Description: Four generations of smugglers from the river bottoms of Pike County, IL deal with their legacy of violence and crime, and the terrifying entity they accidentally smuggled over the veil from the other side. Venue - Barbara Barker Center for Dance Content Warnings - Horror, Solo Show, Storytelling Genre and Content - Adult Language, Drug Content, Loud Noises, Violence Ages 16 and Up
The press materials add:
“‘Bay Creek’ is an original solo horror show by Derek Lee Miller set in the playwright's actual home county in Illinois, based in part on family stories and local legends. It explores Mississippi River culture, smuggling, and the cycle of violence within families through a supernatural thriller. The show premiered at the Green Bay Fringe, where it won the Boomerang Award, and ran in the Twin Cities Horror Festival. Cherry and Spoon described it as "a good old-fashioned ghost story, brilliantly written and performed," and The Stages of MN said, "Miller is never less than completely hypnotizing."
“Bay Creek is a work of fiction, but Pike County, Illinois is a real place. I'm from there. No, it's not anywhere near Chicago. According to family lore, my great-grandfather really did smuggle liquor across the Mississippi River. There are signs on some river bridges really warning that smuggling cigarettes across state lines is a crime. There really was a very public shooting in a cafe in Pittsfield back in the '50s. My dad really did once tell me "There's bodies buried out in those fields they'll never find." My mom says she really has seen ghosts. A lot of people in Pike County will tell you the same. That being said, this play is entirely a work of fiction. Really.
To get a flavor of the kinds of supernatural stories people down there tell, I would recommend reading ‘Legends and Lore of Southern Illinois’ by John W. Allen, but I fear I may be one of the few people left with a physical copy.”
Derek landed at the top of pre-Fringe Top 10 list back in 2006 alongside the rest of his compatriots in Perpetual Motion Theater Company when they performed their play “The Depth of the Ocean” (aka, that Fringe show on a life raft in the lap pool of a YWCA - which is now closed, but that’s the pandemic’s fault, not the Fringe’s :)
In discussing Derek’s solo show "The Banana Wars," I once posted, “[Derek] still makes me feel like an unread philistine most of the time but he doesn’t judge so it’s fine.” People who are smarter and more multi-talented than I am both intimidate and fascinate me. I like watching them cook. And Derek’s been creating great theater, on his own and in collaboration with bunches of other talented stage artists, for quite a few Fringes now. You don’t have to take my word for it, just peruse his bio…
Originally from Pike County in west central Illinois, Derek earned a BFA in acting from Millikin University, and has been a resident of the Twin Cities since 2003. He is the former Artistic Director of Sandbox Theatre and a founding ensemble member of Transatlantic Love Affair. He also illustrated the children's book ‘The Princess in the Clouds.’ You can see more about what Derek has gotten up to in the past at derekleemiller.com and if you want to know what he's doing when he's not on stage, you can follow along as he continues to build an overly-complicated cabin in the woods at The Birchlands”
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.
This is another one of those “two favorite artists in one” kind of production situations at the Fringe.
First there’s Special When Lit, Nissa Nordland’s entity for producing the shows she creates.
And the other half of this improv duo for "Bury The Leads" is Sam Landman, who was memorable as Colonel Sanders in Special When Lit’s “Finger Lickin’ Good” when they landed on my pre-Fringe Top 10 List in 2022.
Meanwhile last year, Special When Lit took a break from the horror genre to revisit Nissa’s teenage years in high school, which I guess is another kind of horror for some of us, but she naturally created a very weird and funny show called “Fangs and Bangs (and Sangs)” revisiting her journals and sexy vampire fan fiction writing from the time, with music numbers and special guests to help her do “dramatic” readings. Great fun.
Nissa and Sam have been working on this new long-form improv concept over the past year but I haven’t yet had a chance to catch it in action, so I’m very happy they’re bringing it to the Fringe so I can finally get my butt in the theater to see it.
Description: Meet Clyde & Faye, two character actors navigating an industry of auditions, rejections, bit parts and false starts. Sometimes funny, sometimes melancholy, it's improv so grounded, it seems scripted. Venue - Mixed Blood Content Warnings - Adult language, Crude Humor, Sexual content Genre and Content - Comedy, Drama, Improv, Audience Participation Ages 16 and Up
The press packet has some great detail about the genesis of the project:
“Two character actors navigating the business of show and life in a unique long form improv format.
