The Stages of MN

By robdunkelberger

The Stages of MN Podcast is the audio version of the YouTube show that celebrates live theater. Featuring Interviews with theater makers, reviews, and other fun segments that allow listeners to engage... more

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FAQs about The Stages of MN:

How many episodes does The Stages of MN have?

The podcast currently has 8 episodes available.

The Stages of MN episodes:

August 22, 2025 Episode 8: In which The Stages of MN puts The MN Fringe to bed.
Welcome to Episode 8 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.
On this weeks episode I'm joined by Jill Schafer of Cherry and Spoon and we say good night to The Minnesota Fringe Festival. We share our thoughts on this years Fringe and what some of our favorite shows were. You can access the Full MN Fringe Festival site here https://minnesotafringe.org/ where you can sign up for the newsletter so you'll get info year round about Fringe happenings. Visit Cherry and Spoon here http://www.cherryandspoon.com/
No MN Honest Reviews this week but we rundown the 5 shows you have another chance of seeing at The Fringe Encore at the Phipps Series click here for The Phipps Center For the Arts website to purchase tickets https://thephipps.org/events
Special thanks: To Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/
You can read all my reviews at The Stages of MN https://thestagesofmn.com/ Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn and Instagram / thestagesofmn The show also available in a fuller version on YouTube which you can find here https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode8YouTube
If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN or just have a question of comment on the show You can email me at [email protected]
...more
29min
August 01, 2025 Episode 7: The Stages of MN Get's a Preview of the MN Fringe Festival
Welcome to Episode 7 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.
On this weeks episode We get a preview of The MN Fringe Festival from over 20 Artists who tell us about their shows and when and where you can catch them. You can access the Full MN Fringe Festival site here https://minnesotafringe.org/ to start planning your Fringe adventure. The festival opens 7/31/25 and runs through 8/10/25.
You can also get tips to how to Fringe and her picks for the musy=t see shows over at my friend Jill Schafer's blog Cherry and Spoon here http://www.cherryandspoon.com/2025/07... I used it to help me make my schedule!
MN Honest Reviews: Robin Hood from Zephyr Theatre Company running through 8/3/25 at Aamodt's Apple Farm in Stillwater, MN, here's a link to their website to purchase tickets https://www.stillwaterzephyrtheatre.o... The Music Man at Lyric Arts in Anoka through 8/10/25. Get your tickets at https://www.lyricarts.org/music-man
I also have a quick interview with Jeffrey Nolan one of the actors in Robin Hood who also gives us the 411 on his Fringe show 503. I also chat quick with Reed Sigmund, known for his many acting roles around town, including his now yearly performance of the Grinch at Children's Theatre Company. Who is making his directorial debut with Robin Hood.
“At a Show With…” photos of who I saw out at the Theater this week.
Special thanks: To Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/
To Dale Stark and Hennepin Arts for permission to film in the Orpheum Theater for the shows opening
You can read all my reviews at The Stages of MN https://thestagesofmn.com/ Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn and Instagram / thestagesofmn The show also available in YouTube Version at https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode7YouTube
If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN or just have a question of comment on the show You can email me at [email protected]
...more
39min
July 23, 2025 Episode 6: The Stages of MN "Good Things Edition" With Special Guest Kendra Plant
Welcome to Episode 6 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.
On this weeks episode we broadcast an urgent cry for help from our friends at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo. Here's the link to their GoFundMe page where they are trying to raise the $27,000 that has been cut from their State funding https://bit.ly/YellowTreeGoFundMe Please donate if you can. Also a reminder that Yellow Tree is still accepting donations through 7/28/25 for their annual Food and clothing drive. Here's a link to Yellow Tree's website as well. https://yellowtreetheatre.com/
Our interview this week is with fellow Twin Cities Theater Blogger Kendra Plant who tells us all about her upcoming M innesota Fringe Festival show The Kendra Plant Variety Hour "Good Things Edition" With Special Guests. Here's the link to her Fringe page https://minnesotafringe.org/shows/202... You can also access the Full MN Fringe Festival site here https://minnesotafringe.org/ to start planning your Fringe adventure. The festival opens 7/31/25 and runs through 8/10/25. More on the festival on next weeks show.
MN Honest Reviews:
Love and Baseball running through 7/28/25 at Artistry in Bloomington, here's a link to their website to purchase tickets https://artistrymn.org/loveandbaseball
Glensheen the 10th Anniversary Production at History Theater through 7/27/25. Get your tickets to this summer tradition here https://www.historytheatre.com/2024-2...
“At a Show With…” photos of who I saw out at the Theater this week.
Special thanks:
To fellow TCTB Kendra Plant, you can read her blog Artfully Engaging here https://www.kendraplant.com/blog-artf...
To Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/
To Dale Stark and Hennepin Arts for permission to film in the Orpheum Theater for the shows opening
To Erica Skarohlid and History Theatre for Permission to film our interview with Kendra in their space.
You can read all my reviews at The Stages of MN https://thestagesofmn.com/
Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn and Instagram / thestagesofmn
The show also available YouTube https://rhttps://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode6YT
If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN or just have a question of comment on the show You can email me at [email protected]
...more
31min
July 18, 2025 Episode 5: The Stages of MN Hits the Road in Search of the Great River Shakespeare Festival
Welcome to Episode 5 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

