mnartists.org: Jon Ferguson

Ligustrum Vulgare

Jon Ferguson — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 15:49:47 GMT

Ligustrum Vulgare is a new play directed by Jon Ferguson and collaboratively created with actors; Tim Cameron, Adam Hegg and Katie Kaufmann. In this dark tale of suburban brutality we find out how distant neighbors can be. And that life in the garden can be extremely dangerous especially when crab grass, dandelions and the height and placement of the privet hedge are a main concern. A stagnant environment of distorted priorities and heightened physicality... part Beckett, part Pinter, and part Coen Brothers. Based on an English newspaper article about an escalated tragic argument over a privet hedge (ligustrum vulgare). Tranquil and horrific... but everyman needs a hobby and a way to bury the past. For maturer audiences. At the Bryant Lake Bowl every Thursday and Friday in Nov. at 8pm

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business

Jon Ferguson — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 15:32:21 GMT

Stages Theatre Company at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, opens Septmeber 2006.

Kill The Robot

Jon Ferguson — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 16:41:46 GMT

"Kill The Robot" is a new play created by Stages Theatre Company's Track 4 Conservatory students, and directed and co-created by award winning physical theater director Jon Ferguson. Jon Ferguson is a "2005 City Artist of the Year" and the director of 2005 Minnesota Fringe hit "Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban". This original new play will address the all at once excitement and anxiety that teenagers face when they look toward the future. What will their future be like? How will they keep the promises they are making now, forever? What path will they choose? How can they stop the impending future from enveloping them? Jon Ferguson has been working with the Stages Track 4 Conservatory students since September 2005. The themes for "Kill The Robot" arose naturally from the students during that time. This piece will be highly physical and visual and incorporate elements of physical theater and theatrical clowning. It will be epic, intimate and electric... and an honest exploration of what it means and feels like to be a teenager today and tomorrow. "The future is coming whether you like it or not."

godsplay:

Jon Ferguson — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:43:41 GMT

"godsplay:" God's chosen play at the 2006 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Cincinnati, OH. - June 2006 "This is God's chosen play! We are God's chosen theater company! And God saw our play and said that it was good". Cincinnati based experimental theater company, The Performance Gallery and award winning, Minneapolis based, physical theater director Jon Ferguson have teamed up to create this new, original and extremely thought-provoking piece of theater. "godsplay:" addresses the current blending of church and state in the US and seeks to reveal the innate and at times ridiculous desires and needs of human beings and the darkness into which they can be seduced. In this new play we find five characters in search of meaning and understanding, waiting for miracles, waiting for a leader, and trying to have faith in a confusing world. Director Jon Ferguson's recent production, "Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban" was the #1 show at the 2005 Minnesota Fringe Festival and was awarded "Outstanding Experimental Theater Production of the year", by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The Minneapolis City Pages named Ferguson as a "2005 Artist of the Year" and awarded his play "Best Stage Production of 2005". Performance Gallery is a collaborative performance environment existing to produce and promote challenging works of theatre which seldom find a home on mainstream stages. They produce a varying amount of work per year, which have included several original works such as last year's 2005 Fringe entry "The Killer Whispers and Prays". Performance Gallery, Cincinnati's most innovative theater company, is always original and surprising. Performance Gallery hosted Jon Ferguson throughout the month of May in Cincinnati. They have been creating "godsplay:" collaboratively since the 1st of May, exploring themes of religion, faith, politics, spirituality, the meaning of life and the human ego. The original seed idea for the play, came from a statement made by the current US president. This highly visual and physical piece of theater promises to be outrageous, epic, intimate, metaphorical, holy, unholy, honest and ridiculous. "Hold on tight, here comes the rapture!" "godsplay:" features five highly skilled Cincinnati based performers, including: Aretta Baumgartner, Derek Snow, Daryl Harris, Regina Pugh, & Jodie Linver. The play is created by all members of the acting company, with Jon Ferguson and Nathan Gabriel. Directed by Jon Ferguson. Assistant Directed by Nathan Gabriel. The piece was created and presented with project support received from the Fine Arts Fund Show dates and times Thursday June 1st 7pm Sunday June 4th 9:15pm Monday June 5th 7pm Friday June 9th 7pm Saturday June 10th 9:30pm Venue Know Theater, 1120 Jackson St., Cincinnati, OH 45202

