It began with a telephone call between two women who wanted to pass the time of day, who had a keen interest in music, and who had an overwhelming interest in the arts for the community in which they were raising their children, That simple phone conversation in the fall of 1971, between Joyce Leslie and Jeanette Bronson was the beginning of the Northland Players.

They, and 16 others, met in the basement community room of Citizen's National Bank to plan an amateur theater group for Cheboygan.  There had been one before, the Straits Area Players, but they had not performed in several years.  The name 'Northland Players' was chosen because they hoped to entice people from all areas of northern Michigan to participate in their productions.

The Little Theater of the Cheboygan Area High School was the only theater available because the condemned Opera House had not yet been restored.  The Players had to schedule their productions around those of the high school and its special events.  Though that was a problem for the Players, one positive thing to come from the situation was that in 1973, it spurred the group to fund the $1000 feasibility study that prevented the destruction of the Opera House.

They also managed to turn the limitation to their advantage by branching out into dinner theater and providing the community with yet another distinct form of entertainment.  The original dinner theater productions were held in the Pierre Room, now Pappas' Restaurant.  They moved to Audie's in Mackinaw City in March of 1981.

In 1982, the Northland Players went on to incorporate as a nonprofit organization and was granted tax-exempt status in the same year.

The group continued to grow over the years as more and more people became involved with its productions.  As many as 160 people have worked on a production at one time.  In March 1992 the Players purchased the Salvation Army Building on Backus Street (around the block from the Opera House).  The group now has a home to organize such things as costumes, props, set up a library, and a board room for monthly meetings.  With the quality of volunteers who are active with the Northland Players, excellence in our productions will always be the goal of the group.

With our appreciation for community arts, we are looking forward to the next 25 years.