‘Glad to be back home’
Riverbend Players return to
stage with ‘Steel Magnolias’
‘Steel Magnolias’
Friday and Saturday, and Nov. 12 and 13
at 7 p.m.
BY MALLORY GRUBEN
Sunday and Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.
Of all the Riverbend Players perfor-
mances Margo McClellan has acted in
since joining the theater group in 2018,
none has felt quite as special as “Steel
Magnolias.”
The well-known dramatic comedy
about the bond among a group of South-
ern women will mark a homecoming for
McClellan and several other cast and
crew mates working on the production in
Nehalem. It will be their first time on stage
for a live, in-person performance since the
pandemic began.
Even after two successful virtual pro-
ductions that helped raise more than
$10,000 to benefit local causes, McClellan
said nothing can beat the feeling of getting
back in front of an audience — especially
after nearly two years away from it.
“I’m excited to be back. The stage is
kind of like my second home,” McClel-
lan said.
Going virtual
McClellan has acted in every play the
Riverbend Players have produced in the
last three years. That includes the two vir-
tual productions the group held during the
pandemic, when in-person performances
were prohibited.
Jeff Slamal, treasurer for the Riverbend
Players, said the theater group came up
with the idea after learning of some very
famous organizations that switched to digi-
tal performances to raise money during the
COVID-19 shutdowns. The performers
decided to give it a try for themselves.
Each virtual performance was aimed at
raising money for a different local cause,
and both productions included full cos-
tumes and sound effects.
Viewers watched via livestream at no
charge, though the Riverbend Players col-
lected voluntary donations for each pro-
duction’s respective cause.
McClellan likened the experience to a
radio drama or reader’s theater.
“It was fun, because … there’s no
blocking, so you have more time to
rehearse, and you can really get into the
character,” she said.
The virtual productions began with “It’s
a Wonderful Life,” a holiday play that has
appeared onstage at the Riverbend Play-
ers’ home theater in the North Coast Rec-
10 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Advance tickets at tickettomato.com, $17
North Country Recreation District
Performing Arts Center
36155 9th St. in Nehalem
Masks will be required for audiences
inside the theater, except while eating or
drinking in designated locations
Riverbend Players
From left, actresses Margo McClellan, Linda Makohon, Emilee Andrade, Sue Neuer, Sharon
Gavin and Julee Ward make up the cast of ‘Steel Magnolias.’
reation District several times.
The digital rendition garnered about
100 email addresses to view the show,
which Slamal estimates translates to 150 to
200 total viewers.
Those supporters donated nearly $7,300
during the performance. The money raised
went to Fulcrum Community Resources,
which used the money to provide COVID-
19 business relief grants for businesses in
the Nehalem area, Slamal said.
“The Dog Logs,” a series of mono-
logues from the canine perspective, also
premiered digitally.
The performance collected donations
for the North County Food Bank, Little
Apple Fund and Nehalem United Method-
ist Church, three local groups focused on
providing food to those in need.
Nearly as many people logged on to
watch the live Facebook stream, and the
production raised more than $3,000 for its
beneficiaries.
Slamal said the Riverbend Players did
not expect the digital performances to be
so successful, but the board and cast were
thrilled with the result.
“At that time, there seemed to be a
greater atmosphere of people wanting to
help other people. Most of the funds
raised came from local individuals,”
Slamal said. “It’s a ‘small town help thy
neighbor’ situation.”
The only drawback of the virtual plays
was the lack of a live audience, Slamal
said. Actors often rely on the energy and
reactions of an audience, but there is
no means of interaction during a digital
stream.
“I act because I like the reaction from
the audience,” Slamal said. “The virtual
plays we did went over really well, but we
didn’t get that reaction.”
Return to stage
Widespread access to vaccines for the
virus and loosened state safety regulations
allowed the Riverbend Players to bring
their shows back to the main stage, starting
with “Steel Magnolias.”
Slamal, the director for the play, said he
doesn’t know quite what to expect for the
first in-person performance the group has
hosted since March 2020, but he’s looking
forward to providing the community with
some long overdue live entertainment.
All of the actors were required to show
proof of vaccination before accepting their
roles. The cast and crew also keep a close
eye on their health, always taking the night
off if they feel at all ill.
“I appreciate the safety they’ve pro-
vided for us as actors here,” said Sharon
Gavin, who plays Clairee in the produc-
tion. “They’ve been diligent to make a safe
space for us to create in.”
Of the six women performing in “Steel
Magnolias,” four are new faces to the Riv-
erbend Players. However, two of the four
newcomers — Emilee Andrade as Shelby
and Sue Neuer as M’Lynn — are familiar
to the North Coast theater scene, both hav-
ing acted with the Coaster Theater Play-
house in Cannon Beach.
“I haven’t been inside a theater in
almost a year, a year and a half,” said
Andrade. “‘Steel Magnolias’ has always
been a favorite close to my heart, because
I am diabetic. … Acting in this play is
my way of showing that my diabetes
didn’t hold me back, even through the
pandemic.”
Ouiser is played by long-time River-
bend Players actor Linda Makohon, while
Annelle is portrayed by first-time actor
Julee Ward.
“This is my first stage play. I wanted
to try something new, and I saw the ad
for auditions on Facebook,” Ward said.
“I really appreciate that we can do this
together safely.”
The show opens Friday and runs for
two weekends. Those who attend will be
required to show proof of vaccination at
the door, as well as wear a mask during the
performance.
Slamal said the players have hired three
times as many ushers as before the pan-
demic to make sure vaccination checks and
seating go smoothly.
And if preshow ticket sales are any
indicator, the show is likely to be one of
the group’s most popular yet. Slamal said
sales are brisk and well over past, pre-
COVID sales, with nearly 70 tickets called
for already.
“The virtual productions were fun,” he
said. “But we are glad to be back home.”