Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "Clown Funeral"

Day: 9

Show: 28

Title: Clown Funeral

Category: Clowning / Comedy / Improv / Original Music / Physical Theater / Audience participation

By: Octoberdandy Productions

Created by: Jen Scott, Levi Weinhagen, Chris Rodriguez, Mark Benzel

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: Like the title says, it's a funeral for a clown.

Highlights: You've never attended a funeral this fun. These four clowns - Jen Scott as pastor clown Mads, Levi Weinhagen as lawyer clown Affa David, Chris Rodriguez as silent clown Pablo, and Mark Benzel as sweet clown Mo - lead us through the funeral for their friend Bongo J. Sprinkles, and it's a delight. We're given a program, with parts to sing, and the structure includes the usual funereal things like reading of the will, sharing of memories, songs, and readings. There's even a coffin (built before our eyes) and a body. But it's all super silly, very playful, and somewhat improvised. The cast is very playful with each other and with the audience (in a non-threatening way), with lots of (old) pop culture references and double entendres. And if you need your Reverend Matt fix at this year's Fringe, this is the place to get it, as the good Reverend (aka Matthew Kessen) makes a brief appearance in a banana costume to talk about the funeral practices of ancient civilizations. After a lot of goofing around, when sweet sensitive Mo finally gets to pay tribute to his friend with a lovely little song, it's surprisingly poignant. This is a very funny show about a very serious thing - death - that somehow makes it less scary.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2024: "A Monster Scientist and a Tattooed Anarchist Walk into a Bar"

Day: 4

Show: 12/13

Title: A Monster Scientist and a Tattooed Anarchist Walk into a Bar

Category: Comedy / Solo Show / Spoken Word / Storytelling / Historical content / LGBTQIA+ Content

By: Mermaid Productions

Created by: Rev. Matt and Ariel Pinkerton

Location: Comedy Corner - Underground

Summary: A double bill of Ariel Pinkerton's storytelling show Put a Needle in Me and Reverend Matt's Monster Science show, with a different topic at each performance.

Highlights: This independently produced show works a bit differently; it's actually two rotating shows, so you'll have to buy a ticket for each one separately. But it's worth it because both are great examples of what these two artists do so well. Ariel's new show (which premiered at Tuscon Fringe earlier this year) is the latest chapter in her very personal autobiographical storytelling career. While drawing from various periods in her life, this show mostly focuses on her most recent "mid-life crisis" involving a divorce, a pandemic, a new career direction, and a full back tattoo. Beautifully crafted and authentically delivered, as per usual, the show posits that maybe what people call a "mid-life crisis" is just reassessing where you are and what you want your life to be. Reverend Matt (aka Matthew Kessen) presents five different shows about various monster-themed topics. The one I happened to see was about evolution, which turned out to be a great (passive) choice. It wasn't just about evolution and the strange and interesting plants and animals that creates, but it's also about something called speculative evolution, which I didn't even know was a thing, but is quite remarkable. As per usual, Reverend Matt's presentation is thorough and detailed and wonderfully nerdy, complete with visual aids! I recommend seeing both shows back-to-back on Saturday or Sunday, and getting a bite to eat from The Corner Bar (which this intimate venue is below) between shows. Note: the Fringe website says you can order food and bring it downstairs, but some of the employees gave us different answers about that. Proceed at your own risk.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

"Bonehouse / Outsider" by Ghoulish Delights at The Crane Theater Studio

And now for something a little spookier, Ghoulish Delights is presenting a pair of short plays about two lonely individuals who are trying to escape. But don't worry, this isn't Twin Cities Horror Festival (although it is in the same venue - The Crane Theater's intimate studio space), so there isn't any blood or gore. But there is well-crafted storytelling, like a ghost story you'd tell around a campfire, that'll send chills up your spine. At just about an hour runtime, and a 7pm start time, stop by the Crane for some chills and thrills before going about your evening plans. If you can shake it; these two pieces cast a dark and contemplative spell that's a little hard to shake when you escape out into the still light evening, which these two protagonists were unable to do. Bonehouse / Outsider plays Thursdays through Saturdays until May 25, which a post-show discussion with the playwright of Bonehouse after the May 24 performance.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "Monster Science's Greatest Hits: The Ecology of the Muppets"

Day: 9

Show: 35

Title: Monster Science's Greatest Hits

Category: COMEDY / SCI-FI / SOLO SHOW / SPOKEN WORD / HISTORICAL CONTENT

By: Monster Science Productions

Created by: Reverend Matt's Monster Science

Location: Augsburg Studio

Summary: The Monster Scientist known as Reverend Matt takes a deep dive into the beloved monsters that are part of Jim Henson's world of creation.

