The inaugural production of Only A Dim Image Dessert Theatre was the classic musical Gigi.  Playing to sold-out crowds at The Southern Theater, that musical was quickly followed by productions at multiple venues in the metro area, including the Ritz and Music Box theaters in Minneapolis. Over the next three years, they would stage Lady be Good!, The Philadelphia Story, A Season for Vivaldi, and Jacob’s Ladder. Only A Dim Image grew a loyal following that enjoyed both the bold flavors of musical theatre with the sweet desserts that were the delicate finial on the plays.   After several years of producing musicals and plays in Twin Cities theatres, Only A Dim Image Dessert Theatre founder Calyssa Hall started searching for a permanent space for a theatre in the St. Croix Valley.

The dream of a theatre in Stillwater was nothing new to the community.  For more than 20 years, local celebrity Norman Steere energetically and fearlessly recruited arts lovers to campaign for a theatre in Stillwater.  In 2016, at the age of 89, Norman died, but his legacy lives on.

In that same year, Calyssa assembled a nine-member board of trustees to secure the future of a theatre in Stillwater by renting the Minnesota Zephyr Train Depot building. In 2016, Only A Dim Image Dessert Theatre was reborn into a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Only A Dim Image Productions. Then in 2018, an agreement was finalized to purchase the Minnesota Zephyr Train Depot. Finally, the dream of a permanent theatre in Stillwater had come true.

Over the past five years, The Zephyr Theatre has produced numerous musicals, concerts, recitals, gallery openings, film screenings, literary events, and theatre productions including its much-touted Shakespeare in the Park series:  A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2017, Twelfth Night in 2018, Comedy of Errors in 2019, Much Ado About Nothing in 2020, and As You Like It in 2021. The Zephyr Theatre is also committed to creating memorable community events such as the Ice Palace Maze.

The theatre has presented a variety of stage productions at its two indoor stages and outdoor stage, mounting shows such as Clue, Heroes, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Secret Garden: In Concert, Underneath the Lintel, and the annual holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Not satisfied to have events in the safety of a stage, they have also worked in “found” spaces such as the Historical Washington County Courthouse where they produced Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution to sold out crowds.

Through The Zephyr’s variety of children’s programming, shows have included Singin’ in the Rain, Jr., Newsies, Frozen, Jr., The Lion King, Jr., and Mulan, Jr. to name a few.

To date, The Zephyr Theatre has welcomed well over 100,000 patrons through their doors, bringing joy and laughter to everyone who attends.

“Don’t dream it.  Be it.”

Richard O’Brien
Actor/Writer/Composer

In addition to building deeper connections within the community, the vision is to build a 330-seat auditorium on the north end of the building.  As they stride toward this goal, The Zephyr Theatre continues to build this foundation through Sustaining Members, patrons, and outstanding creativity.