the Guthrie has an important story to tell about an idea that became a reality
and grew and actually changed the community
this is an astounding lively place whenever I go elsewhere I talked about
the Twin Cities as Paris on the Prairie
this is an informed and educated community that sees the need understands
the need for great art where do you keep the archives of this activity how did
that happen I heard a great talk by one of the Dayton brothers about his view of
how that happened all that stuff should be preserved because this is in a way
miraculous looking at these beautiful scrapbook and we felt this immediate
connection to the people of 1910 you know like early in the orchestra's
life they made it possible for us to tell the Minnesota Orchestra story in
2003 so for me it's very much a real kind of pragmatic element to preserve
your history it's not some kind of abstract concept there there is really
not an effective written language for dance that isn't practical use for dance
company so videotape is the way we keep track of what we do those videotapes are
getting older and they're falling apart so archiving those is one of the biggest
things that dance is an art form has to deal with most companies don't have the
resources to actually get this done having our materials at the University
of Minnesota libraries is really crucial there's something that of great worth
here it's where we did the work we have had we number have had a very active
relationship with the University of Minnesota
over the 36 years of this theaters history you know there's something
special about it could be the universe damn you sir I don't think that I'm
exaggerating when I say that three or four times a week I receive calls from
students from high schools universities both from this area and across the
country asking me where they can get the history of the Guthrie Theater and so to
be able to point to the University of Minnesota archives is really essential
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