I'm not sure it's ever happened before that Frank Theatre and Theatre in the Round have done the same show in the same season.
Frank has been around for 35 years, and does risky, interesting, meaningful plays (that are sometimes a little weird and dark). Theatre in the Round, the oldest theater in Minneapolis, is known for their Agatha Christie mysteries and more classic choices, but also isn't afraid to challenge their audience with some new or lesser known work. However it happened that both theaters produced
Sanctuary City within a few months of each other, it's fortunate for #TCTheater goers. This play by Polish-American playwright Martyna Majok (whose work Frank introduced us to last year with the fantastic play
Ironbound) is brilliantly written and incredibly timely, as it tells the story of two teenagers who came to this country with their parents as children, and are now faced with the uncertainty of living as undocumented immigrants. Something that's even more terrifying under this administration, and has even gotten worse since
Frank's production of this play just three months ago. I don't think there's a large intersection in the Venn diagram of Frank's audience and TRP's audience, so I hope more people get to see this play. There was a small crowd on the Saturday night I attended, but I hope that Theatre in the Round's audience gives this show a chance. It's a bold choice for them, and they do a wonderful job with it. If you missed Frank's production of
Sanctuary City, or you want to see another interpretation of it,
check it out at Theatre in the Round weekends through June 1.
