Dame Jasmine Hughes and Reza Salazar contemplate sandwich perfection in "Floyd's." /T Charles Erickson
Twin Cities theater audiences are known for being open to new work and they've had lots of chances to prove it this summer.
This weekend alone, theatergoers can pick from four world premiere productions. Well, technically, three: Josh Tobiessen's boisterous family comedy "Stinkers," did make its debut this summer at Jungle Theater and it does run through Sunday, but it has been sold out for weeks. Unless you have an "in" or get lucky with turned-back tickets, "Stinkers," featuring Sally Wingert and John Catron, is not an option.
Tickets are available for "Floyd's," a Guthrie Theater commission from playwright Lynn Nottage, the only woman to have won two Pulitzer Prizes for drama (for "Ruined" and "Sweat," which the G will produce next summer). A comedy set in a truck stop where employees dream of making the perfect sandwich, it runs through Aug. 31.
It's opening weekend for "Hot Asian Doctor Husband," commissioned by Theater Mu from playwright Leah Nanako Winkler. Performed at Mixed Blood Theatre through Sept.1, "Hot Asian" features Meghan Kreidler and Eric Sharp in a dark comedy that upends the tropes of romcoms. Kreidler plays a biracial woman who resolves to find herself the titular spouse.
And there's "Cabal," Walking Shadow Theatre Company's "play with puzzles," which is part escape room, part interactive theater. It has been extended through September.
If you snoozed, you lost on these, but this summer also featured the annual Minnesota Fringe Festival, which is mostly world premieres, and "The Jefferson Township Sparkling Junior Talent Pageant," a new musical at Park Square Theatre, as well as History Theatre's spy musical, "Dirty Business."
