HUGE Improv Theater

HUGE Improv Theater

HUGE's logo
Founded 2005[1]
Focus Long form improvisational theater[1]
Location
  • 3037 Lyndale Ave S.
    Minneapolis, MN 55408[2]
Coordinates 44°56′50″N 93°17′17″W / 44.947091°N 93.287932°W / 44.947091; -93.287932[3]
Area served
Minneapolis – Saint Paul
Key people
 Butch Roy
(Executive Director)[1]
Jill Bernard
(Education Director)
Nels Lennes
(Artistic Director)
Website www.hugetheater.com

HUGE Improv Theater is a Minneapolis theater founded in 2005 dedicated to long form improvisational theater. The non-profit theater acquired its own building in 2010, where it runs scheduled nightly improv performances, acts as one of the Minnesota Fringe Festival's venues, and hosts the annual Twin Cities Improv Festival.

History

HUGE's building in 2013

In 2005, HUGE was founded as a non-profit arts organization dedicated to long form improvisational theater,[1] the only of its kind in Minneapolis.[4] Butch Roy, Nels Lennes, and Jill Bernard were responsible for the theater's creation.[4] While performing at such local venues as Intermedia Arts,[5] it was not until half a decade after the theater's founding, in December 2010, that the organization got its own building,[1] designed in part by local architecture firm Shelter and featuring a wall with the word 'HUGE' emblazoned on it separating the lobby from the theater space.[6] Located off Lyndale Avenue, HUGE's new home is accessible via Metro Transit routes 4 and 21. The theater also maintains two parking lots and is wheelchair accessible.[2]

A board of directors, consisting of artistic director Lennes, executive director Roy, education director Bernard, and managing director Molly Chase oversees HUGE.[1]

Shows and classes

A bearded person stands, holding an enormous fish on a small, all-black stage while seven people sit on chairs behind.
A show on HUGE's stage

HUGE runs improv shows six nights per week.[1] The theater also hosts classes for beginning improv students and workshops for more advanced improvisational storytellers.[4] HUGE is the site of the annual Twin Cities Improv Festival, a creation of the theater's staff designed to increase the presence of improvised theater in the Twin Cities.[4] It has been one of the Minnesota Fringe Festival's stages for the late-summer performing arts festival since its opening in 2011.[7][2][8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rowe, Ashleigh V. (Series producer) (November 7, 2011). #245: HUGE Improv Theater, Davina + the Vagabonds + The Minnesota Historical Society’s 1968 Exhibit. Minnesota Original (Television production). Twin Cities Public Television. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "HUGE Theater". Minnesota Fringe Festival. 2012. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ Google (May 29, 2013). "HUGE Improv Theater, Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Oxborough, Allegra (July 21, 2012). "Twin Cities Improv Festival kicks off at Huge Theater". City Pages. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Chrs (April 22, 2010). "Overheard conversation becomes improv theater". MPR News. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Shelter Architecture + Design Lisa Antenucci, Allied Member ASID". Minneapolis–Saint Paul Magazine. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Fringe venues announced". St. Paul Pioneer Press. March 10, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  8. ↑ Erickson, Ann; Robin C. Gillette (March 19, 2013). "Fringe 2013 - Venue Line-up" (PDF). Minnesota Fringe Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Minnesota Fringe will have 20 Minneapolis venues". St. Paul Pioneer Press. March 26, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
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