This episode is Sponsored by Chanhassen Dinner Theatres go to https://chanhassendt.com/ to see what's playing there and to purchase tickets.

We journey to the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, MN. Visit their website to check out the festival and purchase tickets here https://www.grsf.org/

We Learn about Intimacy coordination with GRSF Artistic Director Doug Scholz-Carlson

MN Honest Reviews: Romeo & Juliet and The Comedy of Errors at GRSF through 7/27/25

“At a Show With…” photos of who I saw out at the Theater this week.

Special thanks: Jill Schafer of Cherry and Spoon Read all of her reviews at http://www.cherryandspoon.com/
Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/

You can read all my reviews at The Stages of MN https://thestagesofmn.com/ Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn and Instagram / thestagesofmn

The show is also available YouTube https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode5

You can email me at [email protected]
...more
33min
July 10, 2025 Episode 4: The Stages of MN Explores Love and Theater With Ryan & Tod
Welcome to Episode 4 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.
On this episode:
Theater Couples: Ryan Lee and Tod Petersen welcome me into their home and we discuss the joys of a sharing a passion with your loved one.
A return visit to Endometriosis: The Musical at Theatre in the Round. With post show responses from audience members. You can still catch this highly entertaining show running through 7/13/25 click here for Tickets https://www.theatreintheround.org/end...
MN Honest Review: Passion at Theater Latté Da through 7/13/25 For info on that show and to purchase tickets go to https://www.latteda.org/passion
Special thanks: Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/
To Dale Stark and Hennepin Arts for permission to film in the Orpheum Theater for the shows opening
Scott Dunkelberger and Micky Dunkelberger for their camera work.
You can read all my reviews at The Stages of MN https://thestagesofmn.com/
Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn and Instagram / thestagesofmn
The show also available in a slightly longer version on YouTube https:https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode4
You can email me at [email protected]
...more
38min
July 03, 2025 Episode 3: The Stages of MN Meets Will Sturdivant and a Game is Played
Welcome to Episode 3 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.
On this episode: An interview with Will Sturdivant, Actor and Author performing now at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, MN. Visit their website to check out the festival and purchase tickets here https://www.grsf.org/ You click to help fund and arrange to receive copies of Will's upcoming books here https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-... To check out Will's other upcoming projects mentioned in the interview you can go to the Guthrie Theater website for info on Cabaret and their 2025-26 season including Primary Trust featuring Sturdivant here https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-... And The Milwaukee Rep here https://www.milwaukeerep.com/shows-an...
A Look at opening Night of Cabaret at the Guthrie Theater
MN Honest Reviews: Cabaret at the Guthrie Theater through August 24th. Madagascar: A Musical Adventure at Stages Theatre Company through August 3rd. For info on that show and to purchase tickets go to https://www.stagestheatre.org/madagas...
“At a Show With…” photos of who I saw out at the Theater this week.
If you are someone you know is having suicidal thoughts you can reach help at 988 Lifeline here https://988lifeline.org/
Special thanks: Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/
To Dale Stark and Hennepin Arts for permission to film in the Orpheum Theater for the shows opening
You can read all my reviews at The Stages of MN https://thestagesofmn.com/
Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn Instagram / thestagesofmn
