Sub-Total
2026 Audience Reviews
Member Reviews
The following reviews were submitted by Fringe Member: Wesley Volkenant
Company: Big Blue Theatre
Show: A Dark Gotham Knight's Dream
Venue: Theatre in the Round
What, Nobody Invites Lord and Lady Fogg?
Seeing this show on Preview night, it was Austin Finkelson's "The Penguin" that left me in hysterics, and assured that we were seeing it this Fringe. I expected a silly comedy, and that's what we got! But, it was a well-written parody that incorporated a great number of characters, gave time for each to emulate their TV counterparts, and kept us entertained throughout. I enjoyed throwing my 'fun balls' and despite my apprehensions that they would distract, they were an amusing way for us all to "break down the fourth wall."
Company: Melancholics Anonymous
Show: Watership Down
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Easily One of the Best of 2026 Fringe!
I loved the written adaptation of the 1972 book, as the ensemble cast turned it in an engrossing, musically-delightful, and ultimately heroic story of survival! Kudos especially to Meredith Enerson's "Hazel" and Aerin O'Malley's "Fiver."
Company: Twin Cities Trapeze
Show: Tapeze - a la seconde
Venue: The Southern Theater
A Delight and Rousing Good Time!
If you're looking for a final show of this year's Fringe on Sunday night, don't miss this terrific program, combining the artistry of a school of tap dancing, and the beauty if those from a school for trapeze. The dancing presentations were terrific, with an impressive range of ages, from a younger child, through teens, to adults, and even seniors. The construction of a trapeze apparatus, surrounded by dancers was fascinating and gorgeous. And then to watch the intricacies performed above ground off a trapeze was just amazing at times. Wow!
Company: Local 574
Show: HELL ON WHEELS: The Winter Strike of 1934
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
As a Union Activist, This Show Touched the Heart
I knew the SUMMER of '34 Trucking Strike history in Minneapolis, but this impetus for those strikes, in the winter of '34, blew me away. So, I'd like to start by thanking Theo Ebarb for his script, and I'm trying to think of how the Minneapolis Regional Retiree Council or the State AFL-CIO Retiree Council can connect with Local 574 to bring the show back to present to these union retiree groups, maybe even as a fundraising mechanism. The ensemble cast was excellent. The Burkitt family should be proud of Belinda's portrayal, but where would show be without the costuming and tight direction? In the two lead female roles, Samantha and Talia were excellent, but Bjorn, Moses and Nick were very good in their key roles, as well. Finally, I think this was one of the smartest set designs at Fringe this year - congratulations, Margaret Lindahl.
Company: an alleged Theatre Company
Show: FAST Death of a Salesman
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Enjoyed the Show, But Fell Just a Bit Short
I loved this ensemble cast, though Jeremy Motz as Dr. Didier stood out for his work and command of the room. Great premise, but the pacing wasn't quite there, so the "too fast" section took too long, for example. One show left - I'd still recommend this as a worthy choice.
Company: Dave Dvorak
Show: Just One Life
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
The Truth CAN Win You the Girl
This is one terrific show! I'm so glad I rearranged shows for Wednesday night to see this, after seeing 3 minutes of it on Preview Wednesday! We get two shows in one, plus a wonderful band of my golden years, who added that something extra. The stagecraft was spot-on, especially with the murals at the far end of the room. I fell in love with the two young leads in the lovely musical romance - Brooklyn Kellenberger and Theo Janke-Furman. I want to see them on stage again -maybe at Lyric Arts or the Lakeshore Players - hint, hint! The other show within a show focused on the "evil empires" of the private health insurance industry - and don't forget the Medicare Advantage plans they offer in place of Medicare itself! The two characters who represented the greedy, heartless, profit-driven executives were played by Philip Simondet and Richard Di Vita. I have to give Mr. Simondet my "Bravest Fringe Actor" award for his musical strip tease number down to his skivvies - and complete with a stripper's tassles affixed to his nipples! And it was funny and entertaining!
Company: The Winding Sheet Outfit
Show: A Confluence of Magical Arseholes
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
A Different Brand of Intelligent Writing & Laughs
This was a much different Winding Sheet production from Amber. Some solid on-the-nose work from her actors, a delightful band that was integral to the action, yet with perhaps more misses than in previous shows - who can ever forget Blood Nocturne? Yet, two shows later on a Wednesday evening, and I could not come up with this title in chit-chat with new seatmates....
Company: Lady Z Productions
Show: Underserved: Recipes for Resilience
Venue: Rarig Nolte Xperimental Theatre
We Called This a "Dump Cake" - Full of Everything
I really recommend dropping - or rewriting - the first 10-12 minutes, as they were uncomfortably flat - the cake wouldn't rise. But, then as "Blanche," Maureen gets into stories, brief thoughts, recreations of TV scenes.... These were better, but presented to us like an unrehearsed stream of consciousness, with the material going in every direction all at once, there were at best small snippets to enjoy or ponder over - but not enough to bring this show off. Sorry.
