Comedy
Not Dead Yet! The Return of Mr. Elk & Mr. Seal!
By Modern Entertainment Music
Written by Rob (Mr.) Elk and Dean J. Seal
The A Capella Animals with snappy patter, funny songs, goofy moves and sweet harmonies. Seen on MTV, Comedy Central, Garrison Keillor's radio show. Some whistling- no dogs allowed. Kids love it; they are tough!
Comedy
Audience participation Includes artists with disabilities
The creators say this show is appropriate for ages 2 and up
Other shows
NEWS News Flash!!! For immediate release! Mr. Elk & Mr. Seal reunite for Fringe Fest!!! These a capella animals are reuniting for the 2012 MN Fringe Festival!
CITY PAGES FRINGE FESTIVAL 2012 CRITIC'S PICK
http://www.citypages.com/2012-08-01/arts/fringe-festival-2012-critic-s-picks/
PIONEER PRESS REVIEW
http://www.twincities.com/fringe/ci_21224827/fringe-festival-not-dead-yet
and one of MPR'S 10 SOLID BETS for the MN FRINGE FESTIVAL
"Two wonderful singers with great skin tone!" Garrison Keillor A Prairie Home Companion
"Mr. Elk & Mr. Seal are the Siegfried & Roy of a capella songwriting." Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller
"Alot of fine, funny songs." Dr. Demento
"They bring the house down! A wild adrenaline rush of sound that keeps your toes tapping, even though the words are sheer lunacy." Bill Ervolino New York Post
"It's not enough to call them comics. The two are indeed complete originals. I've never seen the likes before!" Don Nelson New York Daily News
"Witty, urbane, unpredictable and entertaining!" Minneapolis Star Tribune
"They do cleanly hip, quirky a capella. The audience loved this stuff!" City Pages
Oral Hygiene from David Fain on Vimeo.
Also recommended:
Prophecy
http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/show/?id=2248
Shakespeare Ate My Brain
Cast + crew
Rob Elk
Role: Mr. Elk
Mr. Elk is a native Iowan and 1/2 Swedish. He is the taller half of Mr. Elk & Mr. Seal, and was 1/3 of Bongos, Bass & Bob with Mr. Seal and Penn Jillette. He is co-creator, producer, and lead actor in Bob's Holiday Office Party, a perennial holiday favorite in Los Angeles, now in its 16th year. He also played the role of Bobby Bean in Triple Espresso in many regional theaters over the last 9 years. TV: My Name Is Earl, Malcolm in the Middle, Cold Case, Ghost Whisperer, and Big Shots, to name some. Film: Contact, Paramount's quickly forgotten Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star, and independent films Take, The Lost, and Let Go.
Dean J. Seal
Role: Mr. Seal
Dean J. Seal is currently Executive Artistic Director of Spirit In The House!, a non-profit theatre organization he founded after serving as Executive Director for the MN Fringe Festival, which he built into the largest non-juried Fringe in the US. Mr. Seal is also an ordained Prebyterian minister and Adjunct Professor at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.
Write a review
You will be able to write a review for this show during the festival.
User reviews
30 minutes too long
by Publius McGee
Rating 2 stars
...and I'm 30 years too young. The rest of the audience seemed to enjoy this show a LOT, even singing along unprompted to Elk & Seal's original songs. I, however, was not there 800 years ago when they first got together, so I was not the right audience for their shamble down memory lane. I also really enjoy the fourth wall, which was forcibly removed here. I spent most of the show off in my own happy place.
Light, harmless fun.
by Eric Salo
Rating 3 stars
I probably would not seek out this act again but I enjoyed my 50 minutes of it tonight.
Wow, that cast pic is really old
by Cato Brutus
Rating 3 stars
...as was ninety percent of our audience. Great for the under 12 or over 50 sets, but lacking enough teeth for anyone in between.
Earlier this week, someone asked me if there was a show she could take her kids to. Welp, too late now, since this was their last show, suckers!
Awesome
by Emily Stevens
Rating 5 stars
They never disappoint. Incredibly clever & entertaining!
No wonder Garrison Keillor Loved Them!
by Allen Vandover
Rating 5 stars
These two are wonderful fun for anyone. Good wholesome musical silliness. I saw this with my 88 year old grandmother, my boyfriend, and my 12 year old neice. No curse words (though I don't mind cursing in the least) no sex jokes, no crude humor. Just clean fun with no downtime to stop smiling. Way to go Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal!
Elk & Seal - Good Family Fun
by Steve Johnson
Rating 4 stars
A fun show with good energy and witty repartee. Bring the kids, they will love the silly jokes. Singing is a cappella with tight harmonies and rythms.
Not Dead Yet! The Return of Mr. Elk and
by Jerri Johnson
Rating 5 stars
OMG I had so much fun at this show. These guys are a hoot!
a treat
by David Lund
Rating 5 stars
wonderful to see & hear these gents after a 20-year hiatus. they're still expert enough to make the entertainment world forget about duke mitchell & sammy petrillo.
a long-time fan,
david lund
age 62yr 04mo
Light & cute
by Kay Snyder
Rating 4 stars
Cute lyrics, a little banter, nothing too edgey. This is an "easy" show to watch and you don't need any background or understanding in order to get the humor. Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal sing about everything from dental hygiene, drinking 8 glasses of water per day to their contrasting dance styles. Although some of their jokes will make you groan you will still leave with a smile.
