Meet the Cast and Crew of VENUS (a play about energy)

  

VENUS (a play about energy) was created by:

Avi Aharoni (Mark)

Credits:  Demetrius in Upright Egg’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Max in Theater Or’s Chaplin, Stephen McGee in Stages Theater Co.’s How I Became A Pirate (performed in Bath, England), Devon in The Directors Studio’s film The New Girl, Member of the Stage II Players with Stevie Rays Improv Co.

Education: Theatrical Clown Training with Jon Ferguson and Physical Theater with Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Improvisation training through Stevie Rays and Comedy Sportz, Shakespeare training including Barbara Berlovitz, Diane Mountford, and Mike Kelley, among others.

Pancake Preference: On my back. With the syrup drizzling down my chin onto my shirtless chest. While watching Full House.

Energy is… …energy? Can that be my answer?

Jason Bucklin (Sound Design & Musical Supervisor)

Credits: Upright Egg Company Member, Sound Designer- ReCollect, Uranus, The Dreaming Project and 6 other productions – Upright Egg; Co-curator- Queertopia and Trans Day of Remembrance, two annual GLBTQA celebrations – Outward Spiral; Co-Creator- Empowered Expressions, a GLBTQA youth theatre troupe – Outward Spiral/District 202

Education:  Hamline University, 2004 Bachelor of Arts in Theatre

Pancake preference: My dad used to make pancakes that looked like fish.

Energy is . . . something that can come from the depths of your core and pour out in a radiant light or manifest itself amongst a group of people. Regardless, hopefully the energy is used for good.

Julia Carlis (Lighting Design)

Credits:

Lighting Design: The Taming of the Shrew – Theatre Pro Rata, The Spanish Tragedy – Theatre Pro Rata, For Sports’ Sake – Eclectic Edge Ensemble, String – Yellow Tree Theatre, Ten Virgins – Theatre Unbound (November)

Education: BA in Theatre Arts, University of Minnesota, MS in Library and Information Science, University of North Texas

Pancake Preference:  With real maple syrup, wrapped around a piece of bacon.

Energy is . . . a substance that comes in many forms.

Kelsey Cramer (Olivia)

Credits: Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Upright Egg, Gianni in After Juliet – 20% Theatre Co., Butler in Tiny Alice, Claire in The Maids, Directing Anna Deavere Smith’s House Arrest at St. Olaf College

Education: St. Olaf College, Perpich Center for the Arts, YouTubing “How to play the Ukelele”

Pancake preference: lots and lots of butter

energy is . . . the thing you can feel between us.

Meghan Gunderson (Stage Manager)

Credits: MN Fringe Festival 2010 – War of the Posers – Asst. Director; Don’t Abandon Me - Director, Macbeth – Asst. Director, The Vagina Monologues – Director, Death and the Maiden – Stage Manager and  The Imaginary Invalid – Asst. Stage Manager at College of St. Benedict.

Education: B.A. in Theatre and English from the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University

Pancake preference: with peanut butter and syrup

energy is . . . power.

Kate Greenwood Gunther (Violin, Susan)

Credits: GTC Dramatic Dialogues educational theatre performer, Table for Two – 2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival, Tis Pity She’s a Whore – Classical Actor’s Ensemble (upcoming)

Education: B.A. – Theatre/Visual Art – University of MN

Pancake Preference: My favorite are the chocolate chip ones I ate as a child at horseback riding camp, though I have recently expanded to pancakes involving things such as walnuts and bananas, and of course I love the taste of any pancakes that are made special just for me with love.

Energy is . . . delightful.

Kelsey McMahon (Katia)

Credits: The Wizard of Oz – Wicked Witch of the West – Masquers Theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest – Gwendolen Fairfax – VLP Productions, Cabaret – Sally Bowles – South High Theater, Twelfth Night - Viola – South High Theater, A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Helena – South High Theater

Education: The University of the Arts, Stage Elements U of M Summer Theater Intensive, Workshops with the Guthrie Theatre and Theatre de la Jeune Lune

Pancake preference: I would like all of the pancakes, please. With just butter.

Energy is . . . resonance.

