About Us

Ten Thousand Things brings lively, intelligent theater to people with little access to the wealth of the arts, invigorating ancient tales, classic stories, and contemporary plays through vital, open interactions between actors and non-traditional audiences.

When our talented artists perform in homeless shelters, prisons, low-income housing and community centers, the skills and imaginations of our veteran artists confront the honesty and insight of men and women who have lived hard lives. Through this dynamic exchange, artists and audience breathe new life into theater together reminding us that theater is essential to all of our lives.

At our performances, audiences experience theater in its most vital, elemental form; there are no bells and whistles to distract. It is, as one audience member proclaimed, like mainlining theater.

Our non-traditional audiences many of whom have never seen live theater before and the conditions under which we must perform to reach them - without stages, lighting or technical effects imbue our actors with urgency, liveliness and profound honesty. Out of respect for our audiences' intelligence, imagination and experience, we do not preach easy answers to life's difficulties and we seek to transcend the perceptions about class, race, education and life experience that often divide us.

Our work has earned us kudos and awards locally and nationally.

Where We Perform

At prisons throughout the metropolitan area

At homeless shelters, low-income and community centers such as Wayside House, Hubbs Center for Lifelong Learning, St. Stephen's Community Center, and Dorothy Day Center

At Open Book or Minnesota Opera Center in Minneapolis.

Our Funders

The work of Ten Thousand Things is made possible in part by generous support from these funders.

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