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Or The White Whale

Jon Ferguson — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 15:33:18 GMT

The Civic Stage presents Jon Ferguson's Or The White Whale An adaptation of Moby Dick at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis - April 07 "I was too stunned at the end of this show to clap immediately... the final scene was overwhelming, and it took a moment to recover and then jump to my feet." - Caroline Palmer City Pages (review for Ferguson's previous work) Moby Dick is without a doubt one the greatest novels of all time... it is raw, brutal and beautiful. This new and original adaptation, "Or The White Whale" seeks to reveal what is at the core of the great story: man's battle against nature, one mans battle against himself, the unrelenting and unstoppable approach of the inevitable, and the dark potential that lurks within all of us. Directed by award winning theater-maker Jon Ferguson (2005 City Pages Artist of the Year). Adapted by John Heimbuch and the ensemble. The Civic Stage fosters civic engagement through the creation of exceptional works of theatre. Mainly focused on original works and new adaptations of existing scripts and stories, the Civic Stage brings together artists and audiences before, during and following the performance. Open rehearsals and workshops with specifically learned audiences inform the creation of the work while establishing broad ownership of the play itself. After each performance conversations among artists and audiences enliven an exchange of ideas about the event and its possibilities. At the Civic Stage theatre becomes not just a place to drop your quarter, then leave, but an ongoing communal conversation about the art, its form, meaning and how it influences our civic natures.

Miss Nelson is Missing

Jon Ferguson — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 03:12:17 GMT

We Are Ugly But We Have the Music

Jon Ferguson — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:52:32 GMT

"We Are Ugly But We Have the Music" is a heightened tragicomedy that tells the story of the Zanzinger Family Performance Troupe. They're a rag-tag bunch of cabaret performers. They do dramatic acts, comedy acts and most importantly, acts of romance... but life on the road is hard. And after 10 years together, the worst possible news spreads within the group... and their beloved troupe leader is missing. Something drastic has happened, but the show must go on. A broken-hearted cabaret full of love, loss and accidents. Stand-by and watch, as the whole thing falls apart. "We Are Ugly But We Have the Music" is a colorful new play by Jon Ferguson, director and co-creator of the 2005 Minnesota Fringe Festival hit, Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban (Outstanding Experimental Production of the Year - Star Tribune; 2005 Artist of the Year - City Pages). We Are Ugly But We Have the Music is a highly visual and physical work. At times it is outrageously funny, at others times, disturbingly dark. For this new production Jon Ferguson is collaborating with an ensemble of highly skilled actors/creators with extensive physical theater experience: Jason Burnstein, Tyson Forbes, Markell Keifer, Kimberly Richardson, Sara Richardson, 10-year-old Piper Sigel-Bruse and fellow 2005 City Pages Artist of the Year, Noah Bremer. Singer-songwriter Pablo, who was chosen as City Pages' Best Acoustic Performer of 1999, provides live music, featuring original songs and new arrangements. For mature-er audiences, 16+. Venue: The Bryant Lake Bowl 810 West Lake Street Minneapolis, MN Show dates/times: Every Saturday and Sunday in March March 4th and 5th March 11 and 12th March 18th and 19th March 25th and 26th Doors open at 6pm Show starts at 7pm Tickets: $12 - $15 (pay what you can); $10 Minnesota Fringe Button Discount Reservations highly recommended: Bryant Lake Bowl box office: 612-825-8949

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Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban

Jon Ferguson — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 01:22:07 GMT

Most Outstanding Experimental Theater Production of 2005 - Mineapolis Star Tribune. Noah Bremer, Jon Ferguson and The Live Action Set present: 'Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban' presented as part of the 2005 Minnesota Fringe Festival... at the Soap Factory. 'Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban' is a highly visual and physical, site-specific clown show playing at The Soap Factory in SE Minneapolis. It is the story of Mr. Boban, his war-torn bistro, and the struggle to keep his lights on. Based on an English newspaper article about where to eat in a Baghdad, this much-anticipated collaboration between Noah Bremer, The Live Action Set and UK theatre director Jon Ferguson, will be comic & tragic and hard to forget. Featuring a cast of seven highly skilled physical performers including: Noah Bremer Kari Kelly Robert Harman Megan Odell Kim Richardson Galen Treuer Vanessa Voskuil This project is supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board and The Soap Factory. Noah Bremer received an Artist's Initiative Grant from The Minnesota State Arts Board to work with mentor, Jon Ferguson, an experienced clown and physical theatre director from England to create, direct, and perform a clown show. The Soap Factory is providing residency space for research & development, rehearsal, and performance. Jon Ferguson describes this project as, "a collaboration of four parts: the story, the performers, the space, and the audience. It will be created by the entire company; the actors, the designers, the technical team and myself, during the rehearsal period, throughout June and July, at The Soap Factory. At the centre of this story is the universal figure of 'the clown'. This character/figure is within all of us. He is innocent, he is the eternal optimist. And within total darkness he will find light." 'Please Don't Blow Up Mr. Boban' can be seen eight times at The Soap Factory during the Minnesota Fringe Festival 4th - 14th of August. Venue address and show schedule below: Schedule: Thu 8/4 8:00pm Fri 8/5 8:00pm Sat 8/6 8:00pm Wed 8/10 8:00pm Thu 8/11 8:00pm Fri 8/12 8:00pm Sat 8/13 2:30pm Sat 8/13 8:00pm Tickets: At the door Or in advance: Uptown Tix (651) 209 6799 www.uptowntix.com Photo: Mike Neuharth

