THE DAMN AUDITION
Written and Directed by Joseph Scrimshaw
"What's Up, Satan?" is the hottest television pilot in LA. Only three actors remain in the audition room of hell. What won't they do to land the lead role of Lucifer? An evil comedy about real life evil playing as a part of The 2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival.
"Did you know that in Los Angeleles 'is that normal?' is the most frequently asked and least frequently answered question?"
February, The Damn Audition
"In America, wanting to be famous is like having herpes. Even if you're not experiencing an outbreak, it's always there, living in your spine."
Axel, The Damn Audition
"I am a Lutheran. The closest I have ever been to an orgy is a really successful potluck."
Hugh, The Damn Audition
FEATURING THE TALENTS OF:
Maggie Chestovich*, David Mann*, John Middleton, Randy Reyes* and
Joseph Scrimshaw.
*member of Actor's Equity Association
MORE ABOUT THE SHOW
The Damn Audition is an intelligent, fast-paced comic play featuring a truly all star cast of Twin Cities acting talent:Equity actor and star of the Guthrie's recent production of M. Butterfly, Randy Reyes, as an inexperienced actor brand new to LA; Fringe Favorite David Mann as a frustrated LA character actor; John Middleton as a deranged former child star; and Maggie Chestovich and Joseph Scrimshaw as artistically obsessed casting agents.
Using the Hollywood dream of fame and success as a backdrop, the show explores the concept of "everyday evil". Putting aside demons, Nazis, or super-villians--what choices do we all make on a day-to-day basis that we are less than proud of? Is there really such a thing as good and evil? What won't we do to get what we really want in life?
WHERE
The U of M Rarig Thrust Stage
330 21st Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55455
WHEN
| Saturday, Aug 7 | @ | 1:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, August 8 | @ | 7:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday, August 11 | @ | 10:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, August 14 | @ | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, August 15 | @ | 4:00 p.m. |
TICKETS
Regular tickets: $12.
Students/Seniors/MPR Members: $10
One-time purchase of $4 Fringe Button required for admittance to all Fringe shows. Five and ten show punch cards and ultra-passes also available./p>
To purchase advance tickets
Visit fringefestival.org or call (866) 811-4111.
Tickets also available at the door one half hour before the show.
Download Photos
Download the Press Release
PREVIOUS PRAISE FOR JOSEPH'S FRINGE SHOWS
"If there's one guy you can count on for an entertaining show at the Fringe--it's Joseph Scrimshaw!"
-The Onion
"Clever and Inventive"
-Star Tribune
"King of Comedy"
-MN Monthly
"Fringe Mastermind, Physically Fearless, Drop Dead Funny"
-Pioneer Press
"Go to see a Joseph Scrimshaw show and you know what you're going to get:
a script that's brainy but accessible, a tone that's wry but not cynical, consistent laughs delivered by a cast evincing palpable camaraderie..."
-TC Daily Planet
SAFE AS HOUSES
Written and Directed by Tom Poole
Charles "David" Glenfiddich, Real Estate Agent of Last Resort, offers a cute single family fixer-upper, close to bus lines and the mouth of hell. Safe As Houses tells the darkly comic tale of Chuck's final open house--a saga packed with ineffectual scams, fatal kitchen accidents, bags of cash, novel self-improvement schemes, and depressing interior design tips-- answering the question, "What happens if your perfect house turns out to have been built over the graveyard of the American Dream?"
"That furnace is a real selling point for this place. Most of these older houses you have to replace the furnace in a year or two and those babies aren't cheap. What you got down there is a brand new industrial quality walk-in furnace."
Chuck, Safe As Houses
"You don't really think of something like a breakfast nook as being able to suck the life out of you."
Darla, Safe As Houses
FEATURING THE TALENTS OF:
Chris Carlson*, Mo Perry, Joseph Scrimshaw and Anna Sundberg.
Design Team: Matt Erkel, Allana Olson, Mike Pledl, Tom Poole and
Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw
ALSO FEATURING the music of Peter Wolf Crier!
*member of Actor's Equity Association
COMEDY IN THEORY and PRACTICE
Joking Envelope presents a workshop for actors and improvisers of all experience levels looking to expand their understanding and performance of comedy. Learn the basic ideas of comic theory and how to apply them to onstage performance. Led by Jill Bernard ("the queen of Minneapolis improv" -Chicago Magazine) and Joking Envelope Creative Director, Joseph Scrimshaw ("the Cirque Du Soleil of Minneapolis comedy" -The Onion)!
Learn how to do it wrong the right way!
The workshop will be offered twice in conjunction with Joking Envelope's production of Tom Poole's Safe As Houses at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage.
Dates and Times:
Saturday, April 10th 11 AM - 2 PM
Saturday, April 17th 11 AM - 2 PM
Location:
The Minneapolis Theatre Garage
711 W Franklin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Price:
$50 or bring a friend and enroll two for the price of one!
Maximum of 20 students per class.
