The Stages of MN: Looking Back at the Year That Was 2023

As I look back during this week or so of respite from the hectic theater schedule I maintain for the majority of the year, I can’t help but note that 2023 was a big year for the Stages of MN. By my calculations I saw 190 productions in 2023, that doesn’t include a few that I saw more than once. A quick glance back at last year’s recap tells me that I have improved upon last year’s record by about 40 shows. I used 164,700 words to write about them and faithful readers will no doubt recognize that number as approximately a third more than was necessary, strictly speaking, to accomplish the task. Well that is something I will endeavor to improve upon in 2024. The reach or “views” of the site increased as well, by 68% to be ridiculously specific about it, which means more eyes on theaters and that hopefully translates to more butts in seats. Which means the theaters stay open, the artists make a living (I heard those snorts from the artistic community and yes, perhaps that was a poor choice of words), and we continue to have a robust and eclectic theater community that is capable of moving us, sometimes to tears, sometimes to laughter, occasionally, but rarely, to a solid 20 minute catnap. Whatever you use your theater going time and money to accomplish, whether you are looking for shows that present ideas that challenge you to reevaluate your life choices or are just looking for some escapist entertainment, or indeed a cure for your insomnia we are so fortunate to have the wealth of choices we do here in MN.

Now the financial matters of theaters does not fall within my purview as a theater blogger. I am not doing this for theaters directly, I’m doing it for you, faithful reader. I’m doing this in hopes it encourages you to get off your bums, as lovely, firm, and welcoming as they undoubtedly are, and head to the theater. To let you know about all the fabulously gorgeous shows that the Twin Cities, and indeed the surrounding areas as well, are producing. And do you know who they are producing these shows for? It’s not Texans, not the British, not even the French if you can believe it. No, they are producing them for you. Who’s to say why, maybe it’s because your so damn attractive, perhaps it’s your keen intelligence or the fact that your one hell of a spiffy dresser. Whatever the motivations may be, they are doing it for you. I for one think it’s the polite thing, for you in return, to at least show up and see what these wonderful artists have made for you. Now I know that most of you have busy lives with paper routes and vegetables to can. A few of you may even have a hamster as a pet and I know that they need to be walked at least half a dozen times each day. So what I do, again for you, not the Texans or Falkland Islanders, is try and give an Idea what’s out there and whether it’s up to snuff. Knowing that most of you will be limiting yourself to two or three shows a week, I hope this blog is of use in helping you make the wisest decision for your fine selves as well as the Irish. For some reason I have a surprisingly robust following in Ireland. I’m not sure why, all I can think is that they must have gotten wind that when my children were very young I used to get them up out of bed in the middle of the night and make them promise to die for Ireland. Then I’d give them the Friday penny and send them off back to bed.

This year also saw the launch of Twin Cities Theater Chat the podcast m’colleagues from the The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers and I began. I’m very proud of the work we’ve done on the podcast, and I would be not only remiss but also staggerly ungrateful if I did not acknowledge the hours of work behind the scenes from our Producer/Editor/Engineer and dare I say, yes, yes I do dare, The Voice of Twin Cities Theater Chat, Carol Jackson. While we have only been at it for half a year, it has been steadily growing and I hope audiences will continue to find us because it’s another way for YOU, yes YOU, to stay connected with the theater scene in our community and for us to interact more with you dear sweet nubile reader. Speaking of interacting, our soft launch and unofficial pilot episode was a recording of a talkback that I moderated at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre (CDT) on March 4th with the Director and three of the Actors of their production of The Prom. Which was probably the experience I most cherish from my 2023 theater life. I stepped out of my comfort zone, which is at a keyboard, and up onto the stage and thanks to Director Michael Brindisi and cast members Monty Hays, Maya Richardson, and Tod Petersen I experienced an hour I will remember for the rest of my life. I think the success of that talkback gave me the confidence to take the lead on several of the Podcast episodes and set up interviews with Jeffrey Hatcher, Austene Van, Jen Liestman, Paul de Cordova, Nissa Nordland Morgan, Duck Washington, And my podcast heroes from The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society.

