Podcasts about park square theatre

Joe Chvala (Artistic Director/Flying Foot Forum) is the founder and artistic director of the highly-acclaimed percussive dance company, the Flying Foot Forum. In addition to the Flying Foot Forum, Chvala has directed, choreographed, and been commissioned to create new works for a variety of theater and dance companies including the Guthrie Theater, the Walker Art Center, the Ordway Music Theater, the Minnesota Opera, Chicago Shakespeare, Children's Theater Company, Arkansas  Repertory, Theater Mu, Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, the History Theater, The Alpine Theater Project, Park Square Theatre, and The Boston Conservatory.  He has been the recipient of both Ivey and Sage awards for theater and dance as well as numerous “Best of the Year” honors from various US newspapers and periodicals and numerous choreographic and interdisciplinary awards, fellowships, and grants from such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and the McKnight Foundation. His recent film work as a director/writer has been featured in a number of European and American film festivals.Description of WorkFootfall—Choreographed by Joe Chvala, “Footfall” features a mixture of Flying Foot Forum's signature hybrid percussive dances with traditional clogging, folk music and dance to celebrate the passing of time, the ephemeral quality of life and the joys, struggles, strengths, longings, passions, and melancholy that are a part of it all. This piece will appear in its entirety in our upcoming concert May 8-18 at Park Square Theater. NOTE: The a cappella clogging duet “One Hundred Dead Dollars” was choreographed by founding company member, Clayton Schanilec.

From MPR News, Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art. Their recommendations are lightly edited from the audio heard in the player above. Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here.Generations of sewingDaniela Bianchini is a Minneapolis mosaic artist who is originally from Argentina. She's drawn toward an exhibit at CLUES' Latino Art Gallery in St. Paul that celebrates the art of sewing as it is passed through generations of women. The exhibit, by Columbian-Minnesotan artist Adriana Gordillo and Nena's Atelier, is titled “Connective Thread.” It opens Friday, March 14 and runs through May 14. There is a Cafecito de Hermanas (Coffee with Sisters) on Saturday, March 15 from 9 a.m. to noon that offers a time for workshops, resources, music and community connection. Register here.  Daniela says: I feel very related to it. We all in Latin America grew up seeing our grandmas and our mothers sewing. I've seen a couple of images that the artists have been posting in their social media: collages of different compositions of fabric and flowers and needles, and things that you see that represent the art of sewing. The community will be able to write something: their emotions, or their feelings about the exhibition, and some sort of petals that will then be sewed together and put in a dress.— Daniela BianchiniCelebrating Latinos on BroadwayAnne Sawyer, executive director of Art Start in St. Paul, is looking forward to seeing Teatro Del Pueblo's “Voces Latinas: A Broadway Musical Revue.” Directed by Mark Valdez of Mixed Blood Theatre with musical direction by Brenda Varga, “Voces Latinas” celebrates Latino artists' contributions to Broadway through the years. Shows are at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, beginning Friday, March 14 and continuing Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 and Sunday, March 16 at 2 p.m. Anne says: If you love musicals, this production promises to be so much fun. Teatro del Pueblo's performers will sing a curated, eclectic collection of songs that is a take on the Latino experience on Broadway. There are some older, really iconic numbers made famous by the likes of Chita Rivera, such as “A Boy Like That” from “West Side Story” and “Bye, Bye Birdie's” “An English Teacher.” But there's also pieces like Selena's "Amor Prohibido” and the “Hamilton” song “Dear Theodosia,” which was sung on Broadway by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr. What is so engaging about this production is the range of musical styles and how they encompass so many themes, societal differences and passionate love, pride in one's mother country, family and the struggle to survive. It's a show that will take you on a real roller coaster of emotion.— Anne SawyerLilith Fair lives on Laura Hotvet loves the cover band Pandora's Other Box, and she's excited for their upcoming concert, which feels tailor-made for Women's Month. “The Legacy of Lilith Fair” celebrates the female musicians who took part in Lilith Fair in the late 1990s, and the artists who have followed in their footsteps. The concert takes place at the Women's Club of Minneapolis on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Laura says: Pandora's Other Box is one of the most energetic and fun-to-listen-to, fun-to-dance-to, talented pop rock cover bands in the Twin Cities. The show features songs from [Lilith Fair concert tour] founder Sarah McLachlan, along with Paula Cole, Sheryl Crow, The Chicks, Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Pat Benatar, Indigo Girls and more. The second act will journey through the 25 years that followed, and this will be showcasing more current artists who benefited from the bravery of the original female pioneers in the Lilith era, such as Brandi Carlile, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Carrie Underwood, Paramore and more.— Laura Hotvet

Oogie_Push is from the Meskwaki Nation and is currently creating on Dakota territory, aka the Twin Cities. She's an actor, writer, storyteller, dancer, a Meskwaki twine bag weaver, a production assistant and an award-winning documentarian. She is the playwright and lead performer for the Full Circle Production “The Adventures of a Traveling Meskwaki”. The show opens this evening (Friday November 8) at the Park Square Theatre in downtown Saint Paul and it runs through November 24th.