It all started with an unsuccessful film audition. Afterwards, Sam & Nissa commiserated about being consistently cast in character roles. So, they developed an improv set that focused on them as the leads, despite not being traditional leading actors. While this show leans into the ridiculous aspects of show business, audiences say that there’s a relatable quality of striving to be the main character yet never achieving it. If that sounds melancholy, that’s why this structured, long form improv is unique. It’s not always meant to be comedic in the same way life isn’t meant to be.”
And as usual both artists’ bios are informative as well as entertaining to read:
"Nissa Nordland Faye/Co-creator/Producer Nissa Nordland (she/her) is an actor, writer, improviser, producer and musician in the Twin Cities. She is the Artistic Director of Twin Cities Horror Festival; founder of Special When Lit; company member of Theatre Pro Rata; member of the Playwright's Cabal, alum mainstage cast member/writer of the Brave New Workshop and co-creator of improv duo Bury The Leads. She's received honors from the Atlanta Fringe Festival for Writing and has been a Finalist for the McKnight Fellowship in Playwrighting (2023, 2024 & 2026). Nissa is represented by Ruggiero Models and Talent as on-camera talent. Her recent Minnesota Fringe credits include: Xena & Gabrielle Smash the Patriarchy (writer/Gabrielle), Finger Lickin' Good (co-writer/chicken ensemble/producer), Stabby Stab Stab (writer/co-producer/Morgan), and Fangs and Bangs (& Sangs) (writer/producer/performer). In the acting world, Nissa has been compared to lots of redheads, including Alyson Hannigan, Lucille Ball, Jessica Chastain, Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) and the nude oracle from 300. Nissa thinks Anne Hathaway is overrated. 100%. You can’t convince her otherwise. She's not sorry. You hate her now. Don’t debate her at Fringe Central tonight. Nissa can also be seen in the August 6th performance of Stories From the Trauma Dump.
Sam Landman Clyde/Co-Creator Sam’s one of those annoying performers who bops between “legitimate” theater and improvisational “make-‘em-ups.” He’s acted with many companies over the years, including Yellow Tree Theatre, History Theatre, Park Square Theatre, Sandbox Theatre, Theatre Pro Rata, plus a bunch of other theaters with the word “theatre” in them. On the improv side, he’s been cast in the long-running, two-act show, Family Dinner for several holiday seasons, first at HUGE, then at the Brave New Workshop. Sam has also been in a few improv shows at Strike Theater, specifically “Holiday Office Party” and “Wish You Were Here,” a show about grief. All of these acting experiences have prepared him to create (and perform in) an improv format like Bury The Leads. Actors he’s usually compared to are Richard Dreyfuss, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Wilford Brimley, and the kid from “A Christmas Story.” In terms of an overrated actor, he’s sticking with his stock answer: Sinbad.”
It sounds like this is just the kind of real, human comedy I’m going to enjoy, so I’m very much looking forward to it.
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.
Benzel was in the previously mentioned “Clown Funeral” last year, while Dillon was in my pre-Fringe Top 10 last year presenting another improvisational concept alongside Michael DallaValle in “Final Dress.”
Victoria Pyan is another a member of the IMP ensemble, and her theater company Little Lifeboats was in my pre-Fringe Top 10 back in 2015.
The IMP cast of improvisers also includes John Hilsen (Music Director and Musican providing the musical accompaniment to the proceedings) and Mandi Bedbury, Rachel Buhman, Evie Digirolamo, Elizabeth Dunn, Luke Fanning, Gregory Parks, and Erin Sheppard.
My response to their 2024 show “Collidescope” was “super inventive improv with no words, just musical accompaniment; very physical group of improvisors; extremely amusing, even if there were a handful of times I had no idea what was going on :) - 4.5 stars”
So the idea of a silent movie framework is pretty much perfect for these folks.
Silent Movie! in Actual 3-D Description: What happens when you get a group of physical improvisers to make a movie – but without the sets, lights, costumes, props, crew, dialogue . . . or movie. A new genre-smashing cinematic epic each performance. Venue - Barker Center Content Warnings - Gun/Weapon Usage, Violence Genre and Content - Clowning, Improv, Comedy, Drama, Original Music, Physical Theater, Non-Verbal Ages 7 to 11 and Up
The press packet materials provide a bit more information:
“A new/spontaneous/physical/speechless "cinematic" journey created live on stage each performance.
The award-winning Improv Movement Project's company of clowns, dancers, mimes, acrobats, improvisers, and movement-theater mavens is turning its eyes toward the movies! Starting from a randomly-selected mash-up of genres, they'll use their bodies to give us everything we love about the cinema: The epic stories! The jaw-dropping action! Even the inspired camera work! It's all improvised -- created collaboratively in real time -- without a single spoken word, and set to a musical score created at the very same time!”
