Blackout Improv Does Something!!!
Rogues Gallery Arts
Blackout Improv, Minnesota's premiere all Black performer improv group returns to the Fringe bringing guests and our renowned approach to comedy which mixes humor, and heart with a social Justice bent.
Venue: HUGE Improv Theater
Tagged For: Comedy, Improv, Puppetry
Content Warnings: Adult Language
Ages 12-15 and up
It’s Blackout Improv. That’s kind of all I need to know.
They were #2 on my Top 10 list back in 2017 when they were last in the Fringe, and delivered the kind of 5-star Fringe experience I expected.
They make a better case than I can - here’s a pitch from the More Information tab on their show’s Fringe page:
“Blackout Improv is the Twin Cities premiere all-Black performer improv team. Its players have performed on stages all over the world but the group is based right out of the Twin Cities area. The troop was founded in 2015 and continues to grow and expand, currently containing 16 active members! Locally Blackout Improv has been involved in shows at HUGE Theater, The Phoenix Theater, Mixed Blood, The Guthrie, Strike Theater, Bryant Lake Bowl, the Ordway and so many more. We've run workshops in schools and with special groups. We strive to connect with our audiences in a way that promotes honest and inclusive dialogue and conversation. Our troupe consist of seasoned improvisers, teachers, actors, comedians, clowns, cartoonists, storytellers and so much more. You may spot our members on stages across town, on screen, or producing their own works across the creative industry.
It has been a while since Blackout Improv had a venue selling best run in the Minnesota Fringe Festival six years ago. Since then we have been performing all over, gracing stages from Amsterdam to the Ordway just a few weeks ago. We love connecting audiences to Black joy and social justice through our unique style and approach to comedy. Since a lot of what we do is improv its safe to assume that each one of our performances will be unique as we generate a performance for you spontaneously, in large part based on your suggestions. These shows will be especially different as every one of our performances will feature different games with a rotating cast and feature a separate Black twin cities artists as a guest. (More updates on special guests coming soon!) The things you can rely on are that we will be funny, heartfelt, honest, and unapologetically Black!!!”
And improvisor and director Duck Washington made a great pitch during Fringe Previews that last time around, which still holds:
If you’ve seen them in action before, I didn’t need to convince you to see them again with this post.
If you haven’t seen them, go. Treat yourself. You won’t regret it.
Here's some handy links to this year's Top 10 list and Top 11-20 list, also a full list of all returning favorites to this year's Fringe, plus a link to all the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival coverage.
While I have your attention, please VOTE :)
Minnesota is currently in the early voting period
for our Congressional and local primaries (I had the U.S. Senate,
Congress, and the Minneapolis school board on my ballot) - final day to
vote in the primary is Tuesday, August 13th, but you don't have to wait
until Fringe is over, go vote right now :)
Early voting for the Presidential Election itself in Minnesota starts on Friday, September 20th.
We're lucky to have a lot of time to get our voices heard, so cast your
vote, and then make sure everyone you know and love is registered and
gets to the polls to vote. Election Day, your final date to vote, is Tuesday, November 5th.
As a queer playwright and theater maker, I want a government that's compassionate and competent enough to keep us all safe and healthy, keep theaters open and running, and personally, I'd just like to be legal myself and keep the weirdos out of government and out of my personal business (and the things I post on this blog, for instance). We all have our reasons, so let's make sure we get the leaders we need and deserve, and get our friends, family and co-workers to raise their voices, too.
Find where to vote and what's on your ballot (with links to candidate websites) and other resources at the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.
For other resources on how to register, volunteer or donate, locally or nationally, check out Vote Save America.
Vote. Raise your voice. We're not going back.
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