Minnesota Fringe Festival 2026: Wrap-Up and Favorites

The 33rd annual Minnesota Fringe Festival, my 16th, flew by in a whirlwind of shows, friends, snacks in place of meals, parking, cold brew, traipsing across Cedar-Riverside, getting tokens, giving tokens, and standing in lines. I saw 39 shows this year and there are probably as many more I wish I could have seen, but such is life, and such is Fringe. It's not possible to see every show, but I saw some great ones, which I've listed below. Don't forget to follow Minnesota Fringe for their events and programming throughout the year, and follow your favorite Fringe artists to see what else they're up to. The 2026-2027 #TCTheater season is full of plenty of adventurous art, it's just usually longer than an hour and not all located in the same place.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2026: "Bury The Leads"

Day: 5

Show: 17

Title: Bury The Leads

Category: Comedy / Drama / Improv / Audience participation

By: Special When Lit

Created by: Sam Landman & Nissa Nordland

Location: Mixed Blood Theatre

Summary: An improvised show about two character actors Faye and Clyde as they go through their life of auditions and rehearsals and other theatery things.

Highlights: Fringe vets Nissa and Sam have been performing this show about two character actors, perhaps inspired by real life, at Bryant Lake Bowl and other venues, but this is my first time seeing it. Their experience with these characters shows, as it feels like we're picking up with them in the middle of their lives. The show is improvised around a structure of various scenes - self-tapes, auditions, rehearsing an intimacy scene (based on audience suggestions), life outside of the theater at the office or the mall, and Fringe specific scenes of Fringe Central (the after-hours hangout) and attending a Fringe show, when they come out into the audience and take a seat. But Sam and Nissa don't just play Clyde and Faye, they also morph into other characters in the stories - actors, coworkers, casting directors - sometimes going back and forth within a scene. They're both great and natural improvisors, and work well together to create a picture of these two people and their theater lives, with a sweet friendship between them. Each scene is noted with words projected on a screen so we know where we are, and the interstitial music (recorded by Sam and Nissa) is delightfully silly. This is improv at its best, by two experienced performers.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2026: "A Confluence of Magical Arseholes"

Day: 4

Show: 14

Title: A Confluence of Magical Arseholes

Category: Comedy / Musical Theater / Original Music / Historical content

By: The Winding Sheet Outfit

Created by: The Winding Sheet Outfit

Location: Rarig Stoll Thrust

Summary: The bizarre true story of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, whose most famous member was the Irish poet William Butler Yeats.

Highlights: Leave it to Winding Sheet to find yet another weird story from history, and turn it into some very clever and inventive theater. Although a little sillier and goofier than their previous work (as on-stage director Amber Bjork says, it's a "boy show"), this show is a delight. The fourth-wall-breaking we're-putting-on-a-show spirit is as charming as ever, with Amber running around, breaking into the action, or watching with glee or frustration. After directing us to "the good seats" before the show, she enlists this troupe to tell the story, a story of "a supper club for dilettantes." They "try their best" at Irish accents to play Yeats (Mark Benzel), his rival the foul poet Aleister Crowley (Michael Rogers at his best rock star), the Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne (Boo Segersin), other members of the order (Dan Linden, Heather Bunch, Kristina Fjellman, and Megan Campbell Lagas), and Yeat's drinking buddies who served as the band (Derek Lee Miller, Sam Landman, and music director Joshua Schwantz). The loose plot involves a fight between Yeats and Crowley, and Yeats trying to get Maud to marry him (which she pleasantly rejects every time), but mostly it's just a whole lot of nonsense exploring this weird and ridiculous thing that really happened. There is original music, cleverly appropriate graphic Ts, and lots of golden things. It's a silly, fun, joyful, meta, hilarious, ridiculous, wonderful show.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here. 

"Hungry Like the Wolf" at History Theatre

Hungry Like the Wolf, History Theatre's new play written by actor-turned-playwright Sandra Struthers (original cast-member of their smash hit musical Glensheen), is a delightful mash-up of so many ideas. Growing up in the '80s, a historic bank strike for equal pay, a Hollywood legend, domestic abuse, Duran Duran, and so much more. Sometimes when a play includes so many ideas, it can feel like it's trying to do too much, like some things are never fleshed out. But that is not the case here; this play succeeds brilliantly in weaving all these things together, using many different types of storytelling to great effect, in a wholly satisfying way. It achieved my favorite thing in any entertainment - it made me laugh, and it made me cry. And although much of it is set in the '70s and '80s, it speaks directly to today, when so many of us feel hopeless, when it feels like the fight for a better world will never end. It shows us that we've gotten through tough times before, and we will continue to do so, if we work together and stand up for what's right. But that sounds preachy, which this show definitely is not. It's messy and goofy and vulnerable and inspiring. It's a play that defies description and is its own thing, telling this story, these stories, in an inventive and innovative way. Head to downtown St. Paul now through April 12 to experience this mashup of history and present, pop culture and social justice.