Their More Information tab on the show page also has some helpful background about who they are:
“The Improv Movement Project was founded by Sean Dillon and Mark Benzel in 2023, on the conviction that bodies — all bodies— are capable of beautiful, profound, hilarious communication that too often gets drowned out on stage by the primacy of the spoken word. So we've made it our mission to help the Twin Cities theater and improv scenes become more body-centric through performing and teaching word-free improvisation. We are joined in this work by a standing, moving, expanding company of artists drawn from a variety of performance disciplines — among them improv, dance, mime, clown, acrobatics, aerial silks, and devised physical theater.
Our inaugural production Collidescope was a last-minute add and a Golden Lanyard winner at the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival, declared "Fringey AF." We collaborated with Strike Theater on The Walls in the 2025 Twin Cities Horror Festival, and have enjoyed performing at a variety of venues across the Twin Cities and beyond.”
I’m super curious to see how this concept 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.
Octoberdandy Productions is Jen Scott, and last year she landed on my pre-Fringe Top 20 list by gathering a handful of her clowning, improv comedy friends and together they created “Clown Funeral,” which is exactly what the title says, a funeral for a clown, attended by clowns. If you had the pleasure of seeing it, as I did, then you know how delightfully odd it was. If you didn’t see it, you really can’t imagine just how strange the ceremony was. My 5-star online mini-review barely scratches the surface but it gives you a taste:
“red noses for all! 4 distinctive clowns, a lecturing banana, a dolly cart that is also Dolly Parton, a corpse with a surprise, a reading of a will as insult comedy, audience singalongs, the most amusing funeral I've had the pleasure to attend (HONK!); 5 stars”
This year, Jen returns to the venue of Theatre in the Round with a multi-disciplinary solo show called “Sound and Noise and Bodies” and it may have more genre tags in its description that it does details about the show itself :)
Description: Fringe veteran Jen Scott presents a one-person storytelling show, a music-show, a bit of a clown show, all about being human and maybe being heard. Venue - Theatre in the Round (TRP) Content Warnings - Adult Language, Other Divisive Content Genre and Content - Clowning, Comedy, Drama, Improv, Original Music, Solo Show, Spoken Word, Storytelling, Audience Participation, Historical Content Ages 12 to 15 and Up
Fear not, there’s a bit more detail on the show in the press packet for clues:
“Local performer, producer, musician and Fringe veteran Jen Scott has been creating work in the Twin Cities for over 25 years. She's worked in improv, interactive theater, scripted theater, children's theater, informal science education, and writes a song a week under the 'band' name Penny and the Bandits. In 2011, she married, and was lucky enough to start a family, with a deaf French scientist... and what does that mean?
Jen jumps from autobiographical stories to characters to original music, puzzling around what it means to be heard, seen, and hopefully understood. Sound and Noise and Bodies is at times funny, sweet, sad, heartfelt, and dumb in the best way.”
That’s really all I need to know. I’m there.
If you need further convincing, here’s Jen’s bio, and that of her director Levi Weinhagen, another regular on pre-Fringe Top 10 lists of the past - who of course has his own separate show, which is mentioned here and I’ll get to in another post :)
“Jen Scott Creator, Writer, Songwriter Jen Scott (she/her) is a Twin Cities based theater maker and teaching artist. She's worked as an actor, improviser, performer, playwright, director, storyteller, talk show host, producer, and musician. She's taught theater and art making for a long time, and has a special love for the Twin Cities improvised theater scene. She’s a COMPAS teaching artist, has been an artist-in-residence at Pillsbury House + Theater, and also has taught for HUGE Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Park Square Theatre, the Brave New Workshop, and others. She performs regularly around the Cities, from everything to storytelling shows to improv shows to dressed as a giant penguin for Art Shanties. You can also catch Jen and her millions of 2 minute songs at pennyandthebandits.com. Jen also produces Bring Your Kids, a comedy variety show for kids and their grown ups. All of this and more can be found at octoberdandy.com.
Levi Weinhagen Director Levi is a longtime theater maker, comedy writer, improviser, performer, producer, and teaching artist. He’s a Brave New Workshop alum and co-founder of Comedy Suitcase, a Twin Cities-based theater company dedicated to making smart, emotionally grounded comedy for audiences of all ages. Over the years, Levi's created original theatrical work, podcasts, essays, workshops, and performances that explore identity, relationships, parenting, justice, vulnerability, aging, masculinity, and the absurdity of being human. His work has ranged from performances for preschool audiences to facilitation with educators, community organizations, and leaders. Levi has a show in the Fringe! He and his wife, Laura Zabel, created Empty Nest, a live comedy show about marriage, parenting, identity shifts, aging, and transition — an attempt to find humor and tenderness inside major life changes.”
