April 5th, 2025
I am forever a theater nerd.
When I went back to school last fall, my past in theater emboldened me to seek out similar groups for my educational stay. When I joined the Creative Arts & Writing Club (and subsequently became its president five minutes later), we started talking events, and a Guthrie visit had been a regular feature of the club in the past.
Our advisor Wes said we could probably even get a private tour.
So I have been counting down the days, hours and minutes to today, our DCTC Guthrie trip. In a very strange way, it kind of felt like coming home.
I didn’t join theater until my sophomore year of high school, but once I did, my life would never be the same. (I also subsequently became drama club president but that was much later.) It was the first time I found a community of people who were genuinely like me, who had similar interests and goals and dreams. An English teacher (who was also the theater director) encouraged me to audition for the children’s play because of *gestures at everything that I am* and I’m still grateful for that. It gave me confidence and friendship and skills and the kinds of highs and lows I’ve only ever experienced on- and backstage. I wrote some of the first things I ever produced for an audience there. I taught classes for the first time. I took naps in the Black Box.
Being backstage at the Guthrie brought me right back to that extremely important time in my life. I was in the Performing Arts Center at Faribault High School a lot more than most people know; I took courses that often had me in the theater, out on that stage all by myself, thinking and dreaming about the kind of person I wanted to grow up to be.
An empty stage anywhere kind of feels the same everywhere.
Anyway, today was a trip in many more ways than one.
After the tour, we saw Agathie Christie’s The Mousetrap (with closed captions!) and it was a blast. It’s the longest-running play in the world, starting in 1952. According to the woman sitting next to me, Agatha had it in her contract that The Mousetrap could never be made into a film; meaning, if you want to see it, you gotta get your butt in a theater seat. The house was packed. After the performance, the cast asked us to keep the secrets of the murder mystery in our hearts, so no 73-year-old spoilers here!
Also, it’s April 5th and I would be remiss to not acknowledge all the badasses out there at the Hands Off rallies. I see family and friends and online acquaintances out being seen and heard and it fills my heart with pride and hope.
This year, I’ve been able to go to a show at 7th Street Entry, see soccer matches at Allianz Field and have a day at the Guthrie. I mention this because they have been a big part in keeping me going when I feel like the world (or this country, at least) is ending. It’s a reminder of the power of art and community and if it’s one you need, too, then here’s your sign.
Here are some dumb photos because this is social media and the equivalent of showing you my vacation slides. I hope you’re hanging in there, and finding the sparks that don’t fail to light you up.
The Den 