A Rough Guide to Minnesota's Robust Performing Arts Scene
Minnesota spent nearly $10 per capita on public funding for the arts in 2024, making us the No. 1 ranked state in public arts spending. That’s because Minnesotans have long valued the arts as a part of their vibrant, thriving community.
In fact, the state’s enthusiasm for live performance was what drew Tyrone Guthrie from London to Minnesota, where he founded The Guthrie Theater, still considered a crown jewel of American Regional Theater.
Minnesota is also home to two world-renowned orchestras, a resident opera company, and numerous award-winning dance companies. Not to mention First Avenue – one of the nation’s most iconic rock venues.
Whether you’re here to take in a Broadway National Tour or visit Paisley Park, there is no shortage of world-class performing arts in the Star of the North.
Theater
Minnesota is home to three TONY-winning regional theater companies, placing us fourth in the nation in total TONY wins. The Guthrie, Children’s Theatre Company, and Theatre de la Jeune Lune (now The Moving Company) have all taken home the nation’s top theatrical prize. Even more impressive, the Children’s Theater is the only theater for young audiences in the nation to earn that distinction.
Not only is the Guthrie Minnesota’s flagship theater and a feat of modern architecture; it’s the birthplace of the American regional theater movement. Founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963, the Guthrie was built on the principle that the highest-caliber theater shouldn’t require a trip to Broadway. In 2006, the theater moved from its Loring Park home to a brand-new, 285,000-square-foot facility on the Mississippi River, designed by famed French architect Jean Nouvel.
The Guthrie is still considered among the finest regional theaters in the nation, attracting world premieres from the likes of Tony Kushner and Mark Rylance. Its stunning building is open to the public (whether or not you have a ticket to a show), including the iconic cantilever bridge and amber box, where you can take in an outstanding view of the Minneapolis riverfront and Mill District, as well as a breathtaking vantage of Minneapolis.
Other notable Minnesota theaters include Penumbra, one of the nation’s most lauded Black companies (famous for launching the career of August Wilson); Theater Latté Da, a cutting-edge producer of intimate musical theater; the social-justice focused Mixed Blood; and The Jungle, Ten Thousand Things, and the Playwrights' Center (which has developed new works by theatrical heavyweights like Paula Vogel and Suzan Lori-Parks).
Minneapolis and St. Paul are also major destinations for Broadway National tours. To see a Broadway show without the flight to New York, you can go to Hennepin Arts or the Ordway.
Looking for something a little more “out there”? Check out the Walker Art Center’s offerings, which often include works by international companies like Ontoerend Goed.
Live Music
Minnesota is home to one of the nation’s most diverse and vibrant music scenes. With two top orchestras—the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra— the iconic First Avenue, and countless independent venues, there’s always a listen-worthy experience just around the corner.
But don’t take our word for it. The New York Times said that “the state is a hotbed of corrosive underground rock, birthplace of two acclaimed icons, home to a lively hip-hop scene and bedrock of ‘80s pop and funk.”
Come for a visit and see why Prince famously declared that “rock and roll is alive (and it lives in Minneapolis)!”
For decades now, the center of Minnesota’s music scene has been First Avenue. A renovated bus depot in downtown Minneapolis, it's been rocking for more than 50 years and remains a shining example of what it means to be truly independent.
You may have seen First Ave even if you’ve never been to Minneapolis before; it’s where the concert scenes from “Purple Rain” were filmed. A smaller annex, the 7th St Entry, has become nearly as legendary as a launching pad for bands that would go on to play much bigger rooms, like the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Soul Asylum.
Looking for more Prince? Take a self-guided Prince tour of Minnesota .
Minneapolis also has plenty of jazz options. Try dinner and a show at the Dakota, or check out one of the newest additions to Minneapolis nightlife, Berlin in the trendy North Loop neighborhood.
More of an opera buff? Check out the world-renowned Minnesota Opera.
Dance
Don’t sleep on our small-but-mighty dance scene. You can’t tell the story of Minnesota’s dance community without mentioning the Walker Art Center, which played host to groundbreaking performances by Bill T. Jones, Merce Cunningham, and Meredith Monk.
The Walker is still deeply invested in the local dance community, and hosts a regular choreographer’s evening. Minnesota is also home to internationally renowned companies like Arena Dances, Threads Dance Project, Ragamala, and TU Dance, as well as fun-focused, theatrical-hybrid companies like Collide.
Fans of ballet should keep an eye out for the annual and distinctive production of Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy.
Explore More
Between Minneapolis and St. Paul's many critically acclaimed chefs (Diane Moua, Yia Vang, Christina Nguyen), multi-vendor mainstays (Hmongtown Marketplace, Asia Mall, Midtown Global Market), and corridors of culinary excellence like Frogtown and Lake Street, it's easy to take a culinary tour of not just Minnesota, but the world itself. One that's full of complex flavors and reflective of our diverse community's culinary traditions, whether it’s the piquant chili peppers of China, the savory berberé spices of East Africa, or the fiery top notes of Thailand and Tibet.
From the foraging-heavy menu and evergreen interior of Bûcheron to the soul-warming spice at the multi-award-winning Oro by Nixta, our restaurant scene racks up “Best Chef Midwest” nods on the regular for a reason. And it's how Minnesotans make the most of locally sourced ingredients in all four seasons.
You can also cozy up at Matt’s for an iconic Jucy Lucy, grab a citrusy glass of Grüner Veltliner and bold Nordic bites at Bar Brava, or stop at the small-but-mighty Hyacinth for an expert cocktail and bowl of hand-made pasta.
See our full guide to Minneapolis-St. Paul, visit a world class art museum, or find an unfortgettable place to stay.