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.
Speaking of improvisation, here’s yet another great reason to get out to Strike Theater and see a show this Fringe season (I’ve already covered two other, very different, great reasons to go, and this show just adds to the pile of great stuff we have in store at Strike)
Once again, as with last Fringe’s 5-star improvised one-act comedy Rec League, and 2024’s Camp Out, and 2023’s The Windblown Cheeks of Lovers, Mike Fotis has gathered a crew of the very best improv comedians - Rita Boersma, Amber Bjork, Shanan Custer, Tim Hellendrung, Anna Hickey Fotis, Nels Lennes, Jim Robinson, James Rone (and Mike Fotis himself, of course). With Mike directing, the group has been playing around with yet another concept for an improvised one-act, this time diving into the bowels of the theatrical creation process itself.
Description: This year's Fringe show opens tomorrow. The props are assembled. The actors have memorized (most of) their lines. The director has blocked the show. There’s only one thing left to do…TECH THE SHOW. Venue - Strike Theater Content Warnings - Adult Language Genre and Content - Comedy, Improv Ages 16 and Up
Some further amusing context from their show page:
“What happens when everything you're working on falls apart? Does it even matter? What keeps us creating art as we move through adulthood? ....It's sure as fuck not the money. An improvised one act devised to feel like a documentary live on stage.”
Theater people will probably laugh the loudest, but I know next to nothing about baseball, camping or creating a television miniseries and I laughed my butt off at Fotis’ last three shows listed above. I’m expecting everyone will get plenty of guffaws out of this Fringe show, whether you’ve ever set foot onstage or backstage or not.
Very much looking forward to it. There are few sure things at a Fringe, but a Mike Fotis show has to be on that short list. Fotis has been too prolific an artist for anyone to have caught every single thing he’s ever done on stage, but from a few years before Mike landed on my pre-Fringe Top 10 list back in 2007, I’ve tried to catch as many Mike Fotis productions as I can, because I need the laughs, and I appreciate his jaundiced eye for the absurdities of life, and his open heart toward the flawed human beings we all are, just trying to get to the other side of whatever we’re currently stuck in the middle of.
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.
Description: An improvised soap opera inspired by audience suggestions. Our cast will create a show filled with your favorite soap opera tropes: steamy affairs, family betrayals, love triangles, seduction, and so much more! Venue - Rarig Xperimental Content Warnings - Adult Language, Sexual Content Genre and Content - Comedy, Drama, Improv, Physical Theater, Audience Participation, LGBTQIA+ Content Ages 16 and Up
The group also has a trailer of the concept for a sampling of the kind of thing they’re up to:
Mahmoud is part of the troupe in this go-round, along with Jex, Rachel Buhman, Alexis Camille, Wesley Erickson, Laura Hild, Ora Hues, Simone LeClaire, Danielle Lynch, and Robby Miller.
While I also enjoy the fun of soap opera seriously, it is also quite easy to lampoon, so the Soap Prov improvisers have a lot of fertile ground to till here. I’m curious to see what they’re up to this time, and whether we get a sprawling soap opera across all five performances, or a self-contained melodrama in each one. Either way, should be amusing.
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.
Phoenix Theater this year is once again a venue for independent Fringe producers but they have a unifying theme.
“Effecting Social Metamorphosis
This production is a part of the Social Butterfly Project, an IP collaborative promoting Mental Health Awareness.
Working within the framework of the MN Fringe Festival, August 6-16, 2026, Social Butterfly Project aims to connect audiences to a variety of mental health experiences, both on and off the stage. With the help of Fringe Producers and Mental Health organizations, we look to build an environment that engages visitors emotionally, providing experiences to include shows, activities, resources, and support, in order to encourage new perspectives, grow empathy, and provide awareness and support on mental health issues.
Mission statement: The Social Butterfly Project believes that art encourages empathy and empathy encourages change. Our mission is to engage audiences with diverse voices on a variety of social topics, using theater as a catalyst to inspire new perspectives and transform the world.”
For this entry, host Jena Young, under the banner of 7 Stories Tall, has assembled quite the team of rotating storytellers:
Stories from the Trauma Dump (A Comedic Take On Mental Health) – 7 Stories Tall Description A collective storytelling show featuring local artists sharing humorous tales around mental health. Personal or fantastical, these stories aim to share experience and possibly find catharsis through comedy. Venue – Phoenix Theater Content Warnings – Abuse/Physical Violence, Adult Language, Crude Humor, Drug Content, Mental Illness, Sexual Content, Suicidal Ideation/Self-Harm, Violence, Other Divisive Content Genre and Content – Comedy, Spoken Word, Storytelling Ages 18 and Up Only
“7 Stories Tall is very excited to produce Stories From the Trauma Dump. Each show will feature a handful of storytellers, hosted by Jena Young. Each show has a different mix of storytellers, and times can rage anywhere from 50-60 minutes.
