THEATER SPOTLIGHT
Rising local theater star Rebecca Bronson
STORY & PHOTOSBY KATIE MCGREGOR
Rebecca Bronson loves both sides of theater curtain
Aberdeen’s Rebecca Bronson discovered a love of theater while attending Hoquiam High School and has since involved herself with every aspect of performing on stage and behind the scenes.
“I was in choir at Hoquiam High School and Patty Sundstrom (drama teacher) pulled me into theater. Then I did it every year after that,” Bronson said.
Bronson initially didn’t know much going into her first audition, but she has always enjoyed singing and went into it with that experience. She credits Sundstrom for encouraging her to continue her theater career by auditioning for “Legally Blonde” at the Bishop Center after graduating from high school.
“She [Sundstrom] pulled a lot of the current theater community into that show,” Bronson recalled. "It was kind of scary going into the Bishop Center with Brad Duffy directing — (but) he’s really nice. It was bigger scale, but fundamentally the same.”
Bronson has fond memories performing on stage at the Bishop Center and considers “Mamma Mia” and “American Idiot” to be especially memorable performances of her career.
“’Mamma Mia’ was Brad Duffy’s final show as director at Grays Harbor College. Everything about it was a blast and all of the shows sold out,” Bronson said. “’American Idiot’ — that’s where I met my husband, Casey. We had previously interacted but not enough to know each other so we didn’t talk much until we were cast in opposite roles that were forced to talk to each other in that show. And I got to do flips on wires.”
For the most part, Bronson goes into auditions with an open mind. Only occasionally does she have a role that she specifically auditions for, but she was lucky enough to play her dream role as Natalie in “Next to Normal.” She recalls crying on the phone call, unable to talk because she was so thrilled to be cast in that role.
“I was in choir at Hoquiam High School and Patty Sundstrom (drama teacher) pulled me into theater. Then I did it every year after that,” Bronson said.
Bronson initially didn’t know much going into her first audition, but she has always enjoyed singing and went into it with that experience. She credits Sundstrom for encouraging her to continue her theater career by auditioning for “Legally Blonde” at the Bishop Center after graduating from high school.
“She [Sundstrom] pulled a lot of the current theater community into that show,” Bronson recalled. "It was kind of scary going into the Bishop Center with Brad Duffy directing — (but) he’s really nice. It was bigger scale, but fundamentally the same.”
Bronson has fond memories performing on stage at the Bishop Center and considers “Mamma Mia” and “American Idiot” to be especially memorable performances of her career.
“’Mamma Mia’ was Brad Duffy’s final show as director at Grays Harbor College. Everything about it was a blast and all of the shows sold out,” Bronson said. “’American Idiot’ — that’s where I met my husband, Casey. We had previously interacted but not enough to know each other so we didn’t talk much until we were cast in opposite roles that were forced to talk to each other in that show. And I got to do flips on wires.”
For the most part, Bronson goes into auditions with an open mind. Only occasionally does she have a role that she specifically auditions for, but she was lucky enough to play her dream role as Natalie in “Next to Normal.” She recalls crying on the phone call, unable to talk because she was so thrilled to be cast in that role.
“That was probably the most stressful audition process. I’d never wanted anything more than I wanted that,” Bronson said.
Now at 31 years old, Bronson has spent her fair share of time on stage. Nowadays she still performs and was most recently a chorus member in Grays Harbor College’s summer production of “Shrek The Musical.” But Bronson is more often found behind the curtain as the sound trustee at Driftwood Players in Aberdeen.
“I’m in charge of coordinating all of the sound for the shows here. I’ve done sound for pretty much all of the theaters here on Grays Harbor. Now I just do sound for Driftwood.”
As sound trustee, Bronson is responsible for coordinating all the audio logistics for a show. For musicals, this involves setting up all the equipment including connecting everything and distributing microphones between performers. If there aren’t enough microphones to go around, she also coordinates how the actors will share. At the same time, she runs the backing tracks for shows that don’t have a live pit.
Bronson also works on plays which have a much more straightforward process for sound operations. In these plays, she simply gets instructions from the director and makes sound effects or finds the proper sound effects from online sound libraries to fit the performance.
“The upcoming Driftwood season is really exciting. It’s the first season in a long time where we’re doing five shows instead of four. We’ve reignited the summer slot for a one weekend show.”
