Theater/Geek 08/11/2012 10:17am

Editorial
Some general thoughts, as my mind is pudding this morning: You may not be able to get a ticket to TBD but it's currently one of my favorite things about this year's Fringe. After a last-minute cancellation, the page was left up as a placeholder, people started writing reviews and the Fringe staff, bless them, started approving them. It's a collaborative performance art piece between the actors and audience, with some using it as a chance to riff on reviews of a show that is literally just a blank stage for an hour, others inventing elaborate productions that changed their lives, and some using it to mock the insane, contradictory reviews that vex the performers. As of this writing, it's the eighth most reviewed show at the Fringe. The fact that it exists, that people wrote it and the staff let it grow, is just a happy thing. We take the Fringe seriously, but not solemnly. That we have a sense of self-awareness about our own flaws. This is important, because not every artist nor festival does. Well done, MN Fringe. TBD, unsurprisingly, showed up a lot in the Twitter discussion of Fringe Rumors, with speculation that the Guthrie has already optioned it, that next year would feature two musical versions, as well as the ever-popular Shakespearean adaptation. I will not be surprised if one of those things actually happens. Moving on:
  • I'm seeing a lot of good shows but nothing life-changing yet, something I can usually count on at least once per Fringe. Only two days left, but I have high hopes.
  • Ash Land sold out the Rarig Thrust + balcony with no rush tickets. Amazing. Congrats to them and big ups to the house staff for seating that many people in 10 minutes. The Minnesota Fringe is a well-oiled machine, and this is just more proof not just how hard the staff and volunteers work, but how well.
  • I'm always sad if I go through a Fringe and miss the terrible show that people talk about for years to come. I have reliable leads on two this year, but not sure if I'm going to be able to fit them in around the really great stuff people are telling me about.
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Bill Stiteler
Theater/Geek: Why are there so many nerdy shows at the Fringe? What's the appeal of mixing Shakespeare with Star Wars? Why didn't Mamet write more shows about Zombies? Bill Stiteler investigates the intersection of pop culture geekiness and indie theater.