A week or so ago, I had a conversation with James Ayash and his wife Karen. For those of you who remember Dr. John Ayash, James is one of his sons. He was doing some research for his upcoming family reunion. When checking his mother Catherine’s obituary, he noted that Catherine was the first president of the Minot Community Players which originated in 1952. James decided to contact MRP to check our records.

I searched our MRP records for any background of this early-theater group. Having very little luck myself, I called on Ken Haarstad for help. Ken dipped into the state newspaper archives and found some information about Minot Community Players. Catherine Ayash was very active as well as Mrs. Marsden E. Albright, Mrs. K.S. Peterson, Mrs. Edna A. Bruns, and many others. What a discovery!

The Minot Daily News reported that the Minot Community group was a volunteer organization created to bring “Live Theater” to Minot and to provide a creative outlet for any member of the community who wishes to participate in the organization and its productions (Mar. 14, 1964).

Mrs. Catherine Ayash received a telegram of congratulations from Pres. Eisenhower for her work in children’s theater during this time. The group was active from 1952 – 1964; then it appears that this group and the college players joined forces.

I found it interesting and rewarding to know that Minot’s support for live theater continues to this day! Thank you to James Ayash for bringing this bit of history to us!

The Minot Community Players was not a forerunner of Mouse River Players although our goals to bring Live Theater to the community are the same. MRP had its beginnings in 1971. What a wonderful surprise to find Minot Community Players.

If anyone has any more information about that early theatrical group, please share!

Holly Eidsness