This Show Made Me So Happy
by Timothy Uren
Rating 5 stars
Mr. Elk & Mr. Seal deliver an abundance of charm and wit through an all-too quick hour of catchy a cappella tunes. I was thrilled to see these two performance veterans return to this delightful and fun material.
Entertaining
by Linda Zelm
Rating 4 stars
I only have this four stars because at times my attention wandered. There are some very funny songs. it is a two man stand up routine with two men who no longer look anything like the photo above. Straight forward entertainment. Nothing complicated. Easy to follow and sometimes goofy. I enjoyed this.
memorable nostalgia
by David Trudeau
Rating 5 stars
As good as ever - toe tapping hand clapping side splitting song and dance men tear it up seamlessly with clever original bits as we laugh and sing along for an hour of pure fun.
Great reprise
by Katrina Johnson
Rating 4 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed watching and listening to these guys again. I've missed them. I would have REALLY liked to have heard somethng new, but they remain the same witty, fun guys they've always been. All there material was new for my partner and she loved it. I liked sharing something from my past with her. MORE!!!!
Amusing
by Ty G.
Rating 4 stars
If they had performed any of these songs with a hint of shame or embarrassment, I would've found it childish. As is, it was a brilliantly rendered and rather witty show that had me giggling close to constantly.
In a nutshell, I enjoyed it, and it made me realized that I still had some childishness left.
Their vocal talents were impressive. Their songs were well-written. The show was, overall, quite enjoyable, and I consider it an evening well-spent.
Kudos to Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal! I would come back again anytime.
Haven't laughed that hard in a long time
by Dawn Baddeley
Rating 5 stars
My first time seeing Mr. Eld and Mr. Seal and enjoyed it i
My cheeks hurt
by Nathan Cousins
Rating 5 stars
There is pretty much nothing not to like here. Misters Elk and Seal win you over instantly with their report both with each other and with their audience, impeccable timing and delightful songs. An old fashioned comedy-duo romp that's warming, nostalgic and down right hilarious. A perfect 10!
Quick, what's Mr. Elk's real name?
by Carl Franzen
Rating 5 stars
They had me from the finger snapping. The do-wahs kept me going. The crowd singing blew me away. Where'd that come from? And rhyming of totally to Italy, totally cool. I wouldn't say this show is head and shoulders over anything else, but Mr. Elk's head is certain above Mr. Seal's shoulders. And that's worth seeing.
Old Worn Hat
by Sergius OShaughnessey
Rating 2 stars
Felt like I was at a Channel 2 tribute show. Dazzle us with new stuff, guys.
Masters
by Dean Hatton
Rating 5 stars
Master at their craft.
Brilliant witty songs written with a lot of wit!
Enjoyable
by Kelly Rosenthal
Rating 3 stars
Some clever lines and great harmonies. While I definitely enjoyed the Norwegian and Japanese versions of "La Bamba", the music felt a little dated to me.
A Good Time
by Lena Lyle
Rating 4 stars
The comedy in this show is definately more focused towards the older generation, but I still found myself enjoying the light and silly songs and the easy banter between the two. The two men obviously are used to working together and they harmonize well. A fun show that leaves you in a better mood.
The spirit of the fringe is alive here
by Laurel Davis
Rating 5 stars
There's something for everyone in this musical comedy program. The songs are delightful and witty, and punctuated with playful banter. It's well worth your time.
Good Goofy Groany Fun
by Greg Giles
Rating 4 stars
A little rough, perhaps, but still delivering more smiles per minute that most shows. Clever lines, bad puns and razor wit combine with infectious acapella melodies in a fabulous cavalcade of entertainment.
Not Dead Yet
by Sally Elk
Rating 5 stars
I know that I cannot review this show without revealing that I am quite prejudice, but I love Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal.... I love that I am seeing them again. Note to you.....this is it. Go now!
Memories
by Holly Quinn
Rating 3 stars
I'm glad to see the return of Dean Seal to the stage and Fringe, and he and Mr. Elk always brought smiles, okay more than smiles, with their past patter and ditties of song. But this show seems to have been thrown together -- seems, I say -- don't know that for a fact. But they rambled, they acted like they were going down memory lane too much. The sparkle was in their eyes, but not on the stage. And it didn't keep me involved for the full hour. C'mon, guys. You haven't aged that much -- yet!
A Jaunty Through Memory Lane
by Amy Rummenie
Rating 4 stars
Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal are one of my best memories of an earlier Fringe, and in full disclosure, I purchased and apparently memorized both their albums. What can I say? I have a soft spot for comedy and novelty music.
So, this was an absolute trip down memory lane for me (they challenged us to sing along to La Bamba in Norwegian. Bring it, Sirs Elk and Seal, I merrily did). From reports of their earlier performance, they tightened up their set list and their patter, but they've got the same charm as ever. No, it won't change your life. But the laughs are warm, their fun is infectious and it's a dandy way to spend your hour.
