Around the World in 80(ish) Minutes
with Mary Curtin, Tom Hanson, and Arshad Mohammed
If you’ve read the news in the past several months, it might seem like the world is on fire. In this rendition of The Theater of Public Policy, we’ll chat with diplomats and policy experts about the state of global affairs, and why so many people seem to be having them.
During an onstage conversation, we’ll dive into the war in Iran, America’s place on the global stage, and the non-zero chance we all blow up tomorrow. Afterwards, some of the funniest improvisers in Minnesota will perform unique, spontaneous comedy scenes about these international insights.
It’s a one-of-a-kind combination of real analysis and real laughter that you won’t want to miss. Reserve your tickets today!
Tickets: $15 adv/$20 door
Doors: 6pm | Show: 7pm
Full restaurant and bar services are available at the theater. The venue is wheelchair-accessible. If you need additional accessibility accommodations, please contact info@dangerboat.net at least two weeks prior to the event.
About the Guests
Mary Curtin was Diplomat-in-Residence at the Humphrey School for ten years after a 25-year career as a Foreign Service Officer, serving at missions in Brussels, Poland, Tunisia, Mali, and Chile, as well as in Washington. She has expertise in issues including Middle East policy, European affairs, human rights and democratization, and nuclear non-proliferation. Dr. Curtin earned a Ph.D. in History from Columbia University, a Masters from the U.S. Army War College, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. She speaks French, Polish, and Spanish.
Tom Hanson is a former U.S. Foreign Service Officer whose diplomatic postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden, and Georgia. He has worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and served as Director for NATO and European Affairs at the Atlantic Council of the United States. Mr. Hanson currently is a Diplomat in Residence at the University of Minnesota and teaches diplomacy at Carleton College. He serves as Chair of the Minnesota Committee on Foreign Relations and as an adviser to the Global Peace Forum at Norway House.
Arshad Mohammed spent 35 years as Reuters correspondent in New York, Paris, Algiers, and Washington, where he covered the White House and State Department and served as diplomatic correspondent. His assignments entailed extensive travel with Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush and with Secretaries of State Powell, Rice, Clinton, and Kerry. He was in the Florida classroom on 9/11 when Bush learned of the second plane to hit the World Trade Center; at the United Nations when Powell presented the faulty intelligence that led America to invade Iraq in 2003; and in Vienna when the Iran nuclear deal was struck in 2015. He now teaches at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
What is the Theater of Public Policy (T2P2)?
A civic comedy institution is returning at a moment when people are overwhelmed by serious issues and exhausted by bad public conversation. The Theater of Public Policy (T2P2) uses humor to take the pressure off of serious conversations, sparking real conversation and helping audiences see issues in new ways.
Here’s how it works:
Shows open with a lively conversation with a newsmaker or policy wonk.
That conversation inspires a team of Minnesota’s most talented improvisers, who create entirely spontaneous sketches based on the interview.
The expert guest then answers questions from the audience.
The show wraps with one last round of improv from the cast.
It’s a totally unique blend of learning and laughter — and each show only happens once. Seeing is believing, so get your tickets to the next T2P2 show today!