David Mercer (Composer/Piano)

Credits: Playing music, Talking about new board game ideas, other stuff too.

Education: B.A. – Music – University of MN, North Dakota State University – 1 yr. spent failing all courses, including “Skills for Success”

Pancake preference: Soy-milk pancake with soy-milk butter

Energy is . . .  the driving life-force that guides everyone’s souls and auras, like how a gravitron dissolver guides bork-troids through anti-matter worm-holes, or like the joy one feels from hearing a newborn baby’s bloodcurdling screams echo through the universe. Energy, in a nutshell, is a circular spectrum that unites the inherent benevolence and altruism in all of nature’s creatures, including us, the creature that is humanity.

Brian O’Neal (Cook)

Credits: Upright Egg Company Member

Education: B.A. Hamline University, 2004

Pancake preference: make it with love or don’t make it at all

Energy is . . . the most important part

Jeremy Pickard (Director/Playwright)

Credits: Captain of Superhero Clubhouse (NYC), Upright Egg Company Member; Playwright/Director of URANUS – Upright Egg, Peter Quince – A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2: The Wedding – Upright Egg, The Boy – NEPTUNE – Superhero Clubhouse (NYC), Angel – Dead Man’s Cell Phone - Playwrights Horizons (NYC)

Education: Ithaca College (’05), O’Neill National Theater Institute (Fall ’03), SITI Company (2006-ongoing)

Pancake Preference: Aunt Nini’s silver dollars smothered in Mrs. Buttersworth and love.

Energy is . . . the eggs.

Matt Riggs (Director/Props, Costumes, & Set Design)

Credits: Upright Egg Company Member, magic maker, yo yo expert, sometimes director, sometimes actor

Education: B.A. theatre, Hamline University

Pancake Preference: Vegan pancakes made with love.

Peter Schultz (Guitar)

Credits: European trapeze artist, 1988 Vice Presidential Candidate, Professional Tony Danza impersonator, occasional guitarist

Education: Associate’s Degree – The School of Hard Knocks

Pancake Preference: Medium-sized, stacked 3-high, with maple syrup.

Energy is . . . neat.

Larissa Shea (The Girl)

Credits: Upright Egg Company Member, Puck: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Upright Egg), Strophe: Phaedra’s Love (Red Letter Theatre), Mom: Magnitude of a Freckle (Upright Egg), Giza Von Goldenheim: Paradise Hotel (George McConnell and the bRiNk), the Avatar (always)

Education: BA from Concordia College – Moorhead, MN

Pancake Preference: Off someone else’s plate when they aren’t looking…sometimes when they are 

Energy is . . . my super power

Danielle Siver (Maria)

Credits: Upright Egg Company Member, Celeste & Starla Save Todd & Win Back the Day – Celeste – 20% Theatre Co. (Also a Company Member), Afterlife Project – Girl – Upright Egg, Love Project - Woman – Upright Egg, Chuck Mee Project – Mrs. Mee – Upright Egg, Present Project (2007, 2008, & 2009) – Reindeer, Pirate, Holly Fruitcake – Upright Egg

Education: B.A. – Theatre Arts – University of WI-Parkside; Various classes with Jon Ferguson, Dominique Serrand, Nathan Keepers, and Barbra Berlovitz.

Pancake preference: My favorite way to eat pancakes is at Victor’s 1959 Café. Giant, delicious pancakes made with mangoes and magic.

Energy is . . . “Life begets life. Energy begets energy.  It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” – Sarah Bernhardt

Josh Vogen (Colin)

Credits: Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Upright Egg, Wore a unitard as The Violent Handyman in Celeste and Starla Save Todd and Win Back the Day- 20% Theatre Co., Member of Swandive Theatre Company, Asst. Technical Director for Northern Lights/Southern Cross – Interact Center, Eddie in Fool for Love – St. Olaf College, Recurring vocal artist… in my shower.

Education: St. Olaf College, Clowning Workshop with Jon Ferguson, Improv Training with Damon Runnals

Pancake Preference: I like blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and topped with sliced strawberries.

Energy is . . . strongest within us.