In addition to covering the Minnesota Fringe Festival and the Twin Cities Horror Festival I traveled to Winona MN for the Great River Shakespeare Festival with my fellow bloggers Jill, Carol and Julie. Which brings up another area of growth for the Stages of MN this past year. Soon after I launched The Stages of MN in the fall of 2019, I think it was a wednesday, as I recall 2019 was lousy with Wednesdays, Cherry and Spoon Author Jill Schafer reached out with what was essentially a cease and desist order. Now don’t misunderstand me, it wasn’t a hostile gesture by any means you see I told a fib a few sentences back, the blog wasn’t The Stages of MN, but was initially launched as Stages of the Twin Cities. It just so happened that there was already a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB) with a blog called Twin Cities Stages, which Jill felt, and rightly so I might add, could create confusion. And so I went back to the drawing board and paid for a second domain name, The Stages of MN of which, unless you’ve gone completely senile you are aware of as you are reading this on the aforementioned site. But along with Jill’s inquiry into whether my Mother had had any children that survived infancy and learned to google, was an invite to join the ranks of the TCTB. From the very first messenger exchanges and our first official meet up for Dinner, followed by Family Dinner at Huge Improve, the other bloggers have been generous with their time, insight, and resources. This year with our events for The Prom at CDT and The Pajama Game at Artistry, the launching of the Podcast, the road trip to Winona, some working breakfasts and the odd dinner now and then, these resources or colleagues if you will, have become friends.

I’ve also felt a growing inclusion within the theater community itself. For an introvert like myself that feeling is slow to grow. But, as it has grown its made me more and more conscious of the importance of sharing my love of theater with you faithful reader, or readers if someone is reading over your shoulder at this moment. Letting you know when there is something special out there that you absolutely must see is important, because once the show closes it’s gone, and I don’t want you to miss out. But of primary importance is growing new audiences, steering folks to the shows that will make them want to go back to the theater again and again to recapture the magic of a favorite show. The trick is to get the attention of those potential new audience members. One way is for you faithful reader to share show reviews, spread the word, share the podcast, listen to the podcast when you have people who have never heard it in your car with you or just share this link https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/. I have begun a campaign of taking young people who would not regularly been exposed to the theater with me to shows. But so far that’s just three people and it doesn’t seem like the most efficient program, though one has already stated that when she has children she is going to take them to the theater! So I’m trying to do my part, but you can do yours as well. Follow and like posts, share the ones that sound exciting to you, those things really do affect the reach, and the reach is the thing wherein we’ll catch the imagination of new audiences.

Now speaking of favorites here are some lists of of those shows I hope you didn’t miss as they were the proverbial bees knees on which we gingerly sit and tell all our theater dreams to. Firstly let me say that I made the decision not to include shows that were eligible and made the list last year. As without that Caveat Christmas at the Local and Who’s Afraid of Winnie the Pooh would have been on the lists, but since they made the list last year let’s make room for some fresh blood. Also the list is in no particular order, this is not a ranking number 1 is not stating it is better than number 8, the numbers are there merely to help me keep count as my fingers are already engaged in typing and cannot be counted on. There is a double meaning in that.

My ten favorite locally produced Plays in 2023:

1. ‘Art’ – The Guthrie Theater
2. A Very Good Christmas Carol – Created and performed by Jeffrey Nolan and Hawken Paul
3. Dinner For One – The Jungle Theater
4. The Kung Fu Zombies Saga: Shaman Warrior & Cannibals – Theater Mu
5. Village Wooing – The Orchard Theater Collective
6. Passage – Pillsbury House + Theatre and Exposed Brick Theatre
7. Twelfth Night – Ten Thousand Things
8. Rasputin – Four Humors as part of the Twin Cities Horror Festival
9. Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood – Theatre in the Round Players
10. Our town – Lyric Arts

My ten favorite locally produced musicals in 2023:

1. The Prom – Chanhassen Dinner Theatre
2. Again – Theater Mu
3. Othello: The Remix – Minneapolis Musical Theatre
4. Bright Star – DalekoArts
5. A Chorus Line – Lyric Arts
6. Falsettos – Theater Latte Da
7. The Boy Wonder – History Theatre
8. 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Artistry
9. The Spongebob Musical – Lyric Arts
10. She Loves Me – Lakeshore Players

