Guthrie Theater
4.8(5.5K)google
4.4(259)yelp
Date SpotScenic LookoutIndoorCity LandmarkMust-SeePerformanceHistoric BuildingRiver
Overview
The Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963, is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The concept of the theater was born in 1959 in a series of discussions among Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler. Disenchanted with Broadway, they intended to form a theater with a resident acting company, to perform classic plays in rotating repertory, while maintaining the highest professional standards.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue1:00 – 8:00 PM
Wed1:00 – 8:00 PM
Thu1:00 – 8:00 PM
Fri1:00 – 8:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-3 hours
Best TimeAn architectural and dramatic arts masterpiece appropriate year-round. The absolute defining moment is sunset from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM on a clear evening (completely free to access without a show ticket). Head directly to the 4th floor to stand inside the 'Endless Bridge' observation deck cantilevered over the Mississippi River for photos.
Getting ThereSituated right downtown next to Gold Medal Park at 818 S 2nd St. Take the METRO Blue or Green Line to the US Bank Stadium station and walk 6 minutes north toward the riverway. For drivers, a spacious city municipal paid parking garage (Riverfront Ramp) sits directly beneath the theater complex with seamless skyway access.
Travel Tips
- The dramatic 4th-floor Endless Bridge observation deck is free to the public, but access is restricted to ticketed theater patrons during the 60-minute window preceding major weekend evening mainstage curtains.
- The municipal Guthrie Ramp transitions to a flat-rate Event Fee 90 minutes before showtimes; gridlock stretches multiple blocks, requiring a 45-minute buffer or routing to the nearby River Parkway surface lots.
- Strict stage management policies mandate zero late seating once curtains rise; latecomers are barred from auditorium entry and sequestered in video-monitor lounges until designated intermission gaps.
Reviews
Positive
- Jean Nouvel's deep blue architectural masterpiece delivers incredible visual impact, especially the cantilevered 'Endless Bridge' offering stunning vistas over the river.
- Even without buying a theater ticket, the public lounges and the Endless Bridge are free to access, letting you stroll, take photos, and soak in a high-art vibe at no cost.
- The auditorium stage geometries (especially the signature thrust stage) boast perfect acoustics and sightlines, treating theatergoers to an unparalleled immersive experience.
- Service and crowd management are gold-standard; check-in is swift with plenty of polite ushers, restrooms are abundant, and accessible seats and captioning are pristine.
Heads up
- If you wish to attend a formal Broadway-caliber performance, play tickets are pricey, and blockbuster shows like the annual 'A Christmas Carol' sell out instantly.
- The theater's connected garage implements high event rates on show nights, and its location next to busy downtown hubs means long garage exit queues and street gridlock.
- The signature yellow-tinted observation lounge (Amber Room) is unique, but the monochromatic amber hue is so intense that spending extended time inside under bright sun strains the eyes.
- The upscale on-site dining options carry hefty prices and require early reservations, leaving theatergoers who just want a fast, budget pre-show bite with few choices.