‘Bazaar Bizarre’ puts the audience in the thick of a theatrical journey

When audience members enter a Minneapolis storefront at the edge of Loring Park for Strange Loop Projects’ “Bazaar Bizarre,” they are invited to step inside a theatrical dance performance that puts them directly in the action. 

The immersive production uses a steampunk aesthetic, pairing a soundtrack of industrial sounds and creepy circus music with stylized choreography that elevates burlesque moves with sharp ballet technique. Audience members become passengers on a train trip, navigating a multi-room environment defined by striking visuals and a dark, atmospheric theme.

Strange Loops owner Zhauna Franks had spent years looking for a place where she could develop ambitious projects. “Whenever I do something, it’s kind of a big project, and finding a space to work out of is a little bit complicated,” she said. “If I want to make something immersive, I’m going to need it for maybe a few...