Fringe 2026 - Returning Favorites - The Improv Movement Project - Silent Movie!

The Improv Movement Project (all movement, no words) was created by Mark Benzel and Sean Dillon

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. 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.  

 

 

Fringe 2026 - Returning Favorites - JimJam Media - The Local Music Scene

I saw the previous Fringe outing for this improv comedy concept back in 2022 over at the Bryant Lake Bowl, so I’m happy it’s back again and on the West Bank this time so hopefully more folks will give it a shot.

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).

So, scripted or unscripted, if Philip and his collaborators are involved, I’m there.

Here’s how they describe the concept:

“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.”

Here’s the playlist of past theme songs from their guest musicians

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. 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.  

 

  

Fringe 2026 - Returning Favorites - Mermaid Productions - The Importance of Living

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 were offering 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.

Don’t believe me, just check out their bios:

“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. 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.  

 

  

Fringe 2025 - Returning Favorites - Mermaid Productions (Ariel Pinkerton) - The Abortion Chronicles

I’ve been following the powerful, funny, offbeat storytelling of Ariel Pinkerton since she first landed on my pre-Fringe Top 10 list back in 2015.  Since then, either under her own Mermaid Productions moniker, or with other collaborators, she’s been delivering great Fringe shows for over a decade (at least the ones I’ve managed to keep up with)

Since I saw The Abortion Chronicles in its previous iteration back in 2016, I already know it works like gangbusters.  A five star show about which I said at the time:

“enormously compelling viewing, and quite possibly the most powerful show in the Fringe this year.  (If I see too many more shows that knock me back on my heels with the same force this one does, I may need to call for backup.)  That said, I welcome theater that moves me like this, over theater that feels safe, any day of the week.

There are any number of ways that something like this could go off the rails.  It could be angry, it could be overly sentimental, it could be repetitive, it could just be too damn painful to sit through.  The Abortion Chronicles not only avoids all these pitfalls, it opens up and humanizes the issue of abortion in ways I was not expecting.”

And that was back… you know, when Roe v. Wade was still a thing, rather than the Dobbs decision out of our current Supreme Court.

New stories, new cast, and a different sense of urgency (or perhaps the same sense of urgency, just cranked up to 11).

If you’re looking for catharsis, I think we may have your show here.

The Abortion Chronicles
Mermaid Productions
Created by Ariel Pinkerton
Venue: Rarig Arena
 
Show Description:
True Abortion Stories. New stories, same old fight. Because abortion is sometimes more terrifying, funny, heartbreaking, liberating, and necessary than you might expect.
 
The Abortion Chronicles returns. This award-winning show returns with new stories about true abortion experiences gathered from Minnesota women and men. As clinics close and rights are restricted, we continue the dialogue about the many needs for abortion services. New stories, same old fight.
 
Genre & Content:
Spoken Word, Storytelling, Drama, Historical Content, Political Content
Warnings:
Adult Language, Sexual Content, Other Divisive Content
 
Ariel says on the show’s Fringe page:
 
“These stories are true, entrusted to us from women and men throughout Minnesota. We are grateful.
Some of them are performed by the authors. Some of them are not.
Some of the performers are the right age, ethnicity, orientation as the authors. Some of them are not.
When seeking an ensemble I looked for performers who embodied the story they were performing. That is truly all that matters, that the authenticity of the story is embodied in the voices you hear.”

The cast includes Ariel herself, along with Alexis Bartholomew, Laura Delventhal, Kevin Ealain, Winifred Froelich, Patti Gage, Isabelle Hopewell, Christy Johnson, Tara Lucchino, Gregory Parker, Penelope Parsons-Lord, and Kyra Richardson - an ensemble with a lot of performers I’ve seen and admired before, and new names I’m excited to get to know.

Other folks may or may not be up for this, but I’ve definitely got it on my list.

I can say from experience that this format makes for a great show.  Check it out.

Update 7/24/2025, their Fringe preview:

 

 

Here’s some handy links to my Fringe Top 10, Top 11 to 20 and Returning Favorites lists for this year, as well as all the coverage of this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival.

 

 

Fringe 2025 - Returning Favorites - Philip Simondet - Fall of the High School Valedictorian

Fall of the High School Valedictorian
Philip Simondet
Venue: Rarig Xperimental
 
Show Description:
A multimedia solo show that looks at the American education system through the eyes of the artist's mental illness. Raw and honest, Simondet weaves stories together with pictures, videos, and songs. TRIGGER WARNINGS: child sexual abuse, self harm, suicide.