Company: Special When Lit
Show: Bury The Leads
Venue: Mixed Blood
Tuesday's Audience Improv Ideas Letdown
Sam and Nissa are amazing, and the bones of this long improv - two long-time character actor friends and support persons land a show that changes their sexual dynamics and puts a lot of chemistry in their relationship - gave them opportunities to build up that story in the context of audition tapes, auditions, Fringing, and performing hitherto unknown sex acts - "the engineer"? - for their upcoming show. There were made funny, solidly-good lines and bits. There were some that didn't quite get there. I loved them breaking down "the wall" and joining us - in character - in the audience. Nissa's girl who has a thing for Sam's "Clyde" but is affixed to her support pig cap, was so endearing. And Sam's bored audition director was so memorable. I just wish the draw of improv suggestions had been a higher quality for this evening.
Company: Jason Schommer
Show: 1985: Relative Chaos!
Venue: Strike Theater
Touching, Funny, Intrspective -Very Schommer-esque
Quite the family story in the hands of an experienced, talented comedian and storyteller. A fellow northern suburbs kid, I'm nearly 20 years older than Jason, but I could relate to his realization that he was an "orphan"before the age of 40, and that similarly, I've been dealing the past five years with having lived to an older age than either of my parents. However, I grew up in a "Cleaver" type family of the '60s, a true Baby Boomer, in contrast to what Jason's latchkey childhood of the '70s and '80s faced. So, as poignant as much of the last 15 minutes were, it was the humor and the laughs in the first two-thirds of the show that won the day for me.
Company: TROMPE L'OEIL
Show: Foshay! You Know The Tower - Now Hear The Story
Venue: Rarig Stoll Thrust Theatre
Hit Show of this Fringe Festival!
The Bowens have put together an excellent adaptation of their own full-length musical tribute to Minnesota entrepreneur of "the Tower" fame, Wilbur Foshay! Landon Hudson leads a strong and appealing cast of five (I look forward to seeing him in 12 Angry Men at Lyric Arts this next season.). The music - and its on-stage accompaniment - is very creative, and generally, well-sung. The story makes one want to read more about Foshay and his perhaps, wrongful conviction. Over a dozen shows in, this has been the best Fringe show yet, this summer!
Company: New Endeavors
Show: Muskie
Venue: Mixed Blood
Cast /Crew Did Garrison MN Fishing Opener Proud!
Garrison - home of the giant walleye and their fame as the smallest city in the US to have a working McDonald's - should vote to make "Muskie" their official town play. It is a DELIGHTFUL and FUNNY parody of "Jaws", but it the HEART that went into this show is so apparent. First, a big round of applause to the writing and production work that went into this - including, the simulated "water" and the puppetry of the gorgeous and frightening giant muskie. Several cast kudos - my favorite character was young Alex, played by Maija Dahlberg from Duluth, who applied the best lessons of being a Girl Scout Troop leader to this role; a special favorite for those of us who crush on various local newscasters was, of course, Michelle Schwantes' news reporter (and she also operated the fish puppet's tale; best character impression in the parody was Matt Saxe's Owen, the boat captain tasked with taking the muskie down; and the surprisingly most appealing and filled with fortitude character - Laura - played by Alyssa Fraser!
Company: Snikt! Bamf! Thwip!
Show: Casa Bde-Maka-Ska
Venue: Theatre in the Round
Maybe They Should Rethink that Throuple Idea
This has been one of my best 2026 Fringe experiences - it was a great blend of Casablanca and current America/Minneapolis political wars experiences. Very cleverly-written and generally well-acted with heart. My shout-outs tonight go to Samuel Poppen as Rick, Bridget Foy as Ilsa and Gregory Parks as Sam.
Company: Joking Apart Theater
Show: I'm Afraid, I Have To Leave
Venue: Mixed Blood
Why Did I Expect a Comedy About 'Long Goodbyes?'
Next time, I should read between the show description's lines better, and look at the promo card before the show! I was expecting a subtle comedic take on the difficulty of saying goodbye - whether visiting family, talking on the phone, or trying to politely end a conservation with the insect-removal people at my door. But, despite many comedic lines and performances over the first 20 minutes, I should have realized the problem here, wasn't that she couldn't extract herself,m it was that they wouldn't let her leave. The more it became Lovecraftian, the harder it was for me ton embrace. All that said, kudos to the three-person cast themselves. Edwin Strout, thank you for your hard work; thank you to Kathleen Winters who reminded me of a Mom or two through the years; and a big thank you to Kira Pontiff for her excellence in this role.
Company: David Alan Berger
Show: A Woman's Place is in the House
Venue: Rarig Kilburn Theatre
Great Show!
I can't top James Knight-Zappa's review of this show - he hits all the points I might have made. As an active League of Women Voters' member and officer and dues-paying member of the ACLU, thank you for the shout-outs to both organizations. From the 8/8 show, thank you to Ann Treacy of ERAMN and State Representatives Cheryl Youakim and Kari Rehrauer for being the real, modern voices at this show's ERA rally at the Capitol. Kari, the 35B rep from Coon Rapids and Andover, is a friend who I've supported through several election cycles. What a pleasure to see her participate (along with 9 of her fellow State House members, who happen to also be women!