Brian Watson-Jones (Daniel)

Credits: Upright Egg Company Member, Aeneas in Troilus and Cressida (Cromulent Shakespeare Co.), Marvin in Bard Fiction (Tedious Brief Productions), Jimmy (the Rebel) in The Chuck Mee Project (Upright Egg), La Bret in Cyrano de Bergerac (Cromulent Shakespeare Co.), Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest (Hodge-Podge Theatre Co.)

Education: B.A. (concentration in theatre) from Sarah Lawrence College, NY; British American Drama Academy, London

Pancake Preference: Anything with chunks of fruit, with real maple syrup.

Energy is . . . the flow of the river.

Anne Zager (Caroline Herschel)

Credits: Various male characters in spandex in Celeste and Starla Save Todd and Win Back the Day – 20% Theatre Company. , Third wench from the left in Merchant of Venice – Guthrie Theater, Blonde Bimbo (Bobbie Soxer) in Chuck Mee Project – Upright Egg, Smart-ish Swe-Germ-Irish lady posing as “Blonde Bimbo” – in real life

Education: BA in Theatre Truman State University, Brave New Institute, Studio 206

Pancake Preference: Les crepes, bien sur!  Giant and hot, filled with sliced bananas and Nutella from a streetside stand in Paris.

Energy is . . . movement or the moment just before.

VENUS (a play about energy) Cast/Crew and Trailer

Upright Egg presents VENUS, a dance-theater event about desire, responsibility and alternative energy– the fourth in a series of ecologically-inspired Planet Plays written and co-directed by NYC theater director Jeremy Pickard.

Citizens of a small town located on the volatile surface of planet Venus gather at the local firehouse each day to eat pancakes, and to power their homemade way of life. Into this community of expatriate 20-something Earthlings enters a girl from another world. Igniting an affair with the local boy serving coffee, her presence pressurizes and destabilizes their fledgling town, and everything erupts.

Come join Upright Egg on an explosive adventure, share our pancakes, and help us decipher the mystery hidden among the remains of a civilization lost at the hands of volcanoes, egos, and two notorious gods.

VENUS features a live folk band, innovative green lighting design and vegan pancakes. It will be performed at the Firefighters Hall and Museum in Northeast Minneapolis.

ALL PERFORMANCES WILL BE AT THE FIREFIGHTERS HALL & MUSEUM
http://www.firehallmuseum.org/
September 17 and 18, 7:30pm
September 23-27, 7:30pm
October 1-3, 7:30pm

Pay-what-you-can Admission
Seating is limited, reservations recommended:

uprightegg@gmail.com

Role                                               Artist
Director / Playwright                   Jeremy Pickard
Director / Set / Props Designer   Matthew Riggs
Lighting Designer                        Julia Carlis
Stage Manager                           Meghan Gunderson
Sound                                         Jason Bucklin

Caroline Herschel                      Anne Zager
James Cook XII                         Brian O’Neal
Maria                                         Danielle Siver
Colin                                          Josh Vogen
Katia                                          Kelsey McMahon
Olivia                                         Kelsey Cramer
Mark                                          Avi Aharoni
Professor Daniel L.                    Brian Watson-Jones
The Girl                                      Larissa Shea

Composer                                    Dave Mercer
Musician (Guitar)                          Peter Schultz
Musician (Violin) and  “Susan”     Kate Greenwood Gunther

Upright Egg and the MN Astronomical Society talk VENUS and Venus

Welcome to the third in a series of interviews leading up to Upright Egg’s next production VENUS (a play about energy). This week, we’re talking with Ron Schmit of the Minnesota Astronomical Society, a Minnesota-grown group that studies the beautiful Minnesota night sky.

1) What is the MAS – how long has it been around and what is the latest news?

