THE OCTOPROF at MN Fringe

The idea:

The Octoprof is a Lesser Blue-Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa), who is a postgraduate at the University of the Gulf of Mexico, Shallow Waters (not her native habitat; she’s Australian, but emigrated to be closer to larger populations of her research subjects). Her focus of study is the reproductive biology of the invasive terrestrial species Homo sapiens - an animal which has of course been a source of tremendous concern amongst terrestrial biologists over the past thousand-ish lunar cycles, especially those whose research has a conservation focus.

Owing to a peculiar birth defect which gives her a faint but noticeable resemblance to the detested homo sapiens (she has a serious malformation of the mantle and of two of her tentacles, which gives her a ‘face’ and ‘hands’), the Octoprof feels a strong and frankly embarrassing affinity for her research subjects. She has been criticized heavily for this unprofessional attitude by her fellow academics, most of whom would understandably prefer all research funds concerning homo sapiens to be focused on eradication measures.

Today she is presenting a paper - a version of her dissertation - at a conference of Terrestrial Biologists. (You might think it’s the Minnesota Fringe Festival, but it’s not, it’s a conference of Terrestrial Biologists.) Her last such presentation did not go smoothly, and she is incredibly nervous about the reaction of her colleagues to her most recent research efforts, “On the Mating Habits of Homo Sapiens of South Beach, Florida”. The audience will be the attendees at the conference, and may be asked to participate as Esteemed Colleagues in haranguing the Octoprof with (scripted) questions and objections.

It will not go well for her. But it will be funny.




Who I am:

(Although I imagine anyone coming to this page already knows me well.)

My name is Anna Sutheim, and I’m a theater artist (performer, writer, director, teacher, stage manager, and costume designer) in St. Paul, Minnesota. I’ve performed locally in shows with Red Eye Theater, Walking Shadow, Nautilus Music-Theater, 20% Theatre, Theatre Unbound, Minnesota Jewish Theater, Raw Sugar Theater, Mission Theatre Company, and Nimbus Theatre, to name a few of my favorites. Though I’ve had solo work produced by other companies (thanks Raw Sugar and 20%!) and have performed at the Fringe in other companies’ shows, this will be my first time producing my own work at the Fringe. Like my alter ego the Octoprof, I am both nervous and thrilled.




What I need from you:

$1,000 dollars and your promise to come and to bring ten friends!

This idea is weird and nerdy as hell, I’m aware. I also think it will make a very entertaining and interesting show, with elements of mockumentary, puppetry (this is going to be an amazing costume, you guys), biology lecture, and stand-up. Give me just a few your hard-earned dollars, and I will make you proud you invested in this strange piece of theater by a cephalopod fan.

Here’s the breakdown of where your money will be going:

$400 - Production fee for a small venue (this is what MN Fringe requires to participate)
$100 - Promotional materials (postcards, posters)
$100 - Costume and props materials
$400 - Stipends for other artists I hope to involve (photographer, videographer, movement consultant, stage manager)

Minnesota Fringe Festival producing artists receive 70% of their ticket sales. This doesn’t usually amount to a lot; usually they are lucky to recoup their production fee. As a result, few Fringe producers are able to pay their performers and other artists anything at all. By including the stipends for my other artists in my initial fundraising, I aim to counter this tendency, because all artists should be paid at least something for their time and skill, even if it will never be quite as much as they deserve! Any additional money collected through this fundraiser will also go to increasing these stipends for other artists; and if by some glorious twist of fate this odd little show makes more money than I expect, I will also be including them in profit sharing.

Finally, in the event that Octoprof does not make it to the 2017 Minnesota Fringe (being currently high on the waitlist, this is very unlikely, but possible) these funds will be used to mount an independent production of the show at a different venue. 

MANY, MANY THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!