Tillamook Coast Life Blog
Tillamook Coast: Where the Arts Thrive
Catch a Performance
You might assume you’d have to be in a bustling city to access the performing arts, but a lovely trip to the theater is easier than it seems on the Tillamook Coast, courtesy of the Riverbend Players. From family-friendly comedies, to classic and spooky radio plays, the Riverbend Players are here to prove that an enjoyable night at the theater can be found in the small communities that exist on the Tillamook Coast!
Riverbend Players
Located in the quaint town of Nehalem for over 20 years, the Riverbend Players are a performing arts group that is committed to bringing high quality performances to the locals and visitors of Tillamook Coast. Their mission is to “provide a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive space for individuals to engage with the performing arts.” Everyone is welcome to audition for their performances, whether they have acting experience or not. They typically produce and perform four shows a year, which range in theme and style throughout their production season.
For their future season, they are covering all of the bases: everything from the tense, psychological thriller “Misery,” based on the Stephen King novel, to the comedic stage production of “The Odd Couple,” the frightfully classic “Dracula” done in a radio play version, and ending the season with a family-friendly musical called “Winter Wonderettes.” Many seasons follow this same pattern and they try to include a little bit of something for everyone.
The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon
I was lucky enough to attend an opening-weekend performance of their holiday production and I thoroughly enjoyed their take on the hokey and heartwarming holiday special. The story follows multiple lonely people in a small town during the holidays. They end up in silly and predictable situations and ultimately fall in love. The production is filled with tropes and cliches, and the characters have (mostly) happy endings.
The scenery and set design were impeccable. I was beyond impressed with the attention to detail of the main setting, a small inn in New England. From the cozy colored lights, the holiday decor, and the check-in desk, (complete with a key rack with room keys labeled,) I felt like I had been truly transported to a new and exciting place.
The acting was top-notch. The performance included a variety of roles, from narrators, to hopeful couples, and even a silly group of caroling kids. I learned that these were all locals who had auditioned for the chance to perform the nine staged performances over three weeks. They work for months together, multiple times a week, to practice lines, get to know each other, and perfect their stage persona. Many of the actors were repeat performers with Riverbend Players, but there were also some newbies to the stage.
The performers worked well together and the overall effect left the viewer (me) feeling like I should have paid double for the caliber and quality of the performance I had just received.
Take Part in the Arts
I spoke with Frank Squillo, Board President and director of their most recent production “The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon” to learn more about the history of the group and the hopeful future for the Riverbend Players. Frank wants to provide access to theater and production for local residents while also providing high quality performing arts that visitors to the Tillamook Coast can enjoy. He told me that he always polls the audience before a performance, and that nearly half attendees are usually from out-of-town.
Want to plan a visit to the coast around one of their performances? The Riverbend Players release their performance schedule early in the year, and allow you to buy tickets and pick your seats (in their 193 seat auditorium) online on their website. They also sell season passes, which include discounted tickets to all annual productions. You can have seats at the theater each time you visit the Tillamook Coast!