In 1972, Minneapolis-based E&W Optical Company was a haven for Twin Cities amateur astronomers seeking advice and optics for their projects or for commercially produced telescopes and accessories.
That year, then-president of the 3M Club Astronomical Society, Jim Fox, placed a poster at E&W suggesting to readers that “An Amateur Astronomy Club May Be Right For You”. A dozen potential members attended an organizing meeting in November of 1972 at the Science Museum of Minnesota. The ‘Twin City Astronomy Club’ was born.
From this humble beginning grew the Minnesota Astronomical Society. Today, more than forty years later, membership in the MAS exceeds 450 and we are one of the largest and most active amateur astronomy organizations in the United States.
The big news is the addition of a new observatory, just east of St. Paul. The Joseph Casby Observatory has just been completed on the grounds of the Belwin Conservancy, near Afton, MN. It houses one of the largest, finest amateur telescopes of its kind in the midwest. The MAS now has expertly-equipped observatories stationed at all four sides of the metro area.

2) Our show is set on the surface of the planet Venus – what are the conditions like on Venus, and what would some of the biggest problems be with trying to settle a human colony there?

While Venus is often called Earth’s sister planet, the two are very disimiilar. While its diameter is only 400 miles shorter, there is little else they have in common.

The temperature of the planet’s surface is about 870 degrees F, which is hotter that any of the other planets – even hotter than most ovens. Because of the high temperature, plants and animals that live on the Earth could not live on the surface of Venus. Astronomers do not know whether any form of life exists on Venus, and they doubt that it could.

Most astronomers believe that Venus’s high surface temperature can be explained by what is known as the greenhouse effect. A greenhouse lets in radiant energy from the sun, but it prevents much of the heat from escaping. The thick clouds and dense atmosphere of Venus work in much the same way. The sun’s radiant energy readily filters into the planet’s atmosphere. But the large droplets of sulfuric acid present in Venus’s clouds — and the great quantity of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere — seem to trap much of the solar energy at the planet’s surface.

The atmosphere of Venus is also heavier than that of any other planet. It consists primarily of carbon dioxide, with small amounts of nitrogen and water vapor and minute traces of argon, carbon monoxide, neon, and sulfur dioxide. The atmospheric pressure is almost 100 times greater than the atmospheric pressure on the Earth.
No Sun light to grow plants. No breathable air. Crushing atmospheric pressures. Hot enough to cook us. It would be like trying to live in a bathosphere inside a volcano.

3) Venus is unique in the solar system, but also is similar to Earth in many ways – what are some features of the planet that interest you the most?

Of most interest to me are the volcanoes. HUGE volcanos with ancient lava flow.

While 65 percent of the surface is covered by flat smooth plains, there are also thousands of volcanoes, ranging from about 0.5 to 150 miles in diameter. Six mountainous regions make up about 35 percent of the surface of Venus. They reach as high as 7 miles and are 540 miles long. It is the highest feature on the planet.

4) What are the best times of the Year and conditions to view Venus? What are some tips to locate it in September sky and the coming months?

The location of Venus in the sky is different each year. However, since it is closer to the Sun than the Earth, it will ALWAYS be found near the Sun: along the horizon in either the morning or evening sky. Currently, it is moving towards us in its orbit and is found low after sunset, along the western horizon. As it move towards us, coming between the Earth and the Sun, Venus is showing it’s back to us. This means that the sunlight hitting Venus can only be partially seen, creating a Moon-like crescent shape. As Venus gets closer to Earth, it also grows in apparent size. Seen as a small bright dot when on the farside of its orbit, the telescope now reveals a large slender crescent.

Venus is the brightest thing in the night sky this month, other than the Sun and the Moon. In fact, Venus is the object most often mistaken for a UFO. Folks find it SO bright, that they think it MUST be a from out of this world. Well, that last part is true.

5) The MAS has monthly star viewing parties – what is the best way to get involved and participate?

Go to our website to get the schedule for our star parties and come and meet our members: http://www.mnastro.org/starparties/

The volunteer members at our star parties are happy to get to know you and answer any questions you may have. You don’t need any previous knowledge of astronomy and you don’t need any equipment. We’ve got plenty of telescopes you can use to get a look at the sky.

Thanks for your time, Ron – that was great!

