{{Short description|Minnesota theatre organization}} {{Orphan|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox organization | name = Ten Thousand Things | formation = 1990 | logo = Ten Thousand Things, theater organization's logo, Fall 2025.png | founder = Michelle Hensley | type = Nonprofit organization | purpose = Theater Company | leader_title = Artistic Director | leader_name = Caitlin Lowans | leader_title2 = Managing Director | leader_name2 = Stephanie Thompson | leader_title3 = Development and Marketing Director | leader_name3 = Amy Tang | leader_title4 = Development Officer | leader_name4 = Catherine Hennessy Wolter | website = https://tenthousandthings.org/ }}
'''Ten Thousand Things''' is a theater organization based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. The organization's mission aims to make theater more accessible, and their touring performances are presented for free at locations such as women's shelters, homeless shelters, prisons, and community and educational centers throughout Minnesota.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Combs |first=Marianne |date=2012-10-15 |title=Michelle Hensley brings theater to the people |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/10/15/michelle-hensley-brings-theater-to-the-people |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref> The organization's artists also work longer-term with some correctional facilities and youth, bringing workshops, residency programs, and classes to audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Moini |first1=Nina |last2=Elder |first2=Alanna |date=2025-01-22 |title=As 'Sing Sing' film spotlights prison theater programs, similar effort in Minnesota rebuilds from pandemic |url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2025/01/22/sing-sing-film-spotlights-prison-theater-programs-minnesota-organization-rebuilds-pandemic |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=In Community – Ten Thousand Things Theater |url=https://tenthousandthings.org/in-community/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> Performances for paying audiences in the Twin Cities are also available and help fund the theater's model.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Papatola |first=Dominic P. |date=2015-11-26 |title=Theater Troupe Gives Those on the Margins a Front-Row Seat (Published 2015) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/29/theater/theater-troupe-gives-those-on-the-margins-a-front-row-seat.html |access-date=2025-08-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref>
The productions intentionally have minimal sets and props and no stage lights and are performed in-the-round, which allows the performers to see the audiences and the audiences to see one another.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MN Original - Ten Thousand Things |url=https://www.tpt.org/mn-original/profile/ten-thousand-things/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=Twin Cities PBS |language=en}}</ref> Ten Thousand Things’ founder, Michelle Hensley, discusses the theater's model, history, and impact in her 2015 book, ''All the Lights On: Reimagining Theater with Ten Thousand Things''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goetzman |first=Amy |date=2015-05-07 |title='All the Lights On' chronicles Ten Thousand Things' removal of barriers to the theater experience |url=https://www.minnpost.com/books/2015/05/all-lights-chronicles-ten-thousand-things-removal-barriers-theater-experience/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>
Ten Thousand Things is a member of Theatre Communications Group.
==History== Following an initial production of ''The Good Person of Szechwan'' by Bertolt Brecht at a homeless shelter in California, Michelle Hensley founded Ten Thousand Things as a nonprofit in 1990. A few years later, Hensley moved to the Twin Cities, where she continued Ten Thousand Things’ work, touring plays to nontraditional venues where audiences often don't have access to theater, prioritizing “big stories” and “fairy tales” that audiences can relate to, and paying actors well to ensure high-quality performances.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Butchy |first=Laura |date=February 2007 |title=Call and response: Ten Thousand Things speaks to nontraditional audiences--and they speak back. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Call%20and%20response:%20Ten%20Thousand%20Things%20speaks%20to%20nontraditional...-a0159785942 |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com |publisher=American Theatre}}</ref>
In 2018, Michelle Hensley stepped down as artistic director and was succeeded by Marcela Lorca, who had previously served as the Movement Director, as well as a choreographer/director at the Guthrie Theater.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-29 |title=Ten Thousand Things Names Marcela Lorca Artistic Director |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/01/29/ten-thousand-things-names-marcela-lorca-artistic-director/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |language=en-US}}</ref>
