"In the middle of the nation's heartland, the Guthrie Theatre is the Twin Cities' answer to the Great White Way. A work of striking originality, the Guthrie, which opened in 1963, is the realized dream of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, a visionary impresario who sought to create a world-class repertory company far from the pressures of Broadway. Designed by Ralph Rapson, a leading contributor to architecture's modern movement, the 1,300-seat theatre's thrust stage, acoustical ceiling clouds and multicolored seats revolutionized theatre design and created an atmosphere of immediacy and intimacy felt by actors and audience alike. The theatre has launched the careers of some of America's best-known actors, and its peerless acoustics have amplified a "who's who" of performers. Now, after forty years of use, the Guthrie Theater Company plans to abandon the facility and build a new home. The Walker Art Center, which owns the Guthrie, intends to tear it down and replace it with a sculpture garden and underground parking garage. If the Walker is allowed to go through with its plan, a genuine cultural landmark will face its final curtain call. "

--- source: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/vacations/destinations/2002/2002-07-03-endangered-america.htm

Saving the Guthrie Theatre is one of the topics of a special one-hour television broadcast by The History Channel with The National Trust for Historic Preservation. The History Channel program Save Our History: America's Most Endangered 2002 tells how these historic places have become threatened and why they must be saved. The hour-long special premieres Saturday, July 6 at 10pm ET/PT and airs again on Sunday, July 7.

T he Zoning and Planning Committee of the Minneapolis City Council voted on SavetheGuthrie.org's appeal of the Walker Art Center's site plan calling for the demolition of the Guthrie Theater. They approved the Walker's plan to expand, but with a proviso that it not mean the demolition of the theater. It is extremely important before then for friends of the theater to email committee members, as well as members of the full council, urging them to preserve this theatre. We're still a long way from saving this endangered landmark!

We are asking that any movement towards demolition be delayed until a full reuse study for the building can be completed. The National Trust for Historic Preservation declared this month that the Guthrie is one of its top 11 endangered sites nationwide. The National Trust has also agreed to help fund a reuse study.

Events have moved very quickly in recent days. The committee vote is only one hurdle we needed to clear. Their vote is only a recommendation which the full council can accept or reject. And the full council decision in turn may be vetoed by the mayor. However, it is crucial now for our side to show support for its drive to halt the demolition process. We need a reasonable period of time for possible reuse plans and business proposals to emerge.

Here's what you can do:

If you live in Minneapolis please email your council member (addresses are at the end of this letter). If you don't know who your council member is go to http://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/pi.app/Ward_Selection/Address.asp and type in your address.

If you do not live in Minneapolis you can still email Zoning and Planning Committee Chairman Gary Schiff and City Council President Paul Ostrow (who sits on the Z & P committee as well).

All correspondence should be cc'd to Mayor R.T. Rybak and, please, to me -- Joe.Gioia@SavetheGuthrie.org

PLEASE FORWARD this email to any people you think will be interested in saving this important landmark of the American stage. Those interested in learning more about our campaign can go to our website at http://www.SavetheGuthrie.org

Email addresses and office phone numbers follow.

My great thanks,
Joe Gioia
Communications Director
SavetheGuthrie.org