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FRINGE FILE #18: Mini Reviews #1 – Watership Down, Mario, and Papi

by Twin Cities Arts Reader -

A collage of official show photos for Minnesota Fringe shows covered in this review round-up.

This is the first installment in the Twin Cities Arts Reader’s mini-review series covering the 2026 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

A promotional image for Watership Down, now playing at the Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre as part of the 2026 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

Watership Down (Melancholics Anonymous)

  • Show page: https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2026/watership-down
  • Official Show Description: Digger. Listener. Runner. A small band of rabbits embark on a perilous journey to find a new home in this adventurous folk musical adaption of the classic children’s novel.

An extraordinary new musical, immersive and moving, exceedingly well-rendered. This is not an unlicensed parody, but a fully licensed new folk musical adaptation of the celebrated novel about rabbits that manages to be so much more. The adaptation by Rachel Ropella and Timothy Keller is excellently performed by a solid cast, and draws you in from the opening moments and holds you through to the end. Bring tissues.

A promotional image for It’s-a-Me, a Musical!, now playing at the Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre as part of the 2026 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

It’s-a-Me, a Musical! (Albino Squirrel Productions)

  • Show page: https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2026/it-s-a-me-a-musical
  • Official Show Description: Mario and Luigi jump off the screen and onto the stage in this exciting musical adventure based on the cult classic 1993 movie! Featuring four original songs and all your favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters.

This musical romp is unpretentious, thoroughly enjoyable, and requires no particular knowledge of the source material being lovingly parodied. The music by Trevor Woggon and Zach Miller is hummable, and Bryn Tanner’s script had the opening night audience thoroughly entertained.

A promotional image for Latin Papi, now playing at the Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre in the 2026 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

Latin Papi (CuerpoxCuerpo)

  • Show page: https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/2026/latin-papi
  • Official Show Description: Latin Papi is a bold, playful, and provocative contemporary dance performance blending sensual movement, voice, humor, and theatrical flair created by Armani Rey Colón and Gabriel Mata of CuerpoxCuerpo.

Armani Rey Colón and Gabriel Mata shine in a 46-minute piece that is hard to describe and easy to enjoy. Watching this duo dance and movement piece – Gabriel Mata’s fourth Minnesota Fringe dance work – is like seeing Michelangelo’s anatomy sketches brought to life. Marvel at the play of light and shadow across ripped bodies, follow the back-and-forth of flirtation and attraction, and revel in a tour-de-force journey of dance ranging from burlesque to Latin club styles to a modern pas de deux that had audiences clutching hands-to-chest.

 

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