Spotlight Showcase 2026 shines on Minnesota high school theater students and programs at the State Theatre on June 8-9
Hennepin Arts will feature live performances and recognize Spotlight Education participants with honors and recognitions
TICKETS GO ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THURSDAY, APRIL 9 AT 10 A.M.
MINNEAPOLIS (March 31, 2026) — Hennepin Arts announced today that Spotlight Showcase 2026, Minnesota’s largest annual celebration of high school theater, is set to return to the historic State Theatre (805 Hennepin Ave.) on Monday, June 8, and Tuesday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. This event, which features honors and live performances, serves as a platform for showcasing the talents of high schools and students involved in Hennepin Arts’ Spotlight Education program.
The two-night event brings together over 1,200 students who have participated in Spotlight-evaluated plays and musicals this past year. Students from across Minnesota will grace the stage at the State Theatre for a celebration that not only spotlights student achievements but also highlights Minnesota theater educators and Spotlightalumni.
Spotlight Showcase 2026 also proudly employs professional staff from both the Twin Cities and Broadway to collaborate with students across all areas of theater. Bourgoin Productions serves as producer.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 9 at 10 a.m. to the general public at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) and online at HennepinArts.org.
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
DAY | DATE | TIME | VENUE |
Monday | June 8 | 7:30 p.m. | State Theatre |
Tuesday | June 9 | 7:30 p.m. | State Theatre |
By attending this event, you support the year-round work of Spotlight Education.
Hennepin Arts’ Spotlight Education program is an essential part of arts education in many Minnesota high schools. Annually, we help nearly 8,000 students in more than 100 high schools build confidence, critical thinking, empathy, a sense of community and knowledge and appreciation of theater. The program supplements and enhances arts curricula through production assessments, workshops and arts journalism, increasing equitable access to quality theater education. Spotlight Showcase, our annual recognition event, is Minnesota’s largest celebration of high school theater and provides over 1,200 students the opportunity to perform at the historic State Theatre.
Spotlight Education is made possible with support from Bank of America, Xcel Energy and PNC Bank.
Follow Spotlight Education at: HennepinArts.org Instagram: @spotlight_MN Facebook: /SpotlightMN
Hennepin Arts drives cultural and economic vitality in Minnesota through leadership of the dynamic Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis and educational programming that reaches every area of the state. Its historic theaters — Orpheum, State, Pantages and Dudley Riggs Theatres — light up Hennepin Avenue with top-tier entertainment, including the best of Broadway.
The beautifully renovated building at 900 Hennepin Ave. expands the Hennepin Arts’ capacity for diverse performances and events, and the organization’s transformation of the places and spaces outside the theatres create a vibrant, welcoming place for all. Annually, Hennepin Arts serves thousands of high school students statewide and brings hundreds of thousands of people to the Theatre District to experience art on the street and stage. Hennepin Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Our mission We create positive change through the arts by bringing together people, businesses and organizations to create and enjoy cultural experiences.
Our DEIAB Efforts At Hennepin Arts, we proudly champion a vibrant and ever-evolving culture of Diversity, Equity, Inclusification, Accessibility and Belonging (DEIAB). Our guiding principle revolves around the celebration of the uniqueness and invaluable insights that each individual’s journey brings to the table.
Learn more at HennepinArts.org.
Hennepin Arts drives cultural and economic vitality in Minnesota through leadership of the dynamic Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis and educational programming that reaches every area of the state. Its historic theatres — Orpheum, State and Pantages — and the Dudley Riggs Theatre light up Hennepin Avenue with top-tier entertainment, including the best of Broadway and a wide variety of arts programming. Hennepin Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at HennepinArts.org.
This activity is made possible by voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.