by Chris Peterson, Founder
In St. Paul, a new theater company’s first production came to a sudden halt last week after disturbing allegations surfaced about its founder and director.
Cue Line Productions, a company recently launched by Kevin Kennedy, was in the middle of its run of The Bakken at the Historic Mounds Theatre when performer Nora Targonski-O’Brien stepped away from the production and alleged that Kennedy had engaged in improper conduct. What followed was a swift cancellation of the remaining performances and the company’s removal from the upcoming Minnesota Fringe Festival.
Kennedy, who relocated to Minnesota after teaching high school drama in Fargo, North Dakota, had been fired in 2022 following allegations of misconduct from former students. The claims included emotional manipulation, inappropriate contact with minors, and patterns of behavior that students described as grooming. While Kennedy has denied the allegations and a hearing judge reportedly dismissed some of the evidence, the school district upheld his termination.
None of this history was disclosed to the cast or crew working on The Bakken. But during rehearsals, Targonski-O’Brien began to grow uneasy. According to her, Kennedy made multiple remarks about her body and how much of it would be shown during the show, this caused her to grow uneasy. After doing a bit of research, she found local news coverage of Kennedy’s past. She resigned from the production and shared what she learned with members of the theater community.
Cue Line Productions canceled the rest of the run soon after. Not long after that, Arts’ Nest, the nonprofit that manages the Phoenix Theater and serves as a fiscal sponsor for Minnesota Fringe Festival productions, cut ties with the company. In a statement, Arts’ Nest said their decision came in response to concerns raised by community members.
In an interview with MinnPost, Kennedy said he hoped to move on from his past and focus on making theater. He expressed disappointment in how quickly things unraveled and felt he had already faced the consequences of what had happened in North Dakota.
But in the Twin Cities theater scene, what I’m told is a close-knit and fiercely protective community, there is little room for secrecy when it comes to safety. The situation has sparked ongoing conversations about transparency, leadership vetting, and the responsibility theaters have to their artists and audiences. While larger companies tend to have board oversight and formal hiring processes, smaller independent groups often do not operate with the same infrastructure. And when new companies form, particularly around one individual, the lack of formal checks can create vulnerabilities.
There is also a growing awareness of how important it is for artists to feel empowered to speak up and for others to listen when they do. In this case, the quick action taken by Arts’ Nest, and the broader community points to a shared commitment to creating safer spaces in theater.
Cue Line Productions has not issued a public statement beyond the cancellation notice. It is unclear what the future holds for the company or for Kennedy in Minnesota’s theater landscape.
