The Merc Playhouse celebrated its 25th anniversary on Sunday following the matinee of Rainbow Fish. Rainbow Fish Director Jane Orme led the raising of glasses for a toast, followed by the audience singing Happy Birthday to the Merc. Attendees, including many children, danced to music on the stage floor and sang karaoke. Cupcakes and appetizers accompanied the festivities.
Founder Carolanne Steinebach recalled the origins of the Merc when she and her late husband, Egon Steinebach, entered the Mercantile, a store on the current site of the theater, for a 70% off sale. The store was going out of business. The Steinebachs noticed the extraordinaroy acoustics. She could hear her husband from across the store talking in a normal voice. Then they looked up, and the ceiling closed the deal for them.
The Steinebachs approached Methow Arts to purchase the building, but they responded that it was “too much work,” according to Carolanne. They approached Methow Valley Theater, and they responded with the same. The Steinebachs purchased the building on faith.
“If we build it, they will come,” Carolanne said to the applause from the audience.
The anniversary was also an occasion to thank the Merc’s Executive Director, Kira Wood-Cramer, who has been at the helm for three years. She leaves her post effective April 1.
Wood-Cramer thanked everyone for her time at the Merc. Moved with emotion, she stepped up again to remember “Tommy Zbyszewski,” who died fighting a forest fire on Twisp River in 2015, one month from his 21st birthday. He worked for the Forest Service in the summers between college. Zbyszewski performed at the Merc as a child.
“It’s [pronounced] “Byshevsky,” Wood-Cramer said adamantly, with all the reserve she had left, before being overcome with emotion.
“That’s all I have to say,” she said as she stepped back.
Merc Board Chair Amanda Fine thanked Wood-Cramer for her work and bringing the theater out COVID.
“Many nonprofits didn’t make it through COVID. We did,” she said.
Wood-Cramer told the Examiner she is starting a new chapter in her life but didn’t yet know all the details, remaining open to possibilities.
Attendees danced to music and karaoke.
