Theatre

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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Making a Difference: Act Up and Kabaret for Kaleidoscope

December 23rd, 2019

by Kris Gruber
perriex1@gmail.com

High Plains Reader spoke to Act Up Theatre board member Jackie Shaw, about the fundraiser "Kabaret for Kaleidoscope" at the TAK Music Venue.

High Plains Reader: How did the idea for this show come about?

Jackie Shaw: Act Up Theatre is a small nonprofit organization, started in 2010 in Fargo-Moorhead to provide musical performing opportunities to high school, college students and young adults with a focus on productions that create a more socially conscious…

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A holiday tradition: The Nutcracker

December 18th, 2019

Photo by Dan Leeaphon

by Jill Finkelson
jsfinkelson99@gmail.com

The original 1892 version of the Nutcracker panned after Tchaikovsky begrudgingly set the score as a favor. It passed without fanfare, overshadowed by Sleeping Beauty and the like.

However, the show went through a renaissance and now can be seen all over North America during the holiday season. The score is universal and even those who shun classical music would be hard pressed to say they don’t recognize the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy or…

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​‘Live music sounds so much better.’

November 13th, 2019

Photograph by Samantha Svendsen

By Michael Str!ke
michaelstrike.solo@gmail.com

Comedy, dance, live music, and that classic wordplay and wit only Mel Brooks can deliver. This Friday, November 14th, Concordia College Theater premieres their production of Mel Brooks’ musical “Young Frankenstein.” Directed by New York’s acclaimed director and choreographer, Donna Kaz, and musically led by musical director Andrew Steinberg; the musical features a cast and crew entirely comprised of students.

As someone with a history…

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​Razor Sharp Theatre

October 23rd, 2019

By Scott Ecker
notharrisonford@gmail.com

Theatre is something that takes a lot of work from a lot of people. This is something that is easy to forget while watching a good play. Great theatre is immersive. The script, acting and technical work is all in the service of communicating a story. It transports the audience into a world that is completely different from theatre seats.

I had the privilege of getting to see some of the process of FMCT’s latest production, “Sweeney Todd: The…

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