Descend 19 steps into the darkness of an industrial basement and embark on a tormented journey through an immersive and broken world of physical performance where dance and theater bind with carnage and blood.
As one of the most successful shows in the 2014 Minnesota Fringe Festival, Live Action Set's CRIME AND PUNISHMENT brings an expertly crafted immersive theater experience to The Soap Factory's basement. Hailed as "a triumph ... of tone and design", "elegantly constructed" and "impossibly rich" by the Tangential and a promise to "provoke, frighten, amuse, and evoke at once" by Minnesota Monthly, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT is an experience not to be missed.
Inspired by the Dostoyevsky novel, featuring text by John Olive, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT blends physical theater and dance into an adventurous, immersive performance.
As the performance unfolds, 10 story-lines develop simultaneously. Tension builds, and the audience chooses which action to follow, creating their own unique experience. The story charges forward with engaging, physical performance developed by Live Action Set’s Artistic Director, Noah Bremer and gory blood effects, by Tyler Olsen of Rawredmeat productions. The incredible cast includes seasoned actor Candace Barrett Birk, noted dancer Stephanie Fellner and many more who blend dynamic physical performance styles.
The audience dons masks and descends 19 steps, into the sprawling, fractured world of CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, beginning a tormented journey. The striking mask worn by the audience fully immerses them into CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. Each member of the audience is implicated in the action; choosing how to experience this robust performance and where to find the story.
This site-specific performance envelops the audience in a fully immersive environment. Twisted, surreal rooms sprawl throughout The Soap Factory’s industrial basement space. Set designer Erica Zaffarano teamed with visual and multimedia artists, sound designer Michael Croswell, special effects makeup artist Kristen Leigh and custom smell scientists from the St. Croix Sensory to create lush, detailed environments.
Candace Barrett Birk ........... Alyona
Miles Duffey .......................... Boris
Stephanie Fellner .................. Katerina
Megan Koester ...................... Lizaveta
Shannon Mae Leach ........... Dunya
Billy Mullaney ....................... Arkady
Skyler Nowinski .................... Dimitri
Shelby Rose Richardson ...... Sonya
Vladimir Rovinsky ................ Marmeladov
Tony Sarnicki ......................... Porfiry
Carlie Abel ............................. ensemble
Susie Campbell ..................... ensemble
Ted Dewberry ....................... ensemble
Ian Ebner ............................... ensemble
William Erickson ................... ensemble
Roman Guastaferro ............. ensemble
Cate Jackson .......................... ensemble
Ted Klyce ................................ ensemble
Nicole Laurenne .................... ensemble
Sterling Miller ........................ ensemble
Linnea Mohn ......................... ensemble
Shannon Thorson ................. ensemble
David Tufford ....................... ensemble
Garrett Vollmer ..................... ensemble
Andrew Watkins ................... ensemble
Noah Bremer ........................ director, story adaptor
Tyler Olsen ............................ assistant director, story adaptor
Joanna Harmon ................... second assistant director, story adaptor
Laura Thaisen ...................... production manager
Erica Zaffarano ................... set designer
Mandi Johnson ..................... costume designer
Kristen Leigh ......................... makeup designer
William Harmon .................. stage manager, story adaptor
Søren Olsen ........................... tech director
Donna Meyer ....................... assistant set designer
Jason Quick ........................... set consultant
Jon Bradley ........................... lead carpenter
Craig Kossen ......................... makeup assistant
Sarah Stone .......................... set decorator
Michael Croswell .................. sound designer
Ian Knodel ............................. lighting designer
Tony Biele ............................... lighting designer
Theresa Purcell ...................... blood assistant
Abbee Warmboe .................. properties manager
Anna Johnson ........................ assistant stage manager
Chuck and Mike McGinley
and the team at the
St. Croix Sensory .................. olfactory scientists
CityPages
Cherry and Spoon
DIY Dancer
Fringe audience reviews
Pioneer Press
video interview with Noah Bremer
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Billy Mullaney (Arkady) and Shannon Mae Leach (Dunya)
photo: Dan Norman
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Candace Barrett Birk (Alyona), Stephanie Fellner (Lizaveta)
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Garrett Volmer (the Woodcutter)
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Vladmimir Rovinsky (Marmaladov), Miles Duffey (Boris)
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Candace Barrett Birk (Alyona)
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Shelby Rose Richardson (Sonya)
photo: Dan Norman
photo: Dan Norman
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Shannon Mae Leach (Dunya), Billy Mullaney (Arkady)
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Shannon Mae Leach (Dunya)
photo: Dan Norman
pictured: Tony Sarnicki (Porfiry)