Minnesota Fringe Festival 2026: "The Importance of Living"

Day: 7

Show: 25

Title: The Importance of Living

Category: Comedy / Drama / Horror

By: Mermaid Productions

Written by: Tim Uren

Location: Open Eye Theatre

Summary: Two happy murderers meet on death row, or maybe the afterlife, and share stories of their crimes.

Highlights: This sounds like a dark premise for a play, and it is, but it's also delightfully fun. We meet one of the murderers (Ariel Pinkerton) on death row in 1940s California, eating her last meal and reading her last book (the philosophy book The Importance of Living). She also gets to summon someone for her last conversation - a murderer from London (Tim Uren) who doesn't know he died over 40 years ago. Both married multiple times in their lives, with each spouse dying mysteriously, and leaving them a little better off. She (I apologize, I'm not good with names in general and after 25 shows I cannot remember these characters' names from last night) has the upper hand in the situation because she has studied his criminal case, and knows he eventually hangs for his crimes, so she continually points out his lies. These are people with hard lives (she in the American South in the Depression era, he in late 19th Century England), who did what they had to to survive, although they took it a little to far. Ariel and Tim make these characters almost likable, or at least entertaining. There are a lot of names thrown around in these stories that are a bit hard to keep track of (names are hard, as previously mentioned), but we get the general gist of things in this dark, creepy, time jumping dramedy. 

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2026: "Casa Bde-Maka-Ska"

Day: 4

Show: 15

Title: Casa Bde-Maka-Ska

Category: Comedy

By: Snikt! Bamf! Thwip!

Written by: Duck Washington & Tim Wick

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: A parody of the 1942 film Casablanca, set in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge.

Highlights: I've never seen the movie, but it's so pervasive in our culture I have a vague idea of the story. There's a guy named Rick who owns a club, a pair of star-crossed lovers, a piano man named Sam, and a war. Those elements are all present here, but played for comedy. As Gregory Parks, who plays Sam, notes in the post-show speech, what we went through during Operation Surge was not funny, but comedy and parody is one way to process the trauma and be part of the resistance. So in this story we have tons of Minnesota references (because it's not Minnesota Fringe without a lutefisk joke), and we have Rick (Samuel Poppen) who owns a bar and is in love with Ilsa (Bridget Foy, with a '40s movie look and sound), her husband Ole (Pher Sturz), a corrupt cop (Kelvin Hatle), the frustrated piano man (Gregory Parks), and a villain named Noem (Molly Zupon). The plot plays out fairly similar to the movie (I gather), and the allegory works nicely. The costumes are a mix of modern, vintage, and local, with a recurring bit about the (not so) mobile piano, and the "play it again Sam" song being Prince, natch. For a more gritty and realistic look at Operation Metro Surge, see Witness Loudly and Minnesota is the Shire, but it also feels good to process our recent trauma through laughter.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

"Jewelry Power Elite" at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

If you can't wait for the Minnesota Fringe Festival, which starts in less than two weeks, get a preview of what's to come by seeing a remount of one of last year's hits Jewelry Power Elite. But it's not just a remount. Lauren Anderson (the longest reigning cast-member of Brave New Workshop) has expanded her first solo show, adding a brand new second act that allows for some fun (voluntary) audience participation, and more importantly, allows Lauren to reflect on Operation Metro Surge, and the way she uses jewelry, and comedy, to support the soldiers fighting the good fight (like Bob Hope on a USO tour). There are three more performances of Jewelry Power Elite in the ground floor space of Dudley Riggs Theatre, home to the longest running comedy theater in the country, Brave New Workshop (Battle of the Improv All-Stars playing now through August 8, The Algorithm is Gonna Get You opening August 13). Operated by Hennepin Arts, they've been using this space more lately, including hosting my favorite improv show Family Dinner over the holiday season, and my second favorite improv show Off Book, which performed a few weeks ago and will hopefully be back. If you're in need of a laugh, check out all of the options for Comedy on Hennepin, beginning with the hilarious, personal, relatable Jewelry Power Elite.

