Theater presents ‘Rented Christmas’

Rab Greenup is ready. “I’m a caroler,” the second-grader excitedly said referring to his part in Liberty Lake Community Theatre’s production of “Rented Christmas.” “This is my second play.”

Tracy Cavanagh is also ready for her debut. “I’m sure I’ll hit Broadway,” she joked. Cavanagh snagged the part of Bridget, spinster maid, in “Rented Christmas,” a story about John Dale, who hasn’t had a real Christmas in years and decides to rent a Christmas complete with tree, presents, a wife and five children. “It’s heartwarming,” Cavanagh said. “Mr. Dale is a lonely man.”

Besides her “spinster gig,” Cavanagh serves as secretary on the theater’s board of directors and takes pride in being the coat check person. “I’m heavily involved with coats. I like coats. I take them from people, and I give them back.”

But despite her multitasking expertise, Cavanagh has had no acting experience. “I auditioned to demonstrate to my 6-year-old daughter, who wanted to audition, how you might go about auditioning, and then I got cast. It was a total fluke.”

And that’s exactly what this community theater is all about. “People with no experience, from all walks of life, any age group, can have an opportunity to be part of a production. Anyone can audition and get cast,” Cavanagh said.

It started two years ago when Jennifer Ophardt, president of the theater’s board of directors, began an unusual journey. Ophardt, a Prosser, Wash., native who studied theater at Washington State University, and her husband, Matt were new to Liberty Lake and eager for their children to see plays. After a conversation with city representatives, Ophardt spotted an announcement in the paper.

“So, I went to the meeting thinking I was going to learn about the theater. Instead, I was heading the theater. They had my picture in the news and quotes. It was a great article but not what I thought was going to happen,” she laughed.

The theater group has produced four plays, collected sponsors and moved from a tarp-draped outdoor stage to a cozy room donated by Greenstone with 112 seats. They’ve acquired props, costumes, and a concession stand that serves “the best popcorn” and are adamant they will remain a community theater.

“We don’t want it to become a civic or professional theater. We want it to stay localized. We want it to be about people. We want anyone to be on stage,” Ophardt said. “In fact, one of the actors in this play, this is one of the things she wanted to do. This was on her bucket list.”

The play’s director, Teresa Roberson, has been involved with Theater Arts for Children in Spokane Valley for 15 years. “When I started, it was in a store front in U-City, and it was wonderful. We made magic,” Roberson said. “So, when I heard about the Liberty Lake Community Theatre I thought it would be like going home.”

This is Roberson’s directorial debut with this theater group. “It started real rocky,” she said, referring to the differences in stage experience of the cast. Roberson shouted instructions as she moved to the back of the room, “Speak louder and direct it here,” she said to a young actor on stage. “Honestly, I tweaked it (the play) quite a bit, brought it into the 21st century. That’s how they ended up with laptops and cell phones,” she said, then turned toward the stage and smiled. “That went much smoother. You’re awesome!”

The community theater vision is also reflected in the group’s production chairman, Kevin Kuecken. “It needs to stay a community theater and to also be for the people,” he said. Soft spoken and articulate, Kuecken’s quick to point out that he “would love to see this as a 500-seat theater and the seats full. I’ve got big goals but I’m very impressed with how far we’ve gotten.”

Kuecken acted in 40 stage productions from grade school to college before taking a 15-year hiatus. After moving to Liberty Lake, he heard the call of the theater and also has tried directing. “I don’t mind directing, but I prefer to act,” he said.

He credits Ophardt with getting the theater company off the ground. “Jennifer’s done amazing things, and somehow she got in touch with people and actually started putting things on.”

To date the group has produced “Hood, of Sherwood,” “Law & Order Fairy Tale Unit,” “Alibis” and “Rented Christmas.”

They prefer scripts “that aren’t known by a lot of people. ‘Rented Christmas’ is great for families. It’s a heartwarming story that sends a good message,” Ophardt said.

“We try to do a mix, some with kids and some with adults,” Cavanagh added.

“We try to find plays that won’t offend but will entertain and is fun for the community and the actors,” Kuecken said.

For Christmas, the theater group is wishing for a packed house. “I would love to sell out all three nights,” Ophardt said.

Hopefully, Santa is listening.