Fringe 2026 - Returning Favorites from Years Past

Here's a list of links to all the posts about returning favorites in the 2026 Minnesota Fringe Festival (alphabetical by show title):

After the End - One T Productions (Scot Froelich, Sheree Froelich)

Following a devastating global pandemic, Jeff is left to fend for himself. Twelve years later, he’s built a farm, a solar array, and – to pass the time - a hobby of playing guitar for the audience in his head. 

 

Apologies for the Late Reply - Ben San Del

Stand-up comedy about salvaging sanity in our age of crazy presented by four-time Minnesota Fringe encore winning producer and Acme Comedy Co.'s Funniest Person in the Twin Cities title holder Ben San Del. 

 

 

Bay Creek - Derek Lee Miller

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.

 

 

 

Be Not Afraid - Third Space Theater (Alex Church)

2012. A struggling farm in a northwestern North Dakota town transformed by the oil boom is given a warning. A savior is coming.

 

 

Buckeroohaiku's Reverse Armando - Button Productions (Ryan Klima)

True stories. Masterful improvisation. Kate Button spills the stories, while the Twin Cities top improvisors weave them into comedy gold! Brace yourself for an evening of raw, unfiltered hilarity!

 

 

Bury The Leads - Special When Lit (Nissa Nordland, Sam Landman)

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.

 

 

Casa Bde-Maka-Ska - Snikt! Bamf! Thwip!

Everyone comes to Rick's. Even in the middle of a hostile occupation. Even in a world where lovers who have been torn apart by circumstance can bond over some well chosen Prince music. 

 

 

A Confluence of Magical Arseholes - The Winding Sheet Outfit 

The feckin' story and singy-song of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. There be the famous supper club for some bored c*nts and dilettantes, and this be that time W. B. Yeats kicked Aleister Crowley's arse. 

 

 

 

Cyrano - Small Waves

A queer heroic comedy in five acts. The story you never knew you already know, like you've never seen it before. An adaptation of Edmond Rostand's "Cyrano de Bergerac."

 

 

 

 

 

Doozy - Dolly Who (Destiny Davison)

A good friend never forgets. Too bad, Dolly did. But no worries, it's her day off! No agenda, no script, no work...and all the time in the world for a little sweet, sweet revenge.

 

 

 

An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani) - Narate Keys

An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani) is a musical that explores Khmer culture during the Angkorian era, where King Jayavarman VII (1181–1218) reigned with queen Jayarajadevi, Indradevi as his consort. 

 

Empty Nest - Zabel Weinhagen 

Through a mix of sharp stories, absurd sketches, and knowing winks at the audience, Empty Nest dives into life’s big transitions — aging, shifting identities, long-term partnership — and finds the humor in the awkward, poignant, and downright ridiculous moments along the way. 

FAST Death of a Salesman - an alleged Theatre Company (Jake Mierva)

Dr. Duke Didier is putting on a production of Death of a Salesman, in order to prove to his nephew that the play is still relevant in 2026. Too bad his nephew, Braedyn, couldn't give a shit. 

 

 

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 

 

Foshay! You Know The Tower - Now Hear The Story - Trompe L'Oeil 

As of 1929 Wilbur Foshay was one of the richest men in the US, but the Great Depression had other plans for him. A well-loved 2023 musical that's the true story of a man who lost everything, but found himself. 

 

 

Glengarry Glen Elvis - Michael Shaeffer

Elvis Presley stirs up trouble at an unscrupulous real-estate agency. Jumpsuits jitter and F-bombs fly as a post-Vegas career suddenly involves the temptations of grand theft and a fever for the rock 'n' roll. 

 

 

I Will Become The Silver Surfer. I Will Protect You - Jake Mierva

Galactus has chosen Earth as his next target. But don't worry. I will stop him. I will save you all. I will become The Silver Surfer.

 

 

I'm Afraid, I Have To Leave - Joking Apart Theater

Time to leave, but your hosts have other plans. Sinister agenda? Hostage situation? Or just another visit with your folks? Minnesota Goodbye meets The Twilight Zone. Grab a snickerdoodle, it might be your last! 

 

 

 The Importance of Living - Mermaid Productions (Ariel Pinkerton, Tim Uren)

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.

 

 

Improvised Love Is Blind: Minnesota Fringe Edition - DallaDanna Productions

The improvised version of the hit Netflix dating show, Love Is Blind. All of the fun. None of the toxicity. 

