Tompkins Squares

Reviews

Video Trailer

Cast and Crew

Amanda Weis

[DIRECTOR/PRODUCER]

Bio

Amanda Weis is a Twin Cities based stage director, mezzo soprano, private voice instructor, and music director. She has performed, stage directed, or music directed with such companies as the History Theatre, Minneapolis Musical Theatre, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Opera Reading Project, Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company, Journey North Opera, Duluth Playhouse, Eden Prairie Players, Masquers Theatre, The Phipps, and Paul Bunyan Playhouse, among others. Ms. Weis has been a teaching artist at the Guthrie, the Children's Theatre Company, and Lundstrom Performing Arts. Amanda co-produced and stage directed the full length musical Foshay! A Musical, also by Kevin and Lynn Bowen, which premiered at Open Window Theatre in 2023. Upcoming: Musical Director for Lizzie at Open Eye Theatre, Musical Director for Little Shop of Horrors and Legally Blonde both at Duluth Playhouse. www.weisamanda.com

Jacob Hellman

[ACTOR/DRAMATURG] - Jacob

Bio

Jacob Hellman (Jacob) is a dramaturg, script translator, theatre scholar, performer, and college professor. This is his second time performing in the Minnesota Fringe, after portraying the Butterfly Catcher in 2023's Golden Lanyard-winning Baldwin's Last Fire. Recent roles include the Postmaster in Rosetown Playhouse's The Government Inspector and an ensemble member in Teatro del Pueblo's Romeo and Juliet: Love in a Time of Hate. Originally from Baltimore, he holds a Ph. D. in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies from UW-Madison. He would like to dedicate his performance to Aliana Duran, a loyal audience member and supportive friend.

Heidi Mintz

[ACTOR] - Pasha

Bio

Heidi Mintz is a Minnesota-based actress, currently pursuing her B.F.A. in Theater with an acting emphasis through the University of Minnesota Duluth. This is her first time performing in the Fringe Festival, and she is extremely excited to be a part of it this year. Most recently, she could be seen in UMD’s productions of Cabaret (Rosie, U/S Fraulein Schneider, Fight Captain), The Tempest (Caliban), and is excited to play Mrs. Lynde in their upcoming production of Anne of Green Gables this coming school year. Heidi is also a proud 2024 Ordway GreenRoom Fellow. She is thrilled to be alongside such talented artists and sharing a story she finds she can identify with, as a Jewish actress. She would like to thank those in the audience for coming to witness theater and art, and also all the people who have helped her get to where she is today and made it possible for her to perform. She hopes you enjoy the show! heidimintz.com

Jim Ahrens

[ACTOR/DIALECT COACH] - Andrick

Bio

Jim Ahrens has worked as an actor, singer, and coach in the Twin Cities for more years than he cares to remember. He has appeared with many local and regional companies, including Children’s Theatre, Skylark Opera, Jungle Theatre, and many others. He has coached dialects for numerous productions and performers. As a singer, Jim has performed as a soloist with The Minnesota Orchestra, the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, and The Des Moines Symphony. He is the tenor soloist at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Downtown Minneapolis.

M. Scott Taulman

[ACTOR] - Vikenti

Bio

M. Scott is a Twin-Cities based Actor/ Massage Therapist/Stay-At-Home Dad with a passion for good documentaries and ice-cream. Scott has tread the stages of such local theater companies as Girl Friday Productions, The Old Log, Flying Pig Theatre, The Minnesota Shakespeare Project, Cerulean Productions, The Paul Bunyan Playhouse and The Minnesota Jewish Theater. Some of Scott’s out of state credits include performing at American Players Theater, The Madison Rep, The Festival Theater of Oxford Mississippi, The Chamber Theater of Milwaukee, Saint Croix Festival Theater.

Lauren Volkart

[STAGE MANAGER]

Bio

Lauren Volkart (Stage Manager) is excited to be stage managing her second show for MN Fringe. A few recent SM/ASM credits include 9 to 5 the Musical and Tuck Everlasting at the Phipps, The Seagull and The Book Club Play at Theatre in the Round, and Foshay! A New Musical (also by the Bowens), Lilies of the Field, and Our Town at Open Window Theatre.

Kevin Bowen

[WRITER/PRODUCER]

Bio

Is a playwright and songwriter living in Eagan, Minnesota. He also works as a professional graphic designer at Bowen Design (www.kevinbowendesign.com), which he started and has operated since 1995. He is a member of the Playwright’s Center and the New Musical Theatre Exchange. His plays and musicals have been produced and staged throughout Minnesota. This is his tenth original Minnesota Fringe Festival play. Previous Fringe Festival plays included: "Gasthaus" in 2024, co-written with Lynn Bowen, "The Dwelling Place" in 2019, co-written with Lynn Bowen,"Bits & Bobs: An Evening of Short Plays" in 2018, “Playwrights on a Train” in 2017, co-written with Jim Lundy, “The Non-Producers” in 2016, “The Oracle” in 2015, co-written with Lynn Bowen & Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha, “Flushing New York” in 2014, co-written with Lynn Bowen,”The Forger’s Apprentice” in 2013, co-written with Mark Forgy, and “The Red Tureen” (musical) in 2009, a Pioneer Press “Must See” show, co-written with Jim Lundy. Including other non-Fringe productions, this marks his thirteenth stage production in sixteen years. Kevin is thrilled to be part of this amazing team: Director Amanda Weis, Stage Manager Lauren Volkart, our talented Cast: Jacob Hellman, Jim Ahrens, Heidi Mintz, M. Scott Taulman, our Production Crew: Matthew Wilhelm, Tim Colby and Tyler Haugen as well as the wonderful folks at The Minnesota Fringe Festival. Special thanks to Megan Bones, David Wexler, Earl Levin & Jacob Levin. None of this would be possible without the boundless support of his wonderful wife Lynn and their two children, Erinn and Christopher. For more information about any of these completed plays or the new works, please email Kevin at: tctheater@gmail.com.

