Two improv festivals join forces on the Bakken Museum Rooftop

photo by Trin Carl

Live on the Bakken Museum Rooftop, The Twin Cities Improv Festival and Black and Funny Improv Festival join forces to bring improv full swing on Thursday, June 24th.  

Arriving at the Bakken, I’m reminded why South Minneapolis is the perfect spot for a museum or performance. Beautiful flowers and landscaping surround all sides. There's even a food truck.  Perfect for a Taylor Swift music video. 

I got my ticket and walked up the stairs to the rooftop, where a tent was pitched, and a grassy canvas was underneath. Dotting the rooftop are glass and metal pyramids similar to the Lourve.  I’m introduced to the performers and an introductory act. Then I meet the headliners Denzel Belin and John Gebretatose and their duo group called Ubookuitous / Brotha Brotha.

Denzil and John take the stage. They ask the audience to make whooooo sounds every time there is a transition, indicated by them twirling together in a scene. The transition is to signal the scene's forward or backward motion. Freeze tags allow the characters to switch roles. At one point, Denzil is putting on imaginary wings to fly, and John motions a freeze, and then takes Denzil's position.

Simple callbacks are meant to mock one another, and the look is priceless. It's fun to catch instances when the actors break character, overwhelmed by the feeling of joy. It's evident that these two have been doing improv together for a long time.

The audience joins in on a scene when a character’s rhythmic clapping becomes contagious.

“I’m so sorry my emotions have turned you into Martha Graham,” Denzil says

“This is not going to be a PBS special,” John comments.

“No, let's.” Denzil parks himself on a block, his feet dangling like a child watching intently with the possibility of learning something new.

“How can I know my dreams when I don’t know what my dreams are?” Denzil asks. There are moments when he delivers a monologue standing on a box, and he’s reminded that his imaginary world doesn’t coincide with the physical; whereupon the tent’s overhead forces him to duck.

The audience is told to snap their fingers, signaling that the scene will come to a close, but Denzil breaks the fourth wall; letting the audience know that as long as he’s up on his soap box he’s going to continue.

There’s a lot of charge in these scenes and moments one could replay in their head even though the scenes are not scripted, nor based on anything ever written. There are speakers at all the tent corners, but these actors can project sound with very little help. The show is family- friendly and elevator accessible. Your ticket also gives access to the museum. The current exhibit is hands-on and incorporates video animation and electronic art. Get your tickets now through June 26th at https://twincitiesimprovfestival.wordpress.com/