Mission Statement

“Theatre Arlo seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Twin Cities Theater Connection Podcast

By Bill, on March 3rd, 2010

We got a visit from Twin Cities Theater Connection, who were kind enough to feature most of our cast in their latest Podcast, discussing Arlo’s creation, past productions, and of course, our upcoming production, Macbeth.

March 3rd, 2010 | Category: Macbeth | Leave a comment

Happening to me

By Bill, on February 18th, 2010

Well, we didn’t get in to the Fringe this year. In fact, at spot 167 on the Wait List it’s kind of unlikely that claw our way to the top. Even figuring the normal attrition rate of 20-30 shows, 137 “accidents” would be tough to pull off. Even for us.

However, if there is one bright spot, it’s that Fringe Famous was pulling for us in their lottery preview:

— BESTIES —

5.) Two Gentlemen of Lebowski (Theatre Arlo) — Adam Bertocci’s adaptation of “The Big Lebowski” into William Shakespearean goodness.

Is the world sick of Shakespeare mash-ups?  If not, I hope it’s getting close.  But Theatre Arlo is fun and I love “The Big Lebowski” like it’s something I wrote myself.

And that is the greatest love of all.

February 18th, 2010 | Tags: , | Category: Two Gentlemen of Lebowski | One comment

“Cheeky scamps”

By Bill, on February 17th, 2010

Check out page 24 of the March issue of Minnesota Monthly to read more about the “cheeky scamps” at Arlo, and get a breakdown of what we spent on Christmas Carol.

February 17th, 2010 | Tags: | Category: A Christmas Carol, Macbeth | Leave a comment

Macbeth: TVGR posters

By Bill, on February 5th, 2010

Character posters for Macbeth: The Video Game Remix.

February 5th, 2010 | Tags: | Category: Macbeth | Leave a comment

Macbeth: The Video Game Remix

By Bill, on January 20th, 2010
Macbeth: the Video Game Remix

l to r: Duck Washington, Tim Uren, Dawn Malicsi (photo by Craig VanDerSchaegen)

Macbeth: The Video Game Remix

Written by Tim Uren (10,000 Comic Books) and Bill Stiteler (THACO)

Shakspeare’s classic tale of treachery and bloody destiny, warped into a world of group raids, power ups, and multiplayer quests. The tale of a n00b destined to be king… if he can ever make it out of first level.

Scotland is pwnd.

Macbeth: TVGR is being performed at the Bryant Lake Bowl. Tickets are $12 ($10 with a 2009 Fringe Button) on:

Sunday, March 7 at 7:00pm
Saturday, March 13 at 7:00pm
Sunday, March 14 at 7:00pm
Saturday, March 20 at 7:00pm
Sunday, March 21 at 7:00pm

January 20th, 2010 | Category: Macbeth | One comment

Two Show Announcements

By Bill, on January 8th, 2010

First! Theatre Arlo is proud to announce the dates for our next production:

Macbeth: The Video Game Remix

Written by Tim Uren (10,000 Comic Books) and Bill Stiteler (THACO)

Shakspeare’s classic tale of treachery and bloody destiny, warped into a world of group raids, power ups, and multiplayer quests. The tale of a n00b destined to be king… if he can ever make it out of first level.

Scotland is pwnd.

Macbeth: TVGR is being performed at the Bryant Lake Bowl. Tickets are $12 ($10 with a 2009 Fringe Button) on:

Sunday, March 7 at 7:00pm
Saturday, March 13 at 7:00pm
Sunday, March 14 at 7:00pm
Saturday, March 20 at 7:00pm
Sunday, March 21 at 7:00pm

Our second big announcement is that we’ve filed our Fringe application. It totally violates our raison d’etre, but it’s also a fantastic play:

The Two Gentlemen of Lebowski

by Adam Bertocci
taking inspiration from Mr. William Shakspeare
and the Brother Coen

What if the Bard had written The Big Lebowski? The cult classic film translated into the story of The Knave and his friend at ninepins, Sir Walter.

We’ll be on pins and needles until the Fringe Lottery, and will post an update once we (hopefully) get the good news.

January 8th, 2010 | Category: Macbeth, Two Gentlemen of Lebowski | 3 comments

Thanks all!

By Bill, on December 22nd, 2009

Well, that wraps up our second production in three months–four months since we officially started work on Arlo. Christmas Carol was an unqualified success, and we are already at work on the script for our next show: MacBeth: the Video Game Remix.

So as I sit at The Local, some thoughts on Arlo at the closing of the year.

  1. The “remix” concept (all credit to M. Foster for that one) was tremendously freeing in term of what we were allowed to do. The initial idea was to do the plays straight, but the white water rapids of both time and budgeting caused us to have to reconfigure that plan. It’s freed us to do commentary on the plays themselves.
  2. The $50 budget has been a huge stumbling block which we’ve overcome largely by ignoring it. We’ve borrowed a lot of props and costumes, but when your show has a cake and runs for six weeks, you’re going to have to buy more than one cake. So we may have to revise our budget upwards if we want to be honest.
  3. The audience response and general reaction to the concept have been sincerely inspiring.

And so we shall return in March with our next show, as well as an appearance at the Fringe Festival (ping pong balls willing). Again, thanks to everyone who’s made Arlo possible: the audiences, the staff at the Bryant Lake Bowl, and especially Matthew, who didn’t realize I was kidding.

December 22nd, 2009 | Category: A Christmas Carol | Leave a comment

AV Club’s holiday guide

By Bill, on December 3rd, 2009

We rated a nod in the AV Club’s roundup of Twin Cities holiday shows:

If you were more interested in MTV than The Golden Girls in the ’80s, or your current TV-watching habits don’t include the Lifetime network, do yourself a favor and get to know Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia. Those old broads were funny, like your grandmother around the holidays when she’s had one or two drinks and starts telling dirty jokes. This culture-meets-kitsch mashup isn’t the first foray into Golden Girls territory for director Matthew Foster; several years ago he re-wrote Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya to include the gray-haired quartet. In the Dickens remix, three classic episodes will get wrapped up in sweet nostalgia, ribaldry, and lots of cheesecake.

December 3rd, 2009 | Tags: | Category: A Christmas Carol | Leave a comment

Added Show!

By Bill, on December 3rd, 2009

We’ve added an additional performance for A Christmas Carol: The Golden Girls Remix!

Thursday, December 17 at 9:30 pm at the Bryant Lake Bowl. (It’ll be appearing on the BLB website shortly)

December 3rd, 2009 | Category: A Christmas Carol | Leave a comment

Golden Girls Gone Wild

By Bill, on November 30th, 2009

Jay Gabler gives us some kind words in his TC Daily Planet Review:

Given the material and its tone, this seems almost absurd to write, but from its debut production—an übergay version of The Importance of Being Earnest—to this sophomore show, Theatre Arlo is actually demonstrating real artistic growth. I recommended the first show to anyone who found the premise “the least bit amusing,” and I think I can safely go further this time: even if you’re not the least bit amused by the premise of setting A Christmas Carol in the Golden Girls’ Florida home, you’ll likely still be amused by the result. And if the notion does tickle your fancy, you should definitely go; the only way you’ll be disappointed is if the show sells out and you can’t get in.

Houses for both performances were full, so if you want to see the show, why not make a reservation now?

November 30th, 2009 | Tags: | Category: A Christmas Carol | Leave a comment
 
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