Kira Wood Cramer, new executive director of The Merc Playhouse, has appeared in several productions at the theater and performed at other local venues.
Veteran performer takes community theater’s top role
The actor’s resume of The Merc Playhouse’s new Executive Director, Kira Wood Cramer, reads like that of someone who seeks a professional life in the limelight.
At one point, she did, but as time goes on Cramer is realizing her interests and strengths lie in the myriad administrative roles that make sure the shows can go on.
Cramer, a 2014 Liberty Bell High School graduate, enrolled in the Portland Actors Conservatory (PAC) after graduation, intent on becoming a stage actor. She’d been in plays — from Missoula Children’s Theater to Methow Valley Theater to productions at The Merc — since she was a child.
She was onstage frequently in Liberty Bell’s drama program. She had competed in Poetry Out Loud, served as ’49er Days junior royalty, and was notoriously sought-after as a Trashion Show model. For such a young person, she was an old hat at being in the public eye.
But the fit with the PAC wasn’t good. “I was only 17 and everyone else there was twice my age,” she said. “I just wanted to pursue my love of acting, but the program also had us learning about directing and producing. I just wasn’t there yet.”
So Cramer took a step back from school, moved back to the Methow Valley, and started to figure out what was next. Somewhat to her surprise, it was a job promotion to produce manager at Glover Street Market that allowed Cramer to discover her leadership talents.
“That put me in a management role,” she said. “I learned budgeting, organization, delegation, and other leadership skills.”
Subsequent strong supporting roles at The Thrifty Fox and Balance Home Management also allowed Cramer to demonstrate responsibility and accountability, and she found she enjoyed being a leader. Stage managing “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” the recent Tom Zbyszewski Children’s Theater production, merged Cramer’s leadership skills with her love of theater.
Ready to step up
When Cramer learned that Smith would be stepping down from The Merc’s executive director position, she considered stepping up.
“I thought about it for a long time before asking Missi if she thought I’d be a good fit,” Cramer said.
Cramer said she has always been passionate about The Merc — so much so that she finds herself an ad hoc ambassador for the nonprofit community theater. So moving into a leadership role feels natural to her.
“What I do in my private life is advocate for The Merc and try to get people involved,” she said. “Now I want to do that on a bigger scale and reach more of the community. I want to let The Merc be all that it can be.”
Cramer moves into the new role with a host of mentors in her past and present, including The Merc’s former Artistic Director Julie Wenzel; Cramer’s junior high drama teacher Jane Orme, who is now a Merc board member and frequent director; musician Danbert Nobacon, with whom Cramer has worked extensively, including touring together nationally and internationally; and, of course, Smith, who is currently working closely with Cramer to train her.
Cramer also takes the helm with strong board support in the form of programming, marketing, fundraising and facilities committees.
“There is a lot of change and growth ahead for The Merc,” she said. “It’s part of why it was the right time for Missi to transition out, and it’s a good time for me to take over.”
Cramer will be additionally supported by Stephen Kish, who will step into the new role of marketing director for The Merc. Kish has been The Merc’s technical director since 2017 and will add marketing to his responsibilities. Kish also directed “Little Shop of Horrors” in 2018 and appeared in 2021’s “CoronAnthology: The Year We Held Our Breath.” A local musician and music teacher, Kish often appears onstage playing guitar.
Right at home
Having participated in productions at The Merc for nearly two decades, Cramer is intimate with the space. Despite the many upgrades since she first appeared on The Merc’s stage in “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” in 2007, Cramer says “I’m so familiar with the theater. I feel the most at home in The Merc.”
Stage managing “Fantastic Mr. Fox” gave her an even greater familiarity, Cramer says. “Having a key, being in command of the backstage aspects of the play — it felt really natural.”
Cramer also points to her time touring with Nobacon’s musical productions as instrumental in developing her understanding of income and expenses, budgeting, and learning how different stages and performing arts venues operate.
Although the executive director job is part-time, for now Cramer will cut back on her small cleaning business and focus on The Merc. This summer Cramer will be involved with The Merc’s summer camps for kids, as well as its Shakespeare production in the TwispWorks Pavilion.
A Methow Valley native, Cramer is committed to connecting community members with live theater. “I’m going to listen to what people want from The Merc and try to get them involved,” she said.
The community is invited to a meet-and-greet with Cramer during Art Walk in Twisp on Saturday, May 14, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at The Merc Playhouse.
