For information on the show, copies of press release, pictures or how you can bring this show to you please contact me through the form below.
Upcoming performance Saturday Nov. 17
& a brief follow up
I am please to announce that the next performance will take place Saturday Nov. 17 part of the North Star Germans from Russia Heritage Society meeting. The performance will start at 2:00 PM at Berea Lutheran, 7538 Emerson Ave S., Richfield. If you go west off Lyndale on 76th, it's a few blocks down on the right at the corner of 76th & Emerson.
This is the fringe performance so the show runs about 45 min and after will follow a talk back. All are welcome.
I am very thankful for the all of support and help that I have received from the North Star Germans from Russia Heritage Society .
As I move forward with the show many exciting things are happening. We are working on the DVD. I am sorry for the delay on these. There is a lot of behind the scenes technical work that has to be done but we are moving along and I hope to have them all done and sent for delivery before Dec. 1st.
I am also working on the extended version of the show. Currently the first draft has been written and I am in talks to having it produced some time in 2013. I am very excited about what is coming up and once again thank you all for your support .
This is the fringe performance so the show runs about 45 min and after will follow a talk back. All are welcome.
I am very thankful for the all of support and help that I have received from the North Star Germans from Russia Heritage Society .
As I move forward with the show many exciting things are happening. We are working on the DVD. I am sorry for the delay on these. There is a lot of behind the scenes technical work that has to be done but we are moving along and I hope to have them all done and sent for delivery before Dec. 1st.
I am also working on the extended version of the show. Currently the first draft has been written and I am in talks to having it produced some time in 2013. I am very excited about what is coming up and once again thank you all for your support .
Doreen Schlosser, 83, Mandan, died Nov. 5, 2012, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck, with her family at her side. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mandan, with the Rev. Shane Campbell as celebrant. Burial will be at Mandan Union Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a parish rosary/vigil at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Doreen was born July 21, 1929, to Adam and Anna (Berger) Schaff in Flasher. She was raised and educated in Fallon. She married Valentine “Val” Schlosser on Sept. 19, 1949, in Fallon.
After they were married, Doreen and Val farmed in the Crown Butte area for 60 years, until they moved to Mandan in 2003. Gardening both flowers and vegetables were activities you could find Doreen doing daily. Doreen was an exceptional cook, having developed her own special recipe for meatballs. German potato salad and knoephle and sauerkraut were also family favorites. Showing her competitive side, but never wanting to catch anyone off guard, she always gave fair warning when playing cards. Being very social, everyone loved her 100-watt smile. A special fishing trip to Canada where she and Val were caught in a storm, Doreen sat quietly in the boat. When asked why she was so quiet, she simply said, “I was praying, so scared before I could finish one Hail Mary, I started another.” Family gatherings were a highlight involving great food with cooking starting days before. These cherished memories tell us about this wonderful woman who lived life in a simple, honest and loving way.
Doreen will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Valentine; her daughters, Joyce (Steve) Howry and Judy Burns, Mandan, and Darcy (Dan) Hurley, Bismarck; her sons, Darell (Elaine), Glendive, Mont., Tim, Loveland, Colo., Bernie (Susan), West Fargo, and Marvin (Jodi), Ernie (Pam), Terry and Harvey (Nancy), all of Mandan; 25 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Frances (Terry) Helbling and Barbara (Elmer) Horning, Bismarck; her brother, Joe (Alvina) Schaff, Bismarck; and two sisters-in-law, Caroline Schaff and Delores (Clarence) Morris, Mandan.
Doreen was preceded in death by her parents; her sons, Rodney, Scott and an infant son, Valentine Jr.; one son-in-law, Ronald Burns; her sisters, Theresa (Mike) DeFasco, Katie (Jerome) Reisenauer, Betty (Val) Schaefer, Clementine (Lenus) Schaff and Florence (Casper) Steckler; and her brothers, Bill, Matt (Eleanore) and Frank Schaff.
Memorials may be directed to Sanford Health off Collins.
Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guest book and view flower photos.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Weigel Funeral Home, Mandan, with a parish rosary/vigil at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the service on Friday.
Doreen was born July 21, 1929, to Adam and Anna (Berger) Schaff in Flasher. She was raised and educated in Fallon. She married Valentine “Val” Schlosser on Sept. 19, 1949, in Fallon.
After they were married, Doreen and Val farmed in the Crown Butte area for 60 years, until they moved to Mandan in 2003. Gardening both flowers and vegetables were activities you could find Doreen doing daily. Doreen was an exceptional cook, having developed her own special recipe for meatballs. German potato salad and knoephle and sauerkraut were also family favorites. Showing her competitive side, but never wanting to catch anyone off guard, she always gave fair warning when playing cards. Being very social, everyone loved her 100-watt smile. A special fishing trip to Canada where she and Val were caught in a storm, Doreen sat quietly in the boat. When asked why she was so quiet, she simply said, “I was praying, so scared before I could finish one Hail Mary, I started another.” Family gatherings were a highlight involving great food with cooking starting days before. These cherished memories tell us about this wonderful woman who lived life in a simple, honest and loving way.
Doreen will be deeply missed by her loving husband, Valentine; her daughters, Joyce (Steve) Howry and Judy Burns, Mandan, and Darcy (Dan) Hurley, Bismarck; her sons, Darell (Elaine), Glendive, Mont., Tim, Loveland, Colo., Bernie (Susan), West Fargo, and Marvin (Jodi), Ernie (Pam), Terry and Harvey (Nancy), all of Mandan; 25 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Frances (Terry) Helbling and Barbara (Elmer) Horning, Bismarck; her brother, Joe (Alvina) Schaff, Bismarck; and two sisters-in-law, Caroline Schaff and Delores (Clarence) Morris, Mandan.
Doreen was preceded in death by her parents; her sons, Rodney, Scott and an infant son, Valentine Jr.; one son-in-law, Ronald Burns; her sisters, Theresa (Mike) DeFasco, Katie (Jerome) Reisenauer, Betty (Val) Schaefer, Clementine (Lenus) Schaff and Florence (Casper) Steckler; and her brothers, Bill, Matt (Eleanore) and Frank Schaff.
Memorials may be directed to Sanford Health off Collins.
Go to www.weigelfuneral.com to sign the online guest book and view flower photos.
This first step and now on to the next
Again I need to thank so many people for their hard work , help and support, emotionally and financially to the creation and execution of Their Century .
Many have asked what is next. The fringe festival was always meant to be the first step onto a larger journey with this show. To know that the show has been as well received as it has been and that a great foundation has been laid lets me know the next legs will be able to continue.
So what does all this mean?
The show will continued to be in proved on. I hope to keep two versions of the show going, the one that was seen at the fringe is a shorter version and I will be working on creating a longer version of the story, running time 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes. The shorter version I hope to be able to present to educational groups, schools, and community groups along with discussions of how to start to record your own families stories.
The longer version I hope to be able to run in venues throughout the midwest, including ND, out state MN and beyond. I am a firm believer that even though this show tell the story of this one family, it is a universal story that continues to tell the larger American story. " really no different a story than yours or any descendants of immigrants, just the names have changed. "
So over the next months the show creation and development will continue so keep and eye out as Their Century has only just begun.
Any feedback you may have is greatly appreciated to take a couple of minutes and if you have seen the show fill out the Their Century Poll. If you wish to bring Their Century to your community please fill out the contact information above.
Again I thank you all for your support and interest.
David
Many have asked what is next. The fringe festival was always meant to be the first step onto a larger journey with this show. To know that the show has been as well received as it has been and that a great foundation has been laid lets me know the next legs will be able to continue.
So what does all this mean?
The show will continued to be in proved on. I hope to keep two versions of the show going, the one that was seen at the fringe is a shorter version and I will be working on creating a longer version of the story, running time 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes. The shorter version I hope to be able to present to educational groups, schools, and community groups along with discussions of how to start to record your own families stories.
The longer version I hope to be able to run in venues throughout the midwest, including ND, out state MN and beyond. I am a firm believer that even though this show tell the story of this one family, it is a universal story that continues to tell the larger American story. " really no different a story than yours or any descendants of immigrants, just the names have changed. "
So over the next months the show creation and development will continue so keep and eye out as Their Century has only just begun.
Any feedback you may have is greatly appreciated to take a couple of minutes and if you have seen the show fill out the Their Century Poll. If you wish to bring Their Century to your community please fill out the contact information above.
Again I thank you all for your support and interest.
