Let the Fun Begin….

The annual MOPET (Masquers Outstanding Participation and Esprit in Theater) Awards Ceremony will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 22. Awards will be given for the 2004 season. Don Johnstad and Darrell Morris, two professional musicians who have played and sung for enthusiastic audiences throughout the Northwest, will be the featured entertainment for the evening.

Delicious hors d’oeuvres will be served, and Bruce Reim as master of ceremonies will keep things lively. There will be a few auction items and other prizes. The ticket price is $15 ($10 for members) and $5 for nominees and other award recipients.

Masquers Mopets are the Soap Lake version of the Hollywood Oscars. The nominees for this event are as follows:



BEST DIRECTOR:

Ken Greene, The Nerd

Cheri Barbre, My Three Angels

Beverly Hasper, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

Randy Brooks, Proof

BEST ACTRESS:

Melissa Sloan, Proof

Margaret Mazeski, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

BEST ACTOR:

Len Schulmeister, The Nerd

Ken Greene, Proof

Eric Suitter, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Sue LaMunyon, The Nerd

Sue LaMunyon, Proof

Melissa Sloan, The Nerd

Bobbi Christie, My Three Angels

Cheri Barbre, Man for All Seasons

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Robert Barker, Proof

Robert Barker, The Nerd

Bob Leonard, A Man for All Seasons

Bob Jasman, A Man for All Seasons

Bob Jasman, My Three Angels

Randy Brooks, A Man for All Seasons

Randy Brooks, My Three Angels

Eric Van Woert, A Man for All Seasons

Eric Van Woert, My Three Angels

Eric Suitter, A Man for All Seasons

Eric Suitter, My Three Angels

BRIGHTEST NEW FACE (FEMALE)

Katie Busse, My Three Angels

Cory Tempel, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

BRIGHTEST NEW FACE (MALE)

Todd Phillips, A Man for All Seasons

Raul Harnasch, My Three Angels

Raul Harnasch, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

Mark Sieverkropp, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

Richard Elvin, My Three Angels



MOST PROMISING NEW (TO MASQUERS) ACTOR OR ACTRESS

Joel Chavez

Todd Phillips

Katie Busse

Corey Tempel

Raul Harnasch

Mark Sieverkropp



BEST SET DESIGN

John Glassco, A Man for All Seasons

Richard Elvin, The Nerd

Richard Elvin, My Three Angels



BEST SOUND DESIGN

Dave Johnson, The Nerd

D Jay Kendall, Proof

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN

Josh LaRosee, A Man for All Seasons

Cascade Graphics, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music

Ken Greene, Proof



BEST FILM-MAKER

Kathy Kiefer, Boobalogues

Other awards will also be given to a number of worthy recipients.



MILESTONES

From Masquers’ President, Mary Ackerman

Congratulations to all of you for your efforts in making our first year in the new theater a success!! From volunteer to patron, board member to actor, it takes the efforts of each and every one of you to accomplish the amazing things that we have in this community. The reality of your efforts has become a symbol visible to the northbound motorist arriving in Soap Lake on Highway 17 after dark. A slight glance to the left reveals the beautiful red logo on the Masquers building. Let it be a beacon and a reminder to all of us of the hard work and accomplishments that have brought us to where we are today. Let it also remind us of the lives we touch as we strive to bring artistic opportunities to the hundreds of people who participate in and attend the various performances and special events we sponsor each year.

What a year it has been! Our efforts to research and apply for grants kicked into full gear, with some realized, and some still pending results. Becky Morris wrote and received a Grant County Tourism Grant for $3,000. In November we received the final $10,000 from the $50,000 Forest Service Grant that Becky Morris wrote last year. The largest grant we have applied for this year was for $145,000.

American West Bank donated $12,000 towards the completion of the lighted marquee that graces the front of the theater and is visible from both directions on Main Street. AWB plans to give another $12,000 in January to go toward other signage.



This year’s repertoire opened the curtain for five live productions: A Man for All Seasons, The Nerd, My Three Angels, Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music, and Proof. On Mother’s Day, audiences gathered to see the debut of Kathy Kiefer’s recent documentary, Boobalogues: Our Breasts, our Lives. Pavlo, with his accompanying vibrant musicians, exhilarated the audience with his one-night performance. Featuring the brilliant violinist Vasyl Popadiuk, the concert was the surprise hit of the season.

With the support of Bill Beeks and his generously allowing the use of the Las Brisas Arts and Conference Center, Masquers held the first Masquer-Aid Ball. This annual event on Labor Day weekend will continue to generate interest and enthusiasm.

Soap Lake Middle/High School’s American Sign Language Club has performed at the theater. How wonderful it has been to offer the facilities to showcase the talent of these young people.

THE GREATEST GOOD



"…where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question will always be decided from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run."

Gifford Pinchot, Chief Forester, 1905

In the aftermath of a bitter political campaign and the questioning of some of our national values, Masquers is proud to present this US Forest Service documentary tracing the history of an agency whose policies are based on the altruistic philosophy of the greatest good.

This documentary comes to you straight from the Sundance Film Festival. The film explores the historic struggles of the agency as it acted to maintain a balance between meeting the needs of a growing public and preserving our national resources during its first 100 years of existence

At the heart of these struggles are the landscapes that have inspired us all. In a breathtaking high definition documentary, The Greatest Good takes the audience on a journey as compelling as it is uniquely American.

Show times for this film will be 7 P.M. on February 11-12 and 18-19 and 3 P.M. on February 13 and 20. The ticket price is $5.

Jeanette Farrington Barnes Jolly

Jeanette Jolly passed away on November 23, 2004, less than a month before her 92nd birthday. Her generous donations made Masquers’ Jeanette Jolly Theater Building possible.

Theater was one of Jeanette’s passions. She traveled extensively, and wherever she went she would attend the theater. Another of her interests was fashion. For many years she owned The Barnes Shop, dress shop in Ephrata featuring high-quality apparel. She had a knack for remembering anniversaries and other special occasions, and for knowing who would look good in what.

Although she lived modestly, she gave generously to others, including contributions to the community swimming pool in Ephrata and to her church,

Masquers will never be able to thank her enough. What we can do is perform the best theater possible, remaining always confident of her faith in us. We know she had high standards.





Masquers’ Anonymous Angel is still offering to match donations to the building fund.

In Memory of Dorothy Starzman



Whether she was penning an unruly bull or walking onto the stage, Dorothy Starzman took hold of life with both hands, but she never forgot to be kind. Those who had the privilege of working with her came away with memories of things she had done to make them laugh or warm their hearts.

She was always there with good cheer to lend a helping hand. We will miss you, Dorothy.



Beverly Hasper Awarded Grant



Masquers’ Artistic Director Beverly Hasper has received a $4,000 grant from an anonymous donor through the Columbia Basin Foundation. The benefactor had seen the one-act play Sagebrush Annie, written by Beverly, at the Coulee Corridor’s Big Event in January 2004 and made the award in recognition of Beverly’s talent as a playwright. She plans to expand Sagebrush Annie into a full-length play for the 2006 season.