Take a trip to the Minneapolis Metro Area for a theatre engagement and you may be seeing a musical such as Oklahoma! at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, a comedy such as Leaving Iowa at the Old Log Theater or Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Guthrie. Theater is alive, well and thriving in this Midwest Metropolis and with good reason.
Draws from a Large Area
One reason that theater thrives in the Minneapolis area is that there is not an abundance of other large cities in the area that have such a wealth of opportunities for the theater going public. Minneapolis draws customers from all of the Midwest states. It is common to see visitors from South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin enjoying a theatrical performance. Because the Midwest is not located near a theater giant such as New York's Broadway, Minneapolis is a great opportunity to see wonderful theater without having to travel a long distance.
Diverse Productions
Another great aspect of the Minneapolis theater scene is that there are diverse opportunities. Chanhassen Dinner Theaters provide audiences with the pleasure of a meal along with superb musical productions. The Guthrie is a classic theater which thrives on serious productions and Shakespeare, while at the same time showing innovation in its productions as well. Recently The Guthrie Theater produced A Little House on the Prairie Production based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder who set many of her tales in Minnesota. The theaters know how to appeal to their audiences and choose productions that will be popular sellers.
High Quality Performers and Performances
The performances are rich with mainstay performers that have frequent the Minneapolis productions, while at the same time, gifted talents from across the country are recruited an brought in for productions also. The attraction of high quality talent mixed with new comers creates a wealth of talent in the pool for directors to choose from. All of the other reasons that Minneapolis has a successful theater scene would be mute without quality performances. It is the quality of the theater that leads audiences to return to the theater doors.
Promotion
Minneapolis area theaters do a superb job of promoting their businesses. Schools, clubs, and organizations often book large blocks of tickets for the performances. Bus tours to performances at the Orpheum and the Chanhassen Dinner Theater are common place. In addition camps for students, as well as, birthday and anniversary promotions encourages the customers to come back again.
Affordability
Many people can't afford an expensive vacation. The Midwest is known for its hardworking people who don't take a lot of time for themselves. The theaters in the Minneapolis area provide an affordable outlet for fans to enjoy a weekend get away or a weeknight entertainment. There are many other draws to the Minneapolis area such as the Mall of America, the Minnesota Twins, Vikings and Timber Wolves, and many museums. It can be a trip for everyone in the family in the course of a weekend. Although it will cost a few bucks, it is not as expensive as a flying to other locations.
Easy to Access
It may sound like a simple thing, but the theaters in the Minneapolis area are very easy to accommodate customers. Two good examples are the Chanhassen Dinner Theater and The Old Log Theater. These facilities are located on the edge of the cities in smaller cities of Chanhassen and Excelsior. Driving is not so complicated for the novice city driver or for older clientele. The theaters are located in safe areas and are close to motels and restaurants which add to the appeal.
For the theater lover Minneapolis provides all the variety of selection that any thespian would enjoy. Expect to see fun comedies, serious dramas, and colorful musicals. Book the tickets early for the best possible seats and it is sure to be an enjoyable theatrical experience.