Jungle Cohort Summer Showcase
With Katie Ka Vang & Isabella Star LaBlanc | A weekend celebrating local artists & new work
July 26 - 28
The Jungle Theater and its Artistic Cohort have put together a special weekend filled with play readings and other activities to celebrate and showcase local artists! Friday and Saturday will feature readings of FAST FWD MOTIONS (written by Katie Ka Vang) and WHERE WE BELONG (a solo piece by Madeline Sayet featuring Isabella Star LaBlanc).
Pay As You Are Ticket Bundles range $0-$40 and include access to BOTH readings, local restaurant discounts, food trucks, post-show discussions, a special gallery installation, and more.
Featuring Script Readings of
WHERE WE BELONG
By Madeline Sayet
Directed by Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha
Starring Isabella Star LaBlanc
In 2015, Mohegan theatre-maker Madeline Sayet travels to England to pursue a PhD in Shakespeare, finding herself in a country that refuses to acknowledge its ongoing role in colonialism. This intimate and exhilarating solo piece forces us to consider what it means to belong in an increasingly globalized world.
FAST FWD MOTIONS
By Katie Ka Vang
Directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh
Featuring Pagnia Xiong, Megan Kim, Melody Her, Michelle de Joya, Juanita Vang, Momoko Tanno, Phasoua Vang, Kaysone Syonesa, Sheena Janson Kelley
This new play shows working-class Hmong-American women in Minnesota practicing and competing in their ferocious Volleyball League. We’re first introduced to the team as they show up for practice – but the more time we spend with them, what this sport and the team mean to these women becomes clear as life circumstances pull of them in different directions.
This public reading is just one more step in development of this new story by cohort member Katie Ka Vang. The script will be workshopped all week, and audiences will have a special opportunity to be a part of the play-working process.
Special Events/Add-ons
An Evening with Marcie Rendon
Sunday, July 28, 7:30pm
We are excited to welcome back local author, playwright, and poet Marcie Rendon to the Jungle with a special evening highlighting her writings. Her latest script SWEET REVENGE was most recently a part of our Play Reading Series this past March. Get your free ticket to this special evening at https://bit.ly/Summer_Showcase_Sunday.
On-Site Food Trucks
We are so excited to have Trickster Tacos Food Truck (Urban Native Cuisine, Friday) and Her Flowers Deli (Egg Rolls, Hmong Sausage & Rice; Friday & Saturday) in our Jungle lot available for our patrons to purchase food in between readings.
Native Language revitalization post-show discussions
The post-show talkback will be a post-show conversation with the WHERE WE BELONG TEAM (director Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha and actor Isabella Star Lablanc) and Dakota language teacher and activist Rickymae Littlest Feather about Dakota language revitalization and the work that is being done to today to teach and reclaim the language.
Lobby Gallery Installation
Our neighbors SOOVAC have curated a special art installation by Toni Gallo to be on display open to our patrons the whole weekend. Check out Toni Gallos's work here.
Patrons can also stop by the gallery during the showcase! Open Wednesday, Thursday + Friday from 11-6PM; Saturday + Sunday 11-5PM
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the showcase last?
Each reading will be about 90 minutes with no intermission. The Jungle will open its doors at 3:00pm for patrons to come early and enjoy a curated art installation by SOOVAC. The first reading will start at 4:30pm with a 2 hour break after the performance for patrons to stretch their legs and grab some food or a beverage if they would like (see question below for more information). The final performance will conclude at 9:00pm.
FRIDAY & SCHEDULE
3:00pm | Open Gallery and Mural Mingle
4:00pm- 5:30pm | Script reading
5:30pm-7:15pm | DINNER BREAK with food trucks and local restaurant deals!
7:30pm – 9:00pm | Script Reading
SPECIAL FOR FRIDAY PERFORMANCE: Immediately following WHERE WE BELONG, a post-show Native Language Revitalization Discussion will take place until 9:30pm.
Can I purchase tickets to only one of the script readings?
We are encouraging our patrons to come enjoy the showcase in full! With two incredible script readings, specialty food trucks, deals from neighboring businesses, and a Soo Visual Arts Center gallery installation—we want you to spend your day in Uptown with us! Individual tickets will be available July 15.
What should I do in between the readings?
Each night will have a visiting food truck outside of the theater for patrons to visit and bring back into our lobby to enjoy while looking at art and talking to other theater-goers about the show. We also encourage patrons to venture to all the local restaurants and bars. With almost a 2-hour dinner break, there is plenty of time to grab a bite or drink on a roof top patio and be back in time for the next show. Finally, artists Christina Vang and Ka Oskar Ly will be working on a new mural for our Jungle Theater during the weekend. Patrons are invited to watch the work in live time (weather permitting).
Can I bring outside food into the Jungle Lobby?
Special for this Summer Showcase, outside food will be allowed in our Jungle Lobby. Please come enjoy the AC and have a bite to eat during your break. However, any meals, brought into the theater itself should remain inside their container.
Will there still be construction on Lake Street?
Lake Street will still be under construction during our Summer Showcase. We recommend patrons get to the Jungle early to not miss the start time of each show. Doors will be opening early as well to accommodate our early arrivals.
TICKETS
With two afternoons filled with exciting new work, we want you to see it all--so we're offering ticket bundles for both days of our cohort Summer Showcase!
Purchase a Friday or Saturday Ticket Bundle to get access to both script readings and all other special happenings that day!
As part of our Pay As You Are ticket model, bundles are available at $40, $30, $20, $10, as well as free. [while we see $20 as the market price for these tickets, we just ask you to pay what you can to support this work and our theater] Each bundle includes an assigned seat at both readings, access to post-show talkbacks, and special discounts to participating LynLake restaurants, and more!
PAY AS YOU ARE tickets are on sale now for individual readings!
Can't join us all day? Don't worry! Tickets to each individual readings are on sale now!
July 26 - 28, 2024
Friday, July 26
FAST FWD MOTIONS | 4pm
WHERE WE BELONG | 7:30pm
Saturday, July 27
WHERE WE BELONG | 4pm
FAST FWD MOTIONS | 7:30pm
Sunday, July 28
An Evening with Marcie Rendon | 7:30pm
RUN TIME
WHERE WE BELONG will be about 90 minutes without an intermission. FAST FWD MOTIONS will be a presentation of this week's workshop featuring an excerpt of Katie Ka Vang's work-in-progress script 45-60 minutes. An Evening with Marcie Rendon will be 45 minutes.
Concerns about COVID-19 are top of mind for everyone, and when joining the Jungle for a performance, we want you to feel confident in your time with us. As protocols to protect against COVID-19 continue to evolve, the Jungle Theater is committed to caring for our people – that includes our artists, our audiences, and our staff.
For our 2023 – 2024 Season, masks for audience members are optional but strongly recommended.
Please click here to learn more about our response to the coronavirus.