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ten Thousand Things continued to pay its artists, even for cancelled productions, and found ways to continue to provide artistic offerings.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hewitt |first=Chris |date=2020-05-22 |title=Like all theaters, Ten Thousand Things canceled shows but it's still paying artists to create |url=https://www.startribune.com/like-all-theaters-ten-thousand-things-canceled-shows-but-it-s-still-paying-artists-to-create/570699012 |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}</ref> Lorca, in collaboration with playwright Kira Obolensky and Ten Thousand Things’ artists and staff, developed Ten Thousand Voices during the pandemic, a new program facilitating creative writing exercises for audiences, which were then performed by Ten Thousand Things’ actors.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Coutinho |first=Gabriela Furtado |date=2024-04-03 |title=Ten Thousand Things Artistic Director Marcela Lorca to Step Down |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2024/04/03/ten-thousand-things-artistic-director-marcela-lorca-to-step-down/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ten Thousand Voices (2021) – Ten Thousand Things Theater |url=https://tenthousandthings.org/ten-thousand-voices-2021/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Ten Thousand Things Today === In 2024, Marcela Lorca stepped down as artistic director<ref name=":3" /> and was followed in 2025 by Caitlin Lowans, who was previously the artistic director at Theatreworks Colorado Springs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Caitlin Lowans Named TTT's New Artistic Director – Ten Thousand Things Theater |url=https://tenthousandthings.org/caitlin-lowans-named-ttts-new-artistic-director/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Theatreworks Colorado Springs Artistic Director Caitlin Lowans to Take on Prestigious Role as Artistic Director of Ten Thousand Things Theater in Minneapolis {{!}} ENT CENTER FOR THE ARTS at UCCS |url=https://entcenterforthearts.org/news/theatreworks-colorado-springs-artistic-director-caitlin-lowans-take-prestigious-role-artistic |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=entcenterforthearts.org}}</ref>
Ten Thousand Things continues to build community partnerships, produce free touring performances at nontraditional venues, offer pay-what-you-can performances for paying audiences, and facilitate workshops and residencies in correctional facilities.<ref name=":1" />
==Production history == {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ !Year<ref>{{Cite web |title=Production History – Ten Thousand Things Theater |url=https://tenthousandthings.org/about/production-history/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> !Production !Production !Production |- |2024-2025 |''Helen'' |''This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing'' |''Violet'' |- | rowspan="2" |2023-2024 |''Twelfth Night'' |''Ten Thousand Voices: Youth'' |''The Hatmaker's Wife'' |- |''The Spitfire Grill'' | | |- | rowspan="2" |2022-2023 |''Iphigenia at Aulis'' |''Ten Thousand Voices: Water'' |''Mlima's Tale'' |- |''Emilia'' | | |- | rowspan="2" |2021-2022 |''The Comedy of Errors'' |''Handprints'' |''Ten Thousand Voices: 2022'' |- |''Sotto Voce'' |''Thunder Knocking on the Door'' | |- |2020-2021 |''The Fisherman's Wife'' (Virtual Reading) |''The Comedy of Errors'' (Virtual Reading) |''Ten Thousand Voices: 2021'' |- |2019-2020 |''The Winter's Tale'' |''Thunder Knocking on the Door'' | |- |2018-2019 |''Scapin'' |''Into the Woods'' |''The Sins of Sor Juana'' |- |2017-2018 |''Electra'' |''Park and Lake'' |''The Good Person of Szechwan'' |- |2016-2017 |''Pericles'' |''Fiddler on the Roof'' |''Intimate Apparel'' |- |2015-2016 |''Henry IV Part I'' |''Dear World'' |''The Changelings'' |- |2014-2015 |''Romeo and Juliet'' |''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' |''Forget Me Not When Far Away'' |- |2013-2014 |''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' |''The Music Man'' |''Dirt Sticks'' |- |2012-2013 |''Measure for Measure'' |''The Seven'' |''A Streetcar Named Desire'' |- |2011-2012 |''Il Campiello'' |''As You Like It'' |''Vasa Lisa'' |- |2010-2011 |''Life's a Dream'' |''Doubt, A Parable'' |''Man of La Mancha'' |- |2009-2010 |''Othello'' |''Stones in His Pockets'' |''My Fair Lady'' |- |2008-2009 |''Twelfth Night'' |''Endgame'' |''Raskol'' |- |2007-2008 |''Richard III'' |''Eurydice'' |''Once on this Island'' |- |2006-2007 |''The Merchant of Venice'' |''Blood Wedding'' |''Little Shop of Horrors'' |- |2005-2006 |''Antigone'' |''In