The Twin Cities Horror Festival XIII opens in just over a week and already there are a couple of performances sold out. So if you’re like me and want to see every production make sure to plan ahead so you don’t get left out in the dark. Because let’s face it, it’s kinda scary in the dark. The Country’s longest running horror theatre festival takes place over 11 days from 10/24 through 11/3 at the Crane Theater in Northeast Minneapolis. This year the festivities start a day early with a one night only performance of Leslie Vincent Presents: A Monster & Mayhem Cabaret which has already sold out! I look forward to the TCHF every year since I first covered it in 2019. If you like bumpities and spookables this is like a mini Fringe festival with shows that last an hour or less with a new one beginning every 90 minutes. One huge advantage TCHF has over the Minnesota Fringe is that it’s possible to see every one of the shows! Watch for my reviews throughout the festival and, if you see me there, be sure to stop by and say boo.
Here is the link to this years lineup and to purchase tickets: https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/tchf-xiii.html
Below are the shows in this years festival including descriptions and content ratings and warnings to help you make your show decisions.
Festival Shows
Leslie Vincent Presents: A Monster and Mayhem Cabaret
Leslie Vincent Presents
Murderinos and monsterheads unite for an evening of cabaret, camp, and costumes. Your host, local jazz chanteuse and former TCHF producer (A Morbid History of Sons and Daughters, Writer’s Room) Leslie Vincent, and her merry band will get you in the Halloween spirit with spooky originals and jazz standards as they were never intended to be sung. One night only!
Ratings:
Strong Language-2
Blood-2
Suggested Age: All Ages
Performance Genres: Music
Horror Genres: Comedy, Camp
Wheeler In The Sky
On its 30th anniversary, a group of New York’s most celebrated Shakespearean actors gather to memorialize the bloodiest theatre riot in American history: the Astor Place Riot. After the matinee performance of Macbeth, a horrible accident backstage leaves Lady M on her death bed. As the actors await news of her fate, they gather in the dressing room, amusing and consoling one another with theatre stories, each in turn confronting the bloody secrets of their past and horrors of the date 30 years ago which binds them all together: May 10th, 1849, The Astor Place Riot.
Ratings:
Strong Language-5
Blood-2
Suggested Age 16+
Genres of Performance: Theatre
Genres of Horror: Suspense
Warnings: Murder and Suicide
Let’s Summon a Demon at Debbie’s
Love Drunk Life
It’s been 25 years since Debbie, Cara and Lucy have seen each other, and 25 years since Debbie has left her house. But don’t worry, Debbie’s hasn’t been alone, Debbie has her dolls. A high school reunion like no other, three friends try to make sense of strange occurrences throughout their lives, and figure out if an all consuming need to return to Debbie’s house has to do with that demon they tried to summon senior year.
Ratings:
Strong Language-5
Blood-3
Suggested Age 16+
Genres of Performance: Theater
Genres of Horror: Camp Comedy
Warnings: Thunder and Lightning (Loud noise, strobe like effect)
Phantom
A dark fable, performed entirely through blacklight puppetry, about a Hero’s journey to bring their Beloved back to life with the aid of a dubious Alchemist. The Hero must traverse treacherous lands and face dangerous foes to collect the ingredients needed to concoct the Alchemist’s elixir. How far are they willing to go to defy Death in the name of Love?
Puppeteer Performers: Thalia Kostman, Marc Berg, Josh Vogen, Kristina Jansons, Lindsey Oetken, Rhiannon Fiskradatz, Aaron Fiskradatz
Original Music Composed By: Steven Zubich
Stage Managed By: Kerry Landin
Understudied By: Amy Walus and Alex Yang
Ratings:
Strong Language-1
Blood-1
Suggested Ages : 10+
Performance Genres: Puppetry
Horror Genres: Dark Fantasy
Warnings: frightening moments, loud music
Dangerous Productions
Taking a uniquely Dangerous Productions approach, this cast of characters tackles the horrors of the American medical system. its a deeply bloody show with equal parts absurd comedy, slapstick and several gallons of blood spilt
Ratings:
Strong Language-2
Blood-5
Suggested Age 16+
Genres of Performance: Theater
Genres of Horror: Comedy and Gore
Warnings: blood and guts
Monster Science Productions
Two great tastes that taste great together! Horror Festival favorites team up to tell 100 tales of horror mythology, over five distinct, themed shows, – “Shapeshifters,” “Demons,” “Undead,” “Outsiders,” and “Beasts” – each bringing their own inimitable style! And nothing goes wrong! NOTHING.
