The Bazzness

In our final episode of this season of The Bazzness, Jane interviews the interdisciplinary, and more-than-highly quotable, H. Adam Harris. He discusses his six guidelines for art-making, how he remains hopeful and active in the face of contemporary events, his time as the Lorax, and even gives us a sneak peak at his work directing Redwood (opening 3/11/2020 at the Jungle Theater). Check out our archive of The Bazzness episodes from Seasons 1 and 2. They are available anywhere podcasts can be downloaded, on our site, or directly from our host at  Anchor FM.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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. 

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.

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.