The Wurtele Thrust Stage is the signature performance space of the Guthrie Theater, one of the most prominent regional theatres in the United States. Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and opened in 2006 on the Minneapolis riverfront overlooking the Mississippi, the 1,100-seat thrust-configuration auditorium places the audience on three sides of the stage, continuing the intimate staging philosophy established by founding artistic director Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963. The Guthrie's Nouvel-designed building at 818 South Second Street also houses the McGuire Proscenium Stage (700 seats), the Dowling Studio (a flexible black-box space), and the Endless Bridge, a cantilevered public observation deck extending over the river. The Guthrie produces a year-round season of classic and contemporary drama, new works, musicals, and educational programming, drawing over 500,000 visitors annually to its three stages. The original Guthrie Theater operated from 1963 to 2006 at a Vineland Place location designed by Ralph Rapson. The move to the new waterfront building transformed the Guthrie into both a theatrical institution and a Minneapolis architectural landmark. Programming on the Wurtele Thrust Stage centres on bold interpretations of canonical works alongside world-premiere commissions and contemporary adaptations. The thrust configuration, with its audience seated on three sides, demands a distinctive staging discipline that has become part of the Guthrie's artistic identity. Education and community outreach programmes reach thousands of students and emerging theatre artists annually across the Twin Cities region. The Jean Nouvel building received widespread architectural acclaim and has been featured in national and international design publications. Its dark blue and yellow exterior, industrial-inspired interiors, and public spaces -- including the free-admission lobby, Endless Bridge, and the Level Nine restaurant -- invite visitors well beyond ticketed performances.

Type: Theater / Concert Hall

Address: 818 South Second Street, Minneapolis, MN, United States, 55415

Website: https://www.guthrietheater.org

Capacity: 1100

Opening Date: 01/01/2006