"How to Catch Creation" at Theatre in the Round

The oldest theater in Minneapolis (Theatre in the Round, now in their 74th season) is known for classics like their annual Agatha Christie play, but they're not afraid to champion new work (like last year's world premiere musical Endometriosis: The Musical) and challenge their audience with lesser known titles, like How to Catch Creation, currently playing on their unique stage through February 8. Written by playwright Christina Anderson (Tony nominee for co-writing the book of the ambitious new original historical musical Paradise Square), How to Catch Creation premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theater in 2019 and has not previously been seen in #TCTheater. After cancelling a couple of shows last weekend in response to protest and continued violence on our streets perpetrated by federal agents, they only have five performance left. Last night, after another day of protest, the audience was much smaller than this excellent play deserves. It's a funny and relatable play, well written in a naturalistic style while combining multiple timelines, with a terrific all Black cast that brings these complex and messy characters to life. This story of Black artists, specifically Black female queer artists, is an important one to tell in this current era that attempts to silence voices such as these. Telling these stories, and consuming them, is part of the continued resistance against an administration that's trying to take away our humanity. Thanks to Theatre in the Round and this talented cast and creative team for telling this story now.

2025 Twin Cities Horror Festival at the Crane Theater

The leaves are turning and the weather is finally cooler, which means it's time for the 14th Twin Cities Horror Festival! And even though October is notoriously the busiest month in #TCTheater, I managed to carve out a couple of days to see almost half of this year's 14 shows in the 15-day festival. I'm not in general a fan of horror or even Halloween (except for the candy), but I am a fan of the talented artists behind these shows, whom you will know from the Minnesota Fringe Festival or other theaters around town. In fact, TCHF is like a mini-Fringe, except that all of the less-than-an-hour shows are all horror-themed and presented in one venue, which makes scheduling easier. For full coverage of the festival, please visit fellow Twin Cities Theater Bloggers and horror fanatics The Stages of MN and Minnesota Theater Love. For my reviews, scroll down. I saw three very strong shows yesterday, with a few more scheduled for this week, so check back. You can find the full schedule of events and show details here, with the festival continuing through October 30.

Update October 26: I've added reviews of the shows I saw yesterday, bringing my total up to six. All of them are great, so either I chose well, or it's a strong year at TCHF. You still have a few more days to catch some great shows!

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "Fangs and Bangs (and Sangs)"

Day: 7

Show: 24

Title: Fangs and Bangs (and Sangs)

Category: Comedy / Musical Theater / Storytelling / LGBTQIA+ Content

By: Special When Lit

Written by: Nissa Nordland

Location: Southern Theater

Summary: #TCTheater fave Nissa Nordland enlists some of her talented friends (different every night) to read some of the "sexy vampire tales" that she wrote as a teenager.

Highlights: Nissa has written a lot of shows for Fringe and the TC Horror Festival, and this is like her origin story. Turns out she has always been interested in writing sexy, scary stories, and she has her journals and a floppy disc full of stories to prove it! She's an endearing host as she explains the concept of the show and then gets vulnerable, reading her journal entries full of her innermost teenage thoughts. A slide show of yearbook photos, journal entries, and sketches support her storytelling. She sings a couple of late '90s / early aughts songs accompanied by musicians (Nicholas Nelson and Keith Hovis at the show I attended), but the highlight really is the reading of a vampire story about a redheaded teenaged vampire named Lennox and her romance with a vampire hunter named Noah. The story is continuous throughout the five shows, so you'll need to go back if you want to find out how things turn out. Reading the story on the night I attended were Amber Bjork, Derek Lee Miller, Brettina Davis, and Duck Washington, who came prepared for the steamy scenes. And the section of the story that I saw got pretty steamy! It's very funny watching these actors read Nissa's teenage dreams, but it's even more fun to watch her react with a combination of sheer delight and utter horror.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "Hamluke"

Day: 5

Show: 16

Title: Hamluke

Category: Comedy / Drama / Puppetry / Kid friendly / Literary adaptation / Shakespearian elements

By: Nightfall Productions

Written by: Brad Erickson

Location: Rarig Thrust

Summary: The story of Shakespeare's Hamlet as told with the characters from Star Wars.

