"Cabaret" at the Guthrie Theater

"What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play. Life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret!" Truer words have never been sung, and they have never been more true than now. With our world getting weirder and scarier every day, who doesn't need to "leave their troubles outside" every now and then? But Kander and Ebb's brilliant musical Cabaret is a subversive little thing. It lures you in with fun and sexy songs and dances, and then slowly, ever so slowly, it reminds you that it's not so easy to forget your troubles. They're still there, even when we're not thinking about them, and maybe they've even gotten worse when we weren't looking, when we were dancing. This musical cautionary tale about the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany, which the Guthrie had originally scheduled for the summer of 2020 before a global pandemic shuttered all theaters, has never felt more relevant than it does right now in the summer of 2025. The Guthrie's stunning new production of Cabaret is perfectly marvelous and utterly devastating, and it's the #TCTheater event of the summer. Do not miss it! The Kit Kat Klub remains open for business (until it tragically shuts its doors every night) through August 24.

"The Nacirema Society" at the Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie is returning to playwright Pearl Cleage's repertoire* after producing the beautifully tragic Blues for An Alabama Sky two years ago. Unlike that play, which was set in 1930s Harlem, The Nacirema Society is actually set in Alabama, and there's no tragedy, only comedy, romance, and a whole lot of fun. Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement in 1964 Montgomery (there's a nice article in the program about the events of that "memorable year"), The Nacirema Society is a multigenerational story of a wealthy and powerful Black family preparing for a debutante ball. The playwright summarizes it best (quoted in a program note from Artistic Director Joseph Haj): "Even in the midst of massive social upheaval and revolutionary change, people still found time to fall in and out of love, to keep the family secrets or spill the beans, and to embrace the great human chaos of their very specific lives." That feels very familiar and very human; with all the madness happening in the world right now, we still have to live our day to day lives and find joy wherever we can. And The Nacirema Society, with a fantastic cast of Black women (plus one token guy) and stunning design, is one such source of joy. See it on the Guthrie's thrust stage now through May 24.

"The Mousetrap" at the Guthrie Theater

The world's longest running play has arrived at the Guthrie! Agatha Christie's murder mystery The Mousetrap opened in London's West End in 1952 and has run continuously ever since (give or take a global pandemic). I first saw the play three years ago at Lyric Arts, so it wasn't too far into the Guthrie's delicious new production that I remembered whodunit, but that did not diminish my enjoyment of watching the mystery play out. If you've never seen the play before you are in for a treat, as Christie's well-plotted mystery has a plethora of quirky characters who all have a secret and could be the murderer. But even if you know whodunit, it's a pleasure to watch this dreamy and mostly local cast perform a beloved classic on this gorgeous set. See The Mousetrap on the Guthrie's proscenium stage now through May 13.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Guthrie Theater

A Midsummer Night's Dream is probably my favorite Shakespeare play. Partly because it's also probably the one I've seen the most on stage (this is my 10th time seeing it, and my 7th time writing about it in my almost 15 years as a Twin Cities Theater Blogger), but also because it's really the perfect rom com, with a little bit of everything. In his final season as the Guthrie's Artistic Director, Joe Dowling staged a memorable in-the-round production in 2015, and now current Artistic Director Joseph Haj is bringing us his version of this classic. I was lucky enough to attend the first meet-and-greet with the cast and creative team back in early January, when Joe talked about what the show means to him. He staged it at Oregon Shakespeare Festival in March 2020, and we know how that story goes - the show only had a few performances before being cancelled due to the pandemic. So this is a re-do of sorts, even bringing a few cast and creatives back. But this is a fresh, new Midsummer, bringing a bright warm glow to the Guthrie stage now when we need in most in this bleak, dark Midwinter. It's a delightful production full of heart, humor, and hope, and more music than any previous Midsummer I've seen. Whether you've never seen Midsummer before (where have you been?) or you've seen it a dozen times, here are ten reasons to see the Guthrie's new production of A Midsummer Night's Dream:

