Monday, November 19, 2007

Review - Anton In Show Business - Starting Gate - 4-1/2 stars

It's Pay What You Can Night tonight! Their special Monday performance. A great chance to see a great show. Enjoy!

"So, a production which on the surface I should have disliked, I loved. A production that I expected to find tedious, engaged me instead and just flew by. Theater is a very confusing thing sometimes..."

Full review of Anton In Show Business can be found here or here...

Review - The Home Place - Guthrie - 5 Stars

The final weekend of performances is straight ahead, so there's still time to catch what I think is the best piece of work the Guthrie's done since it moved to its new building about a year and a half ago. Full review can be found here or here...

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Four Good Shows Closing This Weekend - Catch 'Em While You Can

Four things closing this weekend you really should see...

(two of the best things I've seen this year...)

War With The Newts

and

Frankenstein Incarnate - The Passions of Mary Shelley

plus the latest from 3 Sticks...

Melancholy Play

and the play I just reviewed -
The Young Lady's Consent - review here

Theater Review - The Young Lady's Consent (final weekend)

Commedia Beauregard has had a most unusual and varied renaissance this year – which continues with their current production The Young Lady's Consent - now in its final weekend - full review here...

Thursday, November 08, 2007

And so, Fringe Encore weekend begins...

All the details can be found here, here, or here...

Get out there and enjoy a little Fringe, and a whole lot of other great theater before winter and the holiday shows truly descend upon us all!

Friday, November 02, 2007

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Weekend Chock Full of Theater

Tons o' handy links to great theater to be had here and here. Enjoy!

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Autumn Roses - Naming

Characters don't seem real, or come out of hiding, until you start giving them names...

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Sunday Afternoon Fringey Goodness - Blue Double Feature

First, think about giving the Fringe a helping hand...

Then if you're suffering Fringe withdrawal, the Fringe hits revival continues this afternoon over at the Actors Theater of Minnesota in St. Paul.

There are shows all weekend, this weekend, and the next several into October.

If you missed these shows the first time around, now's your chance to catch 'em.

And if you did see 'em, well, you know they're good, why not go back and bring friends?

Be adventurous. Cross the river. Discover a new little theater space.

Today it's an afternoon of theater, two back-to-back performances of

the much beloved one-woman show

Blue Collar Diaries

from Michelle Myers at 1pm and 2:30pm

After feeling stalked by the long shadows of her blue collar upbringing in St. Paul, Michelle does an about face and gratefully acknowledges the remarkable people who cast them. Eight characters of different gender, race and age reveal a community of people who truly understood that a persons' testimony was not in their uniform alone.

(The preview I saw I was quite impressed with. The link will take you to numerous glowing audience reviews from its Fringe run. Other Fringe bloggers had this to say...)

"I've been complaining a lot about how static most of the one-man previews have been, and this was a good counter-example of a speech that was physically dynamic in a way that underscored what was being said." - Phillip Low

I loved this preview. She was powerful and funny, and this three minutes is still intact in my memory. I'm very excited to see more; I predict a hit. -- Caitlin Gilmet

"Michelle Myers with "Blue Collar Diaries" was my first major discovery for this year. This was a dead-on solo performance depicting a hard-working woman past her own transitory youthful bloom and now dealing with life in the real world as exemplified by her hubby, that idiot, and the neighborhood kids to boot. How to fill three minutes so they seem timeless, evoking a much larger scenario and yet complete in themselves." -- John Munger

Next offerings will be on

Thursday, September 27th,

with a returning laugh-filled double feature from...

the always hilarious Joshua Scrimshaw and Shanan Wexler and their show From Here To Maternity at 7pm

followed by

Take A Left At The Giant Cow - A Beginner's Guide to North Dakota - from Fringe spoken word artists Curt Lund and Laura Bidgood at 8:30pm (my four star review of the show is here)

And if you missed this week's other artists...

Buckets and Tap Shoes

and

Allegra Lingo's I Hate Kenny G (my five star review of the show is here)

they shall return - but don't wait too long - the event ends October 14, and artists are rotating in and out

From Here To Maternity will conclude their run in the mix this coming weekend.

