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We're back on stage every Thursday in October and November with big ideas, big thinkers, and seriously funny improv comedy.

The Theater of Public Policy from Kevin McKeever on Vimeo.

Join us for our fall lineup at Huge Theater: Thursdays, 7pm in October and November

October 4 – The Fall of the Creative Class

Frank Bures, Literary Editor, Thirty Two Magazine

A decade after his seminal work, Rise of the Creative Class, cities across the country have adopted Richard Florida’s prescriptions for attracting and fostering communities working within the creative process.

But do Florida’s ideas confuse correlation for causation? Can we really say that the creative class drives urban centers to new growth? Our guest Frank Bures isn’t so sure. We’ll talk cities and creative types on our season debut.

October 11—Science Debate!

Shawn Otto, www.ScienceDebate.org

Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama will have three face-to-face presidential debates this fall: one on the domestic economy, one of foreign policy, and one town-hall style debate. Shawn Otto believes at least one of those debates should have been focused on national science policy.

Presidents can shape the course of science research and even specific projects while in office. Do we know enough about where the candidates stand on questions of science? Is the country ready for a national dialogue on science policy?

October 18—Education in Minnesota (Free Show!)
Special Venue: Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis

Charlene Briner, Chief of Staff & Communications Director for the Minnesota Department of Education

For decades, Minnesota had a reputation for leading the country in public education. Yet recently, some long-term issues have come to a head. But many across the state are facing these challenges head-on with a diversity of approaches.During this special event, every audience member will have an opportunity to share their questions, concerns, hopes, and ideas for education in Minnesota with fellow attendees. Our guest, Charlene Briner will give us a rundown on what the Dayton administration is doing for kids in Minnesota, and answer audience questions. Then our improvisers will take all the ideas and bring them to life on stage.

October 25—Attack of the Asian Carp

Jon Anfinson, National Parks Service, and Darrell Gerber, Clean Water Action

We’ve all heard the horror stories or seen the YouTube videos; giant fish leap from otherwise placid waters to attack unsuspecting boaters. But other than a few bumps to the head, what danger do Asian Carp really pose to Minnesota’s waters? Is it even possible to halt their invasion? What secret weapons are scientists cooking up to combat these silvery villains?

November 1—New Models for Education (Free Show!)

Sondra Samuels—CEO North Side Achievement Zone

The North Side Achievement Zone has stood out as a model for other charter schools across the state and across the country. Their work has taken a traditionally challenging community from an education perspective and produced some remarkable outcomes. How is the NSAZ different? Does this prove any student can learn given the right situation? What can other schools learn from the NSAZ?

November 8—Sports Diplomacy

Joan Brzezinski, Executive Director of the China Center and Confucius Institute, University of Minnesota

Every two years the Olympics get people talking about how countries can put aside their political differences to compete in a series of contests and games. Yet that goodwill and cross-cultural understanding is rarely kept aflame following the closing ceremonies. Our guest for this show doesn’t believe it has to be this way.Joan Brzezinski argues that we can use sports to communicate cultural values, specifically between the U.S. and China. What do we learn about other nations through sports? Can we avoid World War III with a round of table tennis?

November 15-New Journalism

David Brauer—Local Media Reporter, MinnPost

For more than a decade we’ve heard that newspapers are dying. Home delivery rates are down, ad revenue is down and in turn newsrooms are shrinking. Yet at the same time, more people than ever before are reading, listening to, or watching the news, and getting their information from a wider variety of sources.We’ll ask MinnPost’s David Brauer how the media is changing locally and nationally. Are we on the brink of a desolate, fact-less wasteland of mindless gossip and political chatter; the dawn of a new era of truly democratic journalistic enlightenment; or something in between?

November 29—Is Local Food Better?

Jonathan Foley—Director of the Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota

Stop by any farmer’s market and you’re likely to hear someone say that when it comes to food, local is better. But is that always true? Are there times when it actually makes sense for the environment and the economy to produce something somewhere else? We’ll ask our guest, Jonathan Foley about that and a lot more for our final show of the season.