Kick-off to Kushner includes new work from TC Gay Men’s Chorus, proclamation from Mayor R.T. Rybak, film screening, ticket discounts and more!
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!
KUSHNER CELEBRATION KICKS OFF aPRIL 18
at the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis
Kick-off to Kushner includes new work from TC Gay Men’s Chorus,
proclamation from Mayor R.T. Rybak, film screening, ticket discounts and more!
(Minneapolis/St. Paul) The Guthrie Theater’s Tony Kushner Celebration begins 15 days from today with a kick-off on April 18 and continues through June 28. This unprecedented celebration of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner’s work includes productions on all three of the Guthrie’s stages, classes, seminars, discussions, speakers and more. Details on the Kushner Celebration, including complete schedules and travel information can be found at www.CelebrateKushner.com.
The Kick-off to Kushner from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, which coincides with the first preview of Caroline, or Change at 7:30 p.m., includes a host of free activities open to the public, including the world premiere of a new work by the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus, commissioned in honor of the Kushner Celebration; the presentation of a proclamation by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak to Tony Kushner; live, on-location interviews with members of the casts and creative teams by radio personalities from 89.9 KMOJ, who will broadcast live from the Guthrie beginning at 11:00 a.m.; and opportunities to win free tickets to the opening night of the world premiere of The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures. The Guthrie Box Office will also offer $15 tickets to select performances (in person only). The day culminates with a screening of the film version of Angels in America beginning at 4:00 p.m. and anyone purchasing a ticket in person at the Box Office during the Kick-off from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. will receive two free passes to the screening of Angels in America in the McGuire Proscenium, while supplies last.
Caroline, or Change, the first of the three productions in the Kushner Celebration, begins performances April 18 and opens on April 24 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage under the direction of Marcela Lorca. The world premiere of the Guthrie-commissioned play The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures begins previews May 9 and opens May 15 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage under the direction of Tony and Drama Desk nominated director Michael Greif (Broadway: Rent, Grey Gardens). In the Dowling Studio, tiny Kushner, an evening of Kushner’s short plays directed by Berkeley Rep Artistic Director Tony Taccone, begins performances May 16, with a May 20 opening.
The Guthrie has lined up three major speakers for the Celebration. Former New York Times theater critic and current op-ed columnist Frank Rich speaks on the intersection of arts, culture and politics on May 11 at 7:30 p.m. Lambda Legal executive director Kevin M. Cathcart appears on May 23 at 1:00 p.m. and May 24 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the movement to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and people with HIV. On June 8 at 7:30, Tony Kushner joins Joe Dowling in a highly anticipated discussion of Kushner’s work.
To fully explore Kushner’s work during the three-month Celebration, the Guthrie has arranged a series of classes, seminars and workshops devoted to Kushner. Page to Stage: Kushner Celebration meets on four consecutive Mondays beginning April 13 at 6:30 p.m. In this course, Guthrie dramaturg Jo Holcomb will speak to Kushner's life, inspirations and the Celebration texts; Assistant Production Director Trevor Long will delve into the sets, costumes, lights and will provide a tour of all three stages; director Marcela Lorca will speak on directing the musical Caroline, or Change; Musical Director Andrew Cooke will offer insight into its music; and four actors participating in the Celebration will join the class for an exciting discussion. Saturday Seminars, 90-minute courses taught by four University of Minnesota professors to explore themes and questions raised by Kushner's work, take place May 9, 16, 23 and June 6. Each seminar varies in theme and format, and may be taken individually or packaged with other seminars. How'd They Do That? Workshops take people behind the scenes of each of the three productions on the stages on May 30, June 3 and June 13. These eye-opening workshops led by Guthrie's artists and staff, examine how each production is created, from early development and designs to rehearsal, costume fittings and staging of the play. On June 9 the Guthrie presents a Continuing Legal Education seminar for attorneys. In this unique course Guthrie actors will read excerpts from Kushner's plays, as well as actual transcripts, to illustrate the human impact that legislation dealing with these issues is having in our society today. In addition to the seminars, Pre- and Post-Play Discussions with members of the casts and creative teams are scheduled for each production (see attached schedule).
The opportunity to fully immerse yourself in all the Kushner Celebration has to offer comes on Extreme Kushner Weekends – Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24; and Friday, June 5 through Monday, June 8. In addition to seeing all three productions on these weekends, a theatergoer can participate in exciting programming before and after each show to deepen their experience, including the above-listed Saturday Seminars and speaking engagements by Kevin M. Cathcart and Tony Kushner. Extreme Kushner Weekends will also include free discussions in the Guthrie’s lobbies, which are open to the public. Talk Abouts are scheduled before and after the productions Friday through Sunday and are led by Guthrie staff, artists and special guests.
Tickets for all three productions, the speaker series and seminars are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE or online at www.guthrietheater.org.
About the Guthrie
The Guthrie Theater, founded in 1963, is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Guthrie is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. Led by Director Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie opened its new three-theater home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in June 2006.
The Guthrie is located at 818 South 2nd Street (at Chicago Avenue), in downtown Minneapolis. To purchase tickets or season subscriptions call the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224 or toll-free 877.44.STAGE. For more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit www.guthrietheater.org.
