-commutator (noun): a device for reversing the direction of an electric current; used to change alternating
currents to a direct current
- commutative (adjective): being a property of a mathematical operation (as addition or multiplication) in which the result does not depend on the order of the elements
+ x + x + x + x + x +
Commutator Collective is an interdisciplinary group of artists, writers, theatre people, musicians, and filmmakers working in Minneapolis, Minnesota and beyond. It’s here to connect more people to more art.
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Our Work (so far)
NORTH PINE POST
YOUR DAILY-MONTHLY-WEEKLY UPDATE FROM NORTH PINE.
Created collectively. Read the online edition here.
FORBBIDDEN FRUIT(s):
A PROHIBITION EXTRAVAGANZA
Powerpoint by Sam Weisberg
A WINE-CLASS-CUM-THEATRICAL-EXPERIMENT ABOUT PROHIBITION(AND THE PANSIES WHO THRIVED BECAUSE OF IT)
It’s the era of art deco and flapper girls, when alcohol and something called “homosexuality" were against the law, when people said words like “stool-pigeon” and “reefer” out loud using their mouths. That’s right, “folks”, learn about Prohibition like it’s never been learnt(?) before: in a raunchy wine-class-cum-theatrical-experiment that you’ll probably enjoy. Come sample booze, frown at anachronistic jokes, and hear actors say the word “pansy” at least five or six times.
Lecturing by Sam Weisberg
Script by Marge Buckley
Acting by Marge Buckley & Lahiru Samarasinghe
FORBIDDEN FRUIT(s) was created in the winter of 2020, and was produced during a month-long residency with France 44, a liquor store in south Minneapolis, in March 2020. It ran for one evening as part of France 44’s series of wine education classes.
DOCTOR, DENTIST, VET
OUR GRANDFATHERS, OR SOMETHING; MARKER & COLORED PENCIL
Art by Ray Gorlin
Words by Sam Weisberg
Created in Winter 2020
PHYLLOXERA!
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Poster by Ray Gorlin
A PLAY ABOUT THE GREAT FRENCH WINE BLIGHT (YOU KNOW THE ONE)
Two French sisters and their genderqueer sibling face off against flamethrower-wielding German vintners, an amoral American aphid, and a foreign agricultural trade crisis in the greatest showdown of the mid-19th century. Join local wine specialist Solar Champion for an evening of casual theatregoing, heavy drinking, and the history of a canonically-neglected catastrophe.
Conceived by Marge Buckley & Sam Weisberg
Script by Marge Buckley
Animation and Poster Design by Ray Gorlin
Costume Design by Ray Gorlin & Katy Santa Maria
Dramaturgy by Luke Soucy
Sound Design by Asher Weisberg
Featuring the acting talents of:
Marge Buckley, Erik Dagoberg, Bridget McNiff, Maureen O’Malley, Lahiru Samarasinghe, Lucy Scherschligt, Sam Weisberg, Caleb Zarns
PHYLLOXERA! was created in the early summer of 2018 and was produced during a month-long residency at the Bryant-Lake Bowl. It ran for two weekends in September 2018 and was the inaugural production of Commutator Collective. You can read the script on the New Play Exchange, or by emailing us.
Talk to us we are friendly
For information about upcoming activites, or if you just want to chat, please email us at commutatorcollective@gmail.com