History Theatre to Showcase Underground Music of the '80s in 'COMPLICATED FUN'

First Avenue is synonymous with the rich music history of the Twin Cities, as the birthplace of many geniuses of punk and funk, from The Replacements to The Suburbs. The music venue put Minnesota on the map, as the epicenter of live music and entertainment in Minneapolis, and one of the longest independently owned and operated clubs in the United States.

To showcase this iconic Twin Cities music venue, History Theatre is offering an alternative theater experience with their newest production, Complicated Fun: The Minneapolis Music Scene, a dramatization of the underground music scene of the 80s in Minneapolis. The action follows two young misfits who discover themselves in the musical madness pouring out of First Avenue, as a live ensemble performs classics from The Replacements, The Suicide Commandos, Hüsker Dü, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, The Suburbs and more.

Here are some highlights of Minnesota's music history at First Avenue:

- The nightclub began life as The Depot on April 3, 1970, when Joe Cocker played two sets.

- Prince made the club his regular venue and both the set and the setting of his movie, Purple Rain.

- 500,000 people visit the club each year

- The "heyday" of Minneapolis music is said to have peaked in the mid-'80s. In 1984, Prince's Purple Rain, the Replacements' Let It Be, and Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade were all listed in the top 10 of the Village Voice-curated Pazz & Jop poll.

Complicated Fun, written by Alan Berks and directed by Dominic Taylor with music direction by Nic Delcambre, is a new work that was commissioned by History Theatre. The production will run April 30-May 29 at the History Theatre, 30 East 10th Street, St. Paul.

Since 1978, History Theatre has been one of the nation's most prolific incubators of original plays. In recent years, History Theatre has staged new works by Jeffrey Hatcher, Lee Blessing, Melanie Marnich, Craig Wright, Kim Hines, Dorie Baizley, John Olive, Kira Obolensky, and more.

From the celebratory Wellstone! to the dark, complex Piece of the Rope about Minnesota's first public execution and the hilarious Glensheen: The Musical about an infamous Minnesota murder, History Theatre has moved Minnesotans to rediscover, relive, and respect every piece of their history. More than 200,000 students have connected with history through matinee performances and theatre arts residencies led by History Theatre actor/teachers.

Alan Berks recently adapted and directed a new version of Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author set on a reality television show set and a political duel set in Duluth, MN, The Great Divide. Other past productions include Goats (New York Innovative Theatre Award nominee); Everywhere Signs Fall and Almost Exactly Like Us (Gremlin Theatre); Music Lovers (Workhaus Collective); and Ringtone and How to Cheat.

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