2026 Season Guide

MOVIE+ FILM LIVE THEATER ART + MUSIC 2026 SEASON GUIDE RESTAURANT + BAR Building community, creatively. COMMUNITY LIVE COMEDY Welcome to the 2026 season at Zeitgeist Center for Arts and Community! As you turn these pages, you’ll see fun events, powerful conversations, and recipes for strengthening community. It will look like movies, plays, musicals, classes, live music, great food, street parties, art shows, issue discussions, fundraisers, and a whole lot more. But our vision doesn't stop there. Zeitgeist is more than the sum of our parts. A community of belonging is a place where stories of all kinds are being told in all sorts of ways. It’s a place where everyone has a voice shaping the character of who we are, and who we become. As you flip through these pages, you’ll see titles, artists, or ideas that are new. That’s great! Let’s be curious, let’s learn about each other, let’s see things in new ways. You might notice that our work doesn’t stop at the doors of our building. You might ask why we’re helping to bring creative expression and connectivity to the streets throughout our neighborhood, or teaching people how to share their stories across NE MN. It’s because we exist to weave creativity and inclusivity into the fabric of our community. So as you browse this guide, have fun. Find the events that look interesting, funny, compelling, or fresh. Circle them, and know that when you join us at Zeitgeist, you’re supporting artists, community members, and a nonprofit organization dedicated to telling everyone’s stories, and connecting us in ways that strengthen a community of shared belonging. Hope to see you soon,  WELCOME TO THE 2026 SEASON A NOTE FROM US WELCOME 2 FILM PROGRAMS 3 THEATER PROGRAMS 5 COMEDY PROGRAMS 7 COMMUNITY INITIATIVES 9 ART + MUSIC 12 zeitgeistarts.com 2 RESTAURANT 13 EVENT SPACES 15 SUPPORT OUR WORK 16 INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY 17 THANK YOU TO OUR PREMIER SPONSORS Tony Cuneo, Executive Director An annual exhibition of local, national, and international films, the Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival champions community-based independent filmmaking. Join us for 5 days of film, meeting filmmakers, panel discussions, live performances, networking opportunities, and more! You don't have to be a filmmaker to love film festivals; they're for everyone! Open to the public - Festival passes are on sale! Book our theater for parties and events SEE PAGE 15 Lights, Camera, Learn! zeitgeistarts.com/zmff zeitgeistarts.com/mmas 4 April 22-26, 2026 Zinema Movie Theater Learn documentary filmmaking, video production, screenwriting, editing, and podcasting skills in a supportive, fun environment. The Minnesota Media Arts School, with classes at the Zeitgeist Arts Building in Duluth and the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm, offer an affordable option for you to work, learn, and create. We provide access to computers loaded with creative design and editing software and the film and video equipment needed along with professional instructors. You provide: the desire to learn something new and fun. Classes are available for all artists, regardless of experience. Check out our website for the latest course offerings. THANK YOU TO OUR MN MEDIA ARTS PROGRAM SPONSORS ALL YEAR LONG Classic Film Series FEBRUARY Romance Series OCTOBER Halloween Series JUNE- AUGUST Summer Series DECEMBER Holiday Series ZEITGEIST MINNESOTA FILM FESTIVAL Let's go to the movies! Welcome to the Zinema - Duluth's very own nonprofit, independent movie theater. Every day we're showing the best in all types of cinema - from new releases, to documentary films, to classic and cult favorites, and foreign films. Our programming is thoughtfully curated with our community in mind. View our Now Showing and Upcoming Films at www.ZeitgeistArts.com/Zinema 3 zeitgeistarts.com/zinema2 The Minnesota Media Arts Program comprises the Minnesota Media Arts School and the Zeitgeist Minnesota Film Festival. Through classes and year-round film exhibitions and events, we are training and connecting local residents to skills, networks, and opportunities in multimedia storytelling. FILM PROGRAMS MINNESOTA MEDIA  ARTS SCHOOL Minnesota Media Arts Program Small space, big theater. Wild, provocative, and authentic. GAG ME WITH A