 

 

 

Latin Papi - CuerpoxCuerpo - Gabriel Mata

Latin Papi is a bold, playful, and provocative contemporary dance performance blending sensual movement, voice, humor, and theatrical flair created by Armani Rey Colón and Gabriel Mata of CuerpoxCuerpo.

 

 

The Local Music Scene - JimJam Media (Philip Simondet)

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

   

 M - The World Crime League

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." 

  

 

More Better Stories - American School of Storytelling

Storytellers Jon Carlson, Vianna Isbister, Bernadine Joselyn, Hank Roubicek - each tell three times, and Erin Ferdinand, Kory May, Christopher Nelson, Laura Packer, and Anne Wiborg do "one off's" with stories for adults.

 

 

Muskie - New Endeavors

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." 

 

 

Quadrilogy, a Sabathani Benefit Game Show Extravaganza! (Mahmoud Hakima)

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.

 

 

A Revolution Highly Favorable - Maximum Verbosity - phillip andrew bennett low

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.

 

Road Trip! - Chris Davis

Too expensive to go on a road trip? Then join two improv comedians as they take a ROAD TRIP without ever leaving the theater! You don’t need to pitch in for gas, just pitch in suggestions for destinations and leave the “driving” and comedy to them. Where will there journey take them? That’s for you to know and us to find out!

Silent Movie! - The Improv Movement Project (Mark Benzel, Sean Dillon, Victoria Pyan)

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.

Small Minded - Tyler West

When Tyler was a little boy he wanted to grow up and be a clown. Come to find out it was a lot harder to achieve the former, than the latter. 'Small Minded' features magic, juggling, clowning, and much more! Is being a dwarf clown REALLY half the size, but double the fun? Or is Tyler West just Small Minded? Either way, this show features juggling, magic, Shakespeare, story-telling, and some Ha-Ha's! from the heart.

 

So Bright, The Night - Hey Rube!

So Bright the Night is a hard-boiled historical drama about the Mexican Repatriation of the 1930's. A woman boards a train in hopes to rescue her husband from deportation or worse. History is repeating itself. 

 

Soap Prov: Show of 10,000 Secrets (Jex Arzayus, Mahmoud Hakima)

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!

 

Sound and Noise and Bodies - Octoberdandy Productions (Jen Scott)

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.

 

 

the statue of liberty is nora in a doll's house by henrik ibsen - SUPERMOON (Caleb Matthew Byers, Claudia Errickson, Mads Plonski, Michael Torsch

The Statue of Liberty prepares for and performs Nora in A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen. This performance is about doors, lies, and the morphed American definition/concept of liberty. It's an Americana kaleidoscopic ritual praying for a miracle.

 

Stories from the Trauma Dump (Jex Arzayus, Allison Broeren, Shanan Custer, Mahmoud Hakima, Rev. Matt Kessen, Nissa Nordland, Ariel Pinkerton, Duck Washington)

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.

 

Tapeze: a la seconde - Twin Cities Trapeze

An joyful spectacle where every step defies gravity. A circus of rhythm and movement - join us where tap dancing meets the sky. 

 

 

Tech - Mike Fotis

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.

 

 

 

Underserved: Recipes for Resistance - Lady Z Productions

A baker racing against the clock to finish one final bake discovers that the most important ingredients aren't flour and butter—they're the stories that people refuse to let disappear. 

 

 

Watership Down - Melancholics Anonymous

Digger. Listener. Runner. A small band of rabbits embark on a perilous journey to find a new home in this adventurous folk musical adaption of the classic children’s novel. 

 

 

Witness Loudly - Kyle B. Dekker

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. 

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 - Narate Keys - An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani)

[Last but not least in my blog entries on returnees from previous pre-Fringe Top 20 lists, here’s one from last year’s list, back again…]

An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani)

Description: 
An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani) is a musical that explores Khmer culture during the Angkorian era, where King Jayavarman VII (1181–1218) reigned with queen Jayarajadevi, Indradevi as his consort.
Venue - Southern Theater
Content Warnings - Flashing Lights
Genre and Content - Comedy, Dance (Classical, Global, Modern), Musical Theater, Original Music, Spoken Word, Storytelling, Historical Content, Kid Friendly, Religious Content
Ages 2 to 6 and Up

Thankfully the More Information tab on their show page helps to make up for my lack of knowledge of Khmer culture:

“My name is Narate Keys (playwright/producer) and I am a Khmer (pron. “khuh-MAI”) playwright from Cambodia. The Khmer are the largest ethnic group in the country of Cambodia. I am producing a musical called an Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani), which I started to write and develop in 2025. An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani) is a historical fiction story set during the twelfth century where King Jayavarman VII finish building the Angkor Wat. There will be original songs composed by Simmi Nelson, choreographed by Lexi Wolfgram, and directed by Abraham Vue. 
 
