Choose from over 100 different under-an-hour plays, musicals, comedy shows, improv shows, dance performances, puppetry explorations, a game show and an opera at this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival. 14 venues in four different neighborhoods offer non-stop performing arts for 11 days, so grab a button and get ready to Fringe. Here are a few shows that look good to me!
- Weekend Picks: Basilica Block Party; Powderhorn Art Fair
Pants on Fire
Sarah Broude and Olivia Groebner host a new game show, where teams compete by telling lies. It’s a talented cast, with veterans from the Twin Cities’ improv and theater scenes rotating in on different nights. Thursday, Aug. 1 at 8:30 p.m., Sat., Aug. 3 at 5:30 p.m., Mon., Aug. 5 at 10 p.m., Wed., Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., Sat., Aug. 10 at 2:30 p.m. at HUGE Improv Theater. More information here.
Transition: A Story of Two Trans People Becoming Themselves
Emily Boyajian follows up on the terrific song cycle, “‘Transition’: A concert of queer and trans Pride and Wrath,” which I enjoyed tremendously last year at the Hook & Ladder, with this opera featuring two singers and an 11-piece chamber orchestra. It’s about 2 closeted friends who come out together as transgender. Thursday, Aug.1 at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 5 at 8:30 p.m., Wed., Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8 at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10 at 4 p.m. at Mixed Blood Theater. More information here.
Blackout Improv Does Something!!!
The Twin Cities’ own Black improv troupe returns to the Fringe after a six year hiatus, bringing a new guest for each show, including Devohn Bland, Suzanne Victoria Cross, Theo Langason, Morgan Strickland and Maren Aalgaard of the music duo M20, and Miss Shannan Paul. Saturday, Aug. 3 at 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10 at 10 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11 at 8:30 p.m. at HUGE Improv. More information here.
An Honest History of Bullshit
German comedian Paco Erhard, who brought “5 Step Guide to Being German” to the Fringe last year, returns with another show that takes a satirical aim at politics and the world’s problems with affable humor. Friday, Aug. 2 at 8:30 p.m., Sun., Aug. 4 at 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 5 at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9 at 10 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at HUGE Improv Theater. More information here.
5 Episodes of Minnesota Tonight; 4 Minnesota Fring3, it’s Minnesota 2Night’s 1st Time at Minnesota Fringe.
The uber-talented Denzel Belin, a cast member with Brave New Workshop who is also appearing as a contestant in the Aug. 1 performance of “Pants on Fire,” has got a variety show in store for audiences. Belin intersperses comedy, sketch, interviews, and games in the show, with a different performance each night. Thursday, Aug.1, Sunday, Aug. 4 at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. at Mixed Blood Theatre. More information here.
Sheila Regan
Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at [email protected].