Twin Cities Tours: Music, Theater & Dance and

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Music Theater and Dance

James Sewell Ballet
Photo: Erik Saulitis In 1963, shortly after Sir Tyrone Guthrie established his famed Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, it was noted by area farmers that the wheat in their fields produced greater yields; and their lowing cattle, snorting swine and clucking hens hit stunning harmonic variations. Young farm boys and girls danced through meadows like butterflies ballerinas. Migratory birds refused to leave in autumn.

The Irish-born Sir Tyrone, whose reputation was that of the greatest theater director in the world, weary of the growing commercial demands of Broadway (musicals), and passionate about his own theatrical ideas, envisioned a repertory theater somewhere in the heartland of America and Minneapolis landed the plum.

It took some time for the locals to realize that all the new construction around them was that of a cornucopia of culture. Today, the Twin Cities supports more live theater tickets per capita than any other city in the country, save the Big Apple itself! There are nearly 100 theaters in the Twin Cities, not counting those of high schools, colleges and universities.

Whether it is music, theater, ballet, comedy or opera, you will find it all here. On the averagel Twin Cities' week-end you can choose between 29 plays, 6 dance performances, 8 pop music concerts, 2 jazz concerts, 3 major art exhibits, 24 gallery shows, five comedy acts.

For Minneapolis, "Broadway" is Hennepin Avenue, and "Off Broadway" is, well, Off Hennepin, which may be anywhere in the Metro area. Theater clusters include the West Bank in Minneapolis and The St. Paul Warehouse District. However, there are many other theaters scattered about the far-flung cultural universe of the Twin Cities.

The following list will help you find out what ALL is going on. Enjoy!

Hennepin Theater District: (Minneapolis' "Broadway"): Includes: The State, Orpheum, Pantages, Music Box, Woman's Club theaters, and The Hennepin Stages. See all links below.
Acme Comedy Company: Got jokes?
Ballet of the Dolls/Ritz Theatre: Dance-Theater
Bloomington Civic Theater: Bloomington, a south Mpls suburb
Brave New Workshop Comedy Theater: Promiscuous hostility, positive neutrality. Hennepin Avenue
Bryant Lake Bowl: A theater in a bowling alley!?
Cast Showcase Theater: Actor training and theater
Center for Independent Artists: "CIA"! Supportive of independent and culturally diverse artists
Chameleon Theater Circle: South suburban area
Chanhassen Dinner Theaters: SW Mpls suburb
Children's Theater: South Mpls
Comedysportz: Comedy
Emigrant Theater: Explores American identity
Ensemble Productions: Intergeneration themes and dynamic connections with audience.
Ethnic Dance Theater
Fitzgerald Theater: Home of Garrison Keillor's The Prairie Home Companion
Frank Theater: Like its name...
Fringe Festival: Multitudinous off-off Hennepin performances each August
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Companyr: Very light opera
Great American History Theater: in St. Paul
GTC Dramatic Dialogs: Traveling, interactive, issues orientations
Guthrie Theater: Sir Tyrone Guthrie's Legacy
Hardcover Theater: Specialize in adapting literature for the stage
Heritage Theater: Maplewood community theater
Illusion Theater: Hennepin Theater District
In the Heart of the Beast Mask and Puppet Theater: Unwavering activism and a gorgeous artistic vision. South Mpls.
Intermedia Arts: Experimental. South Mpls.
James Sewell Ballet: Not your normal ballet company
Joking Apart Theater: Serious comedy
Jungle Theater: South Minneapolis
Lakeshore Players: White Bear Lake
Lex-Ham Community Theater: St. Paul area
Lyric Arts Main Street Stage: Anoka
Margolis Brown: Mind, muscle and media
Mary Worth Theater Company
Minneapolis Musical Theater: Musicals
Minnesota Comedy Club: Comedy. St. Paul
Minnesota Dance Theater: Dance performances. Hennepin Theater District
Minnesota Jewish Theater Company: Jewish cultural themes
Minnesota Opera: Ordway Center, St. Paul
Minnesota Orchestra: Most performances at Orchestra Hall - Mpls
Mixed Blood: Dedicated to the spirit of Dr. King's dream since 1976. Seven-Corners Theater District - Mpls.
Morris Park Players: South Mpls community theater; musicals
Mounds Theater: Restored art deco theater; St. Paul's Eastside
Mu Performing Arts: Pan-Asian theater. NE Mpls.
Music Box Theater: Part of Hennepin Theater District, but on Nicollet Ave. Featuring hilarious Triple Expresso for years running.
Mystery Cafe: America's original interactive murder mystery dinner theater
Nautalis Music-Theater: Dedicated to new opera and to late Twin Cities opera director Wesley Balk
Off-Leash Area: South Mpls; features original works
O'Shaughnessy Auditorium: Campus of St. Catherine's College, St. Paul
Old Log Theater: By Lake Minnetonka. Western Mpls suburbs
Oops Interactive Dinner Theater: No. St. Paul location
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts: Magnificent, acoustically perfect theater; St. Paul; Broadway plays, and more
Orpheum Theater: Hennepin Theater District
Pangea World Theater: South Minneapolis
Pantages Theater: Hennepin Theater District
Park Square Theater: St. Paul Warehouse District
Patrick's Cabaret: Informal performance venue
Penumbra: African-American perspectives
Pillsbury House Theater: Multi-cultural themes
Playwright Center: For writers
Plymouth Playhouse: Musicals and comedies in NW Mpls suburb
Red Eye Theater: Alternative, multidisciplinary
Ritz Theatre/Ballet of the Dolls.: Dance-Theater in NE Minneapolis
River's Edge Playback Theater: Improvisational
Rosetown Playhouse: Community theater; St. Paul suburb of Roseville
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra: Most performances at Ordway Center, St. Paul
Schubert Club,: The Minnesota's oldest performing arts organization. Most performances in St. Paul
Southern Theater: Seven-corners Theater District - Mpls
Stages Theater Company: Dedicated to youth education in professional theater environment.
Starting Gate Productions: In St. Paul's Warehouse District
State Theater: Hennepin Ave. Theater District - Mpls
Stepping Stone Theater: Youth education and performance. St. Paul Warehouse District
TC Music Net: A vast listing of area musical events and venues
The Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company: Very light opera.
Theater in the Round: The audience surrounds the action in the Seven-Corners Theater District - Mpls.
Theatre de la Jeune Lune: Time for something new
Theater Latte Da: Near downtown Minneapolis
Theatre Unbound: Women centered
Trece Lunas Arts Collective: Latino, political
Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus
Twin Cities Jazz Society: Listings of jazz info
Twin Cities Performing Arts Directory: For a complete listing of area theaters
University of Minnesota Theater and Dance
Walker Art Center: More than modern art, theater too.
Wild Yam Cabaret: Warning: Located in St. Paul's Mad Hatter's Tea House.
Woman's Club Theater: Hennepin Theatre District
Youth Performance Company: Dedicated to young artists