The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Managing a small, nonprofit theater is not an everyday kind of job.

One of Reid Helford's fondest, early memories when he first started as manager of the Liberty Theater in downtown Dayton more than three years ago was of building - and wearing - a foil-wrapped, cardboard robot costume for the theater's opening night of "Wall-E."

" I knew from the beginning that I wanted to give away prizes and dress up," Helford said. "I knew I looked ridiculous. I looked like an idiot. But people laughed and had fun. Just that new energy to the theater bumped us up 15 percent in the first year."

This week, Helford will pass the baton to his successor, Walla Walla resident Kirsten Schober. In a farewell ceremony Wednesday, the out-going "king" of the Liberty Theater will literally pass his scepter to the new drama "queen." Medieval costumes and everything.

The public is invited to the presentation and will be treated to a free showing of one of Helford's favorite movies, "My Life as a Dog," followed by a reception.

Schober, who has been training with Helford this month, has worked for the last six years as director of the Kirkman House Museum in Walla Walla.

"I wasn't looking for a new job," she said Tuesday. "But every time I've driven by the theater here I've thought it would be a fun place to work."

The Touchet Valley Arts Council, governing board of the theater, received a healthy stack of applications for the job.

"Which I think speaks to the success of the theater," Schober said. Helford has "raised the bar" for future managers, she explained, and his triumphs at the Liberty have kept theater finances in the black despite the bleak times other theaters have been experiencing.

That ray of hope for downtown Dayton theater-goers is just up Schober's alley. She's a fan of dark European films that explore how people rise above poverty and hopelessness to find happiness. One of her most recent favorite films was "Fish Tank," a 2009 British drama directed by Andrea Arnold. She also enjoys Jane Austin books, gardening and all things 19th century.

"But I enjoy many contemporary films too," she said. Schober is looking forward to a summer of superheroes and sequels. Movie goers can expect to see the final Harry Potter film, Kung Fu Panda 2, Green Lantern, Cars 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. But don't be surprised if Schober sneaks in the new Jane Eyre film, which promises to be "a very good interpretation" of the 1847 British novel.

Whether Liberty Theater guests will see Schober dressed as Hermione Granger, a dashing pirate queen or wearing a black belt to commemorate the new Kung Fu Panda film is still unknown.

"Each person brings a different personality to the job," Helford said. "I can already tell that Kirsten is going to bring a different energy to the theater. Even just having a woman run things will bring a different dynamic."

Theater Assistant Linze Purcell

To help Schober, the Arts Council has also hired Walla Walla Community College student Linze Purcell as theater assistant. Purcell recently moved to Dayton from California and is studying business.

The duo still has much to learn about operations at the Liberty. "It takes a full year, going through all the different seasons, to learn this job," Helford said.

But they are thrilled to have the opportunity.

"I'm really looking forward to getting to know this community and this theater," Schober said.

Farewell Celebration

Say your good-byes to Reid Helford and welcome new Liberty Theater Manager

Kirsten Schober at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,

April 20. The celebration includes a free showing of "My Life as a Dog" followed by a small reception.