Located in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Southern Theater invites you to step inside a rich piece of local history on Cedar Avenue. Originally built in 1910 as a cultural center and theater for the area's burgeoning Scandinavian community, this venue has a storied past. Over the decades, it evolved from hosting vaudeville shows, electric chimes, and original-language Scandinavian plays to functioning as a silent movie house, a heavy equipment garage, a warehouse, and the Gaslight Restaurant featuring a marble bar.
Today, the Southern Theater has been re-established over the past quarter-century as a dynamic center for contemporary performing arts. When you visit, you are experiencing a historic space that has fostered renowned local performing groups like Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Illusion Theater, and Zenon Dance Company since its days under the Guthrie Theater. Operating continuously since 1981 under the Southern Theater Foundation, it serves as a dedicated home for the Twin Cities' independent performing artists.
It is also the home of Balls Cabaret, a weekly midnight cabaret entering its twenty-fourth year. Discover this unique architectural and artistic gem to enjoy an authentic taste of Minneapolis’s vibrant, community-backed performance heritage.
What to see at Southern Theater
- Built in 1910 as a Scandinavian cultural center and legitimate theater
- Home of Balls Cabaret, a weekly midnight cabaret entering its 24th year
- Continuous home for independent Twin Cities performing artists since 1981
- Rich past hosting vaudeville, silent films, and historic theater companies
Visiting tips
Experience the neighborhood's artistic legacy by attending a contemporary performance or the weekly late-night Balls Cabaret.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Late evening
How to get there & what’s nearby
Southern Theater is easy to reach on Minneapolis’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Gethsemane Episcopal Church and State Theatre. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Minneapolis travel guide.
See the full Minneapolis travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.