Since 1989 the Commonweal has been southeastern Minnesota’s premier professional live theater company. With a rotating repertory of comedies, dramas, musicals and more, we offer something for everyone. Located in historic Bluff Country, the Commonweal is consistently ranked as one of the top things to do in Lanesboro, MN. This podcast focuses on Commonweal Theatre Company members and guest artists. Drama Unfolds Where the Root River Bends.

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Today we chat with Erika and Tinne, two Commonweal newbies, who are killing it onstage in the show Good People. Both are established actors who have worked across the country and it is a delight to talk to them about this riveting piece of theatre. Thanks for listening!

Erika DeGraff and Tinne Rosenmeier on Good People

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Joining me today are John and Tanner, two members of our apprentice company. They’re in both of the summer shows this year and we thought it would be great to check in on the summer rep.We talk about being in several shows at once, the differences between Leading Ladies and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, how they feel they’ve grown while being here and we hear about one truly, truly, amazing spreadsheet You don’t want to miss it.

A Tale of Two Apprentices - John and Tanner in the Summer Rep!

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Joining me today are Brandt Roberts and Elizabeth Dunn, two longstanding company members who are heading out at the end of July. We just thought it would be fun to share some memories and talk about their favorite moments here in their tenure here at the Commonweal. Both have been such a wonderful part of this community both at the theatre and in Lanesboro  As Elizabeth said in her blog, you don’t leave a place like this you carry it with you and it’s wonderful to hear what they’re carrying with them from here.

Brandt & Elizabeth - Carrying Lanesboro with Them

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Joining me is Jeremy van Meter resident ensemble member and he’s playing Herb in I Ought to Be In Pictures, which has about 10 more performances and closes on June 2. We talk about how the show is going and what it’s like working on a comedy - Jeremy typically does drama here at the Commonweal. We also talk about coming back to the show after a long hiatus - about a month, including a Covid absence.There’s plenty to catch. You don’t want to miss it. Stay tuned.

Jeremy van Meter is really funny - even if you usually only see him do drama!

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It&#39;s a Tim &amp; Josiah pod - we talk about what’s going on at the theatre, there&#39;s a ton: rehearsals are happening, sets are being built, art is being hung in the lobby.... There’s a lot going on to prep for the opening of our 2022 season. =And we also talk about what we do to prepare for a show - Tim is in 2 this year, Josiah is in one. But it’s a nice look at what it takes to prepare for a show and how diverse that can be from actor to actor. Everyone has their own methods and it’s a lot of fun to get into it. There’s plenty to catch. Thanks for listening

Tim & Josiah with the 2022 Season about to Open!

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Today we’re interviewing: Grace Cummings one of our apprentices for 2022. Grace is playing the young Hollywood hopeful, Libby, in Neil Simon’s I Ought to Be in Pictures (which we affectionately call “PICTURES”). She shares her first impressions of Lanesboro, what attracted her about the Commonweal apprenticeship, and how she believes that no matter how old you are, everyone is “coming of age.” Enjoy!

Commonweal's first 2022 Apprentice, Grace Cummings

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Welcome to the Commonweal Theatre podcast. Josiah and Tim interview Commonweal’s Producing Artistic Director, Hal Cropp and take a look at the upcoming season. Hal told us he was a little put out that he hadn’t been invited on the podcast thus far, we thought we’d remedy that right away. As aways it’s very entertaining to talk to Hal. He does his best Boston accent for us, we talk comedy, we talk drama. You don’t want to miss it.

Hal & the 2022 Season Preview

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Today Tim and I talked about “January Company” - the people who depending on who you ask are either the most overworked or underworked people at the Commonweal Theatre! There’s a ton of projects we’re working on here and we also give a little sneak peak as to what’s coming up later in the year. There’s plenty to catch including Josiah’s fear of ladders, Regina Spektor and the last show Tim and I did together (which was over 14 years ago!) You don’t want to miss it.

Tim and Josiah's First Pod

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Welcome to the Commonweal Theatre podcast. Today we’re talking with Ashley Graham - Actor in Come Back. We have a great conversation, about what brought her out here and about the Come Back, some of her favorite moments and playing all those hilarious characters   You don’t want to miss it.

Ashley Graham - So many characters in Come Back

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Today we talk with Matt Vichlach, the sound designer for Come Back.We have a great conversation, pulling back the curtain on his process when he designs a show, some of favorite moments from Come Back and how he got started in this whole industry. He also shares at the end, a few music recommendations, h so don’t miss out on that.Thanks for listening.

Matt Vichlach -Sound Designer for Come Back

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Today we’ve got a great interview with Elizabeth Dunn, Development Director at the Commonweal, and Actor in the Commonweal’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised].We talk about this show, what it’s like to play yourself onstage, how to prepare for improv, and what it takes to revise a show that’s been around for a long time.A quick note: We recorded this in the Commonweal’s mechanical room, a place with all of our heaters and coolers and h vac systems, so if you hear a little background noise, it&#39;s not you, it&#39;s us. Just a heads up. Thanks for joining us,

Elizabeth Dunn on Complete Works!

