2011-2012 Season Announcement Press Release (Click to download)
T Bone N Weasel Press Release (Click to download)
T Bone N Weasel Press Photos (Click to download: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4)
Pictured: Mark Benzel and Theo Langason
Photo credit: Charlie Gorrill

"Such an urgent inquiry is ideally suited for Theatre Pro Rata, a group distinguished by its knack for finding the contemporary vitality in each of its productions." - City Pages "A List"

"This prescient play is the sort of work Theatre Pro Rata does best: daring, honest, and brutal." - Mpls. St. Paul Magazine "Top 10" Fall Arts Preview

"Bratlie is an actor's director, drawing out four strong performances...David Beukema effectively captures the play's ambiguities...Katherine Kupiecki's Jessica matches his intensity and commitment, and their scenes together crackle." - Star Tribune

"Many of the production elements display an acute attention to detail and a full commitment to the work’s difficult subject matter...the atmospheric element of the pre-show radio broadcast readies the audience for an immersive experience. ...Theater Pro Rata presents a well-staged and thought-provoking production." - Aisle Say Twin Cities

"This production offers an absorbing story and concept right from the beginning. As the characters’ pasts get turned inside out, and violence turns on itself, the build to its powerful conclusion is oddly satisfying." - How Was The Show

"Absolutely riveting...you can't take your eyes off of it...the performances are all great. Director Carin Bratlie and her cast are plugged directly into this script in a major way. It's gotten under their skin, and it'll probably get under the skin of the people watching it as well." - TC Daily Planet

City Pages Interview with Carin Bratlie
TC Theater Connection 9/11/11 Post-Show Discussion

Waiting for Godot

"Brisk and energetic...This Godot moves." - How Was The Show
"If you think Beckett's not your thing, see Theatre Pro Rata's production of Waiting For Godot. If anything's gonna make a convert out of you, these folks will." - TC Daily Planet
"Bleak, bleak, bleak... Which is just as it should be." - Star Tribune
"Gangler and Rodriguez make for an effective duo...the characters really come alive when they begin to plumb the depths of their collective despair only to be saved by the friendship that has kept them coming back to this field, day after day, for years on end." - City Pages
"A perfect setting...Ripley and his company do not squander the opportunity. ...Seemingly unencumbered by the fact that they are performing an Important Play, Gangler and Rodriguez seem capable of and content in living in the play moment to moment, seizing small joys when they come." - Twincities.com
"Terrific...disheveled and ragged...perfect." - Star Tribune
MPR praises Godot and invites listeners to weigh in.
City Pages calls The Hollywood a 'perfect home' for Godot.
Star Tribune Spotlight
City Pages Spotlight
TC Theater Connection Interview
TC Daily Planet Feature

Dido, Queen of Carthage

"...spellbinding..." - The Examiner
"Theatre Pro Rata mines the rich vein of comedy without compromising the ultimate tragedy." - Star Tribune
"...thoughtful... heartrending..." - Indy Blogger Jennifer Arnott
"...a play worth seeing." - TC Daily Planet
TC Theater Connection - Interview
Star Tribune - Spotlight


The Taming of the Shrew

"...one of the most compulsively funny highlights of the fall theater season...perfectly in-tune with modern sensibilities." - The Examiner
"...this rendition of Shrew is ingeniously conceived and richly detailed. Rarely has the problem of this play been solved so neatly." - Star Tribune
"It’s actually hard to review a production this solid, because there’s simply nothing wrong with it. ...just embracing Shrew as written, Theatre Pro Rata creates a production that seems almost effortless in its delivery." - TC Daily Planet
Lavender Magazine Spotlight
MinnPost Spotlight
City Pages Spotlight
TC Theater Connection Interview with Carin Bratlie, Grant Henderson, and Amber Bjork


Traveling Light

"...go see it." - AbsolutRufus
"...a heady brew of a show that remains engaging." - MinnPost
"...wistful and bittersweet." - City Pages
MPR Interview with Lindsay Harris-Friel, Natalie Novacek and Susan Hunter-Weir
MPR Weekend Outlook Highlight
MinnPost Spotlight
TC Theater Connection Interview with Carin Bratlie, David Beukema and Wade A. Vaughn
Lavender Magazine Highlight
Lavender Magazine Names Traveling Light one of the best shows of 2010
Metro Magazine Lists Traveling Light as one of the "Five Laudable Productions Outside the Expected Environs"
Southwest Minneapolis Lists Traveling Light as one of 2010's "10 Fantastic Performances"

"David Beukema and Wade Vaughan will change the way you see The Beatles forever in Pro Rata's astounding production of Lindsay Harris Friel's Traveling Light performed on site at Layman's Cemetery. Rachel Finch is sublime and fascinating as a cop who is finding how she fits into a situation where gay men dominate. Brilliantly directed by Natlie Nocacek." -John Townsend on KFAI's Fresh Fruit, streaming at www.kfai.org until July 28, 2010.

