Summer Theatre Season in Full Swing

Summer theatre in southeast Minnesota is in full swing with four professional companies staging eight different productions. This weekend marks the opening of the fifth season of the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona with a free after-play concert by Chicago rhythm and blues artist James Armstrong at Levee park (Saturday, July 28). The Jon Hassler Theater's summer offering, The Good Doctor, started in mid June, and The Commonweal's production of Harvey started the summer season in late May. The Gilmore Creek Summer Theater begins the second week of July with the creepy musical The Little Shop of Horrors. In its second season, Gilmore Creek has added a children's selection to their two-play summer series.

Jonathan Gillard Daly as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (photo: GRSF)

Here is a brief listing of summer offerings. Please check with the individual theaters for dates, times, and ticket information.

Jon Hassler Theater, Plainview, Minnesota

The Good Doctor by Neil Simon
Thursdays - Sundays, through July 13
Schedules and tickets: Jon Hassler Theater

Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, Minnesota

Harvey by Mary Chase
Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman
Thursdays - Mondays, through October 25
Schedules and tickets: Commonweal Theatre

Great River Shakespeare Festival, Winona Minnesota

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Tuesdays - Sundays, through July 27
Schedules and tickets: Great River Shakespeare Festival

Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre, St. Mary's Page Theater, Winona, Minnesota

Little Shop of Horrors by Ashman & Mencken (opens July 10)
The Foreigner by Larry Shue (opens July 17)
Thursdays - Sundays, through August 3
Schedules and tickets: Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Gilmore Creek Children's Theatre

Mouse Expedition by Erin Malcolm and Brian Blankenship
Five performances July 19 - August 2
Schedules and tickets: Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre Company opens its inaugural season this weekend with the musical Lend Me a Tenor. The company will open its second offering, a celebration of Jerry Herman’s music, Showtune, the following week. The two plays will run in repertory through August 5.

With the addition of Gilmore Creek, Southeast Minnesota has the honor of being home to two professional summer theaters.

Lend Me a Tenor
By by Ken Ludwig; Directed by Steve Snyder
Opens July 6 with preview on July 5

Showtune: Celebrating the Words and Music of Jerry Herman
Conceived by Paul Gilger; Directed by Judy Myers
Opens July 13 with preview on July 12

Visit St. Mary's University Page Theater for schedules and ticket information

Read about Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre Company in the Winona Daily News (June 5)