"Hypocralypse Now" by Brave New Workshop at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

From this spring's The World is Burning, So I Made S'Mores to their new show Hypocralypse Now, Brave New Workshop is bringing us smart, funny, topical comedy. The oldest comedy theater in the country is like Minnesota's SNL, and this show in particular is all about political humor (just take a look at the show image). But the show doesn't just skewer the current administration and its blatant hypocrisy (which for me is one of the most frustrating things about it), but also other people in positions of power, and the way we as citizens react to what's going on. As they say in the intro, be prepared to be offended, but at least in this situation we can all laugh at the world, each other, and ourselves. Because the great thing about this country is that we can make fun of the people in power without fear of censorship or retribution. Well, at least today we still can. So head to the Dudley Riggs Theatre in downtown Minneapolis to not forget your troubles, but laugh at them and commiserate with other humans sitting in a room together. Hypocralypse Now continues through November 1.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "Jewelry Power Elite"

Day: 2

Show: 8

Title: Jewelry Power Elite

Category: Comedy / Drama / Solo Show

By: Rogues Gallery Arts

Created by: Lauren Anderson

Location: Strike Theater

Summary: A solo show by actor/improvisor Lauren Anderson (a frequent performer at The Brave New Workshop) telling the story of her life through jewelry.

Highlights: I love jewelry, but Lauren Anderson really loves jewelry. She's turned it into a way of life, and crowned herself "Jewelry Power Elite." In this very funny and personal show, she talks about the history of jewelry itself, along with the origins of her love for jewelry (those '80s jelly bracelets, and a grandmother with an extensive jewelry collection that she inherited) and the way it's helped her in various phases of her life. She talks about her connection to her dad through their love of theater, and holding onto his dog tags from his Vietnam service to give her confidence. She talks about how putting on her grandmother's beads connects her to that relationship and her childhood. In the show-and-tell portion of the show, Lauren shares her five favorite animals and what they represent to her, and shows us a small portion of this animal-themed jewelry. She uses visual aids in the form of what looks like an overhead projector but is actually a camera projected on the wall, where she displays historical photos and actual jewelry pieces. Lauren is a born entertainer, and it's no surprise that she's very funny and personable in her first solo show. It's well constructed to take us through a series of stories from her life, and the different ways that jewelry can make you feel special, give you confidence, remind you who you are, or connect you with something bigger. I'll never look at a bracelet the same way again.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

Twin Cities Improv Festival at the Phoenix Theatre

With the closure of HUGE Theater last year, the Twin Cities Improv Festival has a new home - Phoenix Theater in Uptown. For four days, you can watch improv troupes from here in the Twin Cities (and we have a lot of great ones) as well as troupes from around the country and even some from other countries. I attended the first, all-local, night of the festival and had a great time watching some beloved familiar improvisors and some new-to-me improvisors. Each had their own spin on the artform, most started with a suggestion or two from the audience and they took that somewhere unexpected. The Phoenix is a great welcoming location (despite the never-ending construction on Hennepin), with snacks and drinks (including espresso drinks) sold in the cozy lobby. Keep reading for my thoughts on the eight improv troupes I saw (two or three troupes are grouped together in each set, with up to four sets a night), and click here for the schedule of shows continuing through Sunday.

"The World is Burning, So I Made S'mores" by Brave New Workshop at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

Leave it to Brave New Workshop (the longest running comedy theater in the country) to bring us just the show we need right now, and make us laugh through the fear and uncertainty of this world. A lot of people feel like "the world is burning" (literally in California, metaphorically in wars, mass deportation, endless infuriating executive orders, removal of protection for our most vulnerable people and places), and sometimes it feels like there's nothing we can do about it but "make s'mores." Which in this case means - see a comedy show that makes us laugh. And truly, one of the things that makes this country great, and that we have to protect, is the freedom of our artists to tell stories, make jokes, and poke fun at the current administration, past administrations, and ourselves. If you're looking to escape the troubles of our daily world, this may not be the show for you. And if you think the world is pretty great right now, this may not be the show for you either. But if you want to sit in a room and commiserate and laugh with other humans about the crazy things happening daily, as a way to release a bit of the stress and recharge for the continued fight, then The World is Burning, So I Made S'mores is definitely the show for you. See it at the Dudley Riggs Theatre on Hennepin Avenue weekends through May 17.

"Tristan Tzara Was My Best Friend in Junior High" at Mirror-Lab

And now for something completely different: Tristan Tzara Was My Best Friend in Junior High. The subtitle of this odd and charming little play is "A dinner party ritual," and that's exactly what it is. It's been around in various incarnations for about ten years, but this was my first experience with it. I'd tell you to go see it if you're looking for a different kind of theater experience, but there are only four performances and it's sold out (self-produced by the artists). Here's hoping they'll bring it back again - follow this website for more info.

