Guthrie Theater & Medtronic Host Fundraising Event for Puerto Rico Relief

The Guthrie Theater (Joseph Haj, artistic director) announced it has partnered with the Medtronic Foundation to host a one-night-only fundraising event to support hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico. The fundraiser is offered in conjunction with the dress rehearsal for the Guthrie's summer production of West Side Story on Friday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. More than 750 seats for this rare, behind-the-scenes look at the creative process for a major musical will be available to the public in exchange for a donation of $25, $50, $100 or $250 per seat. Medtronic Foundation has generously pledged a $25,000 matching gift, with all proceeds - up to $50,000 - directly supporting relief efforts in Puerto Rico through Americares. Tickets are on sale now through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, 877.44.STAGE (toll-free) and online at guthrietheater.org.

Dress rehearsals at the Guthrie are generally reserved for staff and volunteers, so this public opportunity marks a dramatic turn of events and a special opportunity for guests to witness the creation of a major musical revival that officially begins the following day. After weeks in the rehearsal room, it is often the first time the company has rehearsed the entire show from start to finish onstage, incorporating the full orchestra, freshly made costumes, scenic elements, lights, sound and props.

Based on a conception of Jerome Robbins with a book by Arthur Laurents, West Side Story is considered one of the great love stories of all time. Set in 1957 Manhattan, two rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, are prowling the streets of the West Side. According to the script, the Jets are "an anthology of what it means to be American," and director Joseph Haj has cast the Jets as an amalgam of cultures in New York City from prior immigrant waves. The Puerto Rican Sharks belong to the newest wave of immigrants. Tension builds between the assimilated Jets and the Sharks, the new arrivals who are treated with fear and contempt.

Featuring music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the score is often heralded as one of theater's finest and includes beloved classics such as "Somewhere," "Maria," "Tonight" and "I Feel Pretty." West Side Story will play June 16 - August 26 on the theater's signature Wurtele Thrust Stage. Single tickets for West Side Story are on sale through the Box Office at 612.377.2224, 877.44.STAGE (toll-free), 612.225.6244 (group sales) and online at guthrietheater.org.

West Side Story is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management and City National Bank with special support from Platinum Producers Penny and Bill George and the George Family Foundation.

AMERICARES

Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster worldwide so they can reach their full potential. In the U.S., Americares is the largest nonprofit provider of medical aid to organizations serving low-income and uninsured patients. Americares provides more than $200 million in medicine, supplies, education and training annually to a network of more than 1,000 partner clinics nationwide. Americares' U.S. Program helps partner clinics increase capacity, provide comprehensive care, improve health outcomes and reduce costs for patients.

MEDTRONIC FOUNDATION

Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com) is the sole funder of Medtronic Foundation, whose focus is in expanding access to quality chronic disease care among underserved populations worldwide, as well as supporting health initiatives in communities where Medtronic employees live and give.

THE GUTHRIE THEATER (Joseph Haj, artistic director) was founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training, dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature and to cultivating the next generation of theater artists. Under Haj's leadership, the Guthrie is guided by four core values: Artistic Excellence; Community; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Fiscal Responsibility. The Guthrie produces a mix of classic and contemporary plays on three stages and continues to set a national standard for excellence in theatrical production and performance, serving nearly 400,000 patrons annually. In 2006, the Guthrie opened a new home, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Open to the public year-round, it houses three state of the art stages, production facilities, classrooms, full-service restaurants and dramatic public lobbies.