The Neighborhood Theatre Project

05/15/2026

Only a few tickets left for Friday night! Get yours now OR ~ great news ~ we have THREE more performances throughout the weekend. Join us on Saturday at 2PM & 7:3PM and Sunday at 4PM. See you this weekend!

The Willmar Project: A Verbatim Play + Community Conversation is community focused theatre initiative featuring a play built from over 150 hours of interviews with more than 100 people in Willmar in 2017.

All real words. Nothing made up.

➡️🎟️RESERVE YOUR SEATS: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-willmar-project

Doors open half-an-hour before each performance — join us early for food + a Community Jam session led by Purpose Artisans

*Spanish & Somali Interpretation available at both Saturday events.

✦ ✦ ✦

Content Transparency: The play "WILLMAR" is composed of real stories from people in Willmar. Stories include those of belonging, the changing downtown, friendship across faith and cultural identity, and of feeling welcome and unwelcome in Willmar. The play discusses personal experiences with immigration and ICE, racism, poverty, war, addiction, and drug overdose. This event is recommended for teens and up, with parental discretion advised.

This phase of the project is funded in part with a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, with a grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation, The Pierce Family Foundation, The Everybody Wins Foundation, as well as the generosity of many individual donors.

Spurs Bar & Grill Spurs Willmar Community Connectors Services Latino Community Association Of Willmar Little Theatre Auditorium Purpose Artisans

05/13/2026

Just two days left of rehearsal before we hit the road to Willmar and bring this story HOME. The Willmar Project is THIS WEEKEND May 15-17 and yes, it's ONE WEEKEND ONLY.

A play told entirely through the words of the people in Willmar. All real stories from Willmar, MN. All real words. Nothing made up.

✦ Friday May 15, 7PM at The Little Theatre Auditorium
✦ *Saturday May 16, 2PM at Community Connectors Services
✦ *Saturday May 16, 7:30PM at Willmar High School, Brau Performing Arts Center
✦ Sunday May 17, 4PM at Spurs Bar & Grill

Doors open half-an-hour before each performance — join us early for food + a Community Jam session led by Purpose Artisans

*Spanish & Somali Interpretation available at both Saturday events.

➡️🎟️RESERVE YOUR SEATS: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-willmar-project

✦ ✦ ✦

Content Transparency: The play "WILLMAR" is composed of real stories from people in Willmar. Stories include those of belonging, the changing downtown, friendship across faith and cultural identity, and of feeling welcome and unwelcome in Willmar. The play discusses personal experiences with immigration and ICE, racism, poverty, war, addiction, and drug overdose. This event is recommended for teens and up, with parental discretion advised.

This phase of the project is funded in part with a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, with a grant from the Southwest Initiative Foundation, The Pierce Family Foundation, The Everybody Wins Foundation, as well as the generosity of many individual donors.

Latino Community Association Of Willmar Indivisible Kandiyohi County, MN Willmar CommUNITY Closet Willmar Lakes Area Vision 2040 Willmar Area Arts Council City of Willmar, Minnesota Arrive Ministries

05/12/2026

One weekend only! May 15-17. A play entirely told entirely through the words of people in Willmar.

RSVP at link in the comments.

The culmination of nine years of work on The Willmar Project is finally ready to take the stage in the form of the play “WILLMAR” — telling the verbatim stories of Willmar community members.

05/10/2026

Thank you West Central Tribune and Jennifer Kotila for sharing the story of this 9-year project. In one week, WILLMAR will premiere in Willmar. Read all about it in the West Central Tribune — click below or read it in print.

Join us May 15-17 to hear stories of this community and talk about life in Willmar.

The culmination of nine years of work on The Willmar Project is finally ready to take the stage in the form of the play “WILLMAR” — telling the verbatim stories of Willmar community members.

05/09/2026

“Have you been out to the Destination Playground yet?”

“Thirty-seven hundred people participated in making this happen.”

“I don’t know that I’ve really identified myself as somebody from Willmar. I – I don’t know that I’ve ever had that feeling until honest to god the playground project this past spring.”

This time next week. ✨ The Willmar Project premieres in Willmar May 15-17 — four times in four different venues. Join us for the a staged reading of WILLMAR, a play created from over 150 hours of interviews with people in Willmar in 2017. After the play, we’ll have conversations about Willmar now and the future of Willmar we envision.

✦ Friday May 15, 7PM at The Little Theatre Auditorium
✦ Saturday May 16, 2PM at Community Connectors Services
✦ Saturday May 16, 7:30PM at Willmar High School, Brau Performing Arts Center
✦ Sunday May 17, 4PM at Spurs Willmar

Doors open half-an-hour before each performance — join us early for food + a Community Jam session led by Purpose Artisans

*Spanish & Somali Interpretation available at both Saturday events.