"The Heart Sellers" at Guthrie Theater

The final play of the Guthrie's 2023-2024 season in their proscenium theater was the Pulitzer Prize-winning play English, about a group of students in an English class in Iran, preparing to become immigrants and facing all of the challenges that entails. Currently on the proscenium stage is a play that serves as a wonderful companion piece, telling another piece of the immigrant story. The new play The Heart Sellers (by Lloyd Suh, author of the brilliant play The Chinese Lady seen at Open Eye last fall) is about two women newly immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea and the Philippines. One lonely Thanksgiving day, they find a surprising and revelatory friendship in this two-hander that's funny and real and relatable and moving. We all come from immigrants (except for those people indigenous to this land), some more recently than others, but it always requires a leaving behind of valuable things (home, culture, family, language) in order to pursue a better quality of life (safety, security, opportunity). These two women embody that conflict in a palpable way, and it's both heart-breaking and heart-warming. See The Heart Sellers at the Guthrie Theater through January 25.

"A Christmas Carol" at the Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie Theater is celebrating 50 years of A Christmas Carol* this year, and as a 21-year season subscriber, I have seen 19 of those productions (including the virtual one in 2020). There simply is nothing like it. Charles Dickens' story is one of such hope, such joy, such belief in the idea that it's never too late to change and grow and become a better person, that gratitude, kindness, and generosity are the highest of virtues. After 50 years, the Guthrie's production is a well-oiled machine, guaranteed to deliver the finest entertainment and the best quality production. But in addition to feeling familiar and comfortable, it also feels fresh and new every year, with the addition of new faces or adaptations, and it's filled with so much sincerity and heart that it will melt the Scroogiest of hearts. This is their fourth year using this succinct and faithful adaptation by Lavina Jadhwani, and the absolutely stunning design, with director Addie Gorlin-Han returning from last year's production. So if you haven't seen the Guthrie's Christmas Carol since before the pandemic, you should definitely check out this new version before it closes on December 29. And even seeing it for the fourth time, it's still chock full of delights for the eyes, ears, heart, and soul.

"All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain" at Guthrie Theater

All the Devils Are Here is a masterclass in Shakespeare. Acclaimed stage actor Patrick Page does for Shakespeare what Bill Irwin did for Beckett in his solo show On Beckett, presented at the Guthrie earlier this year. That is, one of the nation's most experienced and knowledgeable experts giving a personable, entertaining, educational, and captivating oration on one of our greatest playwrights. Those of you who, like me, know Patrick mostly as Hades, or Scar, may be surprised to learn that he's been studying and performing Shakespeare for four decades. He created and performed in All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain Off-Broadway, and we are beyond lucky that his first tour stop is right here at the Guthrie Theater. If you're even a little bit interested in Shakespeare, or the acting process, or the depiction of evil in literature, or the presence of evil in our lives, All the Devils Are Here is a must-see. The 80-minute show, with an optional talkback after every performance, continues through November 17.

"The Lehman Trilogy" at the Guthrie Theater

All I knew about The Lehman Trilogy before seeing the show (the first in my 21st season as a Guthrie Theater subscriber), was that it was three and a half hours long, but worth it. If you read this blog with any regularity, you know that my favorite thing is a 90-minute-no-intermission show (being a morning person with a theater habit is challenging). But when the story covers over 150 years of US history, multiple generations of a consequential family, and a thorough and unflinching look at capitalism, allowances must be made. The Guthrie has kindly moved showtimes a half hour earlier, and stocked their bars with coffee and other treats to keep you fueled for what is a marathon visit to the theater. It takes a little effort, but you will be rewarded by a beautifully and uniquely written Tony-winning play, fascinating design, and three powerhouse performances. And maybe you'll also start to question the very foundation of our society. So get a good night's sleep, or take an afternoon nap, get some coffee, get comfy, and settle in for a singular night (or afternoon) of theater at the Guthrie, continuing through October 12.

