Fringe Festival 2017: "Rumpus"

Day: 1

Show: 3

Title: Rumpus

Category: Dance

By: Mike's Brass

Choreographed by: Lori Ledoux

Location: Southern Theater

Summary: A music/dance/poetry show inspired by one of my (and many people's) favorite children's book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.

Highlights: Let the wild rumpus start! This show is pure delight, combining a brass quintet performing everything from classics to pop tunes, Maurice Sendak's funny and poignant story, and charming and inventive dancing performed by the eight-person ensemble (including the adorable young David Pelletier Guire, who looks like he stepped right off the pages of the book). Ensemble members Derek Meyer and Noë Tallen take turns reading passages from the book, as well as other poetry related to the themes of the book, followed by music and dance which perfectly expresses those words. Fun for all ages and sure to put a smile on your face.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Fringe Festival 2016: "Circus McGurkus"

Day: 7

Show: 32

Title: Circus McGurkus

Category: Dance

By: Mike's Brass

Choreographed by: Erinn Liebhard

Location: U of M Barker Center for Dance

Summary: Dr. Seuss' If I Ran the Circus, told through music, clowning, acrobatics, and dance.

Highlights: Circus McGurkus is a delight for children of all ages, even us grown-up children. Andrew Chambers reads excepts from the book about a fantastical circus, while the dancers and musicians interpret the words through movement and music. The brass quintet Mike's Brass plays a variety of circus-sounding songs (with a little Lady Gaga thrown in as an encore). Dancers Lori Ledoux, Derek Meyer, Rachael Schlee, and Sydney Swanson perform playful and charming dances with wonder and joy (choreographed by Erinn Liebhard), and acrobats Michelle de Joya and Brandon Wharton perform some thrilling Circque du Soleil-style acrobatics. It's great fun to watch Dr. Seuss' silly words and creations come to life before your eyes in such imaginative and joyful ways.