David
Full Reviews From The 2012 MN Fringe Festival
Press and Blog reviews:
Fringe Review - Their Century - Lucky Break Productions - 5 stars
BY MATTHEW A. EVERETT, SINGLE WHITE FRINGE GEEK
August 10, 2012
Tweet Review - Their Century - solid piece of storytelling; a valentine to family/U.S. history; great use of multimedia; impressive, 5 stars #mnfringe
"To ask all the questions, to hear all those stories just one more time."
This one snuck up on me. Mom got a chance to read the program before the show and I did not, but that made her say "This sounds like it's going to be good." Then after it was over she couldn't stop saying, "I'm really impressed." I have to agree. The weird thing is I saw this script at a couple of different stages of its development and it's potential was lost on me. David's multimedia vision of this show could not be effectively conveyed to the reader on the page. When I read it, gave him some comments and it came back to me again virtually unchanged, I thought, "He's after something. He sees it very clearly even though I'm not getting it. I have to trust him and see what happens." I was crossing my fingers, even after seeing a snippet out of context in a Fringe-For-All preview, and it seems my worries were completely unfounded. Their Century is a solid, delightful, even moving piece of solo storytelling.
"They started spraying. That took care of the grasshoppers… and the birds. Took many years for the birds to come back."
The death of David's father got him thinking about family history. Even though his father was gone, most of his father's many brothers and sisters (David's aunts and uncles) were still alive, and full of stories of how his father, and their family, grew up. Their Century moves between three narrative threads - David's life and memories of growing up; the story of David's grandfather and his journey from Russia to build a home in America; and tales of David's father's generation of the family, mostly through the eyes of David's uncle Val and aunt Alice.
"When he was 16, my grandfather traveled halfway around the world and made a new home in America. Hell, when I was 16 I was working at McDonald's."
David has a distinctive physical and vocal take on both his aunt and uncle that makes their characters clear whenever they appear. After a few appearances, Val and Alice need no more introduction. David also channels his father in a poignant moment late in the play. It was a moment of personal, private communication between father and son, where a son learned a lot about his father, but still so much went left unsaid.
"Takes me half the day to figure out something to do, and the other half to figure out a how to put it off till tomorrow"
It is obvious David cares very deeply for this story. But he doesn't take it for granted that you will automatically care about it, too. He puts all his family stories in the context of the larger story of our nation, giving a window into the past through the specifics of one tenacious family. David also turns the story back out again into the audience. After all, we all have photo albums. We all have relatives we only see or write to on birthdays or at Christmas. We take it for granted that the people and the stories will always be there. And we sometimes fail to remember that all our stories, even the most personal ones, are somehow still part of the larger history of our country. For everything lost, there is still something to be gained - if we just find a way to keep going, and stay connected. David gives a lot of credit to his director David Tufford for help in shaping the overall production, so I'll pass on that credit here as well. The two of them took a script that in some ways eluded me and presented me as an audience member with something that seems so obvious and simple and effective that I don't know how I missed it.
"I'm not saying they didn't love us as much as we love our kids. They just did things different."
The thing I could never see in my head, but David clearly did, was the multimedia aspect. An accumulation of generations of family photos and historical documents all were fed into a computer and out pops a very lively bit of visual time travel. Even though it skips back and forth over decades, just like David's story, it never loses me, and more importantly it never distracts from what David's doing as a performer but only reinforces it. The original music from Michael Herrera-Markwald is used sparingly, so it never seems too manipulative. A production like this always walks a fine line between earned sentiment and cheap sentimentality. Even when David's eyes threaten to well-up with tears, the first time he dwells on the memory of his father, he walks that fine line and lets us follow him, rather than dragging us where he wants us to end up.
"All that I am is because of all that they were."
Their Century isn't flashy, despite all the multimedia. It's just a good solid piece of work. A good story, well told.
5 stars - Very Highly Recommended
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/matthew-everett/fringe-review-their-century-lucky-break-productions-5-stars
Minnesota Fringe Festival: Their Century and You Smell Like Whiskey and Bad ChoicesBY KATE HOFF, FULL FRONTAL FRINGE
August 08, 2012
Their Century by David Schlosser at Intermedia is a great show about family and where we come from. David interviewed his aunts and uncles to put together a story on what it was like to grow up in an era of so much change. A sweet show, utilizing Intermedia’s lovely screen for family photos. Highly recommended. Last chances: Thursday at 7, Saturday at 10.
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/kate-hoff/minnesota-fringe-festival-their-century-and-you-smell-whiskey-and-bad-choices
User reviews total 4.5 out of 5 stars
See reviews on the web site visit :
http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/show/?id=2238
Two thumbs way up!
by Missy DeRivera
Rating 5 stars
David tells a tale that transports you back to simpler times when hard work and moral character were the pillars of our society. I was moved not only by his performance but by the story of his family's courage and perseverance during some of the most challenging times in our nation's history.
This is a must see show for anyone who loves history, their family, or our nation! I found myself both chuckling and choking back tears. In my opinion...those are the signs of an excellent performance.
A moving family story with Heart!
by Marty Sabolo
Rating 5 stars
With only one more night of shows to see, this is a must see show. If you have a family that lived through the changes of the 20th century (and I'm pretty sure we all have) after seeing this show you are going to want to talk to them about what they experienced.
David has done a wonderful job of getting to know his family's story and sharing it with all of us. David not only brings the stories of his family to life through his voice and use of multimedia, but he does it though his heart. I cannot reccommend this show enough!
Beautiful Story
by Stacey Poirier
Rating 5 stars
David's story is fascinating. Not because it is anything out of the ordinary, but because it is familiar. It reminds me of my own grandparents telling their stories. I laughed, I cried, and I remembered that I need to go hear those stories one more time.
inspiring
by Derek ""Duck"" Washington
Rating 5 stars
The free candy and button won me over before the show even began but the strength of the piece would have pulled me right along without them. This show has inspired me to learn more about my own family before too much time passes and such wonders and memories are lost. Thanks David!
Well crafted but unsatisfying.
by Eric Salo
Rating 3 stars
This show was well organized, well told, well acted...and really, really boring.
Ancestor from the Old Country who came over as a child with no money? We've all heard that story a hundred times before. Didn't speak the language? Heard it. Had a million children? Heard it. Life on the farm was hard work? The Great Depression totally sucked? The 20th Century was a time of incredible change? Heard it, heard it, heard it.
David himself acknowledges that the story of his family is nothing unique; in fact, he revels in this commonality. Unfortunately such sameness doesn't exactly lend itself well to interesting theatre. The show was clearly a labor of love and I feel like a damn Grinch for writing this but I just did not get the point.
A beautifully presented personal story
by Florence Brammer
Rating 3 stars
Schlosser's delivery and stage presence are 5-star, all the way. However, the script can't keep up with Schlosser's emotive, touching performance. The low-keyed, Everyman's Story nature of the narrative was, I'm sure, quite intentional -- to highlight the touching commonality of many immigrants' experiences. Still, the piece lacked energy and focus in some sections, which -- at least for me -- sapped the work of some of its promise. The closing section was very moving, though, and did much to tie the story together emotionally. I think some minor tweaking of this piece could accomplish a lot.
Important piece of work
by Roger Rosvold
Rating 4 stars
David starts the show by acknowledging how much history is being lost everyday, and sets out to bring that history to life for us.
At once humbling and intriguing, the tales his family tells remind us how far we have come in so short a time. Alternately fun and wistful, David's storytelling brings his family to us humanly and with understanding. Bravo!
Beautiful
by Alison Anderson
Rating 5 stars
It's hard to imagine that spending an hour listening to someone talk about their family could be this much fun, but the blend of humor and affection is just perfect.
Nice Rye Truth
by Brian Watson-Jones
Rating 4 stars
Nice family biography. There's always a hazard for me when dealing with a personal history that doesn't intertwine with major historical events, or deal with a particular deeper truth; such stories often end up feeling irrelevant, or therapy theatre. This show avoids that, though, particularly in the epilogue. The Schlosser story is one thread in a historical tapestry, and it pays to examine such things more closely. Well done.
Outstanding!
by Alice Williams
Rating 5 stars
This show was a mix of humor, nostalgia and history. It made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. Though written about a particular family, it could apply to any immigrant family. I enjoyed every minute of it. A must see!
YES
by Eliz D
Rating 5 stars
Please see this show. It is an incredible reminder of where we all come from and what our ancestors did for family and survival. David is the perfect blend of enthusiasm and character and does the most amazing job at welcoming you into his family history.
great execution
by Joshua Humphrey
Rating 5 stars
Schlosser's work to recreate his father's life with input from his family is a fantastic basis for a show. This is well scripted, directed, and acted work, and worthy of your eyeballs.
