Twin Cities Theaters

The Twin Cities has historically been rich in theater. Keeping track of theater companies can be like herding cats, but we try. 

Let us know: Did we miss your favorite theater? Did we incorrectly spell it 'theatre' instead of 'theater' or vice versa? Email us at mntheaterlove at gmail.com or leave us a comment!

Last updated on 9/4/23
Local Theaters:

Artistry
"Award-winning producing theater and visual arts non-profit and the anchor tenant at Bloomington Center for the Arts."

Blackout Improv 
"All black improv group based in Minneapolis, Minnesota."

Brave New Workshop 
"Minneapolis's home for original, thought-provoking satire!"

Bucket Brigade
"Our mission is to be a catalyst for creating quality art that engages, inspires, and uplifts the community."

Chameleon Theatre Circle 
"Dedicated to creating passionate, engaging theatre south of the river, that is artistically excellent and challenging to artists and audiences alike."

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres 
"Entertaining you."

Children's Theatre Company 
"Creates extraordinary theatre experiences that educate, challenge and inspire young people and their communities."

"Nonprofit performing arts circus school for youth dedicated to inspiring artistry and self-confidence through a multicultural circus arts experience."

Classical Actor's Ensemble
"Performs the plays of the English Renaissance as they were originally intended: as popular entertainment for everyone."

Collide Theatrical Dance Company  
"Dance storytelling company, telling narrative stories through a variety of dance styles and live music for a multi-generational audience."

Dangerous Productions 
"We create original productions, from horror to humor, revealing the stories and amplifying the voices of audiences and artists in Minnesota communities."

Dark & Stormy Productions 
"Seeks to enrich the community by providing artistically excellent, relevant, and thought-provoking professional productions that engage and inspire both the audience and the artist."

Fearless Comedy Productions 
"Encourages, empowers, and educates new artists and existing talents, and explores the limits of comedy while striving to create a more diverse and inclusive environment."

Fortune's Fool Theatre
"Dedicated to exposing Twin Cities audiences to unfamiliar theatrical works, with an emphasis on Minnesota writers."

Four Humors Theatre
"Strives to create art that celebrates the humor, stupidity, and beauty of our world by letting the artist connect with the audience in a vulnerable and honest way."

"We exist not only to create our own theater, but to facilitate and promote a vision of the Twin Cities as a major exporter of performing arts."

Ghoulish Delights
"Theatrical performance company dedicated to bringing tales of horror and suspense to Twin Cities stages."
"Focuses on larger scale, primarily American, plays of exceptional literary merit that are less frequently produced today."
"Seeks to provide artistically brilliant, accessible, and enjoyable theatrical experiences for the Twin Cities community, perpetuating the idea of theatre as a relevant, entertaining, and socially valuable activity for the audience and the artist."

Guthrie Theater 
"Engages exceptional theater artists in the exploration of both classic and contemporary plays, connecting the community we serve to one another and to the world."

History Theatre 
"Entertains, educates, and inspires through creating, developing, and producing new and existing works that explore Minnesota's past and the diverse American experience."

Huge Theater 
"The only venue in the Twin Cities devoted exclusively to teaching and presenting long-form improv."
"Mission is to create theater that illuminates the illusions, myths and realities of our times and to catalyze personal and social change."

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre 
"Brings people together for the common good through the power of puppet and mask performance."

Jungle Theater 
"Creates courageous, resonant theater that challenges, entertains, and sparks expansive conversation."

Lakeshore Players Theatre 
"Committed to providing entertainment, education and enrichment through performing arts."

Lyric Arts 
"Mission is to enrich lives by creating meaningful performing arts experiences that ignite the imagination, inspire the spirit, and engage the community."
"Dedicated to providing community access to high quality yet affordable works of musical theatre never before – or very rarely – seen by Twin Cities audiences."
"Strives to produce work that is relevant, impactful, and true to lived Jewish experiences."

Mixed Blood Theatre 
"Using theatre to disrupt injustices, advance equity, and build community, Mixed Blood inspires the global village to create ripple effects of social change."
"Produces great performances born of arts, equity, and justice from the heart of the Asian American experience."

Nautilus Music-Theater
"Since 1986, has provided opportunities for the artistic growth of music-theater artists who create, develop, and produce new operas and other forms of music-theater that are emotionally expansive, dramatically engaging, and spiritually stimulating."

"Dedicated to creating theatre that crosses boundaries, promotes imagination, and ignites new conversations."

Off-Leash Area 
"Mission is to create and present original cross-disciplinary and risk-taking productions and programming."

Old Log Theatre 
"Presents the finest in locally cast and produced musical theatre and children's productions."

Open Eye Theatre 
"Nationally recognized for bringing a visual feast of evocative figure theater to the stage."
"Focus on telling relevant stories of faith, hope, and reconciliation in an intimate and immersive environment."