Lynn Bowen

[WRITER/PRODUCER]

Bio

(Writer/Producer) This is Lynn's sixth collaboration with her playwright husband, Kevin. Their productions showcase a variety of historical backdrops and focus on the intricate relationships of family and friends. Lynn would like to thank the wonderful cast and crew for their hard work and dedication in bringing this most recent endeavor to life. She would also like to thank her family and friends for their continued support. And of course, a depth of gratitude for her intrepid, multi-talented partner, Kevin.

Tim Colby

[SET DESIGN/RADIO SPOTS]

Bio

The many-hatted fellow! Tim is a local artist, stage actor, set builder and designer. As all around theater enthusiast, Tim enjoys all aspects of what it takes to stage a show. In the Spring of 2013 Tim's creativity and passion for the arts shone through in the design and building of the set for The King Of The Kosher Grocers at the JCC. He has portrayed roles such as Renfield in Dracula at the Lyric; Iggy in the film "The Body Of Real Things" due to come out this Fall; and Smokey in Christopher Street at last year's Minnesota Fringe Festival. Other projects have included one of August Wilson's very first productions--Black Bart And The Sacred Hills--at Penumbra; Mid-Summer's Nights Dream at the U OF M experimental stage; The Red Shoes for Bloomington Civic Theater to name a few. Tim's favorite line comes from Plato who said, "Remember that everyone has problems...so be kind."

Matthew Wilhelm

[COSTUMES/PROPS]

Bio

Matthew Wilhelm is a U of M graduate and Twin Cities freelance theatrical artist, specializing in Stage Management, Lighting, and Costume Design. (Fret not, he’s also pretty handsome acting under stage lights too). His most recent productions include Waking Miss Daisy with Combustible Theatre Company, Legacy of Light at Theatre in the Round, and The Dining Room with Buffalo Community Theatre. His next production includes An Iliad at St. Croix Theatre Festival. Follow him on Instagram to see where he’s at next!

Tyler Haugen

[ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/PARK POLICE]

Bio

Tyler is a Minnesota-born director/actor who is returning to the theatre world after a five year hiatus! Tyler has a BA in Theatre from St. Cloud State University, and an MFA in Theatre from the University of Hawai'i. Tyler has directed productions in the St. Cloud area at St. Cloud State University, Pioneer Place on 5th Theatre, and Creative INK. Theatre. His most recent directing credits include his MFA thesis production of Jean Genet's The Maids at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, a Po'okela Award winning production of Theresa Rebeck's Dead Accounts at the Chaminade Collegiate Theatre Festival, and the world premiere of M. K. Wessel's Tony the Fantastic Fireman! LIVE: One Show Only at Late Night Theatre in Honolulu. Tyler would like to thank the entire team working on Tompkins Squares for inviting him back into the rehearsal room for this beautiful piece! www.tylerjhaugen.com

More Information

Photo by Jack Strub.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PLAYWRIGHTS

We first saw Tompkins Square Park during a visit to New York City in 2014. Nestled in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the "square" park is named for Daniel D. Tompkins who was Governor of NY from 1807 to 1817 and the 6^th U.S. Vice President under James Monroe. In doing research for the show, we learned the park has a long and storied history dating back to 1834 when it first opened, and has always been a place where people have gathered to express dissent over a host of social concerns.

In 1857, unemployed immigrants gathered in the park to protest food shortages. In 1863, anti-draft riots broke out during the Civil War. During the Panic of 1873, there was a park riot involving workers demanding public works programs to provide jobs for unemployed workers. And in 1877 5,000 people gathered to hear Communist revolutionary speeches there. In more recent times, the park saw Vietnam War protests during the 60’s and a homeless riot in the late 80’s.

The original park design featured a large square parade ground but the design was later modified to subdivide the park. The modern design features a bandshell, basketball courts, dog run, ping pong table, handball courts and 16 built-in outdoor chess tables. It's in this last area - where chess (the Game of Kings) takes place - that is the setting for our play.

Lynn and I hope you enjoy this fictional historical dramedy as much as we've enjoyed bringing it to you. Being packed into the one-hour play format, it touches on the struggles and complexities of generational parent/child relationships, but also celebrates the humor and love found there as well.

Happy Fringing!— Kevin & Lynn Bowen

OUR PAST MN FRINGE SHOWS INCLUDE:

2009 - The Red Tureen (Musical) - at the Rarig Thrust Stage

2013 - The Forger's Apprentice - at the Rarig Thrust Stage

2014 - Flushing New York - at the Rarig Thrust Stage

2015 - The Oracle - at Theatre In The Round

2016 - The Non-Producers - at the Rarig Thrust Stage

2017 - Playwrights On A Train - at the Rarig Thrust Stage

2018 - Bits & Bobs - An Evening Of Short Plays - at Theatre In The Round

2019 - The Dwelling Place - at the Rarig Thrust Stage

2024 - Gasthaus - at the Phoenix Theater

2025 - Tompkins Squares - at the Rarig Arena Stage

THANK YOU:  READERS: Megan Bones, Earl Levin, Jacob Levin & David Wexler. MARKETING: PrintHarmony.com & Bowen Design. And of course, our hard working friends at The Minnesota Fringe Festival.

16 chess tables in Tompkins Square Park.