The Minnesota Astronomical Society is one of the nation’s largest and most active organizations dedicated to amateur astronomy. Membership is open to anyone. Information is available via the web at http://www.mnastro.org. E-mail inquiries may be directed to info@mnastro.org. Voice messages can be left at (952) 467-2426. Written requests for more information may be directed to : Minnesota Astronomical Society P.O. Box 14931 Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Upright Egg and 30 Days of Biking Partner to talk community

Welcome to the second in a series of interviews leading up to Upright Egg’s next production VENUS (a play about energy). This week, we’re talking with Patrick Stephenson and Zachariah Schaap of 30 Days of Biking, a local Twin Cities group raising awareness and connecting communities through biking.

1) What is 30 Days of Biking and how did it start?
30 Days of Biking started accidentally when Patrick Stephenson and Zachariah Schaap challenged a small group of friends on Twitter to “ride every day for 30 days!” It began in April of 2010 and within 24 hours it had grown exponentially into an international challenge! It felt so right to start the summer out with round 1 that we’ve created a round two.

2) You’ve been covered by local media, also in NYC, DC, Austin and Portland – all pretty bike friendly locations. Do you have stories of 30 Days making an impact on communities that are still developing a biking community? And how has the Twin Cities community responded to 30 Days?
The event has gotten many people from smaller communities and suburban areas to start thinking about cycling as a viable option for transport. One rider from Pensacola, Florida said he was participating in the event “to raise awareness that it’s possible to use a bike as full-time transportation, even in small cites with no particular cycling infrastructure.” That’s really the soul of 30 Days of Biking. The Twin Cities community has fully embraced the event with a great deal of enthusiasm!

3) Upright Egg was attracted to 30 Days of Biking because we share the love for community building and a desire to encourage alternatives to cars – has the social media use led to more connections and partnerships among the cycling communities you’ve reached?
It’s brought cyclists and communities together. The event gives people common ground and has bridged gaps in many areas. For instance, it has linked all types of cyclists together, the commuter to the leisure cyclist, the hipster to performance, young to old, experienced to novice, and so on!

4) What have been the biggest surprises about 30 Days of Biking?
We’re surprised by how dramatically this event has changed peoples lives, and how inspired people are by the event. We could have never imagined this. Also, we’ve learned through our registrants that a large majority of people riding bikes actually name their bike. It’s astonishing to see that most bikes you see on the road and trails actually have a name and often a backstory. It makes me think that a bike is more than a just bike… it’s a pet. A well-cared pet that you love… and name.

5) The second round of 30 Days of Biking starts on September 1st – how do people get involved? What’s new for this round from last time?
We absolutely love stories; so do other participants. Share your stories by commenting on our website or send us an email and for a guest post! Follow the story on Twitter. Like us on Facebook, and join our Facebook event. It’s as simple as that! Invite your friends, ride your bike, share your story!

Thanks to both of you for your time! We’re looking forward to September 1st!

Upright Egg and TCMaker Partner to Generate Energy on VENUS

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews leading up to Upright Egg’s next production VENUS (a play about energy). This week, we’re talking with Mike Hord of TCMaker, a local Twin Cities DIY group.

Good Morning Mike, let’s get started -
1. What is TCMaker, and how did you come to be involved with the group? and what is the Hack Factory?

TCMaker is a collaborative group that aims to provide a venue for makers to create new things, share ideas and tools, show off their creations and get feedback. The Hack Factory is the shop we work in. The reason for the
name difference is rooted in the Hack Factory and TCMaker having started as two separate groups that converged.

I became aware of the group when I saw a post on the Make magazine blog back in January of 2009. The post hit the blog within about 24 hours of the founder of the group, Paul Sobczak, having created the twincitiesmaker.com
website. Within a couple of weeks, we started having meetings, and in July we voted to organize and I volunteered to be president.

2. What are some of your favorite projects at the Hack Factory, either in process or already completed?

I’m really inspired by the life-size Operation game- that’s my model for a project that wouldn’t have happened without the group. The guy who did the art didn’t know how to make the buzzer buzz, and the guy who made the buzzer system had insufficient art skills to make it happen. Neither of the guys knew each other when they started at TCMaker.

