There were three shows in the Fringe Previews that had an interesting daisy chain of overlapping connections between a couple of theater companies that were on past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine (2022 and 2023) - the puppet-focused Phantom Chorus Theatre, led by Thalia Bea Kostman and Marc Berg, and the dark comedy machine that is The World Crime League, led by Andrew Rosdail.
First up, there’s
Fighting Unicorns – Angela Fox Productions
A girl and her unicorn sidekick go on a hero’s journey through a fantastical world of puppets to find her lost story. A powerful show about healing and moving forward. Adventure, wonder, humor, heart. Part of the Social Butterfly Project. 120 min
Venue – Phoenix Theater
Content Warnings – Flashing Lights, Loud Noises, Mental Illness
Genre and Content – Puppetry, Mystery, Physical Theater, Comedy, Drama
Ages 12 to 15 and Up
The puppet creators from Phantom Chorus Theatre were working overtime on this one, especially on that unicorn sidekick, operated and acted by Charles Hubbell, who featured prominently in the Fringe preview scene:
There’s also a behind the scenes video posted which gives a peek at a lot of the other elements and performers in the show:
This is another production in the slate of offerings over at the Phoenix Theater under the larger umbrella of the Social Butterfly Project, using theater of all type to shine a light on mental health awareness.
Producer/Playwright/Actor Angela Fox had some additional words on the production on the More Information tab of their show page on the Fringe website:
“On the surface, “Fighting Unicorns” is a hero’s journey told through a world of puppets. But underneath, the main character is processing trauma through the safety of a childlike world. Recently, I started therapy for C-PTSD. The process has honestly been pretty awful at times, but also indescribably life changing. It also inspired me to write “Fighting Unicorns”. Processing difficult emotions can be terrifying and exhausting. I wanted to create something that could help people do it in a safe and entertaining way. And a unicorn sidekick never hurts! If I can help make one person’s heart lighter, that would be amazing.”
The only potential downside to this one is it’s a super-sized Fringe show, an actual two hour, full-length play, so you’ll need to plan on setting aside more than the usual time for all the other one hour and under Fringe shows to fit it into your schedule. But if you need a break from running around and just want to stay put for one story for a while, Fighting Unicorns will give you that breather.
You’d think that’d be enough puppet creation to keep a person busy for the summer, but Berg and Kostman aren’t done yet.
Their work is also featured in
Muskie – New Endeavors
Description
It's Fishing Opener on Lake Mille Lacs, but some of the residents of Garrison, Minnesota have started disappearing. Could it be the work of the terrifying, mythical Muskie? Find out in this Minnesota-based parody of "Jaws."
Venue – Mixed Blood
Content Warnings – Adult Language, Blood, Gun/Weapon Usage, Loud Noises, Violence
Genre and Content – Puppetry, Horror, Comedy
Ages16 and Up
(This is also a Matt Saxe crossover, as he’s acting in both this and the previously mentioned So Bright, The Night - and was in the previews for both shows, with a radical costume and accent changes, of course.)
The press packet materials have this additional info:
“New Endeavors is the Golden Lanyard Award-winning company behind "The Buttslasher", "Peace Retreat," and "An Exorcism, Don'tcha Know." Lately, they have been dabbling in horror-comedy. They are working in collaboration with Phantom Chorus Theatre to use puppetry to bring the titular "Muskie" to life. This show promises thrills, chills, and laughs as Minnesota Fishermen battle the monster of Lake Mille Lacs.”
Side note: This is, believe it or not, one of TWO tributes to the shark horror film JAWS in this year’s Fringe (the recent 50 year anniversary of the original film in the franchise has spawned many a tribute, it seems). We also have the musical “Chum!” from the group Theatre Engine, described thusly:
“Chum!” is a musical parody of “Jaws” that invites audience members to bring a chum to be chum by telling the familiar tale of New England beach mastication in musical and interactive format.
So if you can’t get enough water-based terror in one show, there is more on offer.
The director of “Muskie” is Andrew Rosdail, whose bio kind of ties this trio of shows all together:
“Andrew is excited to be working with New Endeavors again! “Muskie” marks his third time directing for New Endeavors, after the Golden Lanyard-winning “Peace Retreat” and last year’s hit, “An Exorcism, Don’tcha Know?” Andrew has also written and directed “Writers’ Block.,” “Uncle Walt,” and “We Were Only Henchmen” at previous MN Fringes through his own production company, the World Crime League. He is also an actor, most recently appearing in Phantom Chorus’s puppet rock opera “Razia’s Shadow” and currently acting in the World Crime League’s production of “M,” which definitely should be added to your Fringe schedule this year!”
Speaking of “M”
M – The World Crime League
Description:
A massive manhunt is underway in Berlin. Police have spent months searching for a prolific serial killer with no success. As fear and suspicion spread, the city’s criminal underground decides to take matters into their own hands and hunt the murderer themselves in this new adaptation of Fritz Lang’s classic film noir "M – Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder."
Venue - Barker Center
Content Warnings - Abuse/Physical Violence, Adult Language, Gun/Weapon Usage, Violence, Other divisive content
Genre and Content - Drama, Mystery
Ages 16 and up
This one has me the most intrigued, just because they’re taking a black and white German film about vigilante justice that’s almost 100 years old, and staging it for a 2026 audience.
Plus, it also spawned a station ID bit for the old MTV music channel which is stuck in my head to this day.
(Oh, and it’s an unexpected fourth Fringe show for the previously highlighted Mahmoud Hakima is involved with - three as performer and one as producer, he is apparently not planning to sleep much during the festival :)
(And yes, this is how my mind works the closer we get to the Fringe starting.)
Interested in hearing about other artists I recommend based on past outings in the Fringe? Here's a link to a list of all the coverage of returning favorite artists from past pre-Fringe Top 20 lists of mine that are part of this year's Minnesota Fringe Festival. And here's links to the 2026 versions of my pre-Fringe Top 10 list and Top 11 through 20 for the 2026 festival as we ramp up toward the start of the Fringe on August 6th.
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