As actor:

Don't Drink the Water (2005)
by Neil Simon
directed by Jay Uhrmann
for Pigs Eye Theater
Starring Aaron Coker, Ryan Grimes, Ari Hoptman, Michael Kelly, Andy Kraft, Jerome Marzullo, Deanne McDonald, Anna Olson, Jen Rand, Wade Vaughn, and Karen Wiese-Thompson.
A family vacationing in an unnamed Communist country accidentally gets mistaken for spies and finds itself involved in international intrigue. I played Walter, the irritating father.

The Princeton Seventh (2005)
by James Vculek
directed by James Vculek
for Partizan Players
Starring James Cada, Alex Cole, Ari Hoptman, and Catherine Johnson.
The death of a famous poet brings together a famous writer and a want-to-be writer for a tribute. But who is who?

The Diary of Anne Frank (2005)
by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
for Theatre L'Homme Dieu
directed by Matt Sciple
Starring Doogin Brown, Emily Grosland, Lacy Habdas, Ari Hoptman, Bruce Hyde, Andrea Olthoff, Dan Perdue, Maggie Bearon Pistner, Jim Pounds, and Karen Wiese-Thompson.
A group of eight people, in hiding from the Nazis, learns to cope with sharing a cramped space amidst both internal and external conflict.
I played Mr. Dussel, the much-disliked dentist.

Sisters of Swing (2005)
by Beth Gilleland and Bob Beverage
for Theatre L'Homme Dieu
directed by Ron Peluso
choreographed by Jan Puffer
musical direction: David Saffert
Starring Bonni Allen, Ruthie Baker, Ari Hoptman, Jennifer Maren, and David Saffert.

Two Rooms (2005)
by Lee Blessing
for Theatre in the Round
directed by Matt Sciple
Starring Ellen Apel, David Coral, Ari Hoptman, Karen Wiese-Thompson.
A wife and her husband, a hostage in Lebanon, communicate by trying to feel the other's presence in empty rooms.
I played Michael, the unfortunate captive.

Last of the Red-Hot Lovers (2004)
by Neil Simon
for Theatre L'Homme Dieu
directed by Zach Curtis
Starring Leslie Ball, Kjersti Brekke, Ari Hoptman, and Karen Wiese-Thompson.
Barney Cashman, approaching middle age,makes three different attempts to have an affair with three different women, with disastrous results.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile (May-June/September, 2004)
by Steve Martin
for Pigs Eye Theatre
directed by Zach Curtis
Starring Juliana Egley, Don Eitel, Dwight Gunderson, Ari Hoptman, Carson Lee, Tim Perfect, Dale Pfeilsticker, Mike Postle, and Sally Ann Wright / Zach Curtis, Juliana Egley, Don Eitel, Dwight Gunderson, Ari Hoptman, Carson Lee, Tim Perfect, Carolyn Pool, Mike Postle, and Sally Ann Wright.
I played Prof. Albert Einstein.

Twelve Angry Men (2003-4)
by Reginald Rose (adapted by Sherman L. Sergel)
for Fifty Foot Penguin Theater
directed by Zach Curtis
Starring Jeff Altier, Brian Columbus, David Coral, Don Eitel, Ari Hoptman, Bruce Hyde, Bob Malos, Dann Peterson, Dale Pfeilsticker, Jim Pounds, David Schlosser, Edwin Strout, and Charles Torrey.
At the conclusion of a murder trial, a single juror tries to convince the other eleven that the case is not as open-and-shut as it seems.
I played Eleven, ze foreigner, and ze judge.

Man of La Mancha (2004; performed reading)
by Dale Wasserman, Mitch Leigh, and Joe Darion
for Nautilus
directed by Ben Krywosz
Musical direction: Jerry Rubino
Starring Dieter Birnbauer, Jake Endres, JP Fitzgibbons, Bradley Greenwald, Ari Hoptman, Mary Keepers, Tom Larson, Ann Michels, George Muellner, Jonathan Neil, Jill Anna Ponasik, Luverne Seifert, and Woody Woodward.
A man's delusion that he is a Medieval knight turns out to be of great benefit to himself and those around him.
I had the "small but coveted" role of The Barber.

Kurt and Bert: The Last Days of Weimar with Weill and Brecht (2003)
by Prudence Johnson
for Sleeper, Inc.
directed by Carolyn Goelzer
Starring: Diana Grasselli, Ari Hoptman, and Prudence Johnson.
The story of Elisabeth Hauptmann's "collaboration" with Bertolt Brecht during the late 1920s and their interactions with actress Lotte Lenya, composer Kurt Weill, and others of the period.
I played Herr Brecht.

