Perpich Students Attend Guthrie Theater Performance of “A Doll’s House”

September 25, 2025

On September 24th, a group of 17 Perpich students from Dance, Theater, and Musical Theater, attended Guthrie Theater’s production of “A Doll’s House” with their instructors Mary Harding (Dance), Kevin Hohlstein (Musical Theater), and Tory Peterson (Theater).

About the Performance: A classic drama by Henrik Ibsen reimagined, the story is about housewife and mother, Nora Helmer, and her delicately constructed — and seemingly perfect — life focused on keeping up appearances and meeting expectations. When a long-held secret comes to light on Christmas Eve, the foundation of Nora’s world begins to crumble. The blackmail and lingering resentments that emerge force her to come to terms with the fragile facade of her doll-like existence. Torn between playing the part that’s been built for her or leaving behind everything she’s ever known, Nora is faced with an impossible choice. Ibsen’s seminal drama returns to the Guthrie in this thrilling adaptation by Pulitzer finalist and Tony nominee Amy Herzog.

Audrey Tuite (Musical Theater 2026) noted the representations of subtle and overt misogyny. “Torvald really viewed his wife, Nora, as merely an object and infantilized her by calling her his ‘little bird’. Also, the choice to have Nora as a flawed protagonist, who, while she had her issues, still had completely valid concerns and wants in her life. Having her as a flawed protagonist was a nice representation of women not needing to be perfect humans in order to still deserve better and to get what they want. Lastly, I liked the representation of the socioeconomic divide in feminism, especially in that time period, with the conversations Nora’s friend and nanny had with her where they called her out on her economic privilege.”

A group of 17 Perpich students from Dance, Theater, and Musical Theater, attended Guthrie Theater’s production of “A Doll’s House” with their instructors

Adrianna Dvorak (Dance 2027) was moved by the emotions of the show related to “women breaking out of the norms, and learning about self worth.”

Originally written in Norwegian, “A Doll’s House” premiered at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on December 21, 1879. The play was met with acclaim that spread across continental Europe and beyond. In 2020, Amy Herzog was commissioned to adapt “A Doll’s House” for a potential West End production directed by Jamie Lloyd and featuring actor Jessica Chastain as Nora. The play opened on Broadway on March 9, 2023, at the Hudson Theatre and was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play. The play also won three Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Adaptation.

Fun Facts:

• Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Herzog is the first woman to adapt “A Doll’s House” for Broadway, creating a modernized script that upholds the dilemmas and tensions of the original text.
• Senior Artistic Producer Tracy Brigden directs this iconic drama after previously helming the Guthrie’s productions of “The Mousetrap” (2024–2025 Season) and “Dial M for Murder” (2023–2024 Season).
• The Guthrie previously staged “A Doll’s House” in our 1996–1997 Season, plus two other plays inspired by Ibsen’s classic: “Noura” (2019–2020 Season) and “Dollhouse” (2009–2010 Season).

A photo of “A Doll’s House” from Guthrie Theater

The GUTHRIE THEATER (Joseph Haj, Artistic Director) is an American center for theater performance in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dedicated to producing a mix of classic and contemporary plays and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. Under Haj’s leadership, the Guthrie is guided by four core values: Artistic Excellence; Community; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility; and Fiscal Responsibility. Since its founding in 1963, the theater has continued to set a national standard for excellence in the field and serve the people of Minnesota as a vital cultural resource. The Guthrie houses three state-of-the-art stages, production facilities, classrooms and dramatic public spaces.