A Midsummer Night’s Detour: Why Winona Belongs on Your Theater Bucket List
Three Twin Cities theater bloggers — Jill Schafer of Cherry and Spoon, Rob Dunkelberger of The Stages of MN, and Carol & Julie of MN Theatre Love — all traveled to Winona for opening weekend of the Great River Shakespeare Festival (GRSF), and all came away enchanted by the festival’s move into its new permanent home. As Jill Schafer put it, the group was “thrilled to enjoy some Shakespeare that is, as always at GRSF, clear, accessible, playful, inventive, and engaging.”
Twin Cities Theatre bloggers: Rob Dunkelberger (The Stages of MN, Carol & Julie (MN Theatre Love), and Jill Schafer (Cherry and Spoon) & friend
The venue: After decades performing on the Winona State University campus, GRSF has moved into The ARC (Center for Arts, Recreation, and Culture), housed in a historic 1909 Masonic Temple that the city acquired in 1979. Both writers were struck by the building’s labyrinthine charm — hidden rooms, vintage light fixtures, century-old costumes and props, and even a still-functional old wind machine used for sound effects. The move also means GRSF can now offer concessions, including alcoholic and N/A beer options, plus a gift shop.
The shows: This season pairs Shakespeare’s rarely-produced Pericles, Prince of Tyre with the beloved A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed by the same eight-person touring company across both productions. Both reviewers praised lead actor Will Sturdivant and highlighted a fun gimmick: cast members Sturdivant and Tarah Flanagan swap the roles of Bottom and Quince at alternating performances, giving repeat visitors a reason to see the show twice. Design highlights include ship-themed staging for Pericles and gorgeous restored painted backdrops (found in the building) for Midsummer.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, photo by Dan Norman
Pericles, Prince of Tyre, , photo by Dan Norman
The visitor experience: Both writers emphasized the festival’s community feel — pre-show “Green Show” performances by student apprentices, Friday/Saturday ice cream socials with the cast, and Sunday morning “Company Conversations.” According to Rob Dunkelberger, “that’s what makes this festival so special: it’s small enough, and the company engages with the public on such an intimate level, that you feel like more than just an audience member, you feel like part of the community.” The bloggers note it’s an easy day trip or overnight (Carriage House B&B or Hotel 44 North) from the Twin Cities (about a two-hour drive along the river), with recommendations to also explore Winona’s art museum, bluff hiking, and local restaurants.
The 2026 GRSF season runs through late July, Wednesdays through Sundays, with tickets and details at grsf.org.