Final Rogue Round-up 2026

My final two days of Rogue brought me to a variety of shows including spoken word, theatre, music, and guesting in a fabulously fun Improv show with Brian's Beard as well making a flyingly fun turn as a luna moth in the prior praised Wikipedilove. Below are my final reviews of Rogue 2026!

Dysfunction

I had the pleasure of seeing Ke’Lea Flowers’ full-length premiere of the song cycle, Dysfunction, a few seasons back at Selma Arts Center; I found it powerfully composed, staged with stellar apt for the tone of each song, and containing a plethora of comedy, as well as self-and-universally-applicable deprecation. This year, the Arts Annex was host to the musical’s most-recent iteration in a concert-style production, and the same elements that worked when I last saw Dysfunction are still buzzing mightily.

Every minute of this musical-in-concert was paced well in accordance with the score’s waves of ups and downs life throws at us. There’s a blend of musical genres present, all of which suited the vocalists and live band quite well. What made Dysfunction compel as much in the smaller venue as it did in the fully staged Selma Arts Center production is the cast’s commitment and talent delivering Flowers’s lyrics and score. 

I implore you to follow Dysfunction on its socials and find ways to see it as it continues its development. In fact, you can catch an encore performance on March 14th at 7pm at the BreakBox Thought Collective. Whether you saw it or not, I can guarantee you this will be worth you time and patronage. 

Fugue

Rogue Festival veteran Kate McKnight brought a new music-infused storytelling show to the ViSTA Theatre, Fugue. It was a riveting, smooth show which utilized nostalgia and dreams for McKnight tucked in a compelling conglomeration of her various talents put into one superb show. 

McKnight had us travel through her cherished stage roles she’s played, her upbringing as a pianist in lessons and concert, and her singing, a both humbling and empowering experience in her journey. McKnight’s triple-threat showcase of delivering lines from those treasured parts she’s treaded the boards with, tickling the keys of the keyboard, and giving lovely croon to some tunes exposed the multi-faceted art that gives foundation to and inspires McKnight to continue creating and performing. 

Anytime you see Kate McKnight’s name on the bill, you’re sure to have an enjoyable, reflective, and artistically fulfilling time at the theater; Fugue was no exception. 

Spilled Dictators (#937)

UR Here Theater, typically known for their staged readings, utilizes the Rogue Festival to bring a full-length, fully realized production to its audiences. This year they brought Andrew Rosdail’s satirically infuriating play, Spilled Dictators, to the stage. Helmed by Renee Newlove, the three-person cast elevated Rosdail’s text to a level that allows audiences to apply the qualities of tyrannical government and actions of an unchecked, corrupt dictator-like leader to a slew of contexts.

Newlove’s pace sped up the drawn out conversation between victim Bernard (played by Billy Jack Anderson), lead officer Inspector Greig (played by Donna Haliburton), and inspector of few words but consequential actions, Inspector Klaus (played by Randy Kohlruss). This is a patient play that, although short in length, draws the audience in with more character development than focus on the plot. Anderson transitioned from--appropriately--pathetically poised victim, to charged antagonist within the dictator’s regime. Haliburton handles the wordy, intimidating Greig with a great, calculating pace that served the intimate Grove at Veni’s space well. Kohlruss delivered some much-needed comedic relief the few times Klaus spoke, but always maintained an imposing physical presence and mystery as to what his next move may be that was key to keeping the audience on edge.

It was a treat to have a daring and frighteningly relevant play delivered by such a talented and well-matched cast, all falling under sturdy, deft direction by Newlove. Keep tabs on what UR Here Theater does next by following them on their socials and booking your tickets to their future readings and productions!

Jaguar Bennett: Sweetness and Light

In pure Jaguar Bennett style, political and social commentary are blended with ingredients of self-deprecating applicability that makes understanding how far gone our nation/world, and tolerances are, quite palpable. However, the recurring reminder that his show was intended to be sweeter and lighter than previous outings of lambasting comedy made it even funnier.

The “sweetness and light” recurring phrase made light of the toxically positive thinking many employ when in denial that there’s actual problems needing actual action to counteract. The thing with Bennett is that if, as an audience member, sitting under the beautiful weather on the Veni Vidi Vici’s patio, feels offended, that’s the point. He doesn’t stray from hurt feelings, but certainly wraps them in a blanket of wanting you to be entertained. Bennett’s gift for convicting without apology, and naming what’s being done, what should be done, and why it should be done, makes his comedy year-after-year a Rogue Festival staple. 

A Hot Flash Gospel 

Lady K, a spoken word artist, brought one of the most intriguing, entertaining, and gripping shows I’ve ever seen at the Rogue Festival. Her ability to marry her writing with the rhythm, cadence, and power that extends beyond from talent to gift, made for a fabulous time out the Lotus Room.

Lady K’s variety of her life going, not just through menopause, but all sorts of triumphs and blockades in this world made her variety of delivery modalities a showcase of her inspiring and spellbinding ability to say not just the right words, but to string the right phrases together to nail an experience that feels relevant, whether its been felt or experienced, or not. Lady K’s capacity for specific universality is a testament to why spoken word is the perfect performance art outlet for her, and those of us who saw her are blessed for having witnessed her show.

Shanties and Stories with Strangely

You can not miss Strangely at the Rogue Festival; you just can’t! Strangely always brings talent with passion, antics, and musical gifts that are sure to entertain audiences of all interests. This cabaret show brought us knowledge and reflections of Strangely’s recent past, while embedding shanties and stories that brought the audience into Strangely’s experiences and learnings. 

Being a sure-fire whiz on the accordion, Strangely’s voice and rollicking roars, in song and speaking, are rapturous in delivery and true artistry. Plus, you can't help but laugh at the jokes, quips, and self-deprecating tales that Strangely never shies away from. Should Strangely be on a future billing at the Rogue Festival–or a fringe festival near you–do buy your ticket and go enjoy the ride!