“Behind the Scenes: Twin Cities Performing Arts and 50 Years of the Guthrie Theater,” April 1-June 28, 2013, presented by the Performing Arts Archives at Elmer L. Andersen Library.

Come for a behind-the-scenes look at the Guthrie Theater, James Sewell Ballet, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Minnesota Orchestra, and many, many more!

 

We find magic on our stages, and that magic comes from many sources, at once sublime and profoundly 

human. The work that goes into every production we see is a prelude to the thrill of theater, dance, and orchestra performances. Indeed, as much energy goes into hiding the gears, logistics, and stagehands that make the performing arts appear utterly complete and seamless as in showing audiences a well-set world, wondrously brought to life by actors, dancers, and musicians.

There are great pleasures to be found in peeking behind the curtain, into the rehearsal studios, costume and prop shops, offices, and boardrooms that make opening night, and every night following, possible. It is there we find the genesis of an idea–for a theater that will change Minnesota, or a groundbreaking ballet company, or a revolutionary version of a well-known story–transformed through personalities, budgets, missions, director’s notes, nightly performance reports, and beautiful costume renderings.