Master Works: The Museum of Bad Art Plays
January-February 2009: Bryant-Lake Bowl Theater, Minneapolis, MN
Commedia Beauregard teamed up with the Museum of Bad Art to take six works of art from their permanent collection and translate them into short plays. Fulfilling the mission of Commedia Beauregard to translate not only from language to language, but from one art form to another, the six playwrights each wrote a 15-minute play that told the story of, or behind, one of the paintings from the MOBA collection. Six local directors then took those plays and brought them to the Bryant-Lake Bowl Theatre stage!
Photos
The Plays
Auntie Lisa by Greg Bonine-Giles
Directed by Scott Pakudaitis
Based on the painting "Mana Lisa"
Andrea: Tegan Sickeler
Catarina: Liz Swabey-Keith
Auntie Lisa: Maretta Zilic
Vince/Esmerelda: Kelvin Hatle
The Destabilization of Businessmen; or, The Big-Wigs Lose Their Heads by Dan O'Neil
Directed by Robin Johnson
Based on the painting "Invasion of the Office Zombies"
Bob Stanley/Grover Cleveland: Jeff Huset
Margaret: Kjersten Johnson
Francis: Kirsten Wiegmann
Two Left Feet by Matthew A. Everett
Directed by Laura Leffler-McCabe
Based on the painting "My Left Foot"
Jamie: Bryan Grosso
Taylor: Tera Kilbride
Third: Blake E. Bolan
Off Leash by Lisa Day
Directed by Natalie Novacek
Based on the painting "Bone-Juggling Dog in Hula Skirt"
Gabby: Anna Shields
Luke: Corey Walton
Old Man: Jack McClure
Gina's Demons by Nick Ryan
Directed by Leah Adcock-Starr
Based on the painting "Gina's Demons"
Gina: Danielle Krivinchuk
Nurse/Dr. Sentiment/Dr. Wellwell/Exterminator: Nick Kiminski
Demons: Starr Brainard, Celesta Brainard, Mozelle LeCompte, Yasha Meyer, Madelyn DeFrey
Stage Manager: Alexandra Gowdy-Jaehnig
The Disturbing Chair by Bill Corbett
Directed by Katie Willer
Based on the painting "Lulli, Fowl, and Gravestone"
Lulli: Eva Nelson
Frieda: Dawn Malicsi
Awards
Best Translation: Gina's Demons by Nick Ryan, directed by Leah Adcock-Starr
Audience Favorite: Two Left Feet by Matthew A. Everett, directed by Laura Leffler-McCabe
Reviews & Other Press
Twin Cities Daily Planet -- Shameless Plug of the Day: "Master Works: The Museum of Bad Art Plays"
Off Center -- The Museum of Bad Art's Michael Frank
Twin Cities Daily Planet -- Theater: "Master Works" at the BLB: Bad Art, Good Plays
Lavender Magazine -- On The Townsend
I would go back just to hear the description of the “hideous” chair.
Melissa Slachetka, Twin Cities Daily Planet
Click Here for Full Review