Description: A one-person puppet show with call and response/audience participation. The bashful but rowdy Turtle Boy leads you through an action movie of your own making. John Wick meets Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Karate Kid meets Mr. Rogers. Venue – Mixed Blood Content Warnings – Adult Language, Violence, Short Show (less than 45 minutes) Genre and Content – Clowning, Puppetry, Improv, Physical Theater, Comedy, Drama, Solo Show, Storytelling, Audience Participation, Kid Friendly Ages 7 to 11 and Up
Truthfully? I find the trailer amusing. Mostly I’m getting the Mr. Rogers influences here, which I’m very much on board with:
The press packet offers just a touch more detail:
“A solo marionette expert whisks you through pastoral vistas, slo-mo melees, and lessons in loyalty.”
The bio posted seems to reinforce that we’re in good hands:
“EMMANUEL ELPENORD Creator/Performer EMMANUEL ELPENORD is a queer, neurodivergent, New York City native, Haitian-American actor, puppeteer, improvisor, and voice-over artist. Highlights from his distinguished body of work: puppeteer in El Niño (Met Opera); original cast of Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh: A New Musical Adaptation” (Rockefeller Prod.); original cast of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show” (Rockefeller Prod.); puppeteer at Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater (10+ years). Recipient of Haiti Cultural Exchange’s 2023 LakouNOU Artist Residency Grant, Puppet Showplace Theater’s 2023 Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers Grant, and the Jim Henson Foundation’s 2024 Family Grant. He studied ancient traditional theater forms in India, Japan, and Greece with OYL's 2025 International Performance Residency last summer, and is a proud recipient of the 2026 New York State Council of the Arts Grant.”
You’re either in the mood for a goofy little marionette turtle, or you’re not. It seems I’m in a turtle mood this year.
Plus, short show bonus, gives you a chance to make that longer commute to the next venue you were worrying about on your schedule.
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description Rest In Peace, Maxxeapolis, whose untimely deaths have landed them in Hell right before their performance at Fringe. Join them for an hour of sketch comedy where Satan himself will decide their ultimate fates. Venue – Mixed Blood Content Warnings – Adult Language, Crude Humor, Gun/Weapon Usage, Sexual Content Genre and Content – Comedy Ages 16 and Up
Once again, it’s the Fringe Preview. These folks make a great first impression:
The press packet materials, as well as their bios, gives a bit more background on the group:
“An absurd and outlandish scripted sketch comedy show from Minnesota’s ‘hottest’ new group.
Maxxeapolis is the newest sketch comedy group to the Twin Cities, made up of local theater artists and comics alongside recent transplants with decades of sketch comedy experience (Upright Citizens Brigade, Second City, Philly Sketchfest). Drawing on Minneapolis’ longstanding excellence in sketch comedy, Maxxeapolis seeks to be a defining point of Minnesota’s comedy, theater, and arts scene at large.
The group’s style is a more fast-paced version of Saturday Night Live with some classic MadTV energy and I Think You Should Leave absurdity mixed in. Expect over-the-top situations, outlandish characters, and a mix of high and low brow humor.”
So, a team with a mission beyond just their Fringe show.
The bios also have an assortment of cheeky identifiers for each of them beyond just “writer and performer.” There’s “group founder” of course, but also: former high school football quarterback, general goofball, former beauty pageant watcher, guitar maven, sword swallower, token gen-z, and just “tall.” There’s also a completely fake bio for a non-existent person as well, with some inventive credits listed. Too many for a short post but the bios are worth a look for being a fun mix of both humorous and series details.
Their introductory dialogue, group song, and appearance by Satan were an intriguing, well-executed kickoff. I’m really interested to see how the rest of the show plays out.
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
There were three shows in the Fringe Previews that had an interesting daisy chain of overlapping connections between a couple of theater companies that were on past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine (2022 and 2023) - the puppet-focused Phantom Chorus Theatre, led by Thalia Bea Kostman and Marc Berg, and the dark comedy machine that is The World Crime League, led by Andrew Rosdail.
Description A girl and her unicorn sidekick go on a hero’s journey through a fantastical world of puppets to find her lost story. A powerful show about healing and moving forward. Adventure, wonder, humor, heart. Part of the Social Butterfly Project. 120 min Venue – Phoenix Theater Content Warnings – Flashing Lights, Loud Noises, Mental Illness Genre and Content – Puppetry, Mystery, Physical Theater, Comedy, Drama Ages 12 to 15 and Up
The puppet creators from Phantom Chorus Theatre were working overtime on this one, especially on that unicorn sidekick, operated and acted by Charles Hubbell, who featured prominently in the Fringe preview scene:
This is another production in the slate of offerings over at the Phoenix Theater under the larger umbrella of the Social Butterfly Project, using theater of all type to shine a light on mental health awareness.
Producer/Playwright/Actor Angela Fox had some additional words on the production on the More Information tab of their show page on the Fringe website:
“On the surface, “Fighting Unicorns” is a hero’s journey told through a world of puppets. But underneath, the main character is processing trauma through the safety of a childlike world. Recently, I started therapy for C-PTSD. The process has honestly been pretty awful at times, but also indescribably life changing. It also inspired me to write “Fighting Unicorns”. Processing difficult emotions can be terrifying and exhausting. I wanted to create something that could help people do it in a safe and entertaining way. And a unicorn sidekick never hurts! If I can help make one person’s heart lighter, that would be amazing.”
