Oracle Online

The new Guthrie has all of the amenities that the old Guthrie lacked, amenities that proved to be sorely needed in the early ‘90s.

In 1995, Joe Dowling, director of the Guthrie, decided it was time to update the facilities to accommodate the staff, and to make the experience for audiences memorable.

But according to the Star Tribune, the proposal did not receive support from then-governor Jesse Ventura, who in 2002 vetoed a $24 million grant.

The new facility has three stages and a large storage unit which allows all stage sets and props to be stored on site.

A few bits of history were brought over from the old Guthrie, at least symbolically. The famous thrust stage created by Tanya Moiseiwitsch for the original Guthrie will reprise its role for the main stage at the new Guthrie.

Rumors that the original Guthrie was haunted are even being brought over to the new theater. Frenchman Jean Nouvel, the architect commissioned to design the new Guthrie, set a faint picture of performers from each play ever performed at the original Guthrie into the outer and inner walls of the new building.

The ghosts of the past can be seen by all of the new patrons and locals in the area.

The new Minneapolis Guthrie Center certainly does not fall short of attracting the attention of the numerous commuters on the nearby busy Washington Avenue every day.

The building does not appear to belong; it stands out from its neighbors. Now the Guthrie ushers in a new level of grandeur for Minneapolis’ lifestyle.

“We sell out shows all the time,” states Landon Rochat-Boeser, who works at the patron service desk and also as a part-time usher.

Rochat-Boeser, who has worked at the new Guthrie since shortly after its opening, says the audiences, sporting suits and dresses, are full of patrons who have been going to shows since the ‘60s.

But there are also crowds of young hipsters who have made the Guthrie a hotspot for Minneapolis nightlife.

The constant flow of these hipsters, as Rochat-Boeser refers to the twentysomethings who attend the shows, does not come as a surprise. The Guthrie, with its many bars, blue walls, and wireless internet spots is the epitome of the trends that today’s young adults are drawn to.

No longer is Block E the only place for hip nightlife.

The building itself is also kitschy in design: it sports some bright yellow windows on the north wall of the building.

Nouvel held nothing back with his masterpiece. His most architecturally astounding accomplishment at the Guthrie is said by many visitors to be the “endless bridge” that stretches out over the Mississippi River without the need for pillars to hold it up.

The bridge has rows where people can sit and have a drink from a nearby bar while looking out at the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls.

Another notable feature is contained within the Guthrie. Inside, there are two very long escalators that slowly take riders up a dimly-lit, narrow corridor to the endless bridge, as well as other places of interest including Cue and the Level 5 Cafe.

Cue is a full-service restaurant and the Level 5 Cafe is a trendy spot to have lunch.

Not all is going smoothly in the young building, however.

Although its strategic placement next to the river allows for a breathtaking view of northern Minneapolis and the pleasant rush of the river water can be heard near the walls of the building, the negatives might weigh heavily on the patrons too.

According to a WCCO News Internet report, the Guthrie’s close proximity to the river allows spiders to come up from the banks to inhabit the outer walls and windows of the Guthrie.
Webs have started to add up on the windows, creating for potential distractions for theater-goers. Luckily, the spiders have not caused any lasting damage, and their webs can be wiped away easily. Cleaning is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13.

Even with the spiders overrunning the walls of the Guthrie, shows frequently sell out. The Great Gatsby, which concludes its run at the Guthrie Sept. 10, has sold out almost nightly since June 15.

The high prices of tickets, averaging $50 per show, are not hurting sales, either.

Of course, tickets for seats in the far back and off to the sides are less expensive. A Christmas Carol, the Guthrie’s perennial favorite, is expected to be a sellout performance too.

Not only is the Guthrie a source for well-acted plays, but so is the Dowling Studio, where young actors, actresses, directors and writers can hone their skills.

This is an amenity that the original Guthrie was lacking. Smaller shows can also be performed at the Dowling Studio.

The studio was created to uphold the Guthrie’s nationally recognized tradition of excellency in creative arts education.

Incoming generations of performers are taught the secrets of the stage that have set the Guthrie apart from other centers for the arts over the past 40 years.

Acting classes are available this fall for an average cost of $300 for 20 hours of classes.

It’s trendy, it’s new, it’s popular. The new Guthrie Center on the Mississippi River is the new hotspot in Minneapolis. Will the sellouts continue? If this level of attention continues, make plans to buy your tickets weeks in advance.

For more information, visit www.guthrietheater.org.