Home
Blog
Contact Us
Celebrating 25 Years of Joy
The Ordway is often called the "crown jewel of Saint Paul," and those who attended the Open House on January 17 were able to see all the treasures hiding inside for themselves. As we celebrated the Ordway’s 25th anniversary, we uncovered within our many nooks and crannies a treasure trove of artifacts left by Ordway founders, artists and staff. These and other fun reminders of the Ordway’s history were on display and discovered by more than 3,000 visitors who roamed backstage, onstage and anywhere else they wanted to go during this unique experience.
The beautiful theater, located in the heart of downtown Saint Paul, is the result of the dream of Sally Ordway Irvine, the vision of architect Ben Thompson and the leadership of the founding board members and staff who transformed Sally’s dream into reality. Their sketches, letters, documents, and photos were proudly displayed during our open house and they allowed viewers to be part of the dream as well. The free event featured lively performances by the Ordway and our Arts Partners —The Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and The Schubert Club. The many other highlights of the day included a backstage tour where viewers got the opportunity to see a myriad of technical systems that create the magic that is seen on stage, the chance for patrons to share their own Ordway memories on video and be immortalized on the Ordway stage, a makeup demonstration from the Minnesota Opera and the signature hospitality that has earned the Ordway its reputation as Saint Paul’s most elegant and inviting performance space. It was an event to remember and a special opportunity to celebrate the many years to come.
Listen to the MPR segment on Ordway's history and the opening night concert with Leontyne Price. Read more at mpr.org >
Your 25 Seconds of Fame
Have you ever imagined yourself on center stage in the magnificent Music Theater at the Ordway? Well for some brave souls this dream became a reality. During the 25th anniversary open house patrons were able to sing, dance, tell a story, or perform their unique talent in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on the Ordway stage.
Memory Booth
To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we've invited Ordway patrons to share their memories from the past 25 years.