The only potential downside to this one is it’s a super-sized Fringe show, an actual two hour, full-length play, so you’ll need to plan on setting aside more than the usual time for all the other one hour and under Fringe shows to fit it into your schedule. But if you need a break from running around and just want to stay put for one story for a while, Fighting Unicorns will give you that breather.
You’d think that’d be enough puppet creation to keep a person busy for the summer, but Berg and Kostman aren’t done yet.
Description It's Fishing Opener on Lake Mille Lacs, but some of the residents of Garrison, Minnesota have started disappearing. Could it be the work of the terrifying, mythical Muskie? Find out in this Minnesota-based parody of "Jaws." Venue – Mixed Blood Content Warnings – Adult Language, Blood, Gun/Weapon Usage, Loud Noises, Violence Genre and Content – Puppetry, Horror, Comedy Ages16 and Up
(This is also a Matt Saxe crossover, as he’s acting in both this and the previously mentioned So Bright, The Night - and was in the previews for both shows, with a radical costume and accent changes, of course.)
The press packet materials have this additional info:
“New Endeavors is the Golden Lanyard Award-winning company behind "The Buttslasher", "Peace Retreat," and "An Exorcism, Don'tcha Know." Lately, they have been dabbling in horror-comedy. They are working in collaboration with Phantom Chorus Theatre to use puppetry to bring the titular "Muskie" to life. This show promises thrills, chills, and laughs as Minnesota Fishermen battle the monster of Lake Mille Lacs.”
Side note: This is, believe it or not, one of TWO tributes to the shark horror film JAWS in this year’s Fringe (the recent 50 year anniversary of the original film in the franchise has spawned many a tribute, it seems). We also have the musical “Chum!” from the group Theatre Engine, described thusly:
“Chum!” is a musical parody of “Jaws” that invites audience members to bring a chum to be chum by telling the familiar tale of New England beach mastication in musical and interactive format.
So if you can’t get enough water-based terror in one show, there is more on offer.
“Andrew is excited to be working with New Endeavors again! “Muskie” marks his third time directing for New Endeavors, after the Golden Lanyard-winning “Peace Retreat” and last year’s hit, “An Exorcism, Don’tcha Know?” Andrew has also written and directed “Writers’ Block.,” “Uncle Walt,” and “We Were Only Henchmen” at previous MN Fringes through his own production company, the World Crime League. He is also an actor, most recently appearing in Phantom Chorus’s puppet rock opera “Razia’s Shadow” and currently acting in the World Crime League’s production of “M,” which definitely should be added to your Fringe schedule this year!”
Description: A massive manhunt is underway in Berlin. Police have spent months searching for a prolific serial killer with no success. As fear and suspicion spread, the city’s criminal underground decides to take matters into their own hands and hunt the murderer themselves in this new adaptation of Fritz Lang’s classic film noir "M – Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder." Venue - Barker Center Content Warnings - Abuse/Physical Violence, Adult Language, Gun/Weapon Usage, Violence, Other divisive content Genre and Content - Drama, Mystery Ages 16 and up
(And yes, this is how my mind works the closer we get to the Fringe starting.)
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description: When the host of the beloved children’s show Pistachio’s Playhouse experiences a sudden tragedy, she has to try and keep the Playhouse from closing while maintaining her sanity in front of an impressionable audience. Venue – Barker Center Content Warnings - Adult Language, Crude Humor, Mental Illness, Violence Genre and Content - LGBTQIA+ Content, Comedy, Drama, Clowning, Puppetry Ages 18 and up
This is another instance of a Fringe preview really selling the concept of a show that won me over. (Once the song gets going, the sound mix imbalance is a bit overpowering, but the techs will work that out for the smaller Barbara Barker Center for Dance space where the show is performing)
How can you not love a preview that starts out, “Hi kids! Welcome to my playhouse! I’m Pistachio Creampie and these are my rats!” (as long as the rats are puppets, of course). Follow that up with a perky song about how it’s best to suppress your feelings unless they’re happy ones, so you don’t make other people uncomfortable, and you’ve got yourself a very midwestern Fringe show indeed.
(If you saw this in person, you’ll know immediately whether the show is for you or not. The video version is also helpful, though not the same experience as being in the room.)
The design and performance style of this show, just based on this sliver of a preview, is wonderful. Bright, colorful, very much in the style of a kids show (though this is, of course, an adults only (18 and up) kids show plumbing some darker subject matter.). Based on earlier publicity shots I thought it might be a bit too horror-adjacent for my taste, but it looks like it’s going to walk a fine line and not tip over, so I’m a lot more interested now to give it a try. Also, it’s a drag performance, so the queerness of the approach is right up my alley.
The press packet materials offer some helpful context on the project:
“Pistachio's Playhouse was born from the drag persona of writer and star, Samuel Karie aka Pistachio Creampie. What started as a 3-minute performance piece at a gay bar became the elaborate and personal story of a children's show host trying to keep her life together after an unexpected tragedy. The show explores universal themes of grief, trauma, and existentialism all wrapped up in a package akin to classic children's shows like PeeWee's Playhouse and Sesame Street. In addition to writing and starring in the production, Samuel Karie is also the costume, makeup, and prop department. This show is a true labor of love and one of the most unique shows you'll see all year.”
For the Fringe’s instagram account, the artist responded to the question “What should audiences expect?” with this: –
“A meta take on a 90s children’s show with a dark twist. It’s PeeWee’s Playhouse meets The Truman Show. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you won’t know how to react.”