Highlights: I saw a Reverend Matt show on the first day of this year's Fringe Festival (The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist, in which he hires an assistant), and I saw another Reverend Matt show on the second to last day of the festival. Nice bookends indeed. Rev Matt's (aka Matthew Kessen) second show is a compilation of five of his most popular shows, pulled from his collection of deep dive power point-fueled explorations of various monsters, incorporating pop culture, mythology, and history. I chose to see the Muppets show, having grown up on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, and made a reservation well in advance, since it was sure to sell out (it did). Turns out there's a lot about Jim Henson's creations that I didn't know, and Rev Matt covers it all. From some very violent early coffee commercials, to the only live action movie to feature only puppets (The Dark Crystal), to the beloved Sesame Street, and beyond. He walks us through Jim's life and career more or less chronologically, through his tragic and untimely death at the age of 53. The show is funny and touching and nostalgic, and nerdy in the best way. If you missed Rev Matt at the Fringe this year or want to see more of him, you can see his show at Bryant Lake Bowl the first Thursday of every month (see his website or follow him on Facebook for news on upcoming performances).

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist"

Day: 1

Show: 3

Title: The Very Model of a Modern Monster Scientist

Category: COMEDY / SCI-FI / SPOKEN WORD / STORYTELLING / HISTORICAL CONTENT / KID FRIENDLY

By: Mermaid Productions

Created by: Reverend Matt's Monster Science

Location: Augsburg Studio

Summary: One of the top ten monster comedians in South Minneapolis, Reverend Matt steps out from behind the podium to interact with a human - his new assistant.

Highlights: If you've seen Reverend Matt (aka Matthew Kessen), you're familiar with his unique brand of comedy, pop culture, literature, mythology, and power point. Typically he deep dives into a specific monster (which he is doing in his other show Monster Science's Greatest Hits), but for this show, he speaks from his podium (or music stand) about various topics, including monsters at work. This is a transition to hiring someone to work with him at the "Monster Science Institute," and he steps out from behind the podium to interview a new science assistant (played by Elora Riley, and don't worry, she gets a promotion). Elora brings a new freshness to the usual Rev Matt schtick (which is still great), and their boss-employee interplay is charming and funny. We still get some power point presentations, and we also get to see the two monster scientists in the field, searching for monsters, doing experiments, and just generally nerding out about monster stuff. Monster Science is always a sure thing great show, and this version amps it up. But be forewarned: the first show, on the first night of the festival, sold out the small Augsburg studio space, so you might want to buy/reserve in advance.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2022: "Årsgång: What You Follow Follows You"

Day: 4

Show: 15

Title: Årsgång: What You Follow Follows You

Category: DRAMA / HORROR / ORIGINAL MUSIC / PHYSICAL THEATER / HISTORICAL CONTENT

By: The Winding Sheet Outfit

Created by: The Winding Sheet Outfit

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: A beautifully haunting and hauntingly beautiful tale of a young girl in Sweden and her encounters with the supernatural.

Highlights: Over the last several years, The Winding Sheet Outfit has become my number one Minnesota Fringe company, and this show is a prime example why. No matter the (usually historical) topic they choose, the show is always beautifully and thoughtfully designed, scripted, and performed, in a way that casts an absolute spell over the audience. Here we have the story of Lajla (a childlike and empathetic Kayla Dvorak Feld), who loses all of her family in a plague and has to move in with the pastor and his wife. She misses her family desperately, and is accompanied by the spirit of a deceased friend (the always delightful Boo Segersin), thereby keeping a connection with the other side. The Årsgång in the title refers to a legendary Swedish practice of seeing the future by going for a walk in the woods on the longest night of the year, which Lajla experiences as she tries to straddle both worlds. The cast (also including Matthew Kessen, Derek Lee Miller, Kristina Fjellman, and Megan Campbell Lagas) earnestly and believably brings this story to life, both as humans and animals. The story is accompanied by lovely music played live by Amber Bjork and Joshua Swantz, mostly off stage but still a vital part of the show. The only set pieces in the intimate in-the-round space (TRP has become my favorite Fringe venue) are slender bare birch trees, and animal half-masks made of birch or some other natural material (both designed by Derek Lee Miller), and cast is dressed in simple period appropriate clothing of muted colors. All elements of this piece come together with such beauty, grace, and purpose to tell a cohesive and compelling story. I would love to see them remount this show in December as it definitely evokes that still winter feeling. Leaving the spell of this show to walk out into a cold, crisp, dark winter's eve would be a thrilling experience. Until then we'll just have to imagine the snow and the cold.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2019: "How To Come Back From The Dead"