Since speaking as Valedictorian at his High School commencement, Philip Simondet has spent a couple of decades converting his once limitless potential into opportunities missed. Luckily, he got this show written before there was no potential left. He's an improviser, musician, podcaster, teacher, and writer... and still doesn't like himself. 
Past Fringe productions: 
Demo Tape (musical)
Self-Titled Debut Album (musical) 
The Local Music Scene (improv) 
PhilipSimondet.com - website 
TireFires.com - band's website
 
Genre & Content:
Original Music, Storytelling, Solo Show, Political Content, Religious Content
Warnings:
Adult Language, Blood, Abuse/Physical Violence, Mental Illness, Sexual Content, Sexual Violence, Suicidal Ideation/Self-Harm
 
Skipping right to the point, I will go see anything Philip Simondet does at the Fringe.

His first three shows, two original musical comedies (Demo Tape [#3 on my pre-Fringe Top 10 list that year], and the 5-star show Self-Titled Debut Album) and one improv comedy (The Local Music Scene), all centered around local band culture in one way or another, were all fantastic and smart and funny and entertaining, each in their own entirely original ways.

Though the subject matter here is darker, Simondet so completely inverted, subverted and reinvented the concept of an original Fringe musical in his previous outings that I can’t wait to see what he does to the genre of the solo show, again bringing his musical talents to bear in the mix.

Very excited for this one.

 

Here’s some handy links to my Fringe Top 10, Top 11 to 20 and Returning Favorites lists for this year, as well as all the coverage of this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival.

 

 

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.

 

 

Fringe 2024 - Returning Favorite - Victoria Pyan

IMP presents Collidescope
The Improv Movement Project

IMP’s seasoned cast of dancers, mimes, clowns, improvisers, and physical theater-makers takes an audience story and transforms it into an improvised kaleidoscope of bodies in motion - 100% physical, 0% verbal.

Venue: HUGE Improv Theater
Tagged For: Clowning, Dance, Improv, Physical Theater
Content Warnings: (none)
Ages 7-11 and up


Victoria Pyan loves creating and supporting new work in many forms, whether that be new plays through her theater company Little Lifeboats, or horror for the stage as part of Oncoming Productions, or here through improv as part of The Improv Movement Project.  It’s good to see her back on stage.  I missed IMP’s run at HUGE this spring, so I’m glad I get another chance as part of the Fringe.

Some background on IMP:

“The Improv Movement Project, founded and led by Sean Dillon and Mark Benzel, aims to expand and transform the Twin Cities improv landscape through body-centric performance, education, and collaboration. Sean and Mark were lucky enough to assemble a company of 10 amazing physically-oriented performers from a variety of backgrounds who share this vision, and together they performed their first run of wordless, physical improvisation at HUGE Theater in Spring 2024. They are thrilled to bring their work to a wider audience at MN Fringe with our signature form, Collidescope.”

[Editor’s note, part 1: Mark Benzel is also in the Transatlantic Love Affair Fringe show this year, 5x5]

[Editor’s note, part 2: One of the other folks in the ensemble is Also Bruno, also in What You Need To Do Is, and Blackout Improv Does Something, both at this year’s Fringe as well.]

[Editor’s note, part 3: As the previewing performers from the other Fringe show with a similar name said, Collidescope is not to be confused with Kaleidoscope, from Black and Foxy Co, which is ALSO at HUGE Improv Theater, just to make things interesting]

I’m very curious to see how exactly the physical, wordless improv of IMP is created.

And it’s always great to see Victoria Pyan on stage, whatever the format, whatever her role.

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.

  

Fringe 2022 - Returning Favorites - Philip Simondet

The Local Music Scene - Philip Simondet

An improv show that uses music performed by local musicians as inspiration for improvised scenes. Aug 5: Mitch Ditlefsen, Aug 8: Courtney Yasmineh, Aug 10: Kaity Joan, Aug 13: Dave Dvorak, Aug 14: Mother Banjo

The show description above tells me this is a very different format than the previous Fringe outings that charmed, amused and entertained me from this artist, but if Philip Simondet is the brain’s behind this creation, and it’s once again a mix of music and comedy, I am on board for the ride.  A delightful and amazing Fringe preview from out of nowhere landed his Fringe show Demo Tape at #3 on my pre-Fringe Top Ten list back in 2015 - and when I saw the full show, it did not disappoint.  It’s hard to mix music into a show that isn’t a musical and have it work seamlessly, but Demo Tape, and Simondet’s follow-up in Fringe 2018, the equally dry, droll and self-aware comedy Self-Titled Debut Album, did it brilliantly.  Unlike those previous two Fringe shows, this one is quite literally a completely different show at every performance.  They were presenting this concept regularly at the Bryant Lake Bowl from 2014 right up to the pandemic shutdown, so it's not untested, they definitely know what they're up to here.  Might be enough to lure me back for a second helping.  We’ll see.  But I’m going, and I highly recommend you do, too.  Should be fun.