Wonderful
by JANE HAMMILL
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has found a way to tell all of our family stories. We all come from somewhere else. My family comes from Ireland. My husband's family comes from Prussia. WE all have stories. David Schlosser tells us about his Family by channeling his Aunt and Uncle. Very funny I must say! He made me remember times of my own youth, (Catholic Mass). Do yourself a favor and let David bring you back to when you were a child. You won't regrete it!
ENJOY!!!!!!!
Love!
by Diana Wilde
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has created a heartwarming, lovely storytelling of his family's experience. Funny and endearing with a side order of food for thought. David's own natural warmth and ease on the stage make for an intimate, witty sharing of something we all have in common: we all came from someone's family, and we all have some tale to tell. Well told, Mr. Schlosser.
Essential information
by David Trudeau
Rating 3 stars
As a presentation this is wonderful - many share parts of the multigenerational stories of immigrants to the Upper Midwest, and it inspires one to preserve those stories as the generations pass. As theater it doesn't work so well. Its hard to tell which character is talking - son, father, uncle, grandfather - because voice and body language are to much the same. Would a piece of costume - a hat, a scarf - help us know better whose teling the story?
"It was a different time"
by Dawn Krosnowski
Rating 5 stars
As a first gener, I really enjoyed this show. Very heartwarming.
See this now!
by Abby Normal
Rating 5 stars
Lucky Break brings us a show which should speak to every single person sitting in the audience. The story of David's family is the story of all of our families. And David tells his story with such warmth and heart that it is impossible to not get wrapped up with the journey his family took upon arriving to this country. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in this production. Fantastic effort all around. Highly recommended.
Something different indeed!
by Gretchen Weinrich
Rating 5 stars
Loved the sincerity and attention to detail in this show - in the well-researched writing, the subtle performance and the technical aspects of the show. Really heart-warming and thought-provoking!
A nice gift for all of us
by Garrett Rademacher
Rating 5 stars
"Their Century" is a little gem of a show brought to us by David Schlosser, about his family coming to America almost 100 years ago, and what life was like for this grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles growing up and living in the 20th century. We tend to forget that people left the only home they ever knew to come to a new country for a new life, but David brings it all to life through his relatives' reminiscences as photos of his ancestors are displayed behind in a sort of slideshow. But this is not just about his family, but as he says in the show- Change the names and this could be all of our families. The show gets the audience to think about the stories in their own familes, that we need to record them- before we lose them.
Their Century
by Chris Winkelman
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show. I thought it was amazing! It made me laugh and cry. It told a story everyone can relate to. If you get a chance to see it you definitely must!!!
Wunnerful!
by Cindy Miller
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show! I share a heritage with the writer/actor, so it really touched me, but anyone interested in history, genealogy, stories, or just misses Grandma will enjoy it. I laughed, & I teared up a bit. Really inspired me to get more of my family's stories.
Fringe Review - Their Century - Lucky Break Productions - 5 stars
BY MATTHEW A. EVERETT, SINGLE WHITE FRINGE GEEK
August 10, 2012
Tweet Review - Their Century - solid piece of storytelling; a valentine to family/U.S. history; great use of multimedia; impressive, 5 stars #mnfringe
"To ask all the questions, to hear all those stories just one more time."
This one snuck up on me. Mom got a chance to read the program before the show and I did not, but that made her say "This sounds like it's going to be good." Then after it was over she couldn't stop saying, "I'm really impressed." I have to agree. The weird thing is I saw this script at a couple of different stages of its development and it's potential was lost on me. David's multimedia vision of this show could not be effectively conveyed to the reader on the page. When I read it, gave him some comments and it came back to me again virtually unchanged, I thought, "He's after something. He sees it very clearly even though I'm not getting it. I have to trust him and see what happens." I was crossing my fingers, even after seeing a snippet out of context in a Fringe-For-All preview, and it seems my worries were completely unfounded. Their Century is a solid, delightful, even moving piece of solo storytelling.
"They started spraying. That took care of the grasshoppers… and the birds. Took many years for the birds to come back."
The death of David's father got him thinking about family history. Even though his father was gone, most of his father's many brothers and sisters (David's aunts and uncles) were still alive, and full of stories of how his father, and their family, grew up. Their Century moves between three narrative threads - David's life and memories of growing up; the story of David's grandfather and his journey from Russia to build a home in America; and tales of David's father's generation of the family, mostly through the eyes of David's uncle Val and aunt Alice.
"When he was 16, my grandfather traveled halfway around the world and made a new home in America. Hell, when I was 16 I was working at McDonald's."
David has a distinctive physical and vocal take on both his aunt and uncle that makes their characters clear whenever they appear. After a few appearances, Val and Alice need no more introduction. David also channels his father in a poignant moment late in the play. It was a moment of personal, private communication between father and son, where a son learned a lot about his father, but still so much went left unsaid.
"Takes me half the day to figure out something to do, and the other half to figure out a how to put it off till tomorrow"
It is obvious David cares very deeply for this story. But he doesn't take it for granted that you will automatically care about it, too. He puts all his family stories in the context of the larger story of our nation, giving a window into the past through the specifics of one tenacious family. David also turns the story back out again into the audience. After all, we all have photo albums. We all have relatives we only see or write to on birthdays or at Christmas. We take it for granted that the people and the stories will always be there. And we sometimes fail to remember that all our stories, even the most personal ones, are somehow still part of the larger history of our country. For everything lost, there is still something to be gained - if we just find a way to keep going, and stay connected. David gives a lot of credit to his director David Tufford for help in shaping the overall production, so I'll pass on that credit here as well. The two of them took a script that in some ways eluded me and presented me as an audience member with something that seems so obvious and simple and effective that I don't know how I missed it.
"I'm not saying they didn't love us as much as we love our kids. They just did things different."
The thing I could never see in my head, but David clearly did, was the multimedia aspect. An accumulation of generations of family photos and historical documents all were fed into a computer and out pops a very lively bit of visual time travel. Even though it skips back and forth over decades, just like David's story, it never loses me, and more importantly it never distracts from what David's doing as a performer but only reinforces it. The original music from Michael Herrera-Markwald is used sparingly, so it never seems too manipulative. A production like this always walks a fine line between earned sentiment and cheap sentimentality. Even when David's eyes threaten to well-up with tears, the first time he dwells on the memory of his father, he walks that fine line and lets us follow him, rather than dragging us where he wants us to end up.
"All that I am is because of all that they were."
Their Century isn't flashy, despite all the multimedia. It's just a good solid piece of work. A good story, well told.
5 stars - Very Highly Recommended
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/matthew-everett/fringe-review-their-century-lucky-break-productions-5-stars
Minnesota Fringe Festival: Their Century and You Smell Like Whiskey and Bad ChoicesBY KATE HOFF, FULL FRONTAL FRINGE
August 08, 2012
Their Century by David Schlosser at Intermedia is a great show about family and where we come from. David interviewed his aunts and uncles to put together a story on what it was like to grow up in an era of so much change. A sweet show, utilizing Intermedia’s lovely screen for family photos. Highly recommended. Last chances: Thursday at 7, Saturday at 10.
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/kate-hoff/minnesota-fringe-festival-their-century-and-you-smell-whiskey-and-bad-choices
User reviews total 4.5 out of 5 stars
See reviews on the web site visit :
http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/show/?id=2238
Two thumbs way up!
by Missy DeRivera
Rating 5 stars
David tells a tale that transports you back to simpler times when hard work and moral character were the pillars of our society. I was moved not only by his performance but by the story of his family's courage and perseverance during some of the most challenging times in our nation's history.
This is a must see show for anyone who loves history, their family, or our nation! I found myself both chuckling and choking back tears. In my opinion...those are the signs of an excellent performance.
A moving family story with Heart!
by Marty Sabolo
Rating 5 stars
With only one more night of shows to see, this is a must see show. If you have a family that lived through the changes of the 20th century (and I'm pretty sure we all have) after seeing this show you are going to want to talk to them about what they experienced.
David has done a wonderful job of getting to know his family's story and sharing it with all of us. David not only brings the stories of his family to life through his voice and use of multimedia, but he does it though his heart. I cannot reccommend this show enough!
