Theatre Pro Rata, Park Square, Sandbox Theatre & Girl Friday Announce Producing Partnership

Girl Friday Productions, Park Square Theatre, Sandbox Theatre and Theatre Pro Rata officially announced a new producing partnership today, with Park Square set to host a production from each of the other three companies in its new Andy Boss Thrust Stage each season for the next three years. Performances are scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015 with Park Square rounding out the stage's eight show season with five productions of its own.

Pro Rata Artistic Director Carin Bratlie enthused, "We are looking forward to sharing our smart and gutsy theater with Park Square's audience, as well as the wider Twin Cities community."

"This partnership is more than just a seasonal rental," explained Park Square Artistic Director Richard Cook. "We designed our new stage to be affordable to operate, not only for us, but for smaller companies. Working together, we believe we can ramp up each other's organizational capacity and cross-pollinate our very different audiences."

As a Producing Partner, Theatre Pro Rata will return to downtown St. Paul for the first time since their Spring 2008 production of Metamorphosis in the now demolished Loading Dock Theatre.

Since 2001 Pro Rata, Latin for "in proportion," has produced smart, vivid, varied, and gutsy theater in the Twin Cities. Focusing on the text of the play, the company offers performers and audiences the chance to engage the characters, themes and language more completely. Ranging from classic dramas to modern black comedies, Theatre Pro Rata produces scripts that engender this exploration while still bringing visceral theatrical experiences to the stage.

Recent accolades for Pro Rata include an International Centre for Women Playwrights 50/50 Applause Award and multiple BroadwayWorld Award nominations for its production of Emilie: La Marquise du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight (2013).

Park Square will begin construction on its new 200-seat Andy Boss Thrust Stage in 2014. With this major addition to its existing 348-seat proscenium stage, the company will be able to double its artistic output, hire 60% more artists and develop significant annual audiences for its downtown Saint Paul neighborhood. Named for banker, philanthropist and civic leader W. Andrew Boss, the Boss Thrust will host programs for both general and student audiences, including shows produced by Park Square Theatre's new Producing Partners.