Minnesota Fringe Festival

The Great Heresy Theater Company is proud to announce its second year in the Minnesota Fringe Festival. This year, we are premiering a new work: Strange Weather, written by Sarah Wash and directed by Michelle Schwantes.

Set centuries into the future, Strange Weather is the story of human survival in a landscape that has been dramatically and permanently altered by postindustrial civilization, which has long since collapsed. In its place, an extreme and fundamentalist religious tribalism has taken hold as an attempt to explain what has happened to humanity through a narrative of sin, punishment, and redemption.

In the midst of this harsh landscape, Troy, a simple farmer, attempts to care for his family and eke out some sort of life for all of them. As an alternative to the narrative of the religious militants, he has offered his children another story: a fairy tale, a larger-than-life story of the miraculous circumstances under which he and their mother met, which led to the supposed psychic abilities of their daughter, Cassie. Complicating matters is the fact that his son, Hector, is part of the religious militia that controls their small town, while his mother, a religious fundamentalist herself, is constantly trying to undermine his story.

Then, one day, a stranger arrives at their humble home, and their fragile lives are forever altered.

The show premiers in the Fringe Festival in August at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage.

The Great Heresy Theater Company is a new theater company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded by a group of young writers, artists, and creative experimenters. We are dedicated to collaboration in the pursuit of literary and artistically challenging works for the stage.

Strange Weather is our second Fringe Festival show. It is a post apocalyptic Greek tragedy set in the Midwestern Great Plains. A family attempts to survive in a hostile landscape, surrounded by religious fanatics, terrifying creatures, and most of all, their own dark secrets.

Listen to the Great Heresy Theater Company episode of the Twin Cities Theater Connection podcast: Click here to listen.

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The cast

Joshua Busick
Role: Jason
Joshua Busick is a multi-media artist originally from Missouri. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Missouri State University studying performance and creative writing. Currently, he resides in the Twin Cities with his wife Lynnette and daughter Adie, and works for the Fallout Arts Initiative which reaches out to at-risk youth through creativity. He has played such widely differing roles as a crazy German doctor, cockroach, cross-dressing husband, American soldier during Vietnam, handicapped searcher, samurai soldier, and essayist.

Josh Feist
Role: Stage Manager
Strange Weather marks Josh's second stage managing gig of his semi-fledgling theatre career as a stage manager. Beginning with last summer with the Great Heresy Theater Company's Fringe Festival debut of The Street of Crocodiles, Josh is happy to work with people who have such inspiring heretical creativity.

Josh's community theatre credits include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park, Maryland. There he worked alongside Gary Adamsen, a renowned actor and Broadway stage manager for The Phantom of the Opera.
Spending most of his waking hours in Uptown, Josh currently works at Arts Midwest as an administrative assistant for The Big Read program, a national initiative created by the National Endowment for the Arts. Arts Midwest's mission is to connect people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. www.artsmidwest.org.

Finally, as if he weren't busy enough, Josh is a part-time graduate student at the University of St. Thomas in the Masters program of Art History.

John Kunik
Role: Troy
John has been part of the Twin Cities theatre scene since arriving thirty something years ago, appearing with the Children's Theatre Company, Theatre in the Round, Park Square, Hey City Theater, the Guthrie, and many others. A professionally produced playwright, he has also directed over 30 productions in the Twin Cities area and appeared in numerous commercials. This summer John will move up from being an extra in several movies to his first speaking role. Okay, it's probably two lines but he's actually listed in the cast. The last eight years he has been plying his new-found trade as a stand-up comic including featured performances in comedy festivals in North Carolina and Kansas City.

Michelle Schwantes
Role: Director
Michelle is an all-around performance artist. A director, actor, producer, designer and choreographer she has a deeply-vested interest in the arts. She is affiliated with multiple performance companies and enjoys writing and art history in the spare time that she has.

She has toured nationally with Boston Chamber Theatre, Climb Theatre and Poetry Alive. She has also worked with Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis, Gremlin Theatre, SteppingStone Theatre, Stages Theatre, the Minnesota Rennaissance Festival as well as many others. She is also classically trained in ballet, tap and jazz dance.

Deb Birchler
Role: Grandmother
Deb Birchler has worked with a diverse array of companies and productions over the past several years. Her theater experience includes performing in classics such as Arsenic and Old Lace and The Man Who Came to Dinner at Theatre Homme Dieu, The Play’s The Thing and A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie, as well as more avant garde works such as Night at the Black Pig, Noon, and No Exit, and numerous films, including The Mighty Ducks and Drop Dead Fred.

