We theater lovers of the Twin Cities area are proud to share our home with the Children's Theatre Company, the Guthrie, the Minnesota Opera, and the multitude of other institutions, large and small, that make our local theater community one of the best in the nation. That community has suffered a great loss with the announcement of Theatre de la Jeune Lune's closing.

Jeune Lune created theatrical and operatic pieces with a physical ingenuity, visual expressiveness, mischievous wit and outrageous originality that I have never witnessed on any other stage. Their work was hilariously funny, devastatingly emotional and flawlessly suited to their beautiful warehouse home on First Street. Jeune Lune was unique, and it will be greatly missed by theater fans locally and nationwide.

Yet the weekend's news is not entirely sad: We can still be grateful that the brilliant artists and collaborators who comprised Jeune Lune chose to share their work with us in Minneapolis and hopeful that they will continue to create outstanding theater for many years to come.

CHARLIE HAMMOND, HUDSON, WIS.