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The Cast Left to right: Amy Sweet, Matt Draggoo, Laurelle Walsh Sharla Lynn, Marc Holm, Mary Kiesau Tony Love, Matt Armbrust
From the Director, Missi Smith Audiences will enjoy Bike America regardless of whether they've ever been on a bike, or on a bike trip across the USA. The play tells the story of Penny, a Millennial, a curious seeker whose character represents a longing many of us can relate to. The theme of self-discovery is ubiquitous, no matter what generation you claim, and while Bike America is an outrageous comedy, it also presents thought-provoking content about love, acceptance, individuality, and the quest for identity. We've warned you that the language and themes are adult, but f-bombs aside, this play brings a contemporary, real-life story to our stage with relatable, quirky, and lovable characters who try to help Penny along her journey. You'll enjoy seeing the cast bring them to life onstage. And then there's the bikes! What fun it has been to create the biking world onstage. 4000 miles and you never have to leave your seat. You don't want to miss that.
All students ages 8 and up are invited to audition for our spring production of Rikki Tikki Tavi, directed by Jane Orme & Missi Smith. Come to either day of auditions dressed in comfortable clothes, wearing shoes that are easy to move around in, and ready to read pages from the script. No previous acting experience is necessary to audition.
Things to bring:
Rehearsals begin March 1st. Performances begin April 27th and run two weekends. There is a $45 costume fee to participate. Includes a production t-shirt. Partial scholarships available. Email Missi with any additional questions at [email protected]. Big News: We're adding a special, holiday show to wrap up our 2017 Season! Announcing auditions for children’s roles in
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Directed by Jane Orme Tuesday, September 19th Wednesday, September 20th 4:00 at The Merc Children ages 8 and up are invited to audition. No experience or prepared readings necessary. Pages will be handed out at auditions. 16 children's roles available. For more information, email Jane Orme or call 509-997-7529. The Details: Rehearsals are scheduled to begin mid-October. Performances run Dec. 8th—17th. All cast members must be available for rehearsals over the Thanksgiving weekend. Adults interested in roles should email Jane Orme or call 509-997-7529 to schedule audition.  In June Summer Performance Intensive with Ki Gottberg June 17th, 18th, 24th & 25th 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM For students in 8th grade and above, adults welcome! Working with theater professional and The Merc’s Artistic Director Ki Gottberg, students will learn specific techniques in acting, stagecraft, voice, and movement in this four-day workshop. With a strong focus on preparing the body and the voice for stage work, participants will learn how an actor uses body and mind as an instrument to bring out meaning in text. Workshop sessions will provide an exploration into the craft of acting and will also develop life skills such as ensemble building, self-confidence, and public speaking. Focus on the process rather than the end product will be emphasized. This intensive workshop is designed to compliment summer working schedules by spanning two weekends for three and a half hours each day. This valuable educational experience is for actors, teachers, lawyers, leaders, or those that want to be. Students in 8th grade and above will learn critical skills, not just for onstage, but for life! Adults are encouraged to participate. Cost is $250. A $75, non-refundable deposit is due at registration. To register, call 997-7529 or email . Partial scholarships are available. Download registration form here: 
 In August Musical Theater Camp with Megan Hicks & Kathryn Stahl August 7 - 11 10 AM - 4 PM Musical Theater Camp is for ages 8 and up. The Merc Playhouse is pleased to bring back Megan Hicks and Kathryn Stahl for Musical Theater Camp! Young actors improve their singing, dancing, and acting skills while being a part of a musical theater production. Campers all get a part in Magic Tree House Collections’s Pirates Past Noon, Kids which will be performed for audiences twice at the end of the week. Friday, Aug 11th at 4:00 and Saturday, Aug 12th at 2:00 we invite friends, family, and the public to come see the show. Admission to this special performance is by donation. No previous theater experience is necessary. Campers should dress comfortably and pack a sack lunch, snacks, and a water bottle. Cost is $250. A $75, non-refundable deposit is due at registration. To register, call 997-7529 or email . Partial scholarships are available. Download registration form here:
 The holidays are rapidly approaching and we have a full December calendar this month. The first two weekends of December -- starting with the Dec 3 production of Seattle U's The Tempest and going through our Special Holiday Reader's Theater Dec 9, 10 & 11 -- we will have our annual Silent Auction in The Merc Gallery & Lobby. Each year, local businesses and artists donate merchandise, art, and experiences to help us raise money to support our annual operating costs. This means you can come see a show AND do some holiday gift shopping (or pick something up for yourself) while also supporting live theater in The Methow. We have a great line up of items this year, including: Fun for the Family:
Fun for the Grown Ups:
Some of our favorites are priceless experiences that are only available here!  Road Trip:
Beauty and Pampering:
