A Gustavus cast will perform "The Ballad of Bearclaw Jones" at the 2017 Minnesota Fringe Festival. (photo credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival)
The Minnesota Fringe Festival is an unapologetically bold theatre-going experience. Opening August 3 across 17 stages in Minneapolis, the Fringe shows take risks, let loose, and inundate Twin Cities theatre goers with hundreds of theatrical options over 11 days. With 167 shows and 850 performances, the huge variety can be overwhelming to say the least.
Luckily for friends of Gustavus Adolphus College, we’re here to help. Not only will Twin Cities area Gusties have the chance see some amazing shows, they also can support fellow students and alums in the process. This year’s festival features several Gusties in many roles from actors, to directors, to stage managers.
Below is a list of some of the shows to check out beginning this weekend:
The Ballad of Bearclaw Jones
A group of scouts, lost on a hike in bear-infested woods, wind up telling tall tales about Bearclaw Jones, a camper from last year getting lost somewhere between memory and myth for these kids.
The cast includes: Jacob Marcott ’18, Samuel Burnham ’19, TJ Strandberg ’19, Ryan Huxford ’20, and Hannah Mahr ’20. The show is written by Nicholas Sweetland ’17, directed by Chase Adelsman ’17, with Kathryn Dudley ’17, as the stage manager.
Dates: August 5, 6, 9, 11, 12
Venue: Ritz Theater Studio, 345 13th Ave. NE., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171411
Ambience
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
Ambience is a showcase of ballet from several local choreographers and dancers. Two Gustavus alumni choreographed pieces featuring several Gustie dancers.
Performers in this show include Rachel Lux ’18, Libby Saunders ’18, Laura Hardekopf ’18, Kasey Dumonceaux ’19, John Surber ’17, and Samantha Heggem ’17. Kathryn Dudley ’17 and Nicole McGuigan ’17 choreographed pieces for Ambience.
Dates: August 5, 6, 8 11, 13
Venue: Intermedia Art, 2822 Lyndale Avenue S., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171402
Duality: Expression/Reflection
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
A story of self discovery and healing. An exploration of the surreal found in the ordinary. Juxtaposed in an evening of dance.
Laura Johnson ’16 is performing in this show.
Dates: August 4, 7, 9, 11, 12
Venue: Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn.
http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171274
Slaughterhouse Five: A Musical
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
Listen. Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time. In this musical, we see the life and death and life again of Billy Pilgrim, survivor of the bombing of Dresden. Adapted from Kurt Vonnegut Jr’s famed novel.
Chase Adelsman ’17 is performing in this show.
Dates: August 3, 5, 7, 11, 12
Venue: Jungle Theater, 2951 S. Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171455
Serpentine
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
A young boy slaughters a pair of copulating snakes, and is cursed to spend his life as a double-gendered voyeur — a prophet, both male and female, whose visions of the future are ridiculed by their subjects.
Sylvia Michels ’17 is performing in this show
Dates: August 4 ,5, 7, 9, 12
Venue: Strike Theater, 824 18th Avenue NE., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171221
Full Metal Rabbit
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
Inspired by the classic, British novel “Watership Down” and 1980’s American action films, Full Metal Rabbit follows a group of soldiers gone AWOL in order to prove their innocence and bring a traitor down.
Ethan Bjelland ’12 and Rob Ward ‘14 are performing in this show. Ward is also a co-creator.
Dates: August 4, 6, 10, 11, 12
Venue: Intermedia Art, 2822 Lyndale Avenue S., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171493
Be Your Selfie
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
An aspiring Youtube vlogger comes face to face with selfie culture and learns it takes more than followers to find oneself. This is a story of unrequited self-love.
Ethan Bjelland ’12 and Rob Ward ’14 are performing in this show.
Dates: August 5, 6, 8, 9, 12
Venue: Intermedia Art, 2822 Lyndale Avenue S., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171616
The Last Bombardment
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
Nobody noticed the first bombardment, not when it happened. One morning we woke up as usual, and there were babies on our doorsteps. We chose to take them in. Then the choices got much, much harder.
Rob Ward ’14 is performing in this show.
Dates: August 3, 5, 10, 12, 13
Venue: Ritz Theater Mainstage, 345 13th Ave. NE., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171227
The Murmur of Murder
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
Dates: August 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
Venue: Improv Theater, 3037 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: https://minnesota-fringe-festival.myshopify.com/collections/featured/products/event-20171314
Code: L-O-V-E
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
It’s 1943. Meet Cynthia Debrett, she’s brilliant at espionage, but terrible at relationships. Fighting fascism is easy. Coping with a breaking heart, much more difficult. Inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac.
Ethan Bjelland ’12 is performing in this show.
Dates: August 5, 6, 8, 10, 13
Venue: Crane Theater, 2303 Kennedy St. NE., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: https://minnesota-fringe-festival.myshopify.com/collections/featured/products/event-20171492
Synchronicity
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
It’s tough being 12. Even tougher when you’ve got a community synchronized swim meet to dominate. Bathe in a pool of glory with the Ladies of Lake Street as they battle the competition and themselves!
Dates: August 5, 6, 9, 11, 13
Venue: Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S. 4th St., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171282
Mine/Field
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
Privacy. Convenience. Security. Which will you give up? When does the private become public? Dancers solicit data from the audience to explore secrecy, identity, and trust in the internet age.
Dates: August 3, 5, 6, 7, 9
Venue: Ritz Theater Mainstage, 345 13th Ave. NE., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171330
To The Quick: A trio of short plays that cut deep
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
There are moments in our lives where we know something just happened. We became friends. We fell out of love. We gained or lost respect. Everything leads up to and out of these moments. Life cut to the quick.
Dates: August 5, 6, 9, 11, 12
Venue: Theatre in the Round, 245 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171560
Playwrights on a Train
Kevin Bowen ’83 and James Lundy ’81 wrote this show.Venue: U of M Rarig Center Thrust, 330 21st Ave. S, Main Floor, Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: https://minnesota-fringe-festival.myshopify.com/collections/featured/products/event-20171234
So Goshdarn Warm and Fuzzy!
Photo Credit: Minnesota Fringe Festival
At this humanist revival, deeply embodied dance encourages demons to release and spirits to rise. Check your personal baggage on this fun, irreverent, celebratory, movement flight to the land of warm fuzzies!
Venue: Ritz Theater Mainstage, 345 13th Ave. NE., Minneapolis, Minn.
Link: http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171514
Gusties behind the scenes:
Assistant Technical Director, Kiki Klun ’11, is a venue tech at Strike Theater for the duration of the festival. She designed the lighting for all shows in the venue and will be responsible for keeping the shows moving throughout the festival.
Venue: Strike Theater, 824 18th Ave. NE., Minneapolis, Minn.
Other Gustavus-connected 2017 Fringe Festival presentations will be added to this post as additional information is received.
Kiki Klun (Mead) ’11 is working for the MN Fringe for her third year as a venue technician. Say hello when you come to Strike Theater! (You can find her in the booth, running shows.)
You missed my show! http://www.fringefestival.org/2017/show/?id=20171560
Emily Gill class of 2003
Two Gustie alumni (Kevin Bowen and James Lundy) also wrote Playwrights on Train at the Rarig Thrust.