Fringe 2024 - Returning Favorites - Rev. Matt and Ariel Pinkerton

A Monster Scientist and a Tattooed Anarchist Walk Into a Bar - Mermaid Productions
Rev. Matt and Ariel Pinkerton

Two of the twin cities finest solo performers share a stage - only it's small so they have to alternate! 5 Monster Science shows! One Tattooed Anarchist in Covid Lockdown!

"Put a Needle To Me or How I Got a Full Back Tattoo During Covid Because the Government Gave Me More Money Than Any Food Service Job Ever Has" You know what's fun? Having a midlife crisis that begins with a baby and an undercut, moves onto a divorce and a job at a punk restaurant, and really CEMENTS itself during Covid Lockdown. Might as well go all out and get a full back tattoo on the Government's dime, right? Storyteller Ariel Pinkerton returns with her  tale of transformation, survival, and self revolution.
Performances: Aug 3 and 4, at 4pm, Aug 9 at 7pm, Aug 10 and 11 at 4:00pm

"Reverend Matt's Personal Best" is a series of five award-winning Reverend Matt's Monster Science comedy lectures, as selected by the Reverend - and his infectious enthusiasm for the shines through. A companion to the Fringe 2023's "Monster Science's Greatest Hits," come see shows about Medusa, Pterosaurs, Ray Harryhausen, speculative evolution, and human ancestry! Facts and jokes and Powerpoint - guaranteed!
Performances:
Friday 8/2, 7pm: Kill You As Soon As Look At You - Medusa and Pals
Saturday 8/3, 5:30pm: The Meander of Humanity - Human Evolution
Sunday 8/4, 5:30pm: Bizarrocosms - Imaginary Evolutions
Saturday 8/10, 5:30pm: Original Kaiju and Fightin’ Skeletons - The Monsters of Ray Harryhausen
Sunday 8/11, 5:30pm: Pterosaur Country - A Complete History of Pterodactyls

Venue: The Comedy Corner - Underground
Tagged For: Comedy, Solo Show, Historical Content, Spoken Word, Storytelling, LGBTQIA+ Content
Content Warnings: Adult Language, Drug Content
Ages 16 and up

Also at The Comedy Corner - Underground venue with Thy Hard is an alternating double feature of monster science lectures and solo storytelling from a pair of the Fringe’s best.

Look at the descriptions above.  Do I really need to tell you any more than that?

OK, after a couple of Fringe seasons producing and acting in wildly popular Fringe shows like The Hysterical Woman and Xena and Gabrielle Smash the Patriarchy, Ariel Pinkerton is back to share some personal storytelling (something we had a virtual taste of during the pandemic, but now we’re back live again). She’s already debuted this new storytelling show in this year Tucson Fringe, so it’s all fine-tuned and ready for Twin Cities audiences.

And Rev. Matt has a seemingly unlimited supply of Monster Science lectures, this time ranging from mythology and dinosaurs  through the monsters of old Hollywood and on to discussions of evolution, both human and imaginary.  His vast knowledge, meticulous research, and deadpan delivery are always a delight.

There are a few artists that you know, whenever you happen to walk into one of their shows, whatever they happen to be doing, you’re going to be intrigued and entertained.  These are two of those artists.  I’m so happy they’re on the West Bank among that whole cluster of other theater venues because it increases the odds that the scheduling stars will align and I’ll get to catch them once or twice during the run.

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.