Turtle Theater Collective elevates Native voices
Maddy Folstein
March 8, 2018
The members of the Turtle Theater Collective frequently encounter misconceptions about their work as Native American theater artists in the Twin Cities. “There’s a narrative in the Twin Cities theater community that there’s no Native theater,” said Marisa Carr, a founding member of Turtle Th...
Review: Varsity Theater’s “soft” reopening
Kate Drakulic
February 12, 2018
Friday night appeared to be just like any other. Underclassmen walked in tight-knit herds to frat-row, jocks ignored walk signs as they stormed Qdoba and odd characters tumbled from Ubers in front of the Kitty Cat Klub. To the uninformed eye, all was ordinary in Dinkytown, except for the handful of so...
Black Label Movement opens its 2018 season at the Ritz Theater
Maddy Folstein
January 16, 2018
In its 11 years, the dance company Black Label Movement has collaborated with dancers, musicians, visual artists, composers and even biomedical engineers. As Black Label Movement moves into the next phase of its artistry in the Ritz Theater, the company chose to honor this history of collaboration. Their 2018 seas...
‘Curious Incident’ at Mixed Blood Theatre opens on November 10
Maddy Folstein
November 2, 2017
Mixed Blood Theatre’s upcoming production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” will be the fifth Mixed Blood-produced play that focuses on autism in the last 10 years. Jack Reuler, director of production and artistic director of Mixed Blood, has followed the script since its We...
Q&A: UMN Theatre Alumnus Ian Truitner
Kate Drakulic
October 26, 2017
Recently awarded the UMN Alumni of Notable Achievement Award for his work as a filmmaker and media entrepreneur, Ian Truitner was in town to see his film to its final destination at the Twin Cities Film Fest. The theater graduate sat down with A&E to discuss his past, the present and film’s fu...
At Fringe Festival, UMN students give new life to Shakespeare
Gunthar Reising
August 2, 2017
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s transgender military ban, a group of University of Minnesota students aimed to present transgender voices in a traditionally patriarchal medium.Under the organization of senior theater major Henry Ellen Sansone, five students will perform Shakespeare’s “Twelft...
At LALA Festival, art and intimate conversation
Katie Lauer
July 31, 2017
A circle of wooden table chairs, beige floral ottomans and a red cloth couch set the stage for artful dialogue at the Red Eye Theater Saturday.Part of the three-day LALA Festival, a group of around 25 artists and attendees, discussed identity, voices and inspiration openly and cozily. Festival executive direct...
The rest is still unscripted: Minneapolis’ distinct improv comedy scene
Katie Lauer
June 22, 2017
Long form improv is not “ComedySportz,” “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” or “Saturday Night Live.”The style moves away from games and skits, and features shows of multiple unscripted scenes, created from either initial audience suggestions or performers’ instincts on stage. Starting Wednesday...
The Southern Theater’s fringes of film-making
Gunthar Reising
June 7, 2017
Inside the reception area, three dancers wove through the crowd shouting commands to each other like “Sustain!” while three people worked at separate keyboards. A girl waved her arms in the corner, occasionally emitting a soft wail. It was unclear if her participation was as an audience member or...
