Spotlight on … the “who” in The Merc’s History

By Jane Hill

This month we shine our Merc spotlight on … the people who’ve made us who we are! We’re celebrating our roots and inviting you to join the party.   

Once Carolanne and Egon had reconfigured the Merc Hardware Store into The Merc Playhouse, they were ready to bring in some plays. Aware that the Methow Valley Theater, performing in the gym at the Community Center, had been using local talent in their productions, the Steinebachs decided to run a professional theater – to book and pay actors through talent search businesses in Seattle. Carolanne selected scripts and actors and directed them, while Egon managed all things technical. 

As the business end of things got more demanding, Carolanne hired a part time business manager, Helen Buzenberg. Carolanne doesn’t remember that Helen stayed long in the valley.  She gets credit, however, for the idea of “Open Merc [Mic],” an opportunity for local talent to try out their ideas.

After ten years of theater management, the Steinebachs stepped down, making way for the duo of competent women who managed the theater as equal partners, Jane Hubrig as the business manager and Julie Wenzel as the artistic director. They decided to showcase local acting talent, choosing plays of general interest.

When Jane Hubrig listed the vacancy to be filled by Julie Wenzel’s departure in 2013, she received 35 solid applicants for artistic director. From among them was selected Ki Gottberg, a professor in the theater department at Seattle University. During Ki’s tenure here in Twisp, the Merc was happy stage-home to several of Seattle U’s productions, including Picnic and Mother Courage and Her Children.

Jane Hubrig retired as business manager in 2014 and her replacement was Missi Smith. Missi and Ki served together until Ki’s departure in 2017. Then Missi saw us through COVID in 2020, when the world shut down. COVID hit just as we were ready to open The Fantastic Mr. Fox; a year later, in March of 2021, we opened that postponed show.  

Kira Wood-Cramer currently fills the position of Executive Director. The Merc’s staff is rounded out by Karter Layfield as House Manager and Technical Director, Darla Hussey as Marketing Director, Jenny Knox as Facilities Manager, Amy Ellenger as Business Manager, and Dean Hussey as Audio Engineer.

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Cheers to 25 years!