NIMBUS Announces Mitchell Frazier as Third Artistic Director

Minneapolis - This week, nimbus announced that they have named Mitchell Frazier as co-Artistic Director, joining Josh Cragun and Liz Neerland at the helm of the company.

Founded in 2001, the playwright-led devised theater company has produced 51 shows and operated two different venues in Northeast Minneapolis. Co-Founder Cragun and Neerland have led the organization for over 20 years, from their beginnings as an itinerant company to their current home at the Crane Theater on Kennedy St NE.

Frazier has worked with the company since 2007, when he joined the cast of American Noise: The Savage Rebirth of the American Dream. Since then, he has served the roles of actor, director, and lighting designer, and has been a company member for a dozen years.

Cragun spoke about what led to this decision. “2020 was a watershed year for us, as it was for so many others. The pandemic shut us down with an unknown future. Meanwhile, the murder of George Floyd and other reckonings in the theater world made us stop to think about who we are and what we want to represent as a company. Mitch has been a deep part of the nimbus family for a long time, and he’s constantly coming up with ideas for new shows and new programming. We felt it was time to elevate his story, and give power to his ideas as we invite new voices to join us.”

“I have always enjoyed being a part of the rich creative history of nimbus,” said Frazier. “Becoming an Artistic Director will allow me to add my voice to the unique works that have defined them and their process.”

With three people at the top, the company intends to continue developing new plays using the unique process nimbus has developed through the years. “Having three people as Artistic Directors is actually very freeing,” said Neerland. “It means that Josh and I aren’t carrying as much of the artistic burden for creating every show we do. We can keep doing things the way we love to do them, but give ourselves a bit more breathing room, more runway to think long-term, with three heads pushing us forward.”

Cragun continued, “And it’s important to recognize the contributions of our entire company. We have an incredibly dedicated group of people who are committed to seeing what the next twenty years of nimbus will bring. Our company brings a lot of perspective to the table - we have folks who are designers and theater professionals, and folks who do no other theater at all. We’ll also be looking to expand our company and Board of Directors as we settle into this new phase of our life.”

nimbus is handing over their first production of 2023 to Frazier and long-time company collaborator Richard “Doc” Woods. Pre-production has already begun for the show, scheduled for June. nimbus will be announcing details, including cast, production team, and title in the coming weeks.

“Mitch is family, and he is so passionate about the work we do,” Neerland said. “We’re so excited to see where he takes us in the future.”

For more information:

Josh Cragun josh@nimbustheatre.com

or Liz Neerland liz@nimbustheatre.com

nimbus has been creating dynamic original theater in the Twin Cities since 2001. Our unique process for the creation of playwright-led collaborative work combined with their passion for creating bold, eclectic theater has been dazzling audiences for 20 years. Founded and led by playwrights and run by the artists themselves, we are dedicated to creating theatre that crosses boundaries, promotes imagination, and ignites new conversations. 

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