Sometimes if I’m skittish about a show, it’s hard to win me over. My initial instincts can be hard to shake. But this preview won me over, which is something I honestly wasn’t expecting. Hats (or wigs) off to Pistachio, you and your rats can really work a crowd.
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description A charming musical comedy solo show plucked right out of the vaudeville era following cabaret performer Plucky Rosenthal and her quest to find the one thing she’s never had: a band. Venue – Rarig Kilburn Theatre Content Warnings - None Genre and Content – Solo Show, Comedy, Original Music, Physical Theater, Audience Participation Ages 7 to 11 and Up
This one is another late addition to the schedule but this artist and her style of one-woman musical comedy has been here before. Last year, in fact, with “Big Honor Student Energy” (here’s the preview of that)
My 5-star mini-review of that online as I was flying through the latter half of that year’s festival was:
“Alisa Rosenthal is a comedic whirlwind of song, dance, and multiple personalities covering all of the 1988 movie Beaches plus a sampling of her own theatrical upbringing”
Her new Fringe outing was winner of the Spirit of the Fringe at 2025’s Elgin Fringe before landing on our schedule this year.
I think my favorite review of that which has has posted on the More Information tab of her show page is from a volunteer at the Elgin Fringe who after seeing “Vintage Tunes, Modern Gal” said to the artist:
"Thanks for making Green Bay weird again!"
Minneapolis is, of course, already weird, but we can always use a little more. Plucky Rosenthal, in addition to the weird, has the comedic and vocal chops to deliver a fun show, so I’m very much looking forward to it.
And she is also in the very first slot of the festival, on Thursday 8/6 at 5:30pm - which would be a very fun way for anyone to start their 2026 Fringe on a high note (or several of them, depending on the song).
In the spirit of continuing with the “Beaches” theme from Fringes past, the ukulele-forward nature of this new show brought to mind an old Bette Midler tune, “Ukulele Lady” - given previous experience with Rosenthal’s shows, I’m expecting a similar vibe.
“Plucky Rosenthal Creator and Performer Plucky Rosenthal is an award-winning musical comedy variety act, specializing in bringing her signature warmth and vintage-tinged original songs to rooms across the country. A seasoned emcee, she's a mainstay on the Chicago variety scene and national fringe festival circuit, bringing her live game show, solo hour, and shorter sets to sold out ballrooms and dive bars with 6 people in them alike. You may recognize her alter ego from last year's fringe show "Big Honor Student Energy," 2022's "One-Woman 'Beaches,' and 2019's "Songs to Caftan In." National festivals include: Andy Kaufman Awards, NYC (semi-finalist), Minnesota Fringe Festival, Elgin Fringe Festival ("Spirit of the Fringe" winner), Twin Cities Jewish Humor Festival, IndyFringe, Green Bay Fringe Festival, Old Greeny Fringe Festival (Ithaca), Windy City Burlesque Fest, Chicago Women's Funny Festival, and Artscape Baltimore.”
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description: Through a mix of sharp stories, absurd sketches, and knowing winks at the audience, Empty Nest dives into life’s big transitions — aging, shifting identities, long-term partnership — and finds the humor in the awkward, poignant, and downright ridiculous moments along the way. Venue - Rarig Thrust Content Warnings - Adult language Genre and Content - Clowning, Comedy, Improv, Physical Theater, Spoken Word, Storytelling Ages 12 to 15 and Up
According to an interview last fall with CBS News, Levi noted, "We were moping around the house. We'd check in with each other and say, did she call? Have you heard from her? Did she post on the internet? And I think we both realized we were kind of doing Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' about our kid. And we're like, well, that's kind of a sad but funny show. Maybe there's something here.”
So they put together a show, gave it first run at the Bryant Lake Bowl last September, and now they’ve fine-tuned it and are bringing "Empty Nest" to the Fringe.
“Laura and Levi met performing at the Brave New Workshop and have performed for more than two decades in theater, comedy, and storytelling — and at home, they’ve been improvising marriage and parenting for over 24 years.”
You can see the full interview about the show’s first run (with clips from the performance) at the BLB via this link.
And if you need to be reminded who they are and what they've done, here's their bios:
"Laura Zabel Creater/Performer Laura Zabel is an actor, writer, and nationally recognized arts leader. She served as Executive Director of Springboard for the Arts for 21 years, an award-winning economic and community development organization based in Minnesota. Laura has performed with numerous Twin Cities theaters, including Mixed Blood, Brave New Workshop and Comedy Suitcase.
Levi Weinhagen Creater/Performer Levi Weinhagen is a theater artist, comedy writer, and co-founder of ComedySuitcase, a perennial Fringe Festival favorite known for inventive, all-ages comedy. Levi is also a licensed therapist and teaching artist and has created work for audiences ranging from preschoolers to politicians."
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description When a bumbling community theater group rehearses for their production of Hamlet, one actor tries to help them get their act together. This ensemble comedy is a love letter to community theater. Venue – Theatre in the Round (TRP) Content Warnings – Adult Language, Gun/Weapon Usage Genre and Content – Comedy, Drama, Shakespearian Elements Ages 12 to 15 and Up
This show is a great example of how a Fringe preview can help you break out of a list of dozens of other shows in the festival.
