The Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and the Blue Heron French Cheese Company are thrilled to bring the production of A Fine Monster You Are! to Tillamook. A Fine Monster You Are! is a “creepy-crawly comedy” about sweet old Emily Holbrook who lives with her ancient housekeeper Agatha in her family’s dark and gloomy Victorian home. She’s decided to interview young women to type her memoirs and to be her companion—enter beautiful and young Suzette Larson. Emily claims to be keeping a family secret locked in her basement in an attempt to protect the public at large. It’s not long before the house is visited by both expected and unexpected guests, including the family doctor Jonathan, an eccentric psychic Kyla, the boyfriend Corky, and the ex- college roommate Flax. Mayhem and insanity are inflicted on everyone in the house resulting in confusion and revelation. Who is the villain? Who is the victim? Is Emily really sweet or does she lure victims into her tangled web for sinister purposes? And what’s with this monster thing? Is it real? Is it a hoax? What will end up feeding its hungry appetite? Find out when TAPA kicks off their 2012–13 season on October 12 with a champagne gala, unveiling their newly remodeled theater.

TAPA is a non-profit theatrical organization that relies entirely on volunteers—actors, directors, crew members, set builders, board members, and all the other myriad positions needed to put on a show. It all began in 1980 with a production of A Thousand Clowns performed by the Blue Heron Players, a small group of people who came together to put on a play for the sheer enjoyment of it all. They were a hit right away, opening in front of a full house. On the back page of that first program was a note: “We will be meeting soon to discuss our direction and future productions.” The organization we have today is tied forever to the men and women who attended those meetings and eventually signed the Tillamook Association for the Performing Arts into existence. Since that time, TAPA has continued to draw from the talent in our community to enrich lives and provide opportunities to take part in producing live theater.

TAPA performed plays, musicals, and variety shows in such local venues as Tillamook High School, Blue Heron, Sacred Heart Church, the Tillamook School District administration building, Swiss Hall, Eagles Lodge, Elks Lodge, and Oceanside Hall, among others. The lack of a permanent location created many difficulties for storage, rehearsal space, set construction, and so on, so TAPA purchased what was known as the Barn Tavern in 2002 and has been performing there ever since. Although changes and updates have been made over the years to make this space work as a theater, there were still major challenges to overcome. The overhauling of the seating area began in late July and rehearsals have been conducted there during the monumental remodel amidst the dust and debris. “My cast was almost in shock when they arrived for rehearsal the first night the demo started. The entire audience area was gone down to dirt and concrete. The looks on their faces was priceless. People are in for quite a shock when they come to see us” said director Robert Buckingham, who has directed four TAPA productions since 2009 including Murder by the Book, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Neil Simons’ The Star-Spangled Girl and this year’s mega-hit Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. A Fine Monster You Are! stars Karen Martin, Karen Downs, Samantha Swindler, Chris Chiola, Scott Campbell, Lora Ressler and Sandra Koops.

A Fine Monster You Are! will be performed at the Barn Community Playhouse, located at 12th and Ivy in Tillamook. Showtimes are at 7:00 pm on October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27, and also at 2:00 pm on October 21 and 28. Doors open one-half hour prior to curtain; reserved seating is recommended and is available through Diamond Art Jewelers at (503) 842-7940. For information, please visit www.tillamooktheater.com or contact info@tillamooktheater.com. Be sure to bring your Halloween spirit when you come!