Saturday, August 3, 2024

Minnesota Fringe Festival 2024: "Show Me Your Wings"

Day:
 1

Show: 2


Category: Drama / Musical Theater / Original Music / Physical Theater / Puppetry / Storytelling / Audience participation

By: MaMa Faerie Productions

Created by: Rhiannon Fiskradatz

Location: Squirrel Haus Arts

Summary: A multi-media intimate interactive experience about wings, love, identity, and self-expression.

Highlights: In this very personal piece, singer/songwriter/artist Rhiannon Fiskradatz shares her story of becoming herself. She wrote a collection of songs during the pandemic inspired by the idea of wings, which is her personal inspiration in life. She shares several of these songs, along with stories of growing up and becoming the truly unique artist that she is today. Guided by conductor Shanan Custer, The experience starts in lobby of Squirrel Haus Arts (just a quick 10-minute drive from the Cedar-Riverside hub), which is filled with wings-inspired art. Then we follow her into the main performance space in small groups, each one with a short activity (mine was to pick up a book and find an inspirational quote). Then we all gather together for the performance, backed by a fabulous band and four-person ensemble (Marc Berg, Thalia Kostman, Lindsey Oetken, Josh Vogen). The audience sits on mismatched chairs or pillows on the floor, while an artist creates a painting live, and Rhiannon and the ensemble perform little vignettes, each one a story in itself (like the fierce Medusa song), with some really cool physical theater/movement/dance elements (choreography by Thalia Kostman). Rhainnon was given the name MaMa Faerie and it suits her - magical, earthy, airy, maternal, feminist, and eccentric (in the best way). This is a show unlike any other you will see at the Fringe - it's not just a show, it's an experience. On the way out you can take in the exhibits and sensory activities, or add your comments to questions on the wall. It's a lovely and magical community experience that should not be missed.