"'Til Death Do Us Die" by The Mystery Cafe at the Sheraton Bloomington

It was just two years ago that I had my first experience with The Mystery Cafe, a really fun and unique immersive comedy/ improv/ murder mystery/ dinner show. And now I've had my last experience; they announced a few months ago that this would be their final season. But as playwright Philip Dawkins wrote, "just because something ends doesn't mean it wasn't successful." And for 38 seasons, The Mystery Cafe was successful in creating a fun and accessible fusion of theater, comedy, improv, music, mystery, audience participation, and dinner experience. I saw their last original show in November, Showdown at the Kara-OK-e Corral at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake, and last night I returned one last time to the show that started it all (for me) - the wedding-themed 'Til Death Do Us Die. There are three more performances of 'Til Death, and four more of Showdown, and then The Mystery Cafe is but a memory. To experience the unique mystery magic one last time, click here for tickets to one or both shows.

"Showdown at the Kara-OK-e Corral" by The Mystery Cafe at Majestic Oaks Golf Club

The good news is that The Mystery Cafe is back with another new original comedy mystery theater immersive dinner experience! The bad news is that after 37 years, this is the final season of The Mystery Cafe. If you've attended one of their shows before, you know that they hold a unique space in #TCTheater. Unlike traditional theater, where the audience sits in the dark and watches a story happening on a stage, the story, and storytelling, is all around you. There's no separation between audience and cast, we're all experiencing it together in an informal, fun, and playful way. If you've not had this experience before, you might want to get out to Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake for Showdown at the Kara-OK-e Corral, playing on select dates through February 15. Or to the Sheraton Bloomington to see a remount of recent hits A Cruise-mas Carol and 'Til Death Do I Die, playing in rep with this show and featuring much of the same cast. It's your last chance to solve a mystery!

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: Wrap-Up and Favorites

The wonderful theatrical whirlwind that is the Minnesota Fringe Festival is over for another year, and I'm left with great memories of friends, fun, and theater, and also not a little exhaustion (I took an afternoon nap yesterday and then slept nine hours last night). I never cease to be amazed, impressed, and moved by the incredible talent in this festival, both local and touring artists. This year I saw 39 Fringe shows in 10 days, but technically I saw 42 shows within the 11 days of the festival, because I took the first day off to drive to Duluth and see Zeitgeist Theater's incredibly immersive and intimate production of my favorite musical RENT, and I took a few afternoons off to see a NEXT new works reading at Theater Latte Da and Artistry's fabulous production of the beloved classic Singin' in the Rain (continuing through August 31). But other than that, I saw a show in every timeslot that I could (not counting 10pm shows because #morningperson). And I did not see a bad show, in fact the majority of the shows I saw were excellent. Which makes narrowing my list of favorites down from 39 to something less than half of that a nearly impossible task. So here's a list of some (but not all) of the shows I loved at Minnesota Fringe this year. But Fringe is never really over; they continue activities and programming year-round, so be sure to follow them on social media and sign up for their email list (if you're not already). And most of the artists and companies in this festival do work all year round, so if you saw someone or something you really loved, check out what else they're doing this season. The 2025 Minnesota Fringe Festival is over, but #TCTheater never ends!

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2025: "A Sad Carousel 2: The Timely Death of Herschel Douscheburg"

Day: 8

Show: 25

Title: A Sad Carousel 2: The Timely Death of Herschel Douscheburg

Category: Comedy / Drama / Physical Theater

By: LandmanLand

Written by: Sam L. Landman

Location: Rarig Thrust

Summary: An insult comic wakes up after 15 years in a coma and finds that everything has changed.