The Spanish Tragedy

"...a giddy, blood-soaked amusement park of a story that careens wildly from dark humor to romance to one outrageous killing after the next." - TC Daily Planet
"...a fascinating slice of dramatic history..." - Pioneer Press
"...still resonates today." - Lavender Magazine
Pioneer Press The Spanish Tragedy named "Best Bet"
Star Tribune Highlight
TC Theater Connection Podcast
Minnesota Monthly Mention
MPR Clarence Wethern discusses memorizing lines and The Spanish Tragedy

"As we end Women's History Month catch woman director Carin Bratlie's crisp staging of The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd. It matches Elizabethan language with emotion. Clarence Wethern crackles as the villainous Lorenzo. He's a cross between Carl Rove and Rahm Emmanuel. And fine performances by Erik Hoover and Ariana Prusak as spirit characters. This violent production benefits from cross gender casting." -John Townsend on KFAI's Fresh Fruit, March 25, 2010.


Marisol

"...enthusiastically insane..." - City Pages
"...fairly bursting at the seams with theatricality..." - TC Daily Planet
"...stunning, occasionally shocking..." - Star Tribune
"How I Got That Job" Interview with Roneet Aliza Rahamim
TC Theater Connection Podcast
Star Tribune Feature
"Art Hounds" Interview with Carin Bratlie
The Examiner Interview with Carin Bratlie
Lavender Magazine "On The Townsend" Feature
Broadway World Feature

"Unrequited lesbian love is touchingly portrayed in an exquisitely surrealistic production of Marisol by Theatre Pro Rata." - John Townsend on KFAI's Fresh Fruit, Thursday, October 8, 2009.


Monster

"Electrifying...compelling...a Fringe triumph..." - Fringe Festival Reviews
TC Theater Connection Interview with Natalie Novacek & Christopher Kehoe
TC Theater Connection Interviews with Carin Bratlie, Christopher Kehoe, and others
Pioneer Press Interview with Carin Bratlie about bringing Monster to the Fringe Festival


Galileo

"To her considerable credit, one quickly forgets she is a woman playing a man..." - City Pages
"Ambitious... aptly demonstrated... frighteningly effective... a touching performance..." - Star Tribune
"Tallen brings humanity to the role of this historical figure... well worth seeing." - How Was The Show
Star Tribune Spotlight
Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine Spotlight
Fringefamous lists Galileo as one of the shows to See Before You Die On Monday
Lavender Magazine Spotlight
The Examiner Interview with Noë Tallen
TC Theater Connection Interview with Carin Bratlie
Lavender Magazine Names Julie Ann Nevill's performance as the Best Crossgender Performance of 2009


Killer Joe

"One of the best set designs of 2008." - City Pages
"A punch in the gut." - How Was The Show
"Shocking...real..." - The Morning After
"A thrill." - Talkin' Broadway
"Plenty of good." - MinnPost
"Massively entertaining." - City Pages
"Pro Rata doesn't shy from the mayhem." - Star Tribune
FringeFamous Interview with Carin Bratlie
Minnesota Playlist Photo Feature
The Rake Black & White Bash Feature
Star Tribune Interview with Zach Curtis


Metamorphoses

"Glorious...marvelous...vivid." - Star Tribune
"Crisp." - City Pages
"Fresh and engaging." - Talkin' Broadway
"Big splash production." - The Rake
Lavender Magazine Interview with Carin Bratlie
MinnPost Feature
Lavender names Metamorphoses one of the top 10 productions of 2008


Feelgood Hits of The 70s

"They caught me." - City Pages


Quills

"Delightful devil." - Talkin' Broadway
"Gutsy." - City Pages

Machinal

"Strong...excellent." - Back Stage


Slag Heap

"As vivid as they come." - City Pages
"Riveting gutter theater." - Talkin' Broadway
"An outstanding young cast." - Star Tribune


Emma

"Fascinating...timely." - Talkin' Broadway

Hamlet/Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

"A certain delicacy is required. This production provides it." - City Pages
"Kudos to Pro Rata for not only tackling both at once, but succeeding in their goal." - Talkin' Broadway


Trainspotting

"Effective." - City Pages
"Blackly funny and searingly honest." - Talkin' Broadway


General Theatre Pro Rata Mentions & Press

"Superb productions." - Lavender Magazine
TC Theater Connection Director's roundtable with Carin Bratlie
City Pages Pro Rata's home venue, The Gremlin Theatre, is named Best New Stage 2009
TC Theater Connection Podcast interview with Carin Bratlie and Zach Curtis.


Other Theatre Pro Rata Links

Theatre Pro Rata Wikipedia