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PILLSBURY HOUSE + TH EATRE

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HOME FOR ALL

Throughout our 35-year history, Pillsbury House + Theatre has been home to thousands of artists, a space for bold imagination, and a destination for the magical impact that comes from collective creativity. Countless times, artists and neighbors have told us that PH+T is their creative home, a place of deeply felt belonging, support, and inspiration. For that we are humbled and grateful — and driven to ensure that PH+T continues to be a place where creativity lives, where dreams are nurtured, and where artists soar.

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WELCOME HOME

A long-time home for our community’s youngest artists, the Chicago Avenue Project (CAP) pairs youth with accomplished professional artists as their mentors and champions. As we mark CAP’s 30th year, YOU can help ensure that PCC remains the launchpad for youthful creativity by donating to the CAP $300,000 Creative Futures Fund. As we settle into our newly constructed and renovated spaces as part of Pillsbury Creative Commons, we’re fostering home in new and exciting ways. This season, we invite longtime supporters and new collaborators alike to find their own sense of home with us — on our stages, in our classrooms, in our programs, over the airwaves, and in every corner where stories are shared and community is nurtured. If you want to help build a more connected, creative, and compassionate world, our door is wide open.

HELLO

SIGNE V. HARRIDAY AND NOËL RAYMOND Co-Artistic Directors, Pillsbury House + Theatre

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SERIES

Body Watani Dance project creates research-driven performances from an embodied relation with “watan” or homeland inside our bodies. Palestinian sisters Leila and Noelle Awadallah center Palestine as a point of entry in their work, cultivating flows from ancestral digs, present realities, and future visions of liberation. For this year’s Maker’s Series, they bring their practice to PH+T as part of a three-year project contemplating the relationship between the village of Battir in Palestine and Paha Sapa (South Dakota’s Black Hills). Audiences are invited into the exploration as Body Watani process and reflect on learnings from their time in these sacred stolen lands undergoing settler colonial violences.

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MAKERS

UNTITLED (FOR PALESTINE & PAHA SAPA) BODY WATANI DANCE

H O M E F O R C R E AT I V I T Y

Makers Series is a forum for visionary artists to create while in residence in our space and our community. This season, we welcome more new artists into our home to push the boundaries of their craft and help us imagine a better world at the intersection of arts and social justice.

IMAGE CREDITS - Pat Barrett courtesy of NCCAkron - Erica Ticknor

BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY QUEEN DREA Born on the 4th of July: From Mississippi to Minnesota is a multidisciplinary performance that traces the journey of Black migration, land ownership, and legacy through sound, film, and live performance. Blending archival storytelling with original compositions and visuals, Drea’s work reflects on the generations of movement between the Deep South and the Upper Midwest — and the ways these migrations continue to shape identity and community today.

SERIES

ARTISTS

Supported in part by the American Composers Forum and premiering at INSIDE OUT 5 on July 25, 2026, Born on the 4th of July offers an immersive, reflective experience that celebrates resilience, memory, and the enduring pursuit of freedom.

MAKERS

H O M E F O R I N S P I R AT I O N

MAINSTAGE On our mainstage this season, step into a musical revolution with a boldly emotional tribute to the High Priestess of Soul.

This award-winning program, built on a foundation of undoing racism, uses theatre performance to open up courageous, productive dialogue and foster a culture inclusion and belonging. Led by our company of professional actors and facilitators, participants explore how systemic inequities, implicit bias, and common misperceptions show up in relationships and gain awareness that leads to accountability and action. Learn more at BreakingIce.org.

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BREAKING ICE YEAR-ROUND

NINA SIMONE: FOUR WOMEN Written by Christina Ham Directed by Faye M. Price Amid the convulsive Civil Right struggles of the 1960s, the songs of Nina Simone captured America’s anguish and galvanized fellow activists to alter the course of history. Set in the wake of the murder of four little girls at a church in Birmingham, Alabama, Four Women imagines a conversation among Simone and three other Black women whose personal stories inspire her cathartic anthem, “Mississippi Goddamn.” Witness the birth of a song that gave voice to a movement.

