The Pride had a wonderful opening weekend, and we’ve gotten some good buzz and great reviews. Here’s a rapid-fire list.

REVIEWS
John Olive at HowWasTheShow.com raved, calling it “a terrific play.”
Claude Peck at the Star Tribune says, “It’s easy to recommend an evening so full of tears and laughter, pathos and insight.”

INTERVIEWS
On the City Pages blog “The Dressing Room,” Ed Huyck interviews our director Noel Raymond.
John Townsend has an interview with us over at Lavender Magazine.

MENTIONS
Max Sparber gave us a bit of ink at Minnpost.com.
At Minnesota Playlist, Alan Berks included The Pride in his article about challenging, exciting theatre this Fall.
The current issue of Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine lists us in the theatre Top Ten in their Fall Arts Preview.

Wanna see what the play looks like? Michal Daniel shot some really lovely photos of the show, some of which are online.

We run through October 16th! Every Wednesday night is pay-what-you-can! There are also some performances where Pillsbury House offers free child care during the show. Come see us! www.pillsburyhousetheatre.org

Somehow, someone conned Minnesota Monthly into including me in their Fall Arts Preview, dubbing me an “Artist We Love.” They refer to me as a “Southern Gentleman,” gracefully looking past my lack of social aptitude. Check it out!

http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/September-2011/Artists-We-Love/

They mention my upcoming role in Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride at Pillsbury House, directed by Noel Raymond, which we’ve just started rehearsing this week. It’s going to be a great play. Gripping, funny, and thought-provoking. I’m excited and honored to be working at Pillsbury House and with super talented actors Matt Guidry, Tracey Maloney, and Paul de Cordova. We run September 16th through October 16th.

Having immediately jumped into new projects, I’ve had little time to mourn the end of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. I’m thrilled and grateful that so many people came to see Hamluke and liked it. We were the #6 selling show of the Festival, were awarded the Encore performance for being the top-selling show in our venue, and maintained an average 4.5 out of 5-kitty rating among 69 audience reviews. We’re overwhelmed at the positive response, and we had a ton of fun producing the show. I’ll miss Hamluke and the entire 2011 Fringe.

Here’s a CarSoup commercial I shot recently that’s hitting the airwaves. Also features the lovely & talented Heidi Fellner.

Hamluke‘s final performance (unless we snag the Encore slot Sunday night) is today at 4:00 PM! Be there!

Hamluke photos by Eric G.Y. Petersen are available on Flickr.

Pioneer Press dubs Hamluke a Must See!

City Pages calls Hamluke an “entertaining mix” which tells a “fast-paced and engaging version of the original [Hamlet] story.”

“Hamluke delivered not only what it promised, but much more. Just do yourself a favor and buy your tickets NOW.” - Adam Whisner,Minnesota Playlist

“There were moments when the confluence of Mark Hamill, Clarence Wethern and Hamlet were just about perfect. And many excellent moments, often from Lindsay Marcy. And I’m very enthusiastic about any production that dresses children up in costumes that restrict their vision and then makes them toddle about.” - John Middleton, Minnesota Playlist

MPLS.TV recommends Hamluke, praising the “swift, energetic acting and hilarious one-liners.”

Listen to Joshua Humphrey interview Brad Erickson and Clarence Wethern about Hamluke on the Twin Cities Theater Connectionpodcast.

Like Hamluke on Facebook: facebook.com/hamluke

Join the conversation on Twitter! Tags your tweets with the#Hamluke tag!

Lindsay Marcy & Clarence Wethern. Photo by Eric G.Y. Petersen

The Minnesota Fringe Festival has posted some photos by Eric G.Y. Petersen from a performance of Hamluke on Flickr.

Click here to see the gallery.

We have two more performances: Thursday at 10pm & Friday at 4pm. Reservations are recommended, as we’ve sold out two out of three shows.

We opened Hamluke last night to a SOLD OUT crowd! Whoo! We were happy, the audience was happy, and it was just a super fun night of theatre and goofing around.

We had another great audience today (though not sold out this time), and reviews have started pouring in. The audience reviews on the Fringe website have given us an average rating of 4.5 “Kitties” (out of 5), and the reviewers say things like:

“…probably the funniest show I will see this Fringe!”

“..a visual love-fest of costumes and props…”

“Brilliant comedy.”

“This play is genius wrapped in sci-fi, served with a gigantic side of hilarity.”

“…this is the most amazing thing I’m going to see all week.”

The Pioneer Press gave Hamluke the coveted “Must See” rating, saying:

A big strong cast, especially Mike Rylander as both the evil lord Darthius and the puppet Polyodius, Clarence Wethern as the whiny indecisive Hamluke and Mahmoud Hakima channeling Billy Dee Williams as Landocrantz.

I’ve gotta say, I was nervous about what sort of reception we’d receive. I couldn’t be more elated/relieved/grateful/happy. If you want to catch Hamluke, we have three more performance: Tues @ 8:30, Wed @ 10pm, & Fri @ 4pm.

Visit the Hamluke show page for more info or to reserve tickets: www.fringefestival.org/2011/show/?id=1565

Like Hamluke on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hamluke

Join the conversation on Twitter by using the #Hamluke and #mnfringe tags.

Tonight is the first performance of Hamluke! Head to the Minnesota Fringe site for details and tickets!

A long time ago, in a castle far, far away…

Hamluke embarks on a tragic tale of betrayal and revenge in this hilarious, acclaimed, Star Wars-inspired version of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, as told by Wookiees, droids, and Jedi Knights.

Fresh from their run playing Hamlet and Ophelia in Theatre in the Round’s production of Hamlet, Clarence Wethern and Lindsay Marcy star as Hamluke and Opheleia. Hamluke also features Mike Rylander reprising his role of Darthius and Polyodius in his final performance in the Twin Cities.

Listen to Joshua Humphrey interview Brad Erickson and Clarence Wethern about Hamluke on the Twin Cities Theater Connection podcast.

I declare my support for AFAJP, Americans for Fairness in Awarding Journalism Prizes, and their campaign to win a Pulitzer for The Onion.

This video joins the ranks of those by such luminaries as Tom Hanks, Ira Glass, Paul Reiser, and the President of Georgia.

Here’s a fun, one-minute short I did with Mo Perry, written by Workhaus Collective’s Tory Stewart (800 Words: The Transmigration of Philip K. Dick) for Twin Cities Metro Magazine.

Looks like the Hendricks Heath TV spot I shot a while back is online.

(Wish I’d had my sonic screwdriver.)