Theater about theater and art about artists is generally not my thing (I know, I say that all the time and then I find the exception. Still…)
As I was doing my usual homework of perusing every single show on the Fringe site, I saw this one and thought “oh, theater about theater, and Hamlet besides, I can probably skip that one.” The only Shakespeare play less likely than Hamlet to draw me in would be any riff on A Midsummer Night’s Dream (apologies to "A Dark Gotham Knight’s Dream," also in the festival this year, though I will admit, the costumes visible in your trailer are making a good case for seeing you anyway)
But then I saw the Fringe preview of “A Real Piece of Work” and it won me over.
It’s hard to do a good Fringe preview for any show, even a great show. Things can so easily go off the rails. But here, they really nailed it.
It’s a play within a play about a play, so a preview about all that is just one more layer of meta commentary and comedy.
The ensemble of ten actors knew they only had three minutes to get the job done (and reminded themselves and us about it as they went, which was a fun recurring bit), but everybody was on their game, script in hand if needed but the dialogue flowed naturally, introduced all the characters in quick bursts as they all collectively told us the premise of the play while also displaying the dynamics between the cast while they were at it. They kept the pace moving, and gave us a sample of the kind of thing we have in store if we see the play. Perfect, and funny.
Plus, it’s hard to play the character of a bad actor onstage, unless you’re a good actor. I was worried that it might either be a show by “serious” theater people that was punching down at community theater, or conversely a show by community theater people that had a perhaps overinflated sense of the importance and high art of community theater. It was, surprisingly, somehow neither of those things, which I find kind of fascinating as a tight rope act for this production to pull off. The ensemble is a nice mix of different kinds of actors, and different personality types for their characters. AND it seemed like it was going to be fun, rather than painful, to watch. So I am sold, in spite of myself.
Nicely done.
Looking a bit more closely at the press packet materials, there’s a bit more detail that’s also reassuring:
“In this ensemble comedy, an actor gets increasingly frustrated rehearsing with an amateurish community theater group for their production of Hamlet. He tries to improve the show and motivate the others to embrace his ideas, and eventually learns a more important lesson. This show is a love letter to community theater and the characters onstage and off, with a timely political message about accepting and connecting with those different from us.”
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description: A puppet on his deathbed recounts his life through monologue, improvised flashbacks, audience participation, and stand-up comedy guest sets. Every night he lives a new life with new characters and old regrets. Venue – Southern Theater Content Warnings – Adult Language, Crude Humor, Sexual Content Genre and Content – Comedy, Improv, Puppetry, Audience Participation Ages 18 and Up Only
This is a late addition to the festival schedule, someone stepping in with a show at the last minute as another artist steps out.
I saw it for the first time as I was scrolling the show listings on my phone while waiting for the Fringe Previews to begin on Monday. Suddenly my brain went, “Wait! That’s a new image. What’s that show? It wasn’t there before.”
Not sure what this says about me but the premise delights me:
“A puppet on his deathbed recounts his life through monologue, improvised flashbacks, audience participation, and stand-up comedy guest sets. Every night he lives a new life with new characters and old regrets.”
The age recommendation is 18 and up only, so it’s an adult puppet show with warnings for adult language, crude humor, and sexual content.
Also, not above appreciating the puppet pun of “That Felt Good”
“Matt Olson Writer/Director/Producer Matt writes screenplays, comic books, and shoots stupid videos with his friends
Phoebe Bottoms Puppeteer/Director/Producer Phoebe is a Jim Henson Co. trained puppeteer, improviser, and comedian”
And lastly, the thing that pushed it over the top for me was that the other listed writer on the project is Collin Klug, a comedy writer and performer responsible for two of my favorite Fringe shows of the late pre-pandemic era:
Shows that come out of nowhere at the last minute are sometimes great. This might be one of them. I’m super curious to give it a look. Just going with my gut, but there’s a lot of promising elements gathering on this one.
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
I am either the perfect audience for this show, or the last person in the world who should see it. I’m not sure which side of the fence it’s gonna fall on yet.
Description: Everyone comes to Rick's. Even in the middle of a hostile occupation. Even in a world where lovers who have been torn apart by circumstance can bond over some well chosen Prince music. Venue - Theatre in the Round (TRP) Content Warnings - Adult language, Gun/Weapon Usage Genre and Content - Comedy Ages 12 to 15 and Up
The additional info in the press packet materials does give me encouragement:
“Minnesota is occupied but everyone is coming to Rick's. Casa Bde-Maka-Ska is an adaptation of Casablanca through the lens of the last several months in Minnesota. The original story is very much about a hostile occupation of a foreign city, much as we have experienced here. It is a comedy but doesn't ignore the fact that real harm was done to real people on the streets of our home.”
And the parallels between the plot of Casablanca and the unfortunately real-life situation in Minnesota this year are uncanny.
But Casablanca is one of my very favorite films, so it’s easy to put me off.
Also, the title here almost seems like it’s making fun of the concept of renaming things in Minneapolis back to the way the Native Americans did, rather than naming them after problematic American historical figures who came along after. I’m sure that’s not the intent, but that’s the way my brain processes it. (Also, doesn’t Casa-Blanca literally translate to White House? It’s kind of right there, isn’t it?)
All that said, on balance it looks like I’m going to enjoy myself, so I’m looking forward to this one.
And I will refrain from Casablanca jokes myself (until it’s time for the review)
Update: Their Fringe preview also helped put me at ease:
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description: Two zombified post-war corporate professionals attempt to run a workshop with the audience on how to face your fears. Outside, the darkness is creeping in threatening to end the show and maybe their friendship. Venue – Rarig Xperimental Content Warnings - Crude Humor, Mental Illness, Violence Genre and Content - LGBTQIA+ Content, Clowning, Comedy, Political Content, Improv, Physical Theater, Audience Participation Ages 16 and Up
Lucky 13!