"English" at the Guthrie Theater, a Co-Production with the Goodman Theatre

Now is your chance to see the 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama - English by Iranian American playwright Sanaz Toossi. The Guthrie/Goodman co-pro played at the Chicago theater in May, and has now transferred to the Guthrie for a month or so. I didn't know it was a Pulitzer Prize winner when I saw it, but I wasn't surprised to learn it. It's such a beautiful play, that's about language but also so much more - identity, migration, finding your voice. And it's as funny as it is poignant and heart-breaking. The five characters - four students and their teacher in an English language class in Iran - are so specific and relatable and human, it's a pleasure to spend 93 minutes with them. Don't miss your chance to see this gem at the Guthrie Theater, now through August 18.

"Little Shop of Horrors" at the Guthrie Theater

For their summer musical this year, the Guthrie has chosen the cult favorite Little Shop of Horrors. The 1960 B-movie filmed in just two days (per a great article in the program) - turned successful Off-Broadway musical - turned 1986 film starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene (from the original Off-Broadway cast), and Steve Martin - finally landed on Broadway in 2003. And 20 years later it's on the Guthrie stage, the first regional theater to produce a Broadway musical in 1983 (per another great article in the program). It's a bit of a departure from the more classic musical fare usually seen at the Guthrie, and it's a risk that has paid off greatly. This production leans heavily into the story's B-movie roots, features a super talented (and mostly local) cast, and is loads of fun while not ignoring the tragic aspects of the story. Visit the Guthrie through August 18 to see this fantastic production of this brilliant little musical, but please, don't feed the plant.

"Skeleton Crew" at the Guthrie Theater

Just before the pandemic, Yellow Tree Theatre partnered with New Dawn Theatre to produce the regional premiere of Dominique Morisseau's Skeleton Crew, the final installment in her trilogy of plays known as The Detriot Project (which includes Detroit '67, produced by Penumbra in 2015). Since then, the play premiered on Broadway, receiving three Tony nominations and one win (for Phylicia Rashad). Now it's back in the Twin Cities, on the Guthrie's proscenium stage, with the same director as the Yellow Tree/New Dawn production (Austene Van, founding Artistic Director of New Dawn, who has since become the Artistic Director of Yellow Tree), as well as some of the same cast and design team. It's basically the 2020 production on a bigger stage and with a bigger scale. And this is a play deserving of a second look, and of a wider audience, as it tells a very human and relatable story of blue collar workers struggling to stay afloat during the recession of the late aughts. See this powerful and moving play, that's also funny and entertaining, now through June 9.

The History Plays: "Richard II," "Henry IV," and "Henry V" in rep at the Guthrie Theater

Once in a lifetime, if you're lucky, you'll have a chance to experience an epic theater event at your home town theater, which just happens to be one of the best respected and most highly acclaimed regional theaters in the land. That was April 13, 2024, a day I will never forget, a day in which I consumed more theater than I ever have in a single day. Some 8 1/2 hours of theater, more than seeing Tony Kushner's epic two-part Angels in America on Broadway, more than the longest day at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Sometimes known as The Henriad, Shakespeare's Richard II, Henry IV (two plays here condensed into one), and Henry V tell the stories of three English kings in the late 14th and early 15th Centuries. But this was not some boring slog through ancient history and archaic language. It was a living, breathing, dynamic, compelling, thrilling, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, laugh-inducing, thoroughly engaging binge-watch of some of the best plays in the English cannon, brought to life by some of our best theater artists from the Twin Cities and around the country. Each play has a somewhat different tone or look or feel, but all are cut from the same cloth so that when knit together, they form a whole much grander than the sum of its parts. If you have the financial means and physical stamina to do so, I highly recommend attending the one remaining marathon day on May 18. It's a rare shared community experience, with artists and patrons joining their energies together for some 14 hours in the same space. Or you can take in the trilogy in a more reasonable manner - see all three plays in a weekend, or more spread out over time. But if you're a #TCTheater fan (and if you're not, why are you reading this blog?), see it you must. This is something we'll be talking about for generations. Click here for details and tickets.

