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Be inspired by all the amazing artists setting our stage ablaze with their art and talent. See upcoming shows below!
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Find your spark here at the Phoenix! We would love to host your event and Phoenix Theater is available for theater rental and general public events.
Main Stage
$1350/week or $350-400/night
Week-long Rentals & Single Day
Rehearsal Room(s)
Start at $25/rehearsal
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Mission
Arts’ Nest exists to nurture and support emerging artists and arts professionals – through creating access and opportunities for learning, connections, and visibility.
CREATIVITY - COMMUNITY - PASSION -
CREATIVITY - COMMUNITY - PASSION -
CREATIVITY - COMMUNITY - PASSION - CREATIVITY - COMMUNITY - PASSION -
My friends and fellow community members,
I am sorry to inform you all that Jenna Papke, founding executive director of The Arts’ Nest, passed away this morning, September 12th, after losing her battle with cancer. She passed quietly at home, with her family. We are grateful for the time we had with her, and all she did to make our home at Phoenix Theater possible. Her drive, creativity, and dedication to this community will be sorely missed by all. Her family requests privacy at this time, but your well-wishes and thoughts are appreciated.
Both Phoenix Theater and the Cowles Center will continue operations as we grieve.
Upcoming Shows & Events
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Better Late
Friday - Saturday, September 11th-12th at 8p
Better Late is part cabaret, part solo show……Join singer and storyteller Drew Schufman as he shares moving personal stories and performs meaningful songs from The Great American Songbook.
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This event is recommended for audiences age 18 and older.
This event will run approximately 75 minutes.
This event will contain adult language.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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Improvocation
Sunday, September 13th at 7p
Improvocation is a monthly showcase featuring long-form improvisational theater groups from the Twin Cities area.
Their forms are varied and unique but they will be sharing a common source of inspiration: tales from a special guest kick off each set.
Which themes and piece of story will they carry over into their scenes? You might be surprised. We certainly will be.
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This event is recommended for audiences of all ages.
This event will run approximately 90 minutes.
There are no content warnings for this event.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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PowerPoint Night XL
Wednesday, September 16th at 6:30p
A social mixer themed like a PowerPoint Night with 11 presentations that range from funny to educational and meaningful.
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This event is recommended for audiences age 18 and older.
This event will run approximately two and a half hours.
This event will feature adult language.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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SFT 14
Thursday, September 17th at 7:30p
Shane Black has turned on Thy Spriggle Dojo to join the Paul Virk Group… and thy humble one demands revenge! Plus; Matt Honey and the Academy Dojo’s rivalry with the Thunderfrogs continues as Honey faces JINN and Possum faces Brandon Gore!
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This event is recommended for audiences of all ages.
This event will run approximately two and a half hours.
This event will feature stage violence.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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A Pretty Good Magic Show
Friday, September 18th at 7:30p
Experience an evening of wonder at this special, one night only magic show. Some of what you see will be good. Some of it will be great. And, if you're lucky, you'll remember some of it for the rest of your life. We'd say more, but that'd give too much away. It'll be fun. There'll be magic. It'll be...A Pretty Good Magic Show.
About the Performer
Morgan May is a Twin Cities–based magician and creator. His off-beat (and sometimes refined) magic brings people together through shared laughter and wonder. He has performed magic on Wheel of Fortune and is a regular performer throughout the Twin Cities with the Magic Underground.
Doors open at 6:45pm
_____This event is recommended for audiences age 18 and older.
This event will run approximately one hour.
There are no content warnings for this event.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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The Puppet Union Presents One Hippopotamus Night Only!
Sunday, September 20th at 7p
Join the Puppet Union for another OHNO show and art market!
The catch this time? All puppet slams must include a hippo.
Presented in part with funding from the Puppet Slam Network and the Metro Regional Arts Council_____
This event is recommended for audiences age 13 and older.
This event will run approximately two hours.
This event will feature adult language and themes, drugs or alcohol consumption, stage violence, gun or weapon usage, suicidal ideation or self-harm, and depictions of mental illness.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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BLACKOUT Presents: The AFROFUTURE
Sunday, September 27th at 7p
BLACKOUT presents a night where Blackness takes center stage and the future is ours to play with. Join us for an Afrofuturism‑inspired journey featuring movement, music, sketches, and improvised worlds that bend time, remix history, and celebrate the power of imagination. Come ready to laugh, dream, and witness the future Black folks have always been building.
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This event is recommended for audiences age 13 and older.
This event will run approximately two hours.
There are no content warnings for this event.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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"Female Figures" An Original Movement Play
Thursday, October 8th at 7p Preview, tickets available with code
Friday - Sunday, October 9th - 11th at 7pA sensual Femme Queer Movement Play about three young witches struggling with traumas of their own until they discover they are much more powerful than they thought. Joining a coven the witches use their powers to uplift each other and themselves turning on their abusers in a feminist revenge plot. Ancient entities, the undead, and a powerful Mother Superior collide to create a perfectly spooky and heartfelt evening at the theater in October.
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This event is recommended for audiences age 18 and older.
This event will run approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
This event will feature adult language and themes, drug or alcohol consumption, staged domestic violence, suicidal ideation or self-harm, and depictions of mental illness.
This event will feature flashing lights, sudden loud noises, and blood or injury effects.
