Only about 20% of our annual costs are covered by ticket sales. For the rest, we rely on the support of generous donors like the ones in our Friends of The Merc circle. When you make a donation of $300 or above, you join our circle of friends. Your donation supports everything from costumes to scholarships, from "Admission by Donation Nights" to Summer Camp directors.
Not only does a Friends of the Merc donation help keep live theater thriving, but it also affords you these benefits: · Invitations to Opening Night cast parties and "sneak peek" rehearsals · Early-Bird ticket sales · Recognition in all of our programs
We need our friends now more than ever …
This past year has brought us many unique challenges. Most, but not all, have been fun & rewarding.
One of our less-favorite challenges happened in January of 2023, when a blocked drain combined with dense snow on the roof of our nearly-100-year-old building to cause a leak just as a show was beginning. “The show must go on” has always been our motto, so on it went. The Book of Liz made it through the Friday night show with an indoor waterfall flowing backstage. Naturally, as soon as the final applause died down, we closed our doors to repair the damage, dry out the building and make sure it was safe to return.
Beauty and the Beast went on stage in March as planned, though the kids rehearsed at TwispWorks while roof repairs were made. Mamma Mia!, our musical partnership with Liberty Bell Drama Company, went on as scheduled in May. However, when another small leak cropped up on the day of the final performance, it was abundantly clear the winter’s repairs were only temporary. The Book of Liz was resurrected this June to complete their interrupted run while we contacted every roofing contractor in the area.
Good news! Hundreds of phone calls later, the Merc Playhouse will have a new roof this fall so we can continue with our programming as usual. It is an sizable, unexpected expense, but necessary to ensure our storied building will survive more Methow Valley winters.
As we mentioned, ticket sales cover about 20% of our operating costs — that figure does not include the expense of replacing the roof. Your support is even more critical now as we work to keep magic of live theater alive in the Methow Valley. If you would like to donate directly to our roof project, please specify that in your donation.
The show must go on and on it goes, thanks to the support of our donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff, board members, and audience members. Thank you for being a part of our theater world.
Donations can be made online via Ludus or mailed to PO Box 425, Twisp, WA 98856. Questions about planned monthly or quarterly giving, or any other non-standard contributions can be emailed to our executive director, Kira Wood-Cramer.
2023 Friends of the Merc
Our beloved friends, who have stuck with us through thick & thin this year:
David Clement & Betsy Weiss • Phil & Cathy Davis • Marc Holm • Chad & Anna Patterson • Jaquelyn Norton • Steve Hirsch & Rebecca Shoup • Jane Orme • Anne Anderson • Henry Rawson • Carolanne Steinebach • Cheryl Huntgate • Kay & Mark Taylor • Alice J Glandon • Scott Wallace & Don Linnertz • Teresa Castner & Bill Pope • Sue Sabin • Susan McKinnon • Louise Stevens • Sherrie Crow • Andy Miller • Jessica & Tom Kelley • Ted Weaver