The Stages of MN

Welcome to Episode 27 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

On this episode: Theater Couples Part 2 We finish our chat with Eric Morris and Laura Rudolph Morris and get a tour the Hive! Be sure to check out the Hive Collaborative Website for all the upcoming events https://www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/ . Eric will be directing Once Upon a Mattress at Lakeshore Players from 4/24/26 - 5/17/26 https://www.lakeshoreplayers.org/matt... and appearing in Come From Away at the Guthrie Theater this summer from 6/6/26 - 8/9/26 https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-... Laura will be stepping in as a Long-term vacation swing in April and May and again at the end of the run of Guys and Dolls at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres https://chanhassendt.com/guysanddolls/

MN Honest Review: The Cake at Theatre in the Round through March 15th https://www.theatreintheround.org/the... “At a Show With…” photos of who I saw out at the Theater.

Special thanks: Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/ 

Alex Dunkelberger and Micky Dunkelberger for their production assistance.

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 on YouTube bit.ly/YouTubeTSOMN

Interested in sponsoring an episode, want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club, or just have comments, questions, or suggestions for me? You can email me at [email protected].

Welcome to Episode 26 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience. 

On this episode:  

Eric Morris and Laura Rudolph Morris welcome me into their Hive in part one of a two part entry in our series Theater Couples. Be sure to check out the Hive Collaborative Website for all the upcoming events https://www.thehivecollaborativemn.com/ . 

Eric will be directing Once Upon a Mattress at Lakeshore Players from 4/24/26 - 5/17/26 https://www.lakeshoreplayers.org/mattress-season-73 and appearing in Come From Away at the Guthrie Theater this summer from 6/6/26 - 8/9/26 https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/2025-2026-season/come-from-away/

Laura will be stepping in as a Long-term vacation swing in April and May and again at the end of the run of Guys and Dolls at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres https://chanhassendt.com/guysanddolls/

MN Honest Reviews: 

Macbeth at The Guthrie Theater through March 22nd https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/2025-2026-season/macbeth/

The Glass Menagerie at Theater Latte Da now extended through March 8th https://www.latteda.org/glass-menagerie

Some other events to check out:

FREE New Play Reading of Lion’s Tooth by Alex Church at The Black Forest Inn at 7:00 PM on  2/20/26 https://melancholicsanonymous.org/new-play-series#current-nps

Trademark Theatre has a staged reading of The Ostentatious Outlaws of Neehai Valley by Keith Hovis 2/23/26 at 7:30 PM at Park Square Theatre https://www.trademarktheater.org/outlaws

From Walking Shadow Theatre Company Feast runs 2/27/26 - 3/29/26 at 6:30 PM at the Black Forest Inn. tickets available for show only or with a feast. https://walkingshadow.org/feast-2026/ on Saturdays throughout the run you can purchase tickets to see Beowulf before Feast at 5:00 PM.

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

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

Alex Dunkelberger and Micky Dunkelberger for their production assistance.

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 form  https://robdunkelberger.podbean.com/ or wherever you enjoy podcasts. 

Interested in sponsoring an episode, want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club, or just have comments, questions, or suggestions for me? You can email me at [email protected].  

Today is our final episode of 2025! And to see you through the holiday season we have reviews of 5 seasonal shows!

Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical at History Theatre thru 12/21 https://www.historytheatre.com/2025-2026/rollicking-winter-carnival-musical

A Christmas in ochopee from New Native Theatre runs from 12/3 thru 12/21 https://www.newnativetheatre.org/a-ch...

A Christmas Carol...More or Less runs from 11/28 thru 12/28 at Yellow Tree Theatre https://yellowtreetheatre.com/christm...

A Nice Family Christmas at Lyric Arts Through 12/21 https://www.lyricarts.org/nice-family-christmas

A Double Feature of Free Pirate Musicals celebrating Fortune's Fool Theatre at the Hive Collaborative through 12/21 https://fortunesfooltheatre.org/what-were-doing

And one Final At a Show With.... Segment before we close out the year. We'll be back in early 2026 with more Stages of MN. Until then be sure and catch my reviews of all the shows I see at my blog https://thestagesofmn.com/

and Follow me on Facebook / thestagesofmn and Instagram / thestagesofmn

Special thanks: To Ryan Lee for the use of his music catalog which is available at https://ryanlee.bandcamp.com/

The show is also available on YouTube at The show is also available on YouTube at https://bit.ly/YouTubeTSOMN 

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN you can reach out to at [email protected].

Have a question of comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can also email me at [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 23 of The Stages of MN, a weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

Today’s episode finds our hero on a desert island poking around with a stick looking for buried treasure in celebration of Fortune's Fool Theatre's 20th Anniversary! We have an interview with Father and Daughter Co-Artistic Directors Daniel and Ariel Pinkerton to discuss their festival of free musicals. You can get all the details as well as reserve your seats here https://fortunesfooltheatre.org/what-...

We also have a review of Mistletoe & Mayhew from Just Us Theater which runs thru 12/14 https://mistletoe-mayhem.com/

Theatre Latté da's My Fair Lady Tickets can be found here https://www.latteda.org/my-fair-lady

And the last remaining tickets for A Christmas carol...More of Less can be grabbed here https://yellowtreetheatre.com/christm...

Althea Forstner's The Littlest Theater Blogger's Blog can be found here https://beyondthecurtainsmn.squarespa... .

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 is also available on YouTube at The show is also available on YouTube at https://bit.ly/YouTubeTSOMN 

 If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN you can reach out to at [email protected]. Have a question of comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can also email me at [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 22 of The Stages of MN, a weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

Today’s Phantastic episode is dedicated to my Stepmom Karen Dunkelberger March 16, 1943 — November 22, 2025 RIP.

We start the episode off with The Green Screen Game, don't know what that is? take a look!