More updates to follow.

The space is the great new little black box, the Lowry Lab - 350 St. Peter Street in downtown Saint Paul (not to be confused for bingo central, it's around the corner in the same neighborhood)

All tickets are $12 and available at the door or by reservation (at no extra cost).

*Receive a $1 discount with a 2007 Fringe button*

To reserve your tickets for a performance, please call the Actors Theater box office at 651-290-2290 anytime Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Complete schedule and show summaries can be found on the Actors Theater website at www.actorstheaterofminnesota.org

If you're not into any of that, there's always theater in a graveyard after dark - featuring some familiar Fringe faces...

or you can click on the multiple link in the Theater Recommendations section on the front page of my website - www.matthewaeverett.com - to dig up something you like.

See theater - there's tons of it.

Enjoy!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Friday Night Fringey Goodness - Pregnant Buckets, and more...

First, think about giving the Fringe a helping hand...

Then if you're suffering Fringe withdrawal, the Fringe hits revival continues tonight over at the Actors Theater of Minnesota in St. Paul.

There are shows all weekend, this weekend, and the next several into October.

If you missed these shows the first time around, now's your chance to catch 'em.

And if you did see 'em, well, you know they're good, why not go back and bring friends?

Be adventurous. Cross the river. Discover a new little theater space.

Laughs, music and dance abound tonight with a double feature of

From Here To Maternity from the always hilarious Joshua Scrimshaw and Shanan Wexler at 7pm (I saw a couple of preview bits of this and it's a hoot. If you need a laugh to close our your work week, this is the place.)

Notable local critics who've seen the whole thing say...

“...clever and inventive voices in comedy theater...”

-- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune

“As a duo, they are intellectually and comedically agile.”

-- Dominic Papatola, Pioneer Press

“Two remarkable performers tackle a topic that is perfect for comedy.”

-- Chris Kidder, TC Theater by the Numbers

“I’ve already seen the entire “From Here to Maternity” show with Joshua Scrimshaw and Shanan Wexler. Trust me, it is really really funny on an intelligent and skillful level. It’s really hard to do over-the-top comedy and still steer clear of mere gags, delivering true humor instead. They do it. Go thou and see it.”

-- John Munger, Choreographer and Fringe Blogger

followed by

Buckets and Tap Shoes at 8:30pm (they'll give you an end of the week energy boost to send you into the weekend - great music and dance)

Those more articulate about music and dance say...

Feeling down, blue, traumatized? This show'll fix you right up. It 's the new tap generation, and it's funky, fantastically fast, a little bit Zen, and lots of happy. Since Buckets and Tap Shoes debuted at the 2004 Fringe, the Ausland brothers (Rick and Andy) have tightened and brightened their routines. Gone is the wild novelty of their earlier iteration. Now they're downright professional, but still totally fun. Along with the Auslands, the carefree Kaleena Miller and flat-out amazing Ricci Milan twirl like ballerinas, suspend themselves on their toes in tap freezes, pitter patter both melody and rhythm with quicksilver speed, and suddenly fold flung out arms, legs and feet into a meditation position. Om!

-- Camille Lefevre, Star Tribune

"Stomp on steroids reaches new heights." by David Trudeau
...
Not only are these musicians and dancers incredibly talented, but they are so dedicated to giving their high energy to us, that they have obligatory changes to dry clothing half way through. The four-in-unison tap routines are knock-em-dead and they just don't stop, piling one on another. These artists should be decorated for their huge efforts to go beyond the call of performance, drumming and dancing themselves into a lather, while we, the audience with mouths agape just can't quite believe they can do what they do so well. And they just keep on going, never missing a beat. See this!

Tomorrow night's Saturday night double feature will be...

7pm - more Buckets and Tap Shoes

8:30pm - the much beloved one-woman show Blue Collar Diaries from Michelle Myers

with more to follow on Sunday afternoon

And don't forget that

I Hate Kenny G - from Allegra Lingo and Commedia Beauregard (my five star review of the show is here)

and

Take A Left At The Giant Cow - A Beginner's Guide to North Dakota - from Fringe spoken word artists Curt Lund and Laura Bidgood (my four star review of the show is here)

will be back again next weekend, too.

