"Buckle up" with Michael Legg, the Montana Rep's new artistic director.
Montana Repertory Theatre presents the first production of its new Plays on Tap series, “Buckle Up,” Oct. 19-21 in downtown Missoula. Plays on Tap is a recurring series of short, site-based plays for small audiences performed in unexpected locations throughout Missoula.
For “Buckle Up,” the Rep commissioned five nationally renowned playwrights – Emily Feldman, Idris Goodwin, Claire Kiechel, Sam Myers, and Mara Nelson-Greenberg – to each write a play that takes place in a car that will be parked around the downtown area.
Patrons arrive at a centrally located box office, pick up a map, and follow the directions to their first vehicle. As they move from car to car, they’ll experience an amazing live theatrical event, encountering five unique stories written by some of the best playwrights in the country.
Midway through, the entire audience will meet up at a local Missoula bar for drinks and conversation before heading back out to find the next backseat.
The experience starts at 5:45 or 6 p.m. Oct. 19 and at 1:15 or 1:30 and 5:45 or 6 p.m. Oct. 20-21. Tickets are $20 and may be reserved as single tickets or in groups of two or three. Seating is very limited (one 125 tickets available); call 406-243-4581.
Casts for “Buckle Up” feature actors from the Missoula community as well as students from UM’s School of Theatre & Dance. All five plays are directed by the Rep’s new artistic director, Michael Legg.
“When I took the job as artistic director, I was given a great gift – a season in which I wasn’t expected to produce. I could spend an entire year getting to know the Missoula community, shoring up the Rep’s plans and finances, and creating a vision for the future,” he says.
And while he’s busy making all that happen, “I couldn’t go an entire season without producing work.” The result is “Buckle Up.”
“This short and intimate site-based theatre by incredible contemporary playwrights is the kind of theatre I’ve been producing for years,” says. “I’m proud that it’s my introduction to this community and I hope to see you in the backseat in October.”
He also encourages theatre fans to stay tuned for January’s announcement of the Rep’s 2019-2020 season, full of old favorites (the National Tour, the Educational Outreach Tour) and some new surprises.
For more information, visit montanarep.org.