Cast + crew

Karen Bair
Role: Mary
Karen Bair brings Mary to life. Karen earned her BFA from New York University, and after a decade working in theatre NY, she returned to Minneapolis to raise her family. Recently she had the pleasure working with Jesse Gibbs, directing Winnie the Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner with Barton Community-Ed in conjunction with Colfax Kids. Karen is Founder and Artistic Director for Colfax Kids, a theatrical arm of Colfax Theatre, dedicated to providing acting training and opportunities to kids who also enjoy sports and sleepovers.

Amanda Schnabel
Role: Irene
Amanda Schnabel is pleased to be playing the role of Irene in this lovely production! She is also pleased to be spending some time in one of the many eras she looks like she came from – or so she’s been told... Other credits include: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (The Jungle Theater), A Christmas Carol (The Guthrie Theater), Into The Woods, Jacques Brel Is Alive & Well & Living In Paris, Master Class, The Scarlet Pimpernel (Bloomington Civic Theatre), A Christmas Story (St. Croix Festival Theatre), The Madwoman of Chaillot and H.M.S. Pinafore (Theatre in the Round), and The Mikado (GSVLOC). Amanda holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance from the College of St. Benedict and is currently working on a self-produced jazz album. More love and gratitude to my family and friends than I can ever express!

Matthew Flint
Role: Nick
Matthew Flint is overjoyed to be partaking in his first Fringe Festival production and is honored to work with the astounding cast of Never Mind. Having just graduated from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse with a BA in Musical Theater, Matthew couldn't be prouder to be calling Never Mind his first production as a professional actor. Past experiences include RENT, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Jekyll and Hyde and so much more. Find out more at www.Matthew-Flint.com

Doug Pritchard
Role: Mr. Grenby
Doug Pritchard is thrilled to be making his theatrical debut with Never Mind. Doug Prichard grew up in Lakeville, MN. He works in the in the hospitality industry. He enjoys acting and he would like to thank the cast and his friends and family for their support and patience.

Evalyn Bair
Role: Ruth
Evalyn Bair has been seen in community theatre productions of Seussical, Annie, and The House on Pooh Corner. She is 11 years old and thrilled to play such a serious role!

Mary Bair
Role: Helen
Mary has performed in community theatre productions of Seussical, Annie, and The House on Pooh Corner. She is 8 years old and loves the spotlight!

Jesse Gibbs
Role: Director
JJesse Gibbs hails from the Minneapolis area, studying creative writing and theatre at St. Cloud State for a number of years until he made the transition to Los Angeles where he graduated from LACC Theater Academy’s 3-Year Classical Acting Conservatory. He spent time creating and developing his own improve/ sketch comedy group, directing and acting in shows, such as The Taming of the Shrew, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and Buried Child, as well as Winnie the Pooh and the House on Pooh Corner in Minneapolis.

Helena Webb
Role: Playwright
Helena Webb’s New York credits include: Artistic Director for THEATRIX; Playwright of Venus Uprising; Director of The Grateful One by Lynne Elson (New York Times review) and the Off-Broadway and Edinbugh Fringe Festival productions of Embers by Catherine Gropper (New York Times Review and Edinburgh Scotsman review); Producing Director of The Ibsen Series at Century Center for the Performing Arts in New York; General Manager for the Off-Broadway production of Roman Nights by Franco D’Alessandro; Production Manager for the original production of WTC View by Brian Sloan; Writer and Director of two short documentaries, Indonesia: Open Door and Hear Them Roar for producer Suzanne Corso; and Lead Singer of pop punk band Flowers Inside. She now lives in St. Louis with her husband Don and dear, dear son, Milton. Currently Helena works in corporate theatre and training and is the Cultural Exchange Director for St. Louis-Bogor (Indonesia) Sister Cities.

Kevin Springer
Role: Sound Designer
Kevin Springer is a sound designer and technician born in Litchfield, Minnesota, now working the gamut of theater companies in the Twin Cities. Recent sound designs include What's the Word For with Illusion Theater, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) with Swandive Theatre, and The Mill with Workhaus Collective.

