Theater

Adapted from Edgar G. Ulmer’s classic 1945 film noir piece, DETOUR tells the story of a hapless New York nightclub pianist who hitchhikes to Hollywood to join his girl Sue. Along the way, he runs into a sleazy gambler and a blackmailing dame who bring him nothing but grief. In the end, no matter what he does, his every move plunges him deeper into trouble...

Fridays and Saturdays March 6, 12, 19, 26 and 27 at 7:00 pm (6:00 doors)
$15 / $12 with a Fringe button, students and seniors

Creative Laughter Club House is a show for kids K-6 that creates an improv comedy experience with music, story, and movement. Come join John Haynes...formerly Mike of Martha and Mike's Clubhouse for a show that will inspire you to creatively laugh.

Saturday March 13 at Noon (11:30 doors)
$5 kids / $7 adults

Come and get it—brainy, gutsy, heartfelt humor! Revel with witty women who speak their minds. For more info visit www.myspace.com/womenstandupcomedycabaret.

Saturday March 13 at 10:00 pm (9:30 doors)
$12-$15 pay what you can / $10 with a Fringe button

Show X is a weekly long-form improvisational comedy show that brings together ten of the Twin Cities' most accomplished improvisers into one giant super group of unscripted theater. www.hugetheater.com

Mondays March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 8:00 pm (7:30 doors)
$5

Ike Reilly, indie rock raconteur and singer-songwriter, released his latest album, "Hard Luck Stories," on digitally November 23, 2009 and in CD version on February 16, 2010. "Hard Luck Stories" - a more groove-oriented and melodic album than previous recordings - is a combination of corroded R & B, furious punk-blues, lounge-pop and classic rock, all laced with giant choruses. As per usual, Ike razor-sharp insight and wit are woven throughout with the lyrical dexterity and aplomb that have become the hallmarks (and trademarks) of Reilly's critically-lauded records. The ten songs on "Hard Luck Stories" were recorded in Chicago and produced by Reilly and Ed Tinley.

Plenty of musical friends joined Reilly in the studio on "Hard Luck Stories": Shooter Jennings duets with Reilly on "The War On The Terror And The Drugs;" Johnny Hickman (Cracker) drives the rhythm of the infectious "Girls in The Backroom" and plays electric guitar on "The Ballad of Jack and Haley," while the unmistakable voice of David Lowery (Cracker) helps carry the chorus on the latter tune; the Libertyville (Ike's Illinois hometown) High School Choir sings the chorus on the "Summertime Blues"-inspired "Good Work;" blues legend Barrel House Chuck rips on the Farfisa and the Wurlitzer; Pie Eyed Pete Cimbalo takes on bass duties; and Assassination bassist Tommy O'Donnell makes his debut for Reilly on guitar.

It is the stories themselves that make this Reilly's most accessible recording to date. The tales, while unique to Reilly in the telling, paint a darkly humorous yet accurate picture of the universal compromise and struggle felt by many folks in America right now - people like the frazzled high school kid who's competing for summer jobs and girls with his ex-coach, the compromising single father who loses custody of his little girl as he goes down for growing weed in their home, the young woman doing the best she can for her war veteran brother as he inadvertently terrorizes their community, and the indie rocker trying to sing a song that finally makes a little money.

The Dregs are a musical comedy act who perform a great combination of traditional pub music and original songs, many of which involve booze, zombies or both. Help them celebrate the only holiday on the Irish calendar with laughter, music and a pint or two. They'll bring the chickens! Warning: there will be accordion music. Sorry.

Wednesday March 17 ad 10:00 pm (9:30 doors)
$8 in advance / $10 day of show

Go back to Bayside!! Come join the fun with Zack, Kelly, Lisa, Jesse, Screech, and Slater for a night of music, mayhem, and the danger of caffeine pills! Two back to back "episodes" and "commercials" performed live featuring appearances by Max, Kevin the Robot, Mr. Belding, and Hot Sundae! With a special appearance by Patrick O'Brien as Mr. Dewey!! Don't miss it!!!

Wednesdays and Thursdays March 3, 10 and 11 at 7:00 pm (6:00 doors) and Thursday March 18 at 7:00 pm (6:00 doors) and 9:30 pm (9:00 doors)
$15 / $12 with a Fringe button, student ID or kids 12 and under

One of Minnesota’s hidden lights, Weiss’ powerful songwriting is rooted in an overwhelming personal story of transformation and by the soulful inspiration of artists ranging from early Bob Dylan and Patty Griffin to writers Tennessee Williams and Robert Bly. The songwriting on his recent debut album, Public Songs For Private Use, will remind listeners of Van Morrison, Paul Simon, and Leonard Cohen for their personal and immediate poeticism. Weiss’ robust voice and earnest delivery style adds gravity to songs already enveloped by rich language and real-life subject matter, or as a fan wrote to Diedrich, “You possess a rare charisma that assures me that what you have to say is valuable”.

Once a week for the past three years you will find him on Fairview Southdale Hospital’s mental health unit performing his songs and sharing his story with patients. It’s the same psych ward where he first learned to play guitar as a patient at 19 when his older brother brought him an acoustic guitar to help keep him company. Diedrich says, “I didn’t know how to play but I was encouraged by finding that I could pick out the melody of ‘Scarborough Fair’ on one string – this moment was like flint, spark and flame”.

Whether compassionately singing about a young suicidal woman stalked by a family secret in “Ruby” (“I know that your hope is real and yet gets tired and weak, week by week”), honoring his father’s sacrifice in reconciling with his son in “Home” (“I blamed you for all my life’s frustrations, you stretched out your arms and would not leave”), or about the rigorous hard work of healing in “Wounds To Scars” (“shattered glass into stars – a constellation of all we overcame”), Weiss’ command of feeling and language readily captures an artist whose music and lyrics indeed serve the delicate and difficult cause of transformation – his and ours.

How do we determine those things, which we describe as "ugly" or "visually challenging?" Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Can "unattractive" actually translate, for some, to "idiosyncratically gorgeous?"
Plato describes beauty as a "wondrous vision," an "everlasting loveliness which neither comes nor ages, which neither flowers nor fades." It is eternal and isn't "anything that is of the flesh" nor "words" nor "knowledge" but consists "of itself and by itself in an eternal oneness, while every lovely thing partakes of it."
This month's Dragmanity is entitled "UGLY." Through explicit and implicit techniques, we will investigate and portray both traditional and non-traditional forms of " beauty and ugliness."

Saturday March 20 at 10:00 pm (9:30 doors)
$10