Theatre

​State of the Stages: Entertainment Venues in the Red River Valley

June 15th, 2022

By Brittney Goodman 

goodmanbritg@gmail.com

The High Plains Reader reached out to many owners, operators, managers, and caretakers of performance venues in our area to see the “state of the stages.” We talked about enduring and coming back from COVID, their missions and visions, and the outlook for summer events and beyond.

The central theme when asked about their purpose and mission is to bring entertainment, arts, and…

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Digital Dragathon

December 1st, 2020

By Kris Gruber

perriex1@gmail.com

Drag shows, for me, feel like a celebration of artistry, esthetic, music, and camaraderie. With a dash of confetti thrown in.

The local drag community is a close-knit family. Giving back to affiliated organizations and the community itself is an integral part of LGBTQ+ events in our area. When a fellow performer is in need, members are quick to step in and help in any way they can.

On December 12th, Sophie La Piff Cruz (Eric Hamley) and Nyxx (Andrew…

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Creative Teamwork : Eloise Breikjern and FMCT

November 14th, 2020

By Kris Gruber

perriex1@gmail.com

Eloise Breikjern has been the Executive Director of Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre since 2013. She will retire in December.

High Plains Reader spoke to her about the strength of her staff, the importance of the patrons, and the skills and creativity gleaned from working during COVID-19.

HIGH PLAINS READER: There must be countless special moments that you have experienced with your staff in your work with FMCT. Is there one that jumps to mind, that you can…

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Local lore and more: Ghostly Trollwood Trail & Tales Variety Show

October 21st, 2020

By Sabrina Hornung

sabrina@hpr1.com

We’ve all taken a stroll through a haunted house this time of year but have you ever thought about taking a guided walk through a haunted park? Trollwood Park holds both a lot of history and a lot of mystery. Before it was home to Trollwood performing arts school it was home to the Cass County Hospital and Poor Farm was once the site of the county’s “pauper cemetery.” Close to 300 graves were moved to a different location in the 1990s, yet there…

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Making strangers laugh again

October 7th, 2020

By Scott Ecker

notharrisonford@gmail.com

Like many artists the quarantine seemed like a great opportunity to finally get around to some writing. I mean what else was I going to do? Looking on the bright side of oblivion, I could at least be productive.

I did a fair amount of writing that I am happy with. But overall COVID hasn’t been a great motivator. Part of it is that there isn’t a safe way to interact with an audience. My background is in improv, which I believe was created to give…

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Theatre Means Breathing Together

October 7th, 2020

by Monika Browne-Ecker

monikabrowne4@gmail.com

Thinking back on February and the beginning of March, I recall conversations I had with my family here and outside of the US about the truthfulness of the news surrounding this new pandemic. Skepticism gave way to concern and real fear as the days went by with news stories from Italy and the death count they reported. COVID-19 became a reality in the middle of March as my colleague and I scrambled to pack our offices as fast and as best as…

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Fargo Film Festival 2020

March 11th, 2020

cover design by Raul Gomez

by Dominic Erickson

This March, the Fargo Film Festival will celebrate its 20th year of entertaining die-hard cinephiles and casual moviegoers alike. The festival begins on March 17 and concludes March 21. The event is once again coordinated by Emily Beck, who has been Fargo Theatre Executive Director since 2011. All of the other organizers and committee members have been working around the clock and will once again get to see their hard work pay off.

For many, a highlight of the Fargo…

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A Perfect Match: The Pink Unicorn and Theatre B

March 4th, 2020

by Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

High Plains Reader spoke with the Executive Director of Theatre B, Carolyn Wintersteen, and Michael Robins, Director and Artistic Producing Director of Illusion Theatre about bringing the production of "The Pink Unicorn" to Fargo, and the play itself.

HIGH PLAINS READER: Can you tell me a bit about your role with Theatre B?
CAROLYN WINTERSTEEN
: I am a co-founder and the Executive Director of Theatre B. My role has evolved over the years as the organization…

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The show must go on

February 19th, 2020

The Fargo Moorhead Community Theatre (FMCT) is continuing to move forward as they wait to see what the future holds for the building located at 333 4th Street S. in Fargo. FMCT made two moves over the past several weeks, including moving their administrative building and launching a capital campaign.

The building was deemed structurally unsound in December after staff noticed cracks in beams by the ceiling.

“Back on Dec. 13, we noticed that there were some unusual cracks in some beams…

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A mid-life renaissance: Theatre B’s ‘The Roommate’

February 5th, 2020

photo courtesy of Theatre B. cover design by Raul Gomez

by Erin Hemme Frostlie
froslie@cord.edu

Nearly everyone has a roommate horror story. Maybe it’s the college roommate who refused to do dishes. Or the one who promised to pay rent but didn’t. Or a roommate’s friend of a friend who asked to stay for a weekend, left three months later, and didn’t even say thank you.

Yes, there are stories that make one cringe. And then there are those roommate relationships that evolve into something deeper and more transformational than anyone first…

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