WHAT IS NAKED STAGES?
Pillsbury House Theatre, with support from the Jerome Foundation, seeks to provide a mentorship opportunity for early career performance artists in the Minnesota.
A creative opportunity unlike any other in the Minnesota, Naked Stages is the culmination of a 7 month fellowship that provides two early career performance artists with the time, resources, and mentorship they need to bring their distinctive visions to life on stage. In addition to regular feedback sessions, the artists participate in workshops with local creators, as well as more intensive workshops with nationally-renowned artists. Once a month, they also participate in production meetings focused on the business side of art, from audience development to technical support, helping to develop their unique voice into a sustainable, artistic career.
Naked Stages performances are the final step of a multi-layered program designed for artists to be their most bold and creative selves.
What is Performance Art?
Below is a summary adapted from the essay “Fluid Landscapes,” by Lois Keidan and Daniel Brine.
“Performance Art is not a singular form of art, but an umbrella term for work that pushes the boundaries of diverse disciplines. Disrupting borders, breaking rules, defying traditions, resisting definition, asking questions and activating audiences, Performance Art is a research engine where the limits of art and ideas are tested and new possibilities imagined.”
2021 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
ASHEMBAGA (ASHE) JAAFARU Ashembaga (Ashe) Jaafaru is an actor, performer, writer, and creative idea-maker. She is involved in theatre, film, and voiceover work ...
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MARGARET OGAS Margaret Ogas is a dancer and choreographer who makes funky, spunky, socially engagesd performances. Using an interdisciplinary approach rooted in ...
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ALYS AYUMI OGURA Alys Ayumi Ogura is a storyteller through her movement, voice, and quirky humor. Her dance training began ...
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2020 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
In non-pandemic times, C. Michael Menge (They/them & he/him) is an actor, improvisor, theater-maker, and playful young fool known for their work with the Jungle Theater (Hand to God; Little Women; ...
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ATLESE ROBINSON Atlese Robinson is a writer, performer, director, producer, and the founding artistic director of Ambiance Theatre Company. Hailing from ...
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ALIA JERAJ Alia Jeraj (she & they) is a performer, writer, and educator in the Twin Cities. With a background ...
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2019 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
Hydro's Phobia by Hawona Sullivan Janzen Directed by Mankwe Ndosi Hydro’s Phobia is the true-false story of Hydro, a healer ...
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Good Old Pussy and Old Good Pussy by Amoke Awele Kubat Directed by Maren Ward Amoke’s project, Good Old Pussy ...
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Queen Drea’s Soul Chamber: The Chaos Inside by Queen Drea Directed by Signe Harriday Queen Drea’s Soul Chamber: The Chaos ...
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2018 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
cloth and body by Chitra Vairavan Directed by Masanari Kawahara cloth and body is an experiment in choreographing time and ...
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Something elegant, like this by Anat Shinar Directed by Sarah Myers In her new solo, Something elegant, like this, Anat ...
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The Ways I Wished to Love Her By A.P. Looze Directed by Molly Van Avery What does it mean to ...
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2017 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
141 Mednik Avenue by Jessica Lopez Lyman Directed by Miré Regulus January 11 - 20, 2018 141 Mednik Avenue is ...
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All Exits Are Clearly Marked. by Ritika Ganguly Directed by Molly Van Avery January 11 - 20, 2018 A controversial ...
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Ashes of Moons By Antonio Duke Directed by James Austin Williams January 11 - 20, 2018 Ashes of Moons is an examination ...
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2016 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
she can be seen walking alone by Magnolia Yang Sao Yia December 8- 17, 2016 7:30 p.m. Thursdays - Saturdays ...
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Reflection. Revelation. Release. by Nadia Honary Installation Performances* Nov. 19, 2016 at 8:15 p.m. (prior to the Late Nite Series) Dec. 8- ...
