Fringe File, #25: The Last Two Days of Fringe / Prelude to the Encores Arts Dance Music Theatre by Hanne Appelbaum - August 12, 2017August 12, 2017 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, #22: REVIEW: Fringe Central Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - August 9, 2017August 10, 2017 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, #20: Mini-Reviews, Pt. 4 Arts Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - August 7, 2017August 8, 2017 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,
Fringe File, #19: Mini-Reviews, Pt. 3 Arts Dance Music by Twin Cities Arts Reader - August 6, 2017January 18, 2025 A promotional image for Featherstone Creative's Pope Joan. Gruesome Playground Injuries (Mosaic Productions) Although far from a world premiere, Rajiv Joseph's Gruesome Playground Injuries feels fresh despite 6 years on the shelf. It has a talented cast of two playing quirky characters, an organizing schtick (the terrible injuries that people invite and
Fringe File, #17: Mini-Reviews, Pt. 2 Arts Dance Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - August 5, 2017August 5, 2017 A promotional image for RE|dance group's It's About Love Again This Year. Here are some additional reviews from the first two days of the Minnesota Fringe Festival: Waiting for Gygax (Hot Chocolate Media) This parody of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot requires no prior knowledge of the play or Dungeons & Dragons, but is extra funny if you
Fringe File, #16: Mini-Reviews, Pt. 1 Arts Music Theatre by Twin Cities Arts Reader - August 5, 2017August 5, 2017 A promotional image for Imagined Theatre's Facility. Throughout the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival, the Arts Reader will be posting short reviews of shows. Here are some reviews from the first two days of the festival: Facility (Imagined Theatre) A disturbing piece of theatre that makes you think about something with no easy answers, fraught fault lines,
Fringe File, #15: Sold-Out Performances (Final; Updated 8/16) Arts Dance Music Theatre by Hanne Appelbaum - August 5, 2017August 20, 2017 A promotional image for A Pickle by Really Spicy Opera, one of several shows that have sold out performances at the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Note: This article will be updated throughout the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival. The following Fringe Festival shows have sold out one or more shows: Updated Wednesday, 8/16. All Five
INTERVIEW: Singer-Songwriter Jackie Venson on Strange Brew Arts Music by Basil Considine - August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jackie Venson. Photo by Jinni J. This Thursday and Friday, Austin-based singer-songwriter Jackie Venson opens for Gary Clark Jr. at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul, MN. The Arts Reader's Basil Considine caught up with Jackie to discuss her music and influences. Why the live album Jackie Venson Live now?
REVIEW: Guns ‘N Roses Still Shooting (U.S. Bank Stadium) Arts Music by Amy Donahue - July 31, 2017August 2, 2017 A promotional photo for Guns 'N Roses. About 50,000 fans can testify that Guns 'N Roses are liars. After the band began a slow breakup in 2014, various members swore that they would not reunite onstage again. More than a year into their Not in This Lifetime... tour, the band is
Fringe File, #11: 5 Ridiculous Yet Wonderful-Looking Fringe Shows Arts Dance Music Theatre by Amy Donahue - July 30, 2017July 31, 2017 A promotional image for Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant: A New Musical, presented by Devious Mechanics. One of the first things that our staff do when covering Fringe is to read through every show description. Counting cancellations, that's 192 or so to date for 2017! Here are some of incredibly