Content Warning: Each show is likely to contain difficult and possibly triggering topics including abuse and/or 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 other in the audience as you are able.”
Nissa Nordland (about to be name-checked in an upcoming returning favorites post for the Fringe this year, another pre-Fringe Top 10 entry for 2022 through their horror/comedy group Special When Lit)
And that’s just the people I know in this roster of storytelling heavyweights. There’s also Houa Moua and Rian Vellichor.
Given this cast of characters, it seems impossible there’s going to be anything but great performances, no matter which day and time you choose. A great reason to get out to the Phoenix, perhaps more than once this Fringe just for this show alone, much less all the other shows on the schedule for this venue.
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.
Fringe is the time of year many artists decide to run themselves completely into the ground for 11 days by not just doing one show and seeing as many other shows as they can and hanging out with their fellow artists at the end of the night. No, some artists don’t content themselves with just one show, they do at least two, maybe three, and hence there’s a lot of overlap and it’s hard to assign a show to any one person because often, as in the case of a number of posts I’ve done already, there’s just a lot of crossover.
For example, Mahmoud Hakima. I was first introduced to his work as a storyteller back in 2009 with his solo show “Two Bowls of Cereal and Some Bacon” (which he recently remounted to stellar effect in 2024’s Fringe), and so in 2010 he was on my pre-Fringe Top 10 list with his next solo show “Can Michael Come Out and Play?”
But Mahmoud is also an improv comedian, so he’s been in countless improv shows as well (so many in and out of the Fringe that it was possible for anyone to catch them all, if they wanted to see anything else.)
So this Fringe we have Mahmoud the producer, and Mahmoud the storyteller, and Mahmoud the improviser.
Producing under the name The House in the Woods, we have a game show fundraiser for a good cause
Description A game show in three rounds with audience participation. Answer questions, build Lego, have fun, win prizes! A different theme every night. Artist proceeds go to benefit the Sabathani Community Center. Venue – Theatre in the Round (TRP) Content Warnings – Loud Noises Genre and Content – Comedy, Audience Participation Ages 7 to 11 and Up
(Side note: I had a play reading done as a fundraiser for the Minnesota AIDS Project quite literally three decades ago now, and it was held at the Sabathani Center. It was nice to see the Center’s name pop up again unexpectedly at this year’s Fringe.)
Four audience volunteer to be each night’s winner, each performance has a different theme, and there’s additional fun promised for the rest of the audience as well.
About Sabathani:
“Our artist proceeds for this show will be donated to the Sabathani Community Center. Located in the heart of South Minneapolis, Sabathani provides assistance for fifty-thousand local residents every year. That’s nearly an eighth of the population of Minneapolis! From helping new americans find sustainable jobs, to providing maternal health care resources, to running violence prevention programs, and coordinating events with an emphasis on fostering community and education, Sabathani is a shining example of the connection and togetherness that makes Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, and the state of Minnesota such a special place. We could not be more thrilled to support such a wonderful organization in their mission. A very special thanks must be given to Scott Redd, CEO of Sabathani, and Sherri Green, Sabathani’s Director of Critical Services, for giving us the go ahead to do this silly show for them. If you would like to donate further to Sabathani, you can click the “tip artist” icon on our show page to be taken directly to the donation page of their website, or you can follow the link here.”
About the Game Show: “Quadrilogy is a game show where four players from the audience will compete in three games for a chance to win a grand prize. Each performance will be centered around a different theme celebrating the Twin Cities and the performing arts:
Thursday August 6 at 10 pm - MN History and Folklore Sunday August 9 at 7 pm - MN Sports Tuesday August 11 at 5:30 pm - Shakespeare Friday August 14 at 8:30 pm - Musical Theatre Sunday August 16 at 2:30 pm - MN Fringe Festival 2026
But it’s not all just fun and games…well, actually, it is. I mean, it is a game show after all. But to get things back on track, we’ll also be having a lot of surprises and silliness in store for the audience. And the best part is that our artist proceeds for this show will be going to benefit the Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis! Audiences for this show can expect to have a good time for a good cause.”
How is the game played?
“Four players from the audience will advance through a series of three elimination style rounds.