Special mentions of fantastic shows that took advantage of site specific or non traditional performance spaces. This is essentially a cheat on my part as it’s really really really hard to choose just 10 shows in each category:

1. Loch Mess: The Largest Freshwater Musical - Open Eye Theatre performed on the green roof of the Bakken Museum
2. Red Speedo – Walking Shadow Theatre Company performed in a swimming pool at Hamline University
3. The Courtroom: A Reenactment of One Woman’s Deportation Proceedings – Jungle Theater performed in the mock trial room at Hamline University
4. The Buddha Prince – TigerLion Arts Performed as a walking play through Washburn Fair Oaks Park
5. Much Ado About Nothing – Classical Actors Ensemble performed along the Mississippi River

My five favorite Touring Productions:

1. To Kill a Mockingbird – Orpheum Theater
2. Hamilton – Orpheum Theater
3. Beetlejuice – Orpheum Theater
4. Company – Orpheum Theater
5. Mrs. Doubtfire– Orpheum Theater

Every year I add a person or two to my list of “Must See” performers, Actors, Dancers, Singers that I come across throughout the year that I either hadn’t seen before or that really drew my attention that year. This year I have four names that I have added to the list that includes Tyler Michaels King, Max Wojtanowicz, Joy Dolo, Shanan Custer, Daniel Petzold, and Em Rosenberg to name a few and leave several others unnamed like a precious thing that must be kept secret, kept safe.

Jeffrey Nolan caught my attention first at the Lakeshore Players Production of Noises Off.

“Jeffrey Nolan, who plays Tim the Stage Manager, is also the understudy for the male roles in the play brought a different kind of energy to the role. He gets some neat bits that are like silent comedy routines between acts and he plays the roles constant exhaustion in such a way that you feel the character will be scarred for life after this production. …. Watching Nolan try and set the stage with his last ounces of energy at the beginning of Act 3, …. moments of comedic brilliance.”

Noises Off Review 2/5/2023

next up Nolan helped Theatre in the Round Players complete a perfect theater season in Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood

“Theatre in the Round Players (TRP) has the ball at the 10 yard line, it’s 4th and goal and there are seconds left on the clock. If they score here they’ll close out the season with a perfect record. The curtains close to the arena and Jeffrey Nolan has the ball, it looks like he’s stumbling though (gasp!), but wait, it isn’t a stumble, it’s comedic genius! TRP using the Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood Play has scored!!!! The crowd goes wild with laughter! TRP has done it! A perfect theater season! …. I saw Nolan once before in Noises Off as Tim at the Lakeshore Players this past winter. I noted his unique take on the character and brilliant physical comedic bits, particularly during the intermissions, where at one point he spent several minutes somehow entangled with an end table. This production confirms the suspicion that Nolan is a major comedic talent. My only concern is that the theater community won’t know what to do with him as his vibe is so unique. If we don’t see him regularly going forward, it’ll be a disservice on the part of theater companies towards the theatergoing public.

Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin hood Review 6/10/23

He appeared in not one but two productions at this years Minnesota Fringe Festival both of which won the coveted Stages of MN Fringe of the Day Award. First was A Girl Scout’s Guide to Exorcism of which I said “Also because he’s one to watch in everything he does. Jeffrey Nolan appears as The Hawk in what is the first dramatic role I’ve seen him in. If playing a puppet hawk can be called a dramatic role, and honestly, I think it can.” The second was Fargo Allegro “Also Jeffrey Nolan who has quickly made it onto my must see list of local performers, gives a performance completely different from yet just as good as everything else I’ve seen him in so far.”

Excerpts From Reviews of the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival

Finally, as if to hedge his bets that he would not be forgotten come year end summations, he saved the best for last with a show he created and starred in with Hawken Paul A Very Good Christmas Carol.

“In 2023 the actor that stood out to me and was added to my list of ”try and see everything they do”, was Jeffrey Nolan. So when I heard about this show, I had to find a way to fit it in and I’m so glad I did. It did not disappoint, Nolan and Paul were both brilliant in their performances but also in their creation of such an enjoyable show. This was the fifth entertainment I’ve seen this season that was based on a Christmas Carol, I can now quote long passages from the book by heart, and yet this was among my favorites and I was completely engaged and entertained throughout. …. Nolan gets to do what he does so well, create a multitude of unique and hilarious characterizations. Both Paul and Nolan display wonderful gifts for improvisation, their reactions to some of the responses given from audience members are as funny as anything scripted.”

