What is it like to be twenty something in today’s world? Playwright Alex Garnett will illuminate some of those experiences as he shares his unique comedic vision with Masquers’ audiences. Alex, whose parents Dick and Sandra Garnett own the Inn at Soap Lake, has been writing plays since he was in high school. Now, at 22, he is a senior theatre arts performance major at Central Washington University in Ellensburg. His ear for his characters’ conversational styles and his keen observations of people and their motives are mature beyond his years. Masquers Theater is proud to take this distinctively youthful direction when On The Other Hand, an evening of four of Alex’s original one-act plays opens on Friday, August 19.

The four comedies are: On The Other Hand, Killer Script, Hilarity Ensues, and The Dueling Canterburys. They are performed entirely by eleven students from Central Theatre Ensemble (CTE), the performance company of CWU. All four plays were created and nurtured in Dr. Wesley Van Tassel’s play-writing class at Central, a process in which students give feedback on another student’s play as it goes through the formation of the idea, full-formed plot, script, the re-write stage, and the actual production. Three of them were produced this way in 2003 and 2004, but the current production includes the world premiere of The Dueling Canterburys, which Alex is directing along with Hilarity Ensues. He is acting in the others.

Killer Script and On The Other Hand are directed by Emily Rollie, 27, originally from Walker, Minn. She acts in the other two shows. Emily is a graduate teaching assistant at Central who is currently earning her M.F.A. in Theatre Production. Emily has directed several one-acts at Central, and served as the assistant director to the touring children’s show Charlotte’s Web. Next March, she will direct CTE’s mainstage production of Tom Sawyer as her Master’s Thesis project.

Joining Alex and Emily on stage are nine other actors, who share a combined total of fourteen Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship nominations for their work in previous college level productions. They are: Brent Griffith, 21, of Port Orchard; Amy Hill, 23, of Olympia; Ryan Holmberg, 24, of Olympia; Alicia James, 22, of Wenatchee; Rose Kinne, 21, of Wenatchee; Michael Liddicoat, 23, of Yakima; Shayne McNeill, 23, of Enumclaw; Emily Rose Shotwell, 23, of Philadelphia, PA; and Anin Weiner, 20, of Bellingham. Together, they have appeared in dozens of original student written one-acts, and have been seen in such recent CTE shows as Frankenstein, Tartuffe, Lloyd’s Prayer, How I Learned to Drive, Bus Stop, West Side Story, Pinocchio, and Hay Fever.

The actors have spent the previous month rehearsing five days a week in the evenings, juggling different work and class schedules. As Emily Rollie says, "It’s been difficult managing everything, but this cast has been incredibly cohesive and cooperative, and I think their energy is going to be really evident onstage."

Sat, Sept 4, 2004 at 7:30pm

Masquers Theater in Soap Lake is putting on a Venetian style masquerade ball to raise funds to put towards completing their new theater building. In the tradition of Venice Italy balls, guests are asked to wear a mask, semi formal attire, and dancing shoes to the celebration. Refreshments will be served and a no host bar will be available. The ball is being held Saturday, September 4, 2004 in the Las Brisas Arts & Conference Center on Hwy 17 in Soap Lake at 7:30pm... Admission is $15 a person or $25 for a pair of tickets. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 246-2611.

This event came about at the suggestion of a board member to hold a dance and in true theatrical spirit it was transformed into a masquerade ball! A set will be designed to resemble a gondola scene in Venice, Italy. A professional dance instructor is going to lead group lessons on 4-5 dances in traditional styles. A photographer will be taking portraits for a small fee. Refreshments will include non alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres in the Italian tradition, and Italian chocolates. The music will be provided by Ecret Entertainment. A contest will be held and awards given to best masks and graceful dancers. Auction items will include real masks from Venice, Italy, lodging/meal packages, winemaker’s dinner and several other fun items.

All proceeds will benefit Masquers Theater, the newest and tallest building now in Soap Lake that just opened this past year. The building still needs a sound/video system, concession stand, lighting, security system, and a few other details. This new theater is the proud accomplishment of the all volunteer non profit organization. They have raised almost $400,000 for the building and need to raise more to complete the plans for this exceptional performing arts building.

Masquers Theater has been putting on plays in Soap Lake for 25 years. They have entertained audiences with high quality drama, comedy, and original plays. The current season includes six live theater productions, two touring concerts, documentary films, and local school performances. The organization moved 3 times over the years to various rental properties until they raised the funds to start construction on their own building.

We encourage the community to come and join us for a Masquer-Aid Ball! The date is Sat, Sept 4, 2004 at 7:30pm. Design or purchase a mask and come join in the fun at the Las Brisas Arts & Conference Center. Come support Masquers Theater in their continuing efforts to bring the live arts to this community.

Contact Information

Cindy Ray or Vicki Jones

Masquers Theater

(509) 246-2611

by Lee Blessing 

Will open on July 30 at Masquers Theater in Soap Lake.

Jim Stools played by Eric Suitter is a gritty and rowdy biker. At least he was until he sort of fell in love with Eve Wilfong (Margaret Mazeski) while changing planes in an airport. She now lives with him in an apartment over his bar in the rough part of Houston. Even though she is from a college background in the North, she has taken to her new digs like a catfish to a shady lagoon. She is bent on making serious changes in herself, in Jim and in his business. Her teen-aged son Jason, played by Mark Sievrkropp is spending the summer with her. He is a squirrelly teen-ager who would much rather be out meeting girls than helping with the work around the place. Stacking bottles of Schlitz is not his idea of a summer vacation.

