New guest editor John Middleton and some news and such!

Happy Ides of October (or roughly thereabouts)! -------- The 8th Annual Minnesota SAGE awards for dance are coming up in a few days. It's an opportunity to celebrate the strength and success of Minnesota’s dance community and perhaps see glimpses of some of the year's best performances that may have gotten past you. The SAGE Awards are on October 17th at 7:30 at the Cowles Center. -------- Kickstarter continues to be a successful fundraising tool for a number of performing arts groups and theater projects in Minnesota. I love the idea that this and platforms like it are allowing artists to make projects happen that otherwise may never have had a shot. Two days ago Public Dreams Theatre successfully funded its production of Peter Nichols’ A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. The 2012 Twin Cities Horror Fest is about half way to its goal but they have less than four days to reach it. Stay, Then Go, a feature film by Shelli Ainsworth. This project is very close to reaching its funding goal with less than four days left. Kevin Horn out of Duluth has five days left to reach his funding goal for the film project Panhandler. This project is of particular note because the funding is for a film but they're only asking for $500. Have you funded a project using Kickstarter? -------- As election day nears there are still several theater projects happening around town that are raising awareness and money for the campaign organized by Minnesota Citizens United for All Families against the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Minnesota. Workhouse Theatre and Flower Shop Project are producing Matthew Everett’s But Not For Love, running now through October 28th at The Warren in Minneapolis Thirst Theater has one performance left of their evening of short plays performed at the Eat Street Social Club called The No Round. The final performance is Monday, October 15th, at 7pm. Do you have a show or project that supports the Vote No campaign? -------- TheaterMania.com recently ran a review of Cyrano on Broadway. It’s the first of a series they’re calling ”Bro on Broadway." The premise is that they take an average guy who hasn’t seen any theater, send him to a play, and he writes a review of the show. The first “Bro” tapped is a barback named Josh Macin who they describe as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion who helps guys rewrite their Match.com profiles. In Macin’s review of Cyrano he writes things like, “What sounded like animal noises eventually became recognizable words only after I realized every line was a rhyme. Rhyme. ‘What could be worse than a play in verse? Do you think I'll be reimbursed?’ That's f***ing annoying, right?” I found the review itself funny to the point that I’m not certain it’s not a bit written as comedy by someone who does know theater. But perhaps more importantly, Isaac Butler on Parabasis does a nice job of complicating the idea of this premise, calling into question what this kind of gimmick says to actual theater critics. Parabasis: The Jokes on Who It also has me wondering if the stereotypes portrayed by the idea of a “Bro” add to the idea that theater and art are elitist. -------- Good news, beloved local actor, theater mixologist, and conversation continuer John Middleton will be guest editing Minnesota Playlist for the next several months. Keep an eye out for new articles, essays, and other such loveliness focused on the performing arts in Minnesota. If you have comments, questions, or suggestions for John, please don’t hesitate to send them using our Contact Form. Hope you have a week full of new experiences Thanks -Levi