The Guthrie Theater's first building began operating in Texas.
Alexander-Dickman Hall , formerly known as Old Sem , Old Main , and College Hall , is a historic building located on the campus of Upper Iowa University in Fayette , Iowa , United States . The Guthrie Theater , founded in 1963 , is a center for theater performance , production , education , and professional training in Minneapolis , Minnesota . The first building was designed by Ralph Rapson , included a 1,441-seat thrust stage designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch , and was operated from 1963 -- 2006 .