Company: Budding Heads
Show: Scab for Hire
Venue: The Southern Theater
There's a Great Idea and a Good Production Hidden
This show is at least three shows in one - and none of them hit a home run except the delightful finishing silent movie bit. The first part, inspired by old silent movies to depict the experience of the titular scab was strong, even if the whole marsupial is your friend idea was weird. But instead of 50 minutes of silent pantomime, the 1930s era was "ruined" by a section with voice-overs and the downright harshness of the employer and the scab's reaction, too. The third, modern section with a pair of self-interested podcasters discussing the scab was rather ugly and showed the 2020 Americans for the shallow, unlearned adults that so many today are. Overall it sounded more interesting than it executed. I will say that the podcasters' choice to discuss a moment of history that was too open to widely-varying speculations, due to a total lack of information is very mindful of those who want to tell us very-biased and un-nuanced historical interpretations all the while lacking the full story of what happened 'back then'. Think of the final hours at the Alamo, or the final day of Amelia Earhart's flight around the world. Or, perhaps what it actually was that the Congress and Senate meant with the 14th Amendment.
Company: Maximum Verbosity
Show: A Revolution Highly Favorable
Venue: Strike Theater
When Did U Last Sit Thru a 55 Min History Lecture?
Phillip Andrew Bennett Low's one-man, two podium performance is the rare Fringe show that one would be tempted to attend every night, to hear the story of the American founding read to us in part each time, through the real letters and journals, official papers and news accounts of the day. This first show which I attended, was the pre-Revolutionary underpinnings of a brewing rebellion - from the writings of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, to the infamous Stamp Act of the 1760s, and through Boston's tragically-violent Boston Massacre and rebellious Boston Tea Party. There are always two sides to both conflicts - to hear them virtually side-by-side is a welcome tool and device for our understanding and appreciation for what our forebears confronted. I strongly encourage you to listen to the Revolutionary War itself, on Sun Aug 9th and Monday Aug 10 at 7PM at the Strike Theater!
Company: Jeffries & Brown
Show: Braingystics: Seize the Mind!
Venue: Open Eye Theatre
55 Minutes of Wonderful BS
Jeffries and Brown grabbed their audience by the tails in the first two minutes of this wild and crazy - and hysterical - Fringe show dressed up in three, make that four, separate infomercials - for Braingystics, of course, for the miracle shams, for "The Process" and finally for teaching us about the evolution of the ape! It was 40% hysterical laughter, 35% downright fun and 10% crazy nonsense in a 55-minute ride that barely ever slowed down and took a breath!
Company: The World Crime League
Show: M
Venue: Barbara Barker Center for Dance
Very Well Produced and Stage-Managed!
Fritz Lang's "M" is a milestone film, with a fairly gripping, yet simple murder mystery about it, not unlike some of the early English Hitchcock thrillers. This production makes me interested in the World Crime League and their future work. The shadow play effects in this adaptation were well thought-through, simple - but effective, and ably-supported by the cast. Kudos to the work of Nina Broberg, Timothy Snyder and Mahmoud Hakima, as not only did they have key roles, but they each had critical elements that pulled the show together - Snyder's whistling, Broberg's pragmatic underworld leader, and Hakima's key dual roles as the police inspector and the blind beggar.
Company: Michael Shaeffer
Show: Glengarry Glen Elvis
Venue: Theatre in the Round
Don't Step on His Blue Suede Shoes!
This is what Fringe is all about! Elvis songs, an Elvis impressionist, workplace insanity, crime and retribution! Kudos to Michael Shaeffer and his show! His Elvis and Elvis voice were spot on, Friday night! As "Sebastian" he was very ably supported by Andrew Artley as "Ricky Romas." Paul Gleason has a terrific spot as the "man from downtown." His mid-show scene nearly stole the show, with his affectations of "Jerry Lundegaard" by William H. Macy from "Fargo" or Jack Lemmon's "John Gustafson" in "Grumpy Old Men." Jo Kalla was the gluev to bind it all together - just like her office manager character does. Sheaffer starts with "Blue Suede Shoes" and goes out on "Jailhouse Rock" - smashingly good choices! And the playbill and thank you cards were both great ideas!
Company: Moonlight Muses LLC
Show: In The Moonlight
Venue: Center for Performing Arts
Innovative Mix of Art Forms
First, be aware this show runs about 90 minutes, not the 60 that Fringe shows slot into - so you may need to leave after Act 1 or just not schedule immediately after. Kudos to Ian Bell for his writing and scoring of this show. Gabriella as Scarlet is very good - UW Madison is lucky to be getting her in their program the next four years! I was also struck by the young performer who was Matthew's Vegas boss - I missed the character's name, but I assume it was either Sammi as Vic or Marine as Lead Singer. Who will die and who will your performance decide is the killer? It's a good hook for a show that showcases young, talented performers, both in song and dance!