Please Buy a Gazillion Tickets

and how to become a Jewelry Power Elite šŸ’Ž

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.

Big thanks to all of you who filled out last issue’s survey. I learned a lot about you (yes you). Will it make me better at my job? Doubtful. Here’s to another year of the Flying P!

This issue has…

  • šŸ“· Some Publicity Pics
    we’re so photogenic

  • šŸŽ­ Encore Exploration
    five shows in four days; you can do it

  • šŸŽ™ļø A Request for More Leslie
    please come back, Leslie…please

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PROGRAMMING

The Fringe is baaaaaaaack!

It’s that time of year again: Fringe Encore at the Phipps begins next Wednesday!

Being a theatre guy, the MN Fringe Festival is one of my all-time favorite things. There are just SO MANY fun and weird and different shows to check out — and all of them are no more than an hour long. Even if I wander into the worst show imaginable, it’s still going to end in about an hour. I can deal with that.

And in the case of the Fringe Encore at the Phipps, you don’t even have to worry about the worst show imaginable, because we’ve hand-picked these productions JUST FOR YOU. They’re all very good. And they’re all very different.

Here’s the week’s schedule…

Jon Bennett: AMERICAN’T
Wednesday, Aug. 20th @ 7pm

A wild, hilarious, & heartfelt story of family, failure, & getting arrested in America. ā€œMasterful, hilarious & heart breaking. AMERICAN’T is a Triumph.ā€ - Broadway World "A Masterpiece ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…ā˜…" - Fringe Feed

Why you should see it:
This one has a stand-up feel to it. Some of the stories are equal parts hilarious and crude. However, it’s great storytelling, too, and tugs at your heartstrings multiple times throughout. Jon Bennett performs all over the world, and it shows.

Jewelry Power Elite
Thursday, Aug. 21st @ 7pm

Lauren Anderson, a comedian who wears jewelry for sport, recounts personal stories about her life and the jewelry she wore while she lived and survived it. A celebration of whimsy and courage over the mundane.

Why you should see it:
If there was a Mt. Rushmore of Twin Cities comedy, Lauren Anderson would be on it. She’s a veteran of the Brave New Workshop and is one of the best improvisers in town. This is her first solo show, and it does not disappoint.

A Good Cancer to Have
Friday, Aug. 22nd @ 7pm

This year cancer tried to kill Sam. This is the show he wrote about it.

Why you should see it:
This is the guy who did the horse show last year. Did you see it? It was called A Horse Walks Out Onto Stage and Dies. It was as crazy as it sounds…and also incredible. Sam Sweere is an excellent performer and this show is personal, hilarious, heartwarming, and a reminder how talented the young man is.

What We Wore
Saturday, Aug. 23rd @ 2pm

In this one-woman show, Gabi (of @gabis_vintage) digs into her family's vintage clothing to connect with the past, explore womanhood, and share the WILD world of life online. Historical, humorous, and heartfelt.

Why you should see it:
We saw this show because Gail, our Business Director, said she thought it sounded fun. And it was! Gabi Jones is a natural storyteller, and the way she weaves family and the past into the clothing items is fascinating. My wife saw this one and proclaimed it a ā€œ10 out of 10.ā€

Mind Reader
Saturday, Aug. 23rd @ 7pm

Mind Reader is not a show to simply watch, it’s an experience to be a part of. You will experience incredible feats of memory, discovery of new abilities, and of course, unbelievable mind reading.

Why you should see it:
This is the one for you if you enjoy card tricks, magic, and just generally having your mind blown. Steven Nicholas has an unbelievable memory, which he displays and then even passes on to you. It’s a nutty show that will leave you wondering how he did all of it. Do not miss.

If the Fringe sounds fun to you, I suggest seeing as many of these as you can. Make it a fun ā€œcollect ā€˜em allā€ thing for the week. The shows are ~60-minutes long and I think we’ve priced them well. I’ll even make it a little easier. Use the code FLYINGFRINGE on checkout for $5 off each and every ticket. Enjoy!

PHIPPS TOP 10
best-selling upcoming events this season by tickets sold…

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (previously: 2)
2. Little Shop of Horrors (previously: 3)
3. Deathtrap (previously: 4)
4. Miss Nelson is Missing! (previously: 7)šŸ”„
5. Hornucopia (previously: 5)
6. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (series) (previously: 6)
7. Colleen Raye’s New Year’s Eve (previously: 9)
8. Barley Jacks (previously: unlisted)šŸ”„
9. Silent Centennials (previously: 10)
10. Broadway, Big Bands, Beatles, and Beyond (previously: unlisted)

BETTER HURRY LIST
best-selling upcoming events this season by percent sold
(i.e., closest to being sold out)…

1. Hornucopia (previously: 3)
2. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (series) (previously: 4)
3. Barley Jacks (previously: unlisted)šŸ”„
4. Silent Centennials (previously: 5)
5. Wonderland Jazz Jam (previously: unlisted)šŸ”„

as of 8/14/25

MARKETING

Publicity photos for the win

In the last Flying P, I gave you a sneak peek into our publicity shoots for Miss Nelson is Missing! and Little Shop of Horrors…so I thought I’d let you see the results before anyone else. How fun are these?!

The next time you see these images, it’ll most likely be in your mailbox. Will they cause you to buy a gazillion tickets? One can only hope.

artist: Jennifer Osborne Anderson

šŸ‘†
my favorite gallery piece of the week
Foxes are people, too.
Check out Jennifer’s work in the Riverview Gallery.

SAUSAGE-MAKING

Little Shop First Look

Folks gathered last week at the Little Shop First Look to have a behind-the-scenes discussion with the production’s director, Maci Lucht, as well as cast members and designers…which means rehearsals are officially underway!

Spoiler alert: this one’s gonna be WILD.

Were you a part of last Sunday’s sold-out Leslie Vincent show? If so, congrats. That was the hottest ticket we’ve had in quite some time, with a wait list of 40+. And deservedly so; she’s amazing. If you missed her, don’t worry. We’ll convince her to come back.
Right, Leslie?
Right…?
😁 

THE FLYING C(rossword)

You finally made it to the end. How much did you retain? Test yourself by completing The Flying C(rossword).

THANKS FOR LISTENING

Struggle to read? That’s okay. Here’s a 30-second me-to-you moving picture to give your brain a rest. Enjoy!

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Talk to you next week!

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