Lively Times: Feature Article

May brings many of the state’s summer theatre troupes back to stages across Montana.

The Bigfork Summer Playhouse revs up for the summer season with “Murder at the Howard Johnson’s” May 17-31, and shifts into high gear June 7 with productions of “Paint Your Wagon,” “Urinetown,” “Footloose” and “Kiss Me Kate” showing Mondays-Saturdays. Call 837-4886 or go to www.bigforksummerplayhouse.com.

The Fort Peck Summer Theatre, a gem constructed in 1934 by the Army Corps of Engineers to supply entertainment for the flood of laborers at work on Fort Peck Dam, launches its season May 23-June 8 with “Smokey Joe’s Café,” a tribute to the golden age of rock ’n roll. The season continues with “Seussical,” June 13-29; “Once Upon a Mattress,” July 4-20; “Jesus Christ Superstar,” July 25-Aug. 10; and “Rumors,” Aug. 15-31. For pre-season tickets call 228-9216 through May 23, and then 526-9943. Visit www.fortpecktheatre.org for details.

The historic town’s two long-lived theatre companies open this month.
The Brewery Follies offer a fun-filled cabaret show in the 19th-century atmosphere of Montana’s first brewery, beginning May 9. Call 843-5218 or visit www.breweryfollies.com. The Virginia City Players kick off a new season at the Opera House May 23-25 with “You Never Can Tell.” Call 800-829-2969 or go to www.virginiacityplayers.com.

Although summer season at the Opera House Theatre in Philipsburg doesn’t get underway until June 26, it’s worth noting that the company celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with two original plays by Montana playwrights: “King of the Coyotes” by David Mills Low and Jonn Jorgensen’s “The Sweeter the Rose, the Sharper the Thorns.” The classic comedy “Run for Your Wife” is also on tap. Call 859-0013 or visit www.operahousetheatre.com.

Of course, theatre abounds elsewhere as well. The launch their 33rd season at the John Dowdall Theatre in June; visit www.portpolsonplayers.com.

In Whitefish, offers three shows beginning in July: “The Full Monty,” “Pete ’n’ Keely” and “The Other Side of the Island” starring Olympia Dukakis. Go to www.alpinetheatreproject.org.

kicks off its 45th season in West Yellowstone May 23 with “Oklahoma,” “See How They Run” and “Hello, Dolly”; visit www.playmill.com.

in Helena specializes in performing the Bard’s work beneath the stars. This year’s selections are “Love’s Labours Lost” and Noel Coward’s “Private Lives.” Visit www.montanashakespeare.org.

And continues to visit parks and ballfields in almost every town, large and small, across the state. Productions of “All’s Well That Ends Well” and “Macbeth” begin June 18 in Bozeman. See the schedule at www2.montana.edu/Shakespeare.

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