Shtick and Its Relation to the Unconscious (2003)
by James Vculek
for Partizan Players
directed by James Vculek
Starring Sam Ahern, Charles Brin, Philip Geller, Kara Greshwalk, Marshall Hambro, Ari Hoptman, Sol Liberman, and Richard Ooms.
Comedian Jackie Witz is having a rough time working the crowd at the Catskills until one Dr. S. Freud shows up to help him out. But is the cure worse than the problem?
I played the unfortunate Mr. Witz.

The Sugar Daddy Project (2003)
by Jamie Kleiman
for 2 Desperate Chicks
directed by Jamie Kleiman
Starring Steve Anderson, Nakesha Caldwell, Eli Dwyer, Ari Hoptman, Natalie Kato, Katie Kaufmann, Jamie Kleiman, Chase Korte, Meeni Naqvi, Jaimi Paige, Alison Preston, Xavier Rice, Michael Russinick, Jessica Schoper, and Michelle Schwantes. A study of various couples who meet through personal ads and mail order offers, and of issues associated with the processing of sugar itself.
I played Bernie, proud Sugar Daddy to a Byelorussian bride. Made of rubber.

A Few Good Men (2003)
by Aaron Sorkin
for Pigs Eye Theatre
directed by Zach Curtis
Starring Brandon Aarowood, Alex Cole, Mark DiPietro, Dwight Gunderson, David Hancox, Ari Hoptman, Ryan Parker Knox, Steve Lattery, Carson Lee, Michael Lee, Mike Postle, Tim Perfect, and Stacia Rice.
Two marines are put on trial for killing a young private. But were they only following orders? And whose orders?
I played the rather pliable Dr. Walter Stone.

Sisters of Swing (2002)
by Beth Gilleland and Bob Beverage
for The Great American History Theatre
directed by Ron Peluso
choreographed by Jan Puffer
musical direction: Raymond Berg and Stephen Houtz
Starring Christina Baldwin, Raymond Berg, Ari Hoptman, Stephen Houtz, Norah Long, and Jennifer Baldwin Peden.
The story of the life and times of the Andrews Sisters.
I played all male parts except two. And at least one female part.

Laughter on the 23rd Floor
by Neil Simon
for Pigs Eye Theater (2002)/ Fifty Foot Penguin Theater (2003)
directed by Zach Curtis (2002)/ Tim Perfect (2003)
Starring Alex Cole, Mikki Daniels, Randall Funk, Ari Hoptman, Bob Malos, Tim Perfect, David Pust, Stacia Rice, and Edwin Strout / Mikki Daniels, Gary Geiken, Ari Hoptman, Ryan Parker Knox, Bob Malos, Tim Perfect, David Pust, Edwin Strout, and Karen Wiese-Thompson
Max Prince, the most popular comedy star on television, is beset with problems both from the network and deep inside his own cluttered mind.
I played the hypochondriac writer Ira Stone.

The Frogs (2002; performed reading)
by Stephen Sondheim
for Nautilus
directed by Ben Krywosz
musical direction: Eric Jensen
Starring Joe Black, Gary Briggle, Patrick Brooks, Lindsay Bonner, Jake Endres, JP Fitzgibbons, Bradley Greenwald, Ari Hoptman, Sarah Jensvold, Melon Krcil, George Muellner, and Jonathan Neil.
A voyage into the underworld takes Dionysus to a bizarre debate between Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw, who are both mocked relentlessly by a chorus of frogs.
I was Xanthias, loyal sidekick to Dionysus.

Glengarry Glen Ross (2000)
by David Mamet
for The Directors Theater
directed by Zach Curtis
Starring Alex Cole, Marshall Hambro, Ari Hoptman, Bob Malos, Jeff Nelson, Stan Peele, Erik Steen, and Steve Sweere
In a small real estate company, the salesmen are constantly pitted against one another by their bosses to close as many deals as possible until the pressure becomes just too great.
I played James Lingk, the hapless customer.