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Today I talk with Rachel Kuhnle director of Dancing Lessons. We talk about this show, what inspires her to want to direct a show, and how she gets two actors with different methods to work together. Then we talk a little about what it’s like to work with your spouse. Full disclosure, Rachel and I are married. She directs me in plays. It can be a lot of fun and well ... you know. Thanks for listening!

Rachel Kuhnle - Director of Dancing Lessons

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The Tell Tale Heart

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Today I talk with Catie Glynn, local artist, about how the river inspired her to write a myriad of stories which turned into a stage play which is currently turning into a radio play co produced by the Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro Arts and her very own, Art Audacious Raw Theatre. We also talk about what it’s like to make a podcast in this time of social distancing and how this period may shape us as artists for years to come. Thanks for listening.

Catie Glynn and Root River Anthology

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During Shelter in Place, we at the Commonweal decided to talk about something we’re all very grateful for: the fact that we’re here, that during this time we’re here in the town we’re in, at the theatre we’re at, a part of this community we love. We’ve decided to tell the story of how we all got here, one by one. Quick 15- 20 minutes conversations, you might called them mini podcasts, to remind us all what brought us here in the first place and some of the delightful reasons we’ve stayed. Today I’m interviewing Rachel Kuhnle, actor director, the company manager and also my wife and shelter in place compatriot. We had a good time recording this. I hope you enjoy listening.

Conversations in Isolation: Rachel Kuhnle

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We’ve decided to tell the story of how we all got here, one by one. Quick 15- 20 minutes conversations, you might called them mini podcasts, to remind us all what brought us here in the first place and some of the delightful reasons we’ve stayed. Thanks so much for listening.

Conversations in Isolation: Brandt Roberts

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We’ve decided to tell the story of how we all got here, one by one. Quick 15- 20 minutes conversations, little mini podcasts, to remind us all what brought us here in the first place and some of the delightful reasons we’ve stayed. Thanks so much for listening.

Conversations in Isolation: Kayla!

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Conversations in Isolation: How we got here series. In these mini pods we ask each of our resident company members to share what brought them to Lanesboro in the first place and what made them stay.

Conversations in Isolation: How We Got Here - Elizabeth Dunn

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So today, to talk about the production, I brought in the director Brandt Roberts. We talk about highlights and good memories from the rehearsal process and limited run of the show and we talk a little about what it’s like to be an artist in this world.  A quick note: we recorded this before the shelter in place was in effect, but we did practice good social distancing. Thanks for listening.

Brandt Roberts and The Fox 4.2.20

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Today Adrienne and I talk about the upcoming season, She’s playing Scrooge in a Christmas Carol and got to try on the character for just a little bit at our yearly photo shoot. A quick note: We recorded this podcast before Covid changed all of… everything. I Ought to be in Pictures is currently Postponed and we’re not sure when it will take our mainstage. Still. The postponement has done nothing to diminish Adrienne’s enthusiasm, personal connection and love for this show and we thought, given everything, it would be nice to share in that joy and that enthusiasm.

Adrienne Sweeney and Scrooge and Photos and more - Commonweal Theatre Podcast

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Jeremy and I talk about the upcoming season, he’s playing Father Flynn in Doubt -we talk about that and what it’s like to take on an intense role, we talk about one of his other project this year a one man show Circumference of a Squirrel and we talk about auditions, what the audition process is like, share some stories about auditioning some advice, some really good stuff. Thanks for listening!

Jeremy van Meter and Auditions and Doubt - Commonweal Theatre Podcast

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Welcome to the Commonweal Theatre Podcast, today we’ve got a great interview with Commonweal’s very own Ben Gorman who is performing in a one man show, an Iliad, back for one performance only, in Lanesboro, on Sunday January 19th at 1:30PM Ben and I talk about performing in a one person show, how this show picked him, his upcoming tour of an Iliad, what audiences bring to the theatre, and much much more. You don’t want to miss it.  To get tickets to An Iliad, <a href="https://commonwealtheatre.secure.force.com/ticket/#sections_a032I00000Sitz5QAB" rel="nofollow">Click Here</a>

Ben Gorman and An Iliad - Commonweal Theatre Podcast

Drama Unfolds Where the Root River Bends.

Since 1989 the Commonweal has been southeastern Minnesota’s premier professional live theater company. With a rotating repertory of comedies, dramas, musicals and more, we offer something for everyone. Located in historic Bluff Country, the Commonweal is consistently ranked as one of the top things to do in Lanesboro, MN. This podcast focuses on Commonweal Theatre Company members and guest artists.



Drama Unfolds Where the Root River Bends. 


Commonweal Theatre Podcast

Episodes