A photo collage of the recipients of the Arts Reader's awards for the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Read about our awards process. Read about why we give awards related to Minnesota Fringe Festival. The annual Minnesota Fringe Festival floods Minneapolis with an 11-day deluge of theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and (as they say)
Arts
EDITORIAL: On Lists and Awards
A double photo collage of every show image from the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Some trivia: the decision to found the Twin Cities Arts Reader was made during the 2015 Minnesota Fringe Festival. It's only natural, then, that the festival was very much on the core leadership team's minds as we brainstormed about
Fringe File, #26: The Encores
The 2017 Minnesota Fringe encore shows. The Minnesota Fringe Festival concludes Sunday with a full schedule of shows and a final round of encore performances. The encore performances, which are comprise the best-selling production from each venue, were announced this evening on the patio of the downtown Grumpy's in Minneapolis. The
REVIEW: Engelbert Humperdinck in Fine Form (Ordway)
Englebert Humperdinck in a 2011 concert. When I was first asked if I would review Engelbert Humperdinck’s concert at Ordway Center, my first reaction was that I thought he was dead. After going to Sunday’s performance, however, I am glad to say that this octogenarian is not only alive, but possesses
Fringe File, #25: The Last Two Days of Fringe / Prelude to the Encores
A photo collage of Minnesota Fringe Festival show images. The Minnesota Fringe Festival is nearing its close, with just two days' – and 214 performances – remaining. Audiences have spoken about their favorites, both in online reviews on the Fringe website and by putting butts into seats. Each day comes with new word
Fringe File, #24: Phil Darg on Facility
Jeff (Tim Williams, left) inspects a chart while Fran (Nicole Korbisch, right) converses with Lionel (Paul Brissett) in Imagined Theatre's Facility. Photo courtesy of Imagined Theatre. One of the most striking dramas in the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival is Imagined Theatre's Facility, a play about elder care and dementia – two highly charged
Fringe File, #23: Lyssa Sparrow on First Year Queer, Kink, and Consent
The cast of First Year Queer in an previous show: Lyssa Sparrow (center) with Anthony Art (left) and Corinna Troth (right). There is a Fringe category called Something Different. Lyssa Sparrow's First Year Queer, now playing at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, has that label – and it certainly isn't inaccurate. The subject matter
Fringe File, #22: REVIEW: Fringe Central
To Fringe artists, Fringe Central is the heart and hub of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. This designated gathering place sees artists and audiences mixing, swapping show suggestions, and generally relaxing after a long day of Fringing. It's also one of the most dysfunctional parts of the festival. There is no permanent
Fringe File, #21: REVIEW: Sean Neely‘s Return to Fringe
A digitally altered version of the show image for Sean Neely. Trigger warning: This review discusses Sean Neely's self-titled show about pedophilia and child abuse. Arguably, the most controversial show in the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival is Sean Neely's self-titled show Sean Neely. This show, presented as a true confession, makes digs at local theatre
Fringe File, #20: Mini-Reviews, Pt. 4
A promotional image for R. R. Ronson's The Legend of the Storm and I. Cocaine (Cold Lake Productions) An update of a century-old play by Pendleton King, this intimate person drama is an engrossing theatre production about drug addiction and the toll that it takes on a relationship. Ernest Briggs's direction shines,