"Big Christmas Energy" by Brave New Workshop at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

If you're looking for a laugh this season, Brave New Workshop is the surest bet for laughing until your face hurts. The longest running comedy theater in the nation is back with their annual holiday* show, which is always a favorite. Like years past, Big Christmas Energy is an irreverent look at everything surrounding the holidays, from awkward family interactions to weird Christmas songs. The uber talented five-person cast of BNW regulars has written about a dozen ridiculously funny sketches (with the help of director/host Caleb McEwen), and performs them with great energy and enthusiasm. There's a little something for everyone (except maybe children - leave them at home), music and nostalgia and double entendres. So if this holiday (or post-election) season has got you down, you might need some Big Christmas Energy in your life; laughing with a bunch of strangers in a room together has a healing effect. The show continues through January 31, with another holiday favorite Family Dinner (a long-form improv show that has run for decades, most recently at the dear departed HUGE Theater) playing in the first floor space at the Dudley Riggs Theatre Fridays and Saturdays in December.

"Love and Other Things that Ruined My Life" by Brave New Workshop at Dudley Riggs Theatre

Valentine's Day may be over, but Love and Other Things that Ruined My Life is timeless! Brave New Workshop's new sketch comedy show, which opened Valentine's Day weekend, pokes fun at love, relationships, breakups, and all things related (and not related). Unlike that four-letter word love, the longest running comedy theater in the country never lets you down with their silly, smart, relevant, and sometimes just plain goofy sketches performed by a fantastically funny cast. This show plays through May 18, after which they'll be bringing back their all-improv show It's Not the Heat It's the Stupidity this summer, featuring a rotating cast of local improvisors.

"All I Want for Christmas is You... to Elf Off!" by Brave New Workshop at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

Brave New Workshop's holiday* comedy sketch show is a favorite. And not just of mine; there were tons of groups, families, and people decked out in their best (or worst) holiday sweaters in the audience last night. The cast began the show by saying that this is the 65th holiday show (give or take) for one of the longest running comedy troupes in the nation. But despite the joke of that first sketch that every idea (even the most absurd) has been done before, they still managed to come up with some new, fresh sketches, along with some tried and true favorites. As you may guess from the title, All I Want for Christmas is You... to Elf Off, the show is an irreverent look at holidays and traditions, poking loving fun at the sometimes ridiculousness of this time of the year. But it stays true to the real meaning of the season - togetherness, community, and laughter. The show plays through January 27 so you have plenty of time to go celebrate with some holiday humor, by yourself or with a group of your favorite people (but I would not recommend bringing the children - spring for a babysitter or leave them with the grandparents, whom you also may not want to bring, depending on their sense of humor).

"It's Not the Heat, It's the Stupidity" by Brave New Workshop at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

The common refrain: "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" can be heard frequently in a Minnesota summer. For their newest clever title, Brave New Workshop is playing off of this phrase with It's Not the Heat, it's the Stupidity (which is perhaps even more true). The longest running comedy theater in the country is doing something different for the summer. Typically their shows feature written comedy sketches, followed by a short improv section at the end. For this show, it's all improv, all the time! As host (and "boss" as the performers referred to him) Caleb McEwen said, there are just too many stupid things happening right now, and this way they can react to all of them daily instead of having a static script. Although there wasn't a lot of current events in the show I saw (yours might be different), just a lot of hilarious, clever, and delightfully stupid comedy. Each week's cast is pulled from a large group of some of the best improvisers in town, truly making each show different. The show plays every Friday and Saturday at 7:30 through August 5 (plus occasional matinees - click here for details).

"The Best Christmas Show in Three Years" by Brave New Workshop at the Dudley Riggs Theatre

This spring, after a two year hiatus, the longest running sketch comedy troupe in the country went Back to the Workshop - the Brave New Workshop, that is. Now their annual holiday show is back for the first time in three years, and it's guaranteed to be The Best Christmas Show in Three Years. It may also be one of the best you see this year, especially if your tastes run more towards the salty than sweet side of things. This hilarious and lovable cast makes fun of all the silly things surrounding the holiday season, while still celebrating being together and laughing. Lots of laughing. It plays at the newly christened Dudley Riggs Theatre (honoring the founder of the company who passed away recently) in downtown Minneapolis through January 28. Click here for info and tickets.

