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FRINGE FILE #14: INTERVIEW – Foshay, Foshay, Foshay – with Kevin Bowen

by Basil Considine -

A promotional image for the musical Foshay! You Know The Tower – Now Hear The Story, which runs at the Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre in Minneapolis as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival from August 8-16.

One of the most unmistakable parts of the Minneapolis skyline is the Foshay Tower. This 32-story Art Deco skyscraper, built in 1929, reigned as the tallest tower in the skyline for 43 years, when it was displaced by the IDS Center. To this day, it still has one of the best observation deck views of downtown. Whether looking at the exterior or interior features, it’s clear: they don’t build them like this anymore.

What, might you ask, is the story behind this architectural icon? One can practically hear the orchestra tuning its strings, as the answer to the question now comes in musical form.

What? That’s a fair question, but you heard that right. If you’d like to know the history of the Foshay tower, you can simply drop in at the 2026 Minnesota Fringe and see/hear Foshay! You Know The Tower – Now Hear The Story. Composer-lyricist (and co-book writer) Kevin Bowen spoke with the Arts Reader’s Basil Considine about taking the off-the-beaten path approach to local history.

Official Show Description
As of 1929 Wilbur Foshay was one of the richest men in the US, but the Great Depression had other plans for him. A well-loved 2023 musical that’s the true story of a man who lost everything, but found himself.

Composer and playwright Keven Bowen.

What are some of the things that you do as an artist?

In addition to being a playwright, I’m also a songwriter, musician and professional graphic artist. I’ve written or co-written about 30 plays, including 3 full-length musicals that have all had local productions. I’ve been working as a self-employed graphic artist since 1995.

You’re no stranger to the Minnesota Fringe Festival – what exactly is your history there?

This is my 11th original Minnesota Fringe Festival production featuring original scripts that I’ve written or co-written. The earlier ones are

  • 2009 – The Red Tureen (Musical; later expanded into a full 2-hour musical with 15-piece orchestra) – Music and Lyrics by Kevin Bowen, Story by Kevin Bowen & James Lundy, Book by James Lundy.
  • 2013 – The Forger’s Apprentice (Later expanded into a full 2-hour musical with 8-piece orchestra) – Book by Kevin Bowen & Mark Forgy, Music by Martha Davis.
  • 2014 – Flushing New York  – Book by Kevin Bowen & Lynn Bowen.
  • 2015 – The Oracle – Book by Kevin Bowen, Lynn Bowen & Sara Pillatzki Warzeha.
  • 2016 – The Non-Producers – Book by Kevin Bowen.
  • 2017 – Playwrights On A Train – Book by Kevin Bowen & James Lundy.
  • 2018 – Bits & Bobs – An Evening Of Short Plays – Book by Kevin Bowen & M. Scott Taulman.
  • 2019 – The Dwelling Place – Book by Kevin Bowen & Lynn Bowen.
  • 2024 – Gasthaus – Book by Kevin Bowen & Lynn Bowen.
  • 2025 – Tompkins Squares – Book by Kevin Bowen & Lynn Bowen.

2026’s Foshay! You Know The Tower – Now Hear The Story (Musical) [will be] at the Rarig Thrust Stage – Music and Lyrics by Kevin Bowen, Book by Kevin Bowen & Lynn Bowen with additional music and arrangements by William Brueggemann, David Neville and Travis Anderson.

One of the key highlights for me was my first Fringe show, an Irish famine murder mystery called The Red Tureen produced in 2009. I really didn’t know much about playwriting when I originally started working on this project, but by the end our cast and creative team managed to pull off a musical production with 15 actors who sang 21 songs in under an hour.

More recently I’ve really enjoyed co-writing a variety of plays with my wife Lynn.

Spouses Kevin Bowen (left) and Lynn Bowen (right) co-authored the book to Trombe l’Oeil’s production of Foshay! You Know The Tower – Now Hear The Story.

What’s a favorite piece of non-Fringe theater that you experienced in the last year, and why?

This winter, I went to a Gremlin Theatre production of Red by John Logan about the artist Mark Rothko. I’d read the script but had never seen a live production of the show before. It’s a wonderful script dealing with what it means to be an artist and their production was very good.

What is your role in bringing this show to the stage?

I wrote the music and lyrics for Foshay, and co-wrote the book with my wife Lynn. We’re also co-producing.

What kinds of things will the audience experience at your show? What is its general aesthetic?

The Foshay musical is a period piece set in the 1920s and 30s, but is a cautionary tale that still has a lot of relevance to today. It’s historically accurate, telling the story of Wilbur Foshay, but is also entertaining with a complete piano score of original music and lyrics.

It features a cast of five actors and will have live piano accompaniment.

 

What’s a favorite moment in this show, and why?

The moment Wilbur Foshay finally takes accountability for his past transgressions and begins to turn his life around.

What are two other Fringe shows that you are interested in seeing, and why?

Socks & Shoes & Coats by Rick Rhobajt Widen, – since both of us are in the New Musical Theatre Exchange group.

The Precious Scars, since I’m familiar with some of the folks at Applause Community Theatre.

Kevin Bowen at the piano.

What’s up next for you creatively?

My wife and I are currently developing the script for a new local history play that will be announced soon. We now have the first draft completed.

Basil Considine
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