New Minowa Players celebrating 40 years

Decorah's New Minowa Players Theatre is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Their early shows were in a variety of locations around town, including a refurbished barn, Nob Hill, school auditoriums, and the Elks Lodge.  In 1981, NMP signed an option to buy the building at 906 South Mill, which at one time served as the city's water pumping station.  The building was used as a meeting place, rehearsal space, box office location, and storage facility for props, costumes, and scenery.  In 2004 the building began to be used as a performance location.  Then in 2011, the ceiling collapsed under four feet of snow, and the theatre had to be gutted for repairs.  

All the proceeds from NMP's annual fall cabaret, "40 Years of NMP Musicals: A Star-Studded Revue," performed over the weekend, will go to help pay for additional renovations.  This year's primary renovation involves replacing the worn and decaying siding on a few exterior walls.