"Back to Workshop; Or, Everything's Fine!" at Brave New Workshop

More than two years after they had to shut down due to a global pandemic (remember that?), Brave New Workshop, the longest running improv/sketch comedy troupe in the country, is finally back! Because everything's totally fine now, right?! In addition to everything we've all been through over the last two years, BNW also went through a transition; their founder Dudley Riggs died, and the company and theater space on Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis was bought by the Hennepin Theatre Trust, which also oversees the historic Hennepin Avenue theaters - Orpheum, State, and Pantages. The first show coming out of this new partnership, Back to Workshop; Or, Everything's Fine!, is business as usual for BNW. The business being hilariously funny, smart, and topical satire, and just all around silly comedy entertainment. If you're having a tough time transitioning to this new world (and who isn't?!), Back to Workshop will help you feel not so alone in that, and maybe even help you process things or look at them in a new light. But mostly, you'll just have a really great time. Workshop plays weekends (Fridays and Saturdays, plus some Thursdays) through August 6.

"The Great Strike Theater Improvised Bake Off" at Strike Theater

The Great Strike Theater IMPROVISED Bake Off is back! The last time I was at Strike Theater was for the 2019 holiday Bake Off. After a very long intermission, Strike opened its doors again last year for sketch comedy, storytelling, and spoken word shows and classes. And this week my favorite show, the delightful spoof of everyone's favorite TV baking competition, returned for two performances only. Click here for more info on Strike's upcoming shows and classes, and read on for more about this episode of the Bake Off.

"Holiday Show! the holiday show" at DalekoArts

A local theater fan arranges for all of their favorite actors to come to their home under false pretenses, locks them in, and orders them to create and perform a new holiday* show. No, I'm not describing my pandemic fantasy, this is the plot of DalekoArts' return to the stage after a 21-month extended intermission (during which time they produced an all-virtual subscription box season called "Daleko Home Invasion"). The new original comedy Holiday Show! the holiday show is a ridiculous and loving ode to theater, the holidays, and being together. In other words, it's perfect for this odd and lovely season we're living in. Holiday Show plays weekends through December 19 in charming historic downtown New Prague, just a quick jaunt over the river and through the woods (and farm fields). Their programming is always worth the drive, and their 10th season looks to be a great one, continuing with the "hilarious and heart-breaking" play Lone Star Spirits, and the second regional production of the eight-time Tony-winning musical Once. If you've not been to New Prague lately, now is a good time for a visit (click here for info on the season).

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2020: "Lauren and Nissa Present: Fun Times"

Location: Nightly Fringe (Aug. 9)

Length: 40 minutes

Title: Lauren and Nissa Present: Fun Times

By: Special When Lit

Summary: A series of comedy sketches, performed live over zoom (natch).

Highlights: This was just a really fun show for the last night of the festival. Nissa Nordland and Lauren Anderson are both very funny women, and they work well together. The running gag was that since this was on the internet, who knows if anyone's watching, so they can do whatever they want with "no consequences!" Sketches included a spoof of a work zoom meeting with a surprise appearance, Lauren afflicted with "cool disease," Nissa singing a silly song, and my favorite - a Jane Austen spoof called "Dignity and Displeasure." And as a (former) clarinetist, I very much appreciated Nissa's playing between scenes, and her pre-show covers of such classics as "My Heart Will Go On" and "Music of the Night."

Read all of my Nightly Fringe mini-reviews here.

Read all of my Digital Hub mini-reviews here.

2020 Minnesota Fringe Festival Preview

Friends, one of the best times of the #TCTheater year is approaching! The Minnesota Fringe Festival is going virtual this year. The bad news is the shows will not be live and in-person, and not as many shows/artists are able to participate. The good news is you can watch all shows from the comfort of your own home, many at your own schedule, and you don't have to deal with waiting in line, or rushing from venue to venue in the August heat, or squeezing your meals in wherever you can. This is a great opportunity to experience the adventurous nature of the Fringe, from the comfort and safety of home.

"Getting Plowed: A Holiday Survival Guide" at Brave New Workshop

Friends, it's been way too long since I visited the Brave New Workshop, for no other reason than the theater world keeps me so busy I rarely have time to venture over to the adjacent comedy world. But last night I attended opening night of BNW's annual holiday show, Getting Plowed: A Holiday Survival Guide (continuing through January 4), and was reminded of how much fun it is. It's definitely different than the usual theater I attend - more fun and loose and playful - but still with talented and familiar performers who are experts at what they do. Which is write and perform silly, smart, timely, relatable, ridiculous comedy sketches. And this show is all about the holidays, in an irreverent sort of way that celebrates all that we love and hate about this time of year.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2019: "Size"

Day: 7

Show: 22

Title: Size

Category: COMEDY / DANCE / DRAMA / ORIGINAL MUSIC / PHYSICAL THEATER / STORYTELLING

By: Somerville Productions

Created by:  Colleen Somerville and an array of writers and bodies.

Location: Mixed Blood Theatre

Summary: Reflections, stories, sketches, and songs about the way society treats people of varying body size.

