GREAT Theatre

On February 15th, GREAT Theatre brought our community together once again, but the celebration at Back Shed Brewery wasn’t their typical performance. While singing and performances were the heart of the show, celebrating their 25th season and announcing their 2022-23 shows was the real star of the show.

GREAT Theatre is known for affordable, Broadway-quality community theatre featuring amazing local talent. “It’s been over two years since we’ve announced a new season of shows and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring our community together for these stories of comedy, love, and celebration along with some rebellion, suspense, determination, and curiosity!,” shared Lacey Schirmers, GREAT Theatre’s Interim Executive Director. GREAT’s 25th season features seven exceptional stories that will bring the community together to rediscover the joy of live theatre.

Each year, GREAT Theatre conducts a survey where audiences choose their favorite titles, and last year over 1800 community members provided feedback. The season is then designed by a team led by Kendra Norton Dando, GREAT’s Education Director, and Allyson Richert, GREAT’s Programming Director, who curate a season that engages, challenges, and brings joy. Kendra shared they’re “thrilled to welcome audiences back to GREAT with a season that invites laughter, thought, and connection, and reflects a variety of stories that are both new to our community and what our community is asking to experience.” 

Allyson added that “GREAT is elated to be reactivating programming in our black box theater through our Lab Series as well as opening our space to collaborate with other arts organizations such as Collide Theatrical Dance, based out of Minneapolis, to present their works of arts to our community.”

Their 2022-23 season includes the following shows: The Play that Goes Wrong, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Disney’s Descendants: The Musical, Legally Blonde the Musical, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Langston Hughes’s Black Nativity, and Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. 

Whether it’s iconic Broadway musicals or stories in GREAT’s lab theatre, audiences will find a variety of opportunities to sit back and laugh, lose themselves in the stories being told, and rediscover the joy of live theatre. Season Subscriptions are on sale now at GREATTheatre.org or by calling 320-258-2787.

GREAT Theatre is largely supported by the community and does its best to give back and support the community in many ways, too. They show how #StCloudShines both on and off stage!