One Person Shows Added to Commonweal Season

Last night marked the first of four, one-person shows that make up a summer/fall series the theater is calling “Commonweal Presents.” The plays come from regional, national, and international theatres.

Last night’s opening performance of Michelle Myers Berg’s Blue Collar Diaries proved to be an intimate and powerful theatre experience. Myers Berg portrayed characters made up from the working-class St. Paul, Minnesota neighborhood where she grew up. The main thread of the narrative revolves around her relationship with her distant and all-too-often angry father. Myers Berg discovers that her father, and her entire family, lived within the shadow of the Korean War, a war that neither she, nor the country seemed to know much about.

While the road to understanding this shadow holds the play together, Myers Berg’s portrayal of the characters on the periphery of her childhood steal the show—characters many of us know and attitudes about raising children that will feel all-to-familiar to those of us raised towards the end of the baby boom.

This first “Commonweal Presents” offering certainly indicates that these four productions will all be richly rewarding experiences.

Here are the Commonweal’s descriptions of the 4 plays:

Blue Collar Diaries

Written and performed by Michelle Myers Berg
August 10 & 11

Michelle Myers Berg in Blue Collar Diaries.

Michelle Myers offers a glimpse of some of the memorable characters that drifted through her St. Paul blue collar neighborhood in the 60's and 70's. Their personal stories go far beyond the names stitched above their left breast pockets. Exploring both the larger world of the neighborhood around her and the epic silence of her Korean War vet father with humor and poignancy, Myers celebrates the individual inside the uniform in this original one-woman show. Named one of the top ten performances of 2009 by the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Dominic P. Papatola.

Min Mor (“Mother”)

Dramatised and directed by Anne-Karen Hytten
Performed by Bente Børsum
September 15 - one night only!

Bente Børsum in Min Mor.

Bente Børsum, actress with the National Theatre in Oslo, Norway, presents Min Mor (translated “Mother”), a collection of monologues based on the books, articles, and letters of Lise Børsum, the upper-class-wife, war-prisoner and fighter for human rights, who, in 1943, was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück, a concentration-camp in Germany. The Commonweal is proud to welcome one of Norway’s most prolific actresses in a piece that has received international recognition. “An incredibly forceful show about a past that repeats itself every single day in every scene of war in our own time.” Arendals Tidende

www.minmor.no/omabout/about-the-show/

Passion of the Hausfrau

Adapted from the novel by Bess Welden, Annette Jolles & Nicole Chaison
Performed by Bess Welden
October 5 & 6

A one-women show about the hilarious misadventures of a mom who discovers that the roller coaster ride of raising young kids is actually the path to creating her own masterpiece. “Bess Welden made it impossible not to laugh, as she dramatized the trials and hysterical tribulations of motherhood . . . Kids or no kids, this energetic woman’s portrayal of the crazy life and conflicting demands of a young mother . . . is comic genius.” The Portland Phoenix

www.thehausfrauplay.com

Lessons from Cancer College

Written by Nancy K. Barry; Directed by Eva Barr
performed by Kristin Underwood
October 19 & 20

Kristin Underwood in Lessons from Cancer College

What happens when a middle-aged college professor finds herself enrolled in a nine-month course of treatment for breast cancer? This one-woman show explores the anxiety and questions that emerge when the teacher becomes the student—of a disease, of a battery of treatments, and of her own changing body. Assuming it will be a manageable task to continue teaching through cancer, she’s is surprised—and ultimately healed—by the revelation that somehow cancer is teaching through her. Kristen Underwood performs this original adaptation that resonates with power and humor.

Visit the Commonweal for more information on Commonweal Presents

Celebrity Sightings at GRSF

Kim Martin-Cotton, who played many of the lead rolls in the first 4 years of GRSF and swordsman Jacques Roy were in the audience for Tuesday night's Othello as well as Wednesday's production of Titus Andronicus. It feels like having old friends in the house, even though I've never really met either of them outside of the theater. Carla Noack, Rosalind in As You Like It and Kate in Taming of the Shrew, took in the apprentice play yesterday. (I also saw her at Othello earlier in the month.)

Commonweal company members David Hennessey and Eric Bunge took in Tuesday's Othello on their night off from a busy summer season in Lanesboro.

Has it come to this? No reviews at Minnesota Theatre, just gossip? No excuses—I simply haven't gotten the reviews out of my head and on to paper. Below, I have a preview of A comedy of Errors that I wrote in May or June but never got around to posting.