➡️🎟️RESERVE YOUR SEATS: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-willmar-project

✦ ✦ ✦

This phase of the project is funded in part with a grant from Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, with a grant from Southwest Initiative Foundation, The Pierce Family Foundation, The Everybody Wins Foundation, as well as the generosity of many individual donors.

Willmar Area Arts Council Latino Community Association Of Willmar Intuition Brewing City of Willmar, Minnesota Explore Willmar Lakes Area Willmar Lakes Area Vision 2040

05/08/2026

What Little Theatre Auditorium said! Do you have your tickets yet?

Do you have your tickets yet for The Willmar Project: A Verbatim Play & Community Conversation? It's happening here at LTA next Friday, May 15th at 7:00 PM!

The Willmar Project is created by The Neighborhood Theatre Project and features over 150 hours of interviews with more than 100 people in living in Willmar in 2017. WILLMAR is an original verbatim play created from these conversations and told entirely through the words of the people who live here.

This is the finale of a 9-year project — come listen to your own stories told onstage, hear the stories of your neighbors, have conversations across difference, and imagine the future of Willmar together.

There will also be food from local restaurants, a community jam session led by Purpose Artisans, and a discussion following the play!

The doors open at 6:30 PM and the show begins at 7:00 PM.

Get your tickets online at Zeffy - Entry is available at a sliding scale fee from 0-$20.00 (pay what you wish). Give what feels good to you, and join us no matter what. 50% of all proceeds go directly to local partners in Willmar to support community initiatives.

Click Here For Tickets! | https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-willmar-project

05/07/2026

Rehearsals are in full swing! We had our first in-person rehearsal last night at Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. We love working with this group of artists! Thank you to Mixed Blood Theatre for providing us a rehearsal home ✨.

Directed by Alejandro Tey
Stage Managed by Becca Wilts

Cast:
Ahmed Yusuf
Alan Arias
Alec Berchem
Amber Solis
Bruce Abas
Carmen Castello
Daniel Ajak
Emily Gustafson
Hodan Hassan
Ifrah Aliawl
Kurt Schulz
Laura Wiebers
Sabrin Nur

After nearly nine years of work and partnership, May 15-17 we share The Willmar Project — four times in four different venues across the Willmar area. Each event includes a pre-show Community Jam session hosted by our community partner Purpose Artisans, food from local restaurants highlighting Willmar’s multicultural communities, a staged reading of WILLMAR, and facilitated group conversations following the play.

In the Willmar area? Reserve your seat here: https://www.theneighborhoodtheatreproject.org/the-willmar-project-may-2026

✦ ✦ ✦

This phase of the project is funded in part with a grant from Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, with a grant from Southwest Initiative Foundation, The Pierce Family Foundation, The Everybody Wins Foundation, as well as the generosity of many individual donors.

02/11/2026

The Willmar Project began in 2017 when we traveled to Willmar, MN for two weeks to conduct interviews with community members. "Willmar" — the original verbatim play — is composed of verbatim excerpts from 150+ hours of interviews and conversations during this time.

Now in its final stage, NTP will produce 4 staged readings of "Willmar" in 4 different venues across Willmar this May.

We are CASTING for "Willmar." We are seeking 13 non-union Minneapolis-Saint Paul based actors to play multiple roles (see below). Director: Alejandro Tey.

Track 1: Light-skinned Latina Woman, Age 24-29, track includes: use of Spanish language

Track 2: Latina Woman, Age 25-34, track includes: use of Spanish language, and Latin American, Midwestern, and other dialect work.

Track 3: Latino Man, Age 31-58, track includes: use of Spanish language and Latin American dialect work

Track 4: Black Woman, East African, Age 16-22, track includes: East African dialect work. All roles in track wear hijab

Track 5: Black Woman, East African, Age 14-23, track includes: East African dialect work. All roles in track wear hijab

Track 6: Black Woman, East African, Age 28-47, track includes: use of Arabic language, and East African dialect work. All roles in track wear hijab

Track 7: Dark-skinned Black Man, East African, Age 23-27, track includes: East African dialect work

Track 8: Black Man, East African, Age 19, 46-58, track includes: East African dialect work

Auditions are by appointment only. Email [email protected] with headshot & resume, or message us through our page.

Paid opportunity. Must be Twin Cities based and able to travel to Willmar, MN for production weekend May 15-17, 2026. Rehearsals May 4-14, 2026.

