Magazine | Alan M. Berks | MinnesotaPlaylist.com

Alan M. Berks is a Minneapolis-based writer whose plays have been seen in New York, Chicago, Phoenix, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and around the Twin Cities. He helped create Thirst Theater a while back. Now, he’s the editor of this here magazine. He’s also written Almost Exactly Like Us, How to Cheat, 3 Parts Dead, Goats, and more.

Articles by this author

Markets making art ill

by Alan M. Berks • Mar. 26

Management | Vision

You should blame mediocre theater on economics. But not for the reasons you think.

Learning to love arts criticism

by Alan M. Berks • Mar. 4

Criticism

Does a type of arts criticism exist that would please artists, audiences, and newspaper editors at the same time?

Once more unto the breach

by Alan M. Berks • Feb. 23

Vision

The author thinks he has something new to say about making theater relevant--and it is not about technology.

Playwright thinking about actors

by Alan M. Berks • Feb. 16

Process

A playwright reflects on his love for actors and what makes the best ones so trustworthy with scripts.

Amateurs, academics, and money

by Alan M. Berks • Feb. 6

Management

In the first essay in a series, we take a look at how economics effects artistic output.

Suggestion box

by Alan M. Berks • Jan. 2

Criticism | Innovation | Management

We're considering a major redesign of the website in the coming months. Now is your chance to send us your suggestions.

Civilization and its playwrights

by Alan M. Berks • Oct. 18

Criticism

A rash of contemporary plays argue that you should throw off the chains of civilization and embrace your inner savage.

The best is yet to come

by Alan M. Berks • Sep. 5

Audience | Criticism | Vision

Challenging is a criteria for excellence that Minnesota may experience more in the year to come.

Tom Poole Remembered

by Alan M. Berks • Jul. 17

Vision

Local theatermaker Tom Poole passed away on Wednesday, July 6. Alan Berks remembers a writer and a person who inspired him to be smarter, funnier, and better.

Summer activism

by Alan M. Berks • Jul. 5

Social Service

We're taking a little break from the magazine to rest up for the Fringe Festival in August. Inside this article are a few thoughts about art and politics.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Another look

by Alan M. Berks • Nov. 3

First, what hasn't changed: You can still find 40-70 classifieds on this site every day in the same easy location and post your own. . .

What I learned from Bab's Casting

by Alan M. Berks • Feb. 10

Management | Training

What does a performing artist need to know about the casting process for commercial work? What has changed or not changed in the last 21 years?

Love at first sight

by Alan M. Berks • Jul. 8

Fringe

Over the course of eleven days of performance, I lose all critical perspective. The object of my idealistic love is a big, messy, erratic, many-headed monster.

Pay my rent

by Alan M. Berks • Jun. 28

Management | Vision

It's never going to work as long as landlords get more grant money than artists.

Meet the neighbors, Part 3

by Alan M. Berks • Jun. 18

Greater Minnesota

Creative people will be creative. Give people time for the unfamiliar to become familiar. Musicals subsidize, and other lessons from the road in Minnesota.

Meet the neighbors, Part 2

by Alan M. Berks • Jun. 8

Greater Minnesota

On a road trip around Greater Minnesota, Alan Berks visits 9 representative organizations, from community theater to university theater to barn-based theater.

Meet the neighbors

by Alan M. Berks • Jun. 1

Greater Minnesota

Get a video introduction to some of the theater makers who make Greater Minnesota safe for the performing arts. Part 1 of 3.

Why I am a playwright

by Alan M. Berks • May. 17

Vision

What possible reason can an otherwise rational person have for devoting themselves to writing new plays? Hint: It’s not the abundance of money and respect.