The HUGE Theater Blog!

Hi folks! Big news! HUGE is launching a Spring fundraiser: Springtacular! We invite you to join us in making it a big success. We want to be clear: HUGE’s continued existence may depend on it being a big success

Give, support and SHARE here :

https://www.givemn.org/event/S...

Here’s how the event will work:

• It will be friendly-competitive fundraising on GiveMN.org, not unlike Improvathon
• It will rely heavily on social media asks and direct outreach, not unlike Improvathon.
• Fundraisers will be assigned to “divisions” (Waffles vs Pancakes) so groups can help each other and their division win the top fundraising spot(s).
• The final week of the fundraiser, we’ve got a FUN daily action plan to make it easy to not ONLY get the word out about this fundraiser, but help raise global awareness of HUGE and the TC improv community itself.
• We’ll have a celebratory breakfast after the event for all participants, featuring waffles or pancakes, depending on which division “wins.”
• There will also be thank-you rewards for the winning division, the top 3 teams in the winning division and the top fundraising teams in each division - with one of our classrooms named after the winning teams!
• Fundraising officially begins May 1 and ends at the Improv A Go Go anniversary show on May 19th when we announce the winning division and winning teams and total raised!

Some quick context for anyone who may not know:

After 13 years renting 3037 Lyndale from a landlord who turned out to be supporting some deeply troubling white supremacist causes, HUGE moved out of that space and purchased our current building at 2728 Lyndale in September 2023, with the remarkable help of our community and a non-profit-supporting lender who saw the value and potential of HUGE’s work. This is a big, important, near-miraculous step in our history as an organization, that will hopefully help create a truly permanent home for improv in the Twin Cities. We feel deeply grateful to have had the community support we needed to make this dream a reality.

But the fact is, HUGE is facing a critical financial bottleneck right now, because some big things over the past year have not gone according to plan. Without going too deep: we had to open months later than we planned, there is ongoing income from a cell tower we expected to have but don’t, property taxes we didn’t expect to have as a non-profit but do, and a brutal, unexpected $200K expense we had to eat to install HUGE’s HVAC on the roof because the City abruptly imposed that requirement. As a kicker, our old landlord is withholding our security deposit.

There were 77 entries for 16 groups (this is the shortest season of the year thanks to Fringe!) for the April 1st Improv A Go Go lottery

Please congratulate the following groups:
Ask a Physicist
Grouch
I'll come up with something later
Ladyfriend
Nels Lennes
Rule of 3
Scammers Thieves and The Like
Secret Neighbors
Shy Guy
Slightly Contrived -
Snack Time
Space Worm
The Butterscotch Boys
The Pallor of Endless Corridors
The Show and Tell Show
Truth Gator Binsberg

-- SCHEDULE COMING VERY SOON --

IAGG 22 year anniversary show lineup!
May 19th we celebrate 22 years of this weird little idea

The night will feature: 20k leagues under the Telltale Heart, Twilight Zone, Miscellany and Five Man Job !

Whether you’re settling into a new apartment in Minneapolis, MN or renting a house in the city, you’ll quickly find that this city boasts an art scene that’s as magical as the city itself. For those ready to explore, check out this Redfin article we were featured in highlighting the Minneapolis, MN art scene.

It's that time again! We're looking for shows to put up starting in September of 2024. Submissions are open now through March 31. After all of the proposals are received we will send an email to confirm receipt on April 1 and get back to everyone by April 30.

Submit your idea here

In relation to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the casting process:

Recently we've received some questions about how HUGE views DEI, specifically as it relates to casting. The Leadership Team sat down and wrote up our thoughts here.

We hope you will join us as we continue to create and support work that represents diverse perspectives on our stage. We welcome any thoughts or feedback you might have. Please reach out to Becky directly at Becky@HUGETheater.com or to the Leadership Team in general at Info@HUGETheater.com.