At the Guthrie, stories of satire, self-exploration and Shakespeare for 2023-24

Jared Kaufman, Pioneer Press
·3 min read
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The Guthrie Theater announced a packed schedule for its 2023–2024 season, with a wide range of classic productions and new theater focused on the modern world.

A highlight of the season is Shakespeare’s full Henriad cycle, three productions — “Richard II,” “Henry IV” (Parts I and II performed together) and “Henry V” — performed by the same 25-member company. It’s a significant undertaking and was originally scheduled for the theater’s 2020–2021 season, disrupted by Covid.

Here’s what’s on the schedule:

“The Importance of Being Earnest” (Sept. 9–Oct. 15, Wurtele Thrust Stage): Oscar Wilde’s witty comedy follows “two dapper Victorian gents who shamelessly invent people to shirk responsibility and follow their whims, as the Guthrie describes it.

“For the People” (Oct. 7–Nov. 12, McGuire Proscenium Stage): On Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis, April Dakota faces the powers-that-be in her quest to establish a wellness center for the Indigenous community. The play, written by Ty Defoe and Larissa Fasthorse, was commissioned by the Guthrie, and this is its world premiere.

“A Christmas Carol” (Nov. 11–Dec. 28, Wurtele Thrust Stage): It’s an annual classic!

“Art” (Dec. 16–Jan. 28, McGuire Proscenium Stage): Amid a dispute about expensive contemporary art, three friends investigate the roots of their friendship and debate existential questions in this Tony Award-winning satire.

“Dial M for Murder” (Jan. 20–Feb. 25, Wurtele Thrust Stage): This is a “clever, fast-paced adaption” that “adds extra layers to the iconic tale,” the Guthrie says, of extramarital affairs, blackmail, and, of course, murder.

“On Beckett” (Feb. 17–March 24, McGuire Proscenium Stage): In this one-man show — conceived, performed, and directed by Bill Irwin — the Tony Award-winning actor and master clown brings audiences into the rabbit-hole of his longtime obsession with famed Irish writer Samuel Beckett.

“A Brittle Glory: Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V” (March 23–May 24, Wurtele Thrust Stage): First performed at the Guthrie three decades ago, this epic cycle of Shakespearian historical dramas focuses on power and its destructive nature. The plays, which will rotate, are directed by Guthrie Theater’s artistic director Joseph Haj, who was himself a member of the Guthrie’s acting company when the cycle was staged in the early ’90s.

“Skeleton Crew” (May 4–June 9, McGuire Proscenium Stage): In 2008 Detroit, a group of auto-worker colleagues “wrestles with questions of grief, loyalty and self-preservation while exploring the monumental impact of the Recession-era economy on middle-class life.”

“Little Shop of Horrors” (June 22–Aug. 18, Wurtele Thrust Stage): We’ll buy what this season’s classic summer musical is selling: Bloodthirsty plants with a side of Alan Menken’s doo-wop-y tunes.

“English” (July 13–Aug. 18, McGuire Proscenium Stage): In Iran, students in an English class ultimately learn just as much about themselves as the language. This is a new play by Iranian American playwright Sanaz Toossi.

How to buy tickets

Season subscriptions start at $68 and go on sale May 9.

Single-show tickets, which range from $29 to $134, go on sale periodically throughout the fall and winter. Discounted tickets are available for seniors, students (including those in college), children, and teachers.

Once available, tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at guthrietheater.org. Call 612-225-6238 for season ticket information.

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