More updates to follow.

The space is the great new little black box, the Lowry Lab - 350 St. Peter Street in downtown Saint Paul (not to be confused for bingo central, it's around the corner in the same neighborhood)

All tickets are $12 and available at the door or by reservation (at no extra cost).

*Receive a $1 discount with a 2007 Fringe button*

To reserve your tickets for a performance, please call the Actors Theater box office at 651-290-2290 anytime Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Complete schedule and show summaries can be found on the Actors Theater website at www.actorstheaterofminnesota.org

If you're not into any of that, there's always theater in a graveyard after dark - featuring some familiar Fringe faces...

or you can click on the multiple link in the Theater Recommendations section on the front page of my website - www.matthewaeverett.com - to dig up something you like.

See theater - there's tons of it.

Enjoy!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Thursday Night Fringey Goodness from Kenny G, A Giant Cow, and more...

Not that I want you to forget the equally great current production of Measure for Measure from Nightpath Theater that performs this evening as well, but I'd be remiss (and already have been last week) not to mention here on my Fringe blog of all places that a number of Fringe hits are being revived over at the Actors Theater of Minnesota in St. Paul.

The space is the great new little black box, the Lowry Lab - 350 St. Peter Street in downtown Saint Paul(not to be confused for bingo central, it's around the corner in the same neighborhood)

All tickets are $12 and available at the door or by reservation (at no extra cost).

*Receive a $1 discount with a 2007 Fringe button*

To reserve your tickets for a performance, please call the Actors Theater box office at
651-290-2290 anytime Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

There are shows all weekend, this weekend, and the next several into October.

If you missed these shows the first time around, now's your chance to catch 'em.

And if you did see 'em, well, you know they're good, why not go back and bring friends?

Be adventurous. Cross the river. Discover a new little theater space.

Laughs aplenty to be had this weekend, starting tonight with a double feature of

I Hate Kenny G - from Allegra Lingo and Commedia Beauregard at 7pm (my five star review of the show is here)

followed by

Take A Left At The Giant Cow - A Beginner's Guide to North Dakota - from Fringe spoken word artists Curt Lund and Laura Bidgood at 8:30pm (my four star review of the show is here)

Tomorrow night's Friday Fringe double feature is...

7pm - From Here To Maternity from Joshua Scrimshaw and Shanan Wexler

8:30pm - Buckets and Tap Shoes

with more to follow on Saturday and Sunday

More updates to follow.

Complete schedule and show summaries can be found on the Actors Theater website at www.actorstheaterofminnesota.org

If you're not into any of that, there's always theater in a graveyard after dark - featuring some familiar Fringe faces...

or you can click on the multiple link in the Theater Recommendations section on the front page of my website - www.matthewaeverett.com - to dig up something you like.

See theater - there's tons of it.

Enjoy!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Review - Measure for Measure - Nightpath Theatre - 5 stars

"Quick - what's the first word that comes into your head when I mention the concept of producing Shakespeare's comedy-drama "Measure for Measure" onstage as a group of actors pretending to perform a radio play version, all doing multiple roles, complete with sound effects, set in the Old West of Vienna, California?

Brilliant.

Not the word you were thinking? Trust me, neither was I. But after seeing Nightpath Theatre Co.'s production of "Measure for Measure," brilliant is exactly the word that springs to mind. Shakespeare purists may recoil in horror at the very idea, but anyone who loves great theater should enjoy themselves enormously. I can't recommend this show highly enough..."

For the rest of the review, click here

And see this thing if you can, it's great.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Mom's Schedule, part 1

So, based on the fact I want Mom to see both I Never Slept With Helen Keller and the limitation of sight, and she's only in town for opening weekend, Thursday through Sunday, that helps focus the schedule a little.

I want to go to the opening for the limitation of sight, which is Saturday 8/4 at 4pm.

That blocks out the 4pm and 5:30pm slot, since it's a 75 minute show at the Bryant Lake Bowl.

I Never Slept With Helen Keller has two perfs on opening weekend, one of which falls on Saturday 8/4 at 5:30pm, which I just knocked out.

