The most adventurous 11 days in the #TCTheater year is almost upon us! The Minnesota Fringe Festival runs August 1 through 11, with about 100 shows playing at 9 Fringe venues (plus some additional venues for independently produced shows). This will be my 14th consecutive year attending MN Fringe (if you count the all-virtual 2020 festival and the 2021 hybrid), so I have a pretty good idea of how to go about this. But if you're new to fringing, don't worry, it's easy! The MN Fringe website has everything you need to know, including details about all of the shows, info for how to get to the venues, and ticketing info. Bookmark this, and refer to it as needed. I also have a few tips at the bottom of this post. But first, and without further ado, my annual Minnesota Fringe Festival Must-See List.
In alphabetical order, here are the shows I'm most excited to see this year. Click on the show title to be taken to the show page with all of the details including showtimes, cast, and venue.
- 5 Episodes of Minnesota Tonight; 4 Minnesota Fring3, it’s Minnesota 2Night’s 1st Time at Minnesota Fringe. by Denzel Belin Presents - in addition to the cleverest uses of numbers in a title, this show is a great concept (a late night variety show) and features a fantastic rotating cast of guests, hosted by the very funny and clever Denzel Belin (often seen at Brave New Workshop). It's a different show every night, so this one might even need to be seen multiple times.
- 5x5 by Transatlantic Love Affair - the inventive physical theater company that got its start at the Fringe 14 years ago is always on my must-see list. For perhaps their biggest challenge yet, five performers are performing in a 3-foot by 5-foot rectangle, proving that less is more.
- The Banana Wars by Derek Lee Miller - a remount of one of my favorite shows from 2017. To quote myself, it's "simply put, brilliant. It's like if John Oliver were to do a piece on the so-called Banana Wars, and at the beginning you think, 'why is he talking about the Banana Wars?' And at the end you think, 'OMG why isn't everyone talking about the Banana Wars?!'"
- Beanie Baby Divorce Play by Melancholics Anonymous - a relatively new company that has also quickly moved to a permanent slot on my must-see list for their original, pop culturey, and sometimes a little bloody shows. I think the title of this one says it all.
- Blackout Improv Does Something by Blackout Improv - Minneapolis' first all Black improv troupe is also always a sure bet, with their smart and funny improv as social commentary. After their fabulous Juneteenth show, I'll happily watch whatever "something" they're cooking up.
- The Camp Out by Mike Fotis Productions - "An Improvised One Act Play About friends in their 40s and being all alone in the woods" featuring some of our best improvisors. Enough said.
- Daddy Issues by Alison Vincent - the first solo piece by a member of not one but two Fringey faves - the aforementioned Transatlantic Love Affair and (recently) Four Humors?! Count me in! If the topic (caregiving and an ailing parent) is likely to make me cry as much as laugh, all the better.
- Hugo and Maeve Join a Cult by Alex Stokes / Sky Blue Productions - three reasons to see this show: TCTB faves Brendan Nelson Finn, Abilene Olson, and Alex Stokes. They're all very funny and talented performers on their own, so I can't wait to see what happens when they pool their talents. Plus, who doesn't love a good cult story?
- Mae West's The Drag by Feral Theatre Company - the preview of this show solidified its place on this list. They've adapted a play written by Mae West in 1927, making it relevant to today, and are including some fabulous drag performances. It's sure to be educational, poignant, and a lot of fun.
- A Monster Scientist and a Tattooed Anarchist Walk into a Bar by Mermaid Productions - two Fringe mainstays for the price of one! Well not exactly, it looks like they're taking turns in their 10 independently produced performances, so you might have to go back a couple times to see Ariel Pinkerton's expert storytelling skills and Reverend Matt's edutainment deep dive into pop culture, history, and legends.
- A Murder on the Great Grimpen Mire Express by Fearless Comedy Productions - a mash-up of the beloved mysteries A Murder on the Orient Express and The Hound of the Baskervilles?! Sounds like great Fringey fun!