Driftwood’s production of “Matilda” will be the highlight of the season. It’s a huge show and very ambitious for the space. Brad Duffy will be directing so Bronson is looking forward to seeing how the plans for the show come together.
Bronson’s passion for local theater is palpable and evident from years of enthusiastic participation and her packed schedule.
“I like to be busy. Theater is so fun because there are so many different avenues you can learn. If you don’t get cast in a show, you can always join the stage crew or paint sets. There’s always so much to do in the theater community.”
Now at 31 years old, Bronson has spent her fair share of time on stage. Nowadays she still performs and was most recently a chorus member in Grays Harbor College’s summer production of “Shrek The Musical.” But Bronson is more often found behind the curtain as the sound trustee at Driftwood Players in Aberdeen.
“I’m in charge of coordinating all of the sound for the shows here. I’ve done sound for pretty much all of the theaters here on Grays Harbor. Now I just do sound for Driftwood.”
As sound trustee, Bronson is responsible for coordinating all the audio logistics for a show. For musicals, this involves setting up all the equipment including connecting everything and distributing microphones between performers. If there aren’t enough microphones to go around, she also coordinates how the actors will share. At the same time, she runs the backing tracks for shows that don’t have a live pit.
Bronson also works on plays which have a much more straightforward process for sound operations. In these plays, she simply gets instructions from the director and makes sound effects or finds the proper sound effects from online sound libraries to fit the performance.
“The upcoming Driftwood season is really exciting. It’s the first season in a long time where we’re doing five shows instead of four. We’ve reignited the summer slot for a one weekend show.”
Driftwood’s production of “Matilda” will be the highlight of the season. It’s a huge show and very ambitious for the space. Brad Duffy will be directing so Bronson is looking forward to seeing how the plans for the show come together.
Bronson’s passion for local theater is palpable and evident from years of enthusiastic participation and her packed schedule.
“I like to be busy. Theater is so fun because there are so many different avenues you can learn. If you don’t get cast in a show, you can always join the stage crew or paint sets. There’s always so much to do in the theater community.”
THEATER SPOTLIGHT
Rising local theater star Aiden Brown
STORY & PHOTOSBY KATIE MCGREGOR
“I love bringing an experience to people and seeing them enjoy it."
Especially with musicals,” said Aiden Brown of Hoquiam. “The harmony of it is really a spectacle and it’s a feeling you can’t really replicate with other things.”
Originally from Montesano, the 21-year-old has been involved in theater on Grays Harbor since auditioning for his first Missoula Children’s Theater production in elementary school. (The Missoula Children’s Theater is a renowned touring theater company that brings performing arts opportunities to children throughout the country.) Since then, he’s become connected with nearly every local theater production company on the Harbor, both on stage and behind the curtain.
“I did every Missoula show that I could, then I helped as an older kid coordinating things. In 2018 it was 7th Street’s ‘Bugsy Malone’ and I got a principal role, which I thought was fun. Then I got a lead as Horton in ‘Suessical’ the next year,” Brown said.
The list goes on. He was 15 when he ran lights for the first time for Driftwood’s 2018 production of “Cabaret,” worked backstage on its production of “The Wedding Singer” in 2021, and was later cast in a lead role as CB in Plank Island Theater Company’s production of “DOG SEES GOD: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” in 2022. This past March he played the lead role of Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day: The Musical” at the Grays Harbor College’s Bishop Center.
Originally from Montesano, the 21-year-old has been involved in theater on Grays Harbor since auditioning for his first Missoula Children’s Theater production in elementary school. (The Missoula Children’s Theater is a renowned touring theater company that brings performing arts opportunities to children throughout the country.) Since then, he’s become connected with nearly every local theater production company on the Harbor, both on stage and behind the curtain.
“I did every Missoula show that I could, then I helped as an older kid coordinating things. In 2018 it was 7th Street’s ‘Bugsy Malone’ and I got a principal role, which I thought was fun. Then I got a lead as Horton in ‘Suessical’ the next year,” Brown said.