Day: 2

Show: 7

Title: How To Come Back From The Dead

Category: COMEDY / HORROR / SCI-FI / SOLO SHOW / SPOKEN WORD / STORYTELLING / HISTORICAL CONTENT

By: Monster Science Productions

Created by: Reverend Matt's Monster Science

Location: Mixed Blood Theatre

Summary: Reverend Matt educates and entertains about zombies, vampires, ghosts, and other ways history, mythology, and stories have told us we can come back from the dead.

Highlights: Reverend Matt (aka Matthew Kessen) performs regularly around town (at the Phoenix, your local library, and elsewhere), so if you've seen him, you know the drill. It's basically the same format, but with a new topic every time, and this year he added an assistant (Elora Riley), like the sidekick of a late night talk show. Rev. Matt's lessons are always funny, clever, nerdy, and take a deep dive into the subject at hand, accompanied by power point of related images. This year we learned all about vampires (sadly, no photos of my favorite vampire Alexander Skarsgard, but that's what Google is for) and zombies. Beginning with mythology from various cultures around the world and continuing through modern pop culture, we see how the legend has grown and the different forms it takes. Rev. Matt's droll delivery of his thoroughly researched and well organized lecture is always a fun, nerdy, nostalgic good time.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2019: "Xena and Gabrielle Smash the Patriarchy"

Day: 2

Show: 5

Title: Xena and Gabrielle Smash the Patriarchy

Category: COMEDY / DRAMA / SCI-FI / POLITICAL CONTENT

By: Mermaid Productions

Directed by: Katy McEwan

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: Xena and Gabrielle (from the '90s TV cult hit series) are transported from ancient Greece to a modern day comic con.

Highlights: Confession: I've never seen Xena: Warrior Princess and don't know anything about it, so I probably only caught about half of the references. (I am a nerd, but only about a few specific things, including theater). But while Xena fans might get more out of this show than I did (and the audience certainly seemed to), you don't have to be a fan to relate to and enjoy this fun, fierce, feminist show. At the comic con, Xena and Gabrielle encounter sexism from men, as well as women cutting each other down, an issue that real live comic cons face (I've also never been to a con). But with the help of a little magic and music, we all learn to be better. And the speculation about the two characters' relationship is finally, satisfactorily, resolved. Producer Ariel Leaf and playwright Nissa Nordland Morgan are perfectly cast as Xena and Gabrielle and surrounded by a strong supporting cast, including Elora Riley and Katie Starks as two very different comic con women, Matthew Kessen, Nicholas Nelson, and Richard "Doc" Woods in the thankless roles of the jerky men, and Heather Meyer in a hilarious turn as.... well, I won't spoil it here. A must-see for comic con goers and fans of Xena: Warrior Princess (my friends at Minnesota Theater Love, fans of the series, loved it), but you don't have to be either to enjoy the show.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

"How to Contract Lycanthropy" by Rev. Matt's Monster Science at the Shoreview Library

If you've never seen Rev. Matt's Monster Science at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, or the Twin Cities Horror Festival, or the Phoenix, or your local library, this is a brief PSA to tell you why you should. Rev. Matt (aka Matthew Kessen) performed last night at my local library to an enthusiastic crowd of nerds, and a good time was had by all.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2018: "What To Do In Case Of Dinosaur Attack"

Day: 1

Show: 4

Title: What To Do In Case Of Dinosaur Attack

Category: Comedy / Sci-Fi / Storytelling

By: Monster Science Productions

Created by: Reverend Matt's Monster Science

Location: Mixed Blood Theatre

Summary: Reverend Matt (aka Matt Kessen) brings his popular sci-fi/comedy/science series to the Fringe.