Round #1: Storytime! The first game is a test of memory. The host will read a story related to that night’s theme, and the players will then be quizzed on the details of the story that they just heard. The first three players to answer four questions correctly will proceed to the next round.
Round #2: Legorama! For this game, the three players will be given a prompt from which to construct a scene out of Lego. Once their building time is up, each player will be given the spotlight to show off their Lego creation to the audience. The audience will then vote to decide which two players will then advance to the final round.
Round #3: Trivia Lightning! The two remaining players will then be quizzed one at a time in a game of rapid fire trivia. Each contestant will be given one minute to see how many questions they are able to answer correctly. Once both contestants have played, the player with the most corresct answers will be crowned the winner for the night.
One more thing! Earlier I mentioned that each of our performances will be centered around a specific theme. While our structure and rules for each performance will stay the same, the content of each show will be determined by the theme listed for that particular day. So for example if you are interested in playing and you also happen to be an expert on Shakespeare, or someone who loves Minnesota Sports, check out our show schedule to see what topic you think will give you the best shot at winning.”
Did you say prizes were involved?
“So much cool stuff! We are putting together a grand prize package for our final contestant each night containing the following items: 2 Passes to the MN Children’s Museum courtesy of Mahmoud Hakima 2 Passes to the MN Science Museum 2 Passes to the American Swedish Institute 1 $25.00 Gift Card to Pizza Luce 1 $20.00 Gift Card to the Namaste Café 1 Chai Growler courtesy of the Namaste Café …And even more!
In addition to these fabulous prizes, we are also still reaching out to different local groups around the Twin Cities to make our prize package for each night even more spectacular, so keep an eye on this space in the weeks to come for more updates.
We will also have consolation prizes awarded to each player, including candy and passes to other Fringe shows, so no one playing will be going home empty handed. To each and every one who has been able to donate to our prize pool so far, we wish to extend a warm and heartfelt thanks for making this show possible.”
Change of pace show raising money for a good cause? I’m in.
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.
Description: Improv inspired by local music. Local musicians perform original songs live. Between songs the Local Music Scene cast improvise scenes inspired by the lyrics. LOCAL MUSIC; improvised SCENEs Venue - Rarig Xperimental Content Warnings - Adult Language Genre and Content - Comedy, Improv, Original Music Ages 16 and Up
JimJam Media is producers/improvisers Sarah Arnold-Simondet, Holly Brooks, Eric Heiberg, and Philip Simondet, Philip created the show concept for The Local Music Scene and Eric serves as director.
Phillip and company ended up in the #3 spot on my pre-Fringe Top 10 list for their show “Demo Tape” and then wowed me again with both the comedy and the music of “Self-Titled Debut Album” in 2018, then brought the long-running improv show “The Local Music Scene” to the Fringe in 2022, and just last year Philip mixed music with a solo show and served up the intense, funny and very compelling “Fall of the High School Valedictorian” (which he’s taking to the Green Bay Fringe this weekend).
“In each show, a local musical guest is featured. They perform 4 original songs and, inbetween the improvisers create scenes inspired by the lyrics/vibe/etc.
The first Local Music Scene show was 2/1/2014, and we've featured nearly 100 local musicians over the last 12 years.
The first shows were a summer-long 11 am residency at an art gallery, which was the living/dning room of a 2 bedroom apartment above an italian restaurant. Our "green room" was the host artists' kids' room. There were only 6 seats in the house, and they were never full.
The Local Music Scene was a monthly staple at the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater until Covid shut everything down.
After Fringe, we will be begin a recurring run at The Others Workshop Collective (1729 N 2nd St, Minneapolis, MN 55411)”
Bonus tracks:
“Every musical guest is tasked to create their own version of The Local Music Scene Theme Song. Some suggested lyrics are offered, but the musical guests are encouraged to "make it their own" as much as possible.”
The musicians lined up for each performance are as follows:
Aug. 7th at 10:00pm: Robyn Jamner Aug. 8th at 7:00 pm: Larry Wish Aug. 10th at 8:30 pm: Dogpile Aug. 15th at 1:00 pm: Brendan Wells Aug. 16th at 5:30 pm: Boobless
Additional improvisers in the line-up include Karyn Alissa, Danica McDonald, Adam Mellerup, Linc Owens, and the legendary Jill Bernard (of HUGE theater fame - I know, I buried the lead there, didn’t I?)
If you want some new local music and some imrprov comedy, this show has both.
I’ve very highly recommended all of Philip’s Fringe shows - and I already know this one works so… absolutely slotting into my schedule again. You should, too.
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.
