Past Productions 2009 to 2006
Click here for 2015 to 2010.
[come back often as we continue to update this page]
2009
Kim Bemis, as a representative of Hazelden, approaches Illusion about producing the area premiere of Bill W. and Dr. Bob. The play is written by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey about the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, AA. Kim Bemis invites Illusion to present the play to be part of a celebration for Hazelden’s 60th Anniversary. The production includes Philip Callan, Carolyn Pool, Terry Hempleman, Beth Gilleland, Angela Haigh and Michael Paul Levin directed by Michael Robins with original music by Roberta Carlson.
The Recovery Community embraces the play. Each performance includes a post-show discussion with representatives of the Recovery Community.
The play is remounted in 2011, and in 2013 tours throughout Minnesota to Fergus Falls, Duluth, Mankato, Wabasso and more with Carolyn Pool, Jim Cunningham, Stephen D’Ambrose, Laura Esping, Kate Guentzel, and Michael Paul Levin.
2008
Same Difference by Samuel G.Roberson Jr.
Illusion produces “and they said I wouldn’t make it” by Samuel G.Roberson Jr. about surviving leukemia. From this play Sam started a non-profit organization MAKE ME A MATCH, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of people who sign up to be bone marrow donors. Click here to watch a short clip of Sam discussing his play and organization.
2007
Ping Chong comes back to Minneapolis to collaborate to create SIx Lives (Fresh Ink) with Illusion to tell the stories of six individuals who have lived through chaos and war. Written with Sara Zatz in collaboration with Michael Robins and Bonnie Morris, this play tours to Bemidji, Buffalo, Duluth, Fairmont, Rochester, St. Paul with support from the Robins Kaplan Miller Ciresi L.L.P. Stage for Social Justice and the Phillips Foundation.
2006
Illusion begins a new education program/play to combat child obesity – Ready Set ACTION! This project is the result of a partnership with Dr. Dianne Neumark-Sztainer and Dr. Jess Haines of the University of Minnesota Department of Epidemiology and Public Health with four St. Paul elementary schools, under a National Institutes of Health Innovation Grant. Ready Set ACTION! is an interactive musical that helps children and their families develop healthy nutrition and exercise habits in the fight against childhood obesity. The play is targeted to 4th through 6th graders. Older students rehearse and then perform the play for younger students.
The Young Artists Round Table evolves into The Lighthouse Group under the leadership of Artistic Associate Ellen Fenster and Nathan Christopher. They launch the Lights Up! Series to have a place for The Lighthouse Group to produce work as part of Illusion’s Season. Founding Members in the Lighthouse Group include Ellen Fenster, Nathan Christopher, Katie Guentzel, Lindsay Hinman Marcy, and Claudia Vazquez. Works by Noah Bremer, Tim Cameron, Cory Hinkle, Kristopher Lencowski, Steve Molds have appeared in the Lights Up Series.The Lighthouse's first production is Nathan Christopher’s Silent and the Blu Loons.
A Number by Caryl Churchill directed by Michael Robins, and featuring Nathan Christopher and Steve Hendrickson.
“Cracking chemistry…There does not seem to be an emotion or issue that is left unexplored in this excellent staging. Steve Hendrickson is one of the finest actors working in theTwin Cities…Ivey Award winner Nathan Christopher shades his performance with confidence…always working on the interior psyche.” - Star Tribune
Dr. Jeffrey Kahn of the University of Minnesota Center for BioEthics leads a post-show discussion on the issues of the play. Dr. Kahn “It’s not a question of can we? It’s a question of should we? Dr. Kahn continues, “its gets us all thinking about the human issues of what means to create through technology.”
Sez She by Jane Martin, directed by Michael Bigelow Dixon and Liz Engleman, wins an Ivey Award for emotional content.
