About Words Players Theatre
Words Players Theatre is the stage company of Northland Words, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Rochester, Minnesota. Since 2004 it has grown from a single weekend in a church basement into a year-round program producing plays, musicals, and festivals for young performers and adults.
Productions are staged across southeast Minnesota in parks, community theatres, barns, and farmers' markets, and the company partners with regional venues including Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota, the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, and the Great River Shakespeare Festival.
Distinctives
- Launched in 2004 by homeschooled students with two short productions in a church basement.
- Year-round programming — six full productions a season, plus the annual Thornton Wilder Short Play Festival.
- Casts for ages 10–14, high school, and adults, including dedicated junior and children's troupes.
- Annual Shakespeare in the Park series staged in outdoor venues around Rochester.
- Performances travel to parks, theatres, barns, farmers' markets, and community art events.
From 2004 to Today
| 2004 | One weekend. Two shows. A church basement. The company opens with The Sign on Rosie's Door and a retelling of Aristophanes' The Birds. |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Expands into Shakespeare and Gilbert & Sullivan with A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Pirates of Penzance. |
| 2012 | Three-show season: As You Like It, Oklahoma!, and Into The Woods. Much Ado About Nothing plays at Rochesterfest. |
| 2013 | Twelfth Night, Our Town, and King Arthur in Camelot anchor the season. |
| 2014 | A Christmas Carol, Shakespeare in the Park, and Schoolhouse Rock Live! tour around the region. |
| 2015 | The Tenth Thornton Wilder Short Play Festival, plus junior and children's troupe productions. |
Photo albums and video from every season live in the Words Players SmugMug gallery, with clips on the YouTube channel and updates on the Facebook page.
To see what has come before, browse the Past Shows archive. To learn about the literature and theatre classes that feed into each production, visit Education.
Words Players Theatre operates as the stage company of a long-standing community arts organization based in southeastern Minnesota. Its work began as a single weekend of performances and gradually expanded into a year-round program of plays, musicals, and festivals that welcome both young performers and adults. Productions are created in collaboration with local volunteers, educators, and regional partners who share an interest in keeping live theatre accessible to small towns and rural audiences across the area.
Performances are staged in a wide variety of settings, reflecting the company's deep roots in the communities it serves. Shows have been presented in public parks, community theatres, historic barns, and bustling farmers' markets, giving each production a character shaped by its surroundings. This willingness to travel and adapt has helped the troupe reach audiences who might otherwise have limited access to professional or semi-professional theatrical experiences.
Beyond its home programming, the company maintains ongoing partnerships with several regional venues and festivals. These collaborations allow it to share resources, host touring productions, and contribute to broader cultural events that draw visitors from neighboring states. Working alongside established institutions encourages artistic exchange and helps sustain a vibrant theatre scene throughout the region, from small main streets to recognized festival stages.
The organization places strong emphasis on education and hands-on participation. Students and emerging artists are invited into every step of the process, from play selection and rehearsals to set construction and front-of-house duties. Mentorship from experienced company members helps younger participants build confidence, develop technical skills, and discover what it means to be part of an ensemble dedicated to shared storytelling.
As a community-focused nonprofit, Words Players Theatre is committed to offering theatrical experiences that are inclusive, educational, and locally rooted. Its programming is designed to engage audiences of all ages while supporting the next generation of performers, designers, and storytellers. By combining tradition with an openness to new voices, the company continues to play an essential role in the cultural life of southeastern Minnesota.