Beautiful Story
by Stacey Poirier
Rating 5 stars
David's story is fascinating. Not because it is anything out of the ordinary, but because it is familiar. It reminds me of my own grandparents telling their stories. I laughed, I cried, and I remembered that I need to go hear those stories one more time.
inspiring
by Derek ""Duck"" Washington
Rating 5 stars
The free candy and button won me over before the show even began but the strength of the piece would have pulled me right along without them. This show has inspired me to learn more about my own family before too much time passes and such wonders and memories are lost. Thanks David!
Well crafted but unsatisfying.
by Eric Salo
Rating 3 stars
This show was well organized, well told, well acted...and really, really boring.
Ancestor from the Old Country who came over as a child with no money? We've all heard that story a hundred times before. Didn't speak the language? Heard it. Had a million children? Heard it. Life on the farm was hard work? The Great Depression totally sucked? The 20th Century was a time of incredible change? Heard it, heard it, heard it.
David himself acknowledges that the story of his family is nothing unique; in fact, he revels in this commonality. Unfortunately such sameness doesn't exactly lend itself well to interesting theatre. The show was clearly a labor of love and I feel like a damn Grinch for writing this but I just did not get the point.
A beautifully presented personal story
by Florence Brammer
Rating 3 stars
Schlosser's delivery and stage presence are 5-star, all the way. However, the script can't keep up with Schlosser's emotive, touching performance. The low-keyed, Everyman's Story nature of the narrative was, I'm sure, quite intentional -- to highlight the touching commonality of many immigrants' experiences. Still, the piece lacked energy and focus in some sections, which -- at least for me -- sapped the work of some of its promise. The closing section was very moving, though, and did much to tie the story together emotionally. I think some minor tweaking of this piece could accomplish a lot.
Important piece of work
by Roger Rosvold
Rating 4 stars
David starts the show by acknowledging how much history is being lost everyday, and sets out to bring that history to life for us.
At once humbling and intriguing, the tales his family tells remind us how far we have come in so short a time. Alternately fun and wistful, David's storytelling brings his family to us humanly and with understanding. Bravo!
Beautiful
by Alison Anderson
Rating 5 stars
It's hard to imagine that spending an hour listening to someone talk about their family could be this much fun, but the blend of humor and affection is just perfect.
Nice Rye Truth
by Brian Watson-Jones
Rating 4 stars
Nice family biography. There's always a hazard for me when dealing with a personal history that doesn't intertwine with major historical events, or deal with a particular deeper truth; such stories often end up feeling irrelevant, or therapy theatre. This show avoids that, though, particularly in the epilogue. The Schlosser story is one thread in a historical tapestry, and it pays to examine such things more closely. Well done.
Outstanding!
by Alice Williams
Rating 5 stars
This show was a mix of humor, nostalgia and history. It made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. Though written about a particular family, it could apply to any immigrant family. I enjoyed every minute of it. A must see!
YES
by Eliz D
Rating 5 stars
Please see this show. It is an incredible reminder of where we all come from and what our ancestors did for family and survival. David is the perfect blend of enthusiasm and character and does the most amazing job at welcoming you into his family history.
great execution
by Joshua Humphrey
Rating 5 stars
Schlosser's work to recreate his father's life with input from his family is a fantastic basis for a show. This is well scripted, directed, and acted work, and worthy of your eyeballs.
Wonderful
by JANE HAMMILL
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has found a way to tell all of our family stories. We all come from somewhere else. My family comes from Ireland. My husband's family comes from Prussia. WE all have stories. David Schlosser tells us about his Family by channeling his Aunt and Uncle. Very funny I must say! He made me remember times of my own youth, (Catholic Mass). Do yourself a favor and let David bring you back to when you were a child. You won't regrete it!
ENJOY!!!!!!!
Love!
by Diana Wilde
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has created a heartwarming, lovely storytelling of his family's experience. Funny and endearing with a side order of food for thought. David's own natural warmth and ease on the stage make for an intimate, witty sharing of something we all have in common: we all came from someone's family, and we all have some tale to tell. Well told, Mr. Schlosser.
Essential information
by David Trudeau
Rating 3 stars
As a presentation this is wonderful - many share parts of the multigenerational stories of immigrants to the Upper Midwest, and it inspires one to preserve those stories as the generations pass. As theater it doesn't work so well. Its hard to tell which character is talking - son, father, uncle, grandfather - because voice and body language are to much the same. Would a piece of costume - a hat, a scarf - help us know better whose teling the story?
"It was a different time"
by Dawn Krosnowski
Rating 5 stars
As a first gener, I really enjoyed this show. Very heartwarming.
See this now!
by Abby Normal
Rating 5 stars
Lucky Break brings us a show which should speak to every single person sitting in the audience. The story of David's family is the story of all of our families. And David tells his story with such warmth and heart that it is impossible to not get wrapped up with the journey his family took upon arriving to this country. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in this production. Fantastic effort all around. Highly recommended.
Something different indeed!
by Gretchen Weinrich
Rating 5 stars
Loved the sincerity and attention to detail in this show - in the well-researched writing, the subtle performance and the technical aspects of the show. Really heart-warming and thought-provoking!
A nice gift for all of us
by Garrett Rademacher
Rating 5 stars
"Their Century" is a little gem of a show brought to us by David Schlosser, about his family coming to America almost 100 years ago, and what life was like for this grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles growing up and living in the 20th century. We tend to forget that people left the only home they ever knew to come to a new country for a new life, but David brings it all to life through his relatives' reminiscences as photos of his ancestors are displayed behind in a sort of slideshow. But this is not just about his family, but as he says in the show- Change the names and this could be all of our families. The show gets the audience to think about the stories in their own familes, that we need to record them- before we lose them.
Their Century
by Chris Winkelman
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show. I thought it was amazing! It made me laugh and cry. It told a story everyone can relate to. If you get a chance to see it you definitely must!!!
Wunnerful!
by Cindy Miller
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show! I share a heritage with the writer/actor, so it really touched me, but anyone interested in history, genealogy, stories, or just misses Grandma will enjoy it. I laughed, & I teared up a bit. Really inspired me to get more of my family's stories.
REVIEWS KEEP COMING IN
Press and Blog Reviews
Twin Cities Daily Planet
Minnesota Fringe Festival: Their Century
BY KATE HOFF, FULL FRONTAL FRINGE
August 08, 2012
Their Century by David Schlosser at Intermedia is a great show about family and where we come from. David interviewed his aunts and uncles to put together a story on what it was like to grow up in an era of so much change. A sweet show, utilizing Intermedia’s lovely screen for family photos. Highly recommended. Last chances: Thursday at 7, Saturday at 10.
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/kate-hoff/minnesota-fringe-festival-their-century-and-you-smell-whiskey-and-bad-choices
Matthew A. Everett
Their Century - solid piece of storytelling; a valentine to family/U.S. history; great use of multimedia; impressive, 5 stars #mnfringe
AUDIENCE REVIEWS
Outstanding!
by Alice Williams Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
This show was a mix of humor, nostalgia and history. It made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. Though written about a particular family, it could apply to any immigrant family. I enjoyed every minute of it. A must see!
YES
by Eliz D Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Please see this show. It is an incredible reminder of where we all come from and what our ancestors did for family and survival. David is the perfect blend of enthusiasm and character and does the most amazing job at welcoming you into his family history.
great execution
by Joshua Humphrey Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Schlosser's work to recreate his father's life with input from his family is a fantastic basis for a show. This is well scripted, directed, and acted work, and worthy of your eyeballs.
Wonderful
by JANE HAMMILL Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has found a way to tell all of our family stories. We all come from somewhere else. My family comes from Ireland. My husband's family comes from Prussia. WE all have stories. David Schlosser tells us about his Family by channeling his Aunt and Uncle. Very funny I must say! He made me remember times of my own youth, (Catholic Mass). Do yourself a favor and let David bring you back to when you were a child. You won't regrete it!
ENJOY!!!!!!!
Love!
by Diana Wilde Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has created a heartwarming, lovely storytelling of his family's experience. Funny and endearing with a side order of food for thought. David's own natural warmth and ease on the stage make for an intimate, witty sharing of something we all have in common: we all came from someone's family, and we all have some tale to tell. Well told, Mr. Schlosser.
Essential information
by David Trudeau Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 stars
As a presentation this is wonderful - many share parts of the multigenerational stories of immigrants to the Upper Midwest, and it inspires one to preserve those stories as the generations pass. As theater it doesn't work so well. Its hard to tell which character is talking - son, father, uncle, grandfather - because voice and body language are to much the same. Would a piece of costume - a hat, a scarf - help us know better whose teling the story?
"It was a different time"
by Dawn Krosnowski Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
As a first gener, I really enjoyed this show. Very heartwarming.