"Excites generations of artists and audiences through vibrant theatre that elevates our community’s multiplicity of voices."

Penumbra Theatre 
"A performing arts campus and center for racial healing that nurtures Black artists, advances equity, and facilitates wellness for individuals and community."

Pillsbury House + Theatre 
"Mission is to co-create enduring change towards a just society through arts."

Prime Productions 
"Seeks to explore, illuminate and support women over fifty and their stories through the creative voice of performance."

Sandbox Theatre 
"A collective of ten multidisciplinary artists who, along with an ever-expanding circle of artistic associates, are driven by the collaborative spirit to create new plays from scratch, and to lift up our communities by creating the worlds we want to see."

Shakespeare & Company 
"A classical repertory theatre performing at the Outdoor Theatre complex of Century College, West Campus. "

Sidekick Theater 
"Strives to entertain, engage and enrich its audience through the development and production of new and compelling musicals, plays and concerts for adults and children."

Six Elements Theatre 
"With action both onstage and off, Six Elements Theatre stimulates thought, inspires creativity, and cultivates our community through high-intensity theatre and excellent craftsmanship."
"Promotes Latinx culture through the creation and presentation of performing arts, developing and supporting Latinx artists, providing educational opportunities for all to experience Latinx culture, and fostering cross-cultural dialogue.""Awakens the creative spirit of audiences and artists by bringing essential and exceptional theater to people from all backgrounds and life experiences."
"Sustains, develops, and advocates for playwrights and their work to realize their full artistic potential.."

The Moving Company 
"Devoted to creating new and imaginative theatre that is grounded in the present, rooted in its creators’ shared past and always questioning the possible."

Theater Latte Da 
"Creates new and impactful connections between story, music, artist, and audience—exploring and expanding the art of musical theater."

Theatre Elision 
"Telling compelling stories with music."

Theatre Pro Rata 
"To create theatre where audience and artists share passion for the play."

Trademark Theater  
"Seeks to create, develop, and produce original theatrical works in Minnesota by staging innovative productions for adventurous local audiences."
"Develops original works through collaborative creation that celebrate the human body as the ultimate theatrical instrument, and unite artists and audiences in imagining new worlds together."

Walking Shadow Theatre Company
"Believes the human soul is a disturbing and beautiful place. We create engaging and memorable experiences that promote an exchange of ideas inspired by the stories we tell."

Wayward Theatre Company 
"Dedicated to producing challenging work in equally challenging spaces. We believe in bringing theatre to our audience."

Wonderlust Productions
"Our mission is to activate imagination and illuminate community stories to create a more inclusive world."
"Breathes life into complex stories of our shared human experiences which ignite our hearts, spark curiosity and expand our imaginations."

 Opera!

 Gilbert & Sullivan Very Light Opera Company 
"A Twin Cities based theater company, dedicated to bringing the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, Britain’s foremost light opera collaborators, to life for modern audiences."
" Changes lives by bringing together artists, audiences, and community, advancing the art of opera for today and for future generations."

Skylark Opera Theatre 
"Will provide Minnesota audiences with the highest artistic quality accessible performances of opera and music theater and will develop and highlight the finest local and regional talent."

Festivals:

Minnesota Fringe Festival - "The mission of the Minnesota Fringe is to promote freedom and diversity of artistic expression by linking adventurous artists with adventurous audiences."

Ruth Easton New Play Series - "Now in its 11th year, the Ruth Easton New Play Series gives selected Core Writers 20 hours with collaborators to workshop their script—to write, rewrite, experiment, and shape their work. For playwrights, this means great leaps forward for their plays. For audiences, this means a thrilling and intimate night of theater."

Twin Cities Horror Festival - "We depict horror on stage because we know it is fake. The pain and deaths are not real. We have control. We know life is precious. It is not to be wasted. We also know the human experience is a complicated one full of wonderful and terrible things."

Performance Spaces:

 Art House North - "Creative community for the Common Good."

Bryant Lake Bowl - "A combination bowling alley/restaurant/bar/theater offering food, alcohol and live theater and music performances."

Camp Bar - "Managed by Actors Theater of Minnesota, The Cabaret @ Camp is one of the most intimate and versatile performing arts spaces in St. Paul."

Crane Theater - "The Crane Theater is a home for new collaboratively created theater in the Twin Cities. A place where the artists in our community go to build work for our community and beyond."

Dreamland Arts - "Dreamland Arts' mission is to build a healthy community through the arts."

 Fitzgerald Theater - "The Fitzgerald Theater is committed to programming that reflects the audience and mission of Minnesota Public Radio."

Hennepin Theatre Trust - "Hennepin Theatre Trust, owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and New Century Theatres, is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to arts-inspired community cultural development."

