Summer Theatre
Southwest Montana
“Newsies” – 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, June 28-July 21, at the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts in Livingston; set in New York City at the turn of the century and based on a true story, this musical tells the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy and leader of a ragged band of “newsies” who takes a stand for what’s right. Call 406-222-1420 or visit www.theshanecenter.org.
“Damn Yankees” – 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, July 26-Aug. 11, at the Ellen Theatre in Bozeman; enjoy a grand slam score performed by a powerhouse cast of singers and dancers, all backed by a sparkling 20-piece live orchestra. Call 406-585-5885 or visit www.theellentheatre.com.
Brewery Follies – 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays and 4 and 8 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays, through Aug. 25 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 28-Sept. 21, at the H.S. Gilbert Brewery in Virginia City; the Follies deliver another summer season of belly laughs, celebrity impersonations, sketch comedy, and plenty of music. Call 800-829-2969, ext. 3 or visit www.breweryfollies.net.
Virginia City Players – 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, at the Opera House in Virginia City; the Players season opened with the thrills, romance, and excitement of “Zorro,” through June 30. Joy, merriment, and puppetry will titillate and intrigue audiences of all ages as they tumble down Lewis Carroll’s rabbit hole with “Alice in Wonderland,” July 2-Aug. 4. Finally, in honor of the 70th anniversary of the beloved theatre, the company presents “The Stygian Amulet” Aug. 6-Sept. 1.
In this original work by Judith Ferree, who directed at the Opera House from 1970-1979, a curse has been held over the Braithwin estate for generations. Following the death of patriarch Anders Braithwin, the family descendants, doctors and lawyers all gather in the creepy old manor, in search of the missing Stygian Amulet, which holds the family under its spell. Strange characters, an ancient housemaid, and ghosts haunt the stage in this true Virginia City classic. Don’t miss Vaudeville Variety Acts after every melodrama. Call 800-829-2969 or visit www.virginiacityplayers.com for details.
“The Music Man” – 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 30 at the Cutler Brothers Theater in Deer Lodge; the summer season kicks off with this beloved musical about con-man Harold Hill and prim librarian and piano teacher Marian. The crew also stages “The Complete History of America (abridged),” which dashes through 600 years of history in 6,000 seconds, July 4-Aug. 4; and “The Chopping Block,” a comedic musical written by Kelly and Matthew Cutler, July 12-Aug. 2. Call 406-846-4096 or visit www.cutlerbros.com for details.
Playmill Theatre Season – 6 and 8:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 2, 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, through Aug. 31, at the theatre in West Yellowstone; this season’s offerings include “The Music