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Is the P Becoming a Food Column?
and how to properly cuddle an Aussiedoodle ♥️
Ben Thietje
February 05, 2026 • Est. Reading Time: 8 minutes
Hello! I’m Ben, executive director at the Phipps.
Welcome to The Flying P, a weekly newsletter covering your Phipps Center for the Arts and anything else I might want to throw your way.
This issue has…
🐶 A New Jingle
a cute one, too🎓 School Photos
say cheese🎭 New Take on R&J
would Willy be proud?
SAUSAGE-MAKING
Picture Day at Wayside School
look at these amazing kiddos
A few from the cast of the PCA’s upcoming children’s production, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, got gussied up for some publicity shots recently. Our friend Molly Weibel came by and snapped several amazing photos, one of which you will see on a postcard in your mailbox very very soon.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School opens on Feb 20th and will be so much fun for the whole family. Grab your tickets if you haven’t already! Use code “FLYINGP” to take 10% off (opening night only).
PHIPPS TOP 10
best-selling upcoming events this season by tickets sold…
1. Deathtrap (previously: 1)
2. Sideways Stories from Wayside School (previously: 2)🔥
3. Fiddle Masters (previously: 3)
4. Broadway, Big Bands, Beatles, and Beyond (previously: 4)
5. Judy Moody & Stink (previously: 6)🔥
6. Strike Theater Story Slam (previously: 8)🔥
7. Songs by Boys by Girls (previously: 9)
8. Cabaret Night at the Phipps (April) (previously: 10)
9. Center Stage (previously: unlisted)
10. The MN Boychoir (previously: unlisted)
BETTER HURRY LIST
best-selling upcoming events this season by percent sold
(i.e., closest to being sold out)…
1. Strike Theater Story Slam (previously: 2)🔥
2. Fiddle Masters (previously: 3)
3. Broadway, Big Bands, Beatles, and Beyond (previously: 4)
4. Cabaret Night at the Phipps (April) (previously: unlisted)
5. Songs by Boys by Girls (previously: unlisted)
as of 2/5/26
PROGRAMMING
You love a First Look
sound designer (and director), Brandon, plays us some sound cues
Wowie Maui!
Nearly 100 of you showed up for our FIRST LOOK: Deathtrap on Tuesday to hear all the interesting things we have planned for you on the JHP stage in April.
For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, the PCA’s First Look series gives audiences a sneak peek at the very first rehearsal of a particular production. You get to hear from the director, designers, actors — it’s a whole lot of fun. And two more amazing things: it’s free and only an hour long!
👆
Artists Conversation with the Interfaith Artist Circle
Swing by Gallery Two (upstairs) this Sunday, Feb 8th at 2pm for a conversation with featured artists from the Interfaith Artist Circle…a great way to close out this exhibition.
FEEDBACK
Season planning is getting weird
your thoughts now belong to me
HUGE thanks to all of you who sent in your thoughts, ideas, and feedback after last week’s P. It helps so much to know what’s going on inside your heads.
The consensus (from P-readers anyway) seems to be:
Current ticket prices are fair…and could even be increased a teeny-tiny bit.
You DO love matinees as much as it feels like you do. More matinees.
Long show, short show, intermission — none of it matters if the show stinks. Show quality is the most important thing.
Season Passes are a great deal; keep ‘em coming.
You love musicals and hate general admission.
Got it. Thanks again. If you didn’t send something in and would still like to, please hit “reply” to this email and send away!
And would it really be a blurb about feedback without a little more brat-talk?
I suggest we meet for lunch at Portillo's in Woodbury, and we'll treat you to a real Chicago Dog (no ketchup:-)
Finally, the P is paying off with offers of free food.
While yellow mustard is fine, to consider it to be "essential" is a bit of a stretch. There are so many other types of mustard that I can't see reliance on a simple yellow mustard as a condiment of consequence for much of anything. I think perhaps you might consider a visit to the National Mustard Museum in Middleton to learn more about an appropriate pairing for any type of sausage, meat, cheese or pretzel. It could make for an interesting diversion for the Flying P.
Consider the mustard museum visit officially considered, Mike!
So maybe this musical about ketchup on brats (or even hotdogs, apparently) is a Romeo & Juliet style production, with your Montagues being the Mustardues, and the Capulets being Ketchupets. Poor Romeo & Juliet stuck in the middle (insert hotdog bun related joke).
I mean…we are currently season planning.
Speaking of feedback, if you have some really positive things to say about the PCA, you now have a dedicated place to say it. Check out the “Love for the Phipps” wall (just inside and to the left of the main lobby doors). Grab a heart, write down a message, and slap it on the wall. It’ll be here throughout the month of February. And for the record, we love you, too. ♥️
Big thanks to Anne and Greta for this fun idea.
Amanda cuddles Jingle and all is good with the world
On a personal note: MY SIS-IN-LAW GOT A NEW PUPPY YOU GUYS. Please meet Jingle, the adorable Aussiedoodle.
I mean, c’mon, you guys.
COME ON.
Are you the smartest Flying P reader the world has ever known?
Time to prove it. It’s The Flying C(rossword)!
👇
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Talk to you next week!
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