The Great River Shakespeare Festival ends Sunday, August 1.

Visit the Great River Shakespeare Festival for schedules and tickets: grsf.org

A Comedy of Errors—Preview

In this early comedy Shakespeare plays with twins separated during a shipwreck. This of course is a trope that he will return to in Twelfth Night. But in A Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare uses two sets of identical twins. Here is a brief summary of the setup:

A merchant couple from Syracuse had twin boys, both named Antipholus. At the same time, a poor couple also had twin boys, and the merchant couple naturally purchased the 2nd set of twins to help ease the poverty of the poor couple as well as to provide servants for their own sons. These servant twins also, remarkably, have the same name Dromio.

The family—father, mother, twin one, twin two, servant twin one, and servant twin two—is in a shipwreck. The father , twin one, and servant twin one are saved together and return to Syracuse. Twin two and servant two are saved together and end up in Ephesus. The mother is separated from all of them.

The pair of twins were quite young—babes even—at the time of the shipwreck. The young Antipholus II and Dromio II know little if anything about their families. They probably don't even realize that they have twins somewhere in the world (but somehow, they did know their names and know which one is master and which one is servant).

Many years have passed and both Antipholus I and Antipholus II have established themselves as merchants. Antipholus I (from Syracuse, ) knows of his brother and sets out on a 7 year's voyage to try and find him. After years of searching, he and his servant Dromio I arrive in Ephesus, the home of Antipholus II and his servant Dromio II. Everywhere Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse go in Ephesus they are mistaken for their brothers, even by Antipholus of Ephesus's wife and servants. In fact, they look so much alike that the Antipholuses and Dromios mistake their own master or servant.

But once beyond this set of unlikely coincidences the audience is rewarded with a richly complex play. At every turn it forces the characters and the audience to question reality: when strangers greet you by name and friends, servants, spouses insist that you have done (or omitted to do) things that you have no memory of, sanity and reality become relative.

While the play is certainly funny—Shakespeare has gone to great lengths to set up a series of gags, and from the promo video for the play GRSF intends to play for laughs—a serious cloud hangs over the play as well. The series of mistaken identities will have very real consequences for characters including false imprisonment, the breakup of a marriage and even death. I expect that this weighted mirth will make this both a humorous and significant evening of theatre.

Visit the Great River Shakespeare Festival for schedules and tickets: grsf.org

Juggling Identities in a Repertory Company

The New York Times recently ran an article about New York's Shakespeare in the Park and the difficulties actors can have balancing two shows at the same time: "Shakespearean Juggling in the Park" In southeastern Minnesota, we tend to take these efforts for granted with repertory companies like the Great River Shakespeare Festival and Commonweal Theatre.

Scenes from Shakespeare in the Park (New York) productions of “The Winter’s Tale” and “The Merchant of Venice.” (Photographs by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times)

The Great River Shakespeare Festival gets under full sail tonight with a free concert by Nova Scotia Traditions at 6:30 and Comedy of Errors at 8:00.

Visit the Great River Shakespeare Festival for schedules and tickets: grsf.org

Commonweal’s Summer Season is in Full Swing

The Commonweal has established its summer tradition of two plays in repertory through the summer and into the early Fall. The Steve Martin play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, is already in full swing, and Enchanted April is already in previews.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein chance to meet in a French bar (Lapin Agile—Nimble Rabbit) in 1904. The meeting pre-dates much of their fame, and allows them, and us, to ponder what the new century will hold.

The play is directed by Zach Curtis and features Hal Cropp and Eric Bunge as Einstein and Picasso, respectively.

Einstein meets Picasso (Hal Cropp and Eric Bunge) in the Commonweal’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile. (Photo: Commonweal)

Picasso at the Lapin Agile plays in repertory with Enchanted April through September 25.

Watch the Commonweal’s “Context Video” for Picasso at the Lapin Agile on YouTube.

Enchanted April

Adapted by Matthew Barber from the 1922 novel by Elizabeth von Arnim, Enchanted April brings together 4 women who answer an ad to rent an Italian Castle. Director Hal Cropp explains that Enchanted April “is a story that’s captured my heart ever since I first read it. I think it offers a wonderful journey of renewal, not just for the characters but the audience as well.”

The play was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play in 2003. The four women are played by Commonweal veterans Stef Dickens, Adrienne Sweeney, Irene ErkenBrack, and Susan d’Autremont.