------

This activity is funded in part with a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

02/02/2026

We've been compiling resources from our partners in Willmar and in Minneapolis for ways to help, especially if you're not in the local area.

HOW YOU CAN HELP — (if you have more suggestions and resources to share, please add in the comments or message us and we'll share)

Donate to organizations that are helping (Willmar):
https://arriveministries.org/ways-to-give/
https://www.unitedcapmn.org/donate/

Donate to the Good Samaritan Fund (Willmar area): https://www.communitygiving.org/make-a-donation/?gfid=143

Donate Hygiene items (Willmar): https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3I52JW77M7Z9P?ref_=wl_share

Share & Donate: Community Connectors Services, distributing halal food (Willmar): https://www.communityconnectorsservices.org/

Youth Resource Center: Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (Willmar): Offers food, daily support and services for youth, up to age 24 years old. 24-Hour Helpline: 320.444.0512

Salvation Army: Rent and utilities assistance available (Willmar): https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/.../programs-and.../

Donate to the Rapid Response Fund: Pillsbury United Communities (Minneapolis): https://pillsburyunited.org/donate/

Donate to Brian Coyle Food Pantry (Minneapolis): https://pillsburyunited.org/donate/?mc_cid=a10fcdb9ba&mc_eid=f417ed76a8

**Support local immigrant-owned businesses (in Willmar — Somali Star, Spurs, Azteca, Amin Grocery, Estrella Bakery, and much more)

01/30/2026

We stand in deep solidarity with our partners, collaborators and friends in Minnesota. There are many ways to resist and respond right now — through organizing, mutual aid, legal advocacy, and cultural work. Theatre alone will not undo systemic harm, but it can help us listen more deeply, reflect together, and practice dialogue that is rooted in accountability and the belief that all people deserve to live free from fear.

Our hearts, our work, and our continued commitment are with Minnesota now and in the days ahead, as we continue to imagine and build a world where all people can live in peace, safety, and dignity.

Stay informed. Updates on what’s happening in Willmar, MN —

From the West Central Tribune — quoting Pablo Obregon: “I want you to think about your neighbors who are having a difficulty leaving their homes, sending their kids to school, choosing between work or staying home and then falling behind on their bills, not getting the food that they are supposed to have,” he explained. “ … It’s becoming a snowball — the consequences of the experiences that our community is going through.”

https://www.wctrib.com/news/local/obregon-cites-tears-fear-and-anxiety-caused-by-dhs-presence-in-willmar

From the West Central Tribune — quoting Brielle Barrett: “Comfort is a privilege. Silence is participation. History will not remember neutrality kindly. Today, I remind you what a privilege it is to know our neighbors, what a gift it is to choose to know them rather than turn away. How precious it is to allow ourselves to see the world honestly.”

https://www.wctrib.com/news/local/hundreds-attend-quickly-organized-ice-out-rally-sunday-in-willmar?fbclid=IwY2xjawPlkVdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFTMmtsbHlZT0Y4cmQ2VXpic3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoC4ljVa20mdlGUGvPPYpmKkvfhZ_dXcl6LIKSR8Yv4yRM6KvaC69nXj8aP1_aem_TUxPvD5lLm4U8TB9xX08nA

From the Star Tribune — "Several businesses from Willmar’s substantial population of Latino, Somali and Karen immigrants temporarily closed recently. Stepped-up immigration enforcement all over greater Minnesota has put the Kandiyohi County seat on edge."

https://www.startribune.com/this-west-central-minnesota-city-is-rich-with-immigrants-and-conservatives-views-on-ice-are-complicated/601564312?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram&utm_content=link_in_bio

It’s not as easy to self-segregate based on politics in Willmar, which is grappling with increased immigration enforcement.

01/10/2026

The Willmar Project, through our partnership and collaboration with Willmar-based organization Purpose Artisans, has been awarded a $10,000 Art Project Grant from Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC).

"SMAC Awards $135,740 to local organizations, schools & artists. These grants provide organizations in the SMAC region with up to $10,000 in matching funds to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts." Purpose Artisans is one of fourteen organizations that has been awarded a SMAC Art Project grant.

We are over the moon and overflowing with gratitude for our partners at Purpose Artisans, and for this opportunity from SMAC — which will significantly support the culminating stage of a near-decade of work. Thank you Southwest Minnesota Arts Council and Purpose Artisans 🧡

➡️Check out our partners Purpose Artisans doing awesome community, arts, and cross cultural work in Willmar.

---------

This activity is funded in part with a grant from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

City of Willmar, Minnesota