The Guthrie Theater has built itself an unusual fall. Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot runs through October 11, 2026, on the Wurtele Thrust Stage, and John Kani’s Kunene and the King opens October 10 and runs through November 8 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. For one weekend, October 10–11, both are on the calendar at once. If you have been meaning to make a theater weekend of it, this is the one, and a historic mansion in Loring Park is a lovely place to come home to between curtains.
What is playing at the Guthrie in October 2026?
Waiting for Godot — through October 11
Two companions wait beneath a lonely tree on a country road for someone who may never arrive. Directed by Joseph Haj, the Guthrie’s production is, in the theater’s own words, the play’s first staging there in over 50 years. Beckett received the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature, and Godot is the play that made his name: funny, strange and quietly heartbreaking. Plan on about 2 hours and 20 minutes, including intermission. The Guthrie recommends it for ages 12 and up. Details and tickets are on the Guthrie’s Waiting for Godot page.
Kunene and the King — October 10 to November 8
This is the one to book early. Set in South Africa in 2019, it follows Lunga Kunene, a no-nonsense caregiver, and Jack Morris, a celebrated white actor facing a life-changing diagnosis while he rehearses King Lear. Tony winner John Kani wrote the play and plays Kunene himself, opposite Edward Gero, in an Octopus Theatricals production directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. It runs about 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission, is recommended for ages 12 and up, and the Guthrie lists tickets from $27 to $91 including fees. See the Guthrie’s Kunene and the King page.
A few dates worth knowing for Kunene: post-play discussions follow the Sunday, October 18 (1 p.m.), Tuesday, October 20 (7 p.m.), Wednesday, October 21 (1 p.m.), Sunday, November 1 (1 p.m.) and Saturday, November 7 (1 p.m.) performances. ASL-interpreted performances are Friday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 7 at 1 p.m.
Can you see both plays in one weekend?
On paper, yes — Godot‘s run ends October 11 and Kunene‘s begins October 10, so that Saturday and Sunday are the only overlap. Curtain times for those two days are on the Guthrie’s performance calendar; check them before you book, because opening and closing weekends tend to go fast. A Beckett matinee and a Kani evening (or the reverse) would make a rare pairing: two very different plays about waiting, aging and what we owe one another.
Can’t make that weekend? Kunene alone carries you all the way to November 8, which leaves plenty of fall weekends — including the busy October 23–25 weekend, when the city fills up fast.
Why stay at 300 Clifton for a Guthrie weekend?
300 Clifton is the historic Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion on the edge of Loring Park, listed on the National Register and home to some of the finest Georgian architecture in Minnesota. The Guthrie sits on the riverfront about two miles away — a short cab or rideshare — so you can be at the theater without living in a hotel tower downtown.
After a heavy play, it helps to have somewhere soft to land. Pick a room like the Georgian Room, with its king bed and a sitting area by the fireplace, then talk the show over in the four-season garden hot tub under the October sky. If you would rather keep the stage lights going, the mansion has its own movie lounge with heated reclining seats, down in Gertrude’s Cistern.
How do you plan the weekend?
- Arrive Friday or Saturday afternoon. Check-in is from 3:00 PM and check-out is by 10:00 AM; early check-in or late check-out can be added for $25 each when available.
- Walk the neighborhood before the show. Loring Park is at the door, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is just across the park.
- Plan your own breakfast. Breakfast isn’t served on site, but complimentary coffee is set out in the common area.
- Use your vouchers. Book direct and each stay comes with a $20 Pillsbury Club dining voucher and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher (see the vouchers page).
- Book the room when you book the tickets. Our guide to how far ahead to book a B&B in Minneapolis explains why fall weekends go early.
Coming back for the holidays?
The Guthrie’s season keeps going after Kunene closes. If a fall visit turns into a tradition, our guide to staying for A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie has the winter plan, and our summer Guthrie getaway shows how guests have done it before.
Ready for curtain up? Get your Guthrie tickets, then book your room at 300 Clifton for the weekend of October 10–11 or any fall weekend through November 8. We’ll keep the hot tub warm.
Keep reading: Where to Stay for New Year’s Week in Minneapolis: Buena Vista Social Club at the Orpheum.