Guthrie Theater

12:00 p.m.

Well, the prize wheel has been packed up and Kid's Hair seems to be tying the final bows into our girls' hair. People are still arriving to purchase their tickets, and I have to say that this morning has been a total 10 success! If you're reading, don't wait too late to get your tickets. I have a feeling they'll be flying fast weekend long.

11:40 a.m.

Just spoke with a super nice lady who wanted more tatoos and buttons for her triplets who are coming to the show. She bought her tickets on the phone first thing this morning (10:03!) and then came down to the event. She's really excited to see a musical version of Little House, and has read all about it online. Her kids, however, had a tougher time understanding that the entire cast of the TV show is not in our production!  

11:21 a.m.

More Little House fans in dresses and bonnets! These three girls are thrilled to be with us. They are all Guthrie first-timers, though the eldest daughter is no stranger to theatre. She's already been in two plays and loves to act. They are psyched to see Melissa Gilbert in our production since they are avid watchers of the televisions series... and have read the books multiple times!

11:20 a.m.

From our friends at the Pioneer Press: 'Little House' draws big lines

11:03 a.m.

We're back! In the meantime I found a great fan in line who brought her Laura doll with her. One hour in the line still extends through the Guthrie lobby and out the door...

10:35

I have received word that our website has officially crashed. Yay! This means that so many of our wonderfully loyal fans are trying to purchase tickets to this great show. Melodie Bahan, Director of Communications, has just informed me that many of those fans have been calling Dominic Papatola over at the Pioneer Press in a panic that they might not be able to get tickets because the phone volume is so heavy too. Rest assured! Though we hope to sell-out today, chances are high that tickets will remain on sale through the weekend... but I wouldn't wait past then! If you're nervous at all you should come down to the Guthrie today and buy tickets in person. We're having a ton of fun!

10:30

Kevin Massey joins Staci Matthews. He plays Almanzo in the Guthrie production. Kevin says he grew up with the books and watching the TV show.

Uh oh! Staci is testing his Little House trivia! She's a tough one. Kevin gets help from the audience before moving onto a Q&A. He says of the production, "It's always wonderful to be a part of great work, and to create a character with a fantastic creative team." This is Kevin's first time at the Guthrie, "This theatre is amazing," he says. "I've always wanted to work here." Staci tells Kevin that Minneapolis is the world's best kept secret. I'm going to have to agree. OK! Time for rehearsal... and Kevin is off!

10:26 a.m.

"The line is freakin' out the door!" Elizabeth Deacon exclaims. She's one of our Marketing Managers and she's been running around taking video footage for our website which should be up soon. I love the Guthrie website.

10:17 a.m.

Well it seems that some sort of server has gone down for a bit because just too many people are trying to buy Prairie tickets! Really, there could be worse things. I'll continue to live update my Word Document and post online as soon as we're back up and running!

10:10

It's so great to see so many Guthrie staff members with us this morning. Most of them have their jaws dropped

Guthrie star staff members currently in attendance:

The entire Marketing and Communications teams.

Guthrie street team members.

House Management

Production Director, Frank Butler

Company Manager, Cindy Berg

General Manager, James Scott

Artistic Administrative Coordinator, Jennifer Liestman

Director of Education and Community Programs, Sheila Livingston

Executive Assistant to the Director, Katie Koch

Events Manager, David Russell

Trish Santini, Director of External Relations with daughter Emme

And of course our incredible Box Office staff! They are the official Guthrie Rock Stars of the day.

10:05 a.m.

KS95 continues to spin our prize wheel. They've got coupons to Wisconsin Dells, two tickets to ACME Comedy Club, Jersey Boys cast albums, t-shirts, frisbees and more. They say everyone's a winner. I believe it!

10:03 a.m.

Our first patron has left the box office with tickets in hand! More cheers!

10 a.m.

It's 10 a.m.! Tickets are now on sale! We currently have over 150 people in line who cheered as Staci counted down the seconds. So exciting!!

9:54 a.m.

Sara Jean Ford has joined Melissa and Staci. Sara is playing Nellie and thinks that her character in the show looks more like the book Nellie than the TV show Nellie. Steve Blanchard, who is playing Pa has joined the girls - just moments before their rehearsal begins. Lucky for us they were able to sing us a few bars from the show before taking off to rehearse for the day!

9:50 a.m.

Melissa Gilbert is here with Staci Matthews of KS95. (Staci got her hair braided by Kid's Hair too!) They're doing a really great Q&A. Melissa thinks that Minneapolis is an extraordinary city and can't talk about how much she is having so much fun with us. She really loves her fellow cast-mates, and is having a blast working on this great show.

9:30 a.m.

I am here with Meghan. Meghan is 8 years old. She tells me that she wrote a play about Laura Ingalls Wilder, based on both the TV show and the books of Little House on the Prairie. The play written just this month for her Girls Scout troupe. Meghan read all the Little House books with her dad from as far back as she can remember. "I just love Little House on the Prairie!" she said. The troupe presented the play at the beginning of the June. Meghan played Nellie Olsen. No sets or props or costumes were used in the show. Meghan just wanted to tell the great story of Little House.

When asked about the TV show, Meghan said that Melissa Gilbert was her favorite character. Melissa played Laura in the TV show and is playing Ma in the Guthrie production. "She just had the perfect hair and had such high spirits," Meghan said.

Meghan told me that she has been to Plum Creek. "It was awesome," she said. "I love prairie stuff. We walked to Plum Creek and I got so dirty. I got covered in sand and caught a minnow. My favorite part was getting my first sun bonnet." She wore her bonnet today to celebrate this great event.

Meghan is really excited to be with us today. So far she has collected a temporary tattoo and two buttons from our street team. She had her hair braided by Kid's Hair just before we spoke. She exclaims, "I'm just here getting tickets for the greatest play of all time! I'm just really excited to be here. It's my first time to the Guthrie."

9:21 a.m.

The street team has arrived! Joe, Jess, Aria and Carly are hanging out with us in the lobby passing out temporary tattoos and buttons to our guests. They also have passes for free admission to St. Paul's Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakota Life. We would also like to welcome out second bonnet-wearer of the day. We love costumes here at the Guthrie.

9:02 a.m.

It's 9 a.m. and we 34 people in line! If you hurry on down to the Guthrie and are one of the first 100 people in line you'll receive a voucher for a Little House book signed by membes of the cast of our production. So, stop reading and come play with us!! We can chat in person!

Favorite quote of the day, as of 9 a.m.: "The more the prairier." ~William Grier, Communications Associate

8:37 a.m.

The doors are officially open for the Little House on-sale! Our first patron arrived at 5:20 a.m., which was just about when I was dreaming about the on-sale. I have to admit I'm thrilled to see that the Level 5 express has provided a really nice spread of coffee and pastries down in the lobby, which is proving to be quite useful for those who were up before dawn. (ok, and the staff too)