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Guthrie Theater

Minneapolis Theater: All the City’s a Stage

Arts + Culture Theater Downtown Minneapolis

With more theater seats per capita than any other U.S. city outside of New York, the Twin Cities theater scene is booming. From cozy playhouses to majestic 3,000-seat auditoriums, the selection of performances is virtually endless.

Rich Roots
Theater made its debut in Minneapolis with the turn of the 20th century. Pence Opera House pioneered the movement and other venues joined shortly thereafter. When vaudeville and variety entertainment thrived, stars like Jack Benny, Carol Channing and the Marx Brothers performed live in Minneapolis.

When Sir Tyrone Guthrie founded it more than 40 years ago, the Guthrie Theater showcased artistic talent outside of the traditional New York City setting, cementing Minneapolis’ place in theater history. A relocated Guthrie opened in 2006 with new digs designed by world-renowned architect Jean Nouvel. The theater now boasts 3 stages for ideal performance and development. One of the city’s 3 Tony-Award winning theaters, the Guthrie serves as a national theater arts and education center.

Broadway, Off Broadway
Broadway productions like Wicked, Grease and Phantom of the Opera make their way to Minneapolis via the Hennepin Theatre District, which includes the Orpheum, State and Pantages Theatres. These theatres have been bringing a variety of shows—from Broadway and vaudeville performances to special movie screenings and premiers—to the area for nearly a century.

Resident Drama
In contrast to the many large venues found in Minneapolis, a variety of companies provide innovative and off-beat twists to the local theater scene. The Jungle Theater offers an intimate setting in their 150-seat house. Celebrating 50 years in 2008, the Brave New Workshop continues to provide a steady stream of comedic relief. The Penumbra Theater is one of the nation’s three full-season African American theaters. The Children’s Theater Company—one of the largest of its kind in the world—joins the Guthrie as one of the city’s Tony-Award winning establishments.

Growing like Ivey
In 2004, the Twin-Cities created an awards ceremony to recognize the leaders of its booming theater industry. Held at the State Theater in 2008, the Ivey Awards distinguish theater organizations and individuals for outstanding work.