WHAT WE'RE DOING
From November 4-22, 2020, Fortune’s Fool Theatre will present To Breed, or Not to Breed, three weeks of intimate, revealing storytelling in an exciting new format that brings back live performance without sacrificing safety. Each week at the Crane Theater, (2303 Kennedy St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413) six different performers will share personal stories connected to parenting, or not parenting.
To Breed, or Not to Breed is an anthology of monologues based on parenting: autobiographical stories about people who wanted children / had children; didn't want children / didn't have children; haven't decided if they want children; adopted children / placed a child; fathered a child; lost a child; became a step-parent, etc. We will have three separate casts, each performing for a week, enabling us to include a large group of voices representing a variety of races, ages, economic and cultural backgrounds, and the whole spectrum of the GLBTQIA+ community. Our group of 20 storytellers includes some writers and performers who are well-known to Twin Cities theatregoers, providing opportunities for artists who are unemployed or underemployed due to the pandemic, yet it also includes people from all walks of life.
Safety is paramount. Our extensive safety procedures allow the performers to remain isolated from each other through the entire process for their protection, and goes above and beyond the current Covid-19 requirements for performance spaces to protect the staff and audience. SEE THE FULL DOCUMENT HERE. Some of the highlights of our COVID-19 preparedness plan: admissions are capped at 25% of seating capacity, for a total of twenty audience members per show (only 16 tickets will be sold online). All staff, artists, and attendees must be masked, and we will screen the performers, audience, and staff with an infrared thermometer. Artists will have their own personal microphone shields. We will not sell concessions. Performance length (roughly 45 minutes) was chosen to eliminate intermission and minimize bathroom usage. We will have no final curtain call, and all performers will leave the space immediately following their performance.
To Breed, or Not to Breed will be directed (via Zoom) by Ben Layne, with lighting by Ariel Pinkerton and music by Aaron Henderson. Ruth Virkus will be the dramaturg. Promotional illustration by Grace Goeks, press photo by Jace Garrido-Edington for HM Photography.
To Breed, or Not to Breed runs from November 4-22. Performance dates are Tuesday through Sunday at 7:00 pm, with the exception of the first week (we open on a Wednesday due to the election). Performances will last approximately 45 minutes. Admission is $20. For those who cannot see all three casts, cannot afford a ticket, or are, despite our precautions, uneasy about entering a theatre, we will video each week’s lineup. Shortly after the show closes on November 22, we will offer these videos online, where they can be viewed for free, although we would welcome a small donation from any viewer who feels able to do so.
From November 4-22, 2020, Fortune’s Fool Theatre will present To Breed, or Not to Breed, three weeks of intimate, revealing storytelling in an exciting new format that brings back live performance without sacrificing safety. Each week at the Crane Theater, (2303 Kennedy St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413) six different performers will share personal stories connected to parenting, or not parenting.
To Breed, or Not to Breed is an anthology of monologues based on parenting: autobiographical stories about people who wanted children / had children; didn't want children / didn't have children; haven't decided if they want children; adopted children / placed a child; fathered a child; lost a child; became a step-parent, etc. We will have three separate casts, each performing for a week, enabling us to include a large group of voices representing a variety of races, ages, economic and cultural backgrounds, and the whole spectrum of the GLBTQIA+ community. Our group of 20 storytellers includes some writers and performers who are well-known to Twin Cities theatregoers, providing opportunities for artists who are unemployed or underemployed due to the pandemic, yet it also includes people from all walks of life.
Safety is paramount. Our extensive safety procedures allow the performers to remain isolated from each other through the entire process for their protection, and goes above and beyond the current Covid-19 requirements for performance spaces to protect the staff and audience. SEE THE FULL DOCUMENT HERE. Some of the highlights of our COVID-19 preparedness plan: admissions are capped at 25% of seating capacity, for a total of twenty audience members per show (only 16 tickets will be sold online). All staff, artists, and attendees must be masked, and we will screen the performers, audience, and staff with an infrared thermometer. Artists will have their own personal microphone shields. We will not sell concessions. Performance length (roughly 45 minutes) was chosen to eliminate intermission and minimize bathroom usage. We will have no final curtain call, and all performers will leave the space immediately following their performance.
To Breed, or Not to Breed will be directed (via Zoom) by Ben Layne, with lighting by Ariel Pinkerton and music by Aaron Henderson. Ruth Virkus will be the dramaturg. Promotional illustration by Grace Goeks, press photo by Jace Garrido-Edington for HM Photography.
To Breed, or Not to Breed runs from November 4-22. Performance dates are Tuesday through Sunday at 7:00 pm, with the exception of the first week (we open on a Wednesday due to the election). Performances will last approximately 45 minutes. Admission is $20. For those who cannot see all three casts, cannot afford a ticket, or are, despite our precautions, uneasy about entering a theatre, we will video each week’s lineup. Shortly after the show closes on November 22, we will offer these videos online, where they can be viewed for free, although we would welcome a small donation from any viewer who feels able to do so.
SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM
November 4-8 @ 7:00 pm
"Therefore I Trust Myself" written and performed by Anthony & Haley Sisler-Neuman (video)
"Mother's House" written by Saymoukda Vongsay, performed by Jeannie Lander
"I Have Only One Regret" written and performed by Heidi M. Garrido
"I Don't Wanna" written by Daniel Pinkerton, performed by Daniel & Ariel Pinkerton
"Real" written and performed by Suzie Juul
"This Is Not How I Wanted to Start This Story" written and performed by Ariel Pinkerton
November 10-15 @7:00 pm
Jen Scott: Nov. 10-12
Linda Sue Anderson & Tim Hammett: Nov. 13-15
David Coral & Vicki Knight
Kelli Gorr
Jean Wolff
Doc Woods
Eli Effinger-Weintraub
November 17-22 @ 7:00 pm
Jen Scott: Nov. 17-19
Linda Sue Anderson & Tim Hammett: Nov. 20-22
Josh Cragun
Duck Washington
Ariel Pinkerton
Matthew Kessen
Jenna Papke
November 4-8 @ 7:00 pm
"Therefore I Trust Myself" written and performed by Anthony & Haley Sisler-Neuman (video)
"Mother's House" written by Saymoukda Vongsay, performed by Jeannie Lander
"I Have Only One Regret" written and performed by Heidi M. Garrido
"I Don't Wanna" written by Daniel Pinkerton, performed by Daniel & Ariel Pinkerton
"Real" written and performed by Suzie Juul
"This Is Not How I Wanted to Start This Story" written and performed by Ariel Pinkerton
November 10-15 @7:00 pm
Jen Scott: Nov. 10-12
Linda Sue Anderson & Tim Hammett: Nov. 13-15
David Coral & Vicki Knight
Kelli Gorr
Jean Wolff
Doc Woods
Eli Effinger-Weintraub
November 17-22 @ 7:00 pm
Jen Scott: Nov. 17-19
Linda Sue Anderson & Tim Hammett: Nov. 20-22
Josh Cragun
Duck Washington
Ariel Pinkerton
Matthew Kessen
Jenna Papke
