Guthrie Offers New CostumeRentals Tours

The Guthrie Theater has announced a new tour of its CostumeRentals facility showcasing costumes and accessories from many periods of the theater's long history. Guides will accompany guests on this approximately 40-minute tour, describing the craft of costume production, including specific costumes from past shows.

CostumeRentals is a combined project of the Guthrie Theater and the Children's Theatre Company housing more than 30,000 theatrical costumes that are also available for rental year-round. The 17,000-square-foot facility contains costumes from more than 500 Guthrie Productions, and includes both historical and contemporary items that demonstrate the vast breadth of the art of costume design for the theater.

"Visiting CostumeRentals is a revelation," says Guthrie Director of Communications Quinton Skinner. "From one aisle to the next, you're looking-and touching-chain mail made from fabric, World War II soldier's uniforms and Prohibition-era flapper dresses. It's much like the world's biggest closet belonging to the broadest cast of characters imaginable."

Tours begin on April 21, 2012, and are available the first and third Saturdays of each month at 11:30 a.m.; tickets are $12, $7 for groups/students/seniors/subscribers. A package of a CostumeRentals Tour and Guthrie Backstage Tour is available for $20. For tickets call the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224 or order online at www.guthrietheater.org. Advance purchase is preferred, but tickets may also be purchased with cash or check at CostumeRentals the morning of the tour. CostumeRentals is located at 855 East Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis.