Masquers go retro for theater's annual gala and fundraiser
Upcoming season kicks off in October with fall musical "Anastasia."
SOAP LAKE — The Masquers set the Way-Back Machine to the 1980s — the era of big hair, neon spandex and Walkman cassette players — for their annual gala event Saturday evening at the Soap Lake theater.
A festive crowd embraced the Prom Night theme and dressed up for the occasion, which offered a peek at the upcoming season and a look back at the season that was.
“It was totally tubular,” quipped emcee Clifford Bresee, bedecked with headband and parachute pants.
Bresee told an appreciative audience that the performing troupe was “proud and happy of the work we’ve done.” There were different opportunities, from comedic Shakespeare to poignant drama, for actors and actresses to “stretch their talents” while entertaining Grant County residents over the past year, he said.
A big part of the evening was to say “thank you, thank you, thank you” to the patrons, members, sponsors, businesses, board of directors and volunteers who continue to support “this small, rural theater,” said Bresee.
But it “costs a lot of money to put on a show … and to maintain” the facility, he said.
Along with other fundraising efforts, the Masquers have initiated a campaign to finance replacement of the theater’s decades-old, energy-consuming incandescent lighting with new LED lights that, said Bresee, “are the future.”
In recognition of their contributions, Sherry Joski and Jesse Huntwork were special honorees during the program. Joski, both actress and board treasurer, was presented with the MOPET — Masquers Outstanding Person in Esprit de Theatre — Award. Huntwork was inducted into the Masquers Hall of Fame for his long relationship with the theater as an actor, director, craftsman, and supporter.
Special thanks was also given to Cloudview Kitchen for catering Saturday’s event and to raffle prize donors, said Bresee and Marla Allsopp, respectively the board of directors’ immediate past and current presidents. Other board members include vice president Cecily Hendricks, secretary Alex Kovach, Dennis Beich, Stacey Bresee, Allison Pheasant, and Darryl Pheasant.
The Masquers Theater opens its 2026-27 season this fall with the acclaimed musical, “Anastasia.” The production will run over four weekends, from Friday, Oct. 16 to Sunday, Nov. 8. Friday performances will start at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday shows at 2 p.m.
Here's a look at some of the other festive folks who brightened Saturday night in Soap Lake:
