Opening Night at the Commonweal Theatre: Make It a Lanesboro Getaway
On Saturday, May 23, opening night excitement returns to downtown Lanesboro with Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a retro coming-of-age comedy set in 1973. The play introduces audiences to the O’Sheas, a wonderfully wacky Irish-Catholic family whose respectable household is suddenly thrown into comic chaos. When 19-year-old Linda O’Shea is asked by her frazzled mother to explain the “birds and the bees” to her little sister, the conversation is overheard by the stern parish priest—and the family quickly finds itself scrambling to outwit the priest, confound a nosy neighbor, and hold everything together.
Equal parts nostalgic, heartfelt, and hilarious, it’s a family comedy about growing up, keeping secrets, and discovering that nothing is more sacred than family. Note: The show contains adult themes and language.
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 one of Minnesota’s most charming small towns.
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.
Come for the Show, Stay for the Weekend
Late May is a beautiful time to visit Lanesboro. The Root River Valley is greening up, the trail season is in full swing, patios and decks are coming alive, and the whole town has that early-summer energy visitors love.
Can’t Make Opening Night? Plan a Two-Show Theatre Getaway
Opening night on Saturday, May 23 is the perfect time to experience Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help—but if it doesn’t fit your schedule, there’s another great option just one week later.
The weekend of May 29, Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be playing in repertory with No Wake, giving visitors the chance to build a full Commonweal theatre weekend in Lanesboro.
No Wake opened Commonweal’s 38th season with a heartfelt story set on Lake Winnipesaukee, where retired professor Peter Michaels is determined to save the lake’s loons while 19-year-old Sarah is trying to make ends meet cleaning cabins. Over the course of a summer, the two form an unlikely connection across a generational divide in a story filled with humor, heart, grief, healing, and unexpected friendship. Note: The show contains adult themes and profanity.
That means theatre lovers can catch a sharp, retro family comedy one night and a heartfelt contemporary story the next—all while enjoying a weekend getaway in downtown Lanesboro. So if you can’t make it for opening night, or if you’d rather plan a two-show weekend, the following weekend is a perfect time to visit.
Plan Your Opening Night Getaway
Whether you’re a longtime Commonweal fan or looking for a new reason to visit Lanesboro, opening night of Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the perfect excuse to plan a trip.
Grab your tickets, book your stay, and make Saturday, May 23, a night out in Lanesboro—complete with laughter, live theatre, small-town charm, and a little opening night magic.
Can’t make opening night? Come the following weekend instead and make it a two-show theatre getaway with Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and No Wake 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.