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The Bazzness

The Bazzness

By Damon Runnals

This is The Bazzness where we talk to performance makers about their art and their practice.

Our host chats with local Twin Cities performing artists and finds out how they work, why they work, and what keeps them going in the challenging industry of the performing arts.

The Bazzness is part Between Two Ferns, part Inside the Actors Studio, and all Minnesota. The Bazzness was conceived and created by Sam Landman with support by Minnesota Playlist.
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Currently playing episode

Episode 8: Addie Phelps

The BazznessOct 14, 2018

00:00
35:04
S2E13: H. Adam Harris
Mar 09, 202045:45
S2E12: Kaleena Miller

S2E12: Kaleena Miller

In our second to last episode of the season, choreographer and tap dancer Kaleena Miller shares insights about the history (and present!) of tap dance, granting structures, and the aural and physical basis of her creative process.

Mar 02, 202037:51
S2E11: Utica Queen

S2E11: Utica Queen

Ethan Mundt (a.k.a Utica Queen) talks about his creative process, sparking joy with performance, and the visual and cultural references that make his drag performances alternatively hilarious and poignant.

Feb 24, 202001:00:37
S2E10: Ezra Bartsch

S2E10: Ezra Bartsch

Writer, puppet-maker, movie-maker, musician, and “hobby tourist” Ezra Bartsch reminds us that “art is not alone,” and speaks on the importance of revisions and vulnerability in art-making.

Feb 17, 202038:31
S2E9: Annie Enneking

S2E9: Annie Enneking

Annie Enneking’s interdisciplinary work springs from the body -- be it fight choreography, acting or music, she brings a keen understanding of mass and momentum to every creative room.

Feb 10, 202039:03
S2E8: Rana May

S2E8: Rana May

Comedian Rana May and Jane talk about comedy, therapy and even dogs in this episode of The Bazzness. From learning how (and when!) to trust audiences on jokes to how, as a woman, she felt she needed to be “anointed” before calling herself a comedian, May paints a compelling picture of what it is like to work and laugh in the Twin Cities.

Feb 03, 202045:20
S2E7: Renata Nijiya

S2E7: Renata Nijiya

Jane speaks with Renata Nijiya, who goes by the stage name Queenie von Curves. Renata shares her insights about the subversive, empowering and cheeky world of Minneapolis Burlesque.

Jan 27, 202040:51
S2E6: Rebekah Crisanta de Ybarra

S2E6: Rebekah Crisanta de Ybarra

Interdisciplinary artist extraordinaire Rebekah Crisanta de Ybarra (enrolled Maya-Lenca, El Salvador, b. Tomah, WI) speaks about her artistic practice of channeling, how her work revolves around cultural reclamation and decolonization, as well as steps we can take as an artistic community to forge relationships.

Jan 20, 202039:03
S2E5: Benjamin Domask

S2E5: Benjamin Domask

Clown, juggler, mime, director, circus performer, magician, musician, and teaching artist Benjamin Domask gets into the psychological, physical, spiritual, and ethical implications of clowning. Clowns try to embody love and Benjamin brought his suitcase of props for us all to enjoy.

Jan 13, 202047:03
S2E4: Foster Johns

S2E4: Foster Johns

Voice and dialect coach Foster Johns speaks with Jane Froiland about coming to characters aurally (hesitation sounds, the dangers of prestige accents) and how dialect work can be woven into the DNA of theatrical process.


Jan 06, 202045:04
S2E3: Allison Broeren

S2E3: Allison Broeren

Co-founder of Strike Theater Allison Broeren recounts diving into Minneapolis Storytelling scene, emphasizes that art is no substitute for therapy, and shares in Jane’s love of trophies.

Dec 30, 201940:11
S2E2: Regina Williams

S2E2: Regina Williams

For Jane’s inaugural episode as The Bazzness’ host, we have the incomparable Regina Williams here to talk about being “a character that the story cannot do without,” her inspiration notebook, and how her career continues to grow and develop.