Oogie_Push is from the Meskwaki Nation and is currently creating on Dakota territory, aka the Twin Cities. She's an actor, writer, storyteller, dancer, a Meskwaki twine bag weaver, a production assistant and an award-winning documentarian. She is the playwright and lead performer for the Full Circle Production “The Adventures of a Traveling Meskwaki”. The show opens this evening (Friday November 8) at the Park Square Theatre in downtown Saint Paul and it runs through November 24th.

From MPR News, Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art. Their recommendations are lightly edited from the audio heard in the player above. Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here.Dance a mile in another's shoesErinn Liebhard is the artistic and executive director of Rhythmically Speaking, a jazz and American social dance-based company. She's looking forward to the Threads Dance Project's fall show, “Impressions,” this Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis. Erinn elaborates: Their artistic director, Karen L. Charles, is a really fascinating artist. She was a mathematician and statistician who ended up shifting into dance education and eventually was able to open her own company. So she's got a really sort of methodical yet artistic way of creating choreography.Something that I love about Threads' work is that I feel like it's really artistic and accessible at the same time. So it's saying something, but you don't have to have special training in dance in order to understand.(As part of the show), Threads is going to be re-exploring a piece about shoes. The piece is called “Abolition in Evolution, Part 2 – Shoes,” and it's based upon the shoes we wear and what they say about us. I think it's really interesting that they're taking this metaphor of walking in someone else's shoes into a visual and artistic representation that causes you to ask questions about identity, race, class and how we see each other.— Erinn LiebhardAlice in NorthfieldMargit Johnson of Northfield appreciates the work of ArtMakers, and she's looking forward to their new, original musical, “Alice's Wonder.” Shows are this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (with audio description) at Northfield Arts Guild Theater. Admission is free for this family-friendly show. Margit says: What I like about ArtMakers' storytelling through music and theater is the genius of the artists with and without disabilities. For 10 years now, ArtMakers start with individuals from the Northfield area, from Colorado and even from Norway; they craft a production around and adapt to the talents and special needs of each participating artist. This way, they create authentic, artist-centered projects in the community. I know that “Alice's Wonder” is going to surprise and delight me. Alice is blind, and so is her friend, the White Rabbit. Their Wonderland is going to come alive with sound and what they call the brave idea of living your life as you choose. The ensemble includes local performers with disabilities alongside professional musicians from Northfield and the Twin Cities.— Margit JohnsonTake me to the riverAuthor Marcie Rendon of Minneapolis recommends that people see “The Adventures of a Traveling Meskwaki,” written by and starring Oogie Push. Originally a one-woman show, the multimedia performance has been expanded to a cast of five. Full Circle Theater is producing the show, which will be staged at Park Square Theatre in downtown St. Paul. There's a preview performance tonight ahead of the opening Friday. The show runs through Nov. 24, and tickets are pay-as-you-are-able. Marcie says: It follows her adventures as she's exploring and working with other Native people around issues of protecting the water. It's broader than just the water: it incorporates many of the things that she's learned on all of these different travels that she's done, from Alaska to Vancouver to Washington to California to out East. As a young person, she was a pow wow dancer. So she's also got stories from that part of her life that she incorporates into her work. The thing to know about Oogie is that she has a wonderful sense of humor. She can also go really deep into the emotional aspects of a piece, like into a character that she's taking on.— Marcie Rendon

We've got a lightning round of 2024 recommendations!  Rob Dunkelberger of The Stages of MN, Julie Jackson of Minnesota Theater Love, Mary Aalgaard of Play Off the Page, Keith Russell of Life in Revue, and Jill Schafer of Cherry and Spoon discuss the shows they recommend and are anticipating.Shows discussed include:Ironbound by Frank Theatre at the Gremlin - 1/19/24 to 2/11/24The Last Five Years at Lyric Arts - 1/19/24 to 2/11/24Crazy for You at Artistry - 1/25/24 to 2/11/24A variety of upcoming events at Hive CollaborativeMacPhail Presents: Faculty Spotlight – It Takes Two - 2/3/24The Broadway Songbook: Broadway in Love at Park Square Theatre - 2/16/24 to 2/18/24Elixir of Love at Minnesota Opera - 1/27/24 to 2/4/24Radiant Vermin at Lyric Arts - 3/1/24 to 3/24/24In the Green at Theatre Elision - 2/22/24 to 3/9/24 Toil and Trouble at Yellow Tree Theatre - 2/2/24 to 3/3/24Silent Sky at Theatre in the Round - 2/23/24 to 3/17/24 Cabaret at Theatre 55 - 2/2/24 to 2/10/24Stones in His Pockets at Theater Latte Da - 1/24/24 to 2/25/24Twin Cities Theater Chat is produced and hosted by Carol Jackson of Minnesota Theater Love and members of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers collective. As always, you can find the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers on Facebook and on Instagram. Read our review round-ups and go see a show today!