 

(You can click on the following links to see a set of links to the full Top 10 list, the Top 11-20 list, a list of returning favorites, and the full coverage of the 2022 Fringe on this blog.) 

(Side note: Also during Fringe season, Minnesota has a primary election coming up on August 9th.  Early voting options are currently available.  You can also check out what's on your ballot ahead of time on the Minnesota Secretary of State website, as well as other voting services and information.  In Minneapolis, not only do we have the Governor and Lt. Governor on the ballot, but there's our U.S. Congressional Rep., our MN State Senator, the MN Secretary of State and MN Attorney General, as well as our County Sheriff and County Attorney, and two members of the Minneapolis School Board.  These are the people who decide what laws we live under and how they get enforced.  These are the people who decide whether or not we have voting rights.  These are the people who decide how our kids learn.  This is how we change things.  Personally, I'm alternately furious and despairing that my goddaughter and her little sister now have fewer rights over their own bodies than they did a month ago - there are things we can do, voting in the primary (and the general election) is one of them - here's a place you can go to do more.)

 

Fringe 2022 - Returning Favorites - Ariel Pinkerton/Fortune's Fool Theatre

The Hysterical Woman – Fortune’s Fool Productions (Ariel Pinkerton)

The misdiagnosis and ridicule of women in history from Cassandra to Britney Spears, told in poetry, testimony, historical documents, and noir. “Calm down, honey, you’re being hysterical.”

This one’s a two-fer - we have Ariel Pinkerton (from my pre-Fringe Top 5 back in 2015) taking the lead on a production from Fortune’s Fool (which was in the Top 20 back in 2011).  This time instead of the compelling personal storytelling Ariel regularly presents, we have a pastiche of “hysterical” women through the ages, at a time we all have good reason to be hysterical about a great many things.  The director Nicole Wilder is also at the helm of this year’s Top 20 production, My Empty Arms.  And once again Ariel has been able to entice back to Minnesota for the the festival the wonderful Katie Starks, who I still have fond memories of for putting up with a whole lot of green makeup to play a zombie back in Fringe 2013 for my play “How To Date A Werewolf.”  Bonus points for getting Linda Sue Anderson, Destiny Davison, and Andrew Troth to round out the ensemble.

(You can click on the following links to see a set of links to the full Top 10 list, the Top 11-20 list, a list of returning favorites, and the full coverage of the 2022 Fringe on this blog.) 

 

 

Returning Favorite - Ariel Leaf (Mermaid Productions) - Have You Seen This Girl? - Hard Times Cafe

16 yr old Annie Parks left for school on May 3rd and didn't come home that evening. Join us as we visit popular spots for runaways on the West Bank to find her and bring her safely home.

This is actually a walking tour show, starting at the Hard Times Cafe and hitting different locations in the West Bank as our collective neighborhood narrators go in search of the missing teenage girl.

This is a departure not just from a standard theater space but also from Ariel Leaf’s standard Fringe show.  She’s not presenting a storytelling hour gleaned from colorful tales of the wilder days of her youth.  And she’s not alone, but a guide backed up an ensemble of fellow performers.

So this one’s something different on a number of fronts.

If you’ve got your walking shoes on, it’s worth checking out for a change of pace in your Fringing.

They’ve got three performances opening weekend: Thursday, 8/2 (tonight), Saturday 8/4, and Sunday 8/5 - all at 7pm.


Here's some handy links to my full Top 10, Top 11-20 and Returning Favorites lists.

Returning Favorite - Victoria Pyan, as part of Oncoming Productions - Geminae - Southern Theater

Astronaut Cassie Matheson is in orbit, and she's doomed. With nothing left to lose, she discovers there is nothing to hold her back... except the sister who won't let her go.

Oncoming Productions is only one of the theater companies with which Victoria Pyan is involved.

I know her work best as one of the founding members of Little Lifeboats, which is committed to new work, and curates the new play showcase T.E.A.S.E. each year.

