The Alchemist’s Bargain

Performed October 2024 at the Crane Theater as part of the Twin Cities Horror Festival’s 13th Season!

A dark fable, performed entirely through blacklight puppetry, about a Hero’s journey to bring their Beloved back to life with the aid of a dubious Alchemist. The Hero must traverse treacherous lands and face dangerous foes to collect the ingredients needed to concoct the Alchemist’s elixir. How far are they willing to go to defy Death in the name of Love?

Performed at the Crane Theater (2303 Kennedy St NE, Minneapolis MN 55413) Thursday, October 24th 2024 9:00 PM, Saturday, October 26th 2024 1:30 PM, Sunday, October 27th 2024 7:30 PM, Wednesday, October 30th 2024 6:00 PM, Saturday, November 2nd 2024 1:30 PM

In the news!

Josh Vogen as the Hero, Rhiannon Fiskradatz as the Witch, Thalia Kostman as the Sailor and Ghosts, Kristina Jansons as the Beloved

Aaron Fiskradatz as the King, Lindsey Oetken as the Narrator and Ghosts, Marc Berg as the Alchemist and Ghosts

Stage Manager Kerry Landin, Composer Steven Zubich, Understudies Alex Yang and Amy Walus

Directed by Thalia Kostman and Marc Berg. Written by Marc Berg. Puppet design by Marc Berg.

REVIEWS

“I’m really glad I saw it because it’s utterly charming! The seven puppeteers beautifully give voice to the characters, and manipulate them from the darkness behind so that we almost forget they’re there.” – Cherry and Spoon

“The Alchemist’s Bargain is a charming puppet show performed using blacklights, which really brought me back to my childhood. It’s a visual treat that ends with the alchemist’s trick. This is a great show for families, kids will marvel at the creativity of the medium, In fact so will their parents. I didn’t just enjoy myself, I was very much delighted by Phantom Chorus Theatre’s production. It’s a great example of the variety of styles and shows on view at the TCHF.” – The Stages of MN

“This inventive production uses puppets and blacklight set pieces to tell the story of a Hero who seeks the help of a very creepy Alchemist to help bring their Beloved back to life. It’s astonishing how well these simple elements convey great emotion, humor, and menace in turns. The story is clearly told and has a classic fairy-tale feeling, and the puppetry and vocal performances are perfection. The music, composed by Steven Zubich, is the perfect soundtrack to the story. There’s no other word for this show but enchanting.” – MN Theater Love

“This is an offering the whole family can enjoy, with intensely creative puppets and sets. Phantom Chorus always delivers a production that is sure to amaze.” – Twin Cities Geek

And a few words from our audience:

“Absolutely a must see! …we were riveted, entertained and haunted! Don’t miss this one, theatre goers”

“Beautiful, spooky, delightful, and so gloriously unique. These performers have such gorgeous vocal skill and the attention to detail is something to behold. I felt like i was lifted up and away out of the Crane. I fell in love with all the characters, even the spooky ones and I want the ghosts to visit me once a day, say some stuff and then swirl away. GO SEE IT!”

“Just got back from seeing “The Alchemist’s Bargain” by Phantom Chorus Theatre, and I am enamoured with this production. With the use of black light and puppetry, this cautionary folk tale evokes the genius of Jim Henson, the grim whimsy of a show like “Over the Garden Wall”, and the adventure and peril of a grand odyssey one would find in an enthralling book or video game It’s a show like this that drives me back to the theater, because we find such magic is only possible in this medium. Pure magic!”

“We just knew this show was gonna hit it outa the park. Watching it today was like a Saturday morning cartoon Halloween special. Or getting through the toughest levels in a video game. The colors and the characters were so vibrant. The ending is heartbreaking. The craftsmanship is top tier. Y’all inspire us to be inventive and fun and playful and intentional. ” – Spiral Theater