Theatre Spotlight: Historic State Theatre

Historic State Theatre is part of a trio of theatres located in the Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis. Located at 805 Hennepin Ave, the Historic State Theatre is in the heart of downtown boasting wonderful sightlines and great acoustics.

Seating in the theater is very comfortable and spacious. Amenities are well laid out for convenience and there are several great restaurants in the same building or within walking distance. Parking for the Historic State Theatre is easily accessible and ranges from the heated underground parking in the same building to many parking ramps within one block of the theater.

The State Theatre opened on the former site of the Walker family homestead on February 5, 1921. The opening night of the theatre included a silent film, newsreel and travelogue.

The theatre cost approximately one million dollars and was designed by Chicago architect J.E.O. Pridmore. The original floor was all glass, which allowed dramatic direct lighting from underneath. The State Theatre boasted the first well driven air-conditioning system in Minneapolis. The system delivered cool air using artesian well water 840 feet underground.

In 1989, the City of Minneapolis purchased the LaSalle block, which included the State Theatre, for 11 million dollars. The State Theatre went through a three year, 8.8 million dollar renovation project. In 1991, the Historic State Theatre reopened and performed the Minnesota Opera's production of Carousel.

The State Theatre seats 1300 on the main floor, with an additional 850 seats in the balcony area.

Since the reopening in 1991, the State Theatre has hosted live Broadway touring productions and concerts, along with select films. The Hennepin Avenue theatre district atmosphere and the great viewing amenities of the Historic State Theatre, make this venue one of the hottest tickets in town!

Theater Spotlight: Orpheum Theatre

Originally known as the Hennepin, the Orpheum Theatre opened on October 16, 1921. Located at 910 Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota the theatre was designed by the Milwaukee firm of Kirchoff & Rose and cost 1 million dollars to build. Over 70,000 guests came to watch the Marx Brothers perform during opening week.

The Orpheum seats approx 1500 on the main floor, with an additional 1100 seats in the three-level balcony. It's a finely refurbished theatre, with comfortable seating and lovely decor. Both acoustics and sight lines are outstanding.

Throughout the early 1920's, the Orpheum was a major venue for many variety show type entertainers including Jack Benny, Burns & Allen and Fanny Brice. The best seats in the house sold for 47 cents, and children's tickets were only 9 cents. The Orpheum also featured an unheard of playroom and baby-sitting services for small children on the first floor mezzanine lobby. After the 20's, the Orpheum easily changed with the times and became one of the major cinema houses in Minneapolis that we know today. 

Restored to an elegance and beauty before only imagined, the Historic Orpheum Theatre has become the favored stop for touring Broadway blockbusters. This elegantly restored theater successfully hosts Broadway hits and rock superstars with equal ease. Its great location in the Hennepin Theatre district and ability to attract big name shows makes the Orpheum one of the most sought-after tickets in town!

Theater Spotlight: The Guthrie Theater

The Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a nationally acclaimed venue and Tony Award winner. The theatre is a unique venue for staging plays and is the result of Sir Tyrone Guthrie's desire for a new kind of theater that would provide an atmosphere which would encourage the production of great works of literature and cultivate actors' talents away from the more commercial environment of Broadway.

The Guthrie Theater has performed in two main-stage facilities. The former building was designed by architect Ralph Rapson and was active from 1963-2006. After relocating, the Guthrie now finds its home in the work of French architect Jean Nouvel's design. It is a 255,000 square foot facility that replicates the former theater's signature thrust stage and includes a new 1,100-seat auditorium, 700-seat proscenium stage, 250-seat studio theater, new classrooms and food service.

Even with the brand new digs, the Guthrie Theatre, now at 818 South Second Street in Minneapolis, is filled with history and tradition. Along with the Guthrie's innovative production philosophy, the theater itself gained a lot of attention by the unique style.

Gear Daddies Tickets Fine Line Minneapolis

The Gear Daddies are coming to the Fine Line on June 16th.

That may seem like a ways away. However, there are only a few tickets left. Yikes! Get a move on!

Varsity Theater Events Calendar

I'm in despair! I need something to do now that summer is here. In search of a fun and promising social scene, I stumbled on some June Varsity Theater events. Might as well!