I'm joined by my son Alex Dunkelberger where we discuss the trip through his childhood that was our double feature Theater day of Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium which runs through December 14th at Park Square in St. Paul https://bit.ly/ParkSquareGoosebumps  and The Phantom of the Opera which runs through December 7th at Hennepin Arts Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis https://hennepinarts.org/events/the-phantom-of-the-opera 

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 is also available on YouTube at https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode22YouTube 

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN you can reach out to at [email protected]. Have a question of comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can also email me at [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 21 of The Stages of MN, a weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

Today’s episode is our Sponsored Holiday Preview episode! Thanks to our Sponsors History Theatre, Yellow Tree Theatre, New Native Theatre, and Just Us Theater. Go to their websites to purchase tickets to their Holiday shows previewed on this episode.

Rollicking! A Winter Carnival Musical at History Theatre thru 12/21 https://www.historytheatre.com/2025-2026/rollicking-winter-carnival-musical

A Christmas in ochopee from New Native Theatre runs from 12/3 thru 12/21 https://www.newnativetheatre.org/a-christmas-in-ochopee

A Christmas Carol...More or Less runs from 11/28 thru 12/28 at Yellow Tree Theatre https://yellowtreetheatre.com/christmascarol

Mistletoe & Mayhew from Just Us Theater runs 11/28 thru 12/14 https://mistletoe-mayhem.com/

There's one holiday themed MN Honest review for you this episode A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theater runs thru 12/28 https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/a-christmas-carol/

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 is also available on YouTube at https://bit.ly/YouTubeTSOMN

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN you can reach out to at [email protected]. Have a question of comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can also email me at [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 20 of The Stages of MN, a weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

On today’s episode we remind you that 11/20 is MN Give to the Max Day. Go to https://www.givemn.org/  to donate to your favorite theater or theaters and after you do send me an email at [email protected]. If you don't have a favorite , why not donate to one of the companies who have sponsored The Stages of MN this year: Yellow Tree Theatre, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Unlabeled Theatre, Fortune's Fool Theatre, Lakeshore Players, Ten Thousand Things, Minneapolis Musical Theater, Ananya Dance Theater, Theatre in the Round, History Theatre, Mystery Cafe, Ghoulish Delights, Exposed Brick Theatre, Prime Productions, Skylark Opera Theatre, and Just Us Theater.

Congratulations to Kat Schwartz who won a pair of tickets to the History Theatre, in our History Theatre ticket giveaway. Check out their full season here https://www.historytheatre.com/  Thanks History Theatre and Erica Skarohlid of Lettered in Theatre fame. You can read her blog here https://letteredintheatre.wordpress.com/

On todays episode I talk with Theater Latté Da's Eliza Doolittle herself, Anna Hashizume. My Fair Lady runs through 12/28/25 for tickets go to https://www.latteda.org/my-fair-lady 

There's one MN Honest review for you this Frank Theatre's The Resistible Rise of Arturo UI which runs through 11/23/25 go here for tickets https://franktheatre.org/ 

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 is also available on YouTube at https://bit.ly/TSOMNEP20YouTube 

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN or just have a question of comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can email me at [email protected] 

Welcome to Episode 19 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

Today's Episode Features three new reviews for you including the highly anticipated Purple Rain which runs through 11/23 at The State Theatre get tickets here https://hennepinarts.org/events/purple-rain-2025

We also have Reviews of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 which runs through 11/22 at Theatre Elision, they have added one show otherwise it is currently sold out. go here to see if you can score this hot ticket https://www.theatreelision.com/comet

Also highly recommended is Primary Trust at the Guthrie Theatre through 11/16 go here for tickets https://www.guthrietheater.org/shows-and-tickets/2025-2026-season/primary-trust/

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN, want to be part of the Holiday preview episode, have a question or comment on the show, or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can email me at [email protected]

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 is also available in it's original Video form on YouTube watch it here https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode19

Welcome to Episode 18 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience.

Today's Episode is a final look at the TCHF, we have Six reviews of shows. Check out the festival here https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/  it runs through 10/30.

We also take a peek ahead at a couple of other Monster Month shows coming in November from Theatre in the Round and Park Square Theatre. Get more info and tickets at https://www.theatreintheround.org/  and https://parksquaretheatre.org/ 

The History Theatre ticket give away contest is still open. Thanks to Erica Skarohlid of Lettered in Theatre for making that happen. You can read her blog here https://letteredintheatre.wordpress.com/  and check out the season lineup at History Theatre here https://www.historytheatre.com/.  To enter the drawing for two tickets to an upcoming History theater show email me at [email protected]  With your name and email address, Put History Theatre Ticket Giveaway in the subject line we draw a winner on 11/3.

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 is also available on YouTube at https://bit.ly/TSOMNEpisode18YouTube   

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN, want to be part of the Holiday preview episode or just have a question or comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can email me at [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 17 of The Stages of MN. A weekly show about the live theatrical experience. Today Episode is all about TCHF, we have four reviews os shows and a look around the festival including an epic At a Show With segment. check out the festival here https://www.tchorrorfestival.com/ The History Theatre ticket give away contest is still open. Thanks to Erica Skarohlid of Lettered in Theatre for making that happen. You can read her blog here https://letteredintheatre.wordpress.com/ and check out the season lineup at History Theatre here https://www.historytheatre.com/. To enter the drawing for two tickets to an upcoming History theater show email me at [email protected] Wuth your name and email address, Put History Theatre Ticket Giveaway in the subject line we draw a winner on 11/3. 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 is also available on YouTube at  https://bit.ly/TSOMNEp17YouTube

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Stages of MN, want to be part of the Holiday preview episode or just have a question or comment on the show or want to join The Stages of MN + 1 Club you can email me at [email protected]