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Vulneraries by Shante' Sojourn Zenith December 8- 17, 2016 7:30 p.m. Thursdays - Saturdays Vulneraries is a performative response to ...
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2015 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
In-Between by Eliza Rasheed December 10-19, 2015 What does it mean to be a multiracial/multicultural/multilingual global nomad in the 21st ...
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Waters, Sweet Red, and The Wild Glitter Transformation by Junauda Petrus December 10-19, 2015 In this performance-creation-transformation-installation, the recipes and ...
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Static by Marisa R. Carr December 10-19, 2015 In this original solo work, actor, playwright, and daughter of a cop ...
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2014 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
Ntov Ntoo by B Billy Xiong December 11 - 20, 2014 7:30 p.m. Thursdays - Saturdays Moments of family, love, ...
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Runnin’ by PaviElle French December 11 - 20, 2014 7:30 p.m. Thursdays - Saturdays Runnin’ is an autobiographical, one-woman performance ...
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[Play]ing + (P) House by Eric F. Avery December 14, 2014 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday This building-wide performance explores ...
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2013 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
A Great Lakes Vista by Moheb Soliman December 6, 7, 13, & 14, 2013 Part poetry, part performance, part installation, ...
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Habeas Corpus by Zainab Musa December 5, 6, 12, & 13, 2013 Habeas Corpus is a demonstration of physical freedom ...
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3 Figures$ by Emily Zimmer December 5, 7, 12, & 14 Disaster doesn’t trickle down. It crashes. In 2008, banks ...
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2012 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
A.SM.IL.8 by Jeffry Lusiak December 12 - 15, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Performance artist Jeffry Lusiak weaves questions of assimilation ...
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DEVON by Zoe Sommers Haas directed by Maren Ward December 12-15, 2012, 7:30 p.m. Welcome to Devon’s world. Love him ...
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BAGMAN by David T Steinman December 5 – 8, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. In the world of an airline baggage ...
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Aklound Sowell by Ahanti Young December 5 - 8, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. Acclaimed actor and musician Ahanti Young brings ...
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2011 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
IN AND OUT OF THE BODY by Moe Lionel December 7-10, 2011, at 7:30pm What do you do with facts ...
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AUTOPILOT by Ephraim Eusebio November 30 - December 3, 2011, at 7:30 pm A CIA operative, pilot of an unmanned ...
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WE ALL DIED AND CAME BACK EASIER by Max Wirsing How much of our lives are a product of other ...
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DON’T CRY FOR ME by Paulino Brener December 7 - 10, 2011, at 7:30 pm A tall Argentine leaves his ...
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2010 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
METHODS OF MASS DECEPTION by M. Cochise Anderson December 8-11, 2010, at 7:30 pm Climb aboard the USS Illusion as ...
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THE HEBREW LESSON by Esther Ouray December 8-11, 2010, at 7:30 pm A “rite of return” about the right of ...
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BODY PARTS: REFLECTIONS ON REFLECTIONS by Andrea Jenkins December 1-4, 2010, at 7:30 pm This African-American transgender woman lives life ...
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YOUR HEART IS IN MY MOUTH by Janaki Ranpura December 1-4, 2010, at 7:30 pm In the midst of a ...
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2009 NAKED STAGES ARTISTS
KnotDrawn: My Goodness, the Milk, and the Daddy(body) by Miré Regulus Mentored by: Gabrielle Civil and Mankwe Ndosi New skills ...
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Seducing Those Who Are Afraid by: Kelley A Meister directed by: Natalie (Nastalie) Bogira “Everyone feels queer in some sense ...
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DISAPPEARING TRICK by Julian McFaul Using live-action sculpture and a collection of semi-improvised rants on gravity, relativity and escape velocity, ...
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A Fools Paradox by Julia E Babb A search for the ultimate question, A Fool’s Paradox is about being the ...
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All 2010 Naked Stages artist photos by Craig VanDerSchaegen. 2009 and 2011 photos by Ann Marsden.