Contact Info
New Minowa Players
Rick Scheffert
906 S. Mill St.
PO Box 321
Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: 563-382-5174
Contact via Email
Photo Tour
Services
- Theatrical Productions
- Concerts
- Costume and Prop Rental
- Acting, Directing, Technical, and Design
Hours of Operation
Hours vary. Building and costumes available by appointment.News
NMP Seeks Directors for 2012-2013 (01/08/11)
NMP prides itself on a full and varied season, and is always looking for new creative team members.
Directors are asked to submit proposals in the form of a letter, and should state the proposed play or musical with specifications as to why that production is appropriate for the proposed time slot. It should also include past theatrical experience or training of the proposing director. All interested individuals are encouraged to submit letters of application, non-NMP members are welcome to apply. Letters should be sent to the attention of Rick Scheffert, NMP Board President, at 2089 Union Prairie Road, Calmar, Iowa, 52132, no later than March 31.
New Minowa Players seeks to provide opportunities for youth, adults, families, and friends to be involved in the performing arts. For more information or questions on submissions and time slots, please feel free to contact Emily Kurash, Corresponding Secretary for NMP, at newminowaplayers@gmail.com or 563-382-4210 or Rick Scheffert at scheffert@live.com or 563-382-5738.
NMP Offers Scholarships to Graduating High School Seniors (12/31/69)
Application forms for the $200 scholarship may be obtained from the schools. Check at the high school office for information. The applications must be submitted for review by the Selection Committee no later than March 18th.
For more information, either email newminowa@gmail.com (the forms will be sent directly to the student) or call Donalee Burns, program coordinator, at (563) 382-3728.
29 scholarships have been awarded in the past 21 years. Last year scholarships were given to Aaron Kvale and Sarah Brandt of Decorah High School.
About Us
Coming soon:
New Minowa Players, Decorah-based community theatre organization, presents “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” April 26-29 in the New Minowa Players Theatre at 906 S. Mill St.
The presentation, directed by Sue Bjelland, is a one-act adult musical comedy with a cast of 9 adults, six of whom play a quirky group of “students” competing in the spelling bee and three of whom are in charge of the event. Each performance is unique as additional spellers are drawn from the audience to join in the spelling bee.
Featured in the production are Andrew Ellingsen, Michael Hanan, Thomas Houdek, Emily Kurash, Emilie Lantz, Sarah Magner, Jason Rausch, Maria Smith, and Gabe Twedt.
Playing the role of Leaf Coneybear is Andrew Ellingsen, a K-2 Music Teacher at John Cline Elementary School. Ellingsen is a graduate of Luther College where he earned B.A. in music and University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN where he earned the Master of Arts in Music Education degree.
Michael Hanan, a bass/baritone, appears as Mitch Mahoney. Having performed improvisational theatre in IHSSA, Hanan says he’s looking forward to the improv element offered by his role as a “comfort counselor” to the audience participants.
Thomas Houdek, cast as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, is in his 8th year of teaching Business and Math at Decorah High School, where he has served as director of the musical/variety show and coach of large group speech performances.
Logainne Schwartzandgrubennierre is played by Emily Kurash, who served as Assistant Director at the recent DHS production of "Annie." Kurash is associated with Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce/Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Emilie Lantz, playing the role of Marcy Park, holds a Social Work degree from Luther College. Emilie performed in community theatre when a student in junior and senior high school.
Jason Rausch, playing the role of Chip Tolentino, holds a BA in music from Luther College and a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from University of Iowa. He is the Director of Vocal Music at Decorah High School.
Spelling bee judge Rona Lisa Peretti is played by Maria Smith. A soprano, Smith holds a B.A. in music from Luther College where she currently serves as Director of Annual Giving.
Rounding out the cast is Gabe Twedt, a 6th grade reading teacher and ELL Instructor in the Decorah Community School District. Twedt, who plays the role of William Morris Barfee, holds a BA in elementary education from Luther College.
Serving as Musical Director/Accompanist of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is Ryan Bastian, a senior at Luther College majoring in piano performance.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is sponsored by Kephart’s Music Center in Memory of Russell Kephart; Hacker, Nelson $ Co., CPAs; T-Bock’s Sports Bar & Grill; Sara & Dale Putnam, and Phyllis Gray. It is produced by special arrangement with Musical Theater International.
New Minowa Players is an incredibly active community theatre. This fall begins NMP's 36th year of bringing live and local theatre to the Decorah area. Based in Decorah, the community theatre organization began presenting shows in 1975 and since then the has presented over 120 straight plays, musicals, reviews, cabarets and melodramas in a variety of locations, including the recently established New Minowa Players Theatre, located at 906 South Mill St.
The New Minowa Players are always looking for new faces! Whether you are a performer, technician, designer or audience member willing to lend a hand and get involved we'd love to have you join us! There's always something happening at NMP!