The Historic Mounds Theater - "We will work as a catalyst and magnet for arts and culture by developing new programs and partnerships, which create opportunities for youth, adults and professionals to actively participate in drama, music, dance, cinema, multimedia and other arts and cultural activities."

Intermedia Arts - "A multidisciplinary center dedicated to engaging the power of the arts in addressing social and human issues and to supporting the work of contemporary artists."

The Lab Theater - "The LAB Theater is a 6,000 square-foot warehouse, originally built by The Guthrie Theater as a "laboratory" space for experimental and unique works."

North Garden Theater - "Our mission is to provide an elegant venue where special events flourish, where creative, artistic individuals and groups feel empowered to utilize the space, and audiences are attracted by high quality, professional works."

Ordway Center - "Our mission is to be a driver for the artistic vitality of our community by hosting, presenting and creating performing arts and educational programs that engage artists and enrich diverse audiences."

Phoenix Theater - Run by nonprofit Arts' Nest, which "exists to nurture and support emerging artists and arts professionals – through creating access and opportunities for learning, connections, and visibility."

Red Eye Theater - "Red Eye is a multidisciplinary creative laboratory that supports the development and production of pioneering performance work."

Southern Theater - "The Southern Theater provides a home for artists, giving them the freedom to focus on what matters most, their art."

Strike Theater - "Strike Theater is dedicated to Twin Cities sketch comedy, storytelling, and spoken word."

Late and Lamented (or without a visible current web presence):

Hardcover Theater - "Hardcover Theater creates shows based on literature. We write our own scripts for them – almost thirty so far. We specialize in working with texts that have never before been adapted for the theater."

Workhaus Collective -  "Workhaus Collective creates a direct and immediate relationship between playwright and audience by fully producing original plays under the artistic leadership of the playwright."

20% Theater Company  - "20% Theatre Company Twin Cities is committed to supporting and vigorously promoting the work of female and transgender theatre artists, and celebrating the unique contribution of these artists to social justice and human rights."

7th House Theater - "7th House Theater is dedicated to creating new, innovative, and re-imagined stage-productions with an emphasis on music as a theatrical element." (FB page)

Casting Spells Productions - "Casting Spells Productions is committed to presenting remarkable stories and creating vibrant theatrical experiences, by engaging the finest professional artists, both onstage and off."

The Catalysts - "The Catalysts aim to develop, produce and present new and inventive musical theatre centered on social justice and the full scope of human potential."

Daleko Arts - "Providing high-quality theatre performance and education for New Prague, Minnesota and its surrounding communities."

Frank Theatre - "Frank Theatre is a professional theatre company committed to producing unique work that stretches the skills of the artists who create the work while simultaneously challenging the everyday perceptions of the audience through the exploration of ideas and issues of social, political and/or cultural concern."

Green T Productions - "Our mission: To produce visually stunning, mind-stirring, movement-oriented, multi-disciplinary physical theater that artistically challenges performers and audiences."

Maximum Verbosity - "Maximum Verbosity is a theatrical production company that specializes in whimsically wordplay-heavy entertainment."

Persistent Theatre Productions - "All of our work has a feminist voice because women have been overlooked for far too long not only in theatre but our world. We are committed to diversity and gender equality and strive to close the gender gap in American Theatre."

Red Bird Theatre - "Red Bird Theatre is a collective of professional artists committed to a collaborative, rigorous process and the execution of challenging, provocative material."

Second Fiddle Productions - "Second Fiddle is a reading series that breathes life into uncommon and rarely produced musicals. We aim to explore and celebrate the rich history of the American Musical Theatre."

Shoot the Glass Theater - "Shoot the Glass is an independent theater company founded on two simple principles: the empowerment of the actor and the immediacy of live theater."
"Our Mission is to create a place where theatre artists, of all disciplines, can thrive."

Theatre Coup D'Etat - "Theatre Coup d'Etat's mission is to provoke an emotional and analytical response in our audiences by showing the depth of the human condition through both classical and contemporary works."

Theatre Unbound - "Theatre Unbound delivers thought-provoking live theatre conceived and created by women, providing audiences with engaging, rarely-seen perspectives on issues that are relevant and universal."

Torch Theater - "We do theater we hope you will like. And only with good humans who kick ass."

Umbrella Collective - "Founded in 2007, Umbrella Collective (formerly Savage Umbrella) collaborates to create new works of theater that inspire vital conversations."

Underdog Theatre - "Underdog Theatre is a new company who creates art for the underserved, underrepresented, and unheard."

Uprising Theatre Company - "Uprising Theatre Company really, truly believes that stories can change the world. Something powerful happens when we get away from facts and figures and spreadsheets and simply tell each other our stories."

Mill City Summer Opera - "Mill City Summer Opera was founded with a vision to provide top-quality opera in a casual outdoor setting, reaching both existing and new potential opera lovers."
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)