To study the world

To study the world from Minnesota Playlist on Vimeo.

Charles Nolte is a distinguished theater artist with a national reputation – an actor, playwright, director, and educator who taught at the University of Minnesota for three decades; the Charles Nolte Experimental Theatre at Rarig Center is named in his honor. As an actor, Nolte appeared in nine Broadway productions, including the title role in Billy Budd and The Caine Mutiny Courtmartial (both on Broadway and the national tour). He has written ten plays and directed more than 100 productions at theaters in the Twin Cities and elsewhere.

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Charles Nolte

Submitted by beaugeste on August 5, 2009 - 10:33pm.

Dr. Nolte was the first person I met when scouting out the U as a possible place to come and study in 1975. He spent almost two hours giving me a detailed tour of Rarig Center and then sitting and talking about my background, ambitions and how he thought going to the U would benefit me. My decision to move to Mpls and enroll at the U was based largely on his enthusiasm and attention.
I later took his wonderful Th 1101 / History of Theatre course and a funnier, smarter lecturer I have never encountered. My big regret is that I never worked with him as a director- he was and remains the genuine article: a theatrical polymath. Charles Nolte excelled as an actor, director, playwright scholar and never lost his enthusiasm and facility for nurturing young talent.
I am extremely fortunate to have known him.
Thank, Charles.
Steve Hendrickson

The Roads in Germany

Submitted by cathleen Fuller on August 2, 2009 - 11:08am.

I was in that original production of "The Roads in Germany" at TRP playing Rose Buckley...it has been retitled as "A Summer Remembered". It was directed by Emily Mann (now artisictic director at the McCarter). Charles acted in the production. Others I can remember in that production were Thom Haneline, Virginia Frost, and Rhondi Reed (recent Tony winner for August, Osage County). We were young...all just starting our careers and TRP was a springboard for many of us who have gone on to make this art form our life. It was one of my most memorable experiences in the theatre. I was extremely fortunate to have had Charles Nolte in my life as a young actor. Over the years we have maintained a lovely connection and this interview was just a treat!