3. That kind of collaboration is exactly the kind of thing that drew Upright Egg to contact TCMaker. What is the current project with TCMaker and Upright Egg ?

Upright Egg proposed a bicycle that would generate electricity to power a bank of low wattage LED lights for their next show. TCMaker is providing the technical skill to design and build an open-source and open-hardware device that will generate roughly 300 watts or more at its peak performance.

Several of the parts that may be going into our device

4. How does this Energy Generating Bike work ?

The bike wheel is connected to a permanent magnet DC motor salvaged from a cordless drill. The output of that motor is regulated and fed into the battery, which then powers the UPS. (editor’s note: “UPS” is short for uninterruptible power supply A switch flips from “charge” mode to “running” mode.

5. If anyone reading this has a project they’d like to work on with TCMaker- what is the best way to get started?

Best bet: come to the Wednesday night open meeting and chat about it. Second best is to post to the web forum or the Google group (or both) and see what shakes loose. Unfortunately, there are people who only check one or another of those at any given time.

Thanks again for your time, Mike.
You can learn more about TCMaker on their Website , and keep up with all things VENUS and Upright Egg on our home at http://www.uprightegg.com

Get to Know the Fairy Kingdom – Puck , or Robin Goodfellow

We took some time to talk with our cast so you could get to know them better. As the run continues, we’ll be posting all of the cast’s responses to these Get To Know the Artist questions.

Today, we’re asking Larissa Shea, Upright Egg Company Member who plays a knavish sprite.

1. What character do you play?
a Puck, a hobgoblin, I go by Robin Goodfellow sometimes, but I won’t tell you my real name.

2. Three words to describe your character
Larissa Pat Shea

3. Do you have a favorite rehearsal moment so far?
Any moment that involved chanting “U-S-A!”
Also every time Brian O’Neal said anything. He’s got gems people.

4. Favorite moment in the play
When Shakespeare wakes up at the end and realizes it was all a dream.

5. What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Gluten

6. What music has been getting you going?
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros like WHOA

7. Would you like the idea of living in the forest?
Let’s not beat around the bush. I will live in the forest. None of this, ‘I would like the “idea” of it.’ business. Surrounded by trees is my favorite place to be.

8. Favorite performance moment?
When those studly boys start their drumming and march in from afar. It’s awesomely intense and powerful…AND after running around for 30 minutes straight its the first time I get to stop and breath.

9. Who would you rather ride: a Dolphin or a Lion?
Neither. I would rather ride something with wings. I make my own rules.

10. What do you hope the audience will get from this show?
I hope that they are reminded of what it feels like to be a child and playing make-believe. Often all you need are some sticks, sheets and the great outdoors….and a glitter canon if you have the budget for it.

You can see Larissa as Puck and the whole cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream throughout the twin cities until July 10th! http://www.uprightegg.com

Get to Know the Fairy Kingdom – Tansy

We took some time to talk with our cast so you could get to know them better. As the run continues, we’ll be posting all of the cast’s responses to these Get To Know the Artist questions.

Today, we’re asking Katy Perkins, who plays a member of the Fairy Kingdom.

1. What character do you play?
Tansy

2. Three words to describe your character
playful, curious, trickster

3. Do you have a favorite rehearsal moment so far?
The First Magical Drum Circle

4. Favorite moment in the play
when the mechanicals see bottom after he’s been transformed into an ass

5. What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Lemon Sorbet

6. What music has been getting you going?
Anything that I can sing/dance/be a fairy to.

7. Would you like the idea of living in the forest?
Of course! Who wouldn’t want to live with fairies?!

8. Favorite performance moment?
When fairies play tricks on the mechanicals and bother Hermia.

9. Who would you rather fight: a Dolphin or a Lion?
Lion. ever since I read the Narnia series…

10. What do you hope the audience will get from this show?
The feeling that magic and love is everywhere!

You can see Katy as Tansy and the whole cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream throughout the twin cities until July 10th! http://www.uprightegg.com

Get to know the Fairy Kingdom – Foxglove

We took some time to talk with our cast so you could get to know them better. As the run continues, we’ll be posting all of the cast’s responses to these Get To Know the Artist questions.