SPOON: A COMMUNITY STORY SHARE Spring/Fall Hosted by Adeline Wright A celebration of stories, voices, and gestures. Offering a fun and safe platform to tell stories of the human experience ranging from thrift store shopping to spiritual awakenings, all in a few minutes. BEAUTIFUL THING zeitgeistarts.com/teatro 6 URINETOWN In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he’s had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom! AMERICAN SON THANK YOU TO OUR THEATER SPONSORS Beautiful Thing is a 1993 play by Jonathan Harvey about two teenage boys, Jamie and Ste, who live on a working-class London housing estate and fall in love. The story follows their blossoming romance against the backdrop of their challenging home lives, including Jamie’s single mother, Sandra, and Ste’s abusive father and brother. It’s a tender, funny, and heartwarming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, sexuality, and finding joy. Storytelling 5 2026 Theater Season THEATER A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a “witch” and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by. WITCH An estranged biracial couple must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by the local police following a traffic stop incident. Their disparate histories and backgrounds inform their assumptions as they try to find out what happened to their son. RENEGADE IMPROV ROADSHOWS More Live Comedy 7 2026 Comedy Season zeitgeistarts.com/renegade 8 Interested in becoming a Renegade sponsor? Contact Sara at sara@zeitgeistarts.com RENEGay September 4 & 5, 2026  Come celebrate Duluth Superior Pride with Renegade's Queer Squad. We'll serve up improv comedy, with a side of stand up plus so much more! Book Our Team Comedy Specials RENEGADE COMEDY DRINKSGIVING November 25 & 27, 2026   Don't miss our 6th annual DRINKSGIVING Special -- the one that started it all! There will be sketch comedy, silly videos, improv, shenanigans and SHOTS! Live Comedy for All! Renegade improv classes are back! We have classes and workshops designed for performers of all experience levels. Whether you are a performer who wants to learn how to make bigger and better choices in the moment, or you just want to be better at small talk, improvisation training can help. Visit the website for workshop and class schedules, audition details and more! RENEGADE AT THE MOVIES Come enjoy Renegade comedians lovingly roasting your favorite movies—live and guaranteed to entertain. THE REEL COMEDY SHOW April 24, 2026 Debuting at the Minnesota Film Festival, THE REEL COMEDY SHOW takes aim at all things cinema. With a mix of sketch comedy, silly films, improv and lots of shenanigans, this show will leave you star struck. THE BALL DROPPING SPECIAL December 31, 2026 New Years' Eve, a one-night-only comedy special to close out the year. We're celebrating at the perfect time for everyone-- whether you want to be done with your night early or start it off with a lot of laughs. Renegade Improv will come to YOU and give your private event a heavy dose of hilarity! We perform game-style improv (think "Whose Line is it Anyway?") that offers lots of room for audience participation. Everything is made up on the spot, meaning the performance can be custom tailored to your company, event, or private party. Our calendar fills fast, book today! Email improv@zeitgeistarts.com. IMPROV 2 IMPROV 2 is for performers with a background in improv and looking to improve on their skill set. Season 5 of the wildly popular variety comedy show returns with sketch comedy, silly videos, improv, and lots of shenanigans. THANK YOU TO OUR RENEGADE SPONSORS FEMME FORWARD  FEMME FORWARD is an improv class for female, gender non-binary, gender expansive community members looking for a fun, exploratory safe place with elements of performance, creativity, and spontaneity. This class will uplift, build confidence, and add the infamous, “yes and” to your everyday life. Low stakes, big fun; come learn the beauty of improv with Duluth’s very own, living comedy legend, Katy Helbacka. BARREL OF LAUGHS Coming this Summer BARREL OF LAUGHS is back for year 2, a festival of new hilarious short plays. The evening will consist of new plays as well as stand-up comedy. Come celebrate new work! IMPROV 1 IMPROV 1 is great for anyone looking to learn about the basics of