Highlights: I did not see Sam Landman's 2010 Fringe show A Sad Carousel (my first year at Fringe was 2011), but that did not affect my enjoyment of this sequel at all. The premise of the story is very clear, and the 15-year time lapse sets up lots of jokes of things that are no longer (Joann Fabrics, HUGE Theater, The Iveys). To begin the show, Herschel Douscheburg (played by Sam) wakes up in the Tyler Michaels King Memorial Hospital, the first in a string of TMK jokes. In fact the self-referential #TCTheater jokes abound (including about theater bloggers!), with many pokes at Fringe itself (and even a recorded appearance by Fringe artist and employee Amber Bjork). Because Herschel decides to use Fringe as his comeback, with the help of his longtime agent (Peter Ooley) and despite the protest of the Gen Z "comedy kids" troupe (Mae Ryan, Riley Eckman, and Elle Hinds) that practices gentle and bland comedy. Eric Webster and Jane Froiland play many characters, the former in a bored lackadaisical manner and the latter in over-the-top old-timey voices, often referred to by Sam as Webster and Jane (she's equity!). There are tons of clever and funny props, some of which are only on stage for a minute (how do I get a subscription to Fringe Hunks Monthly?). Directed by Shanan Custer, the show is ridiculous and ridiculously funny, with a playful tone that allows for ad libbing, fourth-wall breaking, and playing with the audience. It's just a whole lot of fringey fun, that also reminds us of the importance of comedy in society, because people who can't laugh at themselves cannot be trusted. 

Final show today (Saturday) at 1!

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).

"A Cruise-mas Carol" by The Mystery Cafe at Majestic Oaks Golf Club

Even though they've been around for 35 years, this is only my second year attending the immersive mystery dinner-and-a-show experience that is The Mystery Cafe. While much different than the type of theater I (and probably you) usually attend (no sitting in the dark passively observing, no separation between audience and performers, no fourth wall at all), it's still theatrical storytelling, and there are some familiar faces from the local theater/comedy/improv world. But it's less about the plot or the mystery, and more about the fun, food, and immersive experience. Last night I attended their new show A Cruise-mas Carol at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake on the north side of town, which runs through January 4, followed by the wedding-themed 'Til Death Do Us Die, which I saw last year. They've also got two shows playing at the Sheraton Bloomington, with a special Black Friday deal for 50% off tickets good though Monday. Check out one (or more) of these shows for a fun, accessible, and unique theater outing.

2024 Twin Cities Horror Festival at The Crane Theater

The weather is (finally) turning cooler, the brightly colored leaves are falling from the trees, which means it must be time for the 13th annual Twin Cities Horror Festival. Unlike my friends at Minnesota Theater Love and The Stages of Minnesota (follow them for full coverage), I am not in general a fan of horror. But I am a fan of this mini Fringe festival that features many of my favorite Fringe artists. So I'm seeing a handful of shows this year (October also happens to be the busiest theater month of the year in general, and this year in particular). I was at the first show of the festival on last Thursday evening before continuing my stretch of five non-TCHF shows in five days, and then returned a few times to see a few more. I saw 7 of the 11 shows this year, read about them below, and visit the TCHF website for details and tickets (warning: there are sellouts already, particularly in the smaller studio space). Shows continue daily through November 3 at The Crane Theater in Northeast Minneapolis.

"'Til Death Do Us Die" by The Mystery Cafe at Majestic Oaks Golf Club

Having been entertaining audiences for 35 years, The Mystery Cafe is "the longest running interactive comedy dinner theater company in Minnesota," but for some reason I've only recently heard of it. I think maybe that's because it operates outside of the typical theater model, and maybe attracts different audiences. But it employs a lot of the same great actors/ comedians/ improvisors that we see on #TCTheater stages around town, so I (and you) should definitely be aware of it. Presumably if you read this blog you love theater, but if you have someone in your life who says they don't like theater, this might be a great way to introduce them to the wide world of theatrical entertainment. It's definitely not the sit-in-a-dark-audience-completely-separate-from-what's-happening-onstage kind of theater. Instead, you're right in the middle of the action, sitting at large round tables with a group of friends and strangers, eating a three-course meal while theater happens all around you. At my table there was a family of four, and a couple from out-state Minnesota who for years has been driving into the cities to see this show. The show was nearly sold out, so they obviously have a big following. The current show 'Til Death Do Us Die is playing through February 17 at Majestic Oaks in Ham Lake, check it out for a really fun and uniquely entertaining night out. 

"Holiday Office Party" at Strike Theater

There's a new long-form holiday* improv show in town, and much like Family Dinner (playing at HUGE Theater in Uptown through December 30), Holiday Office Party at Strike Theater in Northeast Minneapolis spoofs a familiar event in many people's lives - the office party. That semi-mandatory party with people who are sort of your friends but not really. I'm going into the office this week (for the first time in six months) to experience the real thing (planned funtivities: trivia and a cookie exchange), but I'm certain that it won't be nearly as fun as the Strike Office Party. A large cast pulled from a troupe of talented improvisers makes awkward small talk, drinks too much, and sings inappropriate karaoke. What's not to love?! There are three more shows this weekend, for the very reasonable price of $12, so check out the fun at your Northeast home for sketch comedy, improv, and storytelling.

