I was in high school when the Guthrie Theater first opened with the production of Hamlet in 1963. A school outing found me in attendance, seated front row center next to Sir Tyrone Guthrie himself. I noticed his socks were mismatched. At a time when it was so important to fit in and dress like my peers, it dawned on me that it’s OK to be different, to express my individualism, to be free.
Seeing a professionally staged performance for the first time was thrilling and inspiring. I attended every play at the Vineland building until it closed after the 2006 season. I still have the two commemorative coffee mugs listing every play from 1963 to 2006.
My love of theater sprang from that time in 1963 in the Guthrie Theater on Vineland Place and led me to eventually attain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater and Communication Arts.
I miss the building itself, its stunning architecture a symbol of creative freedom, both joyful and magical.
