PLSN: The Guthrie Theater, serving in the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, has been in operation for over 50 years. Unlike theaters on Broadway, which are designed for optimum return on investment, Sir Tyrone Guthrie was primarily devoted to the idea of establishing a playhouse that would exist primarily to nurture and cultivate artistic expression. Run as a nonprofit enterprise, the playhouse he envisioned would keep important works of literature alive by presenting them to appreciative audiences while also cultivating the artistic talents of the performers on stage.
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I loved reading about how the Guthrie was founded and how its simple mission has made it into one of the best regional theaters in the country. Minneapolis itself now has a great arts scene, and it's easy to see how the Guthrie has contributed to the whole city by opening its spaces to classes and other organizations. Minneapolis itself seems a little unexpected to be this hub of culture. I drove from Milwaukee to UMN a year and a half ago and after the miles and miles of farmland it felt like a weird cultural oasis. Everyone I spoke to while I toured was so thrilled to work with The Guthrie and eager to share about the whole Twin Cities art scene. The Guthrie's continuous commitment to being a nonprofit and welcoming new work I think has inspired the community to work hard for and appreciate them, and people from around the country have noticed their amazing work and wanted to contribute (from the Andrew Mellon family to the school kids collecting donation money in change). If only they currently offered internships...
It was so fascinating to read about the Guthrie. I have heard so much about it before, but never to this extent. I had no idea that it was the first non-profit regional theatre. The description of its history really gives light to its simple and genuine history of becoming a place for cultural enrichment. That goal has set them a part and started an amazing example for other regional theatres. Actually, the theatre I used to work at in Houston is structured almost identically as the Guthrie's. In addition, the former managing director of the Guthrie is now our new Executive Director. So it will be incredibly interesting to see how the two styles merge, or what is similar. What surprised me the most was the location. I never thought of Minnesota as a large theatre community, but after going through college interviews and reading this I realize how large it actually is. It's amazing how one person's dreams can change the course of an entire city.
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