Arts Partners

The Merc Playhouse

CREATING EXPERIENCES WHICH CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY TO THE DIVERSE ASPECTS OF LIVE THEATER

A Brief History

The Merc Playhouse has come a long way since 1924. For generations the Twisp Mercantile provided provisions for home and farm in the Methow Valley. Then the building sat idle for many years. But thanks to the foresight of a group of founding directors, the Merc opened its first season of professional theater in the Summer of 1999. Since then it has become a community treasure, providing space not only for theater productions, but also music, lectures, and other performances.

Air conditioned in summer and cozy warm in winter, the Merc seats 130. Appreciated for its marvelous acoustics and intimacy, the Merc is a popular venue for a broad spectrum of theatrical and musical performers.

The Methow Valley has justifiably earned its reputation as a vital cultural center in the Northwest with its music festivals and concerts, art galleries, local crafts and fine dining.

Tucked in the east slope of the North Cascades, the Methow Valley spans roughly sixty miles, from Mazama to Pateros, of stunning natural beauty – serving as the eastern gateway to the North Cascades National Park. The Merc Playhouse serves the Methow Valley, including the towns of Twisp, Winthrop, and the entire Okanogan Country.

Board of Directors

Jane Orme, Chair
Linda Reese, Vice-Chair
Phil Quevillon, Secretary
Patty Barker, Treasurer
Anne Andersen
Christine Kendall
Amanda Fine
​Jim Ditto
​Lisa Doran-Marshall

Staff

Executive Director, Kira Wood-Cramer 
House Manager, Emily Doran
Marketing Coordinator, Darla Hussey
Bookkeeper, Teresa Mitchell
Interim Technical Director, Mike Doran
Interim Sound Engineer, Dean Hussey
Facilities Manager, Jenny Knox
Facilities Assistant, Kenneth Hussey

Founders of The Merc Playhouse

Carolanne & Egon Steinebach