See this now!
by Abby Normal Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Lucky Break brings us a show which should speak to every single person sitting in the audience. The story of David's family is the story of all of our families. And David tells his story with such warmth and heart that it is impossible to not get wrapped up with the journey his family took upon arriving to this country. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in this production. Fantastic effort all around. Highly recommended.
Something different indeed!
by Gretchen Weinrich Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Loved the sincerity and attention to detail in this show - in the well-researched writing, the subtle performance and the technical aspects of the show. Really heart-warming and thought-provoking!
A nice gift for all of us
by Garrett Rademacher Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
"Their Century" is a little gem of a show brought to us by David Schlosser, about his family coming to America almost 100 years ago, and what life was like for this grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles growing up and living in the 20th century. We tend to forget that people left the only home they ever knew to come to a new country for a new life, but David brings it all to life through his relatives' reminiscences as photos of his ancestors are displayed behind in a sort of slideshow. But this is not just about his family, but as he says in the show- Change the names and this could be all of our families. The show gets the audience to think about the stories in their own familes, that we need to record them- before we lose them.
Their Century
by Chris Winkelman Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show. I thought it was amazing! It made me laugh and cry. It told a story everyone can relate to. If you get a chance to see it you definitely must!!!
Wunnerful!
by Cindy Miller Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show! I share a heritage with the writer/actor, so it really touched me, but anyone interested in history, genealogy, stories, or just misses Grandma will enjoy it. I laughed, & I teared up a bit. Really inspired me to get more of my family's stories.
Twin Cities Daily Planet
Minnesota Fringe Festival: Their Century
BY KATE HOFF, FULL FRONTAL FRINGE
August 08, 2012
Their Century by David Schlosser at Intermedia is a great show about family and where we come from. David interviewed his aunts and uncles to put together a story on what it was like to grow up in an era of so much change. A sweet show, utilizing Intermedia’s lovely screen for family photos. Highly recommended. Last chances: Thursday at 7, Saturday at 10.
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/kate-hoff/minnesota-fringe-festival-their-century-and-you-smell-whiskey-and-bad-choices
Matthew A. Everett
Their Century - solid piece of storytelling; a valentine to family/U.S. history; great use of multimedia; impressive, 5 stars #mnfringe
AUDIENCE REVIEWS
Outstanding!
by Alice Williams Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
This show was a mix of humor, nostalgia and history. It made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes. Though written about a particular family, it could apply to any immigrant family. I enjoyed every minute of it. A must see!
YES
by Eliz D Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Please see this show. It is an incredible reminder of where we all come from and what our ancestors did for family and survival. David is the perfect blend of enthusiasm and character and does the most amazing job at welcoming you into his family history.
great execution
by Joshua Humphrey Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Schlosser's work to recreate his father's life with input from his family is a fantastic basis for a show. This is well scripted, directed, and acted work, and worthy of your eyeballs.
Wonderful
by JANE HAMMILL Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has found a way to tell all of our family stories. We all come from somewhere else. My family comes from Ireland. My husband's family comes from Prussia. WE all have stories. David Schlosser tells us about his Family by channeling his Aunt and Uncle. Very funny I must say! He made me remember times of my own youth, (Catholic Mass). Do yourself a favor and let David bring you back to when you were a child. You won't regrete it!
ENJOY!!!!!!!
Love!
by Diana Wilde Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
David Schlosser has created a heartwarming, lovely storytelling of his family's experience. Funny and endearing with a side order of food for thought. David's own natural warmth and ease on the stage make for an intimate, witty sharing of something we all have in common: we all came from someone's family, and we all have some tale to tell. Well told, Mr. Schlosser.
Essential information
by David Trudeau Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 stars
As a presentation this is wonderful - many share parts of the multigenerational stories of immigrants to the Upper Midwest, and it inspires one to preserve those stories as the generations pass. As theater it doesn't work so well. Its hard to tell which character is talking - son, father, uncle, grandfather - because voice and body language are to much the same. Would a piece of costume - a hat, a scarf - help us know better whose teling the story?
"It was a different time"
by Dawn Krosnowski Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
As a first gener, I really enjoyed this show. Very heartwarming.
See this now!
by Abby Normal Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Lucky Break brings us a show which should speak to every single person sitting in the audience. The story of David's family is the story of all of our families. And David tells his story with such warmth and heart that it is impossible to not get wrapped up with the journey his family took upon arriving to this country. I applaud the efforts of everyone involved in this production. Fantastic effort all around. Highly recommended.
Something different indeed!
by Gretchen Weinrich Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
Loved the sincerity and attention to detail in this show - in the well-researched writing, the subtle performance and the technical aspects of the show. Really heart-warming and thought-provoking!
A nice gift for all of us
by Garrett Rademacher Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
"Their Century" is a little gem of a show brought to us by David Schlosser, about his family coming to America almost 100 years ago, and what life was like for this grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles growing up and living in the 20th century. We tend to forget that people left the only home they ever knew to come to a new country for a new life, but David brings it all to life through his relatives' reminiscences as photos of his ancestors are displayed behind in a sort of slideshow. But this is not just about his family, but as he says in the show- Change the names and this could be all of our families. The show gets the audience to think about the stories in their own familes, that we need to record them- before we lose them.
Their Century
by Chris Winkelman Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show. I thought it was amazing! It made me laugh and cry. It told a story everyone can relate to. If you get a chance to see it you definitely must!!!
Wunnerful!
by Cindy Miller Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show! I share a heritage with the writer/actor, so it really touched me, but anyone interested in history, genealogy, stories, or just misses Grandma will enjoy it. I laughed, & I teared up a bit. Really inspired me to get more of my family's stories.
Their Century opens tonight at 7pm. Come one and all. Thank you all for your support.
24 hours away
Their Century open today 7pm at Intermedia Arts
Check out the clip.
BY MATTHEW A. EVERETT, SINGLE WHITE FRINGE GEEK
July 31, 2012
"Being the youngest, I got everything hand-me-down. If there was anything to hand down."
In 1906, a Russian teen left his home and settled in North Dakota, where he later got married and raised 11 children. David Schlosser brings you the story of this family's journey through 20th century America.
I'm torn here because David Schlosser, the writer/performer, is a friend of mine, and I've read the script in earlier drafts. I'm not sure I can be entirely objective about this three minute excerpt. The death of David's father got him thinking about family history, and all the things he never talked about with his father. Thankfully, his father had almost a dozen siblings (farm families were mighty big in those days), and so there were all kinds of brothers and sisters to speak with and try and reconstruct the family story. Any family spanning several generations is bound to bump up against the major currents of history, and this family is no different. David is playing all the roles here so part of the challenge is to make the characters distinct. Here in the preview we meet one of them. I'm planning to see the show, but I'm still wondering what it all adds up to. David's done his homework. The details are all there. It's the final shaping of the details into a larger narrative with a payoff that I'm looking for. But that's part of what Fringe is for, working through material in front of an audience and making it better. I'm rooting for this one.
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/matthew-everett/their-century-lucky-break-productions
Check out the clip.
BY MATTHEW A. EVERETT, SINGLE WHITE FRINGE GEEK
July 31, 2012
"Being the youngest, I got everything hand-me-down. If there was anything to hand down."
In 1906, a Russian teen left his home and settled in North Dakota, where he later got married and raised 11 children. David Schlosser brings you the story of this family's journey through 20th century America.
I'm torn here because David Schlosser, the writer/performer, is a friend of mine, and I've read the script in earlier drafts. I'm not sure I can be entirely objective about this three minute excerpt. The death of David's father got him thinking about family history, and all the things he never talked about with his father. Thankfully, his father had almost a dozen siblings (farm families were mighty big in those days), and so there were all kinds of brothers and sisters to speak with and try and reconstruct the family story. Any family spanning several generations is bound to bump up against the major currents of history, and this family is no different. David is playing all the roles here so part of the challenge is to make the characters distinct. Here in the preview we meet one of them. I'm planning to see the show, but I'm still wondering what it all adds up to. David's done his homework. The details are all there. It's the final shaping of the details into a larger narrative with a payoff that I'm looking for. But that's part of what Fringe is for, working through material in front of an audience and making it better. I'm rooting for this one.
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/blog/matthew-everett/their-century-lucky-break-productions
SHOW PICTURES
5 Days Till Opening
We are only 5 days out from opening and today is tech day SO excited to see it all come together, the great media work from Shannon Tufford, the wonderful music from Michael Herrera-Markwald, and all under the direction of David Tufford.