Enchanted April plays in repertory with Picasso at the Lapin Agile through October 23.
Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre

Jon Hassler’s 11th Season

The Jon Hassler Theater is already well into its 11th season of bringing professional theater to the small town of Plainview, Minnesota. This week is the final week for Old Man Brunner Country.

Old Man Brunner Country

Old Man Brunner Country is an adaptation of Minnesota Poet Leo Dangel’s poems that sketched the rural world surrounding "Old Man Brunner." The poems are narrated by a younger man who relates the tales of the curmudgingly daring Brunner. The poems are matter of fact, letting the exploits and unconventional bravado of the Old Man speak for itself.

I first came across Dangel’s poems in the mid 1980s as a young volunteer working for the regional magazine The North Country Anvil. Dangel’s book Old Man Brunner Country (Spoon River Poetry Press, 1987) had just come out, and the Anvil reprinted several of the poems. Dangel’s humorous, story-telling style was my first indication that poetry might have some allure for me.

This will be the third production of Old Man Brunner in Plainview, the first performance predates the Jon Hassler. Sally Childs adapted the work for the stage.

Old Man Brunner plays at the Jon Hassler through June 27.
Visit the Jon Hassler Theater online for schedules and tickets: www.jonhasslertheater.org
Phone the Jon Hassler Theater at 507-534-2900.

Flamenco celebration of Lorca at the Jon Hassler this Wednesday

The Moon’s Desire:
The passionate and imagistic poetry of Federico García Lorca

Presented by Deborah Elias Danza Española with actor Raúl Ramos, dancer Deborah Elias, singer La Conja, guitarist Michael Hauser and discussion with Plainview resident and artist Daniel Miller

The Jon Hassler Theater’s third Wednesday of the month writers round table will begin this Wednesday with a special exploration of the poet Federico Garcia Lorca through dramatic readings and flamenco dance, song, and guitar. The Moon’s Desire is a passionate and imagistic performance of Lorca’s poetry. The evening will be interspersed with discussion and delicious Spanish food.

Wednesday April 21, 2010 , 7:00 pm
Free to the Public

Visit the Jon Hassler Theater online for schedules and tickets: www.jonhasslertheater.org
Phone the Jon Hassler Theater at 507-534-2900.

Ibsen Festival Starts Tonight

Siobhan Bremer and Adrienne Sweeney in The Commonweal's production of John Gabriel Borkman. Photo and set design by Nayna Ramey

The Commonweal and Lanesboro begin their 13th annual celebration of Henrik Ibsen and all things Scandinavian tonight. The celebration includes food, art, music, and and the world premiere production of Jeffery Hatcher’s adaptation of John Gabriel Borkman.

Borkman finishes its week of preview performances tonight, and it opens Saturday night. Its title character has sequestered himself in the upstairs of his house after serving jail time for a money scam that he engineered while president of a bank. While the banking scandal is in the backdrop, the play is a love story of sorts that centers on the psychological tug of war between three emotionally damaged people: Borkman, his wife, and her twin sister.

The cast features Hal Cropp as Borkman and Adrienne Sweeney and Siobhan Bremer as the twin sisters. Stella Burdt, Sarah Hawkins, Tim Sailer, Laura Depta and David Henssey round out the cast.

Weekend Highlights:

Friday

7:30 pm Diane Jarvi. Scandinavian, folk, and world music
Presented by the Lanesboro Arts Center, Diane Jarvi is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and kantele player (Finnish folk harp.) Known in Finland as Minnesotan Satakieli—The Minnesota Nightingale—Jarvi is a versatile performer of Scandinavian, folk and world music. $12 – St. Mane Theatre

7:30 p.m. John Gabriel Borkman
Final preview performance
$15 – The Commonweal

Saturday

10:00 a.m. Professor Simon Williams. Coming to Terms With The Industrial Revolution.
Williams is Chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His talk will illuminate the themes of Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman in the aftermath of America’s own recent banking scandals.

1:00 p.m. Henry (Hank) Shea. Confronting the Temptations of Greed, Power and Money in Our Society.
Shea is a Fellow at the University of St. Thomas Law School’s Halloran Center for Ethical Leadership.

3:00 p.m. Panel discussion: Ibsen For a Contemporary Audience
former Guthrie Resident Director Risa Brainin (Director of this production of John Gabriel Borkman)
playwright Jeffrey Hatcher (author of this new adaptation of John Gabriel Borkman.)
Commonweal Theatre’s design team.

