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!
theatrical musings in Minnesota and beyond
Showing posts with label Rogues Gallery Arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rogues Gallery Arts. Show all posts
Sunday, October 19, 2025
2025 Twin Cities Horror Festival at the Crane Theater
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "Jewelry Power Elite"
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.
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Minnesota Fringe Festival 2024: "Blackout Improv Does Something!!!"
Show: 22
Category: Comedy / Improv / Puppetry
By: Rogues Gallery Arts
Created by: Blackout Improv
Location: HUGE Theater
Summary: Minneapolis' first all Black improv troupe does the something that only they can do.
Highlights: Blackout returns to the Minnesota Fringe for the first in seven years, which doesn't seem possible. I'm pretty sure my first experience with them was at Fringe, and I've seen them many times since, including most recently for their fabulous Juneteenth celebration at the Ordway. As a short form improv troupe they're very funny and work well together, bouncing ideas off each other and yes-and-ing. But what I keep coming back for is their trademark swag hat in which they draw an audience-suggested topic from a hat, have a real round-table discussion about it, and then do improv based on it. Many of the audience suggestions were of course about the election, and it was really interesting (and dare I say hopeful?) to hear the Black perspective on it. A lighter topic drawn from the hat was Black nerd problems, which we can all relate to (or at least everyone attending a theater festival can). Before the swag hat we were treated to special guest artist - Blackout alum and former #TCTheater artist Theo Langason (they have a different guest at every show). He's just a gem, and though he no longer lives in town, he returns occasionally to direct or for events like this. The multi-talented artist sang us three sweet and mournful songs that he wrote, accompanying himself on steel guitar (the most beautifully melancholic instrument). Then the troupe did a few improv scenes based on his songs, to everyone's delight. The other feature of the night was scenes about little known moments of Black excellence throughout history, like the first time someone said a song was "my jam," the emergence of the "magical Negro," and Moses parting the Red Sea (although I feel like that's pretty well known). Blackout's 60-minute show flew by and felt like 20; I'd see it again if I could! You've got two more chances to see them this weekend!
Sunday, August 6, 2023
Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "My Only Hope for a Hero"
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.
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