Zombified characters creep me out, but c’mon, these two are coming to Minneapolis all the way from Berlin - I can deal with creepy for an hour.
(They didn’t quite come the longest distance - a guy dropping in while on a break from his teaching assignment in Beijing beats them by a little over 1,800 miles (more on them later) - still, if you’re crossing an ocean to come to the midwest, that’ll always earn you some style points with me.)
They also flag LGBTQIA+ Content (queers, represent)
Their video trailer doesn’t seem super unsettling (forgive me for dwelling on it, I’m squeamish)
Also has probably one of my favorite lines from a Fringe show page this year:
“We met studying physical theater, and started collaborating in 2021 after failing our clown training. Then we went straight to Edinburgh Fringe with... a clown show.”
Their More Information tab got a little update since the first time I looked at it. Previously it said:
“Band Practice are for the first time are crossing the ocean! Based in Berlin, this will be our first time performing in the USA as part of The Midwest Quest Tour. We are excited to be mounting one of our first and favorite full length productions after 1.5 years since its premiere. Don't Be Scared is semi-improvised and asks the audience the fateful question "What are you scared of?" For what is the role of comedy if not to make light in the dark.... right?”
Now it says:
“Band Practice is a Berlin based theater and clown duo made of Ash Willison and Lisa Ullrich. We met studying physical theater, and started collaborating in 2021 after failing our clown training. Then we went straight to Edinburgh Fringe with... a clown show. We turn ourselves inside out; wearing our most abject, absurd, and dark ideas quite literally on our bodies and invite the audience to encounter these creatures and do the same, if they please. The core of our work, as cheesy as it sounds, is that no matter how difficult or confrontational the questions are, we face them together in the spirit of playfulness and a tender friendship. And the power of a damn good song.
We've been described as "punky", "hardcore stupid", "ridiculous", and "confusing and slightly offputting" (this last one mostly from men).
We've performed at Edinburgh Fringe, Performing Arts Festival Berlin, Malta Festival (Poland), VAULT Festival (London) Berlin Fringe, Circus Lake festival (Italy) Deutsches Theater Berlin, Comedy Cafe Berlin. See more information at bandpracticeduo.com
We are extremely happy and nervous to be here. Big thank you to all of our mentors, supporters, stage-sharers, clowns, family members, teachers turned colleagues, and especially to Shai, Michelle, and Susannah. We miss you and love you :) “
Makes me wish I knew even the tiniest bit of German so I could speak to them that way, rather than force them to communicate in the one and only language I know. Ah, well…
“Ash Willison Producer and Performer Ash is a performer, educator, and artist from a nomadic and multicultural background. All mediums and outlets of Ash's work stem from a personal movement practice. I am interested in colliding and questioning performative modes to create DIY theatre that truthfully sees the present, and provokes the future.
Lisa Ullrich Producer and Performer Lisa is an actor from Germany and the USA. Her international training in Spain, the UK, and Germany has brought her to screen and stage.
Lena Katzer Producer + Dramaturg Lena Katzer (b. 1995) is a director, costume designer, and curator. She most recently worked for DT Kontext at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. Trained as a men's tailor at the Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt and subsequently active at the Schaubühne, she completed her directing studies at the HfS Ernst Busch in 2023. She is a co-founder of the collective hfs_ultras.”
I’ll just try and make sure that their show is not the last thing I see at night and then have to travel home in the dark :)
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description What’s the difference between BPD and BD? Is the expert always right? From anxiety to PTSD, storyteller Jena Young shares her experiences growing up with an undiagnosed abusive parent, being misdiagnosed herself as a teenager, and the power of labels. Venue – Phoenix Theater Content Warnings – Abuse/Physical Violence, Adult Language, Mental Illness, Suicidal Ideation/Self-Harm, Violence, Other Divisive Content Genre and Content – Solo Show, Spoken Word, Storytelling Ages 18 and Up Only
It seems this happens every year, and you would think after all these years I would have caught nearly every instance of this by now. But the theater community is large and varied, the Fringe schedule is such that you literally cannot see everything in any given year so… there’s always someone who I think to myself “Oh, surely that artist has been on one of my pre-Fringe Top 20 lists before for something at some point.” But then I’m bewildered to find that no, in fact, that artist has not. In which case, well, it’s time to rectify that. That’s a gimme. Easy slot on the list to be filled and long overdue.
This year, it’s Jena Young.
Which again, is ridiculous on my part. As Jena says in her bio, she’s been involved with over 30 productions in the Minnesota Fringe Festival “ director, producer, storyteller, dancer, performer, fight choreographer, and clown.” (Not all at the same time, of course, though I wouldn’t put it past her.) She then lists a bunch:
“Caucasian-Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales,” “William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead,” “Wilhelmina and Theodore’s Exquisite Victorian Adventure,” "The Bisexual Unicorn and Other Mythological Creatures," “My Only Hope for a Hero,” several versions of "Fringe Orphans,"
And for starters, I’ve seen ALL of those.
In fact, I’m embarrassed to admit that the ones she’s listed that I missed are her three one-woman shows prior to this year.
So, time to correct both those oversights. She’s now on the list and she’s got a one-woman show, “The Label Maker” - in addition to also hosting “Stories from the Trauma Dump” which I’ve previously covered over in the Returning Favorites list for this year.
