Muskie

Marc Berg

Puppet Design and Build

Maija Dahlberg

Alex
Maija is an actor from Duluth who is excited to be making her MN Fringe Festival debut! In her free time, she enjoys fishing, camping, caving, and volunteering as a Girl Scout troop leader. She would like to say thank you to her boyfriend, friends, and family for supporting her, and thank you to everyone who came out to see this show!

Glen L. Dawson

Chip
Glen L. Dawson (The Buttslasher series, GUNS!: The Musical!, We Were Only Henchmen) is thrilled to be back on the Fringe stage in 'Muskie,' and - full disclosure - while he loves theater, he hates fishing.

Laura Erchul

Ginger
Laura Erchul (Ginger) is excited to dive into her first Minnesota Fringe Festival with Muskie and is incredibly grateful to the two Andys and New Endeavors Productions for trusting her with this Minnesota-sized adventure. Like Ginger, Laura loves the lake — unlike Ginger, her ability to catch actual fish remains questionable. When not performing around the north and northwest metro theater community, she enjoys time at the family cabin on Lake Vermilion, planning the next tropical escape, or fully embracing life as a Disney adult. Endless love to her husband Chad, the world’s most committed at-home scene partner (complete with character voices), and their black lab Finnegan, who believes every good story should include a lake.

Alyssa Fraser

Laura
Alyssa Fraser (she/they) is an actor and author originally from Chicago, IL. Recent roles include Olympe de Gouges in The Revolutionists (Gnarly Bards), Beth in Hurricane Diane (Gnarly Bards), and Henrietta Leavitt in Silent Sky (GREAT Theatre). “Muskie” is their Fringe debut. www.alyssazfraser.com

Remy Flynn

Stage Manager
Remy Flynn has been in 21 productions within the past 5 years, most recently working as the Stage Manager for “Big Fish” through Blaine High Schools Theatre department. This is their first production outside of school and they are very happy to be a part of the Fringe Festival!

Thalia Kostman

Puppet Design and Build
Thalia Kostman is the co-artistic director of Phantom Chorus Theatre, a company that produces other-worldly original works using the mediums of puppetry, movement, and music. She is the logistics coordinator for American Immersion Theater’s Minneapolis troupe and is also employed as a Princess, a carrot, and a French language tutor! She is excited to be making the biggest fish puppet ever for this show with her partner Marc Berg!

Andy Rakerd

Producer
Andy Rakerd is a Minneapolis-based theatre artist and a regular producer for the Minnesota Fringe Festival. His previously-produced works include "An Exorcism, Don'tcha Know", "Peace Retreat", and "The Buttslasher". When not playing at Fringe, he is the director for the Blaine High School Theatre Department and an actor for the Murder Mystery Company. He would like to thank his family and his wife, Cayla, for their undying support.

Andrew Rosdail

Director
Andrew is excited to be working with New Endeavors again! “Muskie” marks his third time directing for NE, after the Golden Lanyard-winning “Peace Retreat” and last year’s hit, “An Exorcism, Don’tcha Know?” Andrew has also written and directed “Writers’ Block.,” “Uncle Walt,” and “We Were Only Henchmen” at previous MN Fringes through his own production company, the World Crime League. He is also an actor, most recently appearing in Phantom Chorus’s puppet rock opera “Razia’s Shadow” and currently acting in the World Crime League’s production of “M,” which definitely should be added to your Fringe schedule this year!

Matt Saxe

Owen
Matt is thrilled to be returning to the Fringe in this tribute to one of his favorite movies. Film & TV Credits: JARHEAD, PEARL HARBOR & THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL. Matt is also in SO BRIGHT THE NIGHT at this year's Fringe. Previous Minnesota Fringe Festival Credits: 2023: Reception & Baldwin’s Last Fire (Golden Lanyard Award-Fringe With Benefits Members Winner), 2022: Orzel Rising (Winner of 2 Golden Lanyard Awards-Venue Pick & Artists Pick), 2010: Sex, Soap, Torture, Weather, 2011: Once Upon A CSI, 2012: Tales From A Twisted Universe, 2013: Theatre 101 & Grimm For Kids. 2014: The Jungle Book, 2015: Melancholy London, 2016: So Bright the Night. 2017: Waiting for Gygax & The Tragedy of Obi-Wan Kenobi, 2018: An Odyssey Backwards and In Heels & TITUS: Sweet Water:Silent Walks. 2019: The Viking and The Gazelle. Thanks for coming to MUSKIE and Minnesota Fringe Festival!

Michelle Schwantes

Nancy/Puppeteer
Representative regional credits include: Children's Theatre Company, Walker Art Center Out There Performance Series, The Jungle Theater, Minnesota Opera, Ananya Dance Theatre, National Theatre for Children, Valleyfair, St. Croix Festival Theatre, Montford Park (Asheville, NC), The National Theatre for Children, and Center Stage Theatre (Fairhope, AL.)   International work includes directing, performances, and artistic residencies in Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Peru, Venezuela, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Romania, and the Dominican Republic. 

George Smith

Bobby/Tim F****** Walz/Puppeteer

Cayla Wolpers

Alberta
Cayla was born and raised in Hastings, Minnesota which is a small town on the Mississippi River, about a stone’s throw away from the Twin Cities. She began acting at the very young age of eight, and with that dreamed of making a difference in people’s lives through theater. She attended college at Drake University where she studied Musical Theater and graduated Cum Laude with Departmental Honors. Cayla has worked with many theater companies including Open Window Theater, Pioneer Place Theater, and more. She began working with American Immersion Theater in 2014 as an actor, became the Minneapolis director in early 2022, and took on the Royal Coach position in February of 2024. Her resume is extensive and diverse including vocal training, various types of dance, palm reading, and even has training in unarmed stage combat.