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Insider Guide: Scott Mayer

The founder of Minneapolis-Saint Paul's version of the Tony Awards, Scott's in-the-know about who's hot in the local theater community. Here's his list of must-see local performers.

Local Theater Artists to Watch

Stacia Rice
An Ivey Award-winning actress, the suburban Edina native worked in a local ad agency until she tried out for the Guthrie Theater just 5 years ago. Now a member of the theater's acting company, she's given some powerful performances, including playing the lead most recently in Jane Eyre. Stacia is also the founder of Torch Theatre and an Ivey Awards recipient for her brilliant role in A Streetcar Named Desire.

Peter Rothstein
Peter is co-founder of Theater Latte Da in 1996, a company that seeks to create new connections between text, music, artist and audience by exploring and expanding the art of musical theater. Peter is one of the hardest working people in show business. Just this year, he's directed the Children's Theatre Company's production of A Year with Frog and Toad and Disney's High School Musical, not to mention remounting Theater Latte Da's very successful La Boheme, directing Woman Before a Glass at the Minnesota Jewish Theater and creating an original work entitled All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914, a collaboration with Theater Latte Da and Cantus.

Joel Sass
A director and designer, Joel's talents have been put to work at theater companies across the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, including Park Square Theatre, Theatre-in-the-Round, Mixed Blood Theatre, Eye of the Storm and Red Eye Collaboration. He started with the Tony Award-winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune in the 1990s, and was most recently named Associate Artistic Director of Jungle Theatre.

Marcus Dilliard
As a lighting designer for theater, opera and the occasional dance, his work has been seen at the Guthrie Theater since 1985 and at Theatre de la Jeune Lune for several seasons. Marcus has designed for many area theater companies and his work has been seen in plays and operas across North America. He is a recipient of an Ivey Award and 2 McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships.

Jim Lichtscheidl
A director, choreographer, improviser and instructor, Jim has performed at numerous area theaters, but first started to get noticed while at the Brave New Workshop - the country's longest running satirical theater. He went on to create and star in his own production KNOCK! in the Minnesota Fringe Festival. For that production, Jim won several awards, including an Ivey Award, "Best of the Fringe," and City Pages "Best Comedy." Jim can be seen in several upcoming productions at the Guthrie Theatre.

A Few More of Scott's Favorites

Minnesota musician or performer


I love the fact that personalities like T.R. Knight, Laura Osnes, Justin Kirk, Amy Adams and Josh Hartnett have all become national celebrities. And they've done so, not because of who they know, but based on talent and hard work.

Local bargain


Most theaters do a 'pay what you can' night (check their local website) and how can you not love paying for entertainment based on what you can afford?

Annual event


The Ivey Awards is the best party of the year because it's the 1 night that theater lovers can hang with their favorite actors and actresses. It's easy to see why we're the #2 theater city in the country!

Idea of a night on the town


Start with dinner at Chambers Kitchen in the Chambers Hotel—not only does it have great food at a fair price, but it's located in an environment with a great big-city vibe. Then, hit a great show at a local theater, have drinks at Jet Set, and sneak into the Walker Sculpture Garden at 1 am for late-night art appreciation.

Place to shop for clothes and accessories


Downtown Minneapolis Macy's. Every since my once-a-year trip to Minneapolis from South Dakota in grade school, a trip to the big department store in downtown Minneapolis was a highlight. I don't care what it's called, it's still the most exciting place to shop in Minneapolis-Saint Paul.