This is another of the Social Butterfly Project productions over at Phoenix Theater around the subject of mental health awareness (so is “Stories From the Trauma Dump”)
Her show’s More Information tab has the following additional greeting:
“I am not a psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, therapist, or in any other way a trained mental health expert. What I am is someone who has lived in an environment of mental illness and neurodivergence... with friends, family, and my own exciting brain discoveries. I also scored a 4 on my AP psych test in high school. That counts for expertise, right?
This show is not about what is or isn't mental illness, how to diagnose someone, or an exercise in therapy (well, maybe a little of that last one). I am neither qualified to provide that, nor do I want that responsibility. But I do think there is catharsis in sharing stories, empathy in hearing another perspective, and learning to be had from someone else's journey.
And man, has it been a journey. Thank you for sharing in it with me.
Content Warning: This show contains difficult and possibly triggering topics including abuse and violence of various kinds and degrees. We urge each individual to gage their own needs. You are welcome to leave and re-enter; we ask that you be mindful of others in the audience as you are able.”
And the rest of her bio lists a bunch more reasons why I should have recommended her LONG ago:
“Outside of the MN Fringe, Jena has worked on such shows as “The Tourist Trap,” “Monsters in a Mirror,” “Young and Fearless,” “Dread the Halls (2018),” "Prescription: Murder," “Get Thee Behind me Santa,” “Ravenscroft,” “A Klingon Christmas Carol,” “A Very Honorable Christmas,” and “Hamlet.”
[Blogger’s note: I LOVE that she lists that last, like “Hamlet, that old thing, you may have heard of it.”]
“She’s previously known for her work in Vilification Tennis and Human Combat Chess, and as a founder of both Phrenic Impact Theatre and Fearless Comedy Productions. Jena is known as a regular at The Encyclopedia Show and local storytelling shows, is a co-host of the local Apropos of Nothing Podcast, and is president of the board that produces the Twin Cities Horror Festival. She also once placed 5th in a balloon fencing tournament.”
So, you know, don’t be like me and wait so long - see Jena’s show and then recommend it to everyone you meet.
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
The thing I admire the most about Hey Rube! as a theater company is they’re always taking really big swings, and always in completely different directions, with each new project.
The common denominator is that it’s going to be a new script, staged in a uniquely theatrical way.
But the style and content of the script, and the choices in staging, will never be the same as the last thing they did.
And that’s ballsy, and it also keeps the audience on their toes. They will be entertained, but HOW exactly is this all gonna go down this time?
So what might writer/director/producer Marcus Anthony and his latest band of collaborators be up to this time around?
Oddly enough, a remount of a previous production from back in 2016, but as you’ll see in the description, given our current context, particularly here in Minnesota, things are going to hit a little differently this time…
Description: So Bright the Night is a hard-boiled historical drama about the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930's. A woman boards a train in hopes to rescue her husband from deportation or worse. History is repeating itself. Venue - Southern Theater Content Warnings - Blood, Gun/Weapon Usage, Loud Noises, Violence Genre and Content - Drama, Historical Content, Political Content Ages 12 to 15 and Up
Since there’s only a vague memory of having seen the original production and scouring past coverage in the blog is coming up empty, I’m curious to refresh my memory and see the script in this new context.
UPDATE - Their Fringe preview:
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description A solo clown show loosely inspired by history's most intelligent serial killer — blending masks, movement, lo-fi origami, and absurd logic into a lunatic tribunal of comedy, tenderness, and chaos. Venue – Rarig Xperimental Content Warnings – Gun/Weapon Usage, Loud Noises, Suicidal Ideation/Self-Harm Genre and Content – Solo Show, Clowning, Comedy, Improv, Physical Theater Ages 12 to 15 and Up
This one could end up in the “I’m gonna regret this” category but I find myself drawn to this Fringe show largely because of the pedigrees of the visiting artists involved (see their bios below)
Also, I’ve come around to what clowns can do in a Fringe context. (Though “clown” without any serial killing involved is enough to make some people run for the exit.)
The press packet materials gave some useful additional detail:
“A wildly comedic clown show blending masks, movement, and lo-fi origami into a lunatic tribunal.
Inspired by 19th-century trial proceedings of the world’s "most intelligent" serial killer, critically acclaimed music video director Todd Sullivan’s MANIAC i is a wild comedy that blends clown, movement, lo-fi origami, and theatrical chaos in an absurd and hilarious tribunal. Rather than retelling the crime in any straightforward way, Maniac turns judgment itself into a fever dream, a comic spectacle—part ritual, part vaudeville. The result is playful, unpredictable, ridiculous, and just dangerous enough to keep things interesting.
Should this man’s life be spared? That, unfortunately, is now your problem.
Sullivan, who has been called a “a vital, skilled mainstay within the Denver theater scene,” is making his debut at the Minnesota Fringe. The piece is directed by Natasha Mercado, the acclaimed performer, writer, and director whose work lives where vulnerability and absurdity meet. Mercado’s sensibility can be felt in the show’s balance of vulnerability, wildness, and theatrical attention.”