improv or who just wants to try something social, fun and new. TEEN IMPROV TEEN IMPROV is a great activity for any teen who is looking to improve as an improviser, become more comfortable on stage, or someone who is looking for an avenue for their creative spirit. Workshops & Classes RENEGADE LATE NIGHT IMPROV Every Friday at 10:00 pm Serving up audiences with a new format, style, & theme, each and every show. zeitgeistarts.com/community 10 It wouldn’t be Zeitgeist work without including creative or cultural expression, telling stories, or using art to bring people together. We partnered with the Duluth Transit Authority and local artists to create bus shelter art that adds life and vibrancy to the street-scape. We will continue to bring arts and cultural assets to 6th Ave E and throughout our community in the coming years. Our Work THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY SPONSORS Along 6th Ave E, for example, Zeitgeist heard for years from neighbors that the street was dangerous, scary, and clearly prioritized commuters moving through the neighborhood over local residents. We worked to amplify those stories, and partnered with the city to redesign a street that’s safer to cross for families, elders, and others, easier to access mass transit, and still moves commuters through efficiently. Zeitgeist has thousands of conversations each year with neighbors, artists, civic leaders, and others. We try to understand local needs and vision, empower people to tell their stories, and shape public investments in creative, meaningful, and long-term ways. COMMUNITY PLACEMAKING We work with neighbors to co-create public places in ways that make their life better, more creative, and reflect their stories and ideas. What does that mean? Check out the examples on the next page. 9 Community Initiatives Community Events Throughout the Year ATRIUM GALLERY SCHEDULE: COMMUNITY EVENTS Signature Events TRANSIT EQUITY DAY February 4, 2026 The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) and Zeitgeist partner annually on Transit Equity Day, recognized nationally on Rosa Parks' birthday, to honor the legacy of civil rights leaders, celebrate advances in public transit access, hear from local transit riders, and envision future improvements for connected communities and a healthy planet. WALK/BIKE/ROLL TO SCHOOL/WORK DAY February 4, May 6, & October 7, 2026 Walk, Bike & Roll to School Days, organized by ISD709 schools with support from Zeitgeist, support families and students in using active transportation to get to school, becoming familiar with Safe Routes to School, and advocating for street and sidewalk improvements to make more walkable and bikeable communities. Live music in the Atrium every Tuesday night! Music in the Restaurant+Bar during brunch on Sundays. HILLSIDE NIGHT OUT AT THE FARM August 4, 2026 This annual Neighborhood Night Out event co-hosted by the Hillside Coalition at the Freedom Farm invites neighbors all over the Hillside to come connect with each other over food, music, and family fun. WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING October 1-8, 2026  Each year, Zeitgeist engages local businesses, organizations, and civic leaders in Week Without Driving, a nationwide campaign to get drivers to experience firsthand the barriers and challenges that nondrivers face in order to further policies that support access to busing, biking, and walking. THANK YOU TO OUR ART + MUSIC SPONSORS MARCH/APRIL Jonathan Thunder MAY/JUNE YWCA Gender Joy Group Show JULY/ AUGUST Lake Superior Watercolor Society SEPTEMBER Duluth Superior Pride OCTOBER Nanette Montgomery NOVEMBER Artist Studio Group Show & Sale DECEMBER Larry Turbes BUILDING GREAT PLACES April 15, 2026 Zeitgeist’s annual Building Great Places event invites community organizers, city planners, developers, and engaged citizens to learn about and discuss ways to embed community vision in equitable, resident-focused neighborhood redevelopment. Hear from national experts and local leaders about how we can build great places where people can thrive. Home to two art galleries, a performance theater, atrium, cinema, and restaurant, we are proud to feature national, regional, and local artistic talent in music, visual and performance art, and provide year-round opportunity for creative collaboration