓 

TCHF VII: Reverend Matt's Monster Science - Sympathy for the Devil

Show: Reverend Matt's Monster Science: Sympathy for the Devil
By: Monster Science Productions

Amazing photo by Kari Elizabeth Godfrey

Genre: Theater, comedy, historical, non-fiction, storytelling

What's It All About:
"Rev. Matt’s infotational talks return! Get the historical background, comedy jokes, and PowerPoint that you need about the monsters we create and the fears they embody. This year, the first two dates will feature a talk about Old Nick, the First Among the Fallen, the history of the Christian Satan himself. And the last three will be a piece about sirens, krakens, Great Cthulhu, and other horrors of the deep blue sea!'"

What We Thought:
Reverend Matt's Monster Science is becoming a Twin Cities institution, with a constantly-expanding array of hilarious, informative presentations about monsters. He has two shows at TCHF: Sympathy for the Devil (first two dates) and Demons of the Deep Blue Sea (remaining three shows). In Sympathy, Rev. Matt provides an in-depth look at depictions of Satan through the millennia with copious historical references. His trusty accompanying Powerpoint was particularly useful as some of the descriptions of the devil are truly bewildering (three heads? heads in stomachs?) This show made me wish for a syllabus--or at least a list of the complex names of the devil. (Or maybe not! Eek!)

Did we mention also the funny? One of the most unique aspects of Rev. Matt's particular brand of storytelling is his ability to add humor to a fairly academic presentation with only a quirk of an eyebrow or a well-timed shrug--in addition to superbly dry jokes, of course. The pop culture references are also a treat. We particularly loved seeing a favorite Harvey comics character pop up, which made us seriously rethink our childhood reading choices. Go see Rev. Matt. His delightful shows are a perfect intermezzo between more spooky offerings at the Twin Cities Horror Fest.

Side note: While I was writing this, this song came on my Halloween mix, so I'm sharing it with you. The incomparable Bessie Smith singing "Devil's Gonna Get You."


TCHF VII: A Morbid History of Sons and Daughters

Show: A Morbid History of Sons and Daughters
By: The Vincent Hovis Experience

Eep. Kids in masks. Yikes.

Genre: Music, Psychological

What's It All About:
"There's a sickness in our blood. A desire for something sinister that is passed down from generation to generation. An impulse that turns into a want that turns into a need. You are cordially invited to The Ritual. Five people gather to tell interweaving tales of tendencies they have spent a lifetime trying to contain. But sometimes, we all need a little release. And nothing can make you feel more at home than seeing the light drain from a person's eyes. A Morbid History of Sons & Daughters is an exploration of lineage and the darkest recesses of the human mind.'"

What We Thought:
Even if we didn't see everything in the Twin Cities Horror Fest, this show would have been at the top of our list. Musical theater plus horror? Yes, please. Plus, this ensemble-created show features a particularly amazing ensemble: Gracie Kay Anderson, Keith Hovis, Derek Lee Miller, Amanda Verstegen and Leslie Vincent.

Keith Hovis, playwright and composer, is a master of mixing the macabre and the funny with clever, melodic songs (see Teenage Misery and Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant, coming to Park Square Theatre in June 2019). Leslie Vincent's gorgeous and unique voice is particularly suited to his work, lending a bit of sweetness to even the most sinister of songs. Add in Derek Lee Miller and director Allison Witham (who we've admired for ages thanks to their Transatlantic Love Affair work) and we were sold.

The show starts with campers telling spooky stories of serial killers around a campfire, then moves to interweaving vignettes of those killers and their victims. Darker in tone (and lighting) and less funny than we expected, Morbid History has created a world of fully fleshed-out (ha!) and interconnected tales that is pleasantly surprising for an original, ensemble-created, hour-long show. The performances are universally excellent and the songs are intriguing--I'd like to hear them again. Here's hoping this show goes on to a more developed production, but in the meantime, we'll just have to go see it again!

Saturday, October 20, 2018

Twin Cities Horror Fest VII: Why We STILL Love TCHF

Friends, we love the Twin Cities Horror Fest, which runs October 25 through November 4 at the Southern Theater. The TCHF, now in its seventh year, combines two of our very favorite things: horror and theater.