There’s another Fringe show making its debut at the Green Bay Fringe this coming weekend before heading back home to be part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival next month - “The Importance of Living” from Mermaid Productions.
This one actually has a trio of artists involved who have shown up on pre-Fringe Top 10 lists of mine, all of whom had shows in last year’s Fringe as well, though this year’s show is a very different one than what any of them wereoffering up last year - producer Ariel Pinkerton, heading up Mermaid Productions, and also one of the performers in this two person show; writer Tim Uren, also one of the performers; and director Duck Washington. These three know how to put together a Fringe show. Now, about that Fringe show…
Description: Samuel and Louise really know how to live; no morals, no regrets, no limits, no future. It's the night before their reckoning day and they've come to crack a bottle of wine, swap tales, and have a little fun. Venue - Open Eye Theater Content Warnings - Adult Language, Crude Humor, Violence Genre and Content - Comedy, Drama, Horror Ages 12 to 15 and Up
The press packet materials mention that the characters of Samuel and Louise are “based on actual historical murderers” (yikes). Tim does love to spin a good horror yarn, both on the page and in performance. I can imagine that he, Ariel and Duck had way too much fun in rehearsals with what I’m sure will be more than a little gallows humor.
“Ariel Pinkerton is the head, tail, and only member of Mermaid Productions, which is the handle she uses at any and all Fringe Festivals. She is also an actress, lighting designer, director and storyteller. She is Co-Artistic Director of Fortune’s Fool Theatre, Artistic Director of Mermaid Productions, Company Member of Ghoulish Delights and Community Liaison for the Minnesota Fringe. To keep herself out of trouble she is also the Co-owner of the Hard Times Cafe, a mother and step mother to three amazing children, and constant comfort to her neurotic cat.
Duck Washington has been working as a theatre artist in the Twin Cities area for over twenty five years. He is an actor, director, playwright, audio designer, educator, improvisor, and arts leader. Duck is the Executive Director for the Twin Cities Horror Festival, and is company member of Blackout Improv, Theatre Pro Rata, Dangerboat Productions and Villification Tennis. Duck is co producer of The Encyclopedia Show Minneapolis and also produces under his own company, Rouges Galley Arts.
For over 25 years, Tim Uren has been performing, writing, and directing theater at festivals and small venues in the Twin Cities. Along the way, has worked with companies such as Theatre Pro Rata, the Brave New Workshop, and Theatre in the Round. He is the founder and "Chief Ghoul" of the Ghoulish Delights theatrical company and a co-host of the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society podcast.”
Now tell me you’re not curious to see what they’ve cooked up together?
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.
Kyle’s currently at the Green Bay Fringe this coming weekend debuting his new show “Witness Loudly” that he’ll bring home to us here in the Twin Cities for our Fringe next month. The show is (given the recent killings in broad daylight on city streets in Texas and Maine in the span of less than a week by ICE agents) sadly even more timely and relevant that it already was before the latest grim news dropped.
Description Operation Metro Surge pitted armed ICE agents against the residents of Minnesota. Kyle B. Dekker recreates a live rapid response call on stage based on his own experiences as a constitutional observer, also discussing the impact of the event on him and his neighbors. Venue – Strike Theater Content Warnings – Adult Language, Gun/Weapon Usage, Loud Noises, Violence Genre and Content – Solo Show, Drama, Political Content, Historical Content, Spoken Word, Storytelling Ages 12 to 15 and Up
While Kyle was out there with his fellow citizens doing the work that needed to be done - keeping an eye on ICE patrols, making sure kids got to school and home again safely when their parents couldn’t leave the house, providing groceries and meals to people who couldn’t go outside and do their jobs to earn the paycheck to keep food on the table - Kyle was also regularly reporting on conditions during the occupation by posting updates online. He has a hell of a lot more stories to tell than could fit in any one-hour Fringe Festival slot so I’m very curious to see how he’s crafted this tale.
One of many things I appreciate about Kyle as a Fringe performer (apart from the fact that he’s also so supportive of his fellow Fringe artists and their shows), is that he finds the humanity and ways to connect an audience to subjects he cares about and wants to share. That’s just as true of the solo show about his upbringing in a religious community (“He-Man is the Devil: A Satanic Panic Tale”) as it is when he creates a show with his son about the science of flatulence (“A Completely Serious and Not At All Comedic Review of Fart, Flatus and Flatulence, aka The Fart Show”). “Witness Loudly” is obviously more on the serious side of that spectrum but when Kyle’s got a tale to tell, he does it well.