For them, she also directed my absolute favorite theater production of 2017, Sing To Me Now.  She was also one half of the two person show My Barking Dog earlier this year with Market Garden Theater.

Horror isn’t my thing, but since horror in space isn’t exactly the slasher or torture porn sort of horror, I can probably handle being creeped out for an hour.

I haven’t seen any of Oncoming Productions at the Fringe yet, but if Victoria’s involved, then I’m overdue to check them out.

They’ve got two shows opening weekend - Saturday 8/4 at 8:30pm and Sunday 8/5 at 5:30pm


Here's some handy links to my full Top 10, Top 11-20 and Returning Favorites lists.

Returning Favorite - The Fourth Wall - Fruit Flies Like A Banana - Celtic Junction

3 performers. 20+ pieces. Music, theatre, and dance collide in this madcap variety show, and YOU choose the order. Voted Best Family Show at Orlando Fringe. "Deft choreography" - The Wall Street Journal

This is year four for this trio at our Fringe.  Mom and I enjoyed all three previous outings, so I can’t imagine we wouldn’t enjoy it again.

The premise is simple, but the execution is dazzling.  The three performers of The Fourth Wall all play multiple musical instruments, both serious and silly, as well as sing and dance, and they manage to work in all three, as well as plenty of informational tidbits about the difference pieces they’re playing.

They have 20 short works to play through in just under an hour, and the audience determines the random order in which the pieces are performed.

They’re all very engaging stage performers, regardless of the hat they’re wearing for any given piece of music.  The Fruit Flies experience is always a lot of fun.  If you’re one of the few people who hasn’t seen them yet, you should treat yourself.

They’re part of the Family Fringe, so their schedule isn’t on the same set times as the regular Fringe, but they’re worth the juggling of your time.

Here's some handy links to the full Top 10, Top 11-20 and Returning Favorites lists.

Returning Favorite - Sheep Theater - Kaboom - Rarig Thrust

A nuclear missile is mistakenly armed and nothing is able to prevent it from launching. Kaboom. A new play presented by Sheep Theater (2018 Best of City Pages).

Even though Sheep Theater’s twisted take on Pinocchio didn’t top my list of favorites last year, it was still quite good, and fun to to share with Mom.

Sheep did, however, make my top 10 list for theater in 2017 which I saw outside the Fringe, not once, but twice with The Assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand, and The Good Boy and The Kid.  So of course, they’re high on my list of shows to check out once again this year.

And again, so nice that they’re doing a show that’s a complete fantasy which could never happen in real life, right?  A fuller synopsis says: “Mistakenly thinking nuclear destruction is at hand, the President arms a nuclear missile in blind retaliation and then he and the Vice President go missing, leaving no one able to stop the launch. Kaboom.”  Yeah, total fantasy.  Yikes.

It’s often hard for theater companies to talk about the work they do simply.  Sheep doesn’t have that problem.  They describe themselves, quite accurately, as a group that “writes and performs their own original stories of both epic and intimate proportions. Sometimes strange, sometimes insane, sometimes dark, sometimes silly. The plays created by Sheep Theater are all produced with simplicity, scrappiness, and honesty.”  I can’t think of a better or more succinct way to describe them.  These are theater people who know who they are and what they’re doing.

There are many reasons this group of artists got tagged as the City Pages’ best theater troupe for 2018.  If you haven’t seen why for yourself yet, you really should.

Here's some handy links to full Top 10, Top 11-20 and Returning Favorites lists.

Fringe 2017 - Returning Favorite - The Fourth Wall

The Fourth Wall (2015 Top 20) - Fruit Flies Like A Banana: World Tour

“Fruit Flies” returns with a madcap trip around the globe. YOU choose the itinerary! This high-octane variety hour combines music, theatre & dance, with each piece inspired by a different locale.

Another last minute dropout on the Fringe schedule means that we get this clever and talented trio three years in a row.  Their first year the audience determined the random order the show took place in by picking a card.  Last year the audience determined the order by picking a letter of the alphabet off a clothesline.  This year, it looks like we’ll do it by location.  My mom actually asked if “those artists” were going to be here again.  “You know, those people running around playing musical instruments.”  Yes, indeed they are, Mom.  It’s always an amazing physical, musical, whimsical, mad dash of entertainment, so we’re looking to get them on the schedule while she’s still in town.  They’re a hard working bunch, so we’re sure to get another good show.