This production is important to share the history of the Angkorian people in our Khmer community. With a population of over 100,000 Southeast Asian in Minnesota is home to one of the largest and most thriving Southeast Asian diaspora communities in the nation. We are honored to share a story to enrich our underserved community including the Hmong, Khmer, Lao and Viet diaspora communities on reclaiming language through theatre, collective storytelling working with arts markers and  with our actors, singer, producer amongst many others to bring this musical into fruition. 
 
An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani), the musical is a passion project. I dreamt of writing about the Angkorian Kingdom and sharing the abundance of storytelling of the Khmer people. In 2013 I began thinking about going back to my homeland, Cambodia. My vision came true when I landed in Phnom Penh in 2015. After visiting Angkor Wat and exploring Siem Reap, I began my research and wrote my first musical, Apsara. I'm happy to produce another musical called an Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani). It's a family collaboration with all the cast and crews ranging from ages 5 to 46.   
 
An Earth Goddess (Preah Mae Thorani) is for all ages to enjoy.”

Last year’s production, “Aspara, the Musical” was also set in 12th century Khmer (with a modern day framing plot line surrounding it, and spirits crossing back and forth - I think, to be honest it was sometimes hard to tell what was going on).  My review on the fly at the time was:

“lightly confusing show set mostly in 12th century kingdom of Khmer but constructed and sounding like a 21st century Disney musical, which didn't seem to serve the story, the subject or the culture it was trying to convey; cast doing their best; 3 stars”

I’m assuming they learned a lot from their first outing, and this go-round will have the benefit of having been through the whole Fringe process last year.

If you’re interested in something unique, another musical from this group about a different culture in a different time will definitely be that.  There’s a cast of over a dozen, and many of the actors are kids this year.  So that’ll be a change of pace even from last year’s production.
 

 

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 - Melancholics Anonymous - Watership Down

Melancholics Anonymous is on a roll, both in the Fringe community and throughout the rest of the year producing theater (The Last Menagerie and Worm Teeth) and new play readings as well, so they hardly need any help from me. (I was late to the game, after all, since they didn’t pop up on a pre-Fringe Top 10 list for me until just last year :)

What do you do to follow up the award-winning hit Fringe show, Joan of Arc for Miss Teen Queen USA?

Well, naturally, you take a nearly 500-page dystopian novel published in 1972 about a group of rabbits, plagued by horrific visions of the future, who go on a quest to find a new, safer home (the animated film adaptation of which traumatized a whole generation of children) and turn it into a musical.

(Hey, it’s a show full of rabbits’ feet, most of which are still actually attached to the characters of living rabbits, so this show is probably the luckiest one in the Fringe.)

Watership Down

Description: 
Digger. Listener. Runner. A small band of rabbits embark on a perilous journey to find a new home in this adventurous folk musical adaption of the classic children’s novel.
Venue - Rarig Thrust
Content Warnings - Violence
Genre and Content - Drama, Musical Theater, Original Music, Puppetry, Physical Theater, Storytelling, Kid Friendly, Ltierary Adaptation
Ages 7 to 11 and Up

The trailer is, unsurprisingly, a knock-out.

 

You now know the vibe of the show you’re in for.  

Frankly, I’m fascinated with how the adaptation plays out in a compressed Fringe time slot.  Melancholics has worked wonders before, cramming more content into an hour than other Fringe shows dare to try, and this is clearly a labor of love like all their quirky, often dark, comedies are, so I’m fully expecting them to pull this off in fine style.  The core company members and the outside artists they bring in on each project always seem to collaborate well together which is an impressive way to show how a company can share and expand its vision.

The press packet materials add a bit more detail:

“Rabbits go on a quest for survival in this new folk musical adaption of a classic children’s novel.

