STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Red reigned during the St. Thomas Playhouse annual Girlfriend Cabaret Luncheon at the Ketchum Limelight Hotel. But it wasn’t just about Valentine’s Day.

Young actors and patrons alike showed up in red in celebration of “Annie,” the Family Main Stage event that will take the stage Sept. 17-21.

“I’m so excited—I love all of the songs in the musical,” said 12-year-old Mykala McCann, who sang “Tomorrow” for the audience with Georgia Payne, David Janeski and Aly Wepplo.

Nancy Cord purchases raffle tickets from Emily Chavez, who said that “The Lion King” and “Finding Nemo” are her favorite Company B productions.

“It’s going to be a nice heartfelt performance and show,” added 11-year-old Georgie Payne.

The temperature outside hovered around zero. But, inside, attendees warmed up quickly around a large buffet of pizza and truffle fries underneath heat lamps. That was just the appetizer as they found large plates of salad underneath well-seasoned beef strips and red heart-shaped sugar cookies with the word “Annie” written on top at their tables.

And it didn’t hurt that they could work up a little steam checking out a variety of auction packages, including a Boise Broadway Weekend, Ice Skating Lesson with Darlin Baker, Mahjong package, a full-length Annie Flats Jacquard vest, private vocal lesson with Hannah Nye, five 2-hour adventures for Fido courtesy of multi-Ironman and Triathlon athlete Greg Binns and a children’s birthday party at the Elkhorn Fire Station, complete with Wiseguy Pizza and opportunities to climb aboard a fire engine, operate a ladder truck and man the hose.

“We have a very, very bright season ahead,” Playhouse Artistic Director Sara Gorby told the audience. “If you wish to join us onstage or behind the scenes, we’d love to have you.”

Katie Bernacchi, a member of the St. Thomas Playhouse Committee, allocates her raffle tickets to a variety of packages that include Miss Hannigan’s Wine & Nibbles and Oliver Warbuck’s Nordic, which included a 2025-26 Blaine County Recreation District Nordic pass.

St. Thomas Playhouse was founded in 2001 after church members identified theater as a way to reach out to the community. They staged their first musical—“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in the sanctuary, the pews rearranged to provide a place for the play in the center. And they followed that up with “Our Town.”

“I try to attend each one,” said Robin Leavitt. “It makes my heart sing to see what this organization can do for kids. It provides a safe environment—no judging. It’s one of the best things we have in our community.”

One of those who quickly jumped on board with the new endeavor was H. Edward Bilkey, a shipping executive who served as the executive director of the Dubai Ports authority and Jebel Ali Free Zone in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He had many interests, among them theater and music, his widow Susan told the audience.

“So, when the idea of having an outreach theater program at St. Thomas Church came up, Ted was all for it, and he generously donated the seed money to get it started,” she added.

Jack Cohen who ably took on a difficult singing and dancing role in last year’s “Billy Elliott the Musical,” sings “Electricity.”

Over the years, Bilkey contributed to the Family Main Stage productions. And he was the one who bought the most colorful Dreamcoat for the theater’s first production.

Upon his death in 2006, church members decided the best way to honor this “bigger-than-life man who had contributed so much” was to create the H. Edward Bilkey Memorial Fund to provide scholarships to children to attend Playhouse camps. The fund also underwrites the musicians for bigger productions. To date, nearly $300,000 has been awarded--$6,510 of that to 72 children in 2024 alone.

“This scholarship program has been integral to the success of St. Thomas Playhouse, allowing every child who wishes to to attend a camp or take part in a production,” said Bilkey.

Hundreds of children have taken part in the two-week-long Company B productions, which are so popular that St. Thomas Playhouse began offering a second summer camp a few years ago. Many more young adults have taken part in the tuition-free Summer Theater Project. And hundreds of youth and adults—often, entire families—have taken part in the Family Main Stage Productions, which have brought “Fiddler on the Roof” and other beloved stories to the stage.

Georgie Payne and Mykala McCann joined David Janeski and Aly Wepplo in singing “Tomorrow” from “Annie.”

In 2024 alone, 337 adults, teens and children took part in St. Thomas Playhouse productions. It utilized 45 artists to bring staging and costumes to life and 70 paid teen and college interns helping with the camps. Its plays played to 5,100 audience members.

“I was 6 years old when I first attended Company B,” said Emily Chavez. “I have overcome stage fright and I’m looking forward to attending overnight camp.”

Brett Moellenberg, who has directed some of the plays, noted that that many of the children who started out in Company B have grown up and are now back East acting in other productions.

“Playhouse means so much to our family,” said Sarita Valenti, whose children have attended Company B, the overnight camp and taken part in last year’s Family Main Stage musical “Billy Elliott.” “It provides a safe place for our children to be themselves. The directors and counselors create a welcoming environment for the kids to meet new peers while setting the stage for them to successfully execute an incredible performance.”

“I have learned everything from childcare to tap dance while working with these wonderful people,” said Ingrid Pratt, who took part in “A Chorus Line” actor and has served as a Company B counselor.

“Being a part of St. Thomas musicals has helped me to express myself and embrace my creativity with confidence,” said Jack Cohen a company B participant and actor in “Billy Elliott.” The program sees each of us for who we are and celebrates our special something.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS:

“CHARLOTTE’S WEB,” part of the Children’s Theater Tour, February and March

DISNEY’S MOANA JR.—Company B, June 9-20

SPACC RESIDENTIAL CAMP near Stanley, June 23-28

SPAMALOT—Summer Theater Project for young adults, July 23-26

THE MUSIC MAN JR.--Company B, Aug. 4-15

ANNIE—Family Main Stage, Sept. 17-21