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The Madness of Lady Bright
Fridays and Saturdays, October 16th-24th at 7:30p
Sunday, October 25th at 3pThe Madness of Lady Bright is a poignant one-act play about Leslie Bright, an aging Drag Queen living alone in a NYC rooming house. Over the course of one evening, a series of encounters force him to confront his loneliness, isolation, and fear of growing old. Blending humor with heartbreak, the play explores the universal need for companionship and human connection while reflecting the particular social marginalization experienced by gay men in 1960s America.
Drawing on Leslie's fascination with Giselle and her own dedication to an ephemeral love, Mannakin Theater & Dance weaves choreography into the production for fresh experience with this modern classic._____
This event is recommended for audiences age 18 and older.
This event will run approximately 75 minutes.
This event will feature adult themes.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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A Night of Stand Up Comedy with Sam Ellefson
Friday, November 6th at 7:30p
Stand-up comedian and Minnesota native Sam Ellefson returns home for one night only! Now based out of Denver, Sam has built a reputation nationwide for his sharp, relatable stories and viral bits on Midwestern life.
Fresh off winning the Fort Collins Comedy Competition and performing at the prestigious High Plains Comedy Festival, Sam is bringing a stacked night of comedy to the Phoenix Theater, featuring guest appearances from top local favorites.
Two specials on YouTube, millions of views online, and one night back in Minneapolis. Grab your tickets before they sell out!
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This event is recommended for audiences age 18 and older.
This event will run approximately 80 minutes.
This event will feature adult language and themes.
There are no effects warnings for this event. -
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Queer & Funny Improv Festival
Saturday & Sunday, November 7th & 8th
The Queer and Funny Improv Festival will showcase the talents of queer improvisers from the Twin Cities and beyond through a weekend full of performances, workshops and other opportunities to try out improvisational comedy.
The Festival aims to highlight the diversity of queer voices, spread the joy of improv as an art form, and create a space where all can enjoy themselves while being their full selves.
Though the festival centers queer people, people of all genders and orientations are welcome to celebrate us with us.
_____This event is recommended for audiences age 13 and older.
This is an all day event.
It’s improv. We have no idea what it’ll contain.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
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Mistletoe & Mayhem
Thursdays - Sundays, November 27th - December 13th at various times
A young city executive is compelled to spend the holidays in Snowberry Falls, a town with an unreasonable obsession with winter cheer and one diva goat. She soon discovers that she might find more than just holiday happiness.
From the producers of I'll Be Home for Kahless! comes a new comedy that both celebrates and skewers the true spirit of the holidays and Hallmark films, Mistletoe & Mayhem - The Hallmark Parody of the Season!
Join us as we return to the Phoenix Theater, because sometimes the best holiday miracles come with hot cocoa, a lot of chaos, and just a little bit of glitter in your new favorite Holiday tradition!_____
This event is recommended for audiences age 13 and older.
This event will run approximately 80 minutes.
This event will contain oblique reference to drug and alcohol use.
There are no effects warnings for this event.
“…a fantastic place to see a good, local, and intimate show.” ★★★★★
— Jonathan H., Yelp
Kindling
A list of helpful links, contacts, and resources for artists, actors, and producers.
Hatch Education
Classes for producers, technical artists, and performers.
Fledgling Program
Our production assistance program for developing companies, show ideas, and artists.
Plumage
Did you know our lobby is also an art gallery?Check out the current artists whose work is on display and for purchase!
Welcome to The Phoenix
Welcome to Phoenix Theater, where the spirit of community, creativity, and passion ignites the stage!
Nestled in the vibrant heart of Uptown, Minneapolis, we are more than just a black box theater; we are a haven for grassroots performing arts, cabarets, plays, improv shows, dance performances and more. Our commitment to fostering a sense of belonging is reflected in our multifaceted space, designed for both seasoned performers and enthusiastic patrons.
Our mission is to foster a community where the arts come alive. With an onsite team dedicated to curating unforgettable experiences, we invite you to join us in celebrating the magic that unfolds within our black box walls.
Immerse yourself in the creative energy as you explore our main stage, several rehearsal rooms, and a cozy community café – perfect for unwinding before or after a show.
Come be a part of our story, and let the Phoenix spark your imagination!
“This is one of the best places to stage a play, for any type of show or fundraiser or whatever creative thing comes to mind.” ★★★★★
— Jeong Park - Google Review
The Spaces
A unique and comminuty focused Minneapolis small theater and rehersal spaces for rent by productions, special events, and educational classes.
Main Stage- 14'x28'
Rehearsal Rooms:
Blue - 20'x32'
Yellow - 16'x32'
Pink - 14'x25'
Lobby & Sparks Café - Spacious lobby with café tables and chairs, lounge area, and concessions area.
Passion
Community
Creativity
Minneapolis Black Box Theater Rental
Open for theater companies - dance - cabaret - education -private events - rehearsals
Behind the curtain, Arts’ Nest is the non stop non-profit that operates The Phoenix as a live performance venue, nurtures and support emerging artists and curates arts professionals programming.
We are so grateful to be a part of this amazing arts community and look forward to creating with all of you.
Mission Statement
Arts’ Nest exists to nurture and support emerging artists and arts professionals – through creating access and opportunities for learning, connections, and visibility. This is accomplished through a variety of programs including our Hatch education branch, our Fledgling new productions program, the Kindling directory of additional resources and the Plumage & Sparks ongoing exhibit of visual art in the Phoenix Theater lobby.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to broaden and deepen the Twin Cities’ artistic community by providing its newest members vital financial, physical, and human resources that have a significant impact to elevate those artists to the level in their career.
Values
Community - Creativity - Passion