The other time is Friday, 8/3 at 7pm, so that's when we'll be checking that one out - which also happens to be its opening.

Mom's Schedule Thus Far

Thursday 8/2 - still wide open

Friday 8/3 - 7pm - I Never Slept With Helen Keller - opening perf

Saturday 8/4 - 4pm - the limitation of sight - opening perf

Sunday 8/5 - still wide open

On to more shows I'm fond of, to make scheduling difficult.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Official? Unofficial? Who Cares? Not Me.

I feel a little bad for the folks who have to deal with it, because you kinda can't win either way you go...

Fringe 2007 - Top 10 - Top 20 - Past and Present...

Catching up on this week's postings - reviewing the returning artists from my pre-Fringe Top 10 and Top 20 lists of 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003, and starting up the Top 10 and Top 20 lists for this year's Fringe...

Sunday, July 08, 2007

The one returnee from my original pre-Fringe Top 10 List back in 2003, the Ministry of Cultural Warfare with The Tyranny of God's Love...
The latest schedule for Fringers on TV...

Saturday, July 07, 2007

A strangely interconnected trio of Starr, Scott & Bill (and their three shows)...

Friday, July 06, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Dangerous Waters...

Collaboration ain't always easy, particularly in the Fringe pressure cooker...

Fringe 2007 - Do You Have A Show In The Fringe This Year?

We'll know more in 72 hours...

Fringers On Stage This Week

If I wasn't juggling two jobs and pulling the report together for the State Arts Board on my own script besides, here's a handful of things by Fringers (or Fringe-esque, and Fringe-adjacent, folks) I'd be going to see. Follow the handy links for more info...

This week only

The final deadly sin Envy takes Sin Cities 7 out with a bang at the Bryant Lake Bowl (Friday/Saturday July 7th and 8th, 10pm)

Closing this week...

Recently lauded by City Pages as Best Independent Theater, and one committed to new plays and playwrights, Emigrant Theater, presents Sheri Wilner's Hunger (thru 7/7)

Opening this week...

Girl Friday Productions gathers a great cast and inventive approach (no stage manager character - the whole town takes turns being narrator) to offer up their own special take on the classic Our Town (thru 7/28)

Continuing on...

Illusion Theater kicks off their latest series of Fresh Ink new plays in development - first up Jeffrey Hatcher's latest - "Mrs. Mannerly" - written for the hilarious and unstoppable duo of Barbara June Patterson and Phyllis Wright (thru 7/21)

Penumbra serves up its latest musical offering Get Ready (now extended thru 7/22)

The Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona - featuring Macbeth and As You Like It running in rep (thru 7/29)

An open-ended run for the ever-evolving and always amusing Adventures In Mating

Plus, an ever-changing and diverse roster of good stuff on hand at venues such as Bedlam, the Center for Independent Artists, Dreamland Arts, Patrick's Cabaret, the Southern Theater, Improv-A-Go-Go, the new Monday Night Improv, Balls, Brave New Workshop, the Ritz, Old Arizona, and the Bryant Lake Bowl - in addition to the open mic travels of award-winning local comic and Fringer Ben Sandel, and a whole lot more...

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Fringe 2007 - My pre-Fringe Top 10 - If You Held A Gun To My Head...

Time to start trotting out my pre-Fringe Top 10...

Autumn Roses - The Vanya Project - First Buds

One script closes, another opens

Love's Prick - One Week Out

After the final curtain falls on the performances, the other work that remains to do on the script, and the larger project of the workshop, continues on...

Fringe 2007 - Fringe TV is on the air

The pairings of guests in each episode, and the beginnings of the broadcast schedule, can be found here...

Fringe 2007 - OCD Alert - Fringe Schedule Is Up

The losing battle not to let the Fringe totally take over my life enters a new phase...

Fringe 2007 - Fringe-For-All - Night 2

All the good, the bad and the ugly from last Tuesday night all in one place...

Fringe 2007 - Fringe-For-All - Night 1

All the good, the bad and the ugly from last Monday night all in one place...