Highlights: Like The Book of Morder, this is a mashup that really makes sense and is cleverly done (written and directed by Brad Erickson, who also plays a few minor roles). But unlike The Book of Mordor, I'm really only familiar with half of this mashup. I've definitely seen Hamlet on stage more often than I've seen Star Wars movies or shows. I may have missed some of the references (there were several times when everyone laughed and I didn't know why), but I still enjoyed it and could appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into the character pairings (Darthius = Darth Vader + Claudius, Opheleia = Ophelia + Leia, Landocrantz = Lando + Rosencrantz, etc.) and coalescing of plot points. The lines feel like Shakespeare, including all the Hamlet greatest hits, but with Star Wars words and references thrown in. The cast is fantastic, with lots of familiar faces including but not limited to: Dylan Rugh, so beautifully earnest as Hamluke that I'd love to see him play Hamlet, except I'm afraid some of the Star Wars words would slip in, so similar, yet different, are the lines; Duck Washington as Darthius with the iconic breathing; Jay Melchior as the cocky Laersolo (casting Han Solo as Leia's brother making the flirting a bit weird); and Clarence Wethern as multiple characters include Polyodius with the cutest Yoda puppet in an Elizabethan costume. A soundscape of live music played by two musicians on various stringed and other instruments really adds to the storytelling and make it feel more special. The whole thing is so thoughtfully and cleverly created, including props and set pieces, much of which I probably didn't even catch. But even if you're not a Star Wars (or Shakespeare) person, it's a really fun and well done show.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

"Three Sisters / No Sisters" by Theatre Pro Rata at the Crane Theater

I love seeing plays in rep, with a company of actors performing multiple plays in rotation over a period of time. It's especially satisfying when the plays are related (e.g., the Guthrie's epic History Plays last year). But Theatre Pro Rata is taking repertory theater one step further into something called simultaneous theater. Not only are they doing two shows in rep, they're being performed simultaneously! With the same cast! In the same building! On the stage of the Crane Theater, the funny and tragic and very human world of Chekhov's Three Sisters is playing out, while at the same time in the lobby of the theater, Aaron Posner's No Sisters is unfurling with the characters who are not on stage. After seeing the first one I reported that Theatre Pro Rata's Three Sisters as a stand-alone piece is an excellent production of a classic play that feels modern and relevant and relatable. A few days later I saw No Sisters and found it to be a delightful companion piece - similar in theme but very absurd and meta, giving us more insight into the minor characters. Note that the audience space in the lobby is limited, so if you want to see both plays you should get those tickets now (and yes you do have to go back on another day to see it), but if you can only see one, Three Sisters is an entirely satisfying experience on its own (although it may leave you wondering about the string of expletives coming from the lobby).

"Lettice and Lovage" at Theatre in the Round

The play Lettice and Lovage by British playwright Peter Shaffer was basically written as a showcase for Dame Maggie Smith, and she fittingly won a Tony for it in 1990. It's a very funny and very British play and has two great roles for women over 50, and a real live cat on stage, all great things. The one challenging thing is that it's a three-act two-intermission play, a rarity these days, but as long as you're aware going into it that you'll be sitting in the theater for three and a half hours or more, it's a lot of fun. Theatre in the Round is staging it in their 73rd season, dedicating the production to #TCTheater actor Maggie Bearmon Pistner who starred in their 2001 production and passed away in 2023. They've cast a couple of great actors as this buddy comedy duo, so take a nap or have a coffee before the show, get up to get a snack at intermission, and settle in for an entertaining evening (or afternoon if you're a morning person like me). Lettice and Lovage continues through April 27.

"Lincoln's Children" by Fortune's Fool Theatre at the Crane Theater Studio

'Tis the season for political plays. First, the inspiring story of Texas governor Ann Richards, reminding us that the government works for us and we need to hold them accountable. Next, Fortune's Fool Theatre's world premiere production of Lincoln's Children, historical fiction about arguably our greatest president (but not without flaws), reminding us that we need to be constantly vigilant in the ongoing fight for justice and equality that Lincoln (and countless others) gave his life for. It's a well-written play (that would be a great 90-minute-no-intermission show, if not for the intermission) that ties history to the present, well executed by Fortune's Fool in the intimate space of the Crane studio theater. They've only got a handful of performances left, so get your tickets soon (because "intimate space" means sellouts!).

Blackout Presents: Juneteenth at the Ordway

This week I attended my first celebration of Juneteenth National Independance Day, a holiday long celebrated but only recently made a federal holiday, commemorating the end of slavery in the US. And I can think of no better way to celebrate than with Blackout Improv. Blackout has been performing at various venues around town since 2015, and was the first Black improv troupe in Minneapolis. There are more now, many of which perform at the annual Black and Funny Improv Festival which they started, bringing in BIPOC improv performers from all over the country (and Canada!) to perform at HUGE Theater. I've seen Blackout perform a number of times over the years, and they're always "funny, smart, relevant, and topical" (as I wrote one of the first times I saw them). This was the biggest venue in which I've ever seen them perform, the Ordway's gorgeous Concert Hall, and it was a thrill to see them in front of a large and supportive audience in what felt like a usual Blackout show, but also elevated and special.

