Stage Craft
A collective of artistry
Every season, hundreds of actors, directors and designers interact with the Guthrie and create theater across our three stages. Add in our local, year-round staff, and you’ve got an exceptional group of world-class artists who build each production from the stage up.
Sound Design
Learn how every sound, noise and note builds an auditory landscape.
Playwriting
Go inside the mind of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage.
Prosthetics
See Cyrano de Bergerac’s unsightly prosthetic nose in the making.
Costumes
Discover how many yards of fabric it takes to make a petticoat.
Carpentry
Observe how we built the onstage pool for Metamorphoses.
Playwriting
Learn about the visual idea that led Paula Vogel to write Indecent.
Acting
Find out why Sally Wingert doesn’t want to do anything but act.
Scenic Art
Explore how a series of brushstrokes becomes a scenic backdrop.
Directing
Dive into the ever-evolving process of directing with Lileana Blain-Cruz.
Photos
Can’t tell if an actor is wearing a wig? That’s a testament to the incredible artistry of our wig team, who create and maintain the hair pieces that transform actors onstage.
Creating large set pieces requires detailed technical planning, teamwork across multiple production departments and talented artists — and the Guthrie boasts some of the best in the business.
Our scenic artists can do it all: Create wallpaper on a grand scale, recreate a famous painting, mimic woodgrain or mix the exact color needed for a scenic element.
Every costume starts with a design sketch. Then our drapers, tailors and stitchers collaborate to create the technical specs for each garment and build them by hand in our costume shop.
The focal point in the scenic design for Cyrano de Bergerac was a giant, puzzle-like curiosity cabinet with doors that featured intricate floral patterns painted by hand.
Step into the scene shop and you’ll find our carpenters building set pieces from scratch. They work on several shows at once, which requires next-level multitasking and attention to detail.
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Get Emails From the Guthrie
A great way to stay in touch from a distance
Explore Productions Past
From Shakespeare to summer musicals, see our history of classic and contemporary plays
Virtual Classes
Browse our classes for adults, youth and Native artists