MISSION The Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963, is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. By presenting both classical literature and new work from diverse cultures, the Guthrie illuminates the common humanity connecting Minnesota to the peoples of the world. BRIEF HISTORY The Guthrie was founded in 1963 by the celebrated Irish director Sir Tyrone Guthrie. The Theater’s immediate success helped launch the national resident theater movement, confirmed Minnesota as a cultural center, and established the Guthrie as a leading artistic and educational resource for the region. The Guthrie serves more patrons than any other theater outside of New York City and more than all other theaters in the Twin Cities, combined.

In June 2006, the Guthrie opened a stunning new theater center in downtown Minneapolis that features a 1,100-seat thrust, a 700-seat proscenium, and a 200-seat black box theater, along with a suite of classrooms and state-of-the-art production facilities. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Guthrie has become a tourist destination and community gathering place. PROGRAMS As a major national and international center for theater arts and theater education, the Guthrie provides: EXCEPTIONAL THEATER ON THREE STAGES The Guthrie delivers a broad range of classics, contemporary masterpieces, and new plays that tell the stories of our time. The Guthrie is dedicated to producing and presenting compelling, world-class theater for our audiences, making the work accessible to all, and fulfilling our mission to bring work of national significance to our stages. During the 2008-09 fiscal year, nearly half a million people enjoyed Guthrie productions. ENRICHING EXPERIENCES FOR CHILDREN "Quite simply, our trip to the Guthrie to see a Shakespearean performance is always the highlight of our school year. The production brings our study to life in a way no other medium can... Thank you for allowing young people this opportunity." Marti Koller, Baldwin-Woodville High School, Baldwin, WI Working with schools from across the region, the Guthrie’s school-based programming includes a Guthrie endowed student ticket fund, ensuring that students can attend matinee performances for free or at greatly reduced prices; and free online study guides accessed by more than 100,000 students and teachers. Each year, more than 60,000 young people attend student matinees. The Guthrie also offers a wide range of theater camps for children, as well as our Target Play Dates Program. Through Play Dates, the Guthrie offers $15 matinee performances for parents while their children (ages 4-11) take part in free theater games and workshops related to the play taught by local theater artists. ACCESS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY Our Access Services ensure that more than 10,000 patrons with visual, mobility, hearing and financial hindrances are given the opportunity to participate fully in the Guthrie experience. Assistive Listening, American Sign Language Interpretation, Audio Description, Open Captioning, and the popular Ticket Opportunity Program – through which clients of social service agencies receive $2 tickets – are among the services The Guthrie provides. “Your theater's nourishing work and exceptional access feeds the souls of all ages and disabilities. Nothing less. In these troubled times we all need nourishment.” - Jeanette Frederickson, Saint Paul, Minn. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES The Guthrie enriches the theater-going experience for everyone from first-time theatergoers to aficionados through multi-week classes, seminars and workshops, and theater-based continuing education. Other programs include pre- and post-show discussions for the general public, dialogues with visiting artists of international renown, outreach to a diverse assortment of community groups, and artist residencies. Last year, more than 100 post-play discussions and pre-play workshops were held for the general public, and roughly 10,000 guests took backstage tours, gaining a deeper understanding of the technical aspects of the theater while enjoying spectacular views. TRAINING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATER ARTISTS The Guthrie offers two actor training programs which are among the foremost training programs in the country. A Guthrie Experience for Actors in Training is a competitive summer residency program for students from the country’s top graduate programs. The University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA in Acting provides conservatory-style training within a full liberal arts education. For over a decade, students from both of these programs have gone on to work professionally with the Guthrie and other major regional theaters across the country.