But MN Theater Love, you ask, what if I don't like 'horror'? Should I still support this theater festival with my valuable theatergoing time and money? YES. Yes, you should.

Andrea Subisatti covers this very subject in her Editor's Note in the current issue of Rue Morgue magazine:
"Even for those of us who celebrate Halloween all year long, we have to admit that there's something magical about seeing the extra candy aisles and pumpkin bins at the grocery store. It feels like the one time of the year where the rest of the world realizes what we horror fans have been saying all along -- that there's something liberating, cathartic and just plain fun in indulging your dark side and confronting the things that go bump in the night."
Live theater is an experience like no other. It creates immediacy, catharsis and emotional resonance. Horror does the same. Combine the two, and add in shows and performances by the Twin Cities' most talented theater artists, and you get magic. The producers of the TCHF also have a few things to say about why they do horror:
"Depicting horror also is an artistic challenge. Every production hinges on its script, acting, and technical elements, but the stakes are higher when producers are trying to elicit the raw, extreme, and personal reactions associated with fear. The producers of the TCHF thrive on that challenge."
There is literally something for everyone at the TCHF. As John Carpenter once said, "Horror is a reaction, not a genre." In the past, shows have ranged from suspenseful and chilling, shocking and gory, socially conscious and tension-breakingly funny. This year, you have shows featuring music, dance, comedy, short films, historical legends, serial killers, witchcraft and monsters of the deep. 

Here's a rundown of the shows at the Twin Cities Horror Festival VII. Short (very short) descriptions are from the TCHF website. Here's the full TCHF Schedule. (Check out our short reviews here.)

The Bathtub Girls by The ColdHarts & Kairos Collective

In Short: "Created and performed by Kairos Collective from Toronto, Ontario, "The Bathtub Girls" is a fiction inspired by the first known case of sibling matricide in Canada. Two sisters, egged on by their friends, drown their mother in the bathtub of their family home. The play examines how three immigrants’ determination to rapidly assimilate into a Canadian suburb led to the destruction of their family, and the rebuilding of the girls’ lives."

Why We're Excited: Though Kairos Collective is new to us, The ColdHarts and their unique (and humorous) musical takes on gothic tales are longtime favorites. Also, it's a very intriguing story. 

Book of Shadows II
Book of Shadows II by Erin Sheppard Presents

In Short: "Book of Shadows II revisits the underlying theme of witchcraft from the first Book of Shadows, exploring more facets of magic through dance and storytelling. Dances delve into dark magic and the horrors that await when tampering with the unknown. Taj Ruler casts more delightful spells written as a young tween witch, which are interspersed between dances. Sometimes magic is the only way to get what you truly want."

Why We're Excited: Erin Sheppard Presents is always on our don't-miss list. As we said about TCHF V's Book of Shadows: "The dances are beautiful, so gorgeously done, with simple costumes and wonderful lighting, and they tell simple but effective stories." And her music choices are amazing.

A Confederate Widow in Hell by Breaker/Fixer Productions

In Short: "After 150 years of waiting, a widow has returned to resolve her eternal fate. Armored in a full mourning gown, armed with musical instruments and mementos from her past life, she faces the legacy of the South. Be haunted by a disturbing story of ghostly possessions and prophetic visions in this irreverent dramedy."

Why We're Excited: Musical and ghostly, but also a dramedy? Intriguing. 
Rev. Matt's Monster Science

The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea - by Monster Science Productions

In Short: "Rev. Matt’s infotational talks return! Get the historical background, comedy jokes, and PowerPoint that you need about the monsters we create and the fears they embody. This year, the first two dates will feature a talk about Old Nick, the First Among the Fallen, the history of the Christian Satan himself. And the last three will be a piece about sirens, krakens, Great Cthulhu, and other horrors of the deep blue sea!"

Why We're Excited: Last year, Rev. Matt was completely new to us, but we were immediately charmed by his unique blend of deadpan humor and obsessive love of monsters. We wrote: "Accompanied by some judicious use of Powerpoint and stellar comic timing, this show not only makes you laugh but you actually learn something (in spite of yourself)." See both of his shows.

Dream County by LandmanLand

In Short: "Some people recall watching Cousin Clem's Magical Couch Fort every Saturday morning as kids. Others have never seen an episode, claiming the tragic series finale is nothing but urban myth. Somewhere between real and imaginary lies Dream County, a whimsical world where Cousin Clem would hide away in. We present the finale as it supposedly happened."