Ratings:
Strong Language-1
Blood-1
Suggested Age 13+
Performance Genres: Theater, Storytelling
Horror Genres: Comedy and Dread
Rogues Gallery Arts
Aster and her boyfriend have disappeared. After five days she is found, her boyfriend is not. She has no memory of what happened and begins suffering psychogenic blackouts when pressed about it. Aster’s world turns to chaos as her fractured memory betrays her. To learn the truth she must come face to face with horrors beyond her imagination.
Written, Directed, and Audio Designed by Duck Washington (All Your White Darlings, My Only Hope For A Hero, Charcoal Moon)
Starring: Angela Fox, Kyle Dekker, Jean Wolff, Tim Uren, Philip D Henry, Rob Ward, Elizabeth Douglas, Eric Thompson, and Ariel Pinkerton
Featuring: Maureen Bourgeois, Elizabeth Douglas and Eric Thompson
Stage Managed by Megan Slawson
Make-Up Effects by Kyle Dekker
Violence by Philip D Henry
Original Music by Dissociate
Costumes by CJ Mantel
Ratings:
Strong Language-4
Blood-4
Suggested Age 16+
Genres of Performance: Theater
Genres of Horror: Psychological, Gore, Supernatural, Monster
Warnings: Loud Sounds, Assault, Depression
Spiral
Henry loves baseball but hates playing it. And watching it. Yet, his obsession over its rules, balance, and history lead him to create his own tabletop baseball simulation where rolling dice and complicated charts determine myriad, bizarre outcomes. When a player is murdered in the game, the search for the culprit turns a pastime into a nightmare.
Ratings:
Strong Language-3
Blood-3
Suggested Age 13+
Genres of Performance: Theater
Genres of Horror: Horror-Comedy
Warnings: Gunshots or sudden loud noises
A Murder of Crones
Do curses exist? Is the paranormal real? In 1904, two rivals try to uncover a series of mysterious deaths. In 2004, three strangers meet up to investigate a curse. Tonight they’re drawn together to answer the most important question: Is someone in here with us? From the team that brought you Girls in Bins.
Written by Rachel Teagle; Directed by Jenny Moeller
Featuring: Rita Boersma, Megan Kim, Heather Meyer, Mickaylee Shaughnessy, and Ben Tallen
Stage Manager and Gore Goblin: Shea Roberts Gyllen; Additional Special Effects: Victoria Pyan; Props Builder: Caden Wessner
Ratings:
Strong Language-5
Blood-4
Suggested Age 16+
Genres of Performance: Theater
Genres of Horror: Supernatural, Gore
Warnings: Gunshots
Occasionally Employed Productions
Sometimes you wanna’ go where everybody knows your name, but are they *always* glad you came? Here comes “The Regular,” a story of a guy who walks into a bar…but might not walk out.
Featuring: Sam Landman, Claire Chenoweth, Jay Melchior & Lukas Ramsey.
Written and directed by Josh Carson (A Very Die Hard Christmas, Mad as Nell or How to Lose a Bly in Ten Days, A Justice League of Their Own)
Ratings:
Strong Language-5
Blood-4
Suggested Age 16+
Genres of Performance: Theater
Genres of Horror: Comedy and Psychological Thriller
Warnings: Violence, gunshots, loud noises
Special When Lit
Gather around the theatrical campfire to hear Twin Cities artists and Horror Fest favorites tell their personal stories with the supernatural. It’s like “Are You Afraid of the Dark”… accept these stories are TRUE.
Special When Lit (THE FAE, INCARNATE, STABBY STAB STAB, KIN) is known for spectacle, and Campfire Stories is no different, with live music and effects to make it a full spooky experience. Trick or Treat: There are two versions of the show in rotation, so you can maximize your Halloween season with more spinetingling content.
Ratings:
Strong Language- 4
Blood- 1
Suggested Age 13+
Genre of Performance: Storytelling with Music
Genre of Horror: True Supernatural Stories
Warning: Beware: These stories are TRUE
Keith Hovis Productions
Wyatt likes to watch. No, he needs to watch. He’s addicted to the thrill of seeing people eat, clean, read, watch TV, and live their lives. But when his passion starts taking on a life of its
Ratings:
- Strong Language-4
- Blood-3
- Suggested Age 16+
- Genres of Performance: Music, Theater, One-Person Show
- Genres of Horror: Psychological
- Warnings: Mental Health (Depression, Anxiety)
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