"Life Sucks" by Girl Friday Productions and Open Eye Theatre

Girl Friday Productions holds a unique niche in #TCTheater. Specializing in large-cast classics, they typically do just one production every other year. They skipped their 2021 production due to the pandemic (although they did create a really lovely virtual winter cabaret show - still available to watch here), and now they're finally back - four years after their last production. They're also stepping out of this niche, co-producing a play with Open Eye Theatre that was written in this millennium with just a seven-person cast. But Life Sucks by Aaron Posner is loosely based on Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, so I guess it counts in the classics department. And a seven-person cast is quite large for Open Eye's stage, which is the smallest and sweetest stage in town, so the cast to square footage ratio is still quite high. Maybe it's not such a leap for them after all, and it's consistent with their past work in that it's perfectly cast, thoughtfully constructed, and epic in themes if not in size. They've just extended their run through November 12, and you would be wise not to miss this funny and profound rare offering from Girl Friday and Open Eye (click here for info and tickets).

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2023: "CHRIS DAVIS DOES STUFF"

Day: 3

Show: 10

Title: CHRIS DAVIS DOES STUFF

Category: COMEDY / AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

By: Chrisdavisdoesstuff

Created by: Chris Davis

Location: Strike Theater

Summary: A solo comedy storytelling show that's both personal and political.

Highlights: Fringe favorite Sam Landman convinced his friend Chris Davis of Birmingham Alabama to make the trek to Minnesota to do his show. Sam's word is good enough for me, and he does not lead us astray here. Chris is doing not one but two shows during the run of the Fringe. I caught Just Black Enough, which he's doing in the first three slots. The only thing I didn't like about his show is that it was too short, coming in 20 minutes short of the one-hour limit. He's funny and personable, talking about growing up being told that he doesn't sound Black or act Black, and then proceeding to explore, in a disarming way, what that means. Aided by signs that he flips through, from "Semantics make things taste better," to "We made a Graves mistake," to "Book make me sad," he talks about issues of the day in a relatable and funny way. His second show Seriously, I'm Not Gay, which he's doing in the final two slots, is sure to do the same thing, this time taking on issues around identity. Chris is a stand-up comic, and this show feels very much like a funny and relevant stand-up comedy routine.

Read all of my Fringe mini-reviews here.

"Wish You Were Here" at Strike Theater

"A one act improvised comedy about loss and friendship. Grief is sad. And funny. And everything else." Strike Theater's latest show, Wish You Were Here, is funny and silly, and also kind of profound in the way that it shows people grieving as a part of normal life, with nothing resolved or closed by the end of it. I discovered through Family Dinner that long-form is my favorite kind of improv, because I love watching characters and relationships develop in a satisfying way throughout the course of the evening. That's definitely true here as well; in fact I wish there were a second act because there were several relationships established that I'd like to see developed further. But as it is, Wish You Were Here is a funny and bittersweet hour of an improvised dramedy. Only two performances remain - Friday and Saturday. Click here for more info and to purchase the $5-10 tickets.

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.

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2020: "The Cut-Out Bar"

Location: Nightly Fringe (Aug. 4)

Length: 60 minutes

Title: The Cut-Out Bar

By: LandmanLand

Summary: A very special episode of Sam Landman's nightly quarantine show, in which he listens to an album and discusses it.

Highlights: #TCTheater artist and Fringe favorite Sam Landman has been keeping himself busy during this extended intermission by listening to an album every night that he's never listened to before, typically an obscure album from the past. And he streams it live every night from his basement. He asks for votes between two albums on Facebook and Instagram (with the show live streaming on both). The boozy pre-show party starts at 7:45, and at 8pm he plays the album and gives the audience his honest reaction, which can range from disgust to delight. I've caught the show several times over the past few months, but what I realized last night is that a big part of it is people connecting in the Facebook comments chat. That sort of connection, really any sort of connection, is something we've all (even introverts) been missing the last few months, and The Cut-Out Bar gives people a place to gather, connect, and talk about something silly. You can watch the Fringe episode on the Facebook page, or any number of past episodes, or better yet - tune in tonight and take part in the conversation.

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.

I Listen to Podcasts Now!

I don't know about you, but this global pandemic has left me with a lot more time on my hands. I used to spend 20-30 hours a week at the theater, driving to the theater, writing about theater, scheduling theater, reading about theater. One of the things I'm doing to help fill those empty hours is listen to podcasts. And because I'm me, many of them have something to do with local theater. Here are the ones I'm listening to; please add your suggestions in the comments below!