“Todd Sullivan writer/performer Todd Sullivan is a Denver-based performer, filmmaker, theater-maker, and teaching artist creating original work across clown, devised theater, improv, and film. Combining physical comedy, cinematic storytelling, live audience interaction, and a strong interest in theatrical image-making, Todd devises pieces concerned with theatrical risk, visual composition, the comic, the uncanny and the tender. He has devised, directed and performed pieces with/for OK Go, The Today Show (NBC), La Mama ETC (NYC), The Hammer Museum (LA), Second City, UCB and for the SF, NY, and Denver Fringe Festivals. He holds an MFA from the American Film Institute Conservatory and an AB in Theater, Speech and Dance from Brown University.
Natasha Mercado Director Natasha Mercado is a performer, writer, and director whose work lives where vulnerability and absurdity meet. A first-generation mixed-Latina artist, she creates worlds that are intimate, strange, and unapologetically alive. Her work centers the intelligence of the body and the audience relationship, building comedy through presence and invitation. David Shiner, co-creator of Cirque du Soleil, once called her “fearless and completely out of her mind.” Natasha’s practice spans solo performance, immersive theater, and film. Her award-winning solo works Tree and #1 Son have toured internationally from Hollywood to the Edinburgh Fringe, earning sold-out runs, critical acclaim, and extensive recognition. Across her work as a performer and director, she has received over 50 award nominations, winning more than half. On screen, Natasha has appeared on HBO, Adult Swim, Broadway Video and TBS, and was named an Emerging Content Creator by the National Association of Latino Independent Producers. Natasha is the creator of Soft Clown, a performance philosophy that treats sensitivity as a strength and pleasure as a compositional tool. As a director and teacher, she leads workshops in the U.S. and internationally, working both in-person and virtually with artists across borders.”
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description: June 28, 1966. A Beach Boys Circus... in the earthquake capital of the world. What could go wrong with this American Dream? Come for the music, stay for the drag, puppets, and camp-ified antics! Venue – Theatre in the Round (TRP) Content Warnings – Abuse/Physical Violence, Adult Language, Crude Humor, Drug Content, Loud Noises, Mental Illness, Sexual Content, Violence Genre and Content - LGBTQIA+ Content, Comedy, Dance, Drama, Musical Theater, Puppetry, Political Content, Historical Content, Shakespearian Elements Ages 16 and Up
The press packet materials offer this additional useful context:
“Camp-ified company Dame Right! is excited to present “Good Vibrations,” a satirical Beach Boys musical utilizing drag personas, puppets, strong movement sequences, and a writing process spiritually comparable to Brian Wilson’s. The show will transport you to a 1966 summer day at the fictional Beach Boys Circus, exploring the very real tensions of the album Pet Sounds’ commercial failure and Wilson’s complications with his then-upcoming “teenage pocket symphony to God.” Come one, come all to The Beach Boys Circus!”
This hearty recommendation comes as sort of a sideways and much belated review of Dame Right’s first outing back in November 2025 at the Bryant Lake Bowl, when they presented a re-imagining of the 1985 John Hughes film (and subsequent 1994-1998 TV series) “Weird Science” which in the hands of Dame Right now became extremely lesbian, extremely queer, extremely trans, relentlessly odd, unapologetically horny, and thus also extremely delightful. Everyone on that production “understood the assignment,” as they say, and just went for it. They filled the tiny Bryant Lake Bowl stage with all sorts of 80s memorabilia, outfitted everyone in the cast in the bizarre fashion of the times, and really went for broke in the way they staged it, right down to the sound design stingers from the theme song repeated for comic effect. The plot synopsis posted online said:
“The 80s: The greatest decade alive… unless you’re a dorky teenage lesbian, then it pretty much totally sucks! A campy sapphic comedy loosely based on the 1985 John Hughes classic, Weird Science. Featuring a Frankenstein-ed beautiful woman, pure gay-ighties antics, and all the charm two loser high school lesbians can muster. Who’s ready to rock?!”
Now nine members of the “Weird Sapphics” team have gotten the band back together in order to portray the story of a real band this time. “Weird Sapphics” writer/director/production designer and cast member Bella Maldonado has teamed up with Lucía Salazar-Davidson to co-write the script for the Fringe show “Good Vibrations” with Bella also in the director’s chair again and Lucia assistant directing.
Though they didn’t have a slot in the Fringe previews on Monday night, if you were there waiting in line for the house doors to open, you likely saw some of the “Good Vibrations” team as they were handing out postcards to folks in line with the aid of a large and friendly goat puppet. The Theatre in the Round venue is perfect for their often manic energy.
These folks know how to have good, campy queer fun, so whatever they’re up to, I’m on board.
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
We have a title that includes both the words “confluence” and “arseholes” - do I really need to lay out further reasons why I’m on board to go see this show?
(By the way, I love that spellcheck knows that I was inverting a couple of letters and typing “arseholes” incorrectly at first. It wants me to get that word right.)
Further reasons? It’s Amber Bjork’s group The Winding Sheet Outfit, which regularly produces theater that reminds me I need to read more history because history is littered with the strangest stories and the oddest people, and the more you dig into them, the more fascinating they often become. (They’ve been accidentally making me feel poorly educated and under-read since they landed on my pre-Fringe Top 10 List back in 2012, but that’s my problem :) The Winding Sheet Outfit each year fixates on some figure in the past, often an artist or group of artists, and put them in the context of the larger sprawl of the world’s story, while also making them fully human and relatable in their own smaller personal story. This can also apply to legends (ancient or urban) as well. This year, it’s…
Description: The feckin' story and singy-song of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. There be the famous supper club for some bored c*nts and dilettantes, and this be that time W. B. Yeats kicked Aleister Crowley's arse. Venue - Rarig Thrust Content Warnings - Adult language Genre and Content - Comedy, Musical Theater, Original Music, Historical Content Ages 16 and Up
The press packet adds this bit of amusing further context for the piece:
“A rowdy musical revue about that time W. B. Yeats kicked Aleister Crowley's ass.
