What occured April 29 - May 15, 2010 was:

The Happy Show

directed by Ryan Underbakke
created by the entire ensemble

************* But, you can relive the magic-- Here's a link to photos taken by Mark Vancleave . You just might see yourself in some! *************

Why are we happy? What makes us happy? And how can we stay in this intangible state of being?

Live Action Set is excited to present The Happy Show, its latest innovative theater experience. Installed throughout the nooks and crannies of the Bedlam Theatre, The Happy Show is an immersive theater experience following a troupe of happy-makers performing the ancient Ritual of Happiness. After creating happiness through the ages, this happy troupe pitches tent at the Bedlam Theatre to bring joy to the good people of the Twin Cities.

A unique theatrical experience, The Happy Show is a choose-your-own-adventure of whimsy, poetry, surprise, eccentricity and above all happiness. It features food, song, dance, sunsets, picnics, detailed explanations, lightening bugs, and if you are lucky an opera for two or an encounter with the king of all dogs. Audiences are led through a buffet of large spectacles and intimate sideshows exploring the ephemeral state of happiness. The cast of actors, musicians, dancers, clowns, and bicyclists draw audience members into intimate pieces of theater throughout the Bedlam, immersing them in a show that is nearly impossible to experience the same way twice.

Directed by Ryan Underbakke, in his first production with Live Action Set and fresh off his master degree in fine arts from the London International School of Performing Arts – the leading school for European physical theater, The Happy Show is created in the rehearsal room with a core cast that includes Four Humors co-founder Brant Miller, Portuguese clown Diogo Lopes, dancer/ choreographer Emily King, the incomparable Isabel Nelson, and Live Action Set artistic director Noah Bremer in his last performance in Minneapolis before joining Cirque du Soleil for the European tour of Varekai. A chorus of twelve performers is led by Live Action Set co-founder Galen Treuer and Four Humors co-founder Matt Spring, who also provides stage management and assists with direction in his role as consigliere.

Continuing Live Action Set’s collaborative tradition, The Happy Show is drawing insight from researchers at the University of Minnesota who study happiness. The company is also working closely with the Bedlam Theatre’s restaurant staff to create an extremely happy dining experience. Live Action Set is excited and honored to be presenting original plays within one year at both the Guthrie Theater (My Father’s Bookshelf in 2009) and the Sally Award winning Bedlam Theatre. It demonstrates the true dynamic wealth of the Twin Cities arts community and the proper range of itinerate companies like Live Action Set.

The core cast features:
Noah Bremer, Brant Miller, Emily King, Isabel Nelson, and Diogo Lopes

Ensemble Cast includes:
Lisa Bol, Mark Benzel, Holly Brimhall, Alicia Dansby, Amelia English, L. J. Johnson, Katie Jorgenson, Matt Riggs, Blythe Riske, Mike Rylander, and Allison Witham

Click here to read cast / crew bios

Individuals and organizations have generously supported The Happy Show with financial contributions. The growing list includes: 3 anonymous individuals, Jeffrey Berger, Sonya Berlovitz, Catherine Campion, Leah Cooper, Ali Dachis, Joshua Dahlman, David DeBlieck, Lillian Egner, Michael & Lauren Falkner, Anne Gadwa, Valerie Green, Mary Harmon, Kathleen Kaufmann, Thomas A. Keller, Julie Kesti, Janna King, Reid Knuttila, Ann Markusen, Eric Melzer, Metris Arts Consulting, Teresa Mock, Charles & Victoria Mogilevsky, Tamara Nadel, Megan Odell, Nancy Paul, R. Vernon Plant & Alison Zenk Plant, Sara Richardson, Blythe Riske, John Riske, Benjamin Rosembaum, Ralph James Schnorr, Cody Sorensen, Ellen Swanson, Mary Treuer, The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, Natalie Wass,