"On Beckett" at the Guthrie Theater

Friends, you're in for a treat. If you're an actor, or writer, or poet, or director, or any kind of artist, Bill Irwin's solo show On Beckett should be required viewing. And if you're not an artist, but you love art and listening to artists talk about their work (like me), you're going to love it too. Bill Irwin is a veteran actor of screen and stage (he won the 2005 Tony for best actor in a play for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), as well as a clown, as well as a decades-long student of playwright/author Samuel Beckett. So seeing him in anything is a treat, but seeing him in this very personal piece in which he talks about his love for (and sometimes frustration with) the work of Beckett is a rare delight. Whether or not you're familiar with Beckett (I'd only seen his most famous play, once), On Beckett is a riveting 90 minutes spent with a talented and passionate artist. See it at the Guthrie now through March 24.

"Dial M for Murder" at Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie Theater is bringing a new adaptation of a classic thriller to their stage. Local prolific playwright and screenwriter Jeffrey Hatcher has applied his sharp wit and clever plotting to Frederick Knott's 1952 play Dial M for Murder (later adapted into a movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock). In an interview in the program, Jeffrey noted that the first task of adaptation is not to screw it up. He didn't. I've seen the play a couple of times before, but I'm not familiar enough to know what was changed or tweaked, other than the obvious ones noted in that interview - the murderous husband is a failed novelist rather than former tennis celebrity, and the American writer named Max that his wife has an affair with is a woman. Without taking anything away from the original, these slight changes add a whole new layer to the story and make it feel more modern. Homosexual relationships very much existed in the '50s, they just weren't talked about. Much like the new adaptation of the classic Western Shane last summer, this new adaptation adds back into the narrative the people that were erased. But rest assured, this Dial M is still a thrilling twisty delight! See it on the thrust stage through February 25.

"Art" at Guthrie Theater

What inspires someone to spend $200,000 (or francs) on a piece of art, especially one that to others looks like a plain white canvas with some marks in a slightly different shade of white? This question is at the crux of the play 'Art' by French playwright Yasmina Reza, most famous for the play God of Carnage (which played at the Guthrie 12 years ago, and a few other theaters since). Both plays won the Tony, and both plays are of the talky variety (my favorite kind). Not much happens and the play is pretty much just people sitting around a room talking. But that talking is some pretty deep and intense conversation and confrontation, in this case ostensibly about the nature of art, but in reality more about the nature of friendship.* The Guthrie's new production features a fantastic trio of actors (two of them local favorites), crisp and clear direction, and a stunning "modern" design. This is often a quiet time in #TCTheater, after the holiday show rush and before things get moving again in mid to late January, but thankfully we have some great 'Art' to fill in that gap. See it in the Guthrie's proscenium theater now through January 28.

"A Christmas Carol" at the Guthrie Theater

Despite the freakishly warm late fall weather we're having in mid-November, the #TCTheater holiday* season is in full swing! The Twin Cities Theater Bloggers recently previewed all of the shows in our podcast Twin Cities Theater Chat, in which I said that for me, it just isn't Christmas without the Guthrie's A Christmas Carol. This is my 20th season as a Guthrie season subscriber and my 17th time seeing A Christmas Carol (it's not part of the subscription, so I skipped a few years, but not many). For me, it's as warm, comforting, and familiar as your favorite holiday food that you only have once a year, that immediately puts you in that mood of community, festivity, and fellowship. In their 49th annual production, the Guthrie is using the adaptation by Lavina Jadhwani and new design that debuted in 2021, with a few slight tweaks. Compared to previous adaptations they've used, it's more streamlined, hitting all of the highlights as it moves briskly through this familiar story in under two hours (including intermission). Every element of design and production is stunning and efficient in telling the story, for a gorgeous spectacle that's also brimming with heart and good humor. As I've written about A Christmas Carol in the past, "I never tire of seeing it, because Charles Dickens' story of redemption, community, family, and human kindness never gets old. It's a beautiful and necessary thing to be reminded that 'what brings us together is greater than what drives us apart.' That it's never too late to change, to grow, to become a kinder and more generous person." Continue the tradition, or start a new one, at Guthrie Theater now through December 30.