PROGRAM

BREAKING ICE

Our staging of playwright Christina Ham’s Nine Simone: Four Women is a homecoming and reunion for the play’s original cast, including Regina Marie Williams, Aimee K. Bryant, Thomasina Petrus and Traci M. Shannon. Directed by PH+T’s former visionary co-artistic director Faye M. Price, this production unites a powerhouse of talent to deliver the medicine and inspiration we need most in these turbulent times. O N S TA G E

September 2026

H O M E F O R C O L L A B O R AT I O N

PH+T CO-PRESENTS Every year we share our stage, resources, and creativity with incredible artists from across our community and around the country. Come see the results in 2 new co-presentations this season.

This year, the beloved trio Doña Pepa, Sid Sity, and Old Man Zimmer return to our stage with Shimmering Waves, a playful and poignant puppet show that flows from rivers to oceans with tales of real and magical creatures who call the water home. In this joyful co-presentation, Drag Story Hour MN blends puppetry, storytelling, music, and lip sync performances to celebrate gender expression, friendship, and the magic of nature. Come ride the current with us — where every wave carries a story, and every story brings us closer.

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DRAG STORY HOUR

Two shows each performance day February 21 & March 21, 2026 ALL AT ONCE Meet All at Once, a Twin Cities-based collective of visionary puppeteers of color. Sofía Padilla, Oanh Vu, Andrew Young, and Erica Warren blend their diverse cultural roots and artistic styles to create bold, visually rich shows that embrace impermanence, transformation, and joy through the magic of shadow, tabletop, and cart puppetry. Their two new performances, developed through story circles with BIPOC South Minneapolis residents, invites audiences into a fantastical world where visual storytelling builds bridges between personal and collective experiences of change. Story Circles: Dates TBA via the PH+T Newsletter Performances: June 4–7 & June 11–14, 2026

CO-PRESENTING

ARTS INTEGRATION & EDUCATION

CenterstAGE WINTER/SPRING Arts-based workshops for adults age 55 and older ARTIST WAY WORKSHOPS Explorations for artists at all levels of experience AUDITION COACHING Coaching and self tape assistance with teaching artist Aimee K. Bryant STILTING TROUPE Stilt performance camps and workshops for local youth PUPPET CAMP OUT Intergenerational puppet and mask workshops PLAYWRITING MENTORSHIP Focused mentorship for young playwrights

CHICAGO AVENUE PROJECT MAY & DECEMBER Celebrating 30 years! A creative development opportunity for young people in and after school, CAP pairs local youth with accomplished Twin Cities’ playwrights, actors, and directors to create and produce original plays, culminating in performances that celebrate young folks’ artistry. COMMUNITY ENGAGED ART YEAR-ROUND Throughout the year, we lead collaborative creative projects in the community that connect residents with local artists, staff, and partner orgs. Our work emerges gradually through listening, rigor, care, and imagination. Follow our weekly newsletter to see what’s coming next.

ASHAWNTI SAKINA FORD ACTOR, IMPROVISER, DIRECTOR & TEACHING ARTIST CAP MENTOR

FELLOWSHIPS, INTERNSHIPS & RESIDENCIES MCKNIGHT FELLOWSHIPS FOR COMMUNITY-ENGAGED ARTISTS JUNE 2026 - MAY 2027 For established communityengaged artists using their practice for social transformation, this juried fellowship provides financial and professional development support to push their work forward. Applications open 1/26/26 and close 3/23/26. NAKED STAGES APRIL – NOVEMBER This fellowship provides earlycareer Minnesota performance artists with the resources and mentorship they need to develop a sustainable career, leading up to performances where they share their singular voices and visions. Applications open 1/5/26 and close 2/27/26.

STEP UP INTERNSHIP SUMMER JUNE – AUG This paid summer internship offers young people hands-on skills, experience, and connections to level up for in-demand theater tech careers. Runs 8 weeks, June through August 2026.

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There’s an artist inside of all of us. Unleash yours with workshops, partnerships, and activities that come to life in our building and beyond.

HOME FOR ENGAGEMENT

“Say YES to broaden and deepen and strengthen and expand your communities!”

ART IN COMMONS YEAR-ROUND This artist studio program based in the lobby of our main building provides artists with free, 24/7 access to a studio space for 4-8 weeks.

PROGR AMS

For more info on programs and opportunities at PH+T, email: mikeh@pillsburyunited.org.