"History repeats itself,” says Twin Cities actor James Craven. That was one of his takeaways after he saw a workshop of Combustible Company's production of “The Hairy Ape” last summer. Written in 1922 by Eugene O'Neill, this play about labor rights and immigration feels just as timely today. Combustible's production, staged with the company's signature focus on actors' physicality, will be performed Nov. 10-18 at the Center for Performing Arts in Minneapolis. “It aggravated me. It aggrieved me. It made me fearful. It made me sit on the edge of my seat because I realized that the same things that were going on in 1922 are going on in 2023,” says Craven about the version he saw. “That is to say, the rise of Make America Great Again, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the rise of political violence, all these things are on stage done by the Combustible Company." Sarra Beckham-Chasnoff has followed Fortune's Fool Theatre for years, particularly the shows they've done at the Fringe Festival. This week, she's looking forward to attending their production of a new musical, “Cold Planet Warm Heart” at Crane Theatre in Minneapolis. The script and lyrics are by producing artist director Daniel Pinkerton and the show features his fellow producing artist director — and daughter — Ariel Pinkerton, who is part of an all-female cast. “Cold Planet Warm Heart” is billed as a family-friendly sci-fi musical: A spaceship has landed in a small Minnesota town, carrying with it a being from another galaxy, which prompts misadventures and eventually a pageant.The score is by Robert Elhai, whose wide-ranging by-line spans Broadway's “The Lion King,” six of the Fast and Furious movies and many works for Minnesota theaters. “I'm sure it will be really quirky,” Beckham-Chasnoff says. “Fortune's Fool Theatre does a great job with very adventurous plays.”Twin Cities actor and director Ansa Akyea recently saw Full Circle Theater's production of Naomi Iizuka's play “Anon(ymous)” at Park Square Theatre in downtown St Paul.  “Anon(ymous)” is a take on Homer's “The Odyssey” and is the story of a young man who is a refugee. He crosses the Atlantic as he seeks to reunite with his mother in the U.S.  “You're sitting there and you're wondering, what does that have to do with today,” says Akyea. “And right away, they make it clear that this is about immigration, immigrants, and they've done the specific work of placing Liberia also in that narrative. And so you know, which has resonance for our community, in the Twin Cities in particular.” The play was directed by Stephanie Lein Walseth and continues through Nov. 19.

Our second episode of Dad's in the House has our host (Damon Runnals - owner of Minnesota Playlist) and good friend Konrad Case heading to Park Square Theatre in the shining city of St. Paul where they enjoy a performance of The Revolutionists, presented by Prime Productions.

Laurie interviews the cast and director of “The Revolutionist” which is showing at Park Square Theatre.

On June 26, 2022 we performed our own version of "Battle of the Magicians" from Lights Out on stage at Park Square Theatre! Our Patreon members have access to video recordings of all of our performances as part of their subscription, and we're sharing this audio recording as a sample of the benefits of supporting us. "Battle of the Magicians" features a mysterious occult figure known as Saladin who fights to save an airline from the mystic machinations of the villain known as Ehrlich. Would you like to hear more of our recreations of classic radio episodes? (Not to mention our own original audio dramas?) Please consider joining the amazing community of MORLS fans whose support keeps this podcast going!