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invention studios

Jon Ferguson — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 10:40:18 GMT

Co-founder and Associate Director Invention Studios is a centre for ideas, imagination and adventure - reinventing the arts centre concept for the 21st Century. It is an exciting place for film-makers, designers, performers, musicians, artists, audiences and all members of the community to push their expectations in creativity, through screenings, workshops, gigs, performances and innovative projects.

Theatre is Dead (working title)

Jon Ferguson — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 12:05:04 GMT

IN PRODUCTION An investigative mockumentary. Super-cool 'media' presenters Kevin (he pronounces it Kev'ahn) Hart and Shâron (she pronounces it, Sheeron) Forbes Thomas, are out to prove that "theatre is dead in the 21st Century". They have chosen to prove their point through the example of a small provincial town theatre. However, their research uncovers, not only that theatre is alive and kicking, but their chosen theatre is a vibrant commercial and artistic success, whose work is far reaching (shows in the West End of London, San Francisco etc.). The piece will demonstrate the huge success of the Theatre Royal, while still being an engaging and entertaining piece of film-making. Stylistically shot with high productions values - excellent cinematography, a strong original soundtrack and all the qualities of a feature film production rather than those of a corporate video.

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Anna McNeil Untitled

Jon Ferguson — Sun, 20 Mar 2005 17:48:25 GMT

A short super 8 film, capturing the creation of a painting by and the process of UK based painter Anna McNeil.

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Supermarket Tap

Jon Ferguson — Sun, 20 Mar 2005 16:36:00 GMT

A short digital promo. A girl tap dances in a supermarket. Featuring Lauren Hedges.

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Theater Instuctor

Jon Ferguson — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 01:20:45 GMT

Workshops include: physical theater, clowning, slapstick, comic timing, physical approaches to text and ensemble. Jon has taught a wide variety of groups including children, teens, university students and training actors, professional actors, educators, visual artists, special needs children and adults and prison inmates. Up-coming: Puppet Fest 2005, St. Paul MN Stages Theater Company, Hopkins MN Past and Present: Theatre Royal Bath, UK Bristol Old Vic, UK Mentor to The Special Guests Theatre Company: www.thespecialguests.co.uk Slapstick Silent Comedy Festival - Bristol, UK ICIA - Bath, UK Bath Spa University, UK City of Bath College, UK Oxford School of Drama, UK Jon was workshop and master-class assistant to leading physical theatre practitioner John Wright: The National Theatre Studio, London The Actors Centre, London The London International Mime Festival The Kendal Mime Festival The Mask Studio, London The National Student Drama Festival

The Live Action Set's Ice Shanty - The Making Of

Jon Ferguson — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 15:25:22 GMT

Mixed format documentary film following The Live Action Set as they build and construct their Ice Shanty. Premiering at The Soap Factory, July 2005.

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Marry Maria - Hoipolloi Theatre

Jon Ferguson — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 14:22:53 GMT

Written by Shon Dale-Jones Created by the company A wicked romantic comedy about the terrifying possibility of domestic bliss. An uplifting romantic comedy about sex, plumbing and the moments that change our lives forever. A brand new romantic comedy about burying the past and then finding it walking back through the front door. With original music and moments of touching tenderness, Hoipolloi create their acclaimed parallel universe; a world like our own yet so much more in need of home improvement. Hoipolloi's most seriously funny show to date. HOIPOLLOI have been committed to making new work for the last 11 years. Since 1994 Hoipolloi have toured 12 new shows nationally and internationally to a variety of venues ranging from community halls in Cheshire, Manila's Shangri La and the Skirball in LA. Our work is driven by our fascination for the imagination and laughter and their liberating effects. We continually work towards creating physically dynamic theatre that is innovatively staged, visually interesting and genuinely popular. Our aim is always to appeal to a wide range of people - to entertain them as well as to challenge their sense of reality. "For a decade, Hoipolloi have been entertaining audiences with a succession of exhuberant, inventive shows, rooted in the traditions of commedia, vaudeville and the absurd" - The Guardian, April 2003