The show also available YouTube https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode3 or wherever you enjoy podcasts.
You can email me at [email protected]
...more
34min
June 26, 2025 Episode 2: The Stages of MN Contracts Endometriosis: The Musical Fever
Welcome to Episode 2 of The Stages of MN a weekly show about the live theatrical experience.
On this episode: An interview with Maria Bartholdi and Kristin Stowell about their new musical Endometriosis: The Musical having its world premiere at Theatre in the Round. To learn more about Endmetriosis the disease you can go to the Mayo Clinic Website: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c... Maria Bartholdi can be seen onstage with The Bearded Company: https://beardedcompany.org/ and she hosts a podcast on Magic the Gathering called Good Luck High Five ttps://www.goodluckhighfive.com/ She'll aslo be appearing the Minnesota Fringe Festival https://minnesotafringe.org/ Kristin Stowell is the music Director for Mystic Pizza the Musical you can read more about that here and watch for the drop of the cast album this fall https://www.mysticpizzaonstage.com/
Opening Night interviews: I talked with many Twin Cities Theater Bloggers you can follow that group on facebook at / twincitiestheaterbloggers I also spoke with Kristin Stowell again and the Director Shanan Custer. Here's the link to Ghoulish Delights the home of the Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society with whom Custer can be seen performing live regularly with her husband Eric Webster, and his partners in crime and or evil Joshua English Scrimshaw and Tim Uren. https://www.ghoulishdelights.com/
MN Honest Reviews: Endometriosis: The Musical at Theater in the Round through July 13th For tickets visit the Theatre in the Round website at https://www.theatreintheround.org/end... Stop Kiss at Theater Mu through June 29th at the Gremlin Theatre https://www.theatermu.org/stop-kiss
Sponsor: The Shhh Society of America Here is the promised link to the Festival Theatre website if you are wanting to check out Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson Apt 2B, running through 7/6/25 https://www.festivaltheatre.org/ms-ho... For more information on how to behave at the Theater here is a link to Emily Posts etiquette for audiences https://emilypost.com/advice/audience...
“At a Show With…” photos of who I saw out at the Theater this week.
Special thanks: Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/ To Dale Stark and Hennepin Arts for permission to film in the Orpheum Theater for the shows opening You can read all my reviews at The Stages of MN https://thestagesofmn.com/ Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn and Instagram / thestagesofmn The show also available in podcast https://robdunkelberger.podbean.com/ or wherever you enjoy podcasts. You can email me at [email protected]
...more
41min
June 19, 2025 Episode 1: The Stages of MN Meets Austene Van and a Wrap is Shared
Welcome to Episode 1 of The Stages of MN, a weekly show about the live theatrical experience.
On this episode: “Sharing a Sandwich With…” an interview with Executive Artistic Director of Yellow Tree Theatre Austene Van. Visit the Yellow Tree Theatre website at https://yellowtreetheatre.com/
Putting on your radar:
Movie Fight Club watch the Bryant Lake Bowl Theater website https://www.bryantlakebowl.com/theater for tickets to the next performance on August 14th.
Off Book at Jungle Theater, next performance is July 21st you can purchase tickets here https://www.jungletheater.org/improv-...
MN Honest Reviews:
Significant Other at Lyric Arts in Anoka closing 6/22/25 Purchase tickets at https://www.lyricarts.org/significant...
Mae West and the Trial of Sex from Walking Shadow Theatre Company running through 6/22/25 at the Crane Theater purchase tickets at https://walkingshadow.org/mae-west-an... “
Special thanks: Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/
...more
39min

FAQs about The Stages of MN:

How many episodes does The Stages of MN have?

The podcast currently has 8 episodes available.