As Above, So Below

Absolutely Breathtaking.

It is so beautiful when a person decides to be vulnerable and share their soul with others in a big way and has the creative outlet to do so. In As Above, So Below, we get a heartfelt, shocking, visceral, and brilliant look into the life of another in such a way where it seems akin to diary entries in its intimacy. I really enjoyed this show. I laughed, I cried. I related, and where I could not relate I empathized. 5 Kitties. Plus 5 more.

Stunning

He spoke straight to my soul and i felt profound affection towards him

Amazing, relatable but still surprising

For the first few minutes of the show, I had this kind of manic out-of-body experience where I was like “wait, was this written for me? Was this written BY me?” It was just so deeply relatable. As the show went on, of course, the story became totally Michael’s, and I could’ve watched him onstage for another hour. His use of physicality to tell his story added SO much — something that in another performer could look like saccharine slam-poetry nonsense looks so natural and believable on Michael. I loved the simplicity and light touch with the use of props, music, etc. Even though the show is deeply sad, it was weirdly beautiful to get to cry with Michael Rogers.

Heartfelt, Vulnerable, Honest

I usually avoid more "serious" work but the perfomer was engaging and the show is still funny at times.

Simply stunning

The human heart: so tender and yet so resilient. Rogers crafts and delivers an incredibly moving story with virtuosic and fearless skill. I won't be forgetting this tale any time soon.

Moving Story With a Compelling Performance

As Above, So Below blends emotional vulnerability with captivating storytelling. Stories can help us heal, help show us that we're not alone even when we feel we are, and help us see that others have ultimately survived. Many of us are afraid to be vulnerable because we're afraid of judgment. But we often see pieces of ourselves in that same vulnerability, and we connect with it. Michael Rogers takes us behind the curtain and makes us laugh, breaks our hearts, and allows us to see ourselves in his struggles. Such a charismatic performance - I recommend you see this show!

Left me speechless

What can I say about this show that hasn't already been said. Michael allows himself to be truly vulnerable and shares his story while weaving it into beautiful poetry and storytelling. This is a shining example of a one person show and is fully deserving of all of the praise it's getting. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Michael.

Exquisite Acting

Michael takes his time with this piece and pours his whole self into it. His opening song is like a balm to the soul. The simple staging is incredibly effective, and the lighting adds so much depth. A truly beautiful piece.

Diving Deep into Dark Waters

Michael Rogers was brilliant in performing this personal story filled with drama and angst. The journey of a middle child trying to survive a recent break up and the fall out of his youth kept me engaged from the beginning to end and every single breath between. Nothing will prepare you for the jarring ending.

Honest, moving, and just the right amount of wit

This beautiful show explores humanity as only Michael Rogers can. He brings his vulnerability and wit to this work with exquisite skill. It’s genuinely funny and absolutely moving. I was so impressed! Go see this show, my friends!!!

My favorite

My favorite

Strong One Person Performance

We got a strong monologue centered on relationships with family and self. He held the audience and displayed a range of emotions often with great intensity.

Daringly Genuine

It would be no surprise that a show solely written, produced, and starring Minnesota Fringe veteran Michael Rogers, would be nothing but a delight. However this show, navigates away from the silly and goofy of the likes of My Town or The Life Robotic (we’ll mostly, but I’ll leave the best silly goof goof of this show for you to see in person), this show hits much more close to home. An introspective piece shining a light on experiences that many of us don’t like to talk about, it was incredibly impactful especially if you are an artist, a Minnesotan, or someone who’s dealt with complicated family dynamics and challenges with mental health. The beats were flawless, and I’ve never been more impressed or captivated by a solo performance. Bravo.

Hauntingly Beautiful

As Above, So Below begins with Micheal Rogers singing the solitary Beach Boys song “In My Room.” (“There's a world where I can go and tell my secrets to/In my room”) The room in question is the Barbara Barker Center and although it typically hosts brightly-light dance performances, the darkness within the space is used to stunning effect. This is an intensely personal monologue told with passion and professionalism (in nearly a full hour of speaking I think only a single word was flubbed). The Monday slot I saw coincided with a heavy rainstorm, which made it even more arresting.

Refreshingly Raw

Michael was so vulnerable and honest with this show, I was absolutely blown away. This show will be on my mind for a long time. Thank you Michael for bearing your soul to the audience. Thank you for being a brave captain guiding us to a meaningful healing process, thank you.

Powerful and well-executed

I was captivated the entire time and fully immersed in Michael’s storytelling. What a privilege it was to see such vulnerable and thoughtful work. With incredible timing (both to comedic and devastating effect), he had the audience in a trance. A well deserved standing ovation from much of the crowd followed. Michael is a tremendous artist and deserves any and all accolades that come his way.

Picture Perfect

I've had the privilege of seeing Michael do storytelling before and regardless of the topic he brings such a deep, sophisticated touch to his style. This show took me absolutely by surprise, however. This performance was on such a different level that I felt like the guy in the chair in the old Maxell audio tape ads. It was a polished, high-quality performance buttressed by a nuanced, refined script. Not everyone has the moxie to pull of something of this caliber and quality at Fringe, but I'm definitely going to watch for everything Michael does from here on out, because... DAMN.

Stunning

A superbly crafted and beautifully performed solo show--it starts strong and keeps building to an unexpected ending. Throughout this deeply moving show there's soulful storytelling, well-timed humor and an abundance of heart.

Love

Raw, deeply personal, and touching. Witnessed a master at their craft work. I'd like to give more kittens please.

Extremely Well Written

This was a very well written show with some truly gorgeous choices, smart use of props and spacing, and a handful of a moments showcasing Michael Rogers’ physical abilities… but, and perhaps this is unfair of me given how challenging this must be to do night after night… for a show about confronting your own history and demons, and about learning to be honest, the show felt deeply performative and presentational to the point that it took me out multiple times. There was nothing WRONG, but I was craving a presentation that felt more lived-in and confessional, not like I was watching an hour-long monologue (which, admittedly, I was).

stunning

There were a lot of really smart choices made here and the detail and beautiful specificity in this show are just....*chefs kiss*. Made all the more impressive to know that he got in relatively last minute. The schtick in the tub - his "Tony Stark" - that just was so precise and clean. It could easily have been a throw away but it infused a static moment with energy and movement even while the lights focused and he sat in one place. That detail echoes throughout the piece. The vulnerability of the text, the performance was clean, nuanced. Shows about the worst moments in your life are not uncommon at fringe, I've sat through some good ones and some bad ones over the years, and this one falls in the excellent category.