CEDAR FALLS -- A group of University of Northern Iowa graduates has founded its own theater production company in the Twin Cities.

Bad Attitude Production, the creative vision of 12 UNI alumni, was born out of the late-night and backstage conversation of friends.

"It seemed to us that folks who would leave in ones or twos would be eaten alive by the bigger cities, but with a company effort, we're more likely to keep it together," says MyQue Franz, a member of Bad Attitude Productions and the writer of its debut play, "Oedipus Wrecks: Shakespeare's and Sophocles' Excellent Adventure."

The philosophy of the UNI theater department promotes teamwork, Franz says. So it was only natural the friends, who met through various classes and productions at UNI, migrate to Minneapolis and create something together.

So far, a letter-writing campaign yielded more than $2,000 from friends and family who want to support the young thespians.

Franz estimates that money is enough for the resourceful team members to produce two shows. Their first will be in August in the Twin Cities at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, which is the biggest non-juried arts festival in the nation.

Three hundred troupes applied to perform at the Fringe, and only 160 were selected in a random lottery, since by tradition fringe means arbitrary selection of artists. Franz says he was thrilled when Bad Attitude was chosen to participate in the festival.

"The Fringe Festival is the best springboard you can have when you're a young theater company," says Chris McGahan, who will co-direct "Oedipus Wrecks" with Franz. "It puts every company on the same playing field."

Each production is allotted 60 minutes of performance time, plus 10 minutes for set-up and another 10 minutes to strike the set.

"It's a chance to let true acting talent shine through, past the flashy sets and name recognition (found in mainstream theater)," McGahan says.

A play by Eugene Ionesco, who's known as the father of theater of the absurd, inspired Franz to craft "Oedipus Wrecks." Franz's script is a play within a play within a play, he says, chuckling. It chronicles Shakespeare and Sophocles on a guided trip, which just happens to go through the stage where actors rehearse "Romeo and Juliet" and "Oedipus Rex," the playwrights' most well-known work, respectively.

McGahan says it's a chance for theater-goers to see familiar characters in slapstick-comedy situations.

The production is unique in that it's a group project in which everyone truly pulls his or her own weight, Franz says.

Which doesn't mean it's all good all the time. The biggest challenge, he adds, has been the decision-making process.

"None of us could have done this on our own, but with 12 people, we don't always agree and sometimes there are even little factions," Franz says. The group now relies on a democratic process to make changes -- majority rules.

"We've all had ideas shot down and compromises have been made," he adds.

The same close bonds that challenge the creative process enhances the stage presence of the actors and directors.

"I know how they react, how they respond. I know their strengths and weaknesses and how to push people to make their weaknesses less weak and their strengths that much stronger," McGahan says.

Contact Stacey Palevsky at (319) 291-1580 or stacey.palevsky@wcfcourier.com.

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{M3Bad Attitude Productions will perform "Oedipus Wrecks" at the Acadia Cafe, located at the corner of Nicollet and Franklin streets in south Minneapolis, on the following dates:

Friday, Aug. 5 at 10 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 8 at 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 4 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 14 at 8:30 p.m.

Tickets, if bought at the door, are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and $5 for children. There is a $2.50 surcharge for pre-ordered tickets. A five-show pass costs $45.

For more information check www.fringefestival.org.