As the Guthrie Theater celebrates its 60th anniversary, the landmark theater has chosen to open their season with Qui Nguyen's Vietgone. The show is a romantic comedy about two Vietnamese refugees who fall in love at a resettlement camp in 1970s Arkansas. Director Mina Morita said that during the rehearsal process input from the local Vietnamese community was an important part of the story telling. “We [had] a lot of conversations both amongst the cast and creative team about how we were reaching out.” Morita said, “[We] had spoken to some elders as well, from the Vietnamese community, in preparation for rehearsal.” The show also hired a cultural consultant to help with the nuances of presenting a story with a specific cultural lens. While it is notable that the Guthrie is opening the season with an all-Asian cast that focuses on the Vietnamese American experience, “Vietgone” is not a new show, having premiered in 2015. Eric Sharp, one of the cast members, said that as more Asian plays show they can be successful, the more they are being produced. “Now there is a critical mass of plays that have been found viable.” he said, “I hate that word, but it's true. There are plays like “Vietgone”... like “The Great Leap,” like “Cambodian Rock Band,” that not only Asian people know about now.” While Asian voices have been part of the American theater as far back as the 1920s with the drama "The Submission of Rose Moy,” by Ling-Ai Li, Sharp has noticed wider recognition especially in the last decade. In fact, when Sharp graduated college nearly 20 years ago, he wasn't sure what it looked like to have a career as an Asian American theater artist. “My idea was that I was going to fit into this white American theater or this idea of what it means to be white on stage and that I would do that irrespective of my race.” Sharp said. “Well, you graduate, and then you find out very quickly that that's not the case.” He found Theater Mu, which allowed him to explore what it means to be an Asian American artist, without compromising his ambitions. “I always call it the happiest accident of my life” Sharp said. Ben Hovland | MPR News Rick Shiomi poses for a photo at the Kling Public Media Center in St. Paul on Sept. 22. Rick Shiomi, playwright and co-founder of Theater Mu, said he always wanted that to be the purpose of the organization, to act as both a theater that produces Asian work and give artists the opportunity to grow so they can work in other theaters. “The thing I didn't want was for people in the larger community to be able to look at Theater Mu and say, ‘Okay, that's a little niche group,'” Shiomi said. Much like Sharp, Shiomi did not think there was space for him to write theater from his Japanese Canadian view until he found the community of Asian theater makers in San Francisco in the 1970s. “I actually wanted to become a writer for a long time, but really felt like, there was nothing that I could say, in an odd way,” Shiomi said, “because I had no understanding that there was an Asian Canadian, or an Asian American perspective.” The Guthrie is not the only theater in town with a show featuring Asian artists and playwrights. Theater Mu's 30th season opens Friday with the world premiere of “A Different Pond,” a stage adaptation of the children's book of the same name. Meanwhile, Full Circle Theater premieres Shiomi's new play “Fire in the New World” in October at Park Square Theatre. Courtesy of Theater Mu. | Amy Rondeau Benji Stoebner (left) and Hieu Bui (right) play father and son in "A Different Pond." Park Square is currently showing “The Humans” through Oct. 9. The show usually casts white actors in the one act drama, but director Lily Tung Crystal decided to cast Asian actors to play the daughters in the piece and portray them as Korean adoptees. “I felt like this community in Minnesota would understand that choice, because so many in our community are Korean or Chinese adoptees,” Crystal said. “I don't think that choice would have happened if they didn't hire an Asian American director.” The flourishing of dramatic arts in the Twin Cities comes during a nationwide rise in hate-motivated crimes toward Asians and Asian Americans. “We believe at Theater Mu that one reason for the rise in anti-Asian hate and violence is because of the lack of our stories in film, television and stage,” said Lily Tung Crystal, who also serves as Theater Mu's artistic director. “When people don't see our stories, then it's easy for them to see us as other, or un-American, or even subhuman.” Even with all the current productions running with Asian representation, Crystal says that there is still work to be done to ensure the work is recognized properly. “Maybe right now there is a lot of Asian plays, but that's not to say for the rest of the season there'll be this flurry of activity.” Crystal said. “It can still be considered by some institutions that that's a sort of outside thing to do ... like ‘we might consider doing an Asian American play this season, but not next season.'” Listen Minnesota's Guthrie Theater turns 60: A look at its legacy 2021 All the home's a stage: Far-flung actors, crew unite for Theater Mu's new show “Vietgone” at the Guthrie runs until Oct 16. Theater Mu and Stages Theatre Company's “A Different Pond” runs until Oct. 23, and Full Circle Theater's “Fire in the New World” opens Oct 19.  

An intimate conversation with Bruce Roach, actor, teacher and human being.We talk about being in a play together (Holmes and Watson by Jeffrey Hatcher at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul), summer flings, rotisserie chickens, nicknames and coming out to your parents when you're 30. What a sweet soul!Growing Up Naked theme by Isaac DellMusic: "Ira" from the album Offering Beggars by Lars ÅrdalProfessor Moriarty scream while falling into Reichenbach Falls, performed by Peter Evan Hansen, recorded by Montana Johnson

Former St. Paul mayor and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity head Chris Coleman loves music, and he clearly remembers the first time he heard country singer Trevor McSpadden perform on his friend's front lawn in the summer of 2020. Coleman showed up expecting a dad band, but said, “all of a sudden there is Trevor and Mary Cutrufello on electric guitar, and they are just knocking it out of the park. And I went, ‘Wow, what a find. This is amazing.'” Coleman has seen McSpadden perform several times since. He appreciates the singer's classic country voice and bluesy quality. Don't see video? Click here. McSpadden plays at Forager Brewing Company in Rochester on Friday at 7 p.m., and in Wyoming, Minn., at Smokey's Pub & Grill Saturday at 2 p.m. He and Mary Cutrufello play at the White Squirrel Bar in St. Paul on Tuesday at 6 p.m. At the Icehouse in Minneapolis  Annie Mack performs from her new EP “Testify,” with special guest, 21-year-old R&B and rap artist Lakee. Minneapolis artist Key Rose has watched Lakee Abner perform over the past few years since she took part in the R&B shows Rose hosted at Bullwinkle's Saloon in Minneapolis. She's seen Lakee move from performing covers to writing and performing her own material across the Twin Cities. “I know it's gonna be just great vibes. Great music, great voices. Great energy all around,” Rose said. The Thursday all ages show starts at 8 p.m., 6 p.m. doors. Don't see video? Click here. If you're looking for a fun podcast, playwright and actor Vincent Hannam recommends The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society. Each episode features an original recording of an old-time radio drama from the 1930s and 40s. Three Minnesota actors and comedians break down the show, with an eye to its timeless quality, or not. In addition to the podcast, the society puts on live performances, where they stage crime, horror and suspense radio dramas, complete with sound effects. There are doors slamming, footsteps, and commercial breaks. This month's performance is “The Mysterious Old Radio Holiday Special,” with new original material. The live show is Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Park Square Theatre, with live-streaming options as well. 

