Book Description

“A New Theatre should attract an audience far greater than just the theater world; in fact, it should be of interest to everyone in search of a book that is readable, keenly observant, and witty.” —New York Times “Guthrie’s writing as usual is fresh, witty, sometimes caustic, and always invigorating.” —Library Journal After a long and storied career as one of Britain’s great stage directors, Sir Tyrone Guthrie had become disillusioned with the artistic standards and financial compromises found in the commercial theater of Broadway and London’s West End. He discovered that outside of New York most of America did not have access to professional theater. To remedy this problem Guthrie and his colleagues proposed starting a nonprofit, repertory theater company in a city far removed from Broadway. Scouting and pitching his idea to several major U.S. cities, Guthrie finally found a home for his theater in Minneapolis. A New Theatre chronicles how a coalition of local Minneapolis businesses and philanthropic leaders worked with Guthrie to create the Guthrie Theatre in the early 1960s. In his amusing and personable style, Guthrie welcomes readers on a tour of one of the most dynamic young theatrical institutions in the world, exploring its years of planning, Ralph Rapson’s design of the original building and the thrust stage, the first productions and their receptions, as well as discussing his larger views of theater’s future and its role in society. Sir Tyrone Guthrie (1900-1971) was managing director of the Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells and helped found the Stratford Festival of Canada and the Guthrie Theater in Minnesota. Joe Dowling is Artistic Director for the Guthrie Theater.