School Of Rockstars
presented by What Happened Productions
Showtimes
Fri., Aug. 1 @ 10:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 3 @ 2:30 p.m.
Wed., Aug. 6 @ 5:30 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 7 @ 8:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 9 @ 7:00 p.m.
Show details
Venue: U of M Rarig Center Thrust
Duration: 60 minutes
For ages 14+
Created by Rockstar Storytellers
Website: http://www.rockstarstorytellers.com
Genres: Solo, Spoken Word
Warnings: Adult language
Overall rating
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User reviews
Rockstars Rock!
by Liz Floyd Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I look forward to seeing you guys next year! The guy with the bar story on 8-1-08 I thought that night was not that great, then I went and had a dream reanacting what he said, so I guess he has quite a knack. The next morning I was thinking where did that darn stroy come from?
Good stuff
by Brian Watson-Jones Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Note: I saw Just Scraping By. It seems more important than usual to note what evening this review is for.
It's damn near impossible to review an evening of multiple storytellers, and it's 2 am, so I'm not gonna try. But good stories, sometimes with cool meaning and sometimes funny tangents and sometimes just a standard story with a particularly well-chosen series of words in it. I like the concept of woodshedding, but if it's sold as a competition of topping each other, there should be a winner. Up the stakes! Penalize people for having too weak a link to the subject they're jumping from! Maybe team uniforms and medals! If you're going to do just nugget stories at the end, call it "Nugget Stories" instead.
Not playing to the right crowd...
by Kay Kirscht Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
(Actually 3-1/2 kittehs.)
...Not in front of a small, quiet house that's never heard of you. It was a nice try - but feel you all were struggling to present in front of a decidedly different audience with a different mind-set.
And presenting without proper liquor enhancement or libation.
And without your multitude of rowdy, RockStar fans.
Actually, I was expecting stories about *education*...no kitties deducted, though.
Woodshedding? Works for abstract music and Jazz...not for storytelling. Unless what you're telling is complete bullshit - and it's a Liar's contest (that would work fine).
I want to hear each story - all of it - instead of someone stealing the ending with their own topper. Again, a nice experiment - but am enjoying all of your solo shows more.
Can't Go Wrong With the Rockstars
by Ben San Del Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I'll admit, the Rockstars are better in a bar setting (if you have not seen them perform at the BLB yet, check them out next time), but they still put on an entertaining show at the Thrust. The woodshedder stuff seemed a little gimmicky (I caught the first show, so I'm sure it will get better with every performance), and ended the show on a bit of a "huh?" note, but oh, well. Gotta give them points for trying something new. In any case, you can't go wrong with the Rockstars.
Stories, Stories, Stories
by Kale Ganann Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The Rockstar Storytellers are a collective of some of the best the Twin Cities has to offer in storytelling. Within every show will be standout performances by people you will want to see again and again.
The problem is it also has some of the weaker aspects of the local storytelling scene. There will be stories you love, but there are performances that are across the board. Check the schedule, look for the performers you know, and take the plunge. It'll be a mixed bag, but the good pieces will outweigh the mediocre.
A Real Grab Bag
by Derek Miller Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
It's hard to write a review of this show that will matter to any subsequent audiences, as the lineup and theme are different every night. I attended the 8/3 show, and there were bits that I loved, and bits that I was merely tolerant of. The "woodshedding" idea is interesting, and I was insanely intrigued by the idea of Rik Reppe and Mike Fotis having a throw-down, but the piece immediately left story-telling and veered deep into a very funny, though aimless, series of escalating insults between the two. I loved phillip andrew bennet low's piece, but I was wasn't incredibly taken with much else. Of course, it's different every night, so maybe you'll go on a night that blows your mind with 5-kitty level power. I doubt you'll ever slog through a night of awful performances from any of these people, but, hey, on my night, it averaged out right in the middle.
I did indeed laugh, and possibly cried.
by Mandi Johnson Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I'm never let down when I see the Rockstar Storytellers. This wasn't my all time favorite experience with them, but I definitely enjoyed the new woodshedding concept. I plan to see that idea fleshed out with the new season.
Meh Mish Mash
by Erica Mauter Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
This show is good exposure to the best storytellers in town if you've never seen them before. I guarantee you'll be inspired to see them again sometime, but if you have seen them before there's a chance you'll have seen some of this material already. The woodshedder idea is interesting but I'm not sure how well it actually works. I'd recommend you go see each of their respective shows instead.