The Varsity Theater in Minneapolis is hosting great events in the month of June. As a city second only to New York City, Minneapolis Theater productions sell out quickly. I'm giving you a heads up on these events! Take this opportunity to purchase your tickets early!

Anberlin on 6/18 @ 8pm 

The Promise Ring on 6/27 @ 9pm

Neil Diamond to the Xcel Energy Center

Neil Diamond is coming to the Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday, July 11! The concert will kickoff at 8:00pm. Don't wait to move on these great tickets!

 Neil Diamond Tickets

Theater Spotlight: Historic State Theatre

Historic State Theatre is part of a trio of theatres located in the Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis. Located at 805 Hennepin Ave, the Historic State Theatre is in the heart of downtown boasting wonderful sightlines and great acoustics.

Seating in the theater is very comfortable and spacious. Amenities are well laid out for convenience and there are several great restaurants in the same building or within walking distance. Parking for the Historic State Theatre is easily accessible and ranges from the heated underground parking in the same building to many parking ramps within one block of the theater.

The State Theatre opened on the former site of the Walker family homestead on February 5, 1921. The opening night of the theatre included a silent film, newsreel and travelogue.

The theatre cost approximately one million dollars and was designed by Chicago architect J.E.O. Pridmore. The original floor was all glass, which allowed dramatic direct lighting from underneath. The State Theatre boasted the first well driven air-conditioning system in Minneapolis. The system delivered cool air using artesian well water 840 feet underground.

In 1989, the City of Minneapolis purchased the LaSalle block, which included the State Theatre, for 11 million dollars. The State Theatre went through a three year, 8.8 million dollar renovation project. In 1991, the Historic State Theatre reopened and performed the Minnesota Opera's production of Carousel.

The State Theatre seats 1300 on the main floor, with an additional 850 seats in the balcony area.

Since the reopening in 1991, the State Theatre has hosted live Broadway touring productions and concerts, along with select films. The Hennepin Avenue theatre district atmosphere and the great viewing amenities of the Historic State Theatre, make this venue one of the hottest tickets in town!

Theater Spotlight: Northrop Memorial Auditorium

The Northrop Memorial Auditorium located on the campus of the University of Minnesota is one of the finest on-campus auditoriums in the nation. Northrop Memorial Auditorium is now the state's largest theater and the largest college campus auditorium in the country. The building was constructed in 1928 on top of a former College of Pharmacy medicinal herb garden. The grand looking gathering place has beautiful white majestic pillars that are now one of the University of Minnesota's major icons and focal points.

Northrop Memorial Auditorium is located at 84 Church St SE in Minneapolis, MN.

The auditorium was named in honor of Cyrus Northrop, the second president of the University (1884-1911). The Northrop was designed by Clarence H. Johnston, a famous local architect.

Donations by University students, faculty/staff, alumni and friends funded the $1.35 million construction. The auditorium was built to be used as the University's central ceremonial site with commencements, lectures, convocations, and performances. The Northrop was built with 4,800 seats, this capacity allowing the entire student body of that day to be assembled under one roof.

The Northrop Auditorium is a classy intimate venue to see a good show. The limited number of seats in the Northrop Memorial Auditorium make tickets to music headliners a much sought after commodity.

Theater Spotlight: Ordway Center of Performing Arts

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is an independent, nonprofit arts organization located at 345 Washington Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Ordway Center has two venues, a 1,900-seat Main Hall and an intimate 306-seat McKnight Theatre.

In 1980, Saint Paul resident Sally Ordway Irvine challenged her community to help her create a performing arts venue in which her dream of offering "everything from opera to the Russian circus" could be realized. She set an example by making the first donation to a fund that eventually built Ordway Center.

The Ordway cost a total of 46 million dollars to build. Sally Ordway Irvine contributed a total of 7.5 million dollars and her family graciously matched that amount. The Ordway name comes from Sally's grandfather, Lucius Pond Ordway (1862-1948), a Saint Paul businessperson and early investor of 3M. The Center of Performing Arts was added to the Ordway name in January 2000, to reflect and embrace the multitude of performing arts available to the community.

