GUEST ARTIST SERIES: Theatre

Commutator Collective Presents

GUILLOTINE CITY

June 11 – 14, 2026

Watch your fingers! The blade-like doors of the Minneapolis-St Paul Elevated Rail are razor-sharp, and the masses of swarming, indifferent crows are hungry. Who are you supposed to believe in this city of 44 million people? What kind of revolution wears a mask? And why should you care?

TICKETS COMING SOON
TICKETS COMING SOON

A darkly comic neo-noir set in a not-so-distant future of the Twin Cities

GUILLOTINE CITY is a new play from Marge J. Buckley, a Minneapolis-based playwright and current McKnight Fellow in Playwriting at the Playwrights’ Center. Directed by Sam Weisberg and starring Erik Abramsen, Sasha Blinnikova, and Allison Young, with original, live music by Leo Dreis and lighting by Emmet Kowler, GUILLOTINE CITY is a darkly comic neo-noir set in a not-so-distant future of the Twin Cities. A factory machinist is courted by two opposing political leaders: will she choose socialist revolution, charismatic politics, or a secret third path?

This production from Commutator Collective premiered for one weekend in February at the Bryant Lake Bowl and returns at Open Eye by popular demand. Commutator Collective is a queer-and-trans led arts group which has been creating homegrown experimental theatre in the Twin Cities since 2018.

About Our Guest Artist Series

In addition to our MainStage productions, Open Eye is deeply committed to curating and presenting a dynamic Guest Artist Series that highlights emerging local artists and innovative performing ensembles who tell stories in ways that are fresh, fun, and experimental. 

  • TICKETS

    $10–25 — SLIDING SCALE

    AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 13 and up.

  • PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

    Thursday, 6/11, 7:30pm
    Friday, 6/12, 7:30pm
    Saturday, 6/13, 7:30pm
    Sunday, 6/14, 7:30pm

    RUN TIME:‍ 80 minutes, no intermission

  • ACCESSIBILITY

    Contact us at 612-874-6338 or boxoffice@openeyetheatre.org for accessibility information and requests.

    Learn more.

TICKETS COMING SOON

Creative Team

Written by Marge J. Buckley
Directed by Sam Weisberg

Starring Erik Abramsen, Sasha Blinnikova, and Allison Young
With original music by Leo Dreis

Lighting Design by Emmet Kowler
Costumes by Megan Creasey
Poster Design by Jack Masters

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. GUILLOTINE CITY was developed with support from the McKnight Fellowship in Playwriting at the Playwrights’ Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

Visit Open Eye Theatre

506 E. 24th Street
Minneapolis, MN

Free parking is available in the lot on the southeast corner of 24th Street and Portland Avenue, courtesy of Lutheran Social Services.