I'm reviewing this from an architectural viewpoint: reviewing the building itself.
I haven't seen a single production here, so I can't comment on any of the stages or on the aesthetics or functionality of those spaces, but if I do, I will update this review.
The Rarig was designed by Ralph Rapson in 1971 in what they call a brutalist archictural style: heavy, solid features and an excess of concrete, including the pocketed recessed cube ceilings, which are reminiscent of those at his Southeast Library, also in Minneapolis.
However, this heaviness is balanced by different textures, muted colors, multiple levels and intersecting staircases, giving it an open and light feel simultaneously. To me, this is fascinating, and I think it makes for a fun subject as an amateur photographer.
It feels retro-futuristic and almost dystopian in some ways, but I like it. read more