The Gallery
By Tanner Kent
Greg Abbott’s “DiRections” has been selected for the 2013 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Abbott joins a trio of productions with southern Minnesota ties that were selected at random to participate. | Graphic submitted by Greg Abbott
Fringe Festival jackpot
Southern Minnesota to be well-represented in annual theatre showcase
S
outhern Minnesota has hit the Fringe lottery. All 176 productions in the 2013 edition of the Minnesota Fringe Festival – held annually in a variety of Twin Cities stage venues – were selected at random during a February lottery. As such, there is no judging process, no merit-based acceptance policy and nothing but absolute democracy in winnowing the voluminous field of submissions into a manageable final tally. This year, a trio of productions with Mankato ties were lucky enough to be selected to participate in the theatre showcase to be held Aug. 1-11: “Vanquished” by Eagle Lake playwright tdbarna, “DiRections” by North Mankato playwright Greg Abbott, and “Shine” by Minnesota State University graduates Shelley Whitehead and Robb Krueger. In addition, several productions feature Minnesota State University theatre students and graduates in acting roles (for a full list visit: www.mnsu.edu/theatre/ special%20events/fringefestival13.html). Tom Barna, who publishes under the name tdbarna, debuted “Vanquished” a few years ago during a pair of performances at Pub 500 that were directed by Whitehead. Based on a true story, the one-man play recounts the experiences of a single man who struggles to find happiness within a life that has repeatedly intersected him with some of history’s most tragic moments. Travis Carpenter was the lead actor in the original performances and called the role “the most emotionally challenging and demanding I’ve ever been associated with.” Mankato’s Taylor Anderson will reprise the role for the Fringe Festival under the direction of Leslie Dupree-Cady. The play will be performed on Aug. 2, 3, 6, 9 and 11 at the HUGE Theatre in Minneapolis. “It’s exciting,” Barna said. “The HUGE has its own fan base. It’s small, perfect for our production.” Abbott’s “DiRections” is a comical, if technologically disturbing, exploration of a culture that has become overly dependent on its technology. In a trio of vignettes, 12 • August 2013 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
characters find themselves tempted, scolded, stalked and isolated by their cell phones. Under the direction of Molly Smith, the play will be performed Aug. 1, 3, 4, 9 and 11 at the Illusion Theatre in Minneapolis. “It’s a cautionary tale about trusting technology over your gut,” he said. “Shine” was Minnesota State University’s 2012-13 touring children’s production. The musical is about a new student in school and the bullies she encounters. But something magical happens when kids in the group decide they don’t want to be a part of this gang. The play was written by MSU graduate Shelley Whitehead of Waseca, with music by fellow graduate Robb Krueger. “Shine” will be performed Aug. 2, 4, 5, 7, and 10 at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage. M
What you need to know • Held Aug. 1-11 at 16 different Twin Cities theaters. • 176 plays chosen to participate from lottery. • The final performance slot – 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 11 – is reserved for each venue’s top-selling show. • All performances are 60 minutes or less and no late seating is allowed. • For tickets, information or a full schedule, visit: www.fringefestival.org/2013/. • Productions in the Fringe Festival rely on word-of-mouth marketing to attract spectators to performances. The Fringe Festival website hosts a “My Fringe 5” feature which allows fans to post their most anticipated productions. And during the festival, audience members post reviews on the Fringe website.