and experimentation. Showcasing visual art & local music year round. Learn more about all the various opportunities to engage with local pedestrian infrastructure projects like local Bike & Ped Plans, Snow Removal Taskforce, Blatnik Bridge, Interstate 35, and Safer 6th Ave. East. GET INVOLVED zeitgeistarts.com/galleries 12 ART + MUSIC FRESH, LOCAL INGREDIENTS RESTAURANT DULUTH'S ONLY NONPROFIT RESTAURANT INCLUSIVE MENU 13 Restaurant + Bar Dine and Do Good! zeitgeistarts.com/restaurant 14 Tuesday 11am-10pm Wednesday 11am-10pm Thursday 11am-10pm Friday 11am-11pm Saturday 10am-11pm Sunday 10am- 3pm Kitchen closes at 9pm Tuesday - Saturday Book our private dining room for our next special event! SEE PAGE 15 RESTAURANT + BAR HOURS When you enjoy a meal or drink at Zeitgeist, you're supporting the community! As a nonprofit restaurant, every dollar earned in our building helps to make our community programming possible. We proudly feature a wide range of local products & ingredients, as well as accessible and inclusive dishes to meet all dietary needs. 15 zeitgeistarts.com/rentourspace EVENT SPACES SUPPORT OUR WORK Support Our Work 16 ATRIUM Capacity: 120 people Zeitgeist's annual Spirit of the Times Fundraiser and Party is our most important fundraising event of the year. Enjoy an evening out featuring live music and entertainment, unique silent and live auction items, and delicious food and craft cocktails. Funds raised at this event help to secure Zeitgeist's future and ensure that we can continue to play a vital role in this community for years to come. ZINEMA THEATERS Screen 1 Capacity : 98 people Screen 2 Capacity: 64 people As a nonprofit organization, our work is supported by grant funding, earned revenue, community sponsors, and donations from people like you. THANK YOU TO OUR  SOTT SPONSORS SPIRIT OF THE TIMES From conferences to baby showers to family dinners - no matter your event, we have a space for you! The Teatro, Zinema, Private Dining Room, Atrium, or all of it together - each space is available for private events. Book your holiday parties, workshops, or performances now by emailing: EVENTS@ZEITGEISTARTS.COM October 10, 2026 This guide captures only a part of what we do each year to ensure our community is a connected, creative, and inclusive place. But we can't, and don't, do it alone. We need your support, now more than ever, to ensure our vision for the future - a community that is connected, creative, and thriving - can be realized and sustained. You can donate online at www.zeitgeistarts.com/give or by mail to: 222 East Superior St. Suite 326 Duluth MN 55803. PRIVATE DINING ROOM Capacity: 20 people Host your next event with us! TEATRO Capacity: 12O people Large print materials can be made available upon request. We expect this list to evolve and we expect to make mistakes. Nonetheless, we're committed to forward progress, and we hope you'll partner with us in this work in your daily life. Service animals are welcome in the Zeitgeist Arts Building. 17 Accessibility & Inclusion @zeitgeistduluth zeitgeistarts.com 18 Sign Language interpretation is available for select programs. Text INCLUSION + ACCESSIBILITY Zeitgeist's Inclusivity Statement @zeitgeistduluth Visit www.zeitgeistarts.com and Join Our Newsletter! https://bit.ly/ZeitgeistNewsletters Text @zeitgeistduluth @minnesotafilmfestival Closed captioning is available for select programs. Assistive listening devices are available upon request. Every space in the Zeitgeist Arts Building is accessible by wheelchair. Elevators allow access to each floor. Wheelchair accessible seating is available in both the Zinema and Teatro theaters. We value a culture of self-expression and support the rights of Indigenous people, LGBTQAI+ people, women, and people of color. We actively work to build social systems of equity and inclusivity while dismantling systems of oppression. We actively create spaces built and unbuilt, that support all abilities. We support and engage in sustainable approaches to interacting with our shared land, air, and water. We acknowledge that we are located on land ceded by the Anishinaabe in the 1854 Treaty and that this land, historically and today, holds great significance for Indigenous peoples. Text @zeitgeistduluth @minnesotafilmfestival @rlduluth 222 E. Superior St. Duluth, MN 55802