Kate Hoff's blog
Thursday. Sick and tired. No shows, but big plans...
by Kate Hoff | 8/7/09 • Thursday. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I’d end up sick – staying up late, spending time with hoards of people, at least some of whom are germy. It finally caught up with me and, in spite of all best intentions, a little fever kept my Thursday show count at zero. And made me miss Karaoke.MORE »
Wednesday! Mimes, sexy overload, a war, and a fish bowl
by Kate Hoff | 8/6/09 • The home stretch Fringe panic is starting to set in. A week ago I had all the time in the world to see shows and I squandered time slots on stupid luxuries. Want to take a break for a hamburger? It was an easy choice last week, but now every missed slot means a show I will not see… ever. So much pressure.MORE »
Tired Tuesday: Hit men, snake oil, homelessness, and a colorful chorus
by Kate Hoff | 8/5/09 • The halfway point of Fringe 2009 came and went yesterday without fanfare. I have to admit I’m a little tired. Twenty-five shows down, up to 26 more to go.
I started my Tuesday with Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter performed by Ariel Pinkerton and Erik Hoover at the Playwrights’ Center. The story of two hit men waiting for their next target. It’s great. Go see it.MORE »
Monday: A walkout, the worst job interview EVER, and my boys Jimmy and Noah. With guest appearance by chocolate
by Kate Hoff | 8/4/09 • About a year and a half ago, Bob and I won Timberwolves tickets in a silent auction (at a Fringe fundraiser, as a matter of fact). I’m not a huge sports fan, but enjoy the occasional live game. We went to the Target Center, had some beer and hot dogs and watched the Timberwolves stay consistently and significantly behind. With five minutes left on the clock, I’d had enough basketball and insisted that we get out of there to avoid a pileup in the parking ramp.MORE »
Sunday: Perfection. Dinosaurs, a hanging, dumb jobs, talking dancers, real girls, and Irish songbirds
by Kate Hoff | 8/3/09 • I intentionally loaded Sunday with a show lineup I thought my sister, a first-time Fringer, might enjoy. We grabbed a little breakfast at Key’s Café and joined the line to see Jurassic Dork created and performed by John Skelley at Gremlin Theatre. After much contemplation, this is my analysis: John Skelley is a freaking genius and I love him. This show is straightforward.MORE »
Saturday: Dance, discovery, hypnosis, Lieutenant Penguin, and one of the funniest guys around.
by Kate Hoff | 8/2/09 • Saturday, what a day…and I couldn’t get out of the house to save my life. The 1:00 time slot came and went, and then the 2:30…and after fueling up on an Anodyne bacon sandwich, I went to see You/Provoke/Me at the Rarig Proscenium, presented by Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre. I really loved this atmospheric, lush dance show of five different dances.MORE »
Fringe Friday: An alien, a cop, and a baby walk into a whale...
by Kate Hoff | 8/1/09 • Hey, did you know that there are four Fringe shows with a banjo this year? Four.
But this isn’t one of them. Friday started with Little Green Man and Strong presented by the New Theatre Group at Minneapolis Theatre Garage. I put this show on my top ten list. I so love being right.MORE »
Happy Fringe opening!
by Kate Hoff | 7/31/09 • I kicked off the 2009 MN Fringe Festival with Death Camp Diaries, presented by Howard Lieberman and Jaded Optimist Productions at the Rarig Xperimental. Howard, a devoutly agnostic secular Jew, has just returned from a trip to visit Nazi death camps in Europe. Just just returned, as in two days ago. This show is a deeply personal account of Howard’s journey.MORE »
My Top Ten Fringe Shows for 2009
One. The Flickering Wall presented by Illusion Theater, at Illusion Theater. I’m starting my list with a BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) show. I’m a sucker for site-specific work, and I’m intrigued by the idea of a show set in an empty theater – where the action is not necessarily on stage.
Two. Jurassic Dork created and performed by John Skelley at Gremlin Theatre.MORE »
workaround
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