Monday, June 25, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Don't Forget Dave Mondy - Also Tonight, Monday June 25

A power outage derailed Dave's performance Friday before it even had a chance to get started. But the free entertainment and free pizza are back on track for tonight, Monday June 25 at 7pm at Pillsbury House Theater, so let's give the guy an audience. More details here...

Fringe 2007 - Fringe For All Kicks Off Tonight

Two nights. Dozens of Fringers previewing their shows in progress at breakneck speed. Tonight and tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday, June 25 and 26 at the Ritz. More details here...

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Fringers On Stage This Week

If I wasn't juggling two jobs and the final performance week on my own script besides, here's a handful of things by Fringers (or Fringe-esque, and Fringe-adjacent, folks) I'd be going to see. Follow the handy links for more info...

This week only

Very exciting stuff - The First Annual Twin Cities Improv Festival down at Brave New Workshop - (Thurs-Sun, 6/21-24)

Closing this week...

Workhouse Theatre Co. unveils their new stage with the comic ensemble piece "A Company Of Wayward Saints" (thru 6/23)

Ten Thousand Things takes on a lean and mean (and musical) "Little Shop of Horrors" (thru 6/24)

Fringe favorite David Mann directs another great bunch of actors in Alan Ayckbourn's comedy "Taking Steps" for Park Square (thru 6/24)

Nimbus gives us their own take on the bloody family feud that takes down king Agamemnon, at the Minneapolis Theater Garage (thru 6/24)

And the opera double feature ends at Fringe venue Theatre de la Jeune Lune (thru 6/24)

Opening this week...

Recently lauded by City Pages as Best Independent Theater, and one committed to new plays and playwrights, Emigrant Theater, presents Sheri Wilner's Hunger (thru 7/7)

Continuing on...

Theatre Limina's latest round of Summer Shorts - where you choose the plays that come back for the encore, Bryant Lake Bowl (thru 6/28)

Walking Shadow serves up a heaping helping of "Fat Pig" (thru 6/30)

Fringe venue Red Eye starts up its latest round of New Works 4 Weeks - this week - Roxanne Wallace's REvolutionary Soul Sistas (thru 7/1)

Cromulent Shakespeare hits the public park circuit with "As You Like It" (thru 7/1)

An open-ended run for the ever-evolving and always amusing Adventures In Mating

Plus, an ever-changing and diverse roster of good stuff on hand at venues such as Bedlam, Dreamland Arts, Patrick's Cabaret, the Southern Theater, Improv-A-Go-Go, Center for Independent Artists, the new Monday Night Improv, Balls, Brave New Workshop, the Ritz, and the Bryant Lake Bowl - in addition to the open mic travels of award-winning local comic and Fringer Ben Sandel, and a whole lot more...

Review - Uncle Vanya - TRP - 4-1/2 stars

When I saw the current production of Uncle Vanya at Theatre In The Round Players, I fell in love with the play all over again...

Love's Prick - Picking Up The Pieces

Despite some sleep deprivation, the new form of the script begins to take shape...

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Love's Prick - Pros and Cons

Monday saw our biggest audience and liveliest discussion yet (and that's saying something, on both counts). Not a bad way to start the week.

Some of my friends in the blogosphere have begun grappling with "Love's Prick."

One who really likes romantic comedies.

And one who really doesn't.

Both extremely supportive though, so bless 'em. It means a lot.

Two more performances remain.

If you haven't yet joined us, please do.

For those who need an outsider's nudge - try the nod we got from the City Pages' A-List

If you've seen it, and liked it, tell your friends.

I'd like to get some nice crowds for the actors' final performances of this. They've worked really hard on behalf of this script and I'd like to send the process out in style.

Meanwhile, I've got a couple of reviews of other people's work for a change that need posting. Time to get on that...

Our final performances are

Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23

Come join us in our little temporary home at the Center for Independent Artists.

Performances will be June 18, 22 & 23, 2007 - 7:30pm - with audiences discussions to follow, for those who are interested.

Performances at the Center for Independent Artists - www.c4ia.org

House size is a mere 60 seats, so reservations are recommended. You can call (612) 724-8392 or reserve online

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Love's Prick - Trust Me, I'm A Cop

Stepping in for an actor who can't be with us for final rehearsal. Weird sensation, stepping into a world you created...

