Submitted Photos The cast of “Aesop’s Fables” rehearse before its performance in March.

The Mouse River Players will be wrapping up its 2024-2025 season this spring but will be kicking off the community theater’s historic 55th season of plays this fall.

MRP has been a major contributor to local arts in Minot since its inception in 1971 and is an entirely volunteer organization of local thespians from Minot, Minot Air Force Base and other surrounding communities.

MRP lowered the curtain on its interpretation of Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit “Murder on the Orient Express” in January and will close the door on the 54th season with “Aesop’s (Oh So Slightly) Updated Fables” in March and “The Play That Goes Wrong” in May.

The slate of plays and dates still were being deliberated on by the MRP selection committee at the end of January.

MRP board member Holly Eidsness said around 36 youth actors have been cast in “Aesop’s,” with a large number of them making their theatrical debut at the Arlene Saugstad Theater. New performers also made up the bulk of the cast for “Orient Express,” according to Eidsness, who also said newcomers are integral to the future success of the organization and local theater community.

“I did the ensemble on Cinderella, and there were a lot of new faces. That’s good. You keep your programming going. You have to offer a variety of things with something for older actors and young people,” Eidsness said. “We also have to look at offering something for our youth, because we are the feeder program for the high schools. You have to give something for kids so they can give it a try.”

MRP has been enjoying the fruits of renovations completed in 2024, which include two new bathrooms, a large front room/reception area and an update to the building’s facade. Eidsness said future projects being considered by MRP include purchasing a new soundboard and converting the former men’s bathroom into a new access point to the sound booth.

MRP also makes its venue available to other acts from the community and beyond, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the rehearsals for any upcoming productions. One such act performing at MRP in February is the improv comedy group “Scriptless in Seattle,” which has booked two nights on Feb.21-22. Additionally, Eidsness said Minot State University was looking to book the venue for some music ensembles later in the spring.

Eidsness, a retired teacher, directs plays every other year, and also instructs teaching classes in the off season at MRP in the new front room of the theater, to give the inexperienced some practice before auditions.

“After I retired, I figured I’d have more time for Mouse River Players. I have other irons in the fire, but it’s still my first love. It’s fun to meet new people and it’s just fun to do,” Eidsness said. “Everybody takes their turn. Everybody who is on the board is here because we love the artform.”

Mouse River Players 2024-2025 Season

“Scriptless in Seattle”: Feb. 21-22 at 7 p.m.

“Aesop’s (Oh So Slightly) Updated Fables”: March 7-9 & 14-16, Friday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday Matinee 2 p.m.

“The Play That Goes Wrong”: May 9-11 & 16-18, Friday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday Matinee 2 p.m.