Guthrie Announces Schedule of Events Surrounding Convention

In anticipation of the events surrounding the Republican National Convention, the Guthrie today released its public schedule for August 29 - September 7. Although the Guthrie will serve as the site for several rental events as part of the convention, much of the activity throughout the building, including backstage tours and self-guided audio tours, will be business as usual for visitors and staff.

CURRENT PRODUCTION

Little House on the Prairie: An American story sings in Minneapolis as the Guthrie presents the world premiere musical Little House on the Prairie. Based on the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the production follows the Ingalls family as they persevere through the hardships of pioneer life to find hope, love and the promise of a new beginning in a land of endless sky and open prairie.

Unfortunately at this time there are no seats available for Little House on the Prairie. If you are interested in purchasing tickets we recommend that you call the Box Office periodically, including the day of the performance you wish to attend, to see if any seats have been returned for sale. Single tickets are priced from $34 to $65, and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, 877.44.STAGE. Rush tickets ($20 for weeknights and matinees; $25 for Friday and Saturday nights) go on sale 10 minutes before performances.

BUILDING TOURS

Backstage Tours: Discover what goes on behind the scenes at the Guthrie amid the stunning and expanded features of this state-of-the art facility. Learn how we take our plays from script to stage, including the many intriguing steps in between, while visiting various production departments, including the shops where costumes, sets and props are expertly crafted by talented artisans. The cost is $10 per person; $6 for students and seniors. Backstage tours are scheduled for various dates/times throughout the week. To book a backstage tour, call the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, 877.44.STAGE or order online at www.guthrietheater.org.

Self-Guided Audio Tours: Narrated by Director Joe Dowling and several familiar Guthrie actors, this fascinating 40-minute audio experience takes visitors on a self-guided tour of the theater's public spaces. Learn more about the Guthrie's history and the unique architectural elements of the Jean Nouvel-designed building. Guthrie iPod headset rentals are $5 per person, and are available at the Box Office at various dates/times throughout the week.

DINING & BARS

Cue at the Guthrie: Winner of the Reader's Choice Award for "Best New Restaurant" by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Cue offers a contemporary fine dining experience combining classic culinary techniques, fresh, seasonal and local ingredients, with exceptional services. The sleek and dramatic interior features a spectacular blue-glass tiled Waldorf cooking island thrusting center stage into the dining room where master chefs turn the art of cooking into a live performance. Cue at the Guthrie is open Tuesdays through Sundays for lunch and dinner. To make a dining reservation, please call 612.225.6499 or visit www.opentable.com.

Level Five Café: Enjoy pre-theater dining in a casual environment with affordable prix-fixe offerings, a la carte options and decadent desserts. Nestled conveniently between the stages on the Guthrie's fifth floor, its theatrical setting is not to be missed. Level Five Café is open for lunch at 11 a.m. on days with matinee performances, and at 5 p.m. through show time on days with evening performances. No reservations required/accepted.

Level Five eXpress: Grab coffee, sandwiches, soups and decadent pastries from the South end of Level Five and head to one of the many nooks and crannies in the building to sit, relax and enjoy your selections. Level Five eXpress is open various dates/times throughout the convention week.

Target Lounge: Offering extraordinary views of the surrounding riverfront, this dramatic space remains the Guthrie's signature destination to grab a drink, whether you're seeing a show or not. Offering signature cocktails and a small selection of appetizers, the Target Lounge is open from 5 p.m. - 12 midnight on various days throughout the convention week.

 
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Under Joe Dowling's artistic leadership, the Guthrie has enjoyed unprecedented growth, marked by co-productions by visiting international theater companies, collaborations with local theater companies, and his own Dynamic Productions of the classics. While the theater's mission and artistic excellence have remained constant, much has changed over the past four decades. What began in 1963 as a summer season of four productions supported by a minimal staff is now a complex organization employing more than 900 people per year.  As the Guthrie entered the millennium, plans began to build a new multistage theater center on the banks of the Mississippi River.

 
ABOUT THE BUILDING

Designed by internationally-renowned architect Jean Nouvel, the new Guthrie complex (dubbed "a 21st century dream factory" by Time Magazine) opened June 25, 2006, and includes three stages: a classic thrust stage for the grand-scale classics of the centuries, a proscenium stage for more intimate classics of this century, and a studio theater for developing the classics of tomorrow. The design of the new center allows the institution an expanded ability to perform a wider range of plays, while engaging the public and educational organizations in a stronger way. In addition, the theater has the ability to host regional, national and international productions, in a space influenced by the size, scale and history of the historic mills adjacent to the site

For a complete day to day schedule for the week please visit www.guthrietheater.org