HOME FOR BELONGING

A NEW HOME FOR KRSM RADIO Last year South Minneapolis’s only low-power community radio station began broadcasting from Pillsbury Creative Commons. Heard at 98.9 FM and online at KRSMradio.org, KRSM airs programs in six languages, including more than ten hours of Indigenous-led programming each week. Offering free media training, youth radio programs, and equipment available for community use, KRSM continues to cultivate the next generation of storytellers and cultural leaders.

WHAT’S HAPPENING @ PCC Pillsbury Creative Commons, our new home for arts and economic development, officially opened in 2025. Today PCC is a beacon for celebrations, artistic events, workforce training, and Southside pride. Funded through Hennepin County, The McKnight Foundation, The Minneapolis Foundation, and others, PCC marks a major expansion of our commitment to a thriving local community. Learn more at Pillsbury.cc.

“Having my voice on the airwaves means everything to me. To be able to connect with my community through music and poetry is fun and exciting.” DJ VALÉRIE DÉUS

TECHNICAL ARTS TRAINING @ PILLSBURY This fully paid, on-the-job training is an engaging, accessible onramp into in-demand technical and creative careers. Apprentices get placed in theaters and venues across the Twin Cities to learn carpentry, welding, painting, sound, lighting, projections, and related skills. By inviting fresh perspectives into theater and arts workplaces, we help close disparities and diversify the industry. Open to anyone 18+. 2026 TRAINING DATES January 26–February 6 | May 11–22 | August 10–21

P I L L S B U RY C R E AT I V E C O M M O N S

INSIDE OUT 5 JULY 25, 2026 Chicago Avenue’s biggest block party is back for its fifth year, a summer tradition filled with joy, neighbors, and creative opportunities for all ages. Join us for a performance of Queen Drea’s Born on the 4th of July, music from KRSM DJs, food from local vendors, and lots of surprises. Don’t miss it!

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KRSM also brings the on-air energy to beloved neighborhood events like KRSM Night at Arbeiter, Powderhorn Porchfest, Soul of the Southside, and Open Streets. At last summer’s grand opening, artists and neighbors filled the streets with music and dance to celebrate. As Station Manager Mike Brooks put it, “This is exactly what we deserve—as a community, as an organization, as a radio community, as an artistic community.”

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“With complete, complex, and lived-in performances… and simple yet elegant design, A Lesson in Love feels like a little bit of a balm to a weary world. It may make you forget about all of the hate and fear… and remember what is possible with love.”

H O M E F O R T R A N S F O R M AT I O N

“I love and honor how theater is again a part of community experience — not just some distant, expensive pursuit for the leisure class.”

CHERRY AND SPOON REVIEW OF “A LESSON IN LOVE”

NAKED STAGES AUDIENCE MEMBER

A LAUNCHPAD, A BEACON, A SANCTUARY, A LOVING HOME… WITH YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH US!

CECELIA CORNEJO MCKNIGHT COMMUNITY-ENGAGED ARTIST FELLOW

Scan the QR code to donate or send a check in the envelope provided.

P H +T + YO U

All who seek a more inspired, inclusive, and resilient South Minneapolis have a home at Pillsbury House + Theatre. More than ever, your support makes our work possible. Every donation supports high-quality arts programs and human services that connect local people, uplift marginalized voices, and grow opportunity — today and for the next generation.

“Receiving the McKnight solidified my desire to build community and solidarity through artmaking. This is a deeply transformative kind of support… and its impact is life-long.”

PH +T Sara Abdelaal, Audience Engagement Director Bart Buch, Arts Integration Manager Maria Cortez, Afternoon Receptionist Claudia Errickson, Technical Director Signe V. Harriday, Senior Artistic Producing Director Michael Hoyt, Creative Community Director Masanari Kawahara, Naked Stages Director Kurt Kwan, Breaking Ice Manager Estrella Mercado, Operations Coordinator Mankwe Ndosi, Resident Community Engaged Artist Julia Snider Nickerson, Chicago Avenue Project Director Noël Raymond, Senior Director of Arts & Culture Rachael C. Rhoades, Production and Project Manager André Samples, PCC Workforce Training Director Joel Thompson, Facilities Engineer Teaching Artists: Aimee K. Bryant, Bart Buch, Masanari Kawahara

3501 Chicago Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55407 Box Office: 612-825-0459 pillsburyhouseandtheatre.org