Our primary purpose is to create vibrant community theater for the public as well as an artistic outlet for participants of all ages with a variety of theatrical productions and educational opportunities involving theater and the theater arts.

Tom Cocklin - President: I started with set constructions on Over the River and Through the Woods.  Since then I’ve been involved in six productions doing a variety of jobs including set design and construction, lighting design, and sound engineering.  I directed Born Yesterday and produced Vintage Hitchcock: A Live Radio Play.   I’ve been a member of Riverbend Players board since 2016.

Tom Mock - Treasurer: Retired from Sales & Marketing career in Forest products industry . Resident of Neahkahnie for over ten years involved with RBP for 2 years and participated in reader’s theater and any other projects to support and enhance the growth and evolution of amateur community theater in the Nehalem Valley.

Linda Makohon - Secretary: I have been involved with Riverbend Players since I moved to Manzanita in 2010, when we were performing  reader's theater in the fireplace room at NCRD.  I have been involved in 18 productions and served on the board for 3 years.  I am proud to have helped our troupe grow to perform fully staged plays and cooperate with NCRD to help fund the renovation of the theater.

Mary Jacobson - Member at Large: I was involved in Community Theater as music director for a production of Gypsy. I volunteered in the light and sound booth for A Curious Savage and acted in the 2017 Vintage Hitchcock: A reader's theater. 

Jeff Slamal - Member at Large: I have been with Riverbend Players since November 2014. Since, been involved in nine productions; behind the scenes, acting in five plays and having the privilege of directing two, one of which included our musical.  Serving as member of the Play Selection Committee and as a board member since April of 2017. To me it’s all about the show, the people that put on the show and the people who come to see the show. Everything else is about the show!

Linda Petersen - Artistic Director: I have been a member of Riverbend Players since moving to Manzanita two years ago. I re-entered the theater community in the position of prompter in ‘The Curious Savage” last year and most recently, performed in ‘Vintage Hitchcock,” directed by Briant McMahon.  Currently, I am the newly elected Artistic Director for the Riverbend Players and am looking forward to learning the many aspects of community theater with the Riverbend Players, both behind the scenes and on stage. 

Riverbend Players has a beautiful performing arts center as its home theater. The newly remodeled 200 seat Performing Arts Center at NCRD (North Coast Recreation District) features new, comfortable seating, a large stage with curtain, and professional quality lighting and sound system with an enclosed control booth.

(Thanks to Trav Williams for the color photo of the auditorium)

In 2005, Phyllis Sanderson founded the Riverbend Players. Happily, she was able to gather many others with her same vision and the troupe was launched. Thanks to Phyllis and Eunice Massey, Faith Dorothy, Anne Coopersmith, Frank Johnson, Dale Derby, Richard Speer, George Blacklund, Dave Bell, JoAnne Johnson, Jane Knapp, Ted Weissbach, Betsy and Brian McMahon and many others for their enthusiasm and hard work.