Bonus points if you attend (according to the More Information tab on the show page): “All proceeds from Witness Loudly will be donated to Indigenous Roots - an arts and community activism organization on the East Side of St. Paul, MN. They were essential in mutual aid and community support during Operation Metro Surge and continue to be an anchor of the East Side Community. Please consider making a donation to help them continue their mission and tell them Kyle sent you!”
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.
I’ve been following phillip’s storytelling ventures around the Minnesota Fringe for (yikes) over 20 year now, since his appearance at #2 on my pre-Fringe Top 10 list back in 2007 (for “Descendant of Dragons”) happened after I’d already seen two other previous Fringe outings from Maximum Verbosity - intrigued by the enjoyable but slightly messy experiment of the first in 2004 and unexpectedly blown away by the storytelling achievement of the second in 2005.
When phillip was last on the Minnesota Fringe schedule back in 2023 with “Too Many Notes,” revisiting a different story from years past in each performance - I rearranged my Fringe schedule so I could catch four out of the five (almost saw ‘em all). If phillip’s got a story to tell, I want to hear it.
Here again, we’re getting a different part of a larger canvas with each of this year’s performances:
Description: On the 250th anniversary of American Independence, listen to the words of those who were there! Adapting for the first time 18th-century combat medic, historian, and POW David Ramsay, this fully AI-illustrated show features a different collection of readings each night. Venue - Strike Theater Content Warnings - Abuse/Physical Violence, Adult language, Gun/Weapon Usage, Loud Noises, Sexual Violence, Violence (Some evenings may contain gunshots and/or racial slurs.) Genre and Content - Drama, Solo Show, Spoken Word, Storytelling, Historical Content, Political Content Ages 12 to 15 and Up
The rundown:
Saturday, August 8th at 4pm: A Revolution Highly Favorable: Peaceably to Assemble. When a distant autocrat imposes a series of crippling tariffs, a peaceful protest movement is met with overwhelming force.
Sunday, August 9th at 7pm: A Revolution Highly Favorable: To Keep and Bear Arms. The first shots of the war are fired as the government attempts to seize a stockpile of contraband weapons.
Monday, August 10th at 7pm: A Revolution Highly Favorable: To Dissolve the Political Bands. Differences become irreconcilable and thirteen new states are born, achieving their first victory on a stealth mission across the Delaware.
Wednesday, August 12th at 8:30pm: A Revolution Highly Favorable: To Compleat the Works of Death. In the war's darkest hour, a southern capitol falls, and a highly-placed general betrays his commission. (NOTA BENE: this late-night show is focused on the horrors of war, and is not for the faint of heart or stomach. Seriously. I'm not kidding.)
Saturday, August 15th at 2:30pm: A Revolution Highly Favorable: To Form a More Perfect Union. The war is won, and a new nation's citizens wrestle with who will be represented in their new government.
So, depending on your mood, or historical area of interest, there’s a slice of the story for everyone.
The press packet had some thoughts on the genesis of the show:
“I'm an internationally-touring storyteller who's been out of the game for a couple of years, but couldn't resist the opportunity to produce something for the semiquincentennial. This is a weird passion project that started long before the recent political madness that threw our city into the national spotlight, but our founding myth is a story of massacres, government gone mad, and ordinary people trapped in extraordinary circumstances that became far more relevant than I ever hoped they would. We're a traumatized people trying to find a response, and mine is to plunge forward into the past.”
You can see an example of how he’s using the artwork in the trailer for the production:
As for the source material for the performances, “David Ramsay was a physician, legislator, and early American historian. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Princeton and earned a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania before settling in Charleston, South Carolina, where he introduced vaccination and served in the state legislature. During the Siege of Charleston he worked as a field surgeon and was captured when the British occupied the city, spending nearly a year imprisoned in St. Augustine, Florida. After the war he became one of the nation's first historians, while his outspoken abolitionism cost him a U.S. Senate nomination. In 1815, he was murdered by a former patient.”
And since you’ve got Ramsay’s bio, here’s phillip’s: “phillip andrew bennett low is a Chinese-American playwright and poet, storyteller and mime, theatre critic and libertarian activist. His solo performances have won acclaim from Minneapolis to Atlanta, New York to LA - even as far as Melbourne, Australia. He was the co-founder of the Rockstar Storytellers (a supergroup of bestselling Twin Cities spoken-word artists), founder and producer of the touring theatre troupe Maximum Verbosity, and founder and host of the country's only open-mic dedicated to speculative fiction, The Not-So-Silent Planet, and its associated podcast. He has published collections of political humor, comic fantasy, and horror.
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.
Playwright, Literary Director for Threshold Theater, theater arts blogger, mostly about the Minnesota Fringe Festival - other useful links for me in the header above.