The Ordway Music Theatre opened to the public on January 1, 1985. Throughout its existence, the Ordway Center has maintained Sally's vision of advocating the importance of arts for society by offering a busy schedule of theater, dance, music, family events, and educational programs.

Four organizations call the Ordway home: the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera, the Schubert Club and the St. Paul series of the Minnesota Orchestra. Touring plays, the Planet Ordway series of performance arts and other arts events fill out the schedule.

The Center is top notch and offers amenities like no other event theatre. The large, inviting front doors of Ordway Center are opened by a smiling greeter in a top hat and concessionaires serve you the finest in treats. Ushers formally show you to your seats and the entire staff is committed to providing the finest performing arts experience possible to its many patrons.

Theater Spotlight: The Fitzgerald Theatre

The Fitzgerald Theater is Saint Paul's oldest surviving theater space. It opened in 1910 at 45 Exchange Street East and was originally named the Sam S. Shubert Theater. The Fitzgerald was one of four memorial theaters erected by entertainment-industry leaders Lee and J. J. Shubert after the death of their brother Sam. In 1933, the Fitzgerald Theater became a movie house screening foreign films and was thus christened the World Theater.

Minnesota Public Radio purchased the theater in 1980 and restored it in 1986 for their live radio program, A Prairie Home Companion® with Garrison Keillor. The theater was again renamed in 1994, this time for author F. Scott Fitzgerald, a native of Saint Paul. Over the years, the Fitzgerald's stage has played host to Broadway musicals, vaudeville shows, film festivals, and concerts of all sorts.

When the Fitzgerald first opened it was hailed as one of the most beautiful theaters of its day. The Fitzgerald Theatre seats 996 and is one of those treasures of theater construction known as a "two-balcony dramatic house," of which only a few remain across the country. Audiences are provided a unique sense of intimacy as no seat is farther than 87 feet from the stage.

The lobby opens to a beautiful Beaux Arts interior with red plush seats that are of a hue found only in elegant theaters of the same era. Eight opera boxes curve gently toward the stage, each backed by a privacy curtain made from the same burgundy velour used to make the stage curtain.

Fitzgerald Theatre is one of the Twin Cities' exemplary theaters, with admirable acoustics and three tiers of seating plus a collection of opera boxes. The theater's many assets make it popular with touring acts that could probably sell out much larger venues. If a show at the Fitzgerald interests you, don't wait to purchase Fitzgerald event tickets -- this intimate location is known for its fast ticket sell outs.

Upcoming Fitzgerald Theater Events

Take a peak at the upcoming Fitzgerald Theater events!

Andy Richter on 4/13 @ 8pm

Pink Martini on 4/17 @ 730pm

Adam Carolla on 4/21 @ 7pm

Fred Willard & Dan Wilson on 4/27 @ 8pm

Mamma Mia! at the Orpheum

Looking to score some Mamma Mia! tickets? Got 'em!

Mamma Mia! is performing at the Orpheum Theater.

Blind Date at Mckight Theatre at the Ordway

Looking for the perfect romantic, yet fun date night? Check out Blind Date!

Blind Date will be performing various times and days at the Mcknight Theatre at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts.

Check it out!

Upcoming Ticket King Events

Here are some great events coming to the Varsity Theater in the next week:

4/19 - Howler @ 8:30pm
4/23 - Beatuiful Freaks Tour: Hot Chelle Rae @ TBD
4/26 - Lights @ TBD
4/28 - Fountains of Wayne @ 8:00pm
5/2 - He is We @ TBD

Check out these events!!

Florence and the Machine to the State Theatre

I know, I know. Florence and the Machine isn't theatre, but since the group will be performing at the Historic State Theatre, I thought you should know!

Florence And The Machine will be coming to the State Theatre on Friday, April 27 and the show is NOT yet SOLD OUT.

Florence And The Machine will be touring in support of the band's second and latest CD, Ceremonials. Blood Orange will also perform as the band's special guest.

Don't miss your chance to catch Florence And The Machine at the State Theatre in Minneapolis.