Discover Minneapolis-St. Paul
America’s superb new cities for the Arts
October 11-16 2006





Experience the vitality of the arts in the heartland of America on a fall tour to Minneapolis/Saint Paul,  the "Twin Cities" sitting astride the great Mississippi River. With more than 100 theater venues and more theater seats per capita than any other U.S. city outside New York, the Minneapolis theater scene is booming.  



Discover the arts in Minneapolis, one of the most liveable cities in the U.S.!  Travel& Leisure named it one of the five “up and coming destinations to visit in 2006”.  Sitting astride the Mississippi River in the heartland of  America, Minneapolis and its twin city, St. Paul, boast of thriving theater, music and art scenes.  Our fall tour will capture the cities, famous for their lakes, gardens and skyways, at their most beautiful.  The theatre scene is booming.  You’ll be among the first to experience a production at the architecturally acclaimed new Guthrie Theater, built on the banks of the Mississippi where we see a production of Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers. Our second performance features the innovative Tony award winning Theatre de la Jeune Lune, which will perform Moliere’s the Miser.  For our final offering you have tickets for The Minnesota Orchestra “Lord of the Rings’, a multimedia musical concert.  The museums are among the best, as well.   The recently renovated Walker Art Center has a renowned collection of contemporary art, and an exceptional sculpture garden.  The Frederick Weisman Museum, designed by Frank Gehry, is the model for the Bilboa in Spain and the Minneapolis Institute of Art has an extensive collection from around the world. We will enjoy fine restaurants and shopping.  Tour leader Shirley Romaine, teacher of the Adult Program’s Theater in Performance course and leader of previous international theater tours, brings her expertise the program.






1.  Wednesday, October 11     Departure
We depart from LaGuardia on Northwest airlines non-stop flight at 11:30am and arrive at  
1:40pm in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, the "Twin Cities" sitting astride the great Mississippi River. En route from the airport we see the famed lakes area  (there are twelve lakes within the city limits of Minneapolis) and the Mississippi River, which flows through both cities, roaring over St. Anthony Falls.  We walk over the old Stone Arch Bridge for a full view of the falls, and have our first glimpse  of the Minneapolis skyline.  We check in at the Crowne Plaza Northstar Hotel, ideally situated in the heart of the vibrant downtown.  After time to refresh, we have a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (Dinner)  



2.  Thursday, October 12     Tours
This morning we tour backstage at the new signature multi-stage  Guthrie Theater complex, on the banks of the Mississippi. Sir Tyrone Guthrie, commonly called the "finest director in the English-speaking world", founded this theater company in 1963, and the American regional-theater movement was born.  Guthrie's focus on a resident acting ensemble and penchant for production details inspired actors everywhere.  We visit the nearby Mill City Museum which has a display of documents, costumes and memorablia collected from the 43 years of the Guthrie Theatre.  The Museum also chronicles the flour milling industry that dominated world flour production for roughly a half-century and fueled the growth of Minneapolis. We board a riverboat for a short cruise on the Mississippi and then enjoy lunch in the area. We visit the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, famous for its  collection of avant-garde. Frank Gehry designed the striking new stainless steel and brick building, situated on the grounds of the University of Minnesota. It inspired his highly acclaimed Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.  You are free for dinner.  This evening we see Neil Simon’s play, Lost In Yonkers. Rich in the comedy for which he is famous, Simon’s Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama tells the touching story of an eccentric New York family in crisis in the summer of 1942. As only he can, Simon grapples with the reality of what happens to children in the absence of love. (Breakfast/Lunch)



3.  Friday, October 13     Minneapolis
Minneapolis is justly proud of it newest architecture.  We explore the new Michael Graves design at the Minnesota Institute of Art. The renovated galleries provide one of the most expansive displays of Chinese and Japanese art in this country. The new wing  showcases the outstanding collections of twentieth-century and contemporary art.  It is  recognized internationally as one of the great museums in America.  We visit another new exciting project, the Minneapolis Central Library, with its soaring space and public art installations.  After lunch (on own) we visit the Wells Fargo Galleries, located in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. This unique exhibition space provides an open forum devoted to aspects of Modernism.  You will have free time to explore the mile-long pedestrian mall, with an extensive system of glass-enclosed skyways connecting its many shops and the public library.  Tonight we have a group dinner before a performance of Moliere’s  The Miser at  the Theatre de la Jeune Lune.  The American Theatre Wing's 59th annual Tony Awards  bestowed the Regional Theatre Tony Award on Theatre de la Jeune Lune.  (Breakfast/Dinner )



4.  Saturday, October 14     St. Paul
We spend the day in St. Paul, one of America's most beautiful capital cities.  It is often referred to as a "European style" city because of its quaint and charming atmosphere and its respect for classic architecture. Saint Paul's Summit Avenue boasts one of the longest stretches of virtually uninterrupted Victorian architecture in the United States--beginning at the European-style Saint Paul Cathedral and running to the Mississippi River. Downtown Saint Paul features a number of historic buildings including the State Capitol, the Fitzgerald Theater (home to Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion), the Landmark Center, the Saint Paul Hotel, and breathtaking views of the Mississippi River.  Subject to scheduling we will see a live broadcast of a Prairie Home Companion. After lunch, we enjoy a visit to Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park, the largest glass-domed garden in the region. The garden occupies approximately one-half acre under glass.    
After dinner (included) we have tickets for to see the Minneapolis Orchestra performance of  Lord of the Rings. This spectacular multi-media event has filled concert halls worldwide; now you have the rare opportunity to experience it for yourself!  With over 200 musicians performing Howard Shore's unforgettable score from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, plus original illustrations and storyboards projected above the stage, you'll be part of a magical, musical journey to Middle Earth. The concert is held in Orchestra Hall, an architectural landmark in downtown Minneapolis. The Hall, with its open glass structure was designed to offer  concert goers a warm, welcoming ambiance and acoustical perfection. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).



5.  Sunday, October 15     Art Gallery
After checking out of the hotel we visit the Walker Art Center which began as the first public art gallery in the Upper Midwest. The museum's focus on modern art began in the 1940s, with the acquistion of works by by important artists of the day. Adjacent to the Walker is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, one of the nation's largest urban sculpture parks. When the Garden opened in 1988, it was immediately heralded by the New York Times as "the finest new outdoor space in the country for displaying sculpture."   We have lunch and depart for the airport for our 3:00pm non-stop flight which arrives at LaGuardia airport at 7:00pm. (Breakfast/Lunch)





This engaging experience includes:

  • Round trip airfare on Northwest Airlines
  • Four nights accommodations at the Crowne Plaza Northstar in Minneapolis
  • Three Productions including: Guthrie Theater, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Minneapolis Orchestra
  • Daily breakfast, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
  • Tour of St. Paul and the Garden Conservatory
  • Mississippi boat cruise
  • Tour of Guthrie Theater
  • Visits to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Walker Art Center, Weisman Art Museum, Mill City Museum
PROGRAM PRICES  
Per person (double occupancy) from New York: $1850.00  
Single Supplement: $350.00  
Air Taxes: $