A theater begins with a stage, but it rarely ends there. From every production, threads stretch outward to the actors who bring a story to life, the audience that receives it, the students learning backstage and the artists finding new ways to create. Follow those threads far enough, and a theater can become something larger: a web woven into the community around it.
That web is beginning to take shape at Wood River Rep.
Formerly The Liberty Theatre Company, the nonprofit officially adopted its new name in April after years of confusion with the privately owned Liberty Theater building. Although the decision to rebrand predated Emily Meister’s arrival as artistic and executive director, she led the months-long transition, working with board members, community stakeholders and a branding agency to shape the organization’s new identity.
For Meister, this new name is an opportunity to build something that’s, in her words, “of and with the Valley,” rooted as much in the connections it creates as the performances it produces.
Wood River Rep’s five seasonal mainstage productions remain the organization’s artistic anchors, drawing audiences into the theater throughout the year. But beyond the footlights, the company is intentionally weaving what Meister describes as a “creative web”—a network of free community workshops, educational programs and partnerships designed to keep creativity flowing even after the curtain falls.
From “Voices of the Valley,” a five-week storytelling workshop, to teaching artists working alongside students at Wood River High School and apprentices shadowing professional productions, each strand offers another way into the creative process, not just as an audience member, but as a participant.
“It’s like an ecosystem,” Meister says. “It’s very much creating that creative web to just help foster a community … and then, of course, being able to come into the theater and experience it.”
From “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?”
That expanding vision will take several forms this fall. Wood River Rep will return to the Liberty Theater for “The Mystery of Irma Vep,” while “The Witching Table,” an immersive murder-mystery experience held at one of the Valley’s most haunted locations Oct. 30 and 31, will take theater beyond the traditional stage. The latter offers an early glimpse at Meister’s interest in site-specific work, where place becomes part of the creative experience.
In a Valley whose identity is so often tied to outdoor recreation, Meister doesn’t see creativity and adventure as competing interests. Blaine County residents, she argues, are multifaceted—they can be skiers and artists, mountain bikers and designers, outdoor enthusiasts and theatergoers. Its artistic identity can grow alongside its adventurous one.
“I think it’s about fostering and cultivating all the different parts of an individual within a community,” Meister explains. The designer, teacher, healthcare worker and outdoor enthusiast aren’t necessarily different people. The Valley’s residents contain multitudes, and Wood River Rep hopes to give their creative sides room to grow.
A person doesn’t need to consider themselves an artist to find a place within that web—curiosity is enough. Residents can attend a performance, join a free enrichment workshop, answer an open call for local creatives or simply try something unfamiliar. For those who would rather support from the sidelines, attending shows, donating and spreading the word all strengthen the network Meister hopes to build.
“It takes bravery, I think, and courage to try anything if you haven’t done it before,” said Meister, who describes herself as a “forever student.” “I approach everything with a beginner’s mind.”
The payoff extends beyond whatever ultimately reaches the stage. Meister sees creative work as an exercise in confidence and problem-solving. She hopes that these skills will follow participants, especially young artists, long after a production ends.
For now, Wood River Rep is building its network of artists, audiences and community partners one connection at a time. As a small nonprofit, Wood River Rep’s ambitions are tied to funding and community support, making the process one of “patience, perseverance and continuing to just show up day to day.” That means strengthening relationships with local artists and audiences and building a strong foundation from which the company can expand.
Looking further ahead, Meister imagines the network stretching beyond the Valley, with artist residencies, festivals and opportunities to bring visiting creatives into conversation with local artists. But growth doesn’t mean competition. “It’s about how we can help each other and be there for each other,” Meister says.
The name Wood River Rep may still be new, but the idea behind it is already taking shape—one production, one student, one artist and one story at a time. Woven together, those individual threads can become something sturdier: a creative infrastructure built by, reflective of and belonging to the Valley itself.