After eight consecutive years at Minnesota Fringe, local company Melancholics Anonymous (Joan of Arc for Miss Teen Queen USA, A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism) returns with the first-ever musical adaptation of Richard Adams’s beloved novel Watership Down, with original folk music by Bee Davis. Developed under special arrangement with the Adams Estate, this bold world premiere follows Hazel, Fiver, Bigwig, and their fellow rabbits as they fight to find and forge a new home in this classic tale of resilience, courage, and community.”

The More Information tab on their show page has a bit more still:

“‘All the world will be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you... Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.’
 
From the company that brought you Joan of Arc for Miss Teen Queen USA and A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism comes a new, daring folk musical adaption of Richard Adams’s classic, best-selling novel, Watership Down. 
 
Adapted for the stage by Rachel Ropella and Timothy Kelly, with original music and lyrics by Bee Davis. This stage adaptation is presented by special arrangement with Watership Down Enterprises Limited.
 
Melancholics Anonymous, winner of seven MN Fringe awards (including three Audience Pick awards), is thrilled to return for their 8th year in a row! Established at St. Olaf College in 2019 and now based in the Twin Cities, Melancholics is an independent theater company dedicated to creating eccentric original works and championing new play development."

 

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 - Twin Cities Trapeze - Tapeze - a la seconde

Every year when I draft up a Top 20 list, inevitably I miss a couple.  Last year, Tapeze was one of them.

But here they are again, with a second show built off the same concept - combining tap dancers and trapeze artists in the same show.

Tapeze -  a la seconde

Description: 
An joyful spectacle where every step defies gravity. A circus of rhythm and movement - join us where tap dancing meets the sky.
Venue - Southern Theater
Content Warnings - None
Genre and Content - Dance, Physical Theater, Kid Friendly, Non-Verbal
Ages 7 to 11 and Up

They also threw in a mime while they were at it.  Fringe (and Twin Cities theater community in general) veteran performer Kirsten Stephens has been added to this year’s ensemble, which just makes this whole thing even more intriguing.

The show’s More Information tab on the Fringe site has an additional pitch for us:

“Tap plus Trapeze = Tapeze!
Building on last year's successful Fringe Run, Tapeze is back with a bigger rig, bigger feels, and similar shenanigans. 
Do you like Flight?  Do you like Rhythm?  Tapeze is for you!”

Big rigs, feels and shenanigans.  There you have 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. 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 - DallaDanna Productions - Improvised Love is Blind: Minnesota Fringe Edition

I’m not sure exactly why I didn’t blog on this one earlier, back when I highlighted the return of Sean Dillon this year with the Improv Movement Project.   Michael DallaValle, who’s one of the drivers behind this other show, partnered up with Sean on “Final Dress” which was on my pre-Fringe Top 10 list last year.

Improvised Love is Blind – Minnesota Fringe Edition – DallaDanna Productions (Michael DallaValle & Danna Sheridan)

Description
The improvised version of the hit Netflix dating show, Love Is Blind. All of the fun. None of the toxicity.
Venue – Strike Theater
Content Warnings – Adult Language, Crude Humor
Genre and Content – Improv, Comedy, Audience Participation
Ages 16 and Up

Not a lot of context here, outside of this bit of extra info on the origin of the show in the press packet materials:

“The improvised Love Is Blind show stems from Danna Sheridan and Michael DallaValle (the directors and also two of the performers in the ensemble of six imrprovisers) hate-watching the hit Netflix series, and Danna saying, "Hey, we should do an improvised version of this. Michael laughed this off, bit after three successful sold out runs, it seems Danna was on to something.”

So they’ve been at this concept for a bit, fine-tuning it with audiences, and now it’s the Fringe’s turn.

No elaboration on the Cast and Crew tab or More Information tab, just a simple listing of names and roles.

You know the concept, you know it’s improv comedy, that’s kind of all you need to know to figure out whether you’re going to like it or not.

If you enjoy a lot of heterosexual nonsense, as in the original, or want to justly see it lampooned, they have a show for 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. 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 - Joking Apart Theater - I’m Afraid, I Have To Leave

Where you put that comma in the title makes all the difference…

I’m Afraid, I Have To Leave

Description: 
Time to leave, but your hosts have other plans. Sinister agenda? Hostage situation? Or just another visit with your folks? Minnesota Goodbye meets The Twilight Zone. Grab a snickerdoodle, it might be your last!
Venue - Mixed Blood
Content Warnings - Adult language, Gun/weapon usage, Loud Noises, Violence
Genre and Content - Comedy, Horror
Ages 12 to 15 and Up

Joking Apart Theater is another returnee from last year’s pre-Fringe Top 20 list, and just like last year’s show, “The Jaws That Bite, The Claws That Catch,” it looks like we’re in for another unsettling time, if only based on that blood spattered knife next to that lovely plate of Rice Krispie bars in the show’s publicity image.