7:30 p.m. John Gabriel Borkman
Opening performance
$25 – The Commonweal

Many more events are planned. Download the Ibsen Festival Schedule of Events here.

The Commonweal has prepared this video to offer some perspective on John Gabriel Borkman. It offers thoughts on the play from playwritht Jeffery Hatcher, Director Risa Brainin, and Commonweal Artistic Director Hal Cropp:

For Ibesn Fest information go to ibsenfest.org.
Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre

Fountain City River Players present Harvey

Carew Halleck rehearses his role as Elwood P. Dowd in the in Fountain City River Players' Harvey.
Photo Rory O'Driscoll/Winona Daily News. Read the WDN story.

Harvey by Mary Chase
Directed by Judee Brone, Jasson Passow, and Jeff Hosch.

April 7 - 11
7:30 p.m.; 2:00 p.m. on Sunday

Fountain City Auditorium
42 North Main Street
Fountain City, Wisconsin

Tickets can be purchased at Waumandee State Bank or Kwik Trip in Fountain City, at Midtown Food or Hardt's Music in Winona, or a half hour before each performance at the door.
Call (608) 685-7481 to reserve tickets.

WSU presents Alice in Wonderland

Winona State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents the 43rd annual children’s theater performance of Alice in Wonderland, at 7 p.m. Friday, April 9 and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10, on the Performing Arts Center Main Stage.

Directed by Vivian Fusillo, Alice in Wonderland is a classic tale of a teenage girl who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world full of unique creatures. This performance is perfect for young audiences. Matinee performances of the show are April 8, 9, 12 and 13 for local elementary schools.

For tickets, visit WSU at www.wsuartstickets.com or call the WSU box office at 507-457-5235 Monday-Friday, noon-4 p.m. On performance dates, the box office opens one hour before each show.

Fusillo Receives Minnesota Lifetime Achievement Award

Vivian Fusillo

From the WSU Office of University Communications December, 2009

Vivian Fusillo, professor of theatre and dance and longtime director of the Winona State University Children’s Theatre, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Arts in Minnesota from the Communication and Theatre Association of Minnesota.

Fusillo is in her fourth decade of teaching at WSU, where she has directed more than 75 performances covering the spectrum of styles and subjects.

Each year, Fusillo produces a show for her Children’s Theatre. Since 1969, more than 160,000 children have enjoyed original and classic productions on the WSU campus.

Commonweal Apprentice Company Production Opens Thursday

Death and the Ploughman
by Johannes Von Sazz,

The 2009-2010 apprentice class at the Commonweal will present its capstone project, Death and the Ploughman this month. The members of the apprentice class have been involved with all aspects of the Commonweal's 2009 season, and their faces will be familiar to Commonweal patrons. The apprentice production, in its second year, marks not only the opening of the theater season in Lansboro, but also a stimulating artistic exploration very worthy of the Commonweal stage.

Death and the Ploughman is an adaptation of a 15th century German story about a farmer who loses his young wife and starts to ask some hard questions about Life—with Death showing up to answer them.

Death and the Ploughman runs for two weeks from March 18 to March 28.
Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre

GRSF Season 7 Preview Event, March 21

The directors and designers of the Great River Shakespeare Festival will share their plans for the 2010 season at 4:00 on March 21 at Signatures restaurant in Winona. Along with presentations by the artistic and production staff, the event will have "savories & sweets, cash bar, live music, and conversation." There is a $5 suggested donation for the event.

The 2010 GRSF season will include Shakespeare’s Othello and Comdey of Errors, plus Jonathan Gillard Daly’s The Daly News.

Visit the Great River Shakespeare Festival for schedules and tickets: grsf.org

Commonweal’s Ibsen Fest April 16 - 18

The Commonweal is getting set for its 13th annual Ibsen Festival, a celebration of Scandinavian art and culture. At the heart of the celebration will be the production of the Ibsen play, John Gabriel Borkman, a world premiere production of Jeffery Hatcher’s adaptation. John Gabriel Borkman runs April 15 - June 11 with previews April 9, 10, and 11.

The Ibsen Festival is a weekend of food, music, art, lectures, and more. Download a printable schedule here: Ibsen Fest Schedule.

For Ibesn Fest information go to ibsenfest.org.
Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre