About Us

The Co-Founders of the Eagle Theatre Company at the first Gathering as they share the vision.

Co-Founders: (L to R) 

Vicki Walch, Bethany Bertulis, Deborah Hertzog

Our story began in 2018 when the concept of a theater company in Eagle began to simmer. Vicki Walch was a commissioner on what was then, The Eagle Arts Commission. That Commission sent out a survey to the residents of Eagle, and one element that popped up with interest was a community theater.  In July of 2019 Vicki Walch was appointed by the Arts Commission to hold a community event to see who was interested in the performing arts. It was at that event that Vicki met Bethany Bertulis. The two women, who were theatrically trained and experienced, shared a vision for a community theater and the planning began. Later that year, in December, Deborah Hertzog, a co-founder of Idaho Association of Community Theater (I-ACT) approached the Eagle Art Commission regarding the notion of a community theater in Eagle.  After discovering a mutual purpose, the three women blended their creative dreams and began to outline their vision.

In February 2020, these three women and an initial cadre of interested colleagues met and brainstormed. After agreeing on the name, The Eagle Theatre Company (ETC), we acquired our online domain address.  Our vision hit a roadblock when Covid landed. For over a year we ruminated and organized via phone calls and web meetings. Then by September 2021 we were finally able to hold a special interest group meeting. From that meeting, our organization grew, and the dream grew with us.  Those Charter Board Members were Bethany Bertulis, Deborah Hertzog, Vicki Walch, Jim Walch, Linda Odom, Irina Kazakova, Kathryn Hendricksen, and Ross Ely. 

Since then, ETC has acquired a 501(c)(3) status, wrote bylaws and business plans, built a website, joined the Eagle Chamber of Commerce, and introduced itself on social media.  We have formed relationships with sponsors, applied for grants, and found ourselves very thankful for donors who share our vision. In May 2022 we held our first community meeting and welcomed the first charter members. In October we introduced our inaugural production that welcomed its first audience in January of 2023. The curtain was raised, and the Eagle Theatre Company was a hit!