William Shakespeare coined that phrase in his play As You Like It, and since our debut performance of Oklahoma! in 1982, it has been our goal to provide the Greater Mankato area with not just quality theatre, but also a safe space for the community to "merely play." Over the last 40 years, we’ve performed hundreds of plays and musicals on the Lincoln Community Center stage, bringing all types of people under the same roof on-stage, backstage, and in the audience. From Winnie the Pooh to The Nerd to Hello Dolly! and so much more, we have been transporting our audiences from their assigned theatre seat to places all over the world and some that are just found in our imagination. 

Lifelong friendships have developed throughout Merely Players' 40 years, and some on-stage romances even continued off-stage as well. Parents have had the opportunity to act with their children, watching their costume sizes and their confidence grow every year. We are forever grateful for the community we have built and maintained since 1982. 

The goal of Merely Players is to provide opportunities for participation in the dramatic arts in a safe and creative environment, and we would not be able to achieve that without the help of our community. Thank you for being the dirt on which we put our feet and for giving us the opportunity to put our head in the stars.

Building community in our community. Your Community Theatre.

The mission of Merely Players is to provide opportunities within the community for participation in the dramatic arts in a safe, supportive and creative environment for all.

“All the world's a stage, And the men and women Merely Players.”