Open Eye Theatre

Open Eye Theatre's Driveway Tour Schedule on Family Fun Twin Cities

Address: 506 East 24th Street , Minneapolis, MN, 55407
Upcoming Events: Jump to Open Eye Theatre Events

Website: Open Eye Theatre
Box Office: (612) 874-6338 or boxoffice@openeyetheatre.org

Open Eye Figure Theatre is nationally recognized for “bringing a visual feast of evocative figure theater to the stage.” Each summer, they bring their popular driveway tour to backyard audiences of all ages around the Twin Cities.

Discounted Tickets to Open Eye Figure Theater

Open Eye holds 10% of each shows tickets to be sold at a discount for economic availability. If tickets remain at the door, they will be sold as a pay-as-your-able.

Driveway Tour

Open Eye may be best known for their annual Driveway Tour. Each summer Open Eye tours driveways all around the Twin Cities with a rotating performance schedule of amazing shows that entertain both kids and adults. Anyone can sign up to host a driveway show, but preference is given to those who raise money for Open Eye. Participation is opened up to the public in early spring each year.

History of Open Eye Theatre

In 2016, Gianna interviewed Michelle Pett, a member of the board of directors of Open Eye. During that interview, Gianna asked the following question:

What is the history of Open Eye Figure Theatre?

“Open Eye was founded by Susan Haas and Michael Sommers in 2000. Michael, a professor at the University of Minnesota, is an internationally recognized theatre artist specializing in figure theatre. Figure theatre includes a range of puppetry but is really about telling stories by animating the inanimate. Sue as Artistic Producing Director is the lifeblood of Open Eye — she curates all the programming, cultivating and engaging artists from the national scene to bring their work to their theatre (and to the Twin Cities). They were early members of the Theatre de la Jeune Lune ensemble, connected closely to local artists like Kevin Kling. They really are jewels in the Twin Cities’ artist crown.

Open Eye is nationally recognized for bringing a visual feast of evocative figure theater to the stage. The company’s whimsical yet profound work surprises and delights whether experienced in the company’s historic jewel box theater in Minneapolis or in neighborhoods throughout the Twin Cities with the Driveway Tour. From experimental object works to puppet shows in backyards to community pageants to miniature spectacles, Open Eye consistently creates a unique, contagious exchange between artists and audiences.”

Michelle Pett

Useful Links:

Learn more about the annual Driveway Tour here

- Kid-Friendly Theater, Music and Performing Arts in the Twin Cities

Share Your Experience/Tips:

We would love to hear your thoughts and parental tips. Share your experiences and any information you think other parents would find useful. Leave us a comment below.

Upcoming Family-Friendly Events

Events TBA

Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again

LIZZIE: The Rock Musical - 10/09/2025 - 11/08/2025 - SEE TIMES
Picturegoer Film Club Presents: "Gold Diggers of 1933" - 05/02/2026 - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.

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