Why We're Excited: Cause it sounds WEIRD AF. Awesome!

Greenway by Tom Reed

In Short: "Late on a crisp fall night, a bike commuter’s worst nightmare comes true. Eva is riding alone on the Greenway bike path - a dark trench lit only by her bike light - and something unfriendly starts following her. And it's catching up. And she can’t pedal any faster. And her light just died."

Why We're Excited: Though he's been a long-time Minnesota Fringe Festival favorite (our friend Cherry and Spoon is a big fan), this is Tom Reed's first show in the TCHF. Although he's usually known for humor, Greenway sounds deliciously creepy and familiar to anyone who's raced the shadows home on their bike.

Home (Clearly.)
HOME by Dangerous Productions

In Short: "Based on true stories from the playwright’s childhood, HOME is a brutal tapestry of the perversion of the American dream, and what people will do when boredom becomes too much. Angela and her family are new citizens in a small Wisconsin city. They are outsiders, assaulted on all sides by the apathy-fueled violence of the status quo. Will they survive with their minds intact or succumb to the temptation of exciting depravity? From the producers of FRANKENSTEIN and SKIN, HOME asks- how well do you really know your neighbor?"

Why We're Excited: Dangerous Productions has done some very intriguing shows in past TCHFs (Skin, Senseless) and Home is likely to be one of the gorier, more visceral entries in the Festival.

Horror Show Hot Dog Short Film Festival by Horror Show Hot Dog

In Short: "These shorts cut terror to the bone, delivering bite-size versions of horror movie scares. This year we’ve curated films from 12 different countries, across all subgenres of horror, from black comedy to animation. Each night’s programming is completely unique – come and vote for the audience favorite award. Who will win the Golden Frankfurter? See below for each night's programming."

Why We're Excited: Thanks to Horror Show Hot Dog (and their podcast), we have become huge fans of the short horror film. If my math is correct, you could conceivably see 33 short horror films if you attend all five of their productions. FUN! 

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Rogues Gallery Arts

In Short: "Based on the classic American horror story by Washington Irving. In the old town of Sleepy Hollow, Katrina Van Tassel meets the new schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane. He desires her hand, but several obstacles stand against their pairing including local ruffian, Brom Bones, and the ghostly spectre of a Headless Horseman rumored to reside in the area."

Why We're Excited: Rogues Gallery Arts show in TCHF VI, Intuition and the Mantis, was one of last year's standouts and hands-down, the most chilling show in the Festival. We're excited to see what this talented group does with Washington Irving's classic tale. Plus, it's an excuse to share our favorite childhood cartoon song

A Morbid History of Sons & Daughters
A Morbid History of Sons & Daughters by The Vincent Hovis Experience

In Short: "There's a sickness in our blood. A desire for something sinister that is passed down from generation to generation. An impulse that turns into a want that turns into a need. You are cordially invited to The Ritual. Five people gather to tell interweaving tales of tendencies they have spent a lifetime trying to contain. But sometimes, we all need a little release. And nothing can make you feel more at home than seeing the light drain from a person's eyes."

Why We're Excited: An original musical from amazing local talents Leslie Vincent and composer Keith Hovis? Yes, please. 

St. Kilda by Jody Christopherson

In Short: "After the death of her Grandmother, an American woman travels to an abandoned island off the coast of Scotland and unearths a dark family secret. St. Kilda is a new horror play/theatrical mono-concert written and performed in near darkness by New York-based award winning theater artist Jody Christopherson."

Why We're Excited: Spooky Scottish songs? Yes, please.

But wait there's MORE! Two special events will also be available during the run of TCHF:

Second Skin
Second Skin by Playable Artworks

In Short: Erin Olson is a fourth generation medium, a person who talks to spirits. Unfortunately, her recent death has hindered her ability to work. Now she needs an assistant, a conduit to the living world. You're invited to interview for this position. Come along and try your hand at contacting the spirit realm, but know that whether or not the spirits can be put to rest is up to you. This audio-driven, site-specific adventure for a single audience member takes you around the West Bank neighborhood, and is powered by an interactive app. NOTE: You must book your ticket in advance for this experience. No tickets will be available at the door."

