In this episode, Ellen talks with Tane Danger and Tryg Throntveit to discuss their collaborative project, "Sketches of Minnesota" which launched last year. Tane and Dane (along with an incredibly talented improv comedy cast) visited communities across Minnesota to gather local stories and transform them into live improv comedy shows. Tane and Tryg share how "Sketches of Minnesota" celebrates the culture, history, and individuality of Minnesota’s urban, rural, and suburban communities, and the connections Minnesotans share.

Episode Highlights:

03:26 Danger Boat Productions: Using Improv for Civic Engagement

06:32 Creating Sketches of Minnesota: The Journey

10:29 The Impact of Humor in Community Building

21:38 Community Reflections and Feedback

23:08 Selecting and Visiting Communities

29:08 Themes and Stories from Minnesota

35:49 Unexpected Positive Outcomes

42:56 Rural and Urban Interdependence

More Information:
Trygve Throntveit is Research Professor in Higher Education at Ball State University and Co-Founder and Director of the Twin Cities-based Institute for Public Life and Work. Until recently, he served as Director of Civic Renewal at the Minnesota Humanities Center, where he co-developed and directed the Sketches of Minnesota project.

Tane Danger Bio, https://www.dangerboat.net/tane-danger
Sketches of Minnesota Season 2 Tour, https://www.mnhum.org/program/sketches-of-minnesota/