- Pants on Fire by The Project Factory - like that game "two truths and a lie," but with some of the funniest people in #TCTheater/improv/comedy. With a different fabulous cast every night, this might be another one to see twice.
- The Peter Pan Cometh by Clevername Theatre - it's just not Fringe without a mash-up, and no one has been doing it better than Clevername lately. First Winnie the Pooh and Albee, then Care Bears and Brecht, now Peter Pan and O'Neill. It shouldn't work, but it does.
- The Wind Phone by Broken Wing Productions - the preview confirmed that this is sure to be a sweet and poignant and maybe even funny exploration of grief and loss. Also, it's an outdoor show, which is what summer is all about.
- The Zoo Story by Dime Stage Co. - I've seen this Edward Albee play at the Fringe before, and found it to be a great two-hander with lots of thought-provoking dialogue. It's definitely worth revisiting, and the cast was appealing at the preview. As much as I love new work, it's also nice to see an established play at the Fringe.
I know Fringe can be overwhelming for the uninitiated, but don't let that stop you. Just pick a few shows, or a venue, and get out there and see some shows! It's an incredibly well-run festival, which makes it easy, painless, and fun to see some adventurous art. For the first time since I've been attending the festival, the U of M Rarig Center, which often functioned as the main hub, is NOT a part of the festival (I believe due to rising rental costs). Venues are a more spread out than last year, which just means you might need to do a bit more work ahead of time planning your schedule. I recommend grouping shows by venue and trying to see a bunch in one location, then move on to a different location the next day, rather than trying to drive around to different venues between shows. Which is definitely possible, but minimizing travel between shows will definitely help with enjoyable and stress-free theater adventuring.
Here are a few Fringe tips for newbies (as always, refer to the Fringe website for the most up-to-date and correct information):
- Sign up to receive the daily Fringe File email, which has tons of info and tips about everything from weather to parking to sellouts to discounts at local businesses.
- Everyone needs a button to attend any show. They're $5 and make great souvenirs. You can purchase online or at the venues. You can also buy show tickets online or at the venues (note: no cash accepted), for a total of $20 both ways. A limited number of multi-show passes are available "at Preview events, and in the Fringe offices until sold out."
- If a show is particularly popular, or you really really want to see it, consider reserving a seat in advance ($3 for passholders, or included in the $20 online fee). You can also take your chances and just show up (25% of tickets are reserved for walk-up sales). I typically only make reservations for a handful of shows that look like they might be busy (you can check the show's page to see if it's in danger of selling out).
- All shows are general admission, so get there early for best choice of seating. Shows begin and end precisely on time (it's rare, but I have been at a show that reaches the hour mark, when the stage lights go down and the house lights go up - show over!).
- Shows typically run just under an hour, with a half hour between shows so it's feasible to get from any theater to any other in that time. But it's good to plan to see a bunch in one location to minimize transportation time.
- Bring snacks, water, reading material, and sunscreen - you will be waiting in line, probably outside. And be aware of what line you're in (box office or theater entrance). Ask one of the friendly volunteers in the Fringe shirts if you need help with anything.
- Keep an open mind - some of what you'll see is really weird. But that can be a good thing! And if you see a dud, well, that's part of the Fringe experience.
- Be adventurous! See something you normally wouldn't - that's the point of Fringe. If you don't like it - it'll be over in an hour.
- The Fringe website has pretty much all the info you'll need, so bookmark it on your smart phone for easy on-the-go reference! You can plan your schedule right there, or if you love spreadsheets as much as I do, you can download the full show list and schedule from the website. Just go to the FAQ page, click to open the "Printable Schedule" section, then click on "download our Sortable Schedule."
- Attend the preview shows (July 22 and 31 at Mixed Blood), or check out the videos posted on YouTube.
- Most importantly - be adventurous, be safe, be kind to the volunteers and your fellow Fringers, have fun, and support the Minnesota Fringe Festival and the many many artists we're lucky enough to have (or have visit) in the #TCTheater community!!
