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New Gallery Who Dis
and a quick chat with Sean Byrd
Ben Thietje
September 03, 2024 • Est. Reading Time: 11 minutes
Hello!
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.
How was your Labor Day weekend? Sad that it’s over? ME TOO. But on the bright side, here’s The Flying P!
This issue has…
🦉 Byrd’s Drowsy Thoughts
a quick interview with the Drowsy director👽 Costumes for Kiddos
we dive into the basement🖼 A Seventh Gallery
art art art we just need more art
ARTIST INTERVIEW
Sean on Drowsy
Sean Byrd’s a handsome fella
The Phipps is extremely lucky to have one of the best theatre directors in the Twin Cities at the helm of its upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone (opening this Friday btw): Sean Byrd.
Sean was nice enough to answer a few questions about the production. Enjoy!
What attracted you to this particular musical?
I think the thing that attracted me the most to the show is its 'style'. It takes us back to a time in musical theatre where everything was lavish and opulent, with recognizable characters that are both funny and entertaining. It's a joyful evening of theatre with the always wished for happy endings. And joy is something we just need more of right now.
Can you share a bit about your vision for the show and how it will come to life on stage?
From the outset, I asked the cast and production team to think of this show as one of those confetti party cakes that you cut into, and out falls a multitude of crazy antics, hijinks, all-around zaniness. It's a world of hilarity and pure fun - and I wanted to see the design of our show just take that party cake image and run with it. I mean, who doesn't love a great piece of cake? Right?
As we approach opening night, what most excites you about the production?
As we get to this point in the process, we start to really get excited about having the audience in the room with us! It's just not a show until we have them. And I think the audience is really going to fall in love with these characters and the actors who are playing them. And that makes me very excited!
What do you hope the Phipps audiences will take away from The Drowsy Chaperone?
I hope they walk away humming a tune or two. I hope their sides hurt from laughing. I hope they walk away wanting to come back again and bring their friends. And mostly, I hope they walk away realizing that even in their 'bluest' moments, there is happiness and laughter to be found in a modern but still old-fashioned musical.
This is your first time working at the Phipps. What, if anything, has surprised you?
I have been constantly surprised, overwhelmed, and impressed by the kindness and generosity of every single person at the Phipps. They all take great pride in the work that is done here and that is contagious. Many of us on this team, both on stage and off, are new to the Phipps and we have been so grateful for the support and encouragement by all of the staff and volunteers here.
Folks, The Drowsy Chaperone is going to be one heck of a show.
Don’t miss it!
PHIPPS TOP 10
best-selling upcoming events this season by tickets sold…
1. The Drowsy Chaperone (previously: 1)
2. I Am Woman…. presented by Lori Dokken (previously: 2)
3. Prancer (previously: 3)
4. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (previously: 4)
5. Transyl-Mania (previously: 6)
6. Colleen Raye’s NYE (previously: 7)
7. The Andrews Sisters Onstage: a Jen Burleigh-Bentz production (previously: 5)
8. Underneath the Lintel, or: The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers (previously: 8)
9. Silent Sky (previously: 9)
10. A Brass & Organ Holiday (previously: 10)
BETTER HURRY LIST
best-selling upcoming events this season by percent sold
(i.e., closest to being sold out)…
1. I Am Woman…. presented by Lori Dokken (previously: 1)
2. Underneath the Lintel, or: The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers (previously: 2)
3. Cabaret Night at the Phipps (fall) (previously: 4)
4. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (previously: 3)
5. The Andrews Sisters Onstage: a Jen Burleigh-Bentz production (previously: 5)
PS — After last week’s issue, I got an email from the director of Silent Sky (who also happens to be my wife). She noticed that the play has been sitting at #9 for a few weeks now, and…isn’t happy about it.
“Ok. I didn’t want to do this, but if we can get Silent Sky up a notch on the list, two tickets to anything at the Phipps this season for a random SS ticket buyer, on me. The staff can draw the name.”
-Amanda, Silent Sky director
As of now, Silent Sky is 8 tickets behind Underneath the Lintel, so this feels quite doable. Ball’s in your court, fam. 🤷♂️
WEIRD BASEMENT CHRONICLES
Costumes galore
In the first issue of The Flying P, I promised to let you into the strange and beautiful world that is the Phipps Center for the Arts basement…and it’s time to make good on that promise.
That being said, I’m not going to simply toss you into the deep end with something crazy like the Creepy Generator Room or the sound closet that smells like soup. That would be irresponsible. Instead, I’ll start you out with something safe, something comforting, something fun: the Children’s Theatre Costume Storage Area!
“Costume Storage 1” is NOT what I call it
The outside of the Children’s Theatre Costume Storage Area is bleak, and definitely does not reflect the absolute world of wonders housed inside.
The Phipps Children’s Theatre Council has a costume stock that (excuse my French) totally kicks ass. There’s rack upon rack of truly great stuff. It’s all extremely well organized, too. Way to go, CTC!
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From fancy dresses to crazy masks and hats, this room has it all. It’s definitely the least-weird thing in the Phipps basement.
A++ highly recommend.
For those of you thinking “wow…this could really help my Halloween situation,” stay tuned. 😉
artist: John Pearson
👆
my favorite gallery piece of the week
John is doing some really interesting things in Gallery 3. Check out this piece that was created by layering images sourced from files at the St. Croix Watershed Research Station’s microscope lab. How cool is that?!
PHIPPS NEWS
New gallery alert!
newest addition: Lobby Gallery
Ever thought to yourself, “The Phipps is great and all, but what it really needs is a seventh gallery…preferably very tiny”? If so, this is your lucky day!
Lobby Gallery will live over by the Black Box Theater, and is currently dedicated to showcasing the intersection of visual art and live performance at the Phipps Center. Kudos to Lee Ann and the Visual Arts Council!
Art inspired by The Drowsy Chaperone, Prancer, Transyl-Mania, and the Phipps Dance Company will be on display through January 2024.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Silent Sky, Phipps Dance Company, and The SpongeBob Musical will be the gallery’s focus during the second half of the 2024/25 season.
All pieces come from local artist, Bebe Keith, who you can also see on stage in the upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone (opening this Friday, have you heard?).
👆 Take a listen to what’s coming soon to the Black Box 👆
Are you a Phipps expert?
Prove it by completing The Flying C(rossword).
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Talk to you next week!
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