Dec 23, 201941:40
S2E1: And now I'd like to pass the mic...

S2E1: And now I'd like to pass the mic...

The legendary Sam Landman “hands over the keys” to Jane Froiland in this first episode of The Bazzness, Season 2. Learn more about Jane’s experience as an actor, teaching artist, speech coach, director, and her long table (which has room for many, many voices) this season.

Dec 16, 201937:54
Episode 13: Denzel Belin

Episode 13: Denzel Belin

If there’s one thing Denzel Belin believes in, it’s that you CAN do it all. (You just can’t do it all at the same time.) Hear how he glides successfully between Brave New Workshop and their Student Union.
Nov 18, 201838:47
Episode 12: Duck Washington

Episode 12: Duck Washington

Pandas. Pandas, everybody. Pandas. Duck Washington shoots the breeze about his process, the song from “Big” and creating with Blackout Improv, Fearless Comedy and so many other companies.
Nov 11, 201835:30
Episode 11: Molly Cathryn Glover

Episode 11: Molly Cathryn Glover

Ever heard of “structured improv?” Molly Cathryn Glover schools us on what that means, as well how she tailors her next-level comedy/geekery to any and everything she creates onstage.
Nov 04, 201832:09
Episode 10: Brad Erickson

Episode 10: Brad Erickson

Playing your childhood heroes is just as complex and fulfilling as you might expect. Brad Erickson can attest to this. We quiz him on how he immerses himself into icons like Charles Schulz and Jim Henson.
Oct 28, 201836:53
Episode 9: Aidan Jhane Gallivan

Episode 9: Aidan Jhane Gallivan

Remember your 20’s? Well, during that time, did you start a theater company, produce six shows and act in nearly a dozen before you were 25? Aidan Jhane Gallivan did. And she isn’t done yet.
Oct 21, 201833:35
Episode 8: Addie Phelps

Episode 8: Addie Phelps

You might not believe what Adelin Phelps does to prepare for every show she’s in. It’s pretty fascinating. We also delve into her hopes for the future and her character on the “Theater People” web-series.
Oct 14, 201835:04
Episode 7: Brian Kelly

Episode 7: Brian Kelly

There’s a creative nexus of murder mysteries and saints that producer/director/writer Brian Kelly inhabits. And somewhere between the café and the baseball diamond, he still finds time for acting.
Oct 07, 201836:11
Episode 6: Greta Grosch

Episode 6: Greta Grosch

How do you create a show? Scratch that. How do you create a theater franchise? Greta Grosch dishes out stories about how she turned the Church Basement Ladies series into a worldwide phenomenon.
Sep 30, 201836:38
Episode 5: Heather Stone

Episode 5: Heather Stone

Getting to the root of creation with actor/director/producer/Sandbox Theatre founder Heather Stone. What it means to be a “collaborative creator,” while choosing between devised theater and scripted.
Sep 23, 201832:57
Episode 4: David Beukema

Episode 4: David Beukema

Linda Lavin, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, The Muppets and actor David Beukema. They all collide with hilarious consequences. Also, hear why David considers himself theater’s “utility infielder.”
Sep 16, 201835:16
Episode 3: Rita Boersma

Episode 3: Rita Boersma

Ever wondered what monologue HUGE Theater’s Artistic Director Rita Boersma auditioned with at Park Square? It’s all right here, along with surprising insights into why improv is important.
Sep 09, 201832:10
Episode 2: Ben Thietje

Episode 2: Ben Thietje

Deleko Arts co-founder Ben Thietje expounds on the gentle art of shopping potential theater spaces during his “sometimes theater company” days, as well as tough talk with talented theater students.
Sep 02, 201834:60
Episode 1: Rachel Petrie

Episode 1: Rachel Petrie

The very first episode of The Bazzness!

Rachel Petrie
Actor/playwright Rachel Petrie talks about what it was like to create her one-person show, “Fadeaway Girl.” Could that experience push her to finally write her hardware store play? One way to find out.
Aug 23, 201831:24