Also, the show’s Cast and Crew tab lists a Fight Choreographer, the Genres listed are both Comedy and Horror, and the content warnings include Gun/Weapon Usage, Loud Noises and Violence, which make the Adult Language warning seem like the most innocuous of the bunch.

Just like last year’s show had a protagonist stuck in a loop, this year’s characters may also be trapped in another unending ritual that keeps looping back on itself, the infamous “Minnesota Goodbye” (the More Information tab for the show has a link to a handy comedic example of this tradition)

The press packet materials have variations on the show description:

“A never-ending evening with Ole and Lena? A hostage situation? A Cthulhu murder cult? Or is it just another dinner with your folks? The Twilight Zone meets The Minnesota Goodbye.

Minnesota Goodbye meets The Twilight Zone.  From writer/actor, Edwin Strout, who brought you "That's MISTER Benchley To You, Mrs. Parker" in 2003, and last year's "The Jaws That Bite, The Claws That Catch!"

If you’re looking for social discomfort cranked up to 11, this may be your show :)

 

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 - Zabel Weinhagen - Empty Nest

What do you do with yourself when your kid leaves home for college?

If you’re spouses Laura Zabel and Levi Weinhagen, you of course quickly see material for a new comedy show.

Empty Nest

Description: 
Through a mix of sharp stories, absurd sketches, and knowing winks at the audience, Empty Nest dives into life’s big transitions — aging, shifting identities, long-term partnership — and finds the humor in the awkward, poignant, and downright ridiculous moments along the way.
Venue - Rarig Thrust
Content Warnings - Adult language
Genre and Content - Clowning, Comedy, Improv, Physical Theater, Spoken Word, Storytelling
Ages 12 to 15 and Up

According to an interview last fall with CBS News, Levi noted, "We were moping around the house. We'd check in with each other and say, did she call? Have you heard from her? Did she post on the internet? And I think we both realized we were kind of doing Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' about our kid. And we're like, well, that's kind of a sad but funny show. Maybe there's something here.”

So they put together a show, gave it first run at the Bryant Lake Bowl last September, and now they’ve fine-tuned it and are bringing "Empty Nest" to the Fringe.

The More Information tab on their show page on the Fringe site has this to add:

“Laura and Levi met performing at the Brave New Workshop and have performed for more than two decades in theater, comedy, and storytelling — and at home, they’ve been improvising marriage and parenting for over 24 years.”

You can see the full interview about the show’s first run (with clips from the performance) at the BLB via this link.

And if you need to be reminded who they are and what they've done, here's their bios:

"Laura Zabel
Creater/Performer
Laura Zabel is an actor, writer, and nationally recognized arts leader. She served as Executive Director of Springboard for the Arts for 21 years, an award-winning economic and community development organization based in Minnesota. Laura has performed with numerous Twin Cities theaters, including Mixed Blood, Brave New Workshop and Comedy Suitcase.

Levi Weinhagen
Creater/Performer
Levi Weinhagen is a theater artist, comedy writer, and co-founder of Comedy Suitcase, a perennial Fringe Festival favorite known for inventive, all-ages comedy. Levi is also a licensed therapist and teaching artist and has created work for audiences ranging from preschoolers to politicians." 

  

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 - 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 - Octoberdandy Productions - Sound and Noise and Bodies

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. 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 - Mahmoud Hakima (3 of 3) - Soap Prov: Show of 10,000 Secrets

Post #1 was about Mahmoud Hakima as producer

Post #2 was about Mahmoud Hakima as storyteller.

And the last of this little trilogy of posts is about Mahmoud Hakima as an improviser.

This Fringe show is also the return of last year’s pre-Fringe Top 10 artist Jex Arzayus, this time unscripted rather than scripted.

Soap Prov: Show of 10,000 Secrets

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

I have seen a Soap Prov outing before, during the closing weeks of HUGE theater as a venue in Uptown (RIP)

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. 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.