What's a Joking Envelope?
The company takes its name from Sigmund Freud's essay on comic theory, Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious. In its original sense, joking envelope refers to the idea that comedy is a form of packaging for ideas and emotions. In a larger sense, the term has come to express the social space in which we agree any idea has the potential for comedy—because sometimes a joke is just a joke. We invite you to step into the Joking Envelope with us. It's a business-sized envelope so there's room for everyone.
Donate
Even though Joking Envelope is a for-profit company, we share the following in common with non-profit companies: we're small, artsy, and just adore asking strangers for money. So if you enjoy our work and believe in intelligent thought-provoking comedy, please consider making an extremely non-tax deductible donation to Joking Envelope. Many different contribution levels are available! Thank you for your support!
$1000 or More: Comedy Gold
Two season passes, a haiku written in your honor and other special deals
$500 - $999: Hilarious Quip
Two free tickets per season and other special deals
$100-$499: Witty Bon Mot
One free ticket per season and other special deals
$1 - $99: Funny One-Liner
Discount tickets and other special deals
THE PEOPLE
Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw, Business Manager
Sara has worked with a variety of local arts and cultural organizations over the past ten years. Sara currently works as the Program Supervisor at the James J. Hill House, part of the Minnesota Historical Society. She has worked as the Business Manager, School Coordinator, and Managing Director for Zenon Dance Company and School. She holds a Master's Degree in Arts & Cultural Management from City University, London, UK. While in London she had the opportunity to participate in a project at the National Portrait Gallery working with visitors with visual impairments. Sara's master's thesis was on the collection and use of audience data in local theater and dance organizations, and her findings have since been presented in online journals and to interested parties. She has also worked with the Southern Theater and other arts organizations on their audience data collection and analysis. Sara performs around the Twin Cities as a modern dancer, frequently with DRP Dance or John Munger's Third Rabbit Dance Ensemble. In collaboration with her husband, she has created multiple dance/theater shows, including Dance of the Whisky Faerie and Mind The Culture Gap. In her spare time, Sara knits.
Joseph Scrimshaw, Creative Director
Joseph is a critically acclaimed actor, an internationally produced playwright and director/producer described as 'clever and inventive' by The Minneapolis Star Tribune, "King of Comedy' by Minnesota Monthly magazine, and according to the Twin Cities Daily Planet has "the tireless spirit of a vaudeville performer." Graduating from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor's of Science degree in visual art, rhetoric and cultural studies, Joseph decided to go into a more financially rewarding field: theater.
With his brother, Joshua, Joseph formed one half of The Scrimshaw Brothers Comedy Team. The Brothers were named City Pages' Artists of the Year in 2002 and have been described by the St. Paul Pioneer Press as "the utility men of comedy-jumping from sketches to slapstick to soliloquy without skipping a laugh". As a solo producer, Joseph built a reputation with multiple top-ten best-selling shows at the Minnesota Fringe Festival including 2005's Adventures in Mating, an audience interactive romantic comedy that has played in New York, Seattle, Dallas, the UK and even Bulgaria.
As a for-hire actor, Joseph has performed with a wide variety of organizations ranging from a touring Shakespeare company to a long run as a performer of children's theater at Old Gem Theater in New Richmond, Wisconsin. Joseph has a special affinity for his audience interaction and improv experience with Mystery Café, Improv a Go Go and the Scrimshaw Brothers' late night cabaret, Look Ma No Pants.
As a freelance writer, Joseph has created new works for the Minnesota Historical Society, General Mills, Minnesota Public Radio, Hardcover Theater, the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Book Awards. Joseph is also well known in the Twin Cities area as an expert on comedy. He has presented lectures on the theory and practice of comedy for the University of Minnesota as well as the Walker Art Museum.
In July of 2009, Joseph and his wife Sara formed Joking Envelope to combine all their creative efforts into one cohesive business. Joseph still works with his brother as well as being a proud member of the Rockstar Storytellers.
In his spare time, Joseph watches his wife knit.
Frequent collaborators and people we like
- Rockstar Storytellers
- Tim Uren
- Bryant-Lake Bowl
- Table Salt Productions
- Talent Poole Talent Agency
- The Minnesota Fringe Festival
- Craig VanDerSchaegen
- Minnesota Playlist
- Theater Schmeater
Photo credits
Thanks to the talented photographers whose work can be seen throughout the site: Tony Webster, Craig VanDerSchaegen, Jeff Larson, Scott Pakudaitus