Add to that the exciting review of the Fringe-For-ALL from GRAYDON ROYC- in the Star Tribune:
"Fringe-For-All" previews that allow 60 show producers three minutes each to make their cases. Those are over for this year, but keep an eye out for 2013. I attended both and came away with these notes:
Above average: "Room for Cream: A Caffeinated Nightmare," "Even Yours," "Prophecy," "casual encounters," "Happy Hour," "Ms. Luisa Eats," "A Comedy of Edits," "Their Century," "Nightmare Without Pants," "Salem," "Tales From a Twisted Universe," "Class of 98," "Serif Punglasses," "The Computer Wore Semiotics," "The Love Show," "Curt and Laura Used to Be Good at Gymnastics and Stuff," "Pretentious Conversations," "BOOGIEography."
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/stageandarts/163943276.html?refer=y&fb_source=message
Add to that the exciting review of the Fringe-For-ALL from GRAYDON ROYC- in the Star Tribune:
"Fringe-For-All" previews that allow 60 show producers three minutes each to make their cases. Those are over for this year, but keep an eye out for 2013. I attended both and came away with these notes:
Above average: "Room for Cream: A Caffeinated Nightmare," "Even Yours," "Prophecy," "casual encounters," "Happy Hour," "Ms. Luisa Eats," "A Comedy of Edits," "Their Century," "Nightmare Without Pants," "Salem," "Tales From a Twisted Universe," "Class of 98," "Serif Punglasses," "The Computer Wore Semiotics," "The Love Show," "Curt and Laura Used to Be Good at Gymnastics and Stuff," "Pretentious Conversations," "BOOGIEography."
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/stageandarts/163943276.html?refer=y&fb_source=message
ONLY 7 Days !!!
Here we go only 7 days till Their Century opens at the 2012 MN fringe festival.
Very excited to to bring this show to life. It has been a GREAT adventure, from the first moments of conception of the show to, the support from the Flower Shop Project, the interviews, the many drafts of writing the show, great feedback and finally rehearsals and NOW I am so excited to bring it to the stage.
So grab your tickets on line or at the door:
Intermedia Arts (2822 Lyndale Ave South Minneapolis MN)
Friday Aug 3 @ 7:00pm
Saturday Aug 4 @ 10:00pm
Tuesday Aug 7 @ 5:30 pm
Thursday Aug 9 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday Aug 11 10:00 Pm
Tickets at http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/tickets/ or buy at the door.
Very excited to to bring this show to life. It has been a GREAT adventure, from the first moments of conception of the show to, the support from the Flower Shop Project, the interviews, the many drafts of writing the show, great feedback and finally rehearsals and NOW I am so excited to bring it to the stage.
So grab your tickets on line or at the door:
Intermedia Arts (2822 Lyndale Ave South Minneapolis MN)
Friday Aug 3 @ 7:00pm
Saturday Aug 4 @ 10:00pm
Tuesday Aug 7 @ 5:30 pm
Thursday Aug 9 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday Aug 11 10:00 Pm
Tickets at http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/tickets/ or buy at the door.
Only 9 days till Their Century opens
The count down starts 8 days till the MN Fringe Festival opens 164 shows. Only 9 days till Their Century opens. I could not be more excited to see it all coming together. With direction of David Tufford and the skills of Shannon Tufford we are getting ready. So make sure you you mark your calendars:
Intermedia Arts (2822 Lyndale Ave South Minneapolis MN)
Friday Aug 3 @ 7:00pm
Saturday Aug 4 @ 10:00pm
Tuesday Aug 7 @ 5:30 pm
Thursday Aug 9 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday Aug 11 10:00 Pm
Tickets at http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/tickets/ or buy at the door.
Intermedia Arts (2822 Lyndale Ave South Minneapolis MN)
Friday Aug 3 @ 7:00pm
Saturday Aug 4 @ 10:00pm
Tuesday Aug 7 @ 5:30 pm
Thursday Aug 9 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday Aug 11 10:00 Pm
Tickets at http://www.fringefestival.org/2012/tickets/ or buy at the door.
Update July 1st - Only 1 month and 2 days till Opening
The website for ordering tickets is live so avoid the rush at the door and get your tickets for "Their Century" at www.fringefestival.org.
We are well underway...a month to go and Their Century is looking great the first week of rehearsals was great, and Thursday we taped segment that will be on We The People cable access show, hosted by the League of Women Voters.
http://www.lwvmpls.org/Action.html
A video of the segment will be posted soon, so stay tuned.
We are well underway...a month to go and Their Century is looking great the first week of rehearsals was great, and Thursday we taped segment that will be on We The People cable access show, hosted by the League of Women Voters.
http://www.lwvmpls.org/Action.html
A video of the segment will be posted soon, so stay tuned.
UPDATE June 20, 2012
*****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*****
David Schlosser
Lucky Break Productions
612 437 1900
dpschloss@gmail.com
http://www.davidpschlosser.com/their-century.html
THEIR CENTURY COMES TO LIFE AT THE
MINNESOTA FRINGE
Minneapolis MN August 3-12, 2012 - In 1906, a Russian teen left his home and settled in North Dakota, where he later got married and raised 11 children. In Their Century, performing at the 2012 Minnesota Fringe Festival, David Schlosser brings you the story of his family's journey through 20th century America.
Six years after his father died, actor and playwright David Schlosser sat on a bus passing a retirement home, when he saw an elderly gentleman talking with a young lady. Imagining what the old man’s life was like and what stories he had to tell, Schlosser realized he’d never be able to ask his own father what it was like growing up. However, he could ask those who grew up with him. In 2010, Schlosser interviewed his father’s five remaining siblings and through their interviews, videos and pictures, the multimedia one man show, Their Century, came alive. “Like so many early 20th century immigrants, their story has never been told. But what they did in their quiet self-determination helped to change the world. And I want to share that story”, said Schlosser.
Their Century performs at Intermedia Arts, August 3, 4, 7, 9, and 11, 2012 as part of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. The show is written and performed By David Schlosser, directed by David Tufford , and features original music by Michael Herrera-Markwald
As an actor, writer and director, Schlosser has worked in Minneapolis for over 12 years. His first one man show, Screwed2, was produced in 2001 by Commedia Beauregard. He has worked as an actor with many Minnesota companies, including Theater Unbound, The Flower Shop Project, Theater in the Round, Teatro Del Pueblo, Pioneer Place Players and Park Square. Schlosser directed Joking Apart Theater’s acclaimed production of Amaretti Angels at the 2010 MN Fringe Festival, as well as part of Freshwater Theater’s 2011 Festival of Awkward Moments.
Their Century is directed by Twin Cities-based film and stage actor, director and fight choreographer David Tufford. Tufford’s theatre credits include Gremlin Theater, Hardcover Theater, Theater in the Round and Park Square, as well as many commercials and films, including Good Morning Beautiful. He currently appears in the television show The Choo Choo Bob Show as “Conductor Dave.”
For more information and publicity photo, visit http://www.davidpschlosser.com/their-century.html
-### -
Official Fringe Post Card
Official Show Poster
Update May 6, 2012
Gretchen Weinrich and Shannon Tufford have worked really hard to create a wonderful poster and post card that will be announced shortly. I am so fortunate to their great talents.
I am proud to announce that David Tufford has come on board as director and I am very excited. David will bring a great vision to the show.
Shannon Tufford has agreed to be the back bone for show as stage manager as well as helping to create the multimedia elements for the show. I am so lucky to have her help.
With all of your help and support I have reached and exceeded my fund raising goal of $1500.00, Their Century raised a total of $1,770.00 through http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1693894564/their-century . It has only been through your support and belief in this this project that this goal was able to be reached and I am humbled and thank you is not enough.
I am so excited as we move forward and go to the next phase of this project. A lot of work still lies ahead in the next 3 months and it is thrilling work to see this show come to fruition. Again it is only through your support of this project from the beginning that I have been able to come this far and will be able to tell this for the first time in August.
Update April 10, 2012
It is official "Their Century" has received the location and Times for the 2012 MN Fringe Festival, we will be at Intermedia Arts (2822 Lyndale Ave South Minneapolis MN) and our times are:
Friday Aug 3 @ 7:00pm
Saturday Aug 4 @ 10:00pm
Tuesday Aug 7 @ 5:30 pm
Thursday Aug 9 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday Aug 11 @ 10:00 pm
So mark your calendars and get your tickets soon and often.
I am also happy to announce that with only 25 days left we are 85% funded with our kickstarter campaign http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1693894564/their-century
We are well on our way and I want to once again thank everyone for their support and help.
