When Commonweal Theatre opened its new space in 2007, the company hoped more seats would mean more visitors to Lanesboro, Minn. It certainly has. Commonweal sold 20,283 tickets last year, up more than three percent from the previous year. That total also represents a ten percent bump over Commonweal's best season in the old St. Mane Theatre, which it occupied for many years in downtown Lanesboro.
Commonweal's record year included an all-time box office champ ("The Odd Couple" with 7,600 tickets), the highest average attendance ("Midnight Dreary" at 143 per show) and perhaps most importantly the highest number of first-time attendees (1,250).
Commonweal is one of the biggest businesses in Lanesboro with an annual budget of about $800,000. The new 190-seat theater was built for $2.4 million. It draws from the southeastern Minnesota community and from tourists drawn to the area's natural beauty — which includes the Root River and a bicycle trail. The company's 13th annual Ibsen Festival opens April 16 with a production of "John Gabriel Borkman." Twin Cities playwright Jeffrey Hatcher is adapting the script and Commonweal's artistic director, Hal Cropp, will play the title role. Several other events accompany the opening weekend, including lectures on Ibsen, Norse mythology, crafts and concerts. 1-800-657-7025 or www.ibsenfest.org
