Raye Birk News

Guthrie Theater and Walker Art Center staff will spend this weekend preparing for next week's five-day Twin Cities fall theater bonanza, highlighted by the American stage debut of Guthrie Director Joe Dowling in Brian Friel's Faith Healer, the Guthrie/Walker co-presentation of the internationally acclaimed Druid Ireland's The Walworth Farce, an accompanying In Conversation event with Dowling and Walworth playwright Enda Walsh, two high-definition NT Live filmed presentations of the U.K. National Theatre's All's Well That Ends Well, the United States premiere of Interact Theater's Northern Lights/Southern Cross: Tales from the Other Side of the World and continuing performances of the Guthrie's 'Wilde and witty' production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

The Guthrie today announced that it has launched FaithHealerLive.com, an online resource offering audiences an inside look at the theater's upcoming production of Faith Healer, in which Guthrie Director Joe Dowling will make his American acting debut. Through video interviews, design briefs and special events information, audiences can gain insight into the work of Irish playwright Brian Friel and his unique relationship with Dowling and the Guthrie. Heralded by Minnesota Monthly as one of the fall theater season's 'can't-miss moments,' Faith Healer begins previews October 17, opens October 23 and continues through December 6 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Single tickets start at $24 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The Guthrie announced today that three generations of Guthrie actors will comprise the cast of its summer production of J.B. Priestley's rollicking comedy When We Are Married. Under the direction of Guthrie associate artistic director John Miller-Stephany (1776, Jane Eyre, The Constant Wife), the show will reunite many beloved Guthrie company members from the 1960s and 70s, including Barbara Bryne, Helen Carey, Patricia Conolly, Peter Michael Goetz and Linda Kelsey.

The Guthrie has announced that its 35th annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will receive a new adaptation by Barbara Field, with Gary Gisselman directing the Twin Cities holiday classic for the ninth consecutive season and legendary stage and screen actorPeter Michael Goetz returning to play Ebenezer Scrooge.

J.B. Priestley's When We Are Married continues through August 30 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage, reuniting many beloved Guthrie company members from the 1960s and 70s, including Barbara Bryne, Helen Carey, Patricia Conolly, Peter Michael Goetz and Linda Kelsey.

The Guthrie is a great place to experience the natural beauty of autumn in the Midwest! Whether enjoying a pre-show cocktail on the 178-foot cantilever bridge overlooking the Mississippi River, or enjoying the warm glow of the amber glass boxed lobby of the Dowling Studio, travelers will find many spots to view the fall colors of the surrounding Minneapolis landscape in this inviting and architecturally stunning destination, lauded as 'a 21st century dream factory' by Time magazine.

Three generations of Guthrie actors reunite for J.B. Priestley's rollicking comedy When We Are Married. Under the direction of Guthrie associate artistic director John Miller-Stephany (1776, Jane Eyre, The Constant Wife), the show welcomes back many beloved Guthrie company members from the 1960s and 70s, including Barbara Bryne, Helen Carey, Patricia Conolly, Peter Michael Goetz and Linda Kelsey.

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, known throughout Ireland and the United States as a preeminent director and scholar of Brian Friel's work, honors the legendary Irish playwright's 80th birthday by returning to his acting roots to play the title role in this powerful play about faith healer Frank Hardy, his wife Grace and talent manager Teddy.

The Guthrie today announced that Gretchen Bierbaum and Jeremiah Albrecht have won the theater?s spectacular When We Are Married Dream Wedding Giveaway prize package valued at more than $60,000. After eight years of cold feet, this Minneapolis couple will be married on Sunday, August 16 by Guthrie veteran and Father of the Bride film star Peter Michael Goetz, who is currently performing in When We Are Married at the Guthrie.

The Guthrie announced today that three generations of Guthrie actors will comprise the cast of its summer production of J.B. Priestley's rollicking comedy When We Are Married. Under the direction of Guthrie associate artistic director John Miller-Stephany (1776, Jane Eyre, The Constant Wife), the show will reunite many beloved Guthrie company members from the 1960s and 70s, including Barbara Bryne, Helen Carey, Patricia Conolly, Peter Michael Goetz and Linda Kelsey.

The Guthrie announced today that its 35th annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol will receive a new adaptation by Barbara Field, with Gary Gisselman directing the Twin Cities holiday classic for the ninth consecutive season and legendary stage and screen actor Peter Michael Goetz returning to play Ebenezer Scrooge.

The Guthrie announced that three generations of Guthrie actors will comprise the cast of its summer production of J.B. Priestley's rollicking comedy When We Are Married. Under the direction of Guthrie associate artistic director John Miller-Stephany, the show will reunite many beloved Guthrie company members from the 1960s and 70s, including Barbara Bryne, Helen Carey, Patricia Conolly, Peter Michael Goetz and Linda Kelsey.

The Guthrie announced today that three generations of Guthrie actors will comprise the cast of its summer production of J.B. Priestley's rollicking comedy When We Are Married. Under the direction of Guthrie associate artistic director John Miller-Stephany (1776, Jane Eyre, The Constant Wife), the show will reunite many beloved Guthrie company members from the 1960s and 70s, including Barbara Bryne, Helen Carey, Patricia Conolly, Peter Michael Goetz and Linda Kelsey.

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced the 21 plays of the Theater's 2009-2010 season, a blend of classics, fresh takes on timeless themes and exciting presentations - including renewed and continuing partnerships and the return of the Guthrie's prestigious WorldStage program. Ranging from uproarious comedies to a modern retelling of Ibsen's feminist classic to stories centered on Chinese opera and American jazz, the 2009-2010 season showcases Shakespeare, celebrated Irish playwrights and new American voices.

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced the 21 plays of the Theater's 2009-2010 season, a blend of classics, fresh takes on timeless themes and exciting presentations - including renewed and continuing partnerships and the return of the Guthrie's prestigious WorldStage program. Ranging from uproarious comedies to a modern retelling of Ibsen's feminist classic to stories centered on Chinese opera and American jazz, the 2009-2010 season showcases Shakespeare, celebrated Irish playwrights and new American voices.

A Delicate Balance is written by Edward Albee and directed by Gary Gisselman Over the course of a weekend, and with the help of numerous cocktails, Agnes and Tobias try to maintain the 'delicate balance' between self-destruction and survival, while providing refuge and a measure of comfort to family and friends in their suburban home. When their adult daughter Julia returns home after her fourth failed marriage, and two friends Harry and Edna move in unexpectedly, many well-masked feelings and opinions are finally vented. Thanks in part to a well-stocked liquor cabinet, and the permanent presence of Agnes's alcoholic sister Claire, sparks fly and the balance of their family life begins to topple.

The Guthrie announced today that actor Tom Tammi has left its production of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance for personal reasons. The role of Tobias will be played by Guthrie veteran Raye Birk, who recently concluded his fourth consecutive year as Scrooge in the theater's perennial holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol.

Inspired by Charles Dickens' immortal story, this perennial holiday production returns for its 34th year at the Guthrie. Ebenezer Scrooge (Raye Birk) greets each Christmas with his well-known 'bah humbug,' until one Christmas Eve he learns that his stinginess and uncaring attitude will doom him to walk the earth after death wearing a heave chain created by his selfish ways. The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come visit Scrooge during a restless night, showing him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present and the desolate future should he continue his cantankerous ways.

The Guthrie is proud to announce complete casting for its 34th production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. Adapted by Barbara Field and again under the direction of Gary Gisselman, A Christmas Carol will feature actor Raye Birk, who returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge for the fourth consecutive year.