Friday Aug 3 @ 7:00pm
Saturday Aug 4 @ 10:00pm
Tuesday Aug 7 @ 5:30 pm
Thursday Aug 9 @ 7:00 pm
Saturday Aug 11 @ 10:00 pm
So mark your calendars and get your tickets soon and often.
I am also happy to announce that with only 25 days left we are 85% funded with our kickstarter campaign http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1693894564/their-century
We are well on our way and I want to once again thank everyone for their support and help.
Update March 29, 2012
We are one step closer. With the third draft done, tonight will be the first reading of the script. I am very excited to be able to read it out load and get feed back .
The second big update is with just over 30 days left the kiskstarter campaign to raise $1500 is over 66% to ti's goal.
Thank you all for your support:
Please visit to donate.http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1693894564/their-century
The second big update is with just over 30 days left the kiskstarter campaign to raise $1500 is over 66% to ti's goal.
Thank you all for your support:
Please visit to donate.http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1693894564/their-century
Update February 27, 2012
Lucky Break Productions is proud to present "Their Century" as part of the 2012 Minnesota Fringe Festival.
So the work goes on. The second draft has been completed and after great constructive feed back work on the 3rd draft has started. The third draft will be completed by mid March with a full reading. This will be the first time that a full reading of the show will take place. I am very excited because it will also offer me an opportunity to hear reactions to what works and what needs more work.
So the work goes on. The second draft has been completed and after great constructive feed back work on the 3rd draft has started. The third draft will be completed by mid March with a full reading. This will be the first time that a full reading of the show will take place. I am very excited because it will also offer me an opportunity to hear reactions to what works and what needs more work.
Update January 11 2012
I am excited that the first draft and a couple of revisions has been completed, and I am on my way. The work does not stop here, it only increases as the work to create a show that not only tells the story of this time through the lives of these people, but a show that is fundamentally entertaining for the audience to watch and be part of.
The next steps in the process are very exciting, getting the input of fellow writers, directors, producers and actors by having the script read and critiqued, along with staged readings with feed back from those in attendance to hear what works, what doesn't and how to be able to create the best show.
As I go forward the next steps are very important and will also require a little luck and a lot of hard work. Beside making sure the script is in the best shape possible, the most important focus this month is getting the show accepted in the Fringe Festival (this is where the luck comes in). Applications for 2012 are to be submitted by Jan 31, 2012 followed in the next month or so by a lottery drawing. The MN Fringe is non adjudicated festival, meaning if you are drawn through the lottery your are in, but you have to be picked first. This is kind of like the power ball but no one goes home rich after.
So as Jan quickly goes by a lot of work and luck is needed.
More to come soon so stay tuned and thanks for the support!
David
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a sample of the opening of the show:
"“I am here. I’m just a kid whose grandfather was a German from Russia that fled as the Tsar was being killed and the revolution was matching in. A man – a kid really – only 6 years younger than myself now. At 16, he went half away across the world to a land he’d never known before and settled, married, and had 12 children. Those children became first generation Americans, many staying in North Dakota to raise families and keep building the life that he started.
“I am the second youngest of 89 grandchildren of Peter and Isabella Schlosser, the youngest of six children of Peter John and Veronica Schlosser, a pressman and a nurse, North Dakotan born and raised. People who love who they are and where they are. And I am standing here at this time on this day.”
There was nothing incredible about my life, nothing that would make a movie of the week starring Neil Patrick Harris. But there was something incredible about where I was and the people I came from that lead me there. My family is not perfect – we fought as kids and as adults, we don’t get home enough, we struggle with money and finding our way. We are not the Kennedys or Bushes, a political power house, we are not a great family of film or theater or reality TV. By all accounts, we are simply average – teachers, small business owners, soldiers, artists, nurses, farmers, blue and white collar workers. In the eyes of many, they were nothing exceptional. But what they did do was something special: they traveled halfway around the globe, started a family and a life from very little. Their children lived through and helped shape the 20th century. These are the shoulders I was standing on as I stood there that morning."
The next steps in the process are very exciting, getting the input of fellow writers, directors, producers and actors by having the script read and critiqued, along with staged readings with feed back from those in attendance to hear what works, what doesn't and how to be able to create the best show.
As I go forward the next steps are very important and will also require a little luck and a lot of hard work. Beside making sure the script is in the best shape possible, the most important focus this month is getting the show accepted in the Fringe Festival (this is where the luck comes in). Applications for 2012 are to be submitted by Jan 31, 2012 followed in the next month or so by a lottery drawing. The MN Fringe is non adjudicated festival, meaning if you are drawn through the lottery your are in, but you have to be picked first. This is kind of like the power ball but no one goes home rich after.
So as Jan quickly goes by a lot of work and luck is needed.
More to come soon so stay tuned and thanks for the support!
David
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below is a sample of the opening of the show:
"“I am here. I’m just a kid whose grandfather was a German from Russia that fled as the Tsar was being killed and the revolution was matching in. A man – a kid really – only 6 years younger than myself now. At 16, he went half away across the world to a land he’d never known before and settled, married, and had 12 children. Those children became first generation Americans, many staying in North Dakota to raise families and keep building the life that he started.
“I am the second youngest of 89 grandchildren of Peter and Isabella Schlosser, the youngest of six children of Peter John and Veronica Schlosser, a pressman and a nurse, North Dakotan born and raised. People who love who they are and where they are. And I am standing here at this time on this day.”
There was nothing incredible about my life, nothing that would make a movie of the week starring Neil Patrick Harris. But there was something incredible about where I was and the people I came from that lead me there. My family is not perfect – we fought as kids and as adults, we don’t get home enough, we struggle with money and finding our way. We are not the Kennedys or Bushes, a political power house, we are not a great family of film or theater or reality TV. By all accounts, we are simply average – teachers, small business owners, soldiers, artists, nurses, farmers, blue and white collar workers. In the eyes of many, they were nothing exceptional. But what they did do was something special: they traveled halfway around the globe, started a family and a life from very little. Their children lived through and helped shape the 20th century. These are the shoulders I was standing on as I stood there that morning."
Update December 14 2011
As 2011 comes to end, I come one step closer. I am currently in the process of finishing the first draft and will be completed in the next couple of days. Once the first draft is completed I will work through cleaning it up, making sure everything written works, with the flow, correcting spelling and so forth. Once I have completed that shortly after Christmas I will send it people to read through and offer sugestions as to what works and what does not and feed back they can offer, once I gather the inital feed back I will have a reading so hear it out loud and gather feed back.
So what am I going to do with it once I get it done?
Good Question and glad you asked. I am submitting the show to be performed at the 2012 Fringe Festival in Minneapolis August 2- August 12. The Fringe Festival is a lottery drawing, so it is not a for sure thing the show will win a spot. I hope to continue to work with the Flower Shop Project as producers of the show for the fringe festival.
I hope to use the fringe festival as a spring board to gauge what works and what needs to be adjusted. The ideas of how the show will look and the shape it will take are swirling about.
Stay tuned to more.
So what am I going to do with it once I get it done?
Good Question and glad you asked. I am submitting the show to be performed at the 2012 Fringe Festival in Minneapolis August 2- August 12. The Fringe Festival is a lottery drawing, so it is not a for sure thing the show will win a spot. I hope to continue to work with the Flower Shop Project as producers of the show for the fringe festival.
I hope to use the fringe festival as a spring board to gauge what works and what needs to be adjusted. The ideas of how the show will look and the shape it will take are swirling about.
Stay tuned to more.
Henry P. Schlosser the 6th child of Peter and Isabella Schlosser passed away October 11, 2011.
Having in July 2010 the opportunity to have had his voice added to this project is beyond words.
This project started by my desire to capture the stories of my fathers generation, those whom experienced the struggles, joys and triumphs of the every changing 20th century, as first generation Americans, as children of the midwest, as children of the great depression, world war II , and those whom helped build and rebuilt this nation through it all, living from times of no electricity to the internet, going from the model T to the international space station.
Uncle Henry's voice was a rich thread in that story. He raised a family, never for glory or fame, simply to create a better life for those who were to come after. These are the shoulders I sand upon, the silent and the strong.
http://bismarcktribune.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/henry-schlosser/article_c25dab54-f517-11e0-8cda-001cc4c002e0.html
Having in July 2010 the opportunity to have had his voice added to this project is beyond words.
This project started by my desire to capture the stories of my fathers generation, those whom experienced the struggles, joys and triumphs of the every changing 20th century, as first generation Americans, as children of the midwest, as children of the great depression, world war II , and those whom helped build and rebuilt this nation through it all, living from times of no electricity to the internet, going from the model T to the international space station.
