Guthrie Theatre Foundation

THE GUTHRIE THEATER, FOUNDED IN 1963, IS AN AMERICAN CENTER FOR THEATRE PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTION, EDUCATION, AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.

THEATER PERFORMANCES: DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RESTRICTIONS ON IN-PERSON GATHERINGS, THE GUTHRIE DID NOT OFFER ANY LIVE PROGRAMMING ON ITS STAGES IN THE 2020-2021 SEASON. INSTEAD, WE WORKED TO PROVIDE ONLINE CONTENT AS ABLE, INCLUDING A COLLABORATION WITH FILMMAKER E.G. BAILEY TO CREATE DICKENS HOLIDAY CLASSIC, A VIRTUAL TELLING OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL, TO HELP KEEP OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY TRADITION ALIVE. FOUR SEASONED ACTORS PERFORMED CHARLES DICKENS' OWN TEXT UNDER STRICT COVID-19 PROTOCOLS IN ORDER TO BRING THE TEXT ALIVE IN A FILM VERSION THAT REACHED AUDIENCES IN ALL 50 STATES AND 15 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING AN ESTIMATED 15,000 HOUSEHOLDS AND 150,000 STUDENTS. WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH COLLEAGUES FROM FOUR REGIONAL THEATERS TO CO-PRODUCE THE WORLD PREMIERE OF AMIR NIZAR ZUABI'S THIS IS WHO I AM. PURPOSE-BUILT FOR A ZOOM ENVIRONMENT, THE SHOW WAS PERFORMED LIVE FOR EACH PERFORMANCE. ZUABI'S PLAY ABOUT AN ESTRANGED FATHER AND SON COOKING A MEAL TOGETHER IN REAL TIME IN TWO DIFFERENT KITCHENS, ONE IN NEW YORK CITY AND ONE IN PALESTINE, INVITED A COLLABORATION ACROSS CONTINENTS THAT DEMONSTRATED HOW INNOVATIVE THEATER CAN BE WHEN CREATIVE PRODUCERS AND ARTISTS COME TOGETHER. BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 2020, THE GUTHRIE RELEASED MONTHLY VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES GENERATED BY MEMBERS AND AFFILIATES OF MN BLACK THEATRE CIRCLE, CULMINATING IN THE BLACKNESS IS ARTS FESTIVAL MAY 21 - 23, 2021, WHICH FEATURED 17 VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES BY 13 LOCAL BLACK ARTISTS AND WAS INTENTIONALLY SCHEDULED ONE YEAR AFTER THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD. IN TOTAL OVER 165,000 VIEWERS ENGAGED WITH 12 VIRTUAL PROGRAMS PRESENTED OR PRODUCED BY THE GUTHRIE. IN JULY 2021, THE GUTHRIE BUILDING REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE MADE ESSENTIAL UPDATES TO OUR SPACES, PAVING THE WAY FOR AUDIENCES TO RETURN TO THE THEATER IN THE FALL. THESE STEPS WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL.

EDUCATION: ALTHOUGH 2020-2021 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO BE GREATLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN, OUR STAFF AND TEACHING ARTISTS STILL MADE CONNECTIONS TO KEEP THE LOVE OF LIVE THEATER ALIVE. 5,000 STUDENTS ENGAGED WITH GUTHRIE TEACHING ARTISTS OR OTHER PROGRAMMING OUTSIDE OF THE 150,000 WHO WERE REACHED WITH THE VIRTUAL DICKENS HOLIDAY CLASSIC. 40 GUTHRIE TEACHING ARTISTS SPENT 617 HOURS WITH STUDENTS VIRTUALLY, 75 VIRTUAL CLASSES WERE OFFERED, 62 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA/GUTHRIE THEATER B.F.A. ACTING PROGRAM, AND 100% OF B.F.A. PERFORMANCE PROJECTS WERE WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY BIPOC AND WOMEN ARTISTS.