Susana di Palma of Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre is planning to attend the world premiere this weekend of “Shaamya — Of Equality.” The performance by Katha Dance Theatre is a coming-together of music, dance and poetry, inspired by the poet Kazi Nazrul Islam's visions of equality across gender, race and religion. Choreographed by Katha Artistic Director Rita Mustaphi, the show incorporates ballet, hiphop and flamenco along with the rhythmically complex kathak dance from northern India. The show features music by J.D. Steele and poetry by Somali-American performer Ifrah Mansour. Taken together, di Palma says, this original work is “going to provoke thought and feeling in a beautiful way that we can all examine” on a universal topic. The show runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. Michael Murnane, a lighting director and head electrician at the Minnesota Orchestra, is a huge fan of the rock band Annie and the Bang Bang. They have a new record — available in both vinyl and digital — called “Walkie Talkie.” Murnane says it's the kind of music that makes you both want to move around and sit and focus on its thoughtful lyrics. “They're like a garage band but with 30 years of experience,” said Murnane. “It looks like they're in it for the fun, but they're saying really interesting things.” Artist Janine Holter of Montrose drove to Lanesboro when Commonweal Theatre Company opened its first in-person show this spring. She'll be there for the close of the 2021 season with its production of “A Christmas Carol,” which opens Friday and runs through Dec. 19. It's the classic ghost-filled story based on the work of Charles Dickens, complete with the heartfelt transformation of miserly Scrooge. Commonweal's twist is to cast Scrooge and the three ghost characters as women. “[Commonweal Associate Artistic Director] Adrienne Sweeney is just a delightful actress,” Holter said, “and I know she's going to play one heck of a nasty Scrooge.” It's not the first time women have played Scrooge. In 2018, the Guthrie cast both a male and a female lead, with Nathaniel Fuller playing the role 43 times and Charity Jones, in male dress, starring in 13 shows. Sweeney developed this version of the show as she thought about how a female Scrooge might fit historically and resonate today. Patrons are required to wear masks inside the theater. The show will also be available virtually.

Our conversation with Katharine Horowitz on March 16th, 2021. Katharine is a theatrical sound designer and composer in Minneapolis, MN. She has designed critically-acclaimed and award-winning shows for the Guthrie Theater, Creede Repertory Theatre, The Jungle Theater, History Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, Pillsbury House Theatre, Park Square Theatre, Great River Shakespeare Festival, Second City Theatricals, and many others. Katharine is a professional member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association, and a 2017 McKnight Theatre Artist Fellow at the Playwrights' Center. She occasionally teaches sound design at Macalester College. In her spare time, Katharine serves as a volunteer escort at abortion clinics (helping patients safely into the building), gardens moderately successfully, and enjoys scampering through wooded areas. She once donated a body part for a show at Mixed Blood and wonders if it's still in the basement. www.katsound.com

