Opening Night at the Commonweal Theatre: Make It a Fall Lanesboro Getaway

Last Updated 9/14/2026 • Posted in The Latest from Lanesboro & Whalan, Arts & Culture in Lanesboro & Whalan, Entertainment & Nightlife, Events, Arts, Things to Do, Theatre

There’s something special about opening night at the Commonweal Theatre. The lights come up, the audience settles in, and a brand-new production meets the energy of a live crowd for the first time.

Promotional graphic for Eelpout by Paul Kruse, featuring two bundled-up men holding drinks beside a large green fish against a purple starry background. Text reads: “EELPOUT,” “by Paul Kruse,” and “OPENS SEPT. 19.”

On Saturday, September 19, opening night excitement returns to downtown Lanesboro with Eelpout, a boisterous, queer ice-fishing comedy by La Crosse, Wisconsin native Paul Kruse and directed by Matthew James Ralph.

The play brings audiences to an ice-fishing shack on Lake Mille Lacs, where best buds Sven and Ole gather at their pal Lars’s place to celebrate Ole’s upcoming marriage to Lena. But when Sven admits he no longer wants to be Ole’s best man, the ice-fishing bromance starts to crack. Deep truths, deeper questions, and a giant talking eelpout emerge from the frigid surroundings.

Equal parts outrageous, heartfelt, and unmistakably Midwestern, Eelpout is a surreal comedy about friendship, masculinity, queerness, and what it means to feel like a fish out of water. The show contains adult themes and language.

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A Perfect Excuse for a Lanesboro Night Out

Opening night at the Commonweal is more than just a performance. It’s a community celebration, a chance to experience live professional theatre in the heart of downtown Lanesboro.

Before the show, make an evening of it. Grab dinner downtown, browse local shops and galleries, or enjoy a relaxing walk along the Root River. The Commonweal Theatre sits right on Parkway Avenue in downtown Lanesboro, making it easy to turn a night at the theatre into a full Lanesboro experience.

And on opening night, the experience continues after the curtain falls with an opening night reception. Guests can meet the cast, enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres, and celebrate the opening of the show with fellow theatre-goers. It’s a chance to linger a little longer, talk about the performance, and be part of the energy that makes opening night at the Commonweal feel so special.

Opening night carries that extra spark: the buzz of the audience, the excitement of the cast and crew, and the feeling that you were there at the very beginning of something new.

Autumn sunset view from Church Hill Overlook in Lanesboro, Minnesota, showing the Root River Valley with vibrant fall foliage, rolling bluffs, and the river winding through town below.

Come for the Show, Stay for the Weekend

Mid-September is a beautiful time to visit Lanesboro. Cooler air returns to the Root River Valley, the bluffs begin shifting toward fall color, and the trail, river, shops, restaurants, galleries, and theatre all come together for one of the best times of year to plan a Bluff Country getaway.

Make it a weekend getaway by booking a stay at one of Lanesboro’s cozy inns, historic hotels, cabins, B&Bs, or vacation rentals. Spend the day biking the Root River State Trail, exploring the scenic bluffs, paddling the river, visiting local galleries, browsing downtown shops, or enjoying a relaxed fall afternoon with good food and a slower pace.

Then, as evening arrives, head downtown for dinner and settle in for a night of live theatre at the Commonweal.

Can’t Make Opening Night? Plan a Two-Show Theatre Getaway

Opening night on Saturday, September 19 is the perfect time to experience Eelpout — but if it doesn’t fit your schedule, there are more ways to make the Commonweal part of a fall getaway.

The following weekend, Eelpout will be playing in repertory with The Spitfire Grill, giving visitors the chance to build a full Commonweal theatre weekend in Lanesboro.

The Spitfire Grill is a heartfelt Midwestern folk musical about Percy, a young woman on parole who heads to the small Wisconsin town of Gilead in search of a fresh start. With soaring melodies, kindness, community, and hope at its center, it offers a warm contrast to the offbeat, ice-fishing comedy of Eelpout.

That means theatre lovers can catch a boisterous Minnesota comedy one night and a moving folk musical the next — all while making a weekend of fall scenery, dining, shopping, biking, and exploring downtown Lanesboro.

So if you can’t make opening night, or if you’d rather plan a two-show theatre getaway, check the Commonweal schedule and make Lanesboro your fall home base for a weekend of live professional theatre in Bluff Country.

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Downtown Lanesboro in autumn, with historic brick buildings, parked cars, and surrounding bluffs covered in peak fall colors under a clear blue sky.

Plan Your Opening Night Getaway

Whether you’re a longtime Commonweal fan or looking for a new reason to visit Lanesboro, opening night of Eelpout is the perfect excuse to plan a trip.

Grab your tickets, book your stay, and make Saturday, September 19, a fall night out in Lanesboro — complete with live theatre, downtown dining, opening night energy, and a comedy that could only come from the Upper Midwest.

Can’t make opening night? Come the following weekend instead and make it a two-show theatre getaway with Eelpout and The Spitfire Grill in repertory at the Commonweal.

Plan your visit: Find places to stay, dining options, shopping, recreation, and more at Lanesboro.com.

Purchase tickets: Visit the Commonweal Theatre website for tickets and show information.

More about Commonweal Theatre Company

Check out upcoming show info, get tickets, and more!