Ghost Boat Theater Launch Party
Open Space for Arts and Community
Friday, November 21st
4 pm - 6:30 pm

Ghost Boat Theater, Vashon Island’s newest performing arts organization, officially sets sail with a launch party on November 21st. Ghost Boat will produce at least 2 plays a year, primarily at the Black Box Theater at Open Space for Arts and Community on Vashon Island. Ghost Boat productions will include live music, and the musicians will be full participants in the narrative.

The artist-led company’s first production, ‘One Thing After Another.’ coming in Spring 2026, is a fast-paced farcical take on The Odyssey of Homer by Jennifer Dice. The play will be directed by Steven Sterne, and Kat Eggleston will be the band leader and musical director.

Ghost Boat Theater is led by a four-person Artistic Leadership Team. The team, Steven Sterne, Jennifer Dice, Kat Eggleston, and Maria Glanz, have decades of experience in theater production and music performance. Team members live and work on Vashon Island and have a deep understanding of both the theater and acoustic music ecosystems of the island.

That knowledge is vital to fulfill the mission of the organization: to produce theatrical experiences made richer by the inclusion of live music - focusing on new works and reimagined classics written by Vashon residents with music curated and/or composed by Vashon musicians.

A recent short play by Dice, “I Can’t Go Home,” directed by Sterne, was a testing ground for the concept. The play premiered last spring as part of Drama Dock’s Short Play Festival. “I knew we couldn’t produce the play without a talented group of folk musicians, who were also able to step into acting roles,” says Dice. Fortunately, Kat Eggleston was excited to participate, leading the band and taking on a role she says she was “born to play,” the madly eccentric Devil’s Grandmother.

“I loved the play! The music and the folktale symbolism are right in my wheelhouse. I love this way of putting the themes of traditional folk music in a theater like this, and I’m excited to work on more shows that bring Vashon’s music and theater communities together like this.” Sterne agrees: “We’re joining a thriving group of theater organizations on Vashon, including Drama Dock, Vashon Rep, Umo Ensemble, the High School theater program, and 14/48 Vashon. Ghost Boat will bring something new and unique to the mix.”

Ghost Boat’s plays will be seen at the small Black Box Theater at Open Space for Arts and Community. “The Community Partnership with Open Space is a wonderful opportunity," says Sterne. “The Black Box is my favorite venue on the island. It is perfect for the intimate, experimental work we will present. Our partnership with Open Space also gives us access to their stellar design and production teams, as well as their marketing talent.”

All are welcome to join company members and supporters at a free launch event at Open Space, November 21, 4-6:30 pm. The party will include live music, refreshments, a no-host bar, and a short reading from the company’s inaugural production. Please reserve your free ticket at https://www.openspacevashon.com/events-1/ghost-boat-theater-launch-party