KUSHNER CELEBRATION PRODUCTIONS
Tickets for these three productions are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office
Guthrie Box Office: 612.377.2224
Greater Minnesota: TOLL FREE 877.44.STAGE
Box Office hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (performance days) and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (non-performance days)
Tickets may be purchased online at www.guthrietheater.org
CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
BOOK AND LYRICS BY TONY KUSHNER
MUSIC BY JEANINE TESORI
DIRECTED BY MARCELA LORCA
First preview: April 18, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night: April 24, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Closing: June 21, 2009 7 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – Wurtele Thrust Stage
818 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
TICKETS: Single tickets priced at $29 - $65, opening night $54 - $75
Performance Schedule: Tuesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 7 p.m.
Matinees on selected Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Discussions: Pre-play Discussion
April 19, 2009 at 5 p.m.
Post-play Discussions
April 26, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
April 28, 2009 (following the 7:30 p.m. performance)
May 16, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
May 23, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
June 7, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL’S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES
BY TONY KUSHNER
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL GREIF
First preview: May 9, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night: May 15, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Closing: June 28, 2009 7 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – McGuire Proscenium Stage
818 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
TICKETS: Single tickets priced at $24 - $60, opening night $49 - $70
Performance Schedule: Tuesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 7 p.m.
Matinees on selected Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Discussions: Pre-play Discussion
May 10, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.
Post-play Discussions
May 17, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
May 19, 2009 (following the 7:30 p.m. performance)
May 31, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
June 6, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
June 20, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
tiny Kushner
An Evening of Short Plays
Geraldine of Albania Meets Lucia Pamela on the Moon
Terminating or Sonnet LXXV or “Lass Meine Schmerzen Nicht Verloren Sein” or Ambivalence East Coast Ode to Howard Jarvis
Dr. Arnold A. Hutschneker in Paradise
Only We Who Guard the Mystery Shall Be Unhappy
BY TONY KUSHNER
DIRECTED BY TONY TACCONE
First preview: May 16, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night: May 20, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Closing: June 7, 2009 1 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – Dowling Studio
818 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
TICKETS: Single tickets priced at $18 - $30, opening night $34
Performance Schedule: Tuesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 7 p.m.
Matinees on selected Sundays at 1 p.m.
Discussions: Pre-Play Discussion
May 17, 2009 at 5 p.m.
Post-play Discussions
May 24, 2009 (following the 1 p.m. performance)
June 5, 2009 (following the 7:30 p.m. performance)
KUSHNER CELEBRATION SPEAKERS
Tickets for these three speakers are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office
Guthrie Box Office: 612.377.2224
Greater Minnesota: TOLL FREE 877.44.STAGE
Box Office hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (performance days) and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (non-performance days)
Tickets may be purchased online at www.guthrietheater.org
GLOBAL VOICE: FRANK RICH
Frank Rich, former New York Times theater critic and current Op-Ed columnist, will speak on the intersection of arts, culture and politics as part of an overall examination and celebration of the work of Tony Kushner.
Date/Time: May 11, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – Wurtele Thrust Stage
818 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
TICKETS: $15, $25 and $35
IN CONVERSATION: KEVIN M. CATHCART
Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin M. Cathcart, will discuss the movement to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and people with HIV.
Date/Time: May 23, 2009 1 p.m.
May 24, 2009 7 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – Dowling Studio
818 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
TICKETS: $15
GLOBAL VOICE: TONY KUSHNER
The speaker series will conclude with a highly anticipated discussion between celebration honoree Tony Kushner and Guthrie Director Joe Dowling.
Date/Time: June 8, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – Wurtele Thrust Stage
818 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
TICKETS: $20, $30 and $40
KUSHNER CELEBRATION SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
Tickets for these events are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office
Guthrie Box Office: 612.377.2224
Greater Minnesota: TOLL FREE 877.44.STAGE
Box Office hours: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily
Tickets may be purchased online at www.guthrietheater.org
PAGE TO STAGE: KUSHNER CELEBRATION
Gain insight from a director, dramaturg, assistant technical director, musical director and actors on the process of taking the Kushner Celebration from the page to the stage.
Date/Time: Four consecutive Mondays, April 13 – May 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – Guthrie Learning Center – Level 8
Tickets: $100
SATURDAY SEMINARS
How does Tony Kushner build on the kinds of dramatic energies generated by playwrights such as Henrik Ibsen, George Bernard Shaw, Bertolt Brecht and Caryl Churchill? What does homosexuality have to do with socialism? Saturday Seminars, taught by four University of Minnesota professors, explore themes and questions raised by Kushner's work.
Date/Time: May 9, 2009 9:30 a.m.
May 16, 2009 9:30 a.m.
May 23, 2009 9:30 a.m.
June 6, 2009 9:30 a.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater – Guthrie Learning Center – Level 8
Tickets: $35 per seminar (save on two or more)
HOW’D THEY DO THAT? WORKSHOPS
Through these eye-opening workshops you can learn how the Guthrie's artists and staff create a production, from early development and designs to rehearsal, costume fittings and staging of the play.
Date/Time: Saturday, May 30, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Caroline, or Change)
Wednesday, June 3, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. (tiny Kushner)
Saturday, June 13, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. (The Intelligent Homosexual)
Location: Guthrie Theater
Tickets: $15
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION: KUSHNER
Excerpts from Kushner's plays, as well as actual transcripts, are used to illustrate the human impact that legislation dealing with these issues is having in our society today. This course provides 2.0 credits toward the Elimination of Bias requirements in Minnesota, California and Oregon. It provides 2.0 or greater CLE credits toward the Ethics requirements of most other jurisdictions.
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 9, 2:00 p.m.
Location: Guthrie Theater - Wurtele Thrust Stage
Tickets: For registration information call 612.225.6172