Eve is also being visited by her niece Catherine played by Cory Tempel. Catherine is at a cross roads after having been asked to leave the convent when she was diagnosed with a bizarre vocal affliction. She tries not to regard it as a failure to be rejected as the bride of Christ. Roy Manual (Raul Harnasch) who hangs around the bar and does odd jobs doesn't mind though. He was smitten with Catherine from the moment he first saw her. He just wants to dance with her, and breathe in her scent.

"This play is like a breath of fresh air," says director, Bev Hasper. "It is contemporary, down to earth, and a whole lot of fun."

Evening performances are at 8PM, July 30, 31; August 6,7; 13,14. Sunday matinees are at 3PM, August 8 & 15. Tickets are $12 for the evening performances and half price for the matinees. For reservation call the box office at 246-2611.

My Three Angels

The scene is French Guiana, a region where on Christmas day the temperature has graciously dropped to 104 degrees. Three convicts are employed as roofers by a family, whose roof is in desperate need of maintenance. On the way home from France is an evil-minded cousin, to oust the father of the family from his business, and his cold-blooded nephew, who is jilting the father's daughter for an heiress. The three convicts-two of them murderers, the third a swindler- take the visitors on. All three have warm hearts, and are passionate believers in true justice. Possessing every criminal art and penal grace, they set matters right, and in doing so redeem themselves as real life angels to the grateful family. 

This play was written by Sam and Bella Spewack, and directed by Cheri Barbre, produced by Lynn Witham at Masquers Theater in Soap Lake (In cooperation with Dramatists Play Services, Inc) . The three convicts are played by Randy Brooks, Eric Van Woert and Bob Jasman . The cast also features Tia Tracy, Richard Elvin, Katie Busse, Raul Harnasch, Bobbi Christie and Eric Suitter. Bob Jasman will provide art for the lobby display. 

Performance dates are June 18,19, 25, 26, July 2 and 3 at 8 PM Matinees June 20 and 27 at 3 PM . Please contact Masquers at The Jolly Theater, 322 Main Avenue East, Soap Lake, 246-2611 for reservations and further details. 

Masquers Presents…

Vivian & Phil Williams
"Carrying on the Pioneer Music Traditions of the Pacific Northwest"

The Pacific Northwest has a legacy of fiddle and dance tunes going back to the early days of exploration in the region. Lewis and Clark brought with them the first fiddlers we know of who played fiddle tunes in the Pacific Northwest. Much of the fiddle and old time music that we heard when we were growing up, and now found in mostly in rural areas and gatherings of the Northwest Fiddle Associations, was brought to the region over the Oregon Trail. We have done considerable research into the dance music played on the Oregon Trail and in pioneer communities, as recorded in pioneer journals and told in oral histories. We play this material both on modern instruments and instruments from the Oregon Trail days. This music is interwoven with histories of tunes, journal quotes, and glimpses of how these tunes and dances helped ease a hard day of travel. - Vivian & Phil Williams, Web page: www.voyagerRecords.com 

You can enjoy Vivian and Phil on the stage of Masquers Jolly Theater, 322 Main AVE E, Soap Lake, WA, July 17. The Lava Love Run will be happening this same weekend in Soap Lake. Call Masquers at (509)246-2611 for show time, prices and reservations. 

The following are the performances presented by the Masquers Theater over the last 24 years.

1979: Fireman Save Our Child

1980: The Warrior's Husband, Come Blow Your Horn, Harvey

1981: The Rape of Belt, Summer Melodramas, Bell, Book and Candle

1982: My Three Angels, Amphitrion, Summer Melodramas, Blithe Spirit, Gaslight

1983: Night Watch, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Fourposter, Star Spangled Girl, Sometimes Love is Out of Sync, Never Trust a Tattooed Sailor

1984: The Nukes of Marriage, California Suite, Under Papa's picture

1985: 6 Rms Riv Vu, Plaza Suite, Wally's Café, Suiteharts, A Christmas Carole

1986: Last Days at the Dixie Girl Café, The Fox, Barefoot in the Park

1987: A Company of Wayward Saints, The Glass Menagerie

1988: Honestly Now, Crimes of the Hart

1990: The Pied Piper

1991: Rose Cottages

1992: Driving Miss Daisy, The Road to Mecca

1993: The Mail Order Bride, Diaries of Adam and Eve, Bordertown Café

1994: Artichoke, The Odd Couple

1995: Moon Over the Brewery, Squabbles, The Diary of Ann Frank

1996: Absent Friends, The Case of the Crushed Petunias and 4 other short plays, Orphans

1997: Deathtrap, Lost in Yonkers, Five Woman Wearing the Same Dress

1998: Sylvia, Greater Tuna, A Company of Wayward Saints, A Streetcar Named Desire, A Couple of White Chicks Sitting Around Talking

1999: Catfish Moon, The Miss Firecracker Constest, Sight Unseen

2000: The Good Doctor, Abundance, How I learned to Drive

2001: Doin Time at the Alamo, Last Days at the Dixie Girl Café, Last Train to Nibrok