After four years of closed curtains, the lights at Liberty Theater are shining brighter than ever. And under the spotlight, The Liberty Theatre Company (TLTC) presents a 2024/25 season featuring uniquely adapted shows and incredible local talent. Following their smash summer run of Boeing Boeing, the upcoming fall and winter productions are poised to sell out performances and invite Sun Valley’s performing arts patrons to immerse themselves in stories unlike their own.
After spending years in the dark following the pandemic’s interruption of live performances, the threat of losing Hailey’s iconic venue shook the Wood River Valley’s community of theatergoers. However, in May of 2023, local realtor Logan Frederickson purchased the Liberty Theater with a commitment to preserve and enhance the artistic space. After a few infrastructure tweaks in January, the doors reopened, offering TLTC the space to focus on its core strength—performing.
TLTC’s past two seasons have proved exceptionally successful (thanks to overwhelming community support). Ticket sales for the 2023/24 season surged by 233% compared to the previous year, and the 2024/25 season is on track to rise another 200%. “Within two years, audience attendance will have increased by 400-500%, which is remarkable considering most theater companies in the country are losing audiences or struggling to stay open,” says TLTC’s Artistic Director Naomi McDougall Jones. “This is a clear metric showing how much our community values live theater and supports the arts.”
A key factor contributing to the Wood River Valley’s strides in artistic enthusiasm is the “Pay What You Feel Season Pass.” The initiative provides broad access to live theater, with 600 passes sold last season and nearly 800 for the current season, accounting for 40-50% of ticket sales. The remaining 60% comes from individual buyers, with shows consistently selling out. “I’m proud to say that by the end of this season, we will be earning about 40% of our annual budget from ticket revenue, which is a significant achievement for a theater company,” says McDougall Jones.
The 2024/25 season launched with the summer production of Boeing Boeing, a classic farce and slamming comedy. The show became TLTC’s all-time highest-grossing production, selling out the Liberty Theatre from the front row to balcony seats during its three-week run. Originally written in the 1960s, LA-based director Veronica Moonhill infused the retro-style play with her own twist, challenging the classic gender roles baked into the original and adding a unique flair to TLTC’s production.
With four major productions scheduled from October through April 2025, TLTC has shows to appeal to every taste and style.
With their first show a resounding success, TLTC is now preparing for their next production: the deviously delicious Broadway sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop of Horrors. Running from October 4-19, this sci-fi musical will usher in the spooky season with all-time singalongs and a tongue-in-cheek plotline. The show features a predominantly local cast, complemented by a Boise-based puppeteer. Director and Music Director R.L. Rowsey promises a synchronized production of music, dance, and exceptional acting.
The holiday season’s following production will present a unique form of live art: a live radio show of Alice in Wonderland. The classic story, adapted by McDougall Jones, runs from December 6-8, featuring one free Spanish show at 2 p.m. on December 8. This format, which was experimented with last season in the Hammond Castle radio show, offers an immersive soundscape featuring a live Foley artist to bring the audible experience to life for audiences of all ages. “What’s so neat about it is that it has this quality that’s kind of like reading a book, where because all you’re receiving is the oral landscape, you get to be the filmmaker in your own mind,” says McDougall Jones.
The final fully staged production of the season premieres in February as A Doll’s House, Part 2—a reimagined sequel to Ibsen’s classic play A Doll’s House. However, the season will officially close with the 24-Hour Theater Festival, offering one last opportunity for artistic experimentation at the Liberty Theatre. Back by popular demand, participants collaborate to build a brand-new play within 24 hours, testing their creativity and teamwork. Last season’s festival was a hit, leading to a sold-out show and new additions to TLTC’s familiar faces.
Opportunities for involvement at the Liberty Theatre remain open for enthusiastic community members. Volunteer positions open during show runs, and annual auditions open in May for those looking to tap into show biz. Additionally, McDougall Jones has recently introduced a high school apprentice program, providing five Sun Valley seniors the chance to work alongside theater professionals. The caliber of TLTC is a stroke of luck in our small town, placing artistic immersion at our fingertips if we just reach out and grab it.
“There’s something really different about being in a room with live theatre and experiencing stories that are different from yours, experiencing actors who are portraying characters unlike anyone you’ve ever met in your life in a small town,” says McDougall Jones.