Casual Encounters (1999)
by Joyce Turiskylie and Raine Hokan
for Hampenstance Theater
directed by Joyce Turiskylie
Starring Paul Benton, Matt Ehling, Raine Hokan, Ari Hoptman, Rich Kronfeld, Kathy Lindboe, Frank Randall, Sharon Rush, and Joyce Turiskylie.
Vignettes showing bizarre contacts among serial killers, lounge lizards, postal employees, visual artists, and music historians.
I played several roles, including a soon-to-be-murdered laundromat patron.

Clown Time (1997)
by Craig Hergert
directed by Mark Rosenwinkle
Starring Craig Hergert, Ari Hoptman, Mark Rosenwinkle, and Elizabeth Streiff.
A series of sketches about 19th-century authors, reticent girlfriends, and, of course, clown unions.
I played several roles, including an unwilling industrial guinea pig.

Sex Lives of Superheroes (1997)
by Stephen Gregg
for Sell the Cow Theatre
directed by Sarah Gioia
Starring Kate Eifrig, Ari Hoptman, and Jennifer LaSalle.
A man escapes an awful break-up with his ex-girlfriend and the fear of his relationship with a new girlfriend by entering a fantasy world in which he is respected for his knowledge of comic book characters.

Der gestiefelte Kater (1995)
by Tankerd Dorst
for the University of Minnesota
(performed in German)
directed by Robert Shandley and Karen Juers-Munby
A seemingly innocuous performance of the children's story "Puss in Boots" is marred by numerous problems backstage, onstage, and in the audience.
I played the overly-gregarious audience member Herr Leutner.

As playwright:

The Quick and the Red (2003)
for Fifty Foot Penguin Theater
directed by Zach Curtis
Starring Matthew G. Anderson, Aaron Bennett, Ellen Apel, Benjamin Chadwick, Don Eitel, Tina Frederickson,
Randall Funk, Mark Mattison, Mike Postle, David Schlosser, Edwin Strout, and Karen Wiese-Thompson.
Young advertising executive Don Webber finds himself involved with Communists and creatures from the Beyond in this spoof of 1950s film and television.

I Married Odin (2002/2003)
for Fifty Foot Penguin Theater
directed by Zach Curtis
Starring Matthew G. Anderson, Benjamin Chadwick, Don Eitel, Tina Frederickson, Randall Funk, Mark Mattison, Jeff Nelson, Stacia Rice, David Pust, David Schlosser, Edwin Strout, and Karen Wiese-Thompson / Matthew G. Anderson, Ellen Apel, Aaron Bennett, Benjamin Chadwick, Brian Columbus, Don Eitel, Tina Frederickson, Randall Funk, Mark Mattison, Mike Postle, David Schlosser, Edwin Strout, and Karen Wiese-Thompson.
Intrigue, wrath, and lots of yucks combine in this tale of how the Norse goddess Freya punishes her husband Odin for his numerous extramarital activities by helping to turn his beloved Goths into Christians.

As co-author:

So This Duck Walks into a Psychiatristís Office (2003)
by Ari Hoptman (lyrics) and George Maurer (music)
for Nautilus
directed by Ben Krywosz
Starring Christina Baldwin, Mindy "Fingers" Eschedor, and Jennifer Baldwin Peden.
A rubber duck tries to understand his feelings toward two sisters who have been fighting over him (and everything else) for decades.

As writer-director (short subject film):

The Story of Verner's Law
Directed by Ari Hoptman and Perry Bennett
Starring Ron Akehurst, Brechtje Beuker, Ari Hoptman, Jennifer Hoyer, Frank Thompson, and Karen Wise-Thompson.
A live-action/animated short about how ol' Mr. Karl Verner finally solved that thorny problem of Early Germanic intervocalic stop consonants.

As host:

Balls Cabaret, Lyn-Lake Fair, Minnesota Fringe Festival Benefit, various fundraisers, An Evening of English Music Hall (chairman).

Solo comedy shows:

Delaware, and Other Lies (2004)
Minnesota Fringe Festival

Dial M for Comedy (2001)
Bryant-Lake Bowl

Uncle Ed's Toucan World (2000)
Acadia

Dang! The Ari Hoptman All-Request Show (2000)
Minnesota Fringe Festival

Kill the Mimes! Kill the Mimes! (2000)
Bryant-Lake Bowl

Death Valley Jamboree (1999)
Acadia and Bryant-Lake Bowl

Y2K and the Seven Dwarves (1999)
Bryant-Lake Bowl
Minnesota Fringe Festival

Wanted: Felon (1997)
Bryant-Lake Bowl

The Hunchback of North Detroit (1996)
Bryant-Lake Bowl