Uncle Henry's voice was a rich thread in that story. He raised a family, never for glory or fame, simply to create a better life for those who were to come after. These are the shoulders I sand upon, the silent and the strong.
http://bismarcktribune.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/henry-schlosser/article_c25dab54-f517-11e0-8cda-001cc4c002e0.html
Click to Follow Their Century on Facebook
Add comments and see more photos and videos
Update June 12, 2011
After almost a year from the time that the interviews with the children of Peter and Isabella I have finally been able to complete the transcriptions of those interviews. I had hoped to have this process done sooner, but the help I was to receive fell through and my schedule since the interviews has been a little busy so it was a little at a time. With over 3.5 hours of videos to go through, the process was long, listening stopping typing, listening stopping and typing and so on to make sure that I capture all that was said. It was fun to go through this process to be able to once again hear and capture the voices and stories even more so.
Now that the second step of the process has been completed it is on to the hard part, creating the outline of the show it's self, finding the direction the show will take and the voice that will come forth. I am very excited to start this next step. I am hoping to have the first outline done by the end of Aug. this is a rather ambitious goal I know, as I also will be working on show for the MN fringe festival that goes up the first week in Aug. I know that with dedication I can get this done. I have set this deadline so that I am able to pass it on not only to Brain Columbus, who had graciously helped to be my extra set of eyes, but also Micheal Markwald who is working on the music. This will give time to make changes and get suggestions to see if the show is starting in the right direction. I am nervous and excited for step three to start.
Over the past couple of months I have also got into ancestry.com and been starting to build my family tree, it has been amazing to see how far back I have been able to trace my roots and thanks to my Aunt Alice (and many people form around the world as well) I have been able to reach further back then I have thought and still continues to grow. Thus far some of the most interesting things has been seeing my fathers side (the Schlosser side) of the family go back to the early 1600's and seeing on my mothers side those roots stretching to the civil war, along with the documentations including Peter Schlosser's ship manifest and draft card he signed when coming to the United Stated for World War I (he was never called up). This project has given me a great perspective on the concept of who we are, where we come from and the ideals of United States as a nations of immigrants, I think those who are removed from the initial experience forget many times the truth of who we are.
I am excited the project is moving forward and the help, support and interests that I have been given and continue to get.
Now that the second step of the process has been completed it is on to the hard part, creating the outline of the show it's self, finding the direction the show will take and the voice that will come forth. I am very excited to start this next step. I am hoping to have the first outline done by the end of Aug. this is a rather ambitious goal I know, as I also will be working on show for the MN fringe festival that goes up the first week in Aug. I know that with dedication I can get this done. I have set this deadline so that I am able to pass it on not only to Brain Columbus, who had graciously helped to be my extra set of eyes, but also Micheal Markwald who is working on the music. This will give time to make changes and get suggestions to see if the show is starting in the right direction. I am nervous and excited for step three to start.
Over the past couple of months I have also got into ancestry.com and been starting to build my family tree, it has been amazing to see how far back I have been able to trace my roots and thanks to my Aunt Alice (and many people form around the world as well) I have been able to reach further back then I have thought and still continues to grow. Thus far some of the most interesting things has been seeing my fathers side (the Schlosser side) of the family go back to the early 1600's and seeing on my mothers side those roots stretching to the civil war, along with the documentations including Peter Schlosser's ship manifest and draft card he signed when coming to the United Stated for World War I (he was never called up). This project has given me a great perspective on the concept of who we are, where we come from and the ideals of United States as a nations of immigrants, I think those who are removed from the initial experience forget many times the truth of who we are.
I am excited the project is moving forward and the help, support and interests that I have been given and continue to get.
Update Feb 2011
Well the work is under way, and it is a time for an update.
The second step of creating this show is under way, I am currently transcribing the recorded interviews that were conducted in the summer of 2010. This work was delayed as through the summer the video tapes were converted to DVD, as well as my directing a show, and acting a couple has slowed down the work. The good news is I am now on a tight schedule to complete this second step.
An update on where the producing of the project stands. The flower Shop Project the company who has supported me and continues to support this project, a company that I am now a member of and also managing director has chosen, with my urging, to hold off producing this show till the 2012 season. This will allow more time to create a more solid show, Micheal Markwald a wonderful musician, to compose the music, and time to edit film footage together, all without rushing the show.
As with any show money is an issue, the delay of a year will also help The Flower Shop Project look for more avenues for financial support for the show, both here in Minneapolis and also with the extended goal of touring.
I am very excited about the direction of the show, and what is about to come. One thing that has changed is the title. You will notice the show is now titled "Their Century; The Shoulders I Stand Upon" this title reflects the direction the show is moving in to create a wonderful show. As work in all these areas moves forward, the research, the writing, the transcribing, and the input from so many the more and more excited I get.
The second step of creating this show is under way, I am currently transcribing the recorded interviews that were conducted in the summer of 2010. This work was delayed as through the summer the video tapes were converted to DVD, as well as my directing a show, and acting a couple has slowed down the work. The good news is I am now on a tight schedule to complete this second step.
An update on where the producing of the project stands. The flower Shop Project the company who has supported me and continues to support this project, a company that I am now a member of and also managing director has chosen, with my urging, to hold off producing this show till the 2012 season. This will allow more time to create a more solid show, Micheal Markwald a wonderful musician, to compose the music, and time to edit film footage together, all without rushing the show.
As with any show money is an issue, the delay of a year will also help The Flower Shop Project look for more avenues for financial support for the show, both here in Minneapolis and also with the extended goal of touring.
I am very excited about the direction of the show, and what is about to come. One thing that has changed is the title. You will notice the show is now titled "Their Century; The Shoulders I Stand Upon" this title reflects the direction the show is moving in to create a wonderful show. As work in all these areas moves forward, the research, the writing, the transcribing, and the input from so many the more and more excited I get.
Step 2 is underway
On to step two of the project. Thanks to David Tufford the video of the interviews have been converted to DVD, and they turned out really well. Now come the fun part of transcribing the recorded interviews to have on paper to start the process of creating
the play it's self. This information will also help Michael Herra-Markwald who is composing the music. The work and excitement goes on.
Peter and Isabella Schlosser Family Pictures through the years.
SCHLOSSER FAMILY REUNION 2010
Well the first part of this adventure is about to start.
I leave for the Peter and Isabella Schlosser family reunion. At this time all oft eh living children will he there and I will be conducting and recording interviews to be able to start the first step and start writing the show. As soon as I get photos and some sample recordings I will post. I am so happy be start this process and hope that this will help in the are of grants.
I leave for the Peter and Isabella Schlosser family reunion. At this time all oft eh living children will he there and I will be conducting and recording interviews to be able to start the first step and start writing the show. As soon as I get photos and some sample recordings I will post. I am so happy be start this process and hope that this will help in the are of grants.
What is "Their Century"
David Schlosser is working to create a multimedia one man stage show telling the story of the changing American dream in the through the eyes of the first generation American children of North Dakota immigrants Peter and Isabel Schlosser. Through recorded interviews of the surviving children, the play will examine the impact of the radical shift of the American landscape from an agricultural to an urban society along with the social events of the 20th century and the depletion of North Dakota’s population.
How the show will work
The creation and performance of the show will take place in three stages. In the first stage, David will travel back to North Dakota to conduct interviews. The interviews will consist of their recollections and stories of how Peter (their father and the playwright’s grandfather) first came to North Dakota from Spier in Russia; the meeting and marriage of Peter and Isabella; and finally memories of growing up in North Dakota before World War II and after. David will find out how the age gap of over 20 years affected the children and their experiences of the 20th century. Of particular interest will be how the family viewed the social unrest that was felt in the rest of country, either as they were growing up or as adults raising families of their own. Further, he’ll ask about the effects of the cultural heritage handed down to them from their German Russian father as the children formed their new American culture. Areas of focus will be the religious aspect of life, old world traditions such as holiday celebrations, language and food. Ultimately, we hope to learn why they made the choices to stay in North Dakota as so many other first generation Americans were leaving the state.
Each show will include a talk-back with interested audience members, with David or the director or both leading a discussion about the issues raised in the play. Neither FSP nor the playwright have an agenda regarding immigration reform, rather we would like to remind audiences that we are a nation of immigrants and that no matter when your family settled in the country, we bring our cultures and histories with us. We hope to emphasize how immigration has helped to create the rich mixed cultural history that is America.