Natasha Smith
Role: Cassie
In addition to acting, Natasha Smith's forays into theater have included directing, playwriting, scene design, and various types of backstage work. She recently appeared in Evita and the Vagina Monologues at Amherst College, where she is a Theater and English double major and a rising junior. Natasha will spend the upcoming semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy, and she plans to pursue a career in theater or education.

David Talarico
Role: The Stranger
David lived in South Texas until he was 20, packed everything into his Ford Pinto, and moved to Minnesota. He traded the Pinto for a Datsun, began a career in typesetting that evolved into computer graphics, married a ballerina who evolved into an ex-wife, drove a Honda, raised 2 amazing daughters, acquired an orange tabby cat, acquired a son-in-law, drove a Geo, acted in theater and film, became the pronouncer for the state spelling bee, and now drives a Focus with 150K miles. He's got some mighty fine friends, family, roommates, and distant cousins.

Sarah M. Wash
Role: Playwright
Sarah M. Wash is a Twin Cities based writer who founded the Great Heresy Theater Company in 2008 to explore the intersections between page and stage, between the written word and the spoken word. Having studied both fiction and playwriting, she is keenly interested in possibilities of narrative movement and play of language, and is constantly looking for forms of expression that bring together artistic exploration and entertainment. So, in other words...trying to have a good time while making herself and others think.

If you're curious about her other work, you can check it out at www.sarahmwash.com.

Joshua Humphrey
Role: Hector
Joshua Humphrey is, first and foremost, an arts promoter. He is the host and producer of Twin Cities Theater Connection Podcast, in which he interviews theatre directors, actors, technicians and just about anyone that will give him the time of day. He hopes that Twin Cities Theater Connection is able educate audiences as he explores the dark underbelly that is the Twin Cities theatre scene.

Josh recently moved back to the Twin Cities this past September after
having spent three years abroad in Japan teaching English to elementary and junior high school students. He's worked with The Upright Egg Theatre Co. as a dramaturg and is beginning to concentrate more on his own writing and production interests. Hector is his first performing role in four years.

The Great Heresy Theater Company

Strange Weather

Sat., Aug. 1 @ 7:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 2 @ 4:00 p.m.
Mon., Aug. 3 @ 5:30 p.m.
Tue., Aug. 4 @ 10:00 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 6 @ 8:30 p.m.

Warning! Loud noises/gunshots

Venue Minneapolis Theatre Garage
For ages 13+
Written by Sarah M. Wash
Web site http://greatheresytheater.com/
genres Drama, Sci-fi/mystery
subjects Relationships, Historical
features World premiere, Original script/choreography

Overall rating

User reviews

A chilling tale that could come true
by Chuck Beeson Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This piece about the post-nuclear earth run by militias with strange creatures coming out of bad water (of which we never see) is a portrait of a world we might get to if we don't figure out how to keep the peace. An actor driven piece, I liked all the characters, especially the father and the preacher, who did a nice job being extra-creepy and dark and conveying that world of hopelessness the play projects.

Serious s.f. drama - well worth seeing
by Sharon Kahn Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
As science fiction fans, my husband and I try to attend at least one s.f. show each year. This one is not the usual wacky sci-fi costume comedy that we've seen at past Fringes. Instead it is a very intense, sensitively performed, well-produced family drama set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future. Highly recommended, but don't expect a Hollywood ending. I'm afraid the performers didn't get the enthusiastic applause they truly deserved because the audience was kind of shell-shocked by the rather abrupt ending.

Count our blessings
by Damon Rudman Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This post-apocalyptic rural gothic drama put forth intriguing dark propositions, but stretched my ability to suspend disbelief a wee bit. Still, strong performances (particularly Kunik, Talarico, and Humphrey), pacing, and direction, made it very worthwhile. I recommend it!

ernestness is not always entertainment
by jim farrell Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
First off, the play attempts to tackle a HUGE set of issues relating to human caused mass extinctions and post apocalyptic climate change. The program notes are very good and show this group really gets that 'something ain't exactly right.' The acting is good enough, but the script resolves itself in a very sophomoric way. There are too many boogey man threats out there in the big bad world but ultimately we run smack up against the basest soap opera-type conflicts. It feels like the kind of drama you made up with your friends in school on the fly. I wanted to like this production and so was very disappointed with my first bad fringe show of the year.

good and strange
by vickijoan keck Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
at first it appears you are in depression era midwest, until you realize that in going forward (into the future) you have taken 2 steps back into the past. Solid acting and fine direction make for a fine, eerie piece of theater, even if you are not into sci - fi.