Funerals For Life by Amica & Hecate

In Short: "Two madcap morticians tend to your corpse in an oddly relaxing “living-embalming session,” and then prop up your body for a "death photo." This delightfully goth experience is like none you’ve ever heard of. Ever wonder what your time at the morgue will be like? Now you can unwind on a comfy table and find out... We'll take good care of you. ​Reservations available in the lobby. "

Can't get enough horror theater? Read about past Twin Cities Horror Festivals here:


And go see something SPOOKY!! WE DARE YOU.

Gratuitous Tim Curry in It photo

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Little Women at the Jungle Theater

The Jungle Theater's new production of Little Women, playing through October 21, should appeal to most fans of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel. The theater commissioned the adaptation from playwright Kate Hamill, whose version of Sense and Sensibility was performed at the Guthrie Theater in the fall of 2016. Jungle artistic director Sarah Rasmussen directed that production, as well as the new Little Women.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Remembering Pins & Needles - Theater Elision

Remembering Pins & Needles is a charming revue celebrating the only Broadway show ever produced by a labor union.

The International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU) provided educational and recreational opportunities for its members, in order to enrich workers' lives with more than just the material benefits the union provided. In New York City, the ILGWU owned the Labor Stage (formerly the Princess Theatre), using it as a recreation center for union members. The Labor Stage presented shows for and by union workers, mostly serious, pro-union, cause-driven productions.

With Pins & Needles, the ILGWU brought in professionals including composer and lyricist Harold Rome, and aimed for a lighter tone. The songs and sketches still addressed the concerns of workers and of other current events, but with humor. Performed entirely by union members who maintained their day jobs the revue opened in 1937, and soon drew audiences beyond other union members to become a smash hit.

Christine Wade, Elena Glass, Kenyai O'Neal, and Paul Coate.
Remembering Pins & Needles presents some of the original songs and sketches from the revue, while telling the unusual history of the show. Four singers bring the music to life, with the accompaniment of Harrison Wade (also the music director), with Ben Erlich, Spencer Becker, and Jackson Peters. Christine Wade, Elena Glass, Kenyai O'Neal, and Paul Coate portray the garment worker-actors and act as narrators. This led to a disconnect, as narrators sometimes reflected on the show in the past and sometimes as performers of the time. 

The songs are clever and catchy, especially "Sitting on Your Status Quo" and "Sunday in the Park" and "Nobody Makes a Pass at Me," sung with gusto by Glass. Though Cindy Polich's book doesn't bring the show fully into the present, some of the issues of unions are still relevant today, as the performers, all members of Actors Equity, are surely aware.

Theatre Elision has put on a delightful revue, performed in one 75 minute act. With pay-what-you-can pricing for all tickets and free parking at the Howard Conn Fine Arts Center, there's no reason to miss this show, performing just through September 16.

For a sample, check out the rehearsal video of the number, "Sunday in the Park," (which actually landed on the Hit Parade) on Theatre Elision's Facebook page.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Fall Theater Preview - SO much theater

This fall, is as always, a crazy theater time for theater. There are literally MILLIONS of shows opening in Twin Cities theater this fall. Literally. Here are a few we can't wait to see.

Hey, did you miss out on getting tickets to Hamilton? Don't give up on theater, baby. Go see a show at one of our fabulous local theaters. You're sure to find something you love.

Or did you see Hamilton? And you were like, OMG, theater is amazing and I need more? We've got you covered, too.

Monday, September 3, 2018

Hamilton tour at the Orpheum Theatre

Elijah Malcomb, Joseph Morales, Kyle Scatliffe, Fergie L. Philippe
and Company © Joan Marcus 2018
Hamilton is here! And yes, it is still all that. The touring show, which plays at the Orpheum Theatre through October 7, is every bit as astonishing as you've heard.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Your Guide to Hamilton: Part Three - A Personal Note

A personal story (or six) about Hamilton. Wherein we talk about having seen it YEARS ago on Broadway with the original cast. I mean, we can't NOT mention that, right?

Lin-Manuel Miranda,
In The Heights stage door. Cute.

Your Guide to Hamilton: Part Two - So Now You're Obsessed

So now you're obsessed with Hamilton! Welcome! Here's a picture of Daveed Diggs holding a puppy.


Let's feed your Hamilton obsession!

