1994

The Beginning

In early 1994, Louise Mills, one of the founders of Bainbridge Light Opera (later to become Bainbridge Performing Arts) and proud owner of an impressive collection of rare vintage evening wear, persuaded her friend Michele McCrackin to direct and perform in an independent production of the 1926 Broadway comedy, The Play’s the Thing by P.G. Wodehouse (adapted from a play by Ferenc Molnár), a fizzy romantic farce that had all the characters in formal evening dress throughout. Louise raised money to rent the Bainbridge High School auditorium for three weeks in March ’94. The cast included Dave Allen, Steve Buechler, Bob Zinn, Michele McCrackin, Bob McAllister, Steve Stolee, Bob Cederwall, and Miles Yanick, with costumes by Mary Braden and Marilyn Boynton, set design by Will Langemack, assistant direction by Kate Carruthers, stage management by Steve Nicolet, lighting by Jane Jay, and publicity by Cynthia Sears.

At the end of a successful run, producer Louise proudly hosted the cast and crew for dinner at the then new Karsten’s Restaurant in Suquamish. Finishing the meal with toasts, Louise addressed the group, “Well, our show made money[cheer] and I want to ask you all what you think I should do with it: I could give you all a share of it, which would be about $50 apiece; or … [dramatic pause] … we could start a new theatre company!” The decision was unanimous and Island Theatre was born and named at a subsequent meeting in the fall of 1994 at Dave and Julie Allen’s house. The first board members were: Mary Braden, Steve Buechler, Kate Carruthers, Michele McCrackin, Louise Mills, Steve Nicolet; and Cynthia Sears, with Steve Stolee serving as its first president. The new theatre company’s goal was to produce adultoriented plays rather than musicals or children’s productions, which were already well-covered by other local theatres.