The Guthrie Theater is the Twin Cities’ flagship stage, a riverfront complex in the Mill District with three theatres, and its backstage tour is the best way to understand how a large repertory company puts a production together. The public tour visits the stages, the scene shop, the costume shop, the prop shop and the rehearsal rooms, and it explains the architecture of the building as well. Tours start at 10:15 in the morning on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, so this is a tour you plan a weekend around rather than one you join on a whim. Reservations are strongly encouraged, and the box office or the website handle bookings. Subscribers, students and seniors get a reduced rate, and there is a lower youth price for ages five to seventeen. Routes can change depending on programming and special events, which is part of the charm: you may see a set mid-build, a costume fitting space in use or a rehearsal room empty between shows. It suits theatre lovers, design and architecture fans and families with curious older children.
Planning
Because tours run on just two Saturdays a month, check the Guthrie’s tours page for the dates in your trip window before you finalise other plans, and book early if they fall on a busy weekend. The tour is separate from buying a ticket to a show, but the two combine well: a Saturday morning backstage visit followed by an evening performance makes a strong cultural day. The theatre is on the riverfront at the foot of the Mill District, a short walk from Mill City Museum and the Stone Arch Bridge, and it connects to the downtown skyways.
What to expect
You will walk behind the scenes through areas that the public rarely sees, learning how scenery is built, how costumes are made and stored and how props are sourced or created. The architecture of the building, with its dramatic riverfront views, is part of the commentary. The tour page does not state its length, so allow a generous morning and confirm the timing when you reserve.
For visitors who are blind or have low vision, the Guthrie offers free sensory tours before audio-described matinees on selected Saturdays, and ASL-interpreted public tours can be arranged two weeks in advance by email, which is worth knowing if either applies to you.
Making the most of it
Pair the tour with a walk along the riverfront, a visit to Mill City Museum for the milling story and an afternoon on the Stone Arch Bridge, so that the whole morning becomes a Mill District day. If your visit does not fall on a tour Saturday, consider simply seeing a show, since the lobby and the cantilevered Endless Bridge viewing area, which the theatre is known for, are open on performance days.
Families with older children who like theatre or making things will get the most from the tour, while very young children may find the pace slow. Dress comfortably and bring a camera for the lobby views, but check the Guthrie’s guidance on photography backstage before you take any pictures.
What to expect
The experience
A guided backstage tour of the Guthrie visiting the stages, scene shop, costume shop, prop shop and rehearsal rooms.
Best time
The second or fourth Saturday morning of the month, starting at 10:15.
How long
Allow one to two hours; the tour length is not stated.
Tips
Book early, since tours run only twice a month, and pair it with the riverfront.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Theatre lovers and anyone curious about design and architecture.
- Families
- Good for older children who like theatre or making things.
- Couples
- A distinctive Saturday morning that pairs well with an evening show.
- Pair with
- Mill City Museum and the Stone Arch Bridge, both a short walk away.
- Time needed
- A morning.
Good questions
When do Guthrie backstage tours run?+
At 10:15 in the morning on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
What do you see on the tour?+
The stages, scene shop, costume shop, prop shop and rehearsal rooms, plus the architecture of the building.
Do I need to reserve?+
Reservations are strongly encouraged. Book through the Guthrie website or call the box office.
Are there discounts?+
Yes. Subscribers, students and seniors get a reduced rate, with a lower price again for youth ages five to seventeen.
Are there accessible tours?+
Yes. Free sensory tours run before audio-described Saturday matinees, and ASL-interpreted tours can be arranged two weeks ahead.