Highlights: This is a such beautiful show, and very relatable for anyone who has ever had issues with body image or food, which is pretty much every woman (and some men) who live in this country. The performers are all so honest and vulnerable in sharing their very personal stories about how they've felt shamed about their bodies at various times in their lives - in school, at work, in relationships. I thought it was going to be more about sizism in theater (which is definitely a conversation we need to having), but it was more universal than that (except for the horrible theater teacher that focused on students' looks, and Lauren Anderson's recurring story about how she was heckled onstage while performing). In a way that makes it more universal, because we've all had those moments of insecurity about our bodies. These poignant stories combined with moments of humor and music make this hour of truth-telling and affirmation of people of all shapes and sizes fly by.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2019: "Because I Said So"

Day: 6

Show: 21

Title: Because I Said So

Category: COMEDY / DRAMA / ORIGINAL MUSIC / STORYTELLING

By: Schmidtshow Productions

Created by: Emily Schmidt and Pat Robinson Schmidt

Location: Rarig Center Arena

Summary: Sketches, songs, and stories about the mother/daughter relationship, as told by local funny women and their real-life mothers and/or daughters.

Highlights: Emily Schmidt has written some really funny, clever, Minnesotan comedies for the Fringe (e.g., last year's Lakes 4), but this year she's doing something different. Along with her mother Pat Robinson Schmidt, she's gotten together some of the funniest women in the Twin Cities to talk about their moms and/or daughters. And the result is not just funny and relatable, but also very moving and sometimes serious. The show opens with Samantha Baker Harris singing a sweet little song with her young daughter Maya, and closes with a song by Samantha, Maya, and Samantha's mom Lynn Baker. It's a beautiful full circle moment, and in between are sketches and stories, based in truth, by Shanan Custer and her daughter Kate, Alex Byrne and her mother Maura, Taj Ruler (speaking about her strained relationship with her mother), Laura Zaber and her daughter Irene, Pat (Emily performed at the first couple shows but I assume has gone back to L.A. where she lives and writes), and Lauren Anderson and her mom Jinniece. It's a well curated selection that covers many of the facets of the mother/daughter relationship.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

"Spinster Stories" Hosted by Heather Meyer at Strike Theater

I was at the dentist today for a quick repair of a chipped filling. While waiting for the novocaine to take effect, the hygienist was making small talk. She went through the usual topics - travel, work, weekend plans. Then she got to this topic. "Do you have children?" "No." "Are you married, significant other?" "No." "So it's just you then, huh?" Yes, it's just me. But it's not really just me. I was reassured last night that there are many "spinsters" like me who are single for a variety of reasons, and contrary to popular belief we're not all lonely damaged people. We can be just as happy and well-adjusted and fulfilled as "the marrieds," maybe even moreso. Six such people shared their experiences at Strike Theater in Northeast Minneapolis in an evening of storytelling called "Spinster Stories." Sadly, this was the final of two shows and there are no more scheduled (at the moment). But check out Strike's schedule for more storytelling, sketch comedy, and improv performances, including their one-year anniversary celebration this weekend!

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2018: "Gunplay!"

Day: 6

Show: 23

Title: Gunplay!

Category: Comedy / Sci-Fi / Political Content

By: Tom Reed

Created by: Tom Reed

Location: Mixed Blood Theatre

Summary: The National Machine Gun Association (NMGA) sends its new youth liaison to a high school theater group to get them to perform a gun safety drill musical.

Highlights: Is it right to laugh about gun violence in schools? Nothing else has seemed to work to minimize the problem. Although this show doesn't laugh at gun violence, it laughs at the ridiculousness of the gun lobbies and politicians and the way that they speak about gun violence. It's a pretty hilarious and pointed show about one of the most sobering issues we face today. Naive Anders (Tom Reed) is sent to a small school that needs the theater funding the NMGA will provide in return for putting on their show. Teacher Laura (Adelin Phelps) reluctantly agrees so that she can put on the new musical Mortgage (based on RENT) in the spring. Her students (composer Austen Fisher, Karina Strom, Lauren Anderson, Matthew Englund, and Meredith Casey) at first go along with it, but once they realize the pro-gun content of these admittedly fun and peppy songs, they protest and decide to do their own thing (a hilarious mash-up of snippets of musical theater songs). Anders and Laura have chemistry and as Anders begins to learn about the larger world, and think about the organization he works for, he joins the students in their protest. The final moments are sobering as we hear some startling gun statistics, but the message is delivered in a clever, fun, and entertaining way. For a thoughtful exploration of the gun culture in America, go see Gunfighting: An American Story. To laugh at the ridiculousness of everything surrounding the gun culture, see Gunplay!.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.