FringeFamous

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Howdy, theatre-lovers!

Now that you’ve all had time to collect yourselves after the crazy Angelina Jolie/Jennifer Aniston Oscar showdown, it’s time for a little FringeFamous Five!  This week, we’re going to try our first ever live FringeFamous Five.  We’ll be connecting with Brave New Workshop cast members Mike Fotis and Bobby Gardner and asking them a few questions (five, to be exact) about their upcoming show.  Because it’s live, please feel free to get your own questions ready and join in the fun.  Ask away starting at noon on Wednesday…see you then!

So, clearly this isn’t how you want your “talent profile” to show up in the upper right-hand corner of Minnesota Playlist’s main page.  If there’s one thing I know about theatre (and there just might be only one), it’s that you’re never going to make it big unless you complete your Minnesota Playlist talent profile.  Dowling is more than likely rifling through it right now, hoping against all hope that he’ll find his next…hey, let’s just say “Rosalind”.

Sorry, theatre peeps.

We sort of dropped the ball on Monday night. Our live blogging left much to be desired. We wanted to bring you a live list of companies as they were drawn from the bin…and we missed a butt load. They really whizz through that shit, don’t they?  Well, let’s just chalk it up to us being live-blog virgins.  We’ll last longer the next time.  Here’s the complete list, by the by.

If you’re one of those Fringers who loves your festival chock full of veterans, the 2009 Fringe line up is your theatrical wet dream. Here are just a few of the “big guns” in this year’s fest:

• Tim Uren
• Sandbox Theatre
• Ministry of Cultural Warfare
• Joseph Scrimshaw (I’d be interested in knowing how many times he hasn’t gotten a slot)
• Joshua Scrimshaw (Joe’s wife Sara got in, too, by the way)
• Mike Fotis
• Ferrari McSpeedy
• Noah Bremer
• Ari Hoptman
• Pillsbury House (someone explain in the comments why they’re in the Fringe)
• Jonas Goslow
• Four Humors Theater
• Nautilus Music Theater
• Walking Shadow Theatre Co.
• Allegra Lingo
• Ben San Del
• Shanan Wexler & Carolyn Pool
• David Mann
• Lili’s Burlesque Review
• New Theatre Group

Seriously. That’s a lot of high-powered Fringing.

Now, I know it’s super early, but here are a few out-of-towners to keep your eyes open for:

• Peter Neofotis
• The Adventures of Les Kurkendaal and Dan Bernitt
• Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre
• casebolt and smith
• Jimmy Hogg

Here are a few companies that I was really looking forward to…but didn’t quite make the cut:

• Urban Samurai
• Nonsense Company (suuuuuuuper bummed about this miss)
• Infinity Live Productions (although, Walking Shadow is bringing us Cody Rivers in March)
• Schave & Reilly
• 3 Sticks
• The Cloud Sandwich Factory
• No Refunds Theatre Co.
• Horse Trade (mmmmm, Pumpkin Pie Show)

And on a selfish note, there was one company that I had HUGE butterflies for, but unfortunately landed on the Wait List. This company could’ve — nay, would’ve — made my entire Fringe. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the biggest miss of the 2009 Fringe Lottery…WILLIE’S WENCHES!

I forgot to mention the fact that during our live blog tonight, you’ll have the opportunity to participate by adding your own commentary.  So, if your ball is pulled, this might just be the perfect opportunity to announce to the world what you’ll be doing in the 2009 Minnesota Fringe Festival AND plug your show at the exact same time!

I know they say to “never say never”, but it’s never too early to start promoting your Fringe show.

Don’t forget to swing by the blog tonight at 7pm and check out our live blog of the 2009 Fringe Lottery.  It’s gonna be cool like the other side of the pillow.

A headline too good to be true, right?  WRONG!

One of our fantastic FringeFamous readers just forwarded me an email from Carol Schweickhardt over at Theatre Space Project.  TSP runs the little Lowry Lab Theater in downtown St. Paul.  According to Schweickhardt:

“Thanks to a generous grant from Travelers Foundation, we have a fund to use for the purpose of improving the diversity in our space.  We have 5 weeks of rent subsidy available.  Each group may apply for 1-2 weeks of free rent.  We do collect a per ticket charge to help make this program more sustainable.”

So there you have it.  If you’re a small group with a small-ish show and a smaller-ish budget, you might want to apply for this freebie.  The space has undergone some recent renovations and looks pretty nice.  The only downside is that, despite some new signage, it’s still a tough place to find (and St. Paul still sucks a fat dick).  But you can’t beat the price of zero dollars.

Go to the site!  Contact Carol!  HURRY!!

Apparently, the brain wizzards over at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts have decided to take one of New York’s best-reviewed shows of the year (South Pacific), and combine it with one of New York’s worst-reviewed performers of the year (our very own Laura Osnes).  According to Playbill.com, Osnes will replace Tony-nominee Kelli O’Hara (who’s leaving to give birth) from March 10th to October 6th.

I tried to think of something funny to say, but I got nothin’.  So instead, I’ll leave you with this Laura Osnes/blind people story.

From the Strib:

“Penumbra Theatre announced a series of cost-cutting steps Wednesday, including the postponement of an August Wilson play from this spring to next fall and the slashing of its $3.8 million operating budget by 24 percent.

The company plans to cut its operating budget more, to $2.5 million, in 2010, and produce plays with smaller casts.

But the company will proceed with a $520,000 refurbishment, which is to start in March and will add offices and patron restrooms.”

Why choose building renovations over programming?  Maybe if Penumbra would save that $520,000, they wouldn’t have to produce plays with smaller casts.  I mean, are you in existance to create the art that you want to create, or to have nice offices?  Priority check, Penumbra!

Does your heart race when you walk by the Rarig Center?  Do you get enraged when Kowalski’s refuses to give you a button discount?  Does Matthew Foster give you a big one?  If the answer is “yes”, then you’re probably a lot like us: head-over-heels in love with the Minnesota Fringe Festival.  And if that’s the case, then you’re probably counting down the days to the 2009 Fringe Lottery (this Monday, Feb. 16).

Wait — what’s that you say?  You can’t make it over to Bedlam Theatre to see it live?  Well have no fear, my little Fringe-lovers.  This year, to see the results live, you require only a computer and a connection to the Internets.  That’s right…we’ll be live-blogging the entire motherf@#ker RIGHT HERE!  Want to see if your ping pong ball was lucky, but also want to search for porn while sitting naked on your couch?  Then stop on by at 7pm, Monday the 16th.  We’ll be scrolling the results live in the box below.  See you then!