Ibsen Fest is here

Large crowds are in Lanesboro today for Ibsen Fest 2013.

The role of women in Ibsen is today's theme. Great lecture this morning by Astrid Saether. The Tarantella on tap after lunch.

There are two displays in the lobby featuring women's costumes and jewelry (Janis Martin, Liz Bucheit). Both are cool. One features large photos of Commonweal actors adorned with Liz's silver work. Photos by Ethan of the apprentice company. Visit the Commonweal for a schedule

Miss Julie Opens Tonight

Katie Berger, Paul Steffens, and Ana Hagedorn in Miss Julie

Miss Julie

by August Strindberg
translated/adapted by Ethan Bjelland
Commonweal Apprentice Company

The commonweal apprentice acting company opens its capstone project, the culmination of a busy year of stage and behind-the-scenes work. The play is tranlated by apprentice company member Ethan Bjelland who played the sometimes clueless college student in last season's Drawer Boy. Katie Berger, Paul Steffens, and Ana Hagedorn play Kristine, Jean, and Julie in the Strindberg classic.

Miss Julie runs March 21 - 30, with a special production during Ibsen fest.

Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre (www.commonwealtheatre.org)

Strindberg and Ibsen mix it up at the Commonweal

Commonweal’s traveling production of A Doll’s House returns to Lanesboro to find that Strindberg has commandeered it’s home stage. In late-(19^th)-Century Europe, Strindberg and Ibsen were dramatic foes; it would be an understatement to say the men didn’t like each other.

Trying to recapture the ideological battle between the two giants, Commonweal is not only allowing its apprentice company to stage Strindberg on Ibsen’s turf, it has even invited Strindberg to appear at it’s annual festival celebrating Ibsen in mid-april.

If you aren’t feeling the tension yet, The Commonweal offers this 21^st Century add campaign for the battle. Can’t you feel the love?

Visit the Commonweal for schedules and tickets and information: Commonweal Theatre (www.commonwealtheatre.org)

Homegrown Theater: Winona comes alive

My article on Winona playwrights appeared in Minnesota Playlist. Read it in the Greater Minnesota section of the magazine:

Homegrown Theater: Winona Comes Alive

Second Annual "Original Shorts" Staged Readings, May 3-5, 2013

Theatre du Mississippi will complete their second annual playwriting competition with staged readings of the four wining plays on May 3, 4, and 5. Last year’s readings displayed four compelling short plays; I find myself thinking of a couple of them frequently, nearly a year after seeing them. I expect that this year’s production will be just as intriguing.

This year’s contest restricted entries to residents in the tri-state area of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Writers from the three states submitted 60 scripts.

The four winners will be featured in the staged readings.

Winners

• “In Memory of a Russian Playwright”
  Larry Greenstein, Minneapolis, Minn.
• “Heretics”
  Richard Zinober, Moorhead, Minn.*
• “Condemned”
  Greg Freier, Norwalk, Iowa
• 
  
• “Siren” Daryl Lanz, Winona, Minn.

Receiving Honorable Mention are the following:

• “Change of Plans”
  Frances Edstrom, Winona
• “Shadows”
  Greg Freier, Norwalk, Iowa
• “Monkey Play”
  Rand Higbee,
• “Sister Thimble”
  Levi K. Smith
• “Betwixt”
  Tom Deiker

Other scripts reaching the final round of competition are:

• “Hot Potato”
  Emilio DeGrazia, Winona
• “The Meeting”
  Greg Freier
• “Cold Water Knocking”
  Kevin Drzakowski
• “Birds of Prey”
  Jacob Wrich
• “Osama High”
  Greg Abbott
• “End Around Sideways”
  Greg Freier

*“Heretics” was written with support of an individual artist grant from the Lake Region Arts Council in Fergus Falls.

For more information, visit www.theatredumississippi.org.

Ibsen Fest at the Commonweal

It’s getting to be that time of the year again. This Newsletter just came from the Commonweal:

News & Notes from Commonweal Theatre Company

March 7, 2013 Special Edition  The Commonweal Theatre in historic Lanesboro, MN is proud to announce the 16th Annual Ibsen Festival April 12-14, 2013  a A weekend of events celebrating Scandinavian theatre, visual arts, music, dance and food! Featuring a world premiere adaptation of A Doll's House!     This once-in-a-lifetime festival line up features international guests from India and Norway to share global  perspectives on the legacy of Nora...Ibsen's greatest creation. Highlights of the festival include speakers Astrid Sæther of the Centre for Ibsen Studies in Oslo; Amal Allana of the National School of Drama in Delhi, India; and Nissar Allana of the Delhi Ibsen Festival.  Other events will focus on gender and femininity in Ibsen's work, including a costume retrospective and jewelry show, sculpture exhibit at the Lanesboro Art Center, tarantella demonstration and videos celebrating 100 years since women's suffrage in Norway and a variety of perspectives on Nora and A Doll's House. PLUS... An encore performance of Miss Julie by August Strindberg!    Mark your calendar and join us April 12-14 for the only annual Ibsen Festival in the United States! Hope to see you there. For more information and a detailed schedule of events go to www.ibsenfest.org  Or call Adrienne Sweeney, Ibsen Festival Coordinator, at (507) 467-2905, ext. 208. The Ibsen festival is made possible with the generous support of The American-Scandinavian Foundation, Sons of Norway, SEMAC, local businesses and We appreciate your help spreading the word out about this exciting academic, cultural and artistic weekend!  If you know someone who may be interested in the Ibsen Festival, please forward this email. *If you can't make the festival, A Doll's House runs through June 14.   208 Parkway Ave N, Lanesboro MN 55949 800-657-7025

Commonweal Theatre Company | Lanesboro Minnesota | (800) 657-7025 | (507) 467-2525 tickets@commonwealtheatre.org

Angels in the Trees: Rockwell Kent in Winona

written by Lynn Nankivil, directed by Judy Myers
February 8-10, historic Masonic Theatre, Winona

Continuing the new tradition of producing locally penned plays, Theatre du Mississippi presents Lynn Nankivil’s Angels in the Trees: Rockwell Kent in Winona. The play chronicles noted painter, illustrator, and political activist Rockwell Kent’s year in Winona in the early part of the 20th century. The play also coincides with a citywide celebration of Kent’s work.

Nankivil tells the story of Kent’s eventual year in Winona, framed through the memories of a German immigrant couple, Alex and Martha Geckler. While not following a traditional plot line, the selected memories draw a complex character and make for compelling theater. It offers a thoughtful insight into the bravado that would drive Kent’s later success as well as striking flaws that make can’t a deliciously interesting character.

The play is bolstered by strong cast, particularly David Coral, who has appeared locally with both The Commonweal Theater and the Great River Shakespeare Festival, and Karen Dulak as Alex and Martha Geckler. Local coffee mogul Carew Halleck does a fine job as the confident and reckless Rockwell Kent.

Pianist Nancy Edstrom leads a talented, four-piece orchestra that helps place the historical era and deepen the overall texture of the play.

The play opens Friday, February 8.

For tickets BrownPaperTickets.com
For schedules, visit www.theatredumississippi.org.