Resilience doesn’t have to look a certain way. Resilience can look a lot of ways. Today, we’re going to hear four different people give their response to the prompt, “Tell me about a time when you were resilient.” These stories come from a storytelling class taught by Dane Stauffer. The class is part of a Creative Aging initiative from Aroha Philanthropies. The class is targeted for those over 55 years old, with some participants in their 80s. The goal of the program is to upend the narrative on aging. These stories are told via Zoom during the pandemic. You can here Dane tell the backstory here. For the next three episodes, we are going to present stories of resilience. What is surprising is the variety of these stories. It’s an important lesson. Resilience doesn’t have to look a certain way. Today, we present four stories of a gym class, clothes pins, September 11, and Pine-Sol.   Michelle Westlund, Hang On Bio: I'm originally from Ohio and am a huge Ohio sports fan. I work in marketing at Bethel University. I am also a grad student at Bethel Seminary. My biggest life accomplishment is my three adult kids, who are now my three best friends. Bettiana Luisa LaSorella, The Curse Bio: I live a life of wonderful adventure - - even though I hardly leave my kitchen. Children, books, stories, nature, and good friends have helped me through most of life's lonely, fearful, and hard journeys as well as the happy ones. I keep dancing in my living room, reading, riding my bike, camping, cooking, and being surprised. Gratitude eases my days and love eases my nights. Kim Vasquez, A Year of Resilience...I Think. Bio: Kim is the Founding Artistic Producer of Gray Lady Entertainment, Inc., a Producer on the Broadway musical sensation Be More Chill running in London (pre-COVID) and a newly appointed Artistic Associate at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul (2021). Having lived and worked in NYC and Massachusetts for nearly 30 years she is thrilled to be back in the Twin Cities performing Storytelling with Dane Stauffer. Lesley Novick, The Power of Pine-Sol Bio: Lesley was born, raised, and formally educated in and around Minneapolis. After graduation from the University of Minnesota, she left Minnesota for what turned out to be a 23-year career working for an international hospitality company that brought her back to Minneapolis. Looking for a change and a chance to be her own boss, she became a Realtor and has been helping people buy an-d sell homes for 23 years...so far. Learn More about Dane Stauffer and his storytelling class: Dane Stauffer: https://danestauffer.com Aroha Philanthropies: https://www.arohaphilanthropies.org

Tell me about a time when you were resilient. === Special Note: This episode was recorded before the killing of George Floyd. Should this interview have happened later, Dane and I would have had a different conversation with a different tone. We present this interview in solidarity with all who are working to dismantle systemic racism. === Dane Staffer is a busy guy. He is an actor, writer, singer, director, improviser, educator, and sought-after party guest. In a word, he is a creative. For the last three years, Dane has taught a storytelling class at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, MN. The class is part of a Creative Aging initiative from Aroha Philanthropies. The class is targeted for those over 55 years old, with some participants in their 80s. The goal of the program is to upend the narrative on aging. Unfortunately, during the winter, Park Square Theatre was unable to host the class. However, they gave Dane permission to continue the class elsewhere. Dane went into improvisational mode. “I am so glad that I am steeped in improv,” Dane says. “Because two of the basic ideas of improv are ‘yes, and,’ and ‘adjust accordingly.’” Dane found a room in his apartment complex, contacted interested students, and scheduled the first class for March 17, 2020. With the class location settled and students enrolled, Dane traveled to the west coast. While there, news of the Coronavirus broke. Meetings began to cancel, and so Dane caught a class back home. Minnesota went on lockdown, and the class was canceled. This was particularly bad news for Dane. He makes his livelihood from entertainment and education. Again, Dane called on his improvisational skills. If the goal is to upend the narrative on aging, why not go all in and conduct the storytelling class via Zoom. “One of the stereotypes of this age group is that technology is not our thing,” Dane explains. “I pitched it as a beta test, because I believe in learning on the job.” After a rocky start, the students became proficient in Zoom. Typically, Dane’s storytelling class ends with a capstone presentation in a theater. Think of it as The Moth meets AARP. The stories can vary widely on topics. In this case, given the COVID-19 pandemic and the rich life experience of the participants, Dane and the students decided to focus on a single prompt. “Tell me about a time when you were resilient.” The stories are as varied as the participants. The participants talked about the polio outbreak, about September 11, 2001, about World War II. “I think it’s important that we show up authentically, even if it’s imperfect, rather than waiting until we get it all right,” Dane says. “So, my goal is to create an opening where we can generate stories. “What we know from telling stories live is, the power of sharing your story ripples out into the community. My friend T. Mychael Rambo says ‘Every person is a library.’ And the only way someone is going to hear your story is when you share it.”  Coming Up! Dane has recorded twelve stories from his class. Over the next three episodes, we will share four short stories on the topic of resilience. Learn More about Dane Stauffer: Dane Stauffer: https://danestauffer.com Facebook Group, Improvise Now: https://www.facebook.com/improvdane Aroha Philanthropies: https://www.arohaphilanthropies.org

In this week's episode, Elizabeth and Kristina reflect on the recent passing of Pulitzer Prize winning composer and Minnesota legend, Dominick Argento, the cozy genius. You'll also hear about recent performances we've attended at the Minnesota Orchestra and Park Square Theatre. Finally, we'll share some tangled thoughts on the Me Too movement and fine arts institutions. (And if you're interested in what we're watching on Netflix, you'll hear that too.)  

