mnartists.org: FRINGE FESTIVAL 2010: A regularly updated, revolving collection of short reviews

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2010

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:20:23 GMT

[b]Q. What is Fringe?[/b] A. Minnesota Fringe is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect adventurous artists with adventurous audiences. Fringe does not judge, jury or censor the work of any artist-our goal is provide a platform for performance, and we leave it up to the audience to evaluate the results. We throw the theater doors wide open for all comers, whether they're on the stage or in the seats, and we provide all the tools necessary to support the artists and help the audiences find what they're looking for. The most visible result of our efforts is the Minnesota Fringe Festival, an annual eleven-day performing arts extravaganza. In 2009, we issued 46,217 tickets to 162 shows. Fringe shows are 60 minutes or less and there's a 30-minute break between each show. [b]Q. When is Fringe?[/b] A. Thursday, August 5 through Sunday, August 15, 2010. Fringe is usually the first two weekends (and the sandwiched weekdays) of August each year. Next year Fringe will run August 4-14, 2011. [b]Q. Where is Fringe?[/b] A. In 2010, there are 15 standard Fringe venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Many of our venues are in Minneapolis' Uptown, West Bank and Northeast neighborhoods. In addition, there are four venues participating in our BYOV-bring your own venue-program for site-specific works. All venues are within a four-mile radius of Fringe Central, to simplify getting around between shows. [b]Q. How long has Minnesota Fringe been around?[/b] A. Since 1993. We're presenting our 17th festival in 2010. [b]Q. Are there other Fringes?[/b] A. Yes! The Fringe movement originated in 1947 in Edinburgh Scotland and has since spread across the globe. Minnesota Fringe is a proud founding member of United Association of Fringe Festivals-check out fringefestivals.us for info on participating fringes across the country. [b]Q. How are Fringe shows selected?[/b] A. Only by fate! Fringe is unique among performing arts festivals in that our lineup is unjuried: there is no selection panel that decides who deserves to perform. Applicants are selected by lottery. When companies are drawn in the lottery, they're in the festival. Once the festival slots are full, we keep drawing to create a waiting list. If someone drops out of the festival, we offer the slot to the first applicant on the waiting list. It's perfectly fair and democratic. [b]Q. Why a lottery?[/b] A. Until 2003, Minnesota Fringe was first-come-first-served: whoever turned their application in first was given a spot in the festival. But on the first day we accepted applications in 2004, we received more applications than we had performance slots. Hence the lottery. In 2010, we received nearly 400 applications for the 169 available slots. [b]Q. How much are tickets?[/b] A. Tickets are $12 at the door and $14 in advance with discounts for seniors, students, Minnesota Public Radio members and kids. All attendees must purchase a $4 admission button, good for admission to the festival plus loads of discounts around town. Our single ticket prices hasn't gone up since 2004-we believe in keeping Fringe as affordable as possible for our audiences, with the hope that they'll see multiple shows. Find out more: [url=http://www.fringefestival.org/2010/]www.fringefestival.org[/url]

FRINGE SHORTS: "The First Five Minutes Are Slow" by Tamara Ober/Present State Movement

Lightsey Darst — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Lightsey Darst kicks off our 2010 Fringe Festival coverage with the madcap, "unsummarizable" entertainment of the new show by Kathryn Jorgenson, Brant Miller and Mark Rehani. Keep your eyes out for more short Fringe reviews every day this week.

FRINGE SHORTS: "The Selkie" by Scotia Productions

Camille LeFevre — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Camille LeFevre saw one of the two shows (!) based on selkie mythology, "The Selkie," on opening night -- a blend of Scottish dance with contemporary movement and gesture, she found it sweet and heartfelt, if a little wet behind the ears.

FRINGE SHORTS: "Thingkingaview" & "CorresponDance" by Jeffrey Peterson Dance

Camille LeFevre — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Camille LeFevre responds to the split bill, "Thinkingaview" (a reprise of Jeffrey Peterson's 2006 dance work at the BLB) and RKH Moves' "CorresponDance."

FRINGE SHORTS: "The Damn Audition" by Joking Envelope

Max Sparber — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Playwright and writer Max Sparber weighs in on the new show by Fringe perennial Joseph Scrimshaw -- "The Damn Audition."

FRINGE SHORTS: "Femme de la Swashbuckle Box" by Christine Maginnis

Lightsey Darst — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Lightsey Darst responds to the Freudian jungle of Christine Maginnis' lurid, over-the-top dance fantasy, "Femme de la Swashbuckle Box."

FRINGE SHORTS: "ROBO-homa!" by Rewired Theatre Company

Max Sparber — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Playwright Max Sparber weighs in on this post-apocalyptic, robot-themed reworking of "Oklahoma!"

FRINGE SHORTS: "#Ringtone" by Alan Berks and Company

Max Sparber — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Max Sparber reflects on the conundrum of human connection and isolation in the brave new world of social media and internet technologies, as interpreted by Alan Berks' experimental play "#Ringtone."

FRINGE SHORTS: "You Are Not Paris" by Stages Theatre Company and Jon Ferguson

Lightsey Darst — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Lightsey Darst thoroughly enjoyed this postmodern, playfully clever examination of "normality" and the science of the mind.

FRINGE SHORTS: "Bedroom Eyes" by Junkyard Theater

Lightsey Darst — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Lightsey Darst reviews a sultry-silly cabaret by MDT ballet dancer Justin Leaf's alter ego, Mistress Ginger, who puts on a song & dance show that specializes in "the songs that got your grandma into bed."

FRINGE SHORTS: "Speech!" by Ferrarri McSpeedy

Max Sparber — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 05:00:00 GMT

Max Sparber heartily recommends the anarchic, always-witty humor of "Speech!", a lunatic story about the misadventures of a high school debate team by Ferrarri McSpeedy (Mike Fotis and Joe Bozic).