Bad touch, bad religion, bad weather
by Fringivitis Vulgaris Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This creepy rural drama had nothing to indicate that it is "centuries into the future." There's an awful lot of more-than-familial pawing of the teenage girl. Religiousity that opposes science isn't exactly groundbreaking drama. "A Boy And His Dog" visit "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and come away with only crumbs of corn mush. BUT! But, I say, brethren and sistren, there are some righteous moments in this little play! It was better than I expected.

Unique retelling
by Phillip Marten Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
An interesting take, advancing some Greek/Illiad mythology into the setting of some American future. You cannot help but feel that the play could be workshopped into a 90-minute, or more, production. The acting talent is a bit uneven, but the show is worth the look see.

Strange Weather
by Karin Schwantes Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
A memorable experience.
Terrific acting talent.
Unique and creative, thanks to the standout directions by Michelle Schwantes.

Fascinating journey
by Brian Watson-Jones Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Sci-Fi is hard to do on stage. And make no mistake, that's what this is. But this show is smart about it- rather than long-winded explanations of how this world differs from ours, it hints and references at events long past. And most importantly, rather than gimmicky stage effects, it tells a human story. The world is sci-fi, the characters are people.

Standout acting kudos to John Kunik (who was beautifully natural throughout) and David Talarico (whose fire and brimstone preacher in a white linen suit was delicious), but none of the actors were weak links. Special writing kudos for the opening scene- the story of where we are, who the characters are, how they relate to each other, and who's been lost was presented seamlessly, with a delightful storytelling session that presented all the exposition without FEELING like exposition.

My one criticism, and the reason it loses a kitty, is that the ending is too pat and quick. We reach the revelation of the secret of the stranger, the greatest conflict is introduced, and then one-two-three-four all the characters' stories are resolved. Just like the (spoiler warning) final tornado- it came out of nowhere, and resolves it all far too quickly to satisfy.

Disturbing and thought-provoking
by Nanette Stearns Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
But in a good way. Very interesting post-apocalyptic treatment. Strong themes and acting.

A mixed bag
by Justin Alexander Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
The highlight of this production is John Kunik's performance as Troy. Kunik overcomes a weak script and frequently questionable direction to deliver a consistently immersing and emotional portrayal of a man trapped by circumstance and hopelessness.

There are other strong performances to be found here, as well. Unfortunately, not everyone is as skilled as Kunik at overcoming the weaknesses in the script -- which frequently raises issues without confronting them; provides its characters with questionable motivations; and beats its fair share of strawmen.

Beautifully Directed, Well Acted
by Carney Gray Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Highly enjoyable. Well-paced, well-cast, intriguing. Standouts include John Kunik as Troy, David Talarico as the Stranger, and Josh Humphrey as Hector. Well worth a look. Kudos to director Michelle Schwantes.

Fascinating tale
by Rudin Williams Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I was very intrigued by this story. The writing is spectacular and I must agree with Cynthia - the sermon scene is certainly the eerie high point of this play. A must see!

Strange Play But Memorable
by Dean Hatton Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Sarah Wash is a gutsy writer who will challenge just about everything you believe in.
I found this play perfect for the Fringe and will leave me thinking for months to come.
Good actors and directing keeps this show moving.
A memorable experience.

Unstable Weather
by William Casey Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
This was a solid production with some good performances (Troy, grandmother, starnger & others). The story is too complex for this format and could have been simplified. Different elements appear to compete with each other and not all was clear to this viewer.

Great Drama - Must See
by Laura Hunt Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The story was fascinating and timely and the acting was strong. See this one if you tire of the usual pedestrian comedy.

Great show - strong cast - see it!
by Amanda Panda Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I saw 'Strange weather' on Saturday. The cast is very strong, the characters complex and they are attractive, especially the sexy actor playing 'Jason' (I found out later that he is married - but still enjoyable to look at). The storyline is compelling and engaging, though a little more of a back-story might be helpful at the beginning. If you've seen a few comedies and want to see a show that will entertain you and leave you with things to discuss - this is it!

certainly a fascinating work in progress
by Cynthia Hornbeck Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
the topics which this playwright has begun to explore- incest, religion, the divide in America between the educated and the not- come together in an hour that recalled to my mind the work of Tony Kushner and Cormac McCarthy. That said, the playwright should continue to develop and specify these issues, and to expand this piece into a longer work. At the points the play became melodramatic, and the actors struggled to portray the end convincingly. The stranger's "sermon" was the highlight of the piece as far as both writing and acting go, and for that alone, it is worth seeing.

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