It's the longest-running theater in Minnesota, and after over 84 years the Old Log Theatre in Greenwood will reportedly shut the doors for good March 2.
New owners, Marissa and Greg Frankenfield, purchased and upgraded the iconic venue in 2013 but have now announced they're closing it down.
"After owning the Old Log Theatre for 11 years, we have decided to retire and discontinue producing shows," says a statement on the Old Log Facebook page. "We take immense pride in the Old Log Theatre's 84 years of artistic excellence and extend our deepest gratitude to our talented artists and exceptional staff who have consistently created remarkable productions. We express our heartfelt appreciation to our faithful customers for their constant support."
The closing also affects their on-site restaurant, Cast & Cru.
The Old Log was originally a summer stock company which opened in 1940 in a log stable. The man most associated with the theater was Don Stolz who joined the company in 1941 as an actor and resident director and purchased the theatre company in 1946. Stolz continued to run the theater until retiring in 2013. Stolz passed away February 14, 2015, at the age of 97.
The Old Log Theatre established a loyal following and received widespread critical acclaim for its area premieres of such classic plays Arsenic and Old Lace, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire and many more.
There were also some major Hollywood names that passed behind the Old Log curtain. Nick Nolte, Loni Anderson, Lois Nettleton and Steve Zahn to name a few.
The Old Log says anyone with a gift card should try to use them through the March 2 closing date. After that, they will provide refunds.
The theater sits on 11 acres of prime land on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. There's no word yet on future plans for the space.