To enroll, e-mail Joking Envelope at info@jokingenvelope.com and pay cash or check on the day of the class.
WHERE
The Minneapolis Theater Garage
711 W Franklin Ave in South Minneapolis
WHEN
| Friday, April 2 | @ | 8:00 p.m. (Opening Night Party) |
| Saturday, April 3 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 4 | @ | 4:00 p.m. |
| Thursday, April 8 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Friday, April 9 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, April 10 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, April 11 | @ | 4:00 p.m. |
| Monday, April 12 | @ | 8:00 p.m. (Pay What You Can Night) |
| Thursday, April 15 | @ | 8:00 p.m.(Post Show Talkback) |
| Friday, April 16 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, April 17 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
TICKETS
$20/$2 off for Fringe Button holders, Students or Seniors
For reservations call the Joking Envelope reservation line at
612 -280-9210
Or click here TO BUY TICKETS NOW!
Download Photos
Download the Press Release
GREAT REVIEWS
"surreally funny...had me screaming with laughter...A tip top script and even better acting: recommended."-howwastheshow.com
"Finds the sweet spot between comedy and horror...laugh-out loud funny"
-MinnPost
"Safe as Houses will make you laugh--brutally, scathingly, relentlessly...by far the smartest, darkest comedy to come along in a long time." -Minneapolis/St.Paul Magazine
"Houses boasts a terrific, energized cast and no shortage of laughs...Strong and weird" -City Pages
TOM POOLE'S SAFE AS HOUSES: THE TRAILER
Inspired by old Alfred Hitchcock trailers, this video preview of Safe As Houses captures the show's unique mix of horror and hilarity.
Featuring the music of Peter Wolf Crier. Shot and edited by Tom Poole.
TOM POOLE IS JOKING ON 3 MINUTE EGG
Check out this preview/interview from 3 Minute Egg. If you enjoy 3 Minute Egg consider subscribing!
FAT MAN CRYING
Written and Directed by Joseph Scrimshaw
A two act holiday comedy! George and Skye Deal are a happily married couple enjoying a casual Christmas Eve at home until Santa Claus breaks in--armed with a magic sack, intimate details about the couple and a neurotic fear of a mysterious man known only as 'The Dave'. Described by critics as "smart, well crafted" and "gently irreverent", this hit holiday show tackles ideas of belief, fantasy and wedded bliss with a unique mix of heart and humor.
"Finely pitched comedy! Intelligent and funny! An intriguing take on Holiday shows!"
The City Pages
"The show's percolating tempo delivers laugh lines like toys dropping off a North pole conveyor belt...one of the top ten shows of the year!"
Twin Cities Daily Planet
"grace, intelligence, excellent writing and not a whiff of cynicism!"
The Onion
FEATURING THE TALENTS OF
Matt Erkel as Santa, Ivey Award Winner Matt Rein, Amy Schweickhardt, Joseph Scrimshaw, set design by Nate Saul, props and costumes by Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw, and technical direction by Tony Karna.
POSE WITH SAD SANTA
A unique opportunity for a novel holiday card photo! For $5 we'll take a high-quality digital photo of you or your group with Santa and e-mail it to you. Our Santa takes direction well--choose from any number of emotions: happy, sad, vexed, mercurial, pouty, sexy--you name it! Available after any performance!
GREAT REVIEWS
"Rife with sidesplitting moments, the wisecracking narrative never loses its warmly human focus, making Fat Man Crying the rarest of holiday entertainment; one that wields its sharply irreverent wit in the service of a subversively heartfelt Christmas story."
-Brad Richason
Read the whole review at examiner.com
"(Fat Man Crying) hits tons of comedic highs! Scrimshaw's deft understanding of relationships make it ring with truth...the cast, led by Matt Erkel as the ultimate sad Santa, makes it all sing!"
-Ed Huyck
Read the whole review at minnpost.com
And check out these great write-ups from the Star Tribune and The Onion's Twin Cities AV Club!
WHERE
The Minneapolis Theater Garage
711 W Franklin Ave in South Minneapolis
WHEN
| Friday, Dec 4 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec 5 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec 6 | @ | 4:00 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec 11 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec 12 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec 13 | @ | 4:00 p.m. |
| Monday, Dec 14 | @ | 8:00 p.m. (Pay What You Can Night) |
| Friday, Dec 18 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, Dec 19 | @ | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, Dec 20 | @ | 4:00 p.m. |
TICKETS
$20/$3 off for Fringe Button holders, Students or Seniors
For reservations call the Joking Envelope reservation line at
612 -280-9210
Or click here TO BUY TICKETS NOW!
Downloads
FAT MAN CRYING TRAILER 2009
George and Skye prep for the holidays by making a quick video letter to upload to youtube for Santa Claus. Little do they know, Santa is far too depressed to play around on the interwebs...
MORE PERFORMANCES
Joseph, Sara and other frequent collaborators perform often across the Twin Cities and the country. Sign up for our Twitter Feed or newsletter (top of page) for updates on more performances!