Highlights: For 50 minutes, a guy stands on a stage and talks about dinosaurs. And it's awesome. Reverend Matt's obvious passion for the subject, his vast knowledge of both the scientific and fictional sides of the topic, and his droll delivery make this an entertaining show for dinosaur lovers and newbies alike. The entire show is set up as Dos and Don'ts for if you ever find yourself being attacked by a dinosaur (It could happen. No it couldn't.), some hilarious, some sensible, some goofy. He also delves into specific types of dinosaurs and each one's strengths and weaknesses. The accompanying slide show includes scientific facts and drawings, as well as dinosaur representation in movies, cartoons, books, and TV shows. Dressed in a suit, reading from a book, and wielding a remote for the slide show (which really should be a pipe or a pair of glasses), Reverend Matt is a wonderful guide through the weird (and true, but not always true) world of dinosaurs.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

"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!

"Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus" by Green T Productions at the Historic Mounds Theatre

Finding myself with a free Saturday night due to the rescheduling of Leslie Odom, Jr.'s concert at Orchestra Hall, I decided to check out Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus. I'd never seen a show by Green T Productions, never been to the Historic Mounds Theatre, and the show is 90 minutes no intermission (my favorite thing) - perfect for a spontaneous Saturday night trip to the theater! Mounds Theatre is a perfect venue for this creepy tale (my friend told me it's haunted), and Green T has created an ambitious and innovative new telling of this 200-year old tale. While I didn't always get everything that was going on, it certainly held my interest and created some memorable moments.

"The Averagers: Christmas War" by Comedy Suitcase at Bryant Lake Bowl

Last year's smash hit Fringe Festival show The Averagers returns with a Christmas special, because 'tis the season. Our favorite average people turned superheroes are back, and while the show may not have anything to do with Christmas (other than one scene that takes place in the Target Christmas aisle, a scary place indeed), it is hilariously funny, family friendly, chock full of local references, only an hour long, and a whole lot of fun.

Fringe Festival 2016: "Caucasian Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales"

Day: 2

Show: 8 

Title: Caucasian Aggressive Pandas and Other Mulatto Tales

Category: Comedy

By: Fearless Comedy Productions

Written by: Duck Washington

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: A series of comedy sketches about what it means to be biracial in America today.

Highlights: This is a very funny and insightful piece about race in America, especially for those that fall into the "other race" category. Duck and his fellow cast-members (Suzanne Victoria Cross, Ted Femrite, and Kirsten Wade, playing characters of all races, genders, and species, plus Matthew Kessen as the droll narrator) take us through several of Duck's personal experiences, many of which are funny in retrospect, some of which are disturbing. We learn about the first time someone called him the n-word (he was 12), and the crazy questions and assumptions people have and make (you're from the Middle East, right? you could be Hispanic!). You'll have a good time, you'll laugh (the narrator makes the audience pledge to laugh if something's funny, and not judge someone else who's laughing at what they think is funny, kind of in the spirit of "Everyone's A Little Bit Racist"), and you might learn a little about what it's like to be in someone else's different-colored skin, or see your own experiences reflected back at you.

Fringe Festival 2015: "Comedy Suitcase Presents The Averagers"

Day: 9

Show: 40

Title: Comedy Suitcase Presents The Averagers

Category: Comedy

By: Comedy Suitcase

Created by: Schrimshaw and Weinhagen

Location: Theatre in the Round

Summary: A bunch of average people become superheroes that save the day.

Highlights: The Averagers is one of the funniest shows I saw at the Fringe this year. The premise is pretty ridiculous - a ragtag group of superheroes including Captain Average (Eric Webster), the spoiled boy-god Paul Bunyan (Joshua Scrimshaw), the single mom Black Woodtick (Laura Zabel), office supply billionaire Iron Range Man (Levi Weinhagen), and the super sensitive Bulk (Matthew Kessen) travel through time and save the world from Nazis and a blue ox (Amy Schweickhardt, who wins the award for greatest range in the Fringe by also appearing in the excellent and completely different show Getting to Ellen), as told by a guy named Stanley (Daniel Hetzel). There are Minnesota references aplenty (including a "too soon?" joke about the Lindbergh kidnapping), and tons of physical comedy as the group fights and shoots things at each other. The show is incredibly loose and playful (perhaps because I saw the final scheduled performance) - everyone was ad libbing and toying with the audience and having fun, which makes it impossible for the audience not to have fun with them. And this show definitely wins the prize for best interaction with the ASL interpreter, as she (unknowingly but not unwillingly) became part of the show. The Averagers sold out all but their first show, and received the encore, and it lives up to the hype. Moral of the story: if you see "Comedy Suitcase" attached to a Fringe show, reserve tickets early and go see it, and prepare to laugh.