FungusAmongus Players

The FungusAmongus Players, a theatrical group in Dassel and Cokato, began in 1974 as the Village Players, with its founding members including Jon Benson and Carolyn Holje and the late Butch Amundsen.

The Players’ mission is, “to improve the quality of life in our community and is achieved by producing plays that not only engage the audience on a one dimensional level, but also go deeper, by creating thought provoking and educational potential,” said Dave Metcalf, artistic director.

According to Metcalf, the theater group has offered community theater since 1974, with the exception of a period in the 1990s. A resurgence of interest in local theater took hold, and in 2006 the group began planning for new productions. In 2006, the group, under its new name, the DC Community Theater, presented “Seussical The Musical,” a musical comedy based on many Dr. Seuss stories.

In 2008, the Dassel Area Historical Society opened its doors to the DC Community Theater, and it moved its operations to the Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum which provided a more intimate performance space, including its third floor and event center.

Following the move to the Dassel History Center, the DC Community Theater players decided to change its name to the FungusAmongus Players. The name comes from the fact that from the 1930s to the 1970s the Dassel History Center building housed one of the few places in the U.S. where ergot was separated. Ergot is a natural fungus that occurs on small grains and was valuable in making medicines.

Since 2008, the FungusAmongus Players has produced approximately 26 plays at the Dassel History Center and several at the Dassel - Cokato Performing Arts Center. Typically, the group produces plays each fall, winter, spring, and summer.

In 2011, the group decided it would like to get involved in competitions offered by the Minnesota Association of Community Theatre (MACT). The group also competed in both MACT and American Association of Community Theatre, winning top awards in both.

Community involvement is an important component of the success of the group. Many of those who participate have been with the group from the beginning. “Once they are in, very few stray away unless they move from the area,” said Metcalf. Local talent creates sets, runs sound and lights, produces advertising and social media, as well as perform. Linda Metcalf has historically created costuming, however, currently, most are rented from a Minneapolis company.

Staging plays in addition to participating in competitions come with costs. Royalties for the plays and music, rental for costuming, sets, transportation fees, and in the event of participating in a competition, the cost of housing must be included. Funding for the group comes from ticket sales and several grants including those from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council.

As the FungusAmongus Players look to the future, its goals include establishing theater workshops for youth and producing a variety of more plays, all which offer opportunities for a wide range of continued community involvement.

To learn more about the FungusAmongus Players, including opportunities to be involved with the group, or to donate funds, go to the FungusAmongus Players.org.