a Garden'' |''Red Noses'' |- |2004-2005 |''At Your Service'' |''Iphigenia'' |''Ragtime'' |- |2003-2004 |''The Good Person of Szechwan'' |''A Winter's Tale'' |''Cyrano De Bergerac'' |- |2002-2003 |''King Lear'' |''The Island'' |''Carousel'' |- |2001-2002 |''The Furies'' |''Miss Julie'' |''Anna Bella Eema'' |- |2001 |''Waiting for Godot'' |''The Most Happy Fella'' | |- |2000 |''The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol'' |''Cymbeline'' | |- |1999 |''The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' |''The Tempest'' | |- |1998 |''The Ballad of the Sad Cafe'' |''Measure for Measure'' | |- |1997 |''Days are Silver Nights are Gold'' |''The Emperor of the Moon'' | |- |1996 |''Mud'' |''The Caucasian Chalk Circle'' | |- |1995 |''The King Stag'' | | |- |1994 |''Life's A Dream'' | | |- |1992 |''Electra'' | | |- |1991 |''The Good Person of Szechwan'' | | |}
== Impact and awards == The model for Ten Thousand Things has been recognized and adopted nationally, including by theater companies such as The Public Theater in New York City, Baltimore Center Stage, Delaware Shakespeare, the Old Globe in San Diego, and California Shakespeare Theater.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> In 2017, Ten Thousand Things partnered with HowlRound to produce the Ten Thousand Theaters Conference, which invited theaters from across the country to learn more about Ten Thousand Things' model.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ten Thousand Theaters Conference at Ten Thousand Things |url=https://howlround.com/happenings/ten-thousand-theaters-conference-ten-thousand-things |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=HowlRound Theatre Commons |language=en}}</ref>
Ten Thousand Things has been presented with Ivey Awards, and its productions have received positive reviews from local to regional critics, such as ''The Minnesota Star Tribune'' and ''Talkin’ Broadway.'' Awards include: Actors’ Equity Association awarded Ten Thousand Things its 2017 Rosetta LeNoire Award for "outstanding artistic contributions to the universality of the human experience in American Theatre."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosetta LeNoire Award |url=https://actorsequity.org/aboutequity/awards/rosettalenoireaward |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=AEA Public Site |language=en}}</ref> Theatre Communications Group awarded Michelle Hensley its 2018 Visionary Leadership Award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinert-Kendt |first=Rob |date=2018-06-16 |title=#TCG18 Plenary 2: Data Points and Lived Legacies |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/06/16/tcg18-plenary-2-data-points-and-lived-legacies/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2019, MinnPost named Ten Thousand Things' production of ''The Winter's Tale'' among the best theater of 2019, ''The Minnesota Star Tribune'' named the company's production of Karen Zacarías' ''The Sins of Sor Juana'' among the best Twin Cities theater of 2019, and Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation awarded Marcela Lorca the Zelda Fichandler Award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Espeland |first=Pamela |date=2019-12-24 |title=A year in the arts: 25 of the best things we saw and heard in 2019 |url=https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/12/a-year-in-the-arts-25-of-the-best-things-we-saw-and-heard-in-2019/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hewitt |first=Chris |date=2019-12-20 |title=In 2019, the best of Twin Cities theater brought horny laughs, chilling drama and witty murderers |url=https://www.startribune.com/in-2019-the-best-of-twin-cities-theater-brought-horny-laughs-chilling-drama-and-witty-murderers/566373312 |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-15 |title=Marcela Lorca Named 2019 Zelda Fichandler Award |url=https://www.americantheatre.org/2019/10/15/marcela-lorca-named-2019-zelda-fichandler-award/ |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=AMERICAN THEATRE |language=en-US}}</ref> The organization was recognized on ''The Minnesota'' ''Star Tribune'''s "best-of" lists for 2022 (for ''Iphigenia at Aulis'') and 2024 (for ''Helen'').<ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Star Tribune |date=2022-12-30 |title=Minnesota's best theater, classical and dance performances and art exhibitions of 2022 |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-top-theater-classical-dance-art-2022-beauty-beast-orchestra-sibelius-botticelli-rosy-simas/600239570 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Rohan |date=2024-12-26 |title=What were the 13 best Twin Cities area theater performances of 2024? |url=https://www.startribune.com/12-best-theater-performances-of-2024/601198971 |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
Category:Theatre companies in Minnesota