Guthrie Theater is a center for performances, production, education and training

The Guthrie Theater is located in Minneapolis and is the center for theater performances, production and education along with professional training. The theater is the result of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler who wanted to create an acting company to produce and perform classic productions away from the commercial pressures of Broadway. The theater opened on May 7, 1963 with a production of Hamlet, which was directed by Guthrie. The theater moved to a new three-theater building after the closing season of Hamlet on May 7, 2006.

The original theater building of 1963 by architect Rapha Rapson who was head of the University of Minnesota School of Architecture. The theater was a round design with a thrust stage that projected from a back wall and seating surrounding two thirds of the stage. The original theater seated 1,441 people with the seating radiating outward and upward with balconies that hung over the space under acoustical panels that were hung from the ceiling and the asymmetrical theme went to the top of the theater. The state was modified in 1980 when Artistic Director Liviu Ciulei redesigned the stage so that the size, shape and height was adjustable, along with the back wall opened up to create more depth. This building was demolished in late 2006 to extend the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

The new theater was completed in 2006 at a cost of $125 million located in downtown Minneapolis. The current building was developed by Jean Nouvel and architectural Firm Architectural Alliance, the current building is 285,000 square foot building with three theaters. The first is the signature thrust stage that seats 1,100 people, the proscenium stage, which seats 700 and a black-box studio with flexible seating. A cantilevered bridge, `Endless Bridge', is open during building hours allowing visitors the opportunity to feel like they are walking across the Mississippi, with no end in sight. Large panels cover the outside walls, which display photographs from past plays and are Cleary visible at night.

Tours at the theater include Backstage tours where visitors will get a behind-the-scenes look at all the parts of a show, from script, rehearsal to opening night, visitors can visit the scene shop, view costumes or view the rehearsal rooms. Architecture Tours are an in-depth tour that focuses on the building process, the neighborhood and specific features of the building. Self-guided Audio Tours are available to allow guests to view the theater at their own pace and Costume Rental Tours take visitors into the change room to explore the clothing from different time periods used in different performances.

The Great Gatsby was the first production at the new theater, which opened on July 15, 2006.

The Guthrie Theater has won many awards and received much recognition such as Jean Nouvel being named Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, and Award for Excellence for Project of the Year and City Pages naming the Endless Bridge `Best View'.

The theater is opened for the public even if they are not attending a performance although during the day access to the theaters is prohibited due to rehearsal schedules. The building provides an opportunity to bring people together in the three theaters and throughout public spaces. Visitors are also able to dine at Sea change or enjoy a coffee at Level Five Express, take a class or backstage tour or join a post-show discussion. A concierge desk is located on Level One at the main entry and a Patron Service Desk is located on Level Four to assist visitors with any questions they may have and during Showtime ushers and volunteers are able to assist.