"For the People" at the Guthrie Theater

About a month ago, I had the opportunity to sit in on a rehearsal for a world premiere new comedy at the Guthrie. To watch the creation process at one of my favorite theaters, where I have been a subscriber for twenty years, is an opportunity I would jump at no matter what! But as I learned more about this piece, and finally had the chance to see it last night, I realized just how special this opportunity was. For the People is a special kind of play, one like I've never seen before. It was written by Native playwrights, stars an almost all-Native cast, and features stories of our own Native community, which sadly is a rare thing. Too long Native voices have been stifled, even though they've been around on this land for the longest. But happily, there seems to be a renewed focus on telling Native stories lately, from TV shows like Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls, to plays like For the People. Much like those series, this play shows modern Native people in all their complex humanity, just going about the business of living their lives. It's a wonderful opportunity to support Native artists and our local Native community, and it's also a really funny and engaging play featuring some great performances and thrilling technical effects. See it in the Guthrie's proscenium theater now through November 12.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" at the Guthrie Theater

My 20th season as a Guthrie Theater subscriber begins with a play that was part of my 7th season - the Oscar Wilde classic comedy The Importance of Being Earnest. This is the fourth production in Guthrie history, the most recent being in 2009 (the year before I started this blog, so no record of my experience exists). Earnest is an absolute confection of a play, full of delicious language, ridiculous characters, and silly situations. This new production is absolutely delightful, from the three gorgeous sets, to the scrumptious costumes, to the fantastic performances by familiar faces and new. See it on the Wurtele Thrust Stage now through October 15.

"Shane" at the Guthrie Theater

"The farmer and the cowman should be friends," says the 1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! But in the classic American novel Shane, now with a brilliant new adaptation on the Guthrie stage, the farmer and the cowman most certainly are not friends. This Shane tells the story of a Mexican-American family trying to eke out a living on their farm in Wyoming, being threatened by a big time rancher, who wants to drive all of the farmers off the land and raise cattle. A lot of cattle. Enter Shane, a Black cowboy with a dark and mysterious past and a dangerous streak, who helps the family keep their land. But of course, the land used to be occupied by the Indigenous peoples of this land, who were previously driven off by the US government (using settlers like these). In the same way that the recent revival of Oklahoma! brought out all of the complexities of the origins of America, particularly the American West, that were always in the script, Karen Zacarías' adaptation of the 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer pulls in more voices and more stories to show a truer picture of the history of America, the people of color who were always there but often not seen in classic representations. But yet, it remains true to the spirit of the original story, and it's still a wildly entertaining and gorgeously told tale of the mythical American West, just a little more diverse and authentic. This new play (which the Guthrie co-commissioned and co-produced with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park) is a dynamic conclusion to a truly excellent 60th season at the Guthrie Theater.

"Into the Woods" at the Guthrie Theater

Six years after their stunning production of Sunday in the Park with George, the Guthrie Theater is returning to Sondheim with Into the Woods. It's probably his most frequently produced work; I've seen it eight times now, all local productions in the last 12 years. Based on familiar fairy tales, it's also perhaps the most accessible. But once you're drawn in by the familiar stories, you find that it's surprisingly complex, with themes of good and evil, right and wrong, the consequences of choices, self-interest vs. the common good, and what happens when the fairy tale subsides to reality. It also contains some of Sondheim's most playfully clever lyrics ("while her withers wither with her") and singable melodies (the most famous songs being "Children Will Listen" and "No One is Alone"). For this production, the Guthrie has enlisted Sarna Lapine as director, niece of book writer and original director James Lapine, who obviously has a deep connection to the piece. Her direction is smart, clear, and playful, and the mostly local cast is a joy to watch. Whether you've gone Into the Woods a dozen times, or this is your first time, this production makes it well worth another journey.