written by Jeffrey Hatcher and directed by Michael Robins

Mrs. Mannerly emerges from the wickedly funny imagination of Illusion Theater audience favorite Jeffrey Hatcher. Inspired by an etiquette class from his youth, Hatcher creates a world of seven-year-olds studying manners in which one student in the class stands out, the one with the Double-O-Seven briefcase.

The production stars Barbara June Patterson (who originated the role of Lucy Stickler in Jeffrey Hatcher’s Murderers) as the textbook perfect Mrs. Mannerly, who is perhaps not quite so perfect. Phyllis Wright, who appeared as Minka Lupino in Murderers, performs a comic tour de force when she pulls off split-second transformations to play all of the other characters in the show.

Tickets $15-$25. Call 612-339-4944 or visit www.illusiontheater.org.

What are audiences and critics saying about Mrs. Mannerly?

“I just keep laughing. I don’t remember when I’ve laughed so much in one evening.” ~Audience Member

“Hatcher’s dialogue is typically smart, funny, and subversive…” ~City Pages

“Phyllis Wright switches between characters so smoothly onstage at the Illusion Theater that watching her is like witnessing a gear-changing race-car driver up close. She’s deft and effortless as she goes from the girl who talks in a dull bass voice to the snot-nosed boy who uses his hand instead of a tissue.” ~Star Tribune

“Barbara June Patterson plays the title character with a nice blend of folded-hand propriety and palm-rubbing busybody-ness, a woman whose love for Emily Post is equaled only by her love for Johnnie Walker.” ~Pioneer Press

Old News is a free, non-profit newspaper presenting a selection of articles and images cut from newspapers by artists. Premiering at Midway Contemporary Art in Minneapolis on April 5th, Old News 4 will be presented along with Old News 1, 2, and 3 and additional projects, editions, and material by Dieter Roth, Erik Beltran, Thomas Bayrle, Katya Sander, Michalis Pichler, Hans Peter Feldmann and others . The newspapers are free for distribution.

In Old News 2004 (issue 1) and Old News 2005 (issue 2) the artists were to select and cut out articles they found interesting and send them to me with their comments. In 2004, 24 artists or artist groups were asked to cut out four articles each during a one month period - their comments were printed on the front and back cover of the newspaper, separately from the actual article.

In 2005, 8 artists were asked to cut out twelve articles over a twenty-four month period, and their comments were printed next to the actual article in the newspaper. In addition to that, thirteen artists primarily from Los Angeles were asked to cut four to twelve articles during a three-month period (without writing comments on their selections). Thomas Hirschhorn made the Library ‘book’ insert Emergency Library for this edition of Old News.

In 2006, 10 artists were asked to alter, change, add, edit or scribble on whole newspaper pages. They were asked to select between four and twelve pages during three months. During July and August 2006 4 artists were invited to cut one article each day during the silly season.

During 2007, 14 curators were invited to select the artists and participants and to determine the content of Old News #4. Every two months curators were invited to conceptualize the content of six pages (three spreads) for this broadsheet newspaper. The curators were also asked to think about how the news and news clippings were to be represented in the print version of Old News #4. They were asked to consider if the artists were to write a statement about their choices and how their approach should be explained in the newspaper.

CURATOR PROFILE

Jacob Fabricius is an independent curator who lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is currently the Director at Malmö Konsthall, Malmö. He has previously curated for the Center d’Art Santa Monica in Barcelona; Malmö Konsthall, Malmö; the Danish Pavilion at the 51st Venice Biennale; APPENDIKS, Copenhagen; Videodrome, Copenhagen; and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen. He is founder of Pork Salad Press and GAS, Fanzine. For more information visit: www.porksaladpress.org, www.kbhkunsthal.org, and www.gasfanzine.dk.

Concurrently on view at Midway Contemporary Art in gallery one is an exhibition by the artist David Lieske.

Midway’s library, galleries and events are free and open to the public.

For more information call 612-605-4504 or visit www.midwayart.org.

by Stacey Dinner-Levin

“Autistic License is a docu-drama, a true-to-life play that takes audiences on the roller-coaster ride of raising a child with autism. It’s a sometimes exhausting, sometimes exhilarating, frequently terrifying trip that informs, enlightens and entertains. Dinner-Levin knows her material cold and delivers it with unflinching honesty.” ~St Paul Pioneer Press

Recently nominated for the Theater Critics New Play Award and named one of the 10 Best Plays of 2007, you certainly won’t want to miss this incredible play, even if you don’t know anyone on the autism spectrum.

Performance Schedule
(This play is most appropriate for adults and children over 10 years old.)

Friday, April 11 at 7pm
Minneapolis South High School Auditorium
3131 19th Ave S, Minneapolis
(This performance is free of charge.)
To reserve your seats for the South High performance,
call the Illusion Theater Box Office at 612-339-4944
or email info@illusiontheater.org.

Saturday, April 12 at 7pm
Anoka High School Auditorium
3939 7th Ave N, Anoka
(This performance is free of charge.)
To reserve your seats for the Anoka High performance,
call the Illusion Theater Box Office at 612-339-4944
or email info@illusiontheater.org.