‘Art’
by YASMINA REZA
translated by CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON
directed by KIMBERLY SENIOR
McGuire Proscenium Stage
A satire on friendship
Serge begins his foray into contemporary art collecting with a spendy purchase he’s eager to show off: an unframed white canvas with barely-there white diagonal lines. When his close friend Marc regards the modern painting with ridicule, Serge is deeply insulted. Their mutual friend Yvan tries to keep the peace but becomes entangled in their disagreement, which launches hours of heated discussion and leads the three men to wonder why they’re even friends in the first place. This Tony Award-winning satire crackles with comedic energy and invites the audience to contemplate existential questions about life, friendship and what happens when the opinions and worldviews of people we love clash with our own.
Three things to know
- ‘Art’ won the 1997 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and 1998 Tony Award for Best Play. The play has been produced in 45 countries and translated into over 30 languages.
- The Guthrie produced Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage in 2011 and held a celebration of Translator Christopher Hampton’s work in 2012 that included productions of three of his plays: Appomattox, Tales From Hollywood and Embers.
- Kimberly Senior is a freelance director whose award-winning work has been seen in 15 states and more than 200 productions, including the Broadway production of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar. She has said that while ‘Art’ is a one-act play, the second act is the conversations the audience will have after the curtain goes down.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices range from $29 to $82.
| Area 1A | Area 1 | Area 2 | Area 3 | Area 4 | |
| Previews | $65 | $54 | $41 | $33 | $29 |
| Tues and Wed at 7:30 p.m.; Wed at 1 p.m. | $70 | $59 | $46 | $38 | $34 |
| Thu at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 7 p.m. | $73 | $62 | $49 | $41 | $37 |
| Fri at 7:30 p.m.; Sat and Sun at 1 p.m. | $77 | $66 | $53 | $45 | $41 |
| Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Opening Night | $82 | $71 | $58 | $50 | $46 |
Group sales
All student and adult groups of 15 or more qualify for discounts on tickets to Guthrie productions.
Age recommendation
We recommend ‘Art’ for ages 12 and up. Everyone must have a ticket, and children under 5 are not admitted.
Content advisory
This production contains mature language. Call the Box Office for more information.
Run time
Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes (no intermission)
Venue info
This production will take place on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.
Pro tip: Can't do stairs or have a special seating request? Call the Box Office for details.
Accessibility
ASL-interpreted, audio-described and open-captioned performances are available on select dates.
‘Art’
McGuire Proscenium
Accessibility
Post-play discussions
Join us after select performances for a 20-minute conversation facilitated by Guthrie staff. Cast members may join the discussion as they are able.
Post-play discussions are supported by Fredrikson & Byron.
Join us after select performances for a 20-minute conversation facilitated by Guthrie staff. Cast members may join the discussion as they are able.
Saturday, December 30 at 1 p.m.:
Facilitator: Cody Kour, Artistic Administrative Assistant
Sunday, December 31 at 1 p.m.:
Facilitator: Emily Essert, Director of Institutional Partnerships
Tuesday, January 02 at 7:30 p.m.:
Facilitator: Sarah Stout Miller, Director of Individual Giving
Sunday, January 14 at 1 p.m.:
Facilitator: Amanda White, Director of Community Engagement
Saturday, January 20 at 1 p.m.:
Facilitator: Blossom Johnson, Community Engagement Associate
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‘Art’
McGuire Proscenium