So now you've seen the show, you've listened to the Broadway Cast Recording, and you've read Ron Chernow's  biography of Alexander Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's basis for the show. Awesome. Wow. What's next?

Your Guide to Hamilton: Part One - What You Need To Know

I don't know if you HEARD, but a little show called Hamilton is coming to Minneapolis from August 29 through October 7 at the Orpheum Theatre.


If you haven't seen it, prepare to be obsessed. It IS all that. If you have seen it, be prepared to be re-obsessed. There's a lot to know and a lot to love about Hamilton. So sit on my lap like I'm Santa and listen (tm Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) to our three-part series about Hamilton in Minneapolis. Check out Part Two: So Now You're Obsessed and Part Three: A Personal Note.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

The Korean Drama Addict's Guide to Losing Your Virginity - Theater Mu

Thank you, May Lee-Yang and Theater Mu.

After seeing The Korean Drama Addict's Guide to Losing Your Virginity (at Park Square Andy Boss stage through August 19), I'm officially obsessed with Korean Dramas.

Friday, July 20, 2018

A Weekend in the Country - Great River Shakespeare Festival

Y'all, we can NOT say enough good things about the Great River Shakespeare Festival, now in its 15th season (June 22 - August 5). You still have a few weekends to travel down to beautiful Winona and see some amazing theater and thoughtful programming.

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Must-Sees at the 2018 Minnesota Fringe Festival

At last count there were 137 shows in the Minnesota Fringe Festival 2018, but fear not! We are here to help you sort through the copious offerings

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Caucasian-Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales - Chameleon Theatre Circle

Yep, you read the title right. And yes, that word is the reason that a thoughtful, relevant, challenging show that tackles racism and identity was banned in Burnsville.

A bit of history:

Derek "Duck" Washington wrote Caucasian-Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales in 2015, and it was performed at the Bryant Lake Bowl that fall, and remounted for the 2016 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

Friday, June 1, 2018

Just Because It's June, June, June - Upcoming Theater

Since this is a frequent conversation I'm having these days:

Friend: "Hey, what's a good show to see?"
Me: "Uhhhhhh ..."

Here are some shows we're looking forward to in June. Enjoy!

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

High Fidelity - Minneapolis Musical Theatre at The Electric Fetus

Dear Minneapolis Musical Theatre, you are a genius. 

Staging the musical High Fidelity at Minneapolis's beloved record store The Electric Fetus is truly inspired. (The show plays through May 20--get your tickets now, before they sell out!)


High Fidelity is about Rob, a record store owner who gets dumped by his girlfriend Laura and tries to figure out what went wrong in this and the other relationships in his past. All of this, and everything else in Rob's and his employees' lives, is intrinsically related to music.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

This Bitter Earth at Penumbra Theatre

This Bitter Earth is an absolute must-see. This new play by Harrison David Rivers is having its area premiere at Penumbra Theatre through May 20, and it is an intensely personal look at an interracial relationship during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Monday, April 30, 2018

You're Gonna Love .... May!

You thought February, March and April were crazy jam-packed with good theater? Wait till you see MAYYYYYY.  (And a little bit of June.)

Be sure to put these shows on your theater schedule!

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Some Shows We Saw in March/April 2018

Here's a round-up of some of the shows we've seen lately.

The Skriker - Fortune's Fool Theatre

This seldom-performed play by Caryl Churchill is one of those plays that is incredibly enjoyable to watch, even if you're not entirely sure what's happening on stage. So let's let Fortune's Fool tell us what we're seeing!

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Thomas Tallis - Orchard Theater Collective

Orchard Theater Collective's promotions are AMAZING.
Damian Leverett as Thomas Tallis.
You may not know the name Thomas Tallis--unless you're a follower of Tudor-era liturgical composers (and aren't we all?)--but you've definitely heard his glorious music.

In this new play, we meet Thomas Tallis in the atmospheric setting of Calvary Baptist Church, where he explains his creative motivation, to create music more beautiful than silence, to glorify God.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

The Mermaid Hour: Remixed at Mixed Blood Theatre

The world premiere* production Mermaid Hour: Remixed is playing at Mixed Blood through April 29, and it's essential viewing. It's the intimate story of a family dealing with the challenges of adolescence. In this particular family, mom Pilar (Thallis Santesteban) and dad Bird (Michael Hanna) are trying to make the best decisions for and with their transgender daughter, Vi.