The list goes on. He was 15 when he ran lights for the first time for Driftwood’s 2018 production of “Cabaret,” worked backstage on its production of “The Wedding Singer” in 2021, and was later cast in a lead role as CB in Plank Island Theater Company’s production of “DOG SEES GOD: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” in 2022. This past March he played the lead role of Phil Connors in “Groundhog Day: The Musical” at the Grays Harbor College’s Bishop Center.
When he entered high school, Brown was immediately welcomed into the theater department at Hoquiam High School. He even received impressive recognition from the adjudicators of the 5th Avenue Theater Awards for his performance as William Barfée in Hoquiam’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Brown was awarded the “You Hit the High Note Achievement,” which only goes to students who receive more than a 95 percent score from all three adjudicators.
Independent from that, Brown was also recognized with a National Choir Award during his senior year of high school.
“I try to come at a lot of auditions organically without too much preparation,” Brown explained. “I try to not imitate the professionals and usually put on a voice for the characters I play. It’s really funny, and I think it helps embody the characters.”
Most recently, Brown was cast as the titular character in the Bishop Center’s Summer 2025 production of “Shrek: The Musical.”
“I think it’s going to make people laugh and cry and just enjoy their weekend and let loose,” Brown said at one of the rehearsals for “Shrek.” “We have fantastic set pieces being built — a giant dragon puppet that’s 15 feet tall. The vocals of the cast sound like a professional recording. I think it’s going to be a riot.”
Brown often aims for comic relief roles that get to play a bigger part in the overall plot because he enjoys playing them and they tend to be audience favorites. Notably, he fondly remembers his time in the role of Miss Trunchbull for the 7th Street Kids production of “Matilda.”
“That movie was a big part of my childhood and playing the villain is its own fun in itself. I still get people who come up to me and ask about that role.”
Aside from a brief stint of time taking vocal lessons with Ian Dorsch, a voice instructor at GHC, Brown has mostly learned theater through experience.
“I never really had any training, I just didn’t have a lot of embarrassment going onto stage and doing what I can,” Brown said.
He credits the Grays Harbor theater community members for being welcoming and always willing to help teach others regardless of experience level.
“These are people I knew as a kid. Actually, having these people be my day-to-day friends now? It’s an honor to be among them.
“There are a few things I really love about theater,” Brown said. “But one of them is having an end product where I can say, ‘I made this. We made this. We brought joy to a group of people.’”
As much as he enjoys theater, Brown will be taking a brief break this fall.
“I plan on attending the new culinary classes that Grays Harbor College is providing, focus on finding work and continuing my education,” Brown said. “But I will be back!”
Independent from that, Brown was also recognized with a National Choir Award during his senior year of high school.
“I try to come at a lot of auditions organically without too much preparation,” Brown explained. “I try to not imitate the professionals and usually put on a voice for the characters I play. It’s really funny, and I think it helps embody the characters.”
Most recently, Brown was cast as the titular character in the Bishop Center’s Summer 2025 production of “Shrek: The Musical.”
“I think it’s going to make people laugh and cry and just enjoy their weekend and let loose,” Brown said at one of the rehearsals for “Shrek.” “We have fantastic set pieces being built — a giant dragon puppet that’s 15 feet tall. The vocals of the cast sound like a professional recording. I think it’s going to be a riot.”
Brown often aims for comic relief roles that get to play a bigger part in the overall plot because he enjoys playing them and they tend to be audience favorites. Notably, he fondly remembers his time in the role of Miss Trunchbull for the 7th Street Kids production of “Matilda.”
“That movie was a big part of my childhood and playing the villain is its own fun in itself. I still get people who come up to me and ask about that role.”
Aside from a brief stint of time taking vocal lessons with Ian Dorsch, a voice instructor at GHC, Brown has mostly learned theater through experience.
“I never really had any training, I just didn’t have a lot of embarrassment going onto stage and doing what I can,” Brown said.
He credits the Grays Harbor theater community members for being welcoming and always willing to help teach others regardless of experience level.
“These are people I knew as a kid. Actually, having these people be my day-to-day friends now? It’s an honor to be among them.
“There are a few things I really love about theater,” Brown said. “But one of them is having an end product where I can say, ‘I made this. We made this. We brought joy to a group of people.’”
As much as he enjoys theater, Brown will be taking a brief break this fall.
“I plan on attending the new culinary classes that Grays Harbor College is providing, focus on finding work and continuing my education,” Brown said. “But I will be back!”
