The Star Tribune called The Theater of Public Policy “What would happen if C-SPAN were suddenly swarmed by the cast of SNL.”
Each show starts with a live interview and audience Q&A with an expert guest. That conversation is the cast’s inspiration for entirely unscripted sketch comedy.
The show’s host interviews a leading thinker on a big issue
Then a team of the Twin Cities’ most talented improvisers use the conversation as inspiration for longform improv comedy
In the second-half of the show, the guest answers questions from the audience
The show wraps up with more no-holds-barred unscripted comedy
No two performances are the same but the results are always surprise and delight. See a short video about how The Theater of Public Policy works at: http://vimeo.com/65870159
After two years not doing regular shows, we’ve got some big issues to cover on the show. And we’ve lined up brilliant expert guests to help us do it.
Tuesday June 7 – Inflation! (The Non-Balloon Kind)
Chris Farrell, Economics Editor of Marketplace Money
The job market is tight. The housing market is hot. Inflation is on the rise. Money is so cheap that people will be handing it out at the show!* What does it all mean? Economist Chris Farrell joins us to make sense of it all, and answer your questions. Chris was one of the first guests on The Theater of Public Policy a decade ago, and we are EXTRA excited he is coming back!
*Note: Please bring your own money to hand out.
Tuesday June 21 – Reconnect Rondo
Keith Baker, Executive Director, Reconnect Rondo
The decimation of the Rondo Neighborhood by the construction of I-94 tore apart one of Minnesota’s most vibrant African American communities. What if you built a LAND BRIDGE over the highway to both physically and culturally rebuild Rondo? Could it help reunite a community and close some of Minnesota’s deep racial divides? We will talk with the executive director of Reconnect Rondo about a BIG idea to do just that.
Tuesday July 5 – A Global Improv-spective
Mary Curtin, Diplomat in Residence Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Residence at the Alworth Institute, University of Minnesota
The day after U.S. Independence Day, we will cast our eyes to foreign shores. Two Diplomats in Residence will help us make sense of all that’s happening around the globe. We’ll also ask how a comedian and satirist became not only president of Ukraine, but a global hero and whether that is a viable career path for us. This show is presented in partnership with Global Minnesota.
Tuesday July 19 – A New State Flag?
Senator Mary Kunesh, Senate District 41
Calling all vexillologists! Should Minnesota remake its state flag? In addition to being rather busy design-wise, the current flag has elements intended to symbolize the eradication of Native Americans from the state. What would it take to change Minnesota’s state flag? How does one design a flag to begin with? Bring your crayons and butcher paper and we’ll ask a Minnesota Senator who has been working on it.
Twitter: @T2P2Improv
Instagram @T2P2Improv
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheTheaterofPublicPolicy
Tickets are $14 in advance/ $18 at the door (July 5th show is $14 at the door for members of Global Minnesota)
Doors are at 6:00 PM, come eat and drink in the theater before the show!
Proof of vaccination with matching ID or lab-certified negative COVID-19 PCR test with matching ID is required for entry. Click here for our current COVID-19 policy.