schedule
In 2009 Dominic won his second Jerome Fellowship to The Playwrights Center, and was commissioned by Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, The Red-Eye Collaboration, Nautilus Music-Theater, and Teatro Del Pueblo. A former McKnight Fellow, he is also a Core Writer and a co-Producer with PWC's company- in-residence, The Workhaus Playwrights' Collective.
Sasha's credits include Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Edgardo Mine at The Guthrie Theater; Figaro, Don Juan Giovanni, Lettice & Lovage at Theatre de la Jeune Lune; The Mad Dancers at Mixed Blood; West Side Story, Grease at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters; 10 Speed Revolution at Walking Shadow; The Awesome 80's Prom at Hennepin Stages.
Emily's Twin Cities credits include How to Cheat and She, So Beloved in the 2006 Fringe as well as work with Theatre de la Jeune Lune, The Guthrie Theater, The Jungle Theater, Park Square Theater, Theatre Latte Da, Mixed Blood Theater, Red Eye, Frank Theater, Gremlin Theatre and Children's Theater Company. 
Terry's local credits include His Girl Friday, Gem Of The Ocean, and Lake Hollywood at the Guthrie, Huck Finn, Amber Waves and Anon(ymous) at The Children's Theatre Company; Last Of The Boys, Same Time Next Year, and Orange Flower Water at the Jungle Theater; Cyranno, Carousel, The Most Happy Fella with Ten Thousand Things; and Of Mice And Men at Park Square Theater.
Amy has worked locally at The Jungle, The Guthrie, The Illusion, The Mixed Blood, The History Theater, The Old Log, and The Playwrights' Center. Other credits include The Williamstown Theater Fest, Indiana Rep, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, and The Sacramento Theater Company. She is a member of the theater faculty at SPCPA and holds an MFA in Acting from NYU.
Brian Balcom is the founder of The New Theatre Group and has produced and directed How to Cheat, Killer Smile, and American Sexy as well as shows with Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Illusion's Lighthouse Group, Teatro del Pueblo, Walking Shadow Company, and Gremlin Theater.
The New Theatre Group
Strong
Fri., Jul. 31 @ 5:30 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 1 @ 10:00 p.m.
Thu., Aug. 6 @ 7:00 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 7 @ 10:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 9 @ 7:00 p.m.
Venue Minneapolis Theatre Garage
For ages 16+
Written by Dominic Orlando
Web site http://www.newtheatregroup.org
genres Drama, Sci-fi/mystery
subjects Relationships
features World premiere, Original script/choreography, Equity cast members
Overall rating
User reviews
Strong
by Marvin Joel Rubin Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Written like Mamet, when he mattered.
Wanting More
by Joshua Humphrey Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I didn't want this show to end; it felt as if I was taking a long draught of cool water from a stream and I didn't want to stop. From beginning to end I wanted more: the tight writing, the driven, nuanced performances--everything, with one proviso, was perfect.
There are some lengthy transitions that take me right out of the experience and place me back square in my seat. I didn't appreciate that; these worlds were so clearly defined that I hated being taken out of the moment.
That said, on the writing and performances alone, this is worth 5 kitties. There is so much packed into these two pieces, I was never bored, always riveted and hungering for more.
Stunning!
by Christina Lein Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Two pieces of sheer brilliance! All star cast, stellar direction, and fabulous scripts. I would love to see "Strong" as a full-length drama, either on stage or on film.
Strong Performances
by Ralph Remington Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Strong boasts strong performances. Terry Hempleman, Emily Gunyou Halaas, Sasha Andreev and Amy McDonald are giving a master class in acting. If you dig meaty performances and character work, as I do, go see Strong and sit for a spell. You won't be disappointed. These folks possess some of the finest acting talent that we have in the Twin Cities. Recognize!
Christian Carter
by Christian Carter Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Very great performances by every actor involved. The script to the main feature certainly lacked, but this all star cast made it very worth while, and the shorter Little Green Man was hilarious and very well written.
If you are in the area of the Theater Garage, do not skip this show, and if you are Fringing out and about, try to see it, the acting is superb.
Strong Performances
by Erik Hoover Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
All four cast members find depth and subtlety in these well-written shorts. The format gives promising material short-shrift but hopefully this is only a peek at something greater to come.
Strong stuff
by Mo Perry Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Strong was my favorite of the two pieces. I appreciated the directing choice to open the actors up to the audience in some of the 2-person scenes (rather than face each other). These actors are so good, it was a treat to be able to look into their faces. This is the show to see if you're looking for simply great acting by accomplished artists in a stripped-down, intimate Fringe setting.
Beautifully done!
by Nan Montgomery Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
It is well worth your while to see this. The writing is excellent and made elegant by fine acting. A fine wit is behind the Little Green Men script and Strong exposes the terrifying frality of all.
Beautiful script & flawless acting
by Florence Brammer Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Wow, what a great pair of plays. These two short works have more content than most works triple their length. Flawless acting doesn't hurt either. Even though this was a 10 p.m. show after a long day of Fringing, I was sorry to see these two thought-provoking and satisfyingly ambiguous pieces end.
Awesome Aliens
by Justin Alexander Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Little Green Man is the delight of the evening -- a clever, tight script combined with strong, memorable performances set a high bar.
Strong, unfortunately, doesn't clear that bar. The performances -- particularly from Emily Gunyou Halaas and Terry Hempleman -- are extraordinarily good, but they're ultimately betrayed by a confused script that fails to realize the full potential of its dramatic material. The script is as much frustrating as it is disappointing, and it is to the actors' credit that they succeed in creating memorable and entertaining theater despite being somewhat hamstrung.
Long story short: Little Green Men is excellent and worth the price of admission all by itself. Strong has a questionable script, but is nevertheless powerful and moving on the strength of its actors.
Tech?
by David Trudeau Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I desperately want to give this five kitties for the superb writing and acting, but the annoying long dark pauses for choppy scene changes and light and sound miscues prevent me from doing so. With a few more cheap chairs the scenes could seamlessly flow from one area of the stage to another using light and sound cues. Writing and acting of this caliber deserves better direction.
Good Stories, Well Told.
by Sid Solomon Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Another success for The New Theatre Group. Director Brian Balcom leads an all-star cast through two terrifically written one act plays. A MUST SEE for anyone who enjoys top-notch professional theater at its best.
What Doesn't Kill You....
by Reid Gagle Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Excellent acting and solid writing anchor these two short dramatic stories. Both of these dialog-driven playlets are comprised of scenes with a pair of characters, mostly just sitting and talking. Although the format sounds static, there is a lot of story movement in the longer piece, 'Strong'. The short piece, 'Little Green Man', is less ambitious, but the idea of a Gitmo for a Roswell alien is cute.
Strong stuff
by Dan Pinkerton Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
A pair of tersely written one acts that show how much can be accomplished in a shor short play. The first, about a government drone attempting to interrogate an illegal alien (as in, from another planet) is as good as the best Pinter --- tense and funny at the same time. No humor in the second piece, about sexual offenders and the people whose lives they destroy, but again, it's crisply written, tense, moving. Kudos to the fabulous cast (Amy McDonald, Emily Gunyou, Terry Hempleman, Sasha Andreev) and excellent, unfussy direction. Not to be missed.
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