The award-winning company behind memorial-based theater pieces like "Blood Nocturne," "You Are Cordially Invited to the Life and Death of Edward Lear," and "The Spirit Moves You to Color the Unseen" takes on the challenge of a full-scale musical about people you've heard of but may not know very much about--W. B. Yeats, Aleister Crowley, and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Their goal is to make it rowdy and irreverent and real stupid fun.”
The More Information tab on their show page offers this sheepish content warning:
“More info coming soon. Promise. Also, a warning, be prepared: Aleister Crowley used the C word in his poetry. A lot. It's been a problem during rehearsals. I can't get these arseholes to focus on anything but stupid giggles. Did I mention this show is gonna be really stupid? And pretty? And fun? But mostly stupid. With a lot of "c---." *polite curtsey* Also, I'll ask the Crowley fans and devotees not to curse us please. Thank you. *politer curtsey*”
So it’s a foul-mouthed Fringe musical. Extra points for all that, obviously.
The cast list as usual is an embarrassment of riches. It’s almost not fair to have all these people in one show :)
MichaelRogers is playing the guy about to get his ass kicked, Alister Crowley
Amber Bjork in addition to directing the project is also playing a character named Lady Gregory.
And a quartet of great actresses I’ve seen in so very many Fringe and non-Fringe theatrical productions that I can’t enumerate them all right now - Heather Bunch, Megan Campbell Lagas, Kristina Fjellman, and Boo Segersin. They are, of course, playing women whose names I should probably know, but I was educated far too long ago in a public school with a patriarchal lens on history so I will be encountering them here properly for the first time (Florence Farr, Annie Horniman, Moina Mathers, and Maud Gonne, respectively) - though, two of them have names that if you put them together create the phrase Far Gone and another's last name looks like Horny Man so… maybe I’m being punked? We’ll see.
And that’s just the collaborators whose names I recognize off the top of my head without doing any digging. There are more.
In general, this group has a wicked sense of humor, with a bit of whimsy and melancholy mixed in as necessary, which I always appreciate. They take their subjects seriously, but not too seriously.
The Winding Sheet Outfit's Fringe shows (and Twin Cities Horror Festival shows) regularly pack in the audiences, so they certainly don’t need a boost from me, but I’m mentioning them anyway. I’m looking forward to seeing what flavor of weird they’re offering up this year.
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival.And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and
Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start
of the Fringe on August 6th.
Description: Minnesota Fringe Executive Director and theatre virgin Dawn Bentley makes her first (and only?) fringe show. A personal, political, and playful storytelling experience fantasizing about how IT finally happens. Venue - Strike Theater Content Warnings - Adult Language, Crude Humor, Loud Noises, Other Divisive Content Genre and Content - Clowning, Comedy, Drama, Improv, Physical Theater, Solo Show, Storytelling, Audience Participation, Political Content Ages 16 and Up
I am embarrassed at how long it took my brain to figure out what the “IT” and thus subject of this show, was about.
The words “Quiet, Piggy” side by side like that should have lit up my synapses.
Thankfully, Dawn’s More Information tab had a handy link to a delightful Instagram account called
Also, Dawn has populated her Video tab on the show page with the pithy comedy song “On the Day It Finally Happens” from the amusingly named band “Malort and Savior”
Which puts me in mind of the suddenly newly popular cover of an old Irving Berlin song from World War II, entitled “When That Man Is Dead And Gone”. (The band in this video had to admit in interviews that they were a bit surprised by the virality their post abruptly achieved for one of Berlin’s more obscure numbers, but such are the times in which we live these days…)
And this also puts me in mind of a line I misremembered from a trailer for a movie which had the misfortune of coming out in 2020 (sad trombone) entitled Falling, written, directed and starring Viggo Mortensen (which I had also somehow forgotten) about an adult son bringing his abusive elderly father back home to (attempt to) care for him, after the father’s memory starts failing, but not making his personality any easier to deal with. Viggo’s character’s sister is played by Laura Linney and at the very end of the trailer for the movie, she has brought their father home from the hospital and she leans in and whispers in her brother’s ear:
“Heaven doesn’t want him and Hell keeps sending him back.”
Which I had misremembered as:
“God won’t take him, and the Devil keeps sending him back.”
Same difference.
Needless to say, my dearly departed mother, running Democratic phone banks and door-knocking campaigns out of her kitchen and living room, would have insisted on being front row center for this one. She’d probably be suffering MSNBC/MSNOW withdrawal on her Fringe vacation, so this would be her kind of entertainment.
The press packet materials offer this additional enticement:
“Featuring recorded and live music, bouffon clowning, poorly executed puppetry, a pantload of swears, and a touch of bodybuilding.”
Though the More Information tab also hastens to quote a disclaimer from an interview Dawn did with Mankato Free Press (on the day before the 4th of July):
“The views of the show that I am making are not of Minnesota Fringe, or trustees or staff or anyone associated with the organization. This is just Dawn Bentley doing the show that Dawn Bentley wants to do.”
Playwright, Literary Director for Threshold Theater, theater arts blogger, mostly about the Minnesota Fringe Festival - other useful links for me in the header above.
