Your Minnesota Performing Arts Guide

THEATER

Minnesota is home to three TONY-winning regional theater companies, placing us fourth in the nation in total TONY wins. The Guthrie, Children’s Theatre Company, and Theatre de la Jeune Lune (now The Moving Company) have all taken home the nation’s top theatrical prize. Even more impressive, the Children’s Theater is the only theater for young audiences in the nation to earn that distinction. 

Not only is the Guthrie Minnesota’s flagship theater and a feat of modern architecture; it’s the birthplace of the American regional theater movement. Founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963, the Guthrie was built on the principle that the highest-caliber theater shouldn’t require a trip to Broadway. In 2006, the theater moved from its Loring Park home to a brand-new, 285,000-square-foot facility on the Mississippi River, designed by famed French architect Jean Nouvel.

The Guthrie is still considered among the finest regional theaters in the nation, attracting world premieres from the likes of Tony Kushner and Mark Rylance, and its stunning building is open to the public (whether or not you have a ticket to a show), including the iconic cantilever bridge and amber box, where you can take in an outstanding view of the Minneapolis river front and Mill District, as well as a breathtaking vantage of Minneapolis. 

Other notable Minnesota theaters include Penumbra, one of the nation’s most lauded Black companies (famous for launching the career of August Wilson); Theater Latté Da, a cutting-edge producer of intimate musical theater; the social-justice focused Mixed Blood; and The Jungle, Ten Thousand Things, and the Playwrights' Center (which has developed new works by theatrical heavyweights like Paula Vogel and Suzan Lori-Parks).  

Minneapolis and St.Paul are also both major destinations for Broadway National tours. To see a Broadway show without the flight to New York, you can go to Hennepin Arts or the Ordway.

Looking for something a little more “out there”? Check out the Walker Art Center’s offerings, which often include works by international companies like Ontoerend Goed. 

CAN'T-MISS PRODUCTIONS

The Heartsellers
Guthrie Theatre
Dec 14 - Jan 25

Lloyd Suh’s moving comedy about the Asian immigrant experience, follows Luna and Jane as they attempt to make a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Lloyd Suh is a Pulitzer-prize finalist, and was inspired to write "The Heart Sellers” based on conversations he and Director May Adrales had about their mothers’ experiences immigrating to the U.S. 

Parade
Orpheum Theatre
Jan 21 - 26

The first Broadway national tour of Jason Robert Brown’s two-time TONY-winning musical, which tells the story of the trial of Leo Frank in turn-of-the-century Georgia, has only planned stops in fourteen states, Minnesota among them. "Parade” features a lush ragtime score and stars Broadway’s Max Chernin and Talia Suskauer as Leo and Lucille Frank. 

Paradise Blue
Penumbra Theatre
Feb 13 - March 9

A noir-inflected musical drama by Obie and MacArthur-winning playwright Dominique Morriseau about a jazz musician who decides to sell his club.  

Milo Imagines the World
Children's Theatre Company
Feb 4 - March 9  

A world-premiere musical for young audiences about a boy named Milo, who rides the subway home and dreams about of the lives of his fellow passengers. A fresh country and hip-hop score with a kid-friendly 65-minute runtime.  

The Effect
The Jungle
March 1 - 30  

The regional premiere of Lucy Prebble’s drama about two patients in a clinical trial who begin to fall for each other – then question the reality of their connection. Starring Twin Cities heavyweight Christina Baldwin at the jewel-box Jungle Theater.  

Fun Home
Theatre Latté Da
April 2 - May 4

Latté Da, the only theater in the nation exclusively dedicated to musicals, takes on the moving, TONY-winning adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic novel.  

Learn more about theaters in Minnesota. 

MUSIC

Minnesota is home to one of the nation’s most diverse and vibrant music scenes. With two top orchestras (the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra), the iconic First Avenue, and too many independent venues to count, there’s always a listen-worthy experience just around the corner.

But don’t take our word for it. The New York Times said that “the state is a hotbed of corrosive underground rock, birthplace of two acclaimed icons, home to a lively hip-hop scene and bedrock of ‘80s pop and funk.”  

Come for a visit and see why Prince famously declared that “rock and roll is alive (and it lives in Minneapolis)!”  

For decades now, the center of Minnesota’s music scene has been First Avenue. A renovated bus depot in downtown Minneapolis, it's been rocking for more than 50 years and remains a shining example of what it means to be truly independent.

You may have seen First Ave even if you’ve never been to Minneapolis before; it’s where the concert scenes from “Purple Rain” were filmed. A smaller annex, the 7th St Entry, has become nearly as legendary as a launching pad for bands that would go on to play much bigger rooms, like the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Soul Asylum. 

Looking for more Prince? Take a self-guided Prince tour of Minnesota.  

Minneapolis also has plenty of jazz options. Try dinner and a show at the Dakota, or check out one of the newest additions to Minneapolis nightlife, Berlin in the trendy North Loop neighborhood. 

More of an opera buff? Check out the world-renowned Minnesota Opera. 

Learn more about the Minnesota music scene. 