All these things, plus original art: Donations from local artists Mary Kiesau of Mountain Kind Photography, Mary Lou McCollum, Nice Nests, Marilyn & Dennis O'Callaghan, Marraci Designs, plus others... Come check out all of these fun items, plus merchandise from Purple Sage Gallery, Rascals, and Twisp Feed and Rentals. Bidding begins on December 3rd and ends with the closing of the Holiday Reader's Theater on December 11th. Want to check on your bid during that window of time? Call Missi at 997-7529 or email her to see if you need to increase your bid to win your gift.  Working with Seattle actor Kate Wisniewski (Intiman, Seattle Shakespeare, Book It, The Merc, teacher of acting and voice at Seattle U, Freehold) students will learn specific techniques in acting and stagecraft, improvisation, voice and movement. Concentrating on the texts of Shakespeare and other great poets, the camp will provide an exploration into the craft of acting and will also develop life skills such as ensemble building, self-confidence, and public speaking. Focus on the process rather than the end product will be emphasized and the camp will encourage fun, commitment, discipline, and risk-taking within a safe environment. The workshop will culminate in shared experiences for an invited audience of family and friends. During this week-long camp, students will have an opportunity to: • Learn the basic building blocks of acting • Enhance concentration and sensory awareness • Build confidence • Develop movement and vocal skills • Learn tools to overcome fear of public speaking and performance • Begin an appreciation of language and heightened text ARTIST BIO: Kate Wisniewski is a professional actor, and an acting instructor at Seattle University where she teaches acting and vocal production for actors. Merc audiences may have seen her as Maria in Ki Gottberg’s production of Twelfth Night, in Madcap Melodrama’s audio play The Vampire or the Bride of the Isles, and most recently as Hecuba in the Seattle University touring production of Women of Troy. Kate has appeared in Seattle area theatre at Seattle Shakespeare Festival, Intiman, ACT, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Empty Space, Tacoma Actors Guild, New Century Theatre and New City Theatre among others. She is a founding member of upstart crow, an all-female Shakespeare Company that has produced critically acclaimed productions of Titus Andronicus and King John. Her co-adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry VI plays, entitled Bring Down the House, will be co-produced by upstart crow and Seattle Shakespeare Festival in early 2017. Kate is a graduate of the American Repertory Theatre Institute at Harvard. She has been a faculty member of Freehold Studio Theatre Lab and is also a professional voice over artist. This camp is for any level of experience, beginning to advanced, and will be tailored to each individual’s need and ability. The instructor, Kate Wisniewski, has been a working actor for 20 plus years, and has taught many levels of workshops and classes. She is an MFA graduate of American Repertory Theatre Institute at Harvard. This 30+-hour camp will include instruction in acting and stagecraft, improvisation, voice and movement, and will concentrate on the texts of Shakespeare and other poets. The camp will provide exploration into the craft of acting and will also develop valuable life skills such as ensemble building, self-confidence, and public speaking. There will be focus on exercises that help to develop an awareness of moment-to moment work, truthful behavior on stage, accessing and using the imagination, character movement, character voice, stage craft, taking direction, and making active choices. We will be working with texts by poets and writers including: Shakespeare, Dr. Seuss, Lewis Carroll, William Blake and Robert Browning among others. Cost is $275. A $75, non-refundable deposit is due at registration. Upload a registration form here. Call 509.997.7529 for more information or email Missi. 
 The Merc Playhouse is seeking volunteers to help with all aspects of live theater during its upcoming season. Whether you want to be onstage, backstage, or in the front of the house we need you! Do you want to be in a show? Maybe you can help build sets…or perhaps you are interested in helping to find props or costumes. Interested in directing? How about working on the lights or sound for a show? Now is your opportunity to do all of these things and help keep live theater thriving in The Methow! We are in the process of planning our 2016-2017 season and we want to know who wants to be a part of it while we choose which full-length and reader’s theater productions we will produce. Volunteers see the shows for free and they make life-long friends in our fun theater family. Community service hours are available for all students.
If you missed The Last Salmon at The Merc, now is your opportunity to see it onstage in Seattle. The entire original cast will be performing at Seattle University's Lee Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 18th at 2:00 and 7:00. We couldn't be more excited about this opportunity to broaden our audience and show this spectacular performance to more people.
Find out more about the show, meet the creators and cast, listen to an excerpt, and buy your tickets here. Get 'em quick, we hear it's going to sell out fast. There's a lot going on at The Merc in the coming days - so mark your calendars and don't miss these events:
Today & Saturday at 7:00, Sunday at 2:00 - The final three performances of The Last Salmon. Tickets are selling quickly - get yours now. Hopping with tuneful live music and charming characters, this show entertains folks of all ages. Bring the kids, or bring a date and enjoy an evening of fun this weekend. Sunday at 6:00 & Monday at 4:00 - Auditions for our Children's Theater production of The Wind and The Willows. Click for more information and to download your audition form. Turn in forms before auditions on Sunday so Rod can plan accordingly. And if that's not enough - next week rehearsals begin for our next Reader's Theater Production: March 18th & 19th 7:00 PM - Snapshots, written by Cynthia Mercati & directed by Jane Orme Featuring: Erika Halm, Dani Golden, Heidi Andersen, Robin Nelson-Wicks, Anne Andersen, & Lynn Swan. A contemporary comedy, Snapshots draws its humor from three best friends, played in their younger years by Erika, Dani, and Heide and in their more mature years by Robin, Anne, and Lynn. Through a montage of monologues and scenes, these three women obsess and confess as they go from their teens in the 60’s into present day. |
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The Merc Playhouse | 101 S. Glover Street | PO Box 425 | Twisp, WA 98856 | 509.997.7529 | [email protected]
The Merc Playhouse is a registered 501(c)3.
The Merc Playhouse is a registered 501(c)3.