Full cast photo from the 1992 holiday production of ‘Fiddler On The Roof.’
Continued from Page 6
“nostalgic event” to celebrate the last five
decades at the theater. He hopes to bring in
volunteers and actors from the early years
at the Coaster to talk about their experi-
ences and reflect on fond memories.
History of the Coaster
The Coaster Theatre opened its doors
1972 after Clark, a Portland patron of the
arts, purchased the old Coaster roller rink
and remodeled it into a playhouse.
The theater hosted the Portland State
University Summer Stock Company and
other area performing arts groups over
the summer. However, it was best known
locally for its community productions of
Charles Dickens plays during the holiday
season. Community members would come
together to script their own production, usu-
ally based around Dickens’ “A Christmas
Carol.”
“Literally, it was families and dogs. It
was anybody who wanted to be in the play
was in the play,” Tronier said. “It was a
really cool community thing.”
In 1985 the Coaster switched to a year-
round production schedule, pulling talent
from Cannon Beach, Astoria and other sur-
rounding communities. Now, almost all of
the actors, stage crew, ushers and other vol-
unteers hail from towns on the North Ore-
gon Coast. Clark continued to support the
theater until his death in 2001, at which
point the Coaster became a 501(c)(3) non-
profit. It continues to receive financial sup-
port from the Clark Foundation.
“The Clark family still is a part of the
Coaster Theatre, which is really nice,
because they have that familial connection,”
Tronier said.
With the exception of the last two years,
the theater has grown to produce seven
shows per year, along with hosting other
opportunities for the community to get
involved with the arts, such as a summer
children’s theater or concerts. It is often rec-
ognized by theater professionals as one of
the premier community theaters in Oregon.
“The extensive effort that is put into
doing great sets and having the commu-
nity all involved means it just isn’t a typi-
cal community theater. It’s a step above,”
said Cathey Ryan, board president. “The
fact that we have been around for 50 years
really says a lot about the energy that’s put
into it, the connection with the community.”
Returning after COVID
During the last two years, productions
at the Coaster have scaled back due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The theater produced
a radio play for the 2020 holidays, and
brought just two shows to stage in 2021.
“We are just excited to be having a season
at this point,” Tronier said of the 50th anni-
versary. “That is, in a sense, a huge mile-
stone for us in our COVID world.”
The theater has implemented a COVID
policy to keep actors, volunteers and audi-
ences safe. That policy requires all cast and
crew members to be fully vaccinated and
for audiences to wear masks at all times in
the theater. Despite those changes, most
members of the theater agree that it feels
great to get back on stage with a near-full
season of six shows.
I think it’s going to be a lot more open
as the season goes on. That’s what I’m hop-
ing,” Jagodnik said. “And that will make
(the 50th anniversary) really significant, if
people can start coming to the theater on a
regular basis again.”
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2022 // 7