Diverse Minneapolis Theaters Setting the Stage for Inclusion
The Minneapolis theater scene is renowned nationwide, and locals will happily recite the stat that we’re second only to NYC in number of tickets sold per capita.*
2022 Don't Miss Minneapolis Theater Shows
These are the "can't miss" theater shows happening in Minneapolis this summer!
The Ashe Lab Festival: Spittin' Seeds at Penumbra Theatre
Celebrate brave Black artists coming together to remake the world. The culmination of Penumbra’s multi-year artist residency, Ashe Lab unites singular voices to manifest their truth through beautiful language, choreography, sound and story.
The first stage production of Penumbra’s two-year Ashe Lab Residency program, Spittin’ Seeds conjures the fabric of a close-knit Black community and the timeless forces that
guide and protect it. This boldly original work moves between celestial realms and St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, a place saturated with memory and a visceral sense of belonging and resilience. Fusing movement, sound, and storytelling with Afrofuturist flourishes, Spittin’ Seeds is an experimental portrait of a neighborhood forever renewing itself.
When: June 2022
Perfect Arrangement at Theatre in the Round
It’s 1950, and new colors are being added to the Red Scare. Two U.S. State Department employees, Bob and Norma, have been tasked with identifying sexual deviants within their ranks. There’s just one problem: Both Bob and Norma are gay, and have married each other’s partners as a carefully constructed cover. Inspired by the true story of the earliest stirrings of the American gay rights movement, madcap classic sitcom-style laughs give way to provocative drama as two “All-American” couples are forced to stare down the closet door.
When: June 3-26, 2022
Cambodian Rock Band at The Jungle Theater
A Khmer Rouge survivor returns to Cambodia for the first time in 30 years as his daughter prepares to prosecute one of the country’s most infamous war criminals. Backed by a live band of actor-musicians playing contemporary Dengue Fever hits and classic Cambodian oldies, this thrilling story toggles back and forth in time as father and daughter face the music of the past.
When: June 11-July 31, 2022
Emma at the Guthrie Theater
Emma Woodhouse prides herself on being a matchmaker with an impeccable track record, much to the chagrin of her dear friend Mr. Knightley. Her latest scheme revolves around the sweet Harriet Smith, whom Emma advises to reject a perfectly good marriage proposal in favor of another eligible bachelor. However, her best-laid plans are turned upside down by unpredictable displays of affection, unexpected rivals and Emma’s sudden realization that true love may have been under her nose all along. With screwball comedy and surprises aplenty, this fresh, fast-paced world premiere interprets the Jane Austen classic with delightfully unconventional flair.
When: June 19 - August 1, 2022
Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations at the Orpheum Theatre
The electrifying new smash-hit Broadway musical that follows the Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The winner of the 2019 Tony Award® for Best Choreography, it’s a thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal during a decade of civil unrest in America. Set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” Ain’t Too Proud tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that Billboard Magazine called, the greatest R&B group of all time.
When: June 28 - July 10, 2022
Sweat at the Guthrie Theater
Reading, Pennsylvania, is a blue-collar town with generations of hardworking folks, many of whom work at Olstead’s factory and down cold beers together after hours. But the post-Y2K economy is changing, NAFTA is a new reality and rumors fly about layoffs. Promotions and pride inevitably collide, forming cracks in decades-old friendships that crumble when the factory breaks with the union. From the politically charged opening scene to its electrifying conclusion, Sweat boldly confronts issues of race, immigration, deindustrialization and the ever-slipping grip on middle-class life — all with Nottage’s signature humor and heart.
When: July 16 - August 21, 2022
Back to Workshop, or Everything's Fine! at Brave New Workshop
In their triumphant return after being closed by Executive Order, The Brave New Workshop takes a look at all the things at which we constantly have to avoid taking a look. In a world where image is everything, interacting with friends and family is just as harrowing as a new Cold War, and—What was that other thing? Oh, right!—a global pandemic (which may or may not still be present, depending on which restaurant you go to), Minnesotans are uniquely able to put on a smile and just get back to work. Or are they?
When: now - August 6, 2022
Wicked at the Orpheum Theatre
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in. Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz … but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships … until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
When: July 27-August 28, 2022
Fringe Fest
Nearly 50,000 seats filled annually, over 1,000 artists, dozens of works, hundreds of performances at over a dozen venues and spanning almost 20 genres. With those numbers, it seems pretty obvious that Minnesota's annual Fringe Festival is the largest performing arts festival in the Midwest.
Find modern twists on classic tales, politically driven story lines, crying-tears-of-laughter comedic productions, and surprisingly relatable narratives. With performances for all ages, the Minnesota Fringe Festival is a unique and spirited celebration of diversity, artistic expression and voice that connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences on both a local and national level.
When: August 4-14 2022
Tickets will be on sale soon, Learn more about Fringe Fest.