Welcome to my very first podcast.  Treading the Boards is a book I've published for 20 years. It gives information for over 400 regional equity theatres around the US so theatre artists can get work. Between publication dates, a weekly email goes out with news, articles, interviews and sometimes Something I Had To Share With You because I'm so excited about it. The reason for the email is to keep you, the theatre artist, well-informed. It seemed like a natural transition to creating this podcast which supplements the email and the book. In this first episode, I'll give you some back story about how I got here but first the news. In Season Announcements, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati in Ohio, MetroStage in Virginia, The Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company based in Georgia and PICT Classic Theatre in Pittsburgh all announce their 2018-2019 seasons. The next segment is Who's In and Who's Out which will focus on Artistic & Executive leaders coming in & going out. No movers & shakers this week though. Next up is Articles & Interviews which are things I've read or listened to that I think they are relevant and interesting. There's a Q&A with Laura Leffler, AD of Umbrella Collective & associate AD for Park Square Theatre, on MinnesotaPlaylist.com. Playbill.com's Stage Directions Interview with director Darko Tresnjak and on PBS.org Christiane Amanpour interviews Sir Ian McKellen.

Jamil Jude is a director, producer, playwright, and dramaturg. Self-identifying as an "Artist Plus", Jamil feels most at home bringing socially relevant art to the community. Jamil is the Associate Artistic Director at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta, GA as well as the Co-Founder of The New Griots Festival. He was a participant in the Leadership U: One-on-One program, funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group. The program provided him a residency at  Park Square Theatre, in St. Paul, MN, where he worked as Artistic Programming Associate. Prior to that, he served as the National New Play Network (NNPN) Producer-in-Residence at Mixed Blood Theatre Company. Jamil has helmed productions for companies such as the Olney Theatre, Forum Theatre, and Curious Theatre, as well as various Twin Cities’ theatre companies, including Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Freshwater Theatre, Stages Theatre Company, and Daleko Arts. Jamil's next directing project is KING HEDLEY II at True Colors, running 2/13 through 3/11/2018. Jamil talks with Marc about sharing the African Diaspora experience through his work, his new role with True Colors Theatre, his vision for 21st century theater with more community conversations around the art, his deep appreciation for the plays of August Wilson, and his desire and hope for more diversity and opportunities for people of color in theater communities.

Carol Jackson discusses 10 tips for your post-show discussion. She talks about the benefits of post-show discussions, how to organize them, and the best ways to get the audience involved. Carol is the co-founder of Minnesota Theatre Love. Carol and her sister Julie started the blog in 2014 with the goal of highlighting all of the amazing theatres in the Twin Cities. In the past three years, they have written over 230 posts about must see shows and marketing strategies. In the 90s, Carol worked in the box offices at the Fitzgerald Theater and Park Square Theatre for over a decade. She is currently a librarian at the Ramsey County Library in St. Paul. Show Notes: Website - http://www.mntheaterlove.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mntheaterlove/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/MNTheaterLove Email - mntheaterlove@gmail.com Download the 10 tips here: https://wellattended.com/blog/049-10-tips-post-show-discussion-carol-jackson/ - Download our free marketing resources at https://wellattended.com/resources

Carol Jackson discusses 10 ways to make your website patron friendly. She talks in detail about what information you need on your site, how to make navigation easy, and how to make people want to see your shows. Carol is the co-founder of Minnesota Theatre Love. Carol and her sister Julie started the blog in 2014 with the goal of highlighting all of the amazing theatres in the Twin Cities. In the past three years, they have written over 230 posts about must see shows and marketing strategies. In the 90s, Carol worked in the box offices at the Fitzgerald Theater and Park Square Theatre for over a decade. She is currently a librarian at the Ramsey County Library in St. Paul. Show Notes: Website - http://www.mntheaterlove.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mntheaterlove/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/MNTheaterLove Email - mntheaterlove@gmail.com Download the 10 Ways to Make Your Website Patron Friendly: https://wellattended.com/blog/045-10-ways-make-website-patron-friendly-carol-jackson/ - Download our free marketing resources at https://wellattended.com/resources

"You can make better art when you listen to community voices." Leah Cooper is Co-Artistic Director of Wonderlust Productions. She has been directing, producing, and performing in theater for thirty years. She was the director for the Veterans Play Project, a collaboration between Footprints Collective, Mixed Blood Theatre and Bedlam Theatre. Locally, she has also directed productions for Commonweal Theatre, Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Theatre in the Round, Gremlin Theater, 20% Theatre Company, Shakespearean Youth Theatre, Starting Gate Productions, Ministry of Cultural Warfare, Prufrock Theatre, Fortune's Fool Productions, and the Fringe Festival as well as many workshops of new scripts. Leah was most recently the Executive Director of the Minnesota Theater Alliance, was partner and co-founder of MinnesotaPlaylist.com, serves as board chair for Live Action Set, a board member of the California Institute of Contemporary Arts, and she was the Executive Director of the Minnesota Fringe Festival from 2001 to 2006.

This weeks episode is about the upcoming shows at Park Square Theatre.