And here's some handy links to the full list of pre-Fringe top 10, and 11-20, the rest of the returning favorites, and all the random shout outs in these Top 10/Top 20 posts - links all gathered in a single list to take you to fuller posts and Fringe pages.  Enjoy!

Fringe 2017 - Returning Favorites - Victoria Pyan

"Nobody noticed the first bombardment, not when it happened. One morning we woke up as usual, and there were babies on our doorsteps. We chose to take them in. Then the choices got much, much harder."

In addition to serving as director of Making It Home for Delve Theatre, Victoria Pyan of Little Lifeboats is also performing as part of the ensemble of this horror show - how do you battle back against weaponized children who are trying to kill you?  Not for the faint of heart.

And here's some handy links to the full list of pre-Fringe top 10, and 11-20, returning favorites, and all the random shout outs in these Top 10/Top 20 posts - links all gathered in a single list to take you to fuller posts and Fringe pages.  Enjoy!

Fringe 2017 - Returning Favorites - Laura and Zach Delventhal

"The largest population of Somalis in North America lives in the Twin Cities. Listen as a local ensemble of storytellers share their experiences of the joys and challenges of creating home in Minnesota."

Though I enjoyed their over the top comic antics with the short plays of Chekhov in 2015, their upcoming showcase of immigrants to Minnesota feels like perfect timing as a way for all of us to understand one another a bit better.

And here's some handy links to the full list of pre-Fringe top 10, and 11-20, returning favorites, and all the random shout outs in these Top 10/Top 20 posts - links all gathered in a single list to take you to fuller posts and Fringe pages.  Enjoy!

Fringe 2017 - Returning Favorites - Ariel Leaf and Scot Moore

"From communism to circumcision, from getting high in Winnipeg to getting laid in Nepal, Scot Moore and Ariel Leaf invite you aboard for their adventures abroad. But use the bathroom first."

Even though I got to Scot Moore’s one person show Break Your Heart late in the festival last year, and didn’t get to crank out a full review of it, it still wound up on my Top 10 post-Fringe list of shows for 2016.  Mom and I have both enjoyed Ariel Leaf’s solo shows expounding on the colorful (and slightly terrifying) events of her life.  So putting them both in the same storytelling show feels like a win-win.  Looking forward to it.  Here’s their preview of interlocking key phrases out of their respective tales.

And here's some handy links to the full list of pre-Fringe top 10, and 11-20, returning favorites, and all the random shout outs in these Top 10/Top 20 posts - links all gathered in a single list to take you to fuller posts and Fringe pages.  Enjoy!

Fringe 2017 - Returning Favorite - Sheep Theater

"Ex mobster Gepetto wishes his wooden puppet child, Pinocchio, to life and now there’s an insane puppet who can walk and talk and gets involved with the mob and Jiminy Cricket’s expected to make this kid good."

Honestly, just see these people.  Doesn’t matter what they’re doing.  They’ve already produced one new play that’s guaranteed to be on my Top 10 list for theater for the whole of 2017 (The Assassination of the Archduke of Austria-Hungary Franz Ferdinand), and they may earlier this month have just presented another (The Good Boy And The Kid).  They’re so good, and so prolific, it’s kind of ridiculous.  But thank God they’re hard at work in the Fringe as well.  Can’t wait.

And here's some handy links to the full list of pre-Fringe top 10, and 11-20, returning favorites, and all the random shout outs in these Top 10/Top 20 posts - links all gathered in a single list to take you to fuller posts and Fringe pages.  Enjoy!

Fringe 2017 - Returning Favorite - Mame Pelletier - FurTrader Productions

"Remember the 90s? Mame does. Besides sun-dried tomatoes and The Rachel, Mame faced the deaths of 3 loved ones in 3 years. In this interactive show, Mame will talk about death and life. Oh, and there’s singing!"

Mame and FurTrader were right at the top of my Top 10 list in 2015 and the her show Confessions of a Deliquent Cheerleader did not disappoint.  It was one of the highlights of that festival for me.  Mame is always among the best things in any production of which she's a part.  When she takes the stage to tell her own stories, she's both hilarious and seriously compelling to watch.  She sees the absurdities of life through a lens that transforms them into the unlikeliest of comedy. I'm sure F@*k The 90s will be no different.  Here's her preview.

And here's some handy links to the full list of pre-Fringe top 10, and 11-20, returning favorites, and all the random shout outs in these Top 10/Top 20 posts - links all gathered in a single list to take you to fuller posts and Fringe pages.  Enjoy!