"Bernhardt/Hamlet" by Theatre Pro Rata at the Crane Theater

These days, it's pretty common to see women playing traditionally male roles, especially in Shakespeare, in which most of the good roles, and roles in general, are male. This is partly due to the fact that women weren't allowed on stage in Shakespeare's time, and they are now (hooray!). But even though it's common, but people still sometimes put up a stink about it. French actor Sarah Bernhardt was doing it over a hundred years ago, so one can imagine the controversy and drama surrounding that. In the new play Bernhardt/Hamlet, currently receiving it's regional premiere by Theatre Pro Rata, playwright Theresa Rebeck imagines just that, telling the story of Bernhardt rehearsing to play Hamlet, and how her friends and colleagues reacted to it. As I said in this week's episode of the Twin Cities Theater Chat podcast, Theatre Pro Rata always brings us interesting choices of plays that we probably wouldn't otherwise see, and this is a prime example. Also as always, it's well-cast and well done, for an entertaining and thought-provoking evening of theater. This funny, dramatic, historical, romantic, and relevant play continues at the Crane Theater through October 13 only.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "5 Prisoners"

Day: 10

Show: 38

Title: 5 Prisoners

Category: DRAMA / HORROR / SCI-FI

By: Ghoulish Delights

Written by: Pat Harrigan, John Heimbuch, Ariel Pinkerton, Tim Uren, and Duck Washington

Location: Southern Theater

Summary: Five short stories about prisoners that are either weird, funny, or terrifying, or some combination thereof.

Highlights: This was a fun show because each piece was just about 10 minutes long, performed by the same ensemble cast (Tim Uren, Duck Washington, Ariel Pinkerton, Boo Segersin, and Gregory Parks). Prisoner could be literal or figurative in the stories. In a historical piece, a woman is arrested for performing male roles in theater. In a horror piece, a woman donating plasma is inducted into a cult. There's a sci-fi piece in which a man is turned into a random number generator, a dark and disturbing piece about torture, and a fantasy piece about an astronaut captured by aliens. The five pieces vary in tone, cleverly utilize the same few set pieces, and allow us to watch actors playing different characters in the space of an hour. Well-acted, well-written, and an interesting concept - the mini-anthology.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "My Only Hope for a Hero"

Day: 3

Show: 8

Title: My Only Hope for a Hero

Category: COMEDY / DRAMA / SOLO SHOW / STORYTELLING

By: Rogues Gallery Arts

Created by: Duck Washington

Location: Southern Theater

Summary: A solo show by actor/director/improvisor/writer Duck Washington about his lifelong search for a hero.

Highlights: I was warned to bring tissues to this one, sage advice that I pass on to you. It's not a total tearjerker; it starts off as a very funny and personal story about Duck's love of all things Star Wars and G.I. Joe, which inspired his love of heroes, and his deep desire to be one. He shares a few quotes about heroes, trying to get to the bottom of what being a hero actually means. The title of the show is from one of Duck's favorite movies, Joe vs. the Volcano (which I now need to watch), uttered by Tom Hanks as Joe. Things take a more serious turn when talks about his father, who fought in Vietnam, the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, his mother's health issues, and the time he encountered a young woman about to jump off a bridge. He comes to the conclusion that you can't wait around for a hero, you have to be one in your own life and the lives of those you encounter. In what becomes a call to action, he asks us to help him, to stand up for people who need help. It's a passionate plea that doesn't feel preachy or judgmental, and after an hour of stories and pop culture references, with charming two-dimensional set pieces for illustration, it's impossible not to be on board. This is solo show that's playful, fun, and funny, but also meaningful and moving.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

"True West" at Theatre in the Round

Continuing their excellent 71st season, Theatre in the Round is bringing us the dark comedy True West. No one writes the dystopian modern Western like Sam Shepard, with complex, flawed, fascinating characters in the darkest of situations. The cast and creative team at TRP have brought this dysfunctional family to life in the best way. The in-the-round space makes it feel like we're watching these brothers in a fish bowl, surrounding them on all sides with nowhere for them to escape. It's gritty and brutal, and so much fun to be on the outside of it watching this family descend into chaos. True West continues at Theatre in the Round through May 14.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2022: "Finger Lickin' Good"

Day: 5

Show: 17

Title: Finger Lickin' Good

Category: COMEDY / HORROR / ORIGINAL MUSIC / AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION / HISTORICAL CONTENT

By: Special When Lit

Written by: Heather Meyer & Nissa Nordland Morgan

Location: Rarig Center Thrust

Summary: A sort of true biography of Colonel Harland David Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, that turns into a wild tale of sex, greed, and chicken.

