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THEATRE
LIVE MUSIC
& EVENTS

a passion for the arts

...continuously engaging

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Welcome to Pipestone

Visit the Pipestone Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for visitor and tourist information. The CVB is a great place to visit to learn about things that make this community a great place to shop, stay, dine, and play! We welcome you to Pipestone!

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Read a digital copy of our informational brochure

Read a digital copy of our
recent newsletter

Read a digital copy of the Pipestone Visitor's Guide

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Our Mission

We will engage a passion for the arts in all age groups; 

Strive to make the arts affordable to all; 

Provide opportunities to participate in the arts; 

Provide a venue for the performance of the arts.

Our Story

The Pipestone Performing Arts Center is located in the heart of Pipestone’s Historic District. This District is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. The Center is housed in a Sioux quartzite building which dates back to 1897: the Ferris Grand Building which is owned by the Pipestone County Historical Society.

We are managed by a very dedicated group of community volunteers and our Managing Director, Mark Thode.  The Pipestone Performing Arts Center is the host stage for the Calumet Players, the Calumet Players Children’s Theater, and the Al Opland Singers.​

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The Calumet Players offer great community theater with shows directed, managed, and acted out by local or area talents.  They produce three shows a year, generally a mid-winter event, fall event and a summertime musical. The Children’s Theater produces one show per year with local youth entertaining all theater goers.

The Al Opland Singers have been a local tradition for many, many years.  They have called our stage home since our opening.  Twice a year, this group of talented voices from around the area entertains our audiences.  We gladly welcome bus tours and group events with advance notification.

The Arts Center is in its 31st year of presenting a variety of quality shows. Support comes from SMAC, the Minnesota State Arts Board, as well as patrons and friends of the performing arts in Pipestone.

​Upcoming Events

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The Presenter Series is a collection of regional, professional artists/events in our season that take the PPAC stage to entertain Pipestone and the surrounding communities.

The Calumet Players provide quality, affordable community theatre productions that are accessible to all residents of SW MN. Providing 3 performances a season on the PPAC stage, the Calumet Players strive to offer a platform for the arts in our area.

The Al Opland Singers are a choral group based in Pipestone, Minnesota, consisting of 35-55 singers from the surrounding region. They produce two shows a year; one in the Spring, and one at Christmas time.

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In Memory Of

Dennis Hansen

Our performing arts family lost a dear friend, leader and founder in early 2025.

 

We honor the memory of Dennis Hansen, the visionary founder of the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. For over three decades, Dennis dedicated his life to nurturing the arts in our community, providing our organization with the courage, heart, and wisdom to pursue our mission.

Dennis’s unwavering commitment and passion for the arts transformed our organization and touched the lives of countless individuals. His legacy is immortal, living on through the countless performances, friendships, and memories he helped create.

Though we have lost a dear friend and leader, Dennis’s spirit will continue to guide us. His vision, dedication, and love for the arts will remain a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.

Volunteer With Us

If you’re interested in getting involved in volunteering or helping out with our productions, please let us know. We are always looking for volunteers to usher, distribute posters, help paint and sew, and serve on different committees. Our space is run by volunteers, and we could use your help.

Lights & Sound

Volunteers are responsible for assisting in stage lighting, sound and maintenance.

Stage Hands

The crew that works backstage during the show, shifting the scenery, and props.

Carpenters

 

Volunteers that work to assemble set pieces.

Sewing

Assembling pieces into finished costumes.

Paint

Volunteers are responsible for painting the set.

Ushers

Assist in the seating of patrons during performances.

Box Office 

 

Volunteers that work behind the Box Office desk and assist in selling tickets.

Board of Directors

Join our board of directors!

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Photo Collections

Check out photo collections from productions past.

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Ethan VanderWoude Performing "The Impossible Dream" at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center
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Ethan VanderWoude Performing "The Impossible Dream" at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center

Please enjoy this most recent feature to our Virtual Performance Series: Ethan VanderWoude performing “The Impossible Dream”. This song is composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. The most popular song in the broadway musical “Man of La Mancha”, it speaks about the journey being our destiny, rather than the destination itself. Ethan VanderWoude is a Bass-Baritone vocalist and past local performer on the Pipestone Performing Arts Center stage. His roles in the Calumet Players' musical productions include a Pirate in "Peter Pan", Terk in "Tarzan", Munkastrap in "CATS", the Big Bad Wolf & Cinderella's Prince from "Into the Woods", and Mr. Manningham in the play "Angel Street". He was able to squeeze in one Christmas concert with the Al Opland Singers during High School and also was the featured performer in the "Ethan and Friends" concert in 2016 which helped him fundraise for an overseas college choir trip. He studied Vocal Performance with a focus of Opera at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA and was heavily involved with multiple choirs as well as theatrical productions while a student there. Some of his roles at Wartburg included: Guglielmo from Mozart's "Così fan tutte", John Sorel from Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Consul", and Big Jule from Frank Loesser's "Guys and Dolls". His most notable performance was his role as Dr. Dulcamara in Gaetano Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore" while taking part in the Brancaleoni International Music Festival during the summer of 2017 in Piobicco, Italy. Ethan has been studying voice privately since graduation in 2018 and as soon as some normalcy returns from the COVID-19 pandemic; he plans to continue his education and pursue his Masters in Opera Performance. Please enjoy!

CONNECT.

PO BOX 100

104 Main Street East

Pipestone, MN, 56164

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