“By having a plan B, it weakens your plan A.” Kory LaQuess Pullam was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas. He earned his BFA at Stephen F. Austin State University in 2013. Leaving the collegiate nest, Kory moved to Chicago and worked with Raven Theatre, Light Opera Works, The Gift Theatre, and Porchlight Music Theatre in their Jeff-nominated production of Pal Joey. Since moving to the Twin Cities, he's worked with Guthrie Theater, Children's Theatre Company, Pillsbury House + Theatre, Park Square Theatre, History Theatre, Brave New Workshop, Walking Shadow Theatre Company, Theatre Pro Rata, HUGE Improv Theater, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, and Paul Bunyan Playhouse. Kory is a founding member of Blackout Improv, the premier Black comedy troupe in the Twin Cities. Also, Kory is founding artisric director of Underdog Theatre. He makes his Ten Thousand Thing's Theatre debut as Perkich in Fiddler On The Roof this winter. Keep up with Kory on social media platforms: @laquess      

In our fourth episode of Broadside, we discuss the play Love Person written by Aditi Brennan Kapil and currently playing at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. For Broadside Book Club, we review Maggie Nelson's book The Argonauts, and for Broadside Film Skool we review Harry Dodge and Silas Howard's film By Hook or By Crook.

Trena Bolden Fields interviews the talented Barbara Kingsley on her passion for acting.   Barbara Kingsley is a multi-tasking theater artist. Stage credits include over two hundred productions, at theaters across the country, including Broadway. She has appeared locally at the Guthrie, Ten Thousand Things Theater, Jungle Theater and Park Square Theatre. Barbara won a Kudos award for her performance as Dorine, in Tartuffe and has enjoyed creating a broad spectrum of characters: Hedda Gabler, Bananas, in House of Blue Leaves, Ariel in The Tempest, Alice B. Toklas in Gertrude Stein and a Companion, and most recently, Violet in  August: Osage County. She has been a member of the Dept. of Theatre & Dance adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota, since 1998 and is a Teaching Artist in the Guthrie Theater Education dept. Writing credits include a screenplay and three stage plays. Barbara is a recipient of a 2011 – 2012 Minnesota State Arts Board/ National Endowment  for the Arts Artist Initiative Grant for her play, Under This Roof and the 2013 MRAC Next Step Grant for her play, I am Proof Of Me.

Trena Bolden Fields interviews actor Raye Birk about passion and his defining moment.  Raye Birk is a native of Flint, Michigan. His theatre training includes degrees from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He has acted at the Guthrie Theater, including PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, PYGMALION, HIS GIRL FRIDAY, MACBETH, 1776, THE GREAT GATSBY, THIRD, A DELICATE BALANCE, FAITH HEALER,  THE WINTER’S TALE, THE SUNSHINE BOYS, LONG DAYS JOURNEY INTO NIGHT as  well as appearing as Scrooge in A CHRISTMAS CAROL for four seasons. He recently played KING LEAR  for the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul. Mr. Birk has appeared in nearly 150 television shows and his credits include recurring roles on LA LAW, THE WONDER YEARS, COACH, SILK STALKINGS, DEAR JOHN, THE POPCORN KID and now THE BLACK SCORPION; episodes of BABYLON 5, X-FILES, 3rd ROCK FROM THE SUN, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, ER, SEINFELD, MURPHY BROWN, STAR TREK, PICKET FENCES, ALF, and PERRY MASON to name a few, and numerous TV movies.  His feature films appearances include BURGLAR, THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN, THE WAR OF THE ROSES, NAKED GUN & NAKED GUN 33 1/3, CLASS ACT and DOC HOLLYWOOD. Since moving to the Twin Cities he has done four feature films: FACTOTUM. NORTH COUNTRY, SWEETLAND and most recently, theCoen’s brothers A SERIOUS MAN.

Host, Trena Bolden Fields interviews actor, vocalist, educator, writer and speaker extraordinaire T. Mychael Rambo on networking and how your contacts can help you book work.   Emmy Award winning actor, vocalist, arts educator and community organizer; T. Mychael Rambo has performed principle roles at the Guthrie; Penumbra, Ordway, Illusion, Mixed Blood, Park Square Theatre, Children’s Theatre and the Fitzgerald Theaters among others.  Rambo has performed nationally, including Carnegie Hall, Off-Broadway and abroad. He has appeared in local and national television commercials, feature films, HBO mini-series, and other television programming He has also released two popular CD's: Simply - a collection of jazz standards; andThe Gift: A Christmas With Love - a selection of original and holiday classics. T. Mychael had the great honor of singing the National Anthem for President Obama during his 2009 visit to the Twin Cities and former President Jimmy Carter in 2010. Mr. Rambo is also the proud recipient of the 2010 Sally Award in Arts Education, presented by the Ordway Theatre for the Performing Arts, as well as a Minnesota Black Music Award, also in 2010.  His honors and awards include Young Audience Art of the Year, McKnight Theatre Artist Fellowship, Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Fellowship, and both the University of Minnesota Century Council Community Award and Outstanding Community Service Award, to name a few.