The Willmar Project: A Verbatim Play + Community Conversation
May 15-17, 2026

In 2017, The Neighborhood Theatre Project invited  people across Willmar’s Somali, East African, Latin American, and white communities to answer the question: “What is it like for you living in Willmar?” This question led to many other questions and conversations. A team of NTP theatre artists shaped these interviews into an original verbatim play. WILLMAR developed through multiple readings and workshops in New York and Minnesota, gathering feedback from audiences and participants along the way. In 2025, a Willmar-based advisory committee guided the final edits, ensuring the play stays rooted in local perspectives, needs, and goals.

Join us May 15-17 for the finale of this 9-year project — to listen to your own stories told onstage, hear the stories of your neighbors, have conversations across difference, and imagine the future of Willmar together.

What to expect:

• Before the show: join us for food from local restaurants + a Community Jam session led by Purpose Artisans
• The Show: a staged reading of WILLMAR
• Community Conversation: facilitated group conversations following the play.

Dates, Times & Locations:

• Friday May 15, 7PM at The Little Theatre Auditorium (24 Central Ave E, New London) (doors open 6:30PM)
• Saturday May 16, 2PM at Community Connectors Services (436 Litchfield Ave, Willmar) (doors open 1:30PM) (Spanish & Somali Interpretation available for conversation at this show. Performance in English)  
• Saturday May 16, 7:30PM at Willmar High School, Brau Performing Arts Center (2701 30th St NE, Willmar) (doors open 7PM) (Spanish & Somali Interpretation available for conversation at this show. Performance in English) 
• Sunday May 17, 4PM at Spurs Bar & Grill (313 4th St SW, Willmar) (doors open 3:30PM)

NTP believes that everyone should have access to theatre and that theatre has great value. Reserve your seat with a sliding scale donation of $0 — $20. 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. We recommend registering online in advance. Walk-ins are welcome until we reach capacity. 

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

The Willmar Project exists because of the generosity of Willmar community members who entrusted us with their stories. To all who participated – thank you. 

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.

To learn more about The Willmar Project creative team, our local partners and advisory committee visit: https://www.theneighborhoodtheatreproject.org/the-willmar-project-may-2026

The Neighborhood Theatre Project is a New York-based nonprofit theatre company creating opportunities for community building, reflection, and dialogue. Together with local communities, we engage an emergent process grounded in theatrical methodologies to weave personal stories into a shared narrative and catalyze conversations between neighbors. Since 2017 NTP has worked in close partnership with the Willmar community to develop, shape, and produce The Willmar Project.

Find Us:

Web: www.theneighborhoodtheatreproject.org
IG: @neighborhoodtheatreproject
Facebook: The Neighborhood Theatre Project

Questions, RSVP help, or just want to chat? Reach out at: julia@theneighborhoodtheatreproject.org