The History of Theater Latté Da

“It no longer feels right to consider Theater Latté Da a small theater.
The little gang that formed around Peter Rothstein and Denise Prosek
12 years ago is now doing musical theater on par with any
organization—large or small—in the Twin Cities.”
—Star Tribune, October 2009

Inspired by the rich canvas of the human experience, Theater Latté Da (TLD) connects artists, audiences, and communities through diverse stories that are intimate, amusing, and enlightening. One of only a handful of theater companies in the country dedicated to innovative musical theater, TLD’s passion for a bold approach expands the genre by originating new works, radically reinventing classics from the musical theater canon, and experimenting with unusual forms, musical styles and storytelling techniques. TLD prizes the entire development and creative process and strives to attain the highest levels of artistic achievement.

In 1994, Theater Latté Da co-founders Peter Rothstein, Artistic Director, and Denise Prosek, Music Director, began their successful collaboration by privately producing five original cabarets to showcase the broad range of local artists’ talents. They discovered that by placing equal emphasis on both the music and the storytelling, they could weave tapestries of engaging, challenging, and often surprising narratives that resonate with people on many levels. TLD officially incorporated in 1998 and has remained committed to a rigorous experimentation with music and storytelling that expands the art form and speaks to a contemporary audience.

Now in its twelfth season, TLD boasts an impressive history of work that has received significant popular and critical acclaim including 41 mainstage productions, 21 area premieres and 7 world premieres, an ongoing cabaret series, and a four-week intensive educational program. As part of a current long-range planning process, the board of directors recently made a commitment to fully producing a new musical each season.

Mission
Theater Latté Da seeks to create new connections between story, music, artist, and audience by exploring and expanding the art of musical theater.

Vision
Theater Latté Da is celebrated locally and nationally as a beacon for advancing the art of musical storytelling through emotional, visceral, intellectual and ultimately transformative performances that resonate with our current world.

Values
We believe in work that is BOLD, COLLABORATIVE, and ultimately TRANSFORMATIVE; we act with INTEGRITY and GRATITUDE.