Highlights: I don't know what kind of genius and/or warped minds think of an idea like this, but it's cluckin' brilliant (I can't resist the chicken puns any more than this team can). And it's also completely ridiculous, in the best way. Sam Landman is the perfect Colonel, with the swagger, the accent, the iconic white suit (when he's wearing anything at all), and the magnetism of the man who started the world's second largest restaurant chain. We traverse more or less chronologically through Harland's life, from his unhappy childhood, to his marriage and many affairs, to starting the KFC franchise, and eventually selling it (which, in this retelling, he regretted). The ensemble (the playwrights along with Rita Boersma, Jonathan Feld, and Duck Washington, all playing multiple roles, and chickens) are hilariously over the top as they tell this story, using lots of clever chicken props. All of the above would make for a great show, but the cherry on top is Shanan Custer as the frazzled fact checker, standing just outside the story, providing sound effects and checking in her big book of facts. Watching her watch the show, and react to the shenanigans, makes it even funnier. The show also includes a couple of original songs (by Nicholas Nelson) with some funky chicken choreography (by Laura Mahler). There aren't really any horror elements in this piece, except for one delicious final moment that maybe isn't necessary, but makes my vegetarian heart glad. Audiences may come for the salacious show image (the best one in the fest this year), but they'll be rewarded by a wholly original and wildly creative story about an iconic figure whom we thought we knew, but it turns out we didn't know him at all.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

"Much Ado About Nothing" by Fearless Comedy at the Historic Mounds Theatre

Two years after it was originally scheduled, Fearless Comedy is finally bringing us their 1940s-set take on the Shakespearean rom-com Much Ado about Nothing. It's fun to see a comedy company, that often does new work, take on one of the original comedians. The large and talented cast and inventive staging at the Historic Mounds Theatre make for a delightfully fun evening of Shakespearean comedy. See it now through May 14.

"Blackout Improv" at Mixed Blood Theatre

Friends, it's been too long since I've seen Blackout Improv. Now in their fifth year, this all-POC improv troupe performs every third Monday at Mixed Blood Theatre. Now that #TCTheater is winding down for the holidays, I was finally able to go see a show, just in time for their year end/holiday show. If they're not already, Blackout Improv should definitely be on your radar going into 2020 for the unique perspective and performance style they bring to the Twin Cities performing arts scene.

"A Very Die Hard Christmas" at Bryant Lake Bowl

I've never seen the popular 1988 action movie Die Hard, so for years I resisted seeing what has become an insanely popular holiday* tradition - A Very Die Hard Christmas at Bryant Lake Bowl (the 10pm showtime also kept me away). But this year, I finally had to see what everyone was raving about, especially since they added a few 8pm shows for us morning people. I'm still not sure I understand why it's so popular (this year they sold out the entire run before they even opened), but it is a super fun show chock full of pop culture references (of the '80s and Christmas varieties), with very funny performances by the cast. I've never seen such a packed and enthusiastic BLB audience. People love the show, and the team loves doing it, and I guess that's what makes it such a popular and long-standing tradition.

"Caucasian-Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales" by Chameleon Theatre Circle and Fearless Comedy Productions at Bloomington Center for the Arts

Duck Washington's funny, engaging, personal, and very honest sketch comedy show about being biracial in America has traveled a long road to its current home in Bloomington. Caucasian-Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales began as a Fearless Comedy show at Bryant Lake Bowl, and then had a successful run a the 2016 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Chameleon Theatre Circle originally planned to include the show as part of their 2016-2017 season, but the Ames Center in Burnsville, their then home, refused to allow the show to be produced there for fear that some might find the word mulatto offensive. To make a long story short (you can read more about it here), Chameleon left the Ames Center because they objected to artistic censorship, and Caucasian-Aggressive Pandas is currently being presented at the Bloomington Center for the Arts (the home of Artistry) as the final show in their nomadic 2017-2018 season. That's a whole lot of preamble for what is a very funny, insightful, and necessary show about race relations in America, which can only be improved by acknowledging it and talking about it, and maybe laughing about it too in a safe space like this. Oh, the irony!