Shakespeare in the works

By Kat Bryant

Grays Harbor News Group

Karen DeMasters is on a mission to bring “accessible theater” to Grays Harbor.

Her original plan was to start a Shakespeare in the Park program this summer, but she hit some roadblocks earlier this year — mostly for lack of a 501(c)3 designation. So, she’s in the process of setting up a nonprofit organization called Aberdeen Shakespearean Theatre to make it happen by next summer.

The initial idea came a long time ago, when DeMasters drove into Aberdeen to visit her mom.

“There’s a big sign as you come into town that says ‘Westport, this way! And Ocean Shores, that way!’ And I thought: ‘No! You want them to stay here!’ So that got me to thinking: What could I do that would make a difference?”

She holds a master’s degree in theater arts, spent 20 years on the road with a traveling theater company and has worked in various forms of community theater for the past several years in Seattle; so the answer was a no-brainer.

“Shakespeare in the Park is a theater thing we don’t have here,” she said, and it would be free — which, she added, would bring people out who might not be able to afford to see shows at the Driftwood Playhouse or Grays Harbor College.

She has found plenty of support for her venture, gathering a five-person board so far.

In addition to DeMasters serving as president of the nonprofit, the other board members are Jeff Ryser of Elma, vice president; Jim Patrick of Olympia, treasurer; Greg Zschomler of Aberdeen, secretary; and Ann Lewis of Montesano.

Zschomler and DeMasters met through Wil Russoul, leader of the newly formed Aberdeen Art and Music Community.

“Obviously, as a writer and bookstore owner, I’m involved for the literary aspect, but I also have 40 years of theater background,” said Zschomler. “I’m also 100 percent behind family entertainment and building the local creative district.”

The board is getting the last elements of paperwork together now to file with the IRS, and after that DeMasters isn’t sure how long it will take to secure the 501(c)3 designation. Based on conversations with others in the area who have been through the process, including Russoul, she said she’s anticipating up to a year’s wait.

“The plan at this point is that in late January through February, we’re going to advertise for auditions. In March we’ll have auditions, then rehearse through April and May,” she said. “And then, once we’ve got the play up and running, our plan is not just to perform at Sam Benn Park, but also to perform at parks throughout the county.”

She’ll be in Elizabethan costume at the Aberdeen Art Walk on Saturday in her continuing effort to get the word out — not only for public information, but also for funding.

“We’re going to need somewhere in the realm of $35,000 to make this happen,” she said.

She intends to apply for lodging tax funds through the city and the county, as well as local grants. She’s also hoping for a “fiscal sponsor” to help raise funds during this interim period before the group receives its federal nonprofit status.

Assuming the first summer goes well, DeMasters says the group might go “beyond the Bard” later.

“Next year, we’ll do the one show all summer long. The next year, we might do two shows. And then, eventually, we might add a children’s theater kind of thing,” she said. “Little by little, we may grow into doing other kinds of theater too.”

To keep up with developments, follow Aberdeen Shakespearean Theatre on Facebook.