GUEST ARTIST SERIES
A modern romance for the guy inside all of us.
June 21 – 30, 2024
About Our Guest Artist Series
In addition to our MainStage productions, Open Eye is deeply committed to curating and presenting a dynamic Guest Artist Series that highlights emerging local artists and innovative performing ensembles who tell stories in ways that are fresh, fun, and experimental.
Depravity and enlightenment, protection and liberation, love bombing / situationships / ghosting / et al – ONLY UGLY GUYS delivers a stark reflection on how affection manifests in a non-committal, algorithm-fueled culture.
A sex therapist’s long-term relationship is threatened by never-ending hemorrhoids.
A hopeless romantic discovers his boundaries extend further than he thought.
A frugal gym rat misuses activism for personal gainz.
A strong-but-silent type suffers from hearing loss on a group vacation.
Placing the audience in the role of voyeur, confidante, enabler, and friend, these scenarios interrogate, “When you have access to anything, what do you really want?”
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TICKETS
$10–50 — Pay What You Can
The market value for one ticket is $30. Tickets do not have one set price; instead, you may choose to purchase your ticket(s) for any of five prices. Every ticket is general admission regardless of the amount you choose to pay.
AGE RECOMMENDATION / CONTENT AWARENESS: Ages 17 and up.
The characters, like people in real life, are complicated. The characters swear, have sex, use recreational drugs, and are sometimes not very nice.
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PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Friday, June 21, 7:30pm PREVIEW
Saturday, June 22, 2:00pm PREVIEW
Saturday, June 22, 7:30pm OPENING
Sunday, June 23, 2:00pm*
Monday, June 24, 7:30pm
Thursday, June 27, 7:30pm
Friday, June 28, 7:30pm
Saturday, June 29, 2pm
Saturday, June 29, 7:30pm
Sunday, June 30, 2:00pm CLOSING*The Sunday matinee performance on June 23 is masking-required. All other shows are masking-optional.
RUN TIME: 90 min., no intermission
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ACCESSIBILITY
Contact us at 612-874-6338 or boxoffice@openeyetheatre.org for accessibility information and requests. Learn more.
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COVID PRECAUTIONS
All audience members will be required to wear masks during our Sunday, June 23 performance. All other shows are masking-optional.
The masking policy will be posted on the door.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer/Producer – Kurt Engh
Director – Grant Sorenson
Poster Designer – Ian Barbineau
Artist Bios
Kurt Engh (Writer/Producer) is a Minneapolis-based theater producer. He is obsessed with internet culture, obscure YouTube videos, the Midwest and how people get through their day. He transposes experimental practices to narrative stories, addressing how contemporary audiences consume live performance. He has worked onstage at the Guthrie Theater, Theatre Latté Da, Children’s Theatre Company, The Playwrights’ Center and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. He has worked offstage at The Great Northern, The Public Theater, the Guthrie Theater and the Contemporary American Theater Festival. Engh was awarded grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board (2024-2025), Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2023-2024), and Tri-M Foundation (2023).
Grant Sorenson (Director) is currently pursuing his MFA in Directing at Boston University, where he has directed The Hot L Baltimore and anon(ymous). Originally from Minneapolis, MN, his directing credits include work at the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio, Open Eye Theatre, Crane Theater, Maison Bodega, 7th House Theater, Everwood Farmstead, Wayzata Theatre, Minnesota Fringe Festival, and more. Prior to his career as a director, Grant studied and worked as an actor for over 20 years (he started very young.) His work as an actor has been seen at the Guthrie, Theater Latté Da, Children’s Theatre Company, Yellow Tree Theater, The Playwright’s Center, New Epic Theater, and many more. He is thrilled to return to Minneapolis to collaborate on this new play! Upcoming: Julius Caesar at Boston University. grant-sorenson.com
Ian Barbineau (Poster Designer) is a designer and art director out of Saint Paul, Minnesota and remote. He is currently working at Walker Art Center. ianbabineau.com
Kurt Engh is a fiscal year 2024 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Visit Open Eye Theatre
506 E. 24th Street
Minneapolis, MN
Free parking is available in the lot on the southeast corner of 24th Street and Portland Avenue, courtesy of Lutheran Social Services.