NEARING THE HALF-CENTURY MARK, TOURING SHAKESPEARE COMPANY DELIGHTS WITH REMARKABLE PORTABLE THEATER
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Back stage, on the lawn of Fishtail Family Park, actors make quick changes. |
STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
FOR NEARLY a half century of summers, Montana's Shakespeare in the Parks has been bringing quality professional theater to thousands of people in rural areas of the Rocky Mountains.
In city parks, on football fields, pastures and school yards, the beloved troupe presents a remarkable six dozen shows during its summer season.
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Jordan Pettis plays Don Adriano de Armado, a fantastical Spaniard. The actor's character keeps the action exciting. |
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On their way to "maturity," the high-stepping quartet of young men cavort. |
This year, the ensemble is producing 76 performances in 61 communities across Montana, northern Wyoming, eastern Idaho, western North Dakota and eastern Washington. Theater lovers of all ages in five states enjoy polished productions of "Othello" and "Love's Labour's Lost" in a variety of venues ranging from fairgounds and parking lots to memorial pavilions, barns, amphitheaters and the occasional nursing home.
THE COMPANY features
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Before the Fishtail show this week, workers began assembling the stage, and by mid- afternoon, townsfolk began arriving with their chairs. |
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Christene "Cookie" Meyers, who has written about Shakespeare in the Parks for decades, tips a pre-show glass. |
The men evolve as they struggle to reach maturity -- delighting the crowd with the Bard's oft-used themes of mistaken identity, disguises, and "good for the goose, good for the gander" theatrics. Modern music enhances.
By the tour's end, more than 35,000 people will have been treated to the pair of plays. By tradition, the company chooses two works each season to illustrate the broad range of the playwright's genius.
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Standing ovation this week in Fishtail, for a bravura performance. |
Backers and donors keep the performances free, another unusual feature. Civic groups and arts organizations sponsor -- our Fishtail show was presented by Absaroka Fine Arts.
DONATIONS are welcome and the website shows you where to catch the next show. The company's outreach extends beyond Shakespeare in the Parks to a school program and other fund-raisers and presentations.
The troupe is in Silvergate, Big Timber, Powell, Cody and Worland Wyoming, Roundup and Townsend this week. shakespeareinthepark.org
Hands on coaching comes to aspiring cellist Elliana Broscious, from New York based cellist Myron Lutzke at Tippet Rise Art Center. |
Grateful are we who can be part of this wonderful program. Have not missed a year in 17 seasons. Thank you for spreading the word.
ReplyDeleteBravo, brava. Well done, MSU theater arts department, and whereiscookie for reporting. Christene, we miss your Gazette pieces. Not the same without you.
ReplyDeleteWe are so fortunate to have this wonderful gift each summer. Truly one of the highlights of the season for us. We come to Red Lodge from southern California and make sure we see both performances here and in in nearby towns. Thank you for your story and delightful photos, commending this treasure in the Treasure State!
ReplyDeleteWe always take in the Cooke City show.... great to hear your reminder...
ReplyDeleteW et are visiting from Kent, in the UK. What a refreshing spin on our "Billy." Hope to catch the tragedy. "Love's Labour's" delightful.
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