On Broadway Thespians

08/31/2026

At the end of Joe’s party… cheers! 🥰

06/26/2026

With The Jimmy Awards – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

06/26/2026

🏴‍☠️ : TAKING FLIGHT IN 2005! 🧚✨

Let’s travel back in time to the year 2005, when On Broadway Thespians took a magical trip to Neverland! Who could possibly resist staging a brand new adaptation of the beloved children's classic, "Peter Pan"? not us!

This beautiful production was brought to life by an incredibly talented cast of young people, led by:

- Jake Countryman as Peter Pan
- Melissa Freeman as Wendy Darling
- Brandon Vos as John
- Kellen Freeman as Michael
- Isabelle Barton as Tinkerbell
- Tim Novotny as Captain Hook
- Joe Vos as Smee

🌟 Where It All Began: Chris Seldon 🌟
Every community theater star has a beginning, and for Chris Seldon, this 2005 production was the very first show he ever did!

It is wild to think about how much time has flown! Since sharing the Neverland stage back then, Chris grew up to become an absolute powerhouse adult performer on the OBT stage, treating us to incredible performances like:

💪 The swaggering Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
🎸 Roger in RENT
💈 The flamboyant Pirelli in Sweeney Todd

Rounding out this phenomenal 2005 ensemble were the amazing talents of: Rebecca Kaufman, Logan Emlet, Tatiana Havill, Jonathon Hobbs, Christopher Brown, Jordan Hobbs, Christopher Reynolds, Aloura Di Gillilarou, Tristan Morgan, Liz Vos, Desiree Ownens, Erica Shultz, Mark Havill, Karen Fowler, and McKenna Spencer.

And of course, a huge shoutout to Director Michael Gonzalez for steering the Jolly Roger and bringing this magic to Coos County over two decades ago! 🦜🍂

Drop a comment if you remember watching this show or if you were part of the magic! 👇

06/23/2026

If you ❤️ musicals as much as we do, you don’t want to miss The Jimmy Awards ! 🎭

The 17th annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards® just wrapped up, and the talent is unbelievable. 🌟

📺 Watch the full event on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/yi6gj-GcFEE?t=1026s
📲 Check out their page for tons of short song clips and highlights!

Meet the future of Broadway as Bowen Yang hosts the 17th annual Nat...

06/21/2026

🎭 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO JOE VOS! 🎭

On Father’s Day, we’re celebrating a man who has been a pillar of strength, creativity, and dedication both at home and across our community.

Joe has officially retired from the On Broadway Thespians (OBT) Board. While audiences know him as a brilliant artist, he is cherished most by his family as a devoted husband and wonderful father. He has been our resident actor, director, set designer, master builder, and above all, a dedicated family man and public servant.

🛠️ A Legacy of Service: On and Off the Stage
Joe’s footprint stretches far across the Coos Bay and North Bend community:

- 40 Years of Public Service: Joe recently celebrated 40 years of public service as the wastewater collections foreman for the city of North Bend!

- The Master Builder: Most recently, Joe built the jaw-dropping, intricate set for Sweeney Todd—completely transporting audiences to Victorian London.

- The Visionary Director: Who could forget his brilliant direction of Mary Poppins, Annie, and more, bringing heart, warmth, and flawless staging to our local stage?

Whether keeping the city running smoothly or collaborating with every theater group in the area, Joe has spent decades building up our community.

🍕 Save the Date: Let’s Celebrate Joe!
We are throwing a celebration to honor Joe and his years of service.

Where: Abby’s Legendary Pizza
When: This August
Details: Keep your eyes glued to this page—more details are coming soon!

Thank you, Joe, for the countless hours, the creative vision, and the example you set as an amazing husband, father, and community leader. Happy Father's Day! 🥂❤️

06/19/2026

We are so excited to support our friends at Coos Bay Shakespeare in the Park for their production of The Comedy of Errors! It opens this Saturday—and it’s free!! 🎟️✨

One of the most incredible things about our community is the phenomenal talent we have here. You’ll spot some very familiar faces bringing the laughs, including pictured here:
🌟 OBT’s amazing Board President, Juliana! (The nun)
🌟 The brilliant Jane Stebbins (who recently directed our production of Sweeney Todd as Adriana)!
🌟 And the incredible Kylee Malaguti, who completely blew us all away with her transcendent voice as Johanna in Sweeney Todd!

It’s a wonderful, hilarious show and you won't want to miss it. Grab your lawn chairs and come support local live theater! ☀️🌲

👉 visit for all the details

Would you take marriage advice from a nun? See how Adriana responds in “The Comedy of Errors,” opening this Saturday at 3pm!