CAN’T-MISS SHOWS

Cactus Blossoms & Charlie Parr
Turf Club
January

St. Paul’s most beloved small venue is ringing the New Year in with month-long residencies from two of Minnesota’s top independent acts. Alt-country duo The Cactus Blossoms hit the stage every Monday night and underground icon Charlie Parr brings his singular blend of bluesy music to the 350-cap room every Sunday.

Robert Glasper
Dakota
January 9 - 11

Soak up the “new sonic paradigm” of five-time GRAMMY winner Robert Glasper, a leader of jazz’s new school since the early ‘00s who’s playing not one but six different sets at the Dakota.  

Nordic Soundscapes Festival
Minnesota Orchestra
Jan 10 – 18

A celebration of Nordic music in two parts (Landscapes and Portraits and Tales and Folklore) featuring compositions from Sibelius, Grieg, and newer composers like Iceland’s Daníel Bjarnason.  

Jamie xx
The Armory
Jan 18

Fresh off the release of his first solo album in nearly a decade — the dance floor detonator “In Dreams” — Jamie xx is set to play a rare set of raucous anthems that appeal to both the EDM brigade and club-bound fans of his breakthrough indie band the xx.

Kelsea Ballerini
Target Center
Jan 21

Country-pop star Kelsea Ballerini is a throwback to the days when Taylor Swift was known as more of a Nashville phenomenon and artists like Shania Twain absolutely crushed the crossover charts.

Tyler, the Creator
Xcel Energy Center
February 4

One of the year’s biggest hip-hop bills features two of its boldest voices — former Odd Future overlord Tyler, the Creator and recent James Blake collaborator Lil Yachty — alongside the rising alt-rap duo Paris Texas.

Foster the People
The Fillmore Minneapolis
Feb 14

Having recently broken a brief hiatus with the long-awaited LP “Paradise State of Mind”, Foster the People is back on the road and playing one of the metro area’s newest venues, the mid-sized Fillmore Minneapolis.

Four Spirits with Abel Selaocole
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Feb 14 - 16

SPCO Artistic Partner, Abel Selaocole, both directs and performs in Stravinsky’s Dunbarton Oakes, Marius Neset’s Birds, and his own world-premiere concerto, Four Spirits.

Justin Timberlake
Xcel Energy Center
February 24

NSYNC’s reigning prince of pop returns with his first local appearance since 2018’s Super Bowl halftime show.

Mary J. Blige
Xcel Energy Center
March 16

Speaking of royalty, the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” is in the middle of a major victory lap that included a recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

DANCE

Don’t sleep on our small-but-mighty dance scene. You can’t tell the story of Minnesota’s dance community without mentioning the Walker Art Center, which played host to groundbreaking performances by Bill T. Jones, Merce Cunningham, and Meredith Monk.

The Walker is still deeply invested in the local dance community, and hosts a regular choreographer’s evening. Minnesota is also home to internationally renowned companies like Arena Dances, Threads Dance Project, Ragamala, and TU Dance, as well as fun-focused, theatrical-hybrid companies like Collide.  

Fans of ballet should keep an eye out for performances from James Sewell, as well as the annual and distinctive production of Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy. 

CAN'T-MISS PERFORMANCES

Romeo and Juliet
Collide Theatrical
Jan 31 - Feb 23

Collide dynamically blends styles of dance. Their fresh take on this storied classic features a pop-rock score and energetic cast.

Threat
TU Dance
April 26 - 27

A concert dance theater work about the role we play in hierarchies, featuring a score that mixes orchestra strings, djembe drum, and and spoken word.

Only the perverse fantasy can still save us
Walker Art Center
May 16 – 17

Inspired by choreographer Mathew Janczewski’s battle with leukemia and Matthew Barney's five-part "Cremaster" cycle, this piece investigates the biologically determined processes that shape our lives.

WHERE TO STAY & MORE TO DO

Between Minneapolis and St. Paul's many critically acclaimed chefs (Diane Moua, Yia Vang, Christina Nguyen), multi-vendor mainstays (Hmongtown Marketplace, Asia Mall, Midtown Global Market), and corridors of culinary excellence like Frogtown and Lake Street, it's easy to take a culinary tour of not just Minnesota, but the world itself. One that's full of complex flavors and reflective of our diverse community's culinary traditions, whether it’s the piquant chili peppers of China, the savory berberé spices of East Africa, or the fiery top notes of Thailand and Tibet.

From the foraging-heavy menu and evergreen interior of Bûcheron to the soul-warming spice at the multi-award-winning Oro by Nixta, our restaurant scene racks up “Best Chef Midwest” nods on the regular for a reason. And it's how Minnesotans make the most of locally sourced ingredients in all four seasons. 

You can also cozy up at Matt’s for an iconic Jucy Lucy, grab a citrusy glass of Grüner Veltliner and bold Nordic bites at Bar Brava, or stop at the small-but-mighty Hyacinth for an expert cocktail and bowl of hand-made pasta. 

See our full guide to Minneapolis-St. Paul, visit a world class art museum, or find an unfortgettable place to stay.