Nostalgic
by Mariellen Jacobson
Rating 2 stars
At the top of the show Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal told us that haven't done their act in quite a few years. It appears that they haven't written much new material either, so although their stuff is clever and entertaining, it feels stale. And they don't seem to have rehearsed very much. It just wasn't the experience I was hoping for.
Great fun
by Chuck Peter
Rating 5 stars
Great fun in a song and dance tradition. The smile never left my face. We all loved it.
The contrast FTW
by Kurt Peters
Rating 5 stars
This was an engaging and clever show. The contrast of Mr. Elk's lively dance moves and Mr. Seal's subdued nordic style was particularly delightful. Their songs and amusing patter were tightly coordinated. A fun show!
Olive Mr. Elk & Mr. Seal!
by Laura Dyer
Rating 5 stars
Though the songs in this show are fun and entertaining enough on their own, the physical humor that goes with them is not to be missed! A tight, engaging performance that won't be forgotten after I finally track down a copy of their CD/s.
You can gargle that...
by Paula Nancarrow
Rating 5 stars
An enjoyable break from my mostly story- and theater-based Fringing. The patter is witty, and how often do you get to hear La Bamba in Norwegian? These two were clearly having fun together, and it was considerate of them to let us in on the party. And yes - reportedly, it is the only show in the Fringe with gargling.
Encore!
by Chris Kirkham
Rating 5 stars
The finest a capella duo ever to come out of east-central Minnesota! This one has everything. Olives! Air Fresheners! "La Bamba" in fifty different languages! Norwegians AND Swedes! Go see it!
Hard Work
by Larry Ripp
Rating 3 stars
I have nothing but respect for Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal and there is wit galore in the songs they've written over the years. But this show strings together too many songs of the same sort and even Monty Python couldn't hold my attention for longer than 20 minutes doing what Elk and Seal did Thursday night. I longed for a combo or something to fill out the voices. Plus they rather made it look like WORK in some places with a number of mis-cues and very labored "banter" that seemed to be made up on the spot with neither partner on each others wavelength. Still, I would go see them again with a Band to help them out and perhaps in a variety show format to break up the endless melodic "fun."
Comedy In Unison & Harmony!
by steve carlsen
Rating 5 stars
I saw a great show by Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal, who are revisiting their show of days gone by in "Not Dead Yet".
Incredibly inventive songs, funny in-between song patter, good harmonies and coordination between these show biz vets, who don't take themselves or anything too seriously.
GO SEE THE SHOW.
Worth Less......
by Margarite Dante
Rating 3 stars
Elk and Mr. Seal, unfortunately, didn't age well. They are reliving a past of laurels, ditties from the past and things that may have been funnier in their more youthful times, but not necessarily to today's audience. Yes, I remember them, and like a Public Television Reunion Show I clap, and smile and la-la-la. Is it enough? Sadly, it wasn't. I actually found myself dozing off. They bounce off each other so well, you want more. Or maybe less.
Where can we buy the cd?
by Matlisa Semrad
Rating 4 stars
We've been searching the web for the songs or at least the lyrics. Terrific show, best norwegian La Bamba we've heard, better than last year's performance by Olaf and the Wailers. Thank you Mssrs for not laughing at our whistling.
Still works
by Peter Erickson
Rating 4 stars
I remember seeing Elk & Seal in . . was it the 80's? This show appears to be a collection of their best material. Maybe slightly dated and not quite yet in the groove, but still full of energy and humor. I think the show will tighten up over the course of the Fringe.
a really fun family evening!
by Peter Soulen
Rating 5 stars
Several years ago, I met a Lutheran pastor who told me about a friend of hers who had done comedy shows with his college buddy in New York City for several years, and who had also appeared on Garrison Keillor's radio show. She said that, back in the day, her kids grew up on songs written by Mr. Elk and Mr. Seal. So I and several members of my extended family went to see what all the fuss was about.
We heard and saw one of the most original and entertaining shows we had seen in many, many years. The subjects of the songs, and the choreography they developed, were quite unexpected, but hilarious! The time flew by, and we were wishing that they'd go on and perform more of their songs. We hope to see them more next year!
Still Fresh!
by Pat Olson
Rating 5 stars
These guys are funny in a way that others aren't. Some of the jokes you see coming, some you don't, and some may be unintentional. The a capella music is well done & fun. You'll find yourself humming the tunes the next day. These guys write songs on subjects no one else does, and they turn genres inside out. The show was one set that was long enough to get your money's worth, but not long enough to make your back hurt. You'll leave in a better mood than you arrived.
fun stuff
by Vicki Joan Keck
Rating 3 stars
I have always enjoyed Elk & Seal and looked forward to this reunion. The songs and patter are clever and entertaining,but I was checking my watch about 30 minutes in. I guess silly ditties & patter only go so far. Both of these guys are highly talented though and I was really glad to see them together again. It's great to see Dean back on stage! Kudos!
