Theater group restarting in Ritzville

RITZVILLE – Dede Boyer couldn't stay idle for long.

"I like to stay busy," she said. "When I was no longer on the City Council, I thought 'What am I going to do with myself?'"

In a conversation with a friend, Boyer learned children are often bored in winter months. That got her thinking.

"At first, I thought about establishing a roller skating rink, but there was no building big enough," she said.

Then she recalled her prior involvement with a local theater troupe.

"We used to have a wonderful little group in this community called the Ritzville Community Theatre," she said. "We performed plays written by Miles Athey and Harry Schafer.

"After Miles died in 2017, the group fell apart. But I knew people who were interested in bringing the troupe back to life."

She knew Bill Sager, for example, who had acted in plays and managed sound and lighting.

Boyer checked several venues. The movie theater lacked space for changing costumes and props. She considered a building on Washington Street being restored by City Councilman Dennis Chamberlain.

"It has a huge ballroom and stage upstairs" she said. "Unfortunately, there's no elevator. People who can't manage stairs would have a hard time attending plays."

When she learned that Debbie Binam planned to open a restaurant on Main Street, Boyer got excited.

The restaurant, to be called "D's on Main," will operate in the building formerly used by the Mi Jalisco Restaurant.

"The owner has agreed to let us do our play there," Boyer said. "It's perfect. Even if you're in a wheelchair you can attend because it's all on one level.

"It already has a stage with sound and light equipment."

Boyer hopes to perform the first play in May of this year. That leaves about 13 weeks from audition to performance.

"That's a fast track," she said.

The familiar play, called "Around the World in 80 Days," can be performed with as few as eight or as many as 39 actors, she said. Several parts can be performed by one person switching roles.

"On the other hand, if someone wants to act without memorizing lots of lines, he or she can take a small part and still be involved," she said.

"I'm excited to bring theater back into town," she said. "The goal is to have theater performances twice a year - spring and winter. But we'll take one step at a time."

Play auditions will be Thursday, Feb. 15, at 116 W. Main St.

To set up an audition, call Boyer at 509-655-1870.