A Very Good Christmas Carol Review 12/17/23

Next up is Allison Vincent who isn’t new on the scene but for some reason they really popped into consciousness this year as a Performer, Writer, and Director. It began with Transatlantic Love Affair’s These Old Shoes.

“And my favorite of the group Allison Vincent, who actually gets to play a lot of different characters, most of them wonderful bits of comic relief that lighten the mood and provide a laugh just when you need it.:

These Old Shoes Review 2/3/23

Next up we saw Vincent return to Direct the remount of the 2022 Stages of MN Fringe of the Day Award Winner Andrew Erskine Wheeler’s Whoosh!… this was followed by another hilarious performance at Bryant Lake Bowl in The (Almost) Complete and (Mostly) Accurate History of Alcohol. This was followed up with appearances at the Twin Cities Horror Festival in the two best shows of the festival Marie-Jeanne Valet, Who Defeated La Bete du Gévaudan and Rasputin

“Vincent, who seems to be everywhere these days including two shows in the TCHF (the other is Rasputin), is particularly strong, with a turn as King Louis XV that nearly steals the show.” 

Marie-Jeanne Valet, Who Defeated La Bete du Gévaudan Review 10/20/23

“Rasputin from Four Humors … running neck and neck with Marie-Jeanne Valet, Who Defeated La Bete du Gévaudan from opening night as “Best of the Fest”. What do they have in common? both feature Allison Vincent. It’s becoming clear that if you want to have a hit show at TCHF, you cast Allison Vincent in it. This time Vincent is also credited as co writer along with the three other cast members”

Rasputin Review 10/21/23

I had the pleasure of seeing The Prom twice at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre and the honor to share the Talkback stage with the next “one to watch” Performer Monty Hays.

“The Prom is filled with wonderful pairings between performers and characters but none quite as perfect as Monty Hays as Emma Nolan. Emma is the heart at the center of The Prom and my heart overflowed to the point of leaking out through my eyes as I watched Hays bring her to life. In the inclusive spirit of the show, Hays who identifies as transgender/nonbinary, is cast because they are the perfect person for the role. Hays will break your heart in a scene at the close of Act 1 when Emma is completely devastated and blindsided by an act of cruelty. When Emma finds her voice, her way to to fight back against the homophobic community, Hays’s rendition of the song “Unruly Heart” is note perfect. Hays is so open with the audience, that even a middle aged cis male like me, completely identifies with this teenage lesbian. Hays finds the vulnerability but also the humor and courage of the character in a performance that engages in such a strong emotional way. It has the power to evoke genuine empathy, the kind that has the ability to promote change.”

The Prom Review 2/18/23

The final name going on the list is that of Brendan Nelson Finn who appeared in Artistry’s Production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

“Brendan Nelson Finn plays William Barfee who uses his magic foot to spell out the words before he says them aloud. Finn is all in on this performance, his characters mannerisms alone when simply sitting in the bleachers while others were spelling had me rolling on the floor.”

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Review 10/12/23

Well that’s the year that was and I look forward to all that the wide world of theater holds in store for 2024. We bloggers have some fun things in the works for this year, some great plans for the podcast and events. I hope to see all of you out there taking in shows, remember when it comes to theater if you see something, by all means say something. Theater is a communal activity, so don’t keep it to yourself. And if you see me at the theater, by all means say hi. Tell me what you have seen, ask for recommendations, be bold, I’ll be shy enough for both of us.

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I am also a member of the Twin Cities Theater Bloggers (TCTB), where you can read roundups of shows by my colleagues and I when you follow us on facebook @TwinCitiesTheaterBloggers. We also produce the podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat!! which you can access through this link or wherever you enjoy podcasts https://twincitiestheaterchat.buzzsprout.com/ . We post biweekly longer form episodes that will focus on interviews and discussions around theater topics. There is also shorter episodes in which we Bloggers tell you what we think you should get out and see as well as what we have on our schedules that we are most looking forward too.