Today, we’re asking Danielle Socha, who plays a member of the Fairy Kingdom.

1. What character do you play?
I play Foxglove, the Faerie

2. Three words to describe your character
Timid, feral and curious

3. Do you have a favorite rehearsal moment so far?
My favorite rehearsal moment was our first drum circle.

4. Favorite moment in the play
My favorite moment in the play is the Mechanicals’ play.

5. What’s your favorite midnight snack?
My favorite midnight snack is chocolate cake.

6. What music has been getting you going?
Tom Lehrer

7. Would you like the idea of living in the forest?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

8. Favorite performance moment?
My favorite performance moment is when the Faeries take sides when the lovers are fighting in the forest and start following either Helena or Hermia around.

9. Who would you rather fight: a Dolphin or a Lion?
I would rather fight a Lion, so long as it is under a year old.

10. What do you hope the audience will get from this show?
I hope the audience will walk away from the show feeling that they have been part of something magical and unique.

You can see Danielle as Foxglove and the whole cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream throughout the twin cities until July 10th! http://www.uprightegg.com

Get to know the Fairy Kingdom – Mustardseed

We took some time to talk with our cast so you could get to know them better. As the run continues, we’ll be posting all of the cast’s responses to these Get To Know the Artist questions.

Today, we’re asking Paul Rutledge, who plays a member of the Fairy Kingdom and one of Titania’s personal bodyguards.

1. What character do you play?
Mustardseed

2. Three words to describe your character
AWESOME, TOUGH, FAITHFUL

3. Do you have a favorite rehearsal moment so far?
everytime we have free reign for a drum circle

4. Favorite moment in the play
The fairies closing in and haunting Hermia’s dream

5. What’s your favorite midnight snack?
popcorn, banana split ice cream, cheez-its, ANYTHING!

6. What music has been getting you going?
Mumford & Sons, The Black Keys, stomp!

7. Would you like the idea of living in the forest?
for the first day, once I get hungry and realize I’m a terrible hunter/gatherer I’d get a little tired of it.

8. Favorite performance moment?
yes

9. Who would you rather fight: a Dolphin or a Lion?
not entirely sure what the question is. Fight:Dolphin, Ride: Dolphin, Be: Lion.

10. What do you hope the audience will get from this show?
A wildly energizing experience of outdoor art, make them want to dance, and go camping, and hug everyone they see.

You can see Paul as Mustardseed and the whole cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream throughout the twin cities until July 10th! http://www.uprightegg.com

Get to Know the Fairy Kingdom – Peaseblossom

We took some time to talk with our cast so you could get to know them better. As the run continues, we’ll be posting all of the cast’s responses to these Get To Know the Artist questions.

Today, we’re asking Kieran Adcock-Starr, who plays a member of the Fairy Kingdom and one of Titania’s personal bodyguards.

1. What character do you play?
Peaseblossom, Fairy Guard

2. Three words to describe your character
Watchful, grounded, and loyal

3. Do you have a favorite rehearsal moment so far?
The charge in the air that surrounded us after that first successful drum circle, when we were all soaked with sweat, exhausted and panting, but wanting more.

4. Favorite moment in the play
I have a few. Particularly the play within a play. It’s like Shakespeare was showing off that he could write a play really badly too, if he felt like it.

5. What’s your favorite midnight snack?
Graham Crackers and Milk.

6. What music has been getting you going?
A rotation of Mumford and Sons and The Blue Man Group.

7. Would you like the idea of living in the forest?
Only if it was in a tree house like the one the Swiss Family Robinson had.

8. Favorite performance moment?
Of mine? Any time I get to drum. Of someone else’s? Any and all of the mechanical’s reactions to Bottom’s transformation. It’s tremendous.

9. Who would you rather fight: a Dolphin or a Lion?
Dolphin. Cats cheat.

10. What do you hope the audience will get from this show?
That anything you give with wild abandonment and an open heart will be returned tenfold in amazing and unexpected ways.

You can see Kieran as Peaseblossom and the whole cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream throughout the twin cities until July 10th! http://www.uprightegg.com