Open Eye Theatre

01/22/2025

Learn more about Frank Theatre’s decision to produce SANCTUARY CITY, opening next Friday at Open Eye! openeyetheatre.org/sanctuary-city

01/21/2025

Congratulations to Oanh Vu, one of our Puppet Lab Co-Artistic Directors, for being awarded a Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship!

Oanh Vu (she/her) is a puppeteer, educator, and community organizer. As a second-generation Vietnamese American, she employs humor and the playful art of puppetry to weave narratives centered on healing and social change for her communities. Her latest puppet show, Phantom Loss, follows a cast of multi-generational Vietnamese characters as they navigate the legacies of war and what healing can look like in the wake of historical violence. Oanh has been recognized with grants from the Jim Henson Foundation in 2023 and 2024. She began her puppetry journey with Monkeybear’s Harmolodic Workshop and served as a 2024 Maker Series Artist in Residence at Pillsbury House Theatre. Her work has reached audiences at various venues across the Twin Cities, including In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, Minnesota Opera, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), the Playwrights' Center, and Theater Mu.

The Jerome Foundation awarded 45 early career artists based in Minnesota and New York City. Fellows receive $60,000 over three consecutive years ($20,000 each year) in support of flexible, self-designed plans for their creative endeavors. The Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship supports artists working in and across multiple artistic fields, including dance; film; literature; music; technology centered arts; theater, performance, and spoken word; and visual arts.

Learn more: jeromefdn.org/jerome-hill-artist-fellows-2025-2028

01/17/2025

Coming soon to Open Eye!

Only two weeks until we open SANCTUARY CITY by Martyna Majok as part of our 35th Anniversary Season! We’re delighted that Stephanie Anne Bertumen, Clay Man Soo, and Keivin Vang are all making their Frank debuts!

Opening Jan. 31 at Open Eye Theatre. Pay What You Can on Feb. 1. Tickets are selling fast! franktheatre.org/sanctuary-city

Photo by Tony Nelson Photography.

01/15/2025

The seeds of Open Eye were planted more than 125 years ago, when our beloved jewel box theatre first served the community as a grocery store!

Last fall, the great-grandchildren of Hans M. Pryts visited the block, bearing old photos of the Open Eye space when it originally operated as Pryts' Grocery in the 1900s! Enjoy these snapshots of the past, featuring artfully displayed canned goods encircling the wooden columns that now flank our present-day audience seating!

01/15/2025

It's Open Eye's Silver Jubilee! We're kicking off a year-long celebration of 25 years of innovative theater! Founded in 2000 by Michael Sommers and Susan Haas, Open Eye has become a nationally-recognized company, bringing you everything from experimental object works to backyard puppet shows. Join us as we share memories and celebrate the artists and community that make Open Eye so special!

01/10/2025

Frank Theatre's SANCTUARY CITY opens in only three weeks at Open Eye as part of our Guest Artist Series!

Introducing the amazing cast of SANCTUARY CITY! Front to back: Clay Man Soo (as B), Stephanie Anne Bertumen (as G), and Keivin Vang (as Henry).

We open in three weeks at Open Eye Theatre! More info & tickets: franktheatre.org/sanctuary-city

Photo by Tony Nelson Photography.

12/28/2024

While our final performances of SCROOGE IN ROUGE are sold out, there's still a chance to see the show! If any cancellations occur for our last two shows on Saturday, Dec. 28th at 7:30 PM and Sunday, Dec. 29th at 2:00 PM, we will make those seats available to our waitlist.

To be added to the waitlist, please arrive at the theater 45 minutes prior to showtime. Waitlist sign-up is in-person only. Please note that we cannot guarantee seat availability.

Finally, a huge thank you to all of our wonderful patrons who have made this production such a resounding success this holiday season!

More info: openeyetheatre.org/scrooge-in-rouge

Photo by Bruce Silcox.

12/20/2024

Low ticket alert! Most of our remaining performances of SCROOGE IN ROUGE are now sold out or only have a few tickets left. Our best availability is for the 7:30pm show on Sunday, December 22nd.

This outrageous holiday boilermaker takes on A Christmas Carol with a raucous mix of dazzling costumes, cheeky lyrics, and side-splitting performances that'll have you roaring with laughter.

Join us! openeyetheatre.org/scrooge-in-rouge

Photos by Bruce Silcox.

12/18/2024

We're so grateful to everyone who's celebrated the season with us at SCROOGE IN ROUGE so far! Many shows are already sold out, and others are selling fast.

Don't miss your chance to see this hilarious take on A Christmas Carol! Our best availability is for the 7:30 pm shows on December 22nd and 27th.

Get your tickets before they're gone! openeyetheatre.org/scrooge-in-rouge

Photo by Bruce Silcox.

12/17/2024

What are you doing tonight? Come out for HOLIDAY HAM: An Open Eye Benefit Cabaret featuring some phenomenal Twin Cities' artists performing the music of Josef Evans! Then party with us after the show!

Get your tickets: openeyetheatre.org/holiday-ham

12/16/2024

TOMORROW! Don't miss HOLIDAY HAM: An Open Eye Benefit Cabaret! One night only to relive the magic of Josef Evans' summer musicals and some holiday delights! openeyetheatre.org/holiday-ham