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Fringe Mailbox, day 2

Opened the little metal door with my key today to find the PO box clogged yet again with video offerings from visiting Fringers...

Tim Mooney, hailing from Illinois (who brought us last year's creepy sci fi comedy thriller Criteria) back again, this time with a completely different offering - Moliere Than Thou. (Something my fellow blogger Phillip is looking forward to with undisguised glee - and vows to get me to see.) - www.timmooneyrep.com

William Whitehurst (who wins the distance award, sending from Paris, France) and Act Provocateur International

[Warning, their current production of "La Ronde" is - well, it's "La Ronde," so it is naturally a bit racy - not for viewing at work perhaps]

presenting his play "Pigeon Man Apocalypse" (with a backstory for the performer involved that kind of blew my mind) - www.actprovocateur.net

and

The guys of The Cody Rivers Show, out of Bellingham, Washington. It's a mini-tape, so I'm kind of bummed I can't watch it. Have to pass that tape of "Flammable People" directly on to my producer Carol sight unseen. But their website offers a whole host of stuff to peruse - And yeah, I took one look and thought "Tall, handsome, most likely gay-friendly, clowns. I think they just found their demographic in me." I am such an easy mark sometimes. - www.codyrivers.com

Hope to preview some of these last two days' worth of video over my lunch break.

Love's Prick - Something To Believe In

A familiar face brightens the commute to the day job, and my general outlook...

Monday, May 28, 2007

Fringe 2007 - The Fringe Mailbox Is Full Again

Four out of state Fringe artists submitted video missives for possible inclusion in the Fringe TV show...

Love's Prick - Over? Already?

Submitting schedule requests for my second day job, I realize it's all going to be over way sooner than I'm ready for it to be...

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Back In Business, The Next Five Years

Site's back up.

Email's back on track - although the reboot did dump a lot of the older messages I was still parsing through, so I'm glad I downloaded them all a few days before to the laptop. Phew. Figured out that interface just in time.

The problem - totally my own doing.

Back when I first purchased the domain, back on May 23, 2001 (I know), I was still under my previous (first) email address, which I'd had for several years.

So, since the new email account hadn't yet been set up, that old email address was the default for contact for things like, oh, messages saying, "Hey, your domain name registration is about to expire."

And I never changed it.

So, the warnings this time went pinging off into the ether, maybe bouncing back, maybe never to be seen again.

Only thing is, I never got 'em.

First time I signed on for the domain, so we could begin developing the site, I signed on for a year.

May 23, 2002, I re-upped for five years.

Which would put the new drop dead date at May 23, 2007.

It came. It went.

And down went the site.

In unraveling what had happened, my web guru friend discovered the email issue.

First thing I did was went into the account management software and updated to the current email address.

Then I re-upped retroactively for another five years (the max they allow).

May 23, 2012

Kind of makes you stop and think.

The original site didn't even launch until November of 2003 (Thanksgiving Weekend, my 20th high school reunion).

By then, I had my first Fringe blogging season behind me, and I'm about to head into number five. The TV show Cue To Cue launched with spotlight episodes on the Fringe Festival is heading into year five as well.

The site's about to go through a major overhaul.

Since I first purchased the domain, while it was still in development, I crewed my last two AIDS Rides as a member of bike parking.

Saw Studpuppy hit the stage for the first time at Allegheny College - with 9/11 landing right in the middle of our tech week.

Worked on my first musical, The Hopes and Fears of All The Years, out at Cal State Fullerton. Even tried my hand at song lyrics for the first time.

And since sticking my own little flag down on the surface of the internet, there have been seven passes at the old 24 Hour Play Project with Theatre Unbound (the last of which I realize I still haven't posted yet), four go-rounds with the Chicago Avenue Project for Pillsbury House Theater, a couple of servings of Thirst at Joe's Garage, a Play Date, and a mythological adaptaion.

There's been a Fringe show of my own, the last gasp of a local ten minute play festival that used to mean a lot to me, and another mounting of Studpuppy.