Mary Farrell
Role: Costume Designer

Pamela Carter Joern
Role: Novelist
Pamela Carter Joern is an award-winning novelist, short story 
writer, playwright, and a teacher of writing. Her second book, The 
Plain Sense of Things has been selected as a Midwest Booksellers Association Connections Pick. Pam’s debut novel, The Floor of the Sky was a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection and winner of an Alex Award and the Nebraska Book Award. Pam has written six plays that have been produced in the Twin
Cities area and she directed an original rock opera, My Green Eyes, written by Randy Baker and Doug Weatherhead. Pam holds an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University and teaches at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

Write a review

You will be able to write a review for this show during the festival.

User reviews

Sacrifices to War
by Minrod Mier
Rating 4 stars
A bare bones heart wrenching tale of friendship and survival during World War Two. Watching these women struggle with the day to day made me think of our Grandparents and the struggles of the greatest generation. The women here aren't glamourous or overblown. They show the simple heroism that comes with survival. Way to go to this terrific cast!

A tale of friendship
by Florence Brammer
Rating 4 stars
This was a solid, unfussy script performed very well by a great cast. The production was pretty to look at, and the accompanying music was very evocative. A very professional and polished production, and a wonderful depiction of two non-military women's lives during WW II.

Terrific
by Rochelle Eastman
Rating 5 stars
Great script, well directed, perfectly acted - what more can you ask? Wonderful WWII drama reminding us of an extremely difficult time when our country worked and sacrificed for a common goal. Would we do that today?

A great show!
by Matt Bappe
Rating 5 stars
I enjoyed watching Karen, her daughters, Amanda, and the entire cast in this show. They really captured the time period, and I highly recommend Never Mind!

Fantabulous
by Kristine Martin
Rating 5 stars
A wonderful story of American history that the whole family can share. I was moved by the performances of the two woman, great theater.

Period piece
by Roy Close
Rating 5 stars
Karen Bair and Amanda Schnabel are well-matched as two working women in a World War II munitions factory in this moving adaptation of a chapter from Pamela Carter Joern's novel "The Plain Sense of Things." Heartfelt and touching and well worth your time.

Moving and tender
by Barb Nicol
Rating 5 stars
Spend an hour transported back to WWII through the eyes of two women. Great performances, nice contrasts, good music and a wonderful story line.

Well Done
by Sandra Meyer
Rating 5 stars
I attended this production becasue I was already at the venue and had limited to attend the fringe this year. It sounded interesting so I attended. I was very happy with my choice. The production is well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is a definite must see.

Never Mind
by Kris Lyons
Rating 5 stars
This show reminded me what my grandparents have been through, why they are who they are and why the believe what they believe. I was touched to the point of tears, not once but twice. I am lucky to be so eloquently reminded that I am privileged beyond belief. Thank you Colfax theatre.

Definitely glad I went!
by Amy Sheppeck
Rating 4 stars
I am a sucker for historical novels and this adaptation has sold another book. This was a lovely production with top notch acting, make-up and period music during the transitions. Unfortunately the music didn't cover the obnoxiously loud set changes. Rubber soles and a little more care would enhance the audience experience.

Mary's oversized coat needs some attention. Fix the cuffs and check her buttons. Plus, she is wearing a dress underneath...why doesn't she (ever) take it off when she is indoors? OK I'll put my nit-picking Costume/wardrobe lady away now...

Those little criticisms are just that...minor.

I'm logging off now to look for the book. I sure hope it's available on nook!

Touching, well acted
by Maryfaith Fox
Rating 5 stars
A fine ensemble cast (no weak links!), a simple evocative script. Conveys a lot about the effects of war on the homefront without being preachy or maudlin. Go see it - you'll be glad you did.

Never Mind
by Ellen Young
Rating 5 stars
This is a poignant story of two women working during WWII. It is is beautifully acted, with touching and humorous moments. Highly recommended, one of the best fringe shows I have ever seen.

a terrific fringe choice
by linda helland
Rating 5 stars
go see never mind! acting is terrific--especially the mother, mary (karen baier), friend irene (amanda schanbel) and the daughters (evalyn and mary baier), who act like real kids. the play is well written and offers an authentic glimpse of a difficult time of war and scarcity and uncertainty in the lives of two women and their brave resolve to survive. the simple set is very effective as are the costumes, both evoking a bygone time that was actually experienced and remembered by a diminishing population who lived through it. go see never mind!
linda helland

Never Mind is Fantastic
by Kay Barrett
Rating 5 stars
This was beautifully acted, written and directed. It's an important story and the actresses Karen and Amanda knocked it out of the park!