Guthrie Theater

"The river itself was what most charmed and amazed us. Eventually the Twin Cities will realize that their river can be and ought to be a wonderful life-giving amenity."
Sir Tyrone's words proved to be prophetic. Once a site on the banks of the Mississippi River was identified as the future home of the Guthrie, internationally-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel was commissioned to design a building to unite history with a fearless drive toward the future.

he Guthrie Theater opened on May 7, 1963 with a production of Hamlet directed by Sir Tyrone Guthrie, the theater's founder. The idea of the theater began in 1959 during a series of conversations among Guthrie and two colleagues - Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler - who were disenchanted with Broadway. They wanted to create a theater with a resident acting company that would perform the classics in rotating repertory with the highest professional standards.

The new home of the Guthrie Theater, the country's premier resident theater, is a 285,000-square-foot theater center located in the historic Mills District on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. The project includes three theaters, public lobbies, rehearsal rooms, classrooms, administrative offices, production and support facilities, restaurants, bars and parking. The new building replaces the former facility at Vineland Place in Minneapolis.

"Brazen, outrageous and wonderful - a building as drama queen."