There's also a been a little bit of publication, with monologues from Studpuppy, Heaven and Home, and Leave (The Surface of the World).

Just had the pleasure of spending another fall developing a new play at Allegheny College. And the videotapes of that endeavour, But Not For Love, just arrived in the mail the other day - right as the website was gasping for some attention, and renewal.

And now I'm heading into the home stretch on a workshop project funded by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the larger play, Love's Prick, from which the Allegheny play last fall was spawned.

Where will I be in the next five years, when May 23, 2012 rolls around and the internet wants a little attention, and some additional outlay of my money, again?

Good question.

The last five years haven't been as filled with missed opportunities as I'd feared, looking back.

Gives one hope for the next five year plan - particularly since I'm going to be a bit more deliberate about it.

Not that bouncing around hasn't yielded some interesting results...

Friday, May 25, 2007

My Website and Email Are Down

Hi all

Hopefully by the time any of you wonder where I am or why I'm not responding, this will be resolved.

As of 6pm last night, my site went down, taking the email account with it.

First it was non-responsive with a standard error page, then it was a "Hey, this domain name has expired. Find out how to renew it today" page.

As far as I know, my domain name has not expired.

Something weird is going on, but until it's resolved, I'm kinda screwed.

For the time being, I'm running things through a secondary email address

meverett_mn1@comcast.net

Gee, play coming up in three weeks, TV studio taping in less than a week, I wonder if I could dream a worse time for something like this to happen.

Hmmm...

Nope, not coming up with anything at the moment.

Once my feeble online life is restored, I'll let ya know.

Sigh.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Fringe TV - The Scramble

Seems no matter how far in advance we start, no matter how well we plan, no matter how many people express interest in doing the TV show, we always end up at this point sooner or later...

Love's Prick - Postcards from the Edge

Good golly, the ongoing blog on the process just sprouted a part 4 this morning. This time next month, it's all over. Weird...

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Last Call for Video, Deadline May 31

Handy link reference for video submissions from out of state and international Fringe artists visiting as part of the 2007 Minnesota Fringe Festival...

Love's Prick - Spreading the Word

Some new and different angles and sources for helping get the word out. For instance, look over this new online layout - or this newly posted event coverage...

Monday, May 21, 2007

Fringe 2007 - The Fringe Lottery - Drinking the Kool-Aid, part 4

Don't like waiting around in limbo? I have some alternate strategies for you...

Love's Prick - Something to Worry About

Am I forgetting something? Do I need to be taking care of anything? Or am I just looking for something to worry about?...

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Fringers Onstage This Week

A handy batch of links to a plethora of Fringey entertainment can be found here...

Love's Prick - Juggling Act

It's a weekend full of my second day job, publicity strategy (check out the photos), and, oh yes, even a rehearsal...

Friday, May 18, 2007

Love's Prick - Words and Pictures

Publicity shots and other strategies for getting the word out...

Love's Prick - We Have A First Act

A new beginning, some rewritten pages, a bunch of transitions between scenes smoothed out and presto

Fringe 2007 - The Lottery System - Drinking the Kool-Aid

Not everyone loves the Fringe and its lottery system, but I have some counter arguments...

Love's Prick - Keep It Simple

Sometimes the simple solutions are the best ones...

Fringe 2007 - Fringing with Mom 5.0

We sort of stumbled into it the first year, Mom and I...

Love's Prick - Speed Bump

Finally running across some rough edges...

Fringe 2007 - Process

Is "blind panic" a process?...

Love's Prick - The Messy Forest Scenes

Director as traffic cop...

Fringe 2007 - Stupid Question

Hey, Fringers, don't take my questions seriously, unless you want to...

Love's Prick - Minstrel Show

Flamboyant homosexuals have invaded my writing, and good for them...

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Fringers on Stage This Week

The list is delightfully long.

The offerings are widely varied.

Quite literally something for everyone.

Check out this handy collection of links...

Enjoy!

Go see some theater. Any and all of these folks will be more than happy to see you in their audience. Bring friends!

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Fringe 2007 - National Fringers, Check Your Email

A call for information, and video samples, from out of town Fringers visiting the Minnesota Fringe Festival in August.

Details here, here, and here...

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Monday, April 30, 2007

Fringe 2007 - Producers Meetings

It's inspiring to see a room full of people, some of whom I know, most of whom I don't, all ramping up to create the performances that will be part of my favorite part of the Twin Cities theater scene every year...

Love's Prick - A New Ending, and the Next Phase

Busy 48 hours for the workshop and the play - a new ending to the script, and preparations for rehearsals, which begin in two days...

Friday, April 27, 2007

Love's Prick - Ode to Olivia, plus Newfound Friends

Another character peeks up from the scrap heap, and relationships shift around again...

Fringe 2007 - Email Blast

Messages around the state, across the country, and over the Atlantic...

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Love's Prick - Genesis, part 6

How did we get here from there...?

Part 1 - the need for a new play, and my love affair with "As You Like It"

Part 2 - the rough outline of the play takes shape

Part 3 - a production opportunity at Allegheny College

Part 4 - a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board

Part 5 - A look at the real life cast of characters who are going to help me workshop this thing...

Lastly, for now, the end of the beginning

Part 6 -

The play splits in two and seeks a new ending...

Monday, April 23, 2007

How Do You Talk About Blogging?

I've been asked to come to the two Fringe producers' meetings and talk a little about the blogs...

Love's Prick - Genesis, part 5

How did we get here from there...?

Part 1 - the need for a new play, and my love affair with "As You Like It"

Part 2 - the rough outline of the play takes shape

Part 3 - a production opportunity at Allegheny College

Part 4 - a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board

Part 5

A look at the real life cast of characters who are going to help me workshop this thing...

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Love's Prick - Play Under Construction

Approaching first rehearsal on a workshop production of a new play funded by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board - Love's Prick, my modern-day riff on the characters, themes and plot points of Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy "As You Like It"

The collective blog of daily (or nearly daily) posts on the struggles and progress have grown from

Part 1

into Part 2

and just this morning sprouted a Part 3

Related are the posts on the play But Not For Love, a plot thread that was part of the larger original version of Love's Prick, but has since been removed.

Heading out to Allegheny College for the start of rehearsals and intensive script development

Blog of the time between visits to Allegheny

The return for tech week and performances

and maybe a nod to what I might be working on next...

A handful of recent theater reviews...

Or The White Whale from Civic Theater

Carousel from Nautilus Music-Theater

Talley's Folly from Behemoth Theater

Zela Wonderland from Sandbox Theater

The TV show, and Fringe on TV

Hitting year five with this year's Fringe spotlight episodes. Meanwhile, a look at where we've been

And now we're calling for video from the national and international Fringers coming to Minnesota

Where the Fringe blogging's at

Thus far, you can peruse

Oh My God, They're Right, I Do Recruit

Applying for the 2007 Fringe -

- T-Minus 2 Days and Counting

- For Complete Artistic Control

- Cheaper Than Starting Your Own Theater

- Applying at the Last Minute (a crash course)

The page turns...

A Death in the Family - Chase Korte

The tongue-in-cheek Ping Pong Ball Awards return...

- Series 1

- Series 2

- Series 3

- Series 4

- a sidebar rant on struggles with technology

The Fringe's Ides of March

Minnesota Fringe - some basic questions and answers

The hilariously irreverent Five Fifths of the Wizard of Oz fundraiser for the Fringe

- Before

- After

and finally, Ladies and Gentlemen...

check your spam filters

Just to Catch You Up

Well, hello again, Blogger.

Back when the Minnesota Fringe Festival was first starting its experiment with blogging in 2003, it used Blogger as its host.

Come 2005, the Fringe programmers decided to bring the whole thing in house.

So, rather abruptly, pre-Google, the blogspot Fringe blogging stopped.

But since there was still some occasional traffic coming from this direction, and the base station still existed, it seemed a shame to just let it continue to languish, as the SCTV comics used to say "untouched and unloved."

So, it's back.

You can still find threads of all this on the internet crossing over on my website www.matthewaeverett.com, the Fringe's site - www.fringefestival.org, or via my MySpace page - www.myspace.com/matthewaeverett.com