06/19/2026

🎰 to when OBT went full Vegas! 🎰

You know what they say: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... unless you're a nun doing a musical r***e! After five incredible Nunsense shows, in 2006 OBT decided to go for broke and bring the glitz, glamour, and habits to the desert with NunSensations: The Vegas R***e!

Remember this powerhouse cast?

- Barbara Booth keeping everyone in line as Reverend Mother
- Leatha Lewison-Gonzalez pulling double duty as Sister Robert Anne and our director!
- Cheri Stuart bringing the laughs as Sister Amnesia
- Yvonne Frey delivering the soul as Sister Mary Hubert
- Erika Schultz spinning around as Sister Leo

Shoutout to the Mount Saint Helens pupils—Amanda Vos, Karen Fowler, and Adrian Huyck—and, of course, the ultimate scene-stealer, Isabel Stuart as the Sign Girl!

None of it would have been possible without the divine rhythms of Tom Collins on piano and Amy Bryan keeping the beat on drums. 🎹🥁

Drop a comment if you were in the audience for this jackpot of a show! What was your favorite moment? 👇

***e

05/11/2026

Looking for weekend plans? Check out the latest production from our friends over at The Dolphin Playhouse! They are bringing four unique one-act plays to the stage, featuring some familiar faces in brand-new roles.

It’s a great chance to see the range of our local talent:

Richard Nebens: Last seen at OBT as the sinister Judge in Sweeney Todd, Richard is trading his robes for a badge to play the Sheriff in Trifles.

Jane Suppes: After her powerhouse performance as Maureen in Rent, Jane takes on the role of the widow Popova in the classic comedy The Boor.

With four different stories and a cast full of local favorites (and a few new faces), there’s something for everyone! 🎟️

Showtime Info:
📍 Where: The Dolphin Playhouse
🗓️ When: This weekend ONLY! May 15-17
🔗 Tickets: online, in-person or call (541) 808-2611 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dolphinplayersinc/2170959

The The Dolphin Playhouse presents a showcase of four compelling one-act plays, offering a complete theatrical journey in one evening. Don't miss One Weekend, Four Worlds: "Moments on the Edge" at The Dolphin Playhouse.

Trifles: A chilling mystery where two women (Maia Tao Retelska, Karlee Cotrell) uncover a murder motive ignored by men.

Dumpster Dan: A poignant drama following a father (Adam Barber) and son (Rhys Pembroke) navigating the aftermath of sudden loss.

The Boor: Chekhov’s fast-paced farce features a landowner (John Beane) and widow (Jane Suppes) in a hilarious battle of wills.

Mariposa/Butterfly: Neighbors (Jasmine Azure, Ailya Rose) discover common ground over a garden fence through a moment of shared wonder.

For tickets and more information, visit the website:
https://www.thedolphinplayhouse.com/schedule/

05/09/2026

End of an era! 🥂 Today we’re celebrating the recent retirement of a local legend, Leatha Gonzalez (Lewison), from the OBT Board of Directors.

Leatha’s resume is essentially the history of Coos Bay theater:
✅ Past President of OBT & LTOB
✅ Longtime OBT Board Member & Producer
✅ Performer, Director, Prop Master, and Mentor
✅ Fierce advocate for Coos theater & local arts

From the "nomadic years" to our current seasons, Leatha has been the backbone of community theater. While she has been involved in far too many productions to list, her journey began in the early '80s as a member of the Dolphin Players' Eight Misbehavin’ musical comedy group at the original OBT space. She also spent years as a hilarious fixture of the Little Ole Opry comedy team, bringing legendary "down-home" laughs to the Liberty stage.

Thank you, Leatha, for the decades of grit, grace, and standing ovations. Coos Bay theater wouldn't be what it is today without you! 🎭❤️

Drop a heart or your favorite memory of Leatha in the comments! 👇

05/08/2026

For this week’s , we are dedicating our post to our beloved visionary founder of On Broadway Thespians, Tosca C. Means. 🎭✨

Before she became the heart and soul of OBT, Tosca graced the national stage as Miss Nevada 1950 (Tosca Masini). After marrying Larry Means and moving to Coos Bay, she traded her pageant crown for a director’s baton, though she never lost that "star power" when she stepped onto the stage as a performer.

Tosca’s passion for theater was unmatched, with a special place in her heart for musicals and children’s productions. For several decades, she poured her energy into building a community where the arts could thrive. Whether she was directing a complex musical or mentoring a young actor finding their voice, her influence was felt in every corner of the playhouse.

We wouldn't be here without her drive, her talent, and her incredible vision for theater on the Oregon Coast.

Tell us: What is your favorite memory of Tosca or a production she led? 👇