Suzan-Lori Parks premiers in Lanesboro this week.

The Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro will premier eight pieces of Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks’ year-long play 365 Days/365 Plays June 12 – 17.

Philosophizing elder (Lisa Weaver); Father and son watch TV (Eric Graves, Justin Madsen); Businessmen ask "what if" questions on a plane (Jerome Yorke and Eric Knutson). June 12, 2007 (photos Robert Stuber)

365 Days/365 Plays is being performed by theaters and universities across the country in an unique rolling premier. The work consists of a short play written for every day in a calendar year beginning in November. More than 700 theater groups around the world are participating in what organizers call “The 365 International Festival.” This includes 30 theaters in Minnesota.

The commonweal will present their 8 installments of 365 Days/365 Plays in several settings inside the new theater building. Guest artist, Liz Engleman directs. Commonweal is thrilled with the opportunity to present this groundbreaking modern playwright. “We’re showcasing the versatility of this playwright by exploring the versatility of the space,” said Hal Cropp, Commonweal’s Executive Director.

The plays start at 7:00 Tuesday through Saturday and 1:00 on Sunday, lasting no more that 20 minutes each performance. Admission is free, and attendees will have plenty of time to catch the 8:00 or 2:00 performances of Crimes of the Heart or The Mystery of Irma Vep running in repertory next door in the St. Maine Theater.

Parks won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2002 for her work Top Dog/ Underdog. Other plays include Fucking A, Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom, The America Play, Venus, The Death Of The Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World, and In The Blood. This is a great opportunity to see one of the most respected, innovative, and thought provoking playwrights working today.

Read today’s play at American Theatre: 365 Days/365 Plays
Visit the Commonweal for Schedules: Commonweal Theatre