Sunday, April 8, 2018

887 - Ex Machina/Robert Lepage at Walker Art Center

Photo courtesy of Erick Labbe
Having read the New York Times review of Robert Lepage's 887, I immediately bought tickets when I saw it was coming to Minneapolis. Like, IMMEDIATELY.

What is 887? Here's the program description of this difficult to describe work:

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Dance 'Til You Drop - History Theatre

Created in collaboration with Collide Theatrical Dance Company, Dance 'Til You Drop at History Theatre tells the true story of Callum deVillier, world record holder for marathon dancing. 

Playwright Carson Kreitzer explains where the idea for the show started in her program note:

Friday, April 6, 2018

Something Rotten! National Tour at the Orpheum Theatre

The opening night of Something Rotten!, playing at the Orpheum through April 8, overcame unforeseen circumstances to thoroughly reward the audience who slogged through the latest spring snowstorm to attend the show on Tuesday night.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

OMG Spring Theater 2018 - Too Much Theater, Never Enough Time

Happy spring, theaterloving friends! Our beautiful Minnesota spring may be filled with car-murdering potholes and banks of dirty, semi-melted snow, but it is also filled with a ton of amazing theater!

Here's what we're looking forward in particular:

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

As One - Skylark Opera Theatre at North Garden Theater

One of the beautiful things about having this blog is having the opportunity to share when a show is truly outstanding and needs to be seen. The blog works much better than standing on the street corner shouting at passersby. (I think. I haven't really tried that yet.)

Friends, go see As One at Skylark Opera. Now at North Garden Theater (St. Paul! Represent!) only through Sunday, March 25.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Two Mile Hollow - Theater Mu and Mixed Blood Theatre

Dear theatergoing friends,

We here at Minnesota Theater Love owe you an apology. Due to a number of contributing factors, including a trip to the Big City, we didn't see Two Mile Hollow until its final weekend. 

We did not use our voice and our platform to broadcast the news of this play and production far and wide, and for that, we are truly sorry. 

Thursday, March 8, 2018

School of Rock National Tour at the Orpheum Theatre


The touring production of School of Rock starts with a recorded announcement from the show's composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, answering the obvious question about this show: Are the kids on stage really playing their instruments? The answer is an emphatic "Yes"!

It's easy to see why this is spelled out in the beginning. Once these young performers get to rocking out, it would be easy to believe that the sound is actually being made by adult professionals in the orchestra pit. These kids can play!
Theo Mitchell-Penner (Lawrence).
© Matthew Murphy.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Letter from New York - February 2018

TKTS. 78 degrees on February 21.
COME ON!
After an absence of WAY too long (although we did some great theater last time--Hamil-something springs to mind), we returned to NYC to see as much theater as we could in five days.

Let's GO!

Monday, March 5, 2018

Indecent at Guthrie Theater

Indecent plays through March 24 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie Theater. Recently on Broadway and written by Paula Vogel, here's the story from the Big G's website:
Inspired by the 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s The God of Vengeance – a play that follows a Jewish brothel owner and the lesbian romance between his daughter and a prostitute – Indecent charts the journey of a drama upheld as a groundbreaking piece of Jewish literature by some, and an act of obscenity by others. An ensemble of seven actors and three musicians portrays more than 40 roles to shed light on one of the most fascinating scandals in theater history.
Indecent tells a really interesting story and the production has some really lovely elements. I wish I liked the play more. Running one hour and fifty minutes, it's one of the few times I wished a play was longer. Despite some great performances from Ben Cherry and Gisela Chipe, as well as a bunch of Guthrie regulars, and a lovely musical accompaniment by Spencer Chandler, Lisa Gutkin and Pat O'Keefe, the play ultimately left me cold.

The play covers a large span of history and many countries but could have used a bit more depth in its character development, particularly in the character of Sholem Asch. Also, the play whips back and forth in time incredibly quickly, which is fine and clearly denoted, but the "break in time" vignettes are a bit puzzling.

Indecent got rave reviews on Broadway--although Jesse Green at Vulture had a few issues with the play that I completely agree with--and from our fellow theater bloggers. Check out their reviews on the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers blog!