Aryn Henning Nichols

Decorah’s community theatre group, New Minowa Players, have been welcoming people into its unique and vibrant family for the last 50 years. Since the troupe’s inception in 1975, through ups and downs, changes and challenges, the organization’s driving force has remained the same: an undying love for live theatre and commitment to community.

“This is a place where you don’t have to question whether or not you’ll be accepted,” says Gabe Twedt, the New Minowa Players Board President. “Having a safe, welcoming space is a huge asset to the community. . .this is an organization that wants to hold you up and support you.” 

In turn, the community holds the New Minowa Players (NMP) up, ensuring the group is able to continue producing shows and providing Decorah with a vibrant performing arts tradition. Each of the organization’s six yearly shows are put on entirely by volunteers committed to making performing arts accessible for all. The group tends to draw members in from varied backgrounds – even those with no previous theatre experience. 

For Sheryl Scheffert, one of NMP’s longest-standing active members, it started with a phone call from a friend looking for a pianist to accompany a show. That was in 1986, and Sheryl has been an integral part of the group ever since. She can be found directing, adapting shows for the Children’s Production, or filling in other positions as needed.

“I had never participated in theatre before that call,” Sheryl says. “The fact that I’m so involved all these years later is a real testament to the organization.”

It’s also common for former members and participants to return to the NMP fold after taking a break, reintegrating seamlessly, regardless of how long they were away. NMP’s vice president of the board, Sarah Brandt, first joined as a sophomore in high school. She pursued a theatre degree at Luther College, then moved to Minneapolis after graduation. When she found herself back in the Driftless, she didn’t hesitate to rejoin NMP.

“It always feels like coming home, no matter how long you’ve been gone,” says Sarah. 

NMP volunteers and supporters contribute in many ways, from acting, to holding a backstage role such as stage-managing or helping with sets to simply enjoying a show. The themes and content of each production vary considerably, providing the audience opportunities to engage with difficult topics, travel to far-away worlds, or enjoy an evening full of laughter and old-fashioned fun.

“Every show is a capsule of community,” says Sheryl. “All different backgrounds and interests overlap, and each show sees the forming of a new cohesive group.”

These ambitious programs are a testament to how far the organization has come. When founders Bette Greedy, Donalee Burns, and Helen Schmidt – now affectionately known as the “founding mothers” – staged their first show in 1975, it was a true passion project, built from the ground up. At the time, the group did not have a regular season, simply focusing on one show at a time whenever they could scrape together enough support and volunteers. 

“A six-show season is incredible and rare for a fully volunteer community theatre,” says Sarah.

Each August, the season opens with the Young People’s Production, designed to be put on entirely by youth ranging from middle-school to college-aged, including all directorial, tech, and backstage roles. Next is the Children’s Production, featuring a cast of budding actors up to 8th grade, with performances near the end of October. 

While many theatres build their season program internally before putting out the call for directors, actors, and other participants, NMP does it differently by asking creatives to submit ideas for shows that excite them, allowing the group to take chances and risks they might not have taken otherwise. November’s Creative Venture production is a great example of this, reserved for shows that might be seen as experimental or outside-the-box. This year’s slot is filled by a one-person show, something NMP has never done before.

In January, NMP puts on a larger, family-friendly production which typically spans at least two weekends, offering somewhere between 4-7 performances; the Spring Show occurs in March or April; and the season culminates with the Summer Show at the end of June.

While most productions are now performed in NMP’s own theatre space in Decorah, for many of its formative years the organization bounced around various venues, like restaurants and outdoor theatres, in Decorah and surrounding communities. The company’s current building, purchased in 1981, originally served as storage, a workshop, and occasional rehearsal space. In 2006, they decided to turn it into a permanent performance space, the construction of which was a true community effort, with seats coming from the Waukon High School and many, many volunteer hours spent refurbishing spaces and equipment.

The result is a perfectly cozy, roughly 60-seat auditorium that is home to a majority of NMP performances. Periodically, shows will still occur at other locations to accommodate larger audiences, like the popular Summer Show that’s typically at the Decorah High School auditorium.

“That part of the season [leading up to the Summer Show] feels like the greatest manifestation of all the principles this organization was built on,” says Sarah. “It’s when you can tangibly feel the whole community rally around the theatre and everyone wants to be involved.”

Sheryl fondly reminisces about the group putting on Les Misérables a few years ago, recalling the way the whole town truly came alive with anticipation then, as well.

“Members of the community would literally approach me in the street, offering to help with the production,” she says. “There was a huge buzz. . . it was so cool to see the impact really reach beyond the theatre walls.”

The lineup of NMP’s 50th anniversary season is both an homage to the group’s history, as well as a manifestation of the change and exploration still yet to come. 

“We have a mix of old and new shows coming up, allowing us to reflect on our historic performances while also exploring some exciting avenues and directions that we haven’t had a chance to before,” says Gabe.

If you’re looking to experience the magic of live theatre, don’t hesitate to consider auditioning or volunteering behind the scenes. Even if you don’t have experience or know anyone already involved with the group, don’t worry – you’ll be fully welcomed into the New Minowa Players family.

Clara Wodny

Clara Wodny is a recent graduate of Luther College, where she earned degrees in English and Visual Communications. A freelance journalist and illustrator, she regularly contributes to publications such as Iowa Natural Heritage, Visual Art Journal, and, of course, Inspire(d) Magazine. She is currently doing a pottery apprenticeship while she figures out what to do next!

Upcoming 2025-26 New Minowa Players 50th Anniversary Shows:

October 23-26: Children’s Show – Winnie the Pooh
October 31 & November 1: Halloween Haunted House at NMP
November 6-9: Creative Venture – An Iliad 
January 22-25, 30 & 31, 2026: Winter Show – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown 
March 7, 2026: 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala at Peace Dining Room, Luther College
April 9-12, 2026: Spring Show – You Can’t Take It with You
June 25-28, 2026: Summer Musical – Into the Woods 
Nordic Fest 2026: One-Act Showcase
newminowaplayers.org

I love the idea of removing things from my plate. 

(Metaphorically, of course. Please leave my chocolate and cheese alone…). 

Sure, we can always try to juggle more, modify our schedules, use our time more efficiently…but the best way to free up mental or physical space is to literally let something go.

Life changes, we change, and what works best for us changes as well. 

What does the life you want to live look like? Fall is filled with freshly populated, back-to-school schedules. Is it all important? Do all those calendar items need attending? How about the stuff around your house? As the weather starts to get cooler, you’ll be cozying up inside more and more. Surround yourself with things you truly want to share space with.

Next, take the leap and release what you no longer need, even if you needed it once upon a time. People, possessions, thoughts, emotions, dreams – let go of anything that no longer serves that life you dreamt up. Chisel away at anything that no longer needs your attention.

Making space allows room for things you really love to flow into the openings. If you’ve ever experienced the somehow physical lightening of your shoulders after you declutter your space, you know what I mean. Letting go is freedom.

Fall is the perfect time for this. The leaves are letting go (after showing off their best colors, I might add), and the world around us is signaling it’s time for change.

I have a friend who once told me, “You can only do three things well.” That’s stuck with me in the decade since – this idea that you can only really succeed at three roles at a time in your life. You certainly might have more than that going at the moment, which, by this logic, means you’re not doing any of them to the best of your ability. That’s okay. That’s life sometimes. It doesn’t mean you’re failing, just that you could probably do and feel better with less on your plate.

I will be the first to say, “Easier said than done!!!” It’s so hard to tell people no, so hard to let go of something you might just need in the future, so hard to stop doing something that’s filled your days so effectively in the past. So, let’s all try it together this fall, just gently exploring the concept of what really matters and what’s important to us. Having trouble deciding? Check out my “What’s Best to Let Go?” flow chart to help lead you to an answer. You’ve got this.

XOXO,
Aryn

Fall invites us to slow down and witness the beauty of letting go. The perennial wildflowers droop their heads in slumber for the season. The prairies transform from fertile shocks of green to drying shades of brown. The leaves of deciduous trees go out in a cascade of yellow, orange, and red.  

The autumnal equinox is a rare moment of balance that only happens twice per year – a day of equal light and dark. This can mark a time for us to rebalance our own lives as well. Earlier in the year, the spring equinox signaled brighter and warmer days, when our energy and commitments ramped up. Spring and summer encouraged us to plant and nourish seeds. 

Now, as the days grow colder and darker, our energy begins to downshift. This offers an opportunity to take stock of everything we’ve grown and nurtured during the year, conserving what we wish to keep and letting go of the rest. Because, while at the end of autumn the world may look dead and dark, we know that nature is cyclical. Life and light will always return.

Letting go is an act of trust that we embrace every time nature goes dark or dormant. We trust that the sun will rise again, the moon will become illuminated once more, and fall will give way to winter, spring, and summer, over and over again. 

Why then, do we struggle so immensely to let go of other things in life? Many of us hold onto belongings, jobs, relationships, expectations, dreams, and goals long past their expiration date. 

Often, this is because we fear uncertainty. We worry nothing will replace the thing we’ve released; but generally, the opposite is true. Letting go of what is no longer serving us creates space for what we want more of in the future. 

Set Priorities & Reclaim Energy

We only have a limited amount of time and energy in life, so setting clear priorities is important. If we don’t, the world will do it for us, often leading to feelings of anger and resentment. Consciously choosing what matters most helps build a meaningful and fulfilling life.  

To do this, it can be helpful to take stock of all the sources that require energy in our lives. We can also consider what we receive in exchange for our energy output, like a paycheck from work, a healthier body after exercise, or warmth, love, and compassion following time spent with loved ones or helping in a community.

Once we’ve set our top priorities, we must start saying no to anything that does not align. This is not a selfish act. It is a radical commitment to the roles, responsibilities, and people we value most. 

Our energy is our lifeforce. Ideally, we want to give our lifeforce to people and causes that feel meaningful to us. This allows for an equal exchange of energy that leaves us feeling balanced and fulfilled. Conversely, energy leaks can happen when we give much more than we get. We can identify energy leaks by noting anything or anyone who leave us feeling consistently used, drained, unappreciated, or resentful. 

Sometimes, letting go can feel especially difficult if we’ve committed a lot of energy already. We get stuck pursuing a dead-end goal because of what psychologists and economists call the “sunk cost fallacy.” This is the tendency to stay in a circumstance that continues to drain or hurt us because we have invested (or lost) too much. The sunk cost fallacy can apply to relational, financial, career, and personal goals. 

But remember: No matter how much time or energy we have already invested, staying in a situation that makes us miserable rarely produces positive results. In this situation, bravery is required to face the facts. We may need to accept our losses; however great they may be. We need to know when it is time to let go. 

Release Old Emotions 

Before we can let go, we must sit with what is not working. Many emotions do not fade with time, and when we pause to reflect, in a space free from input and distractions, unprocessed emotions can rise to the surface. The more we try to avoid these emotions, the louder they become. Ignore them long enough and they can manifest in the form of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. This is why we need to give our emotions the time and attention they deserve, but it can be deeply uncomfortable at first. We might even feel like we cannot survive the onslaught of our feelings. In that case, it is best to work with a professional therapist who is trained to help unpack layers of unprocessed feelings.

Over time, sitting with our own thoughts and emotions can become a gift. This is how we learn to trust our emotions as sources of information. We discover more about who we are, what we desire, and what we need to release. While our emotions are not always based in fact, we can think of them as guides, letting us know where we need to place our attention. 

Once we’ve considered whether our circumstances can be mended or rearranged to fit our ever-changing lives, we can carefully take steps toward a necessary change. If it’s time to let something go, it will feel much easier if we know we are making the right choice. 

Practice Forgiveness 

Forgiveness is one practice that can help us begin to let go of pent-up emotions like resentment, blame, anger, and pain.

Forgiveness does not mean we owe anything to anyone or that we need to accept someone back into our lives or absolve them of responsibility. Forgiveness simply means letting go of whatever keeps us chained to a moment in time. Ultimately, it is for our own benefit. It frees us to live in the present and chart out a different path for the future.

Self-forgiveness can also provide a path forward. It does not mean we wish to relive a moment or would make the same choices we did in the past. It only means that we choose to offer ourselves grace now.

We can practice self-forgiveness by infusing memories with compassion, understanding, and acceptance. Self-forgiveness can be a powerful process that frees us to see ourselves and a situation in a new, healing light. 

Accept the Present 

Mindfulness is the practice of accepting the present moment as it is, without judgement. As much as possible, we should aim to live in the present and accept it for what it is.

Developing a daily mindfulness practice can be of great benefit as we practice letting go. Observing our present circumstances can show us where our time and energy are going. Then, we can weigh that reality against our ideal priorities and goals.

Mindfulness also helps us recognize and name our emotions, without judgement. It creates the space necessary to digest and process our feelings.

When we mindfully accept the present moment, everything becomes clear. Each moment, we can practice letting go of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that do not serve us. Over time, that practice will lead us toward a life that aligns with our values and priorities. 

The worksheet following this article contains an exercise to help you mindfully sit with and start to release pent-up emotions. 

Let Go and Live 

We all deserve a life of our own choosing. If that feels completely out of reach, a mental health professional can help you get clear on what that looks like or what steps you need to take to get there. 

Ultimately, letting go is not a practice of missing out. It is a practice of creating space for the life we desire. Letting go is an act of trust. We can accept the present moment as it is, while believing in our own potential. We can learn to let go of what no longer serves us, because we have faith that greater things are around the corner. 

Olivia Lynn Schnur

Olivia Lynn Schnur is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, EMDR Certified Therapist, Reiki Master, and Certified Yoga Teacher. Olivia writes with the intention of educating, inspiring, and uplifting others to take charge of their own mental health. To learn more, or to book a yoga session, visit oliviaschnur.com.