Spotlight Showcase presented by PNC shines the spotlight on Minnesota high school theater students and programs at the State Theatre on June 9-10
Hennepin Arts will feature live performances and recognize Spotlight Education participants with honors and recognitions
TICKETS GO ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON FRIDAY, APRIL 5 AT 10 A.M.
MINNEAPOLIS (March 24, 2025) — Hennepin Arts announced today that Spotlight Showcase presented by PNC, Minnesota’s largest annual celebration of high school theater, is set to return to the historic State Theatre (805 Hennepin Ave.) on Monday, June 9, and Tuesday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m. Spotlight Showcase, 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 1,000 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 Spotlight alumni.
Spotlight Showcase presented by PNC 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 Friday, April 4 at 10 a.m. to the general public at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) and online at HennepinArts.org.
| DAY | DATE | TIME | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|
Monday | June 9 | 7:30 p.m. | State Theatre |
Tuesday | June 10 | 7:30 p.m. | State Theatre |
By attending this event, you support the work of Spotlight Education:
Providing educational feedback from teaching artists for
Spotlight-evaluated productions.
Offering workshops for high school performers, technicians, and musicians led by local and national experts.
Producing the "Musical Theatre in a Minute" virtual series, delivered monthly.
Developing "Unpacking the Show," a resource to help educators approach theater critically and responsibly.
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 1,000 students the opportunity to perform at the historic State Theatre.
Follow Spotlight Education at: HennepinArts.org Instagram: @spotlight_MN Facebook: /SpotlightMN Twitter: @spotlightMN Spotlight Showcase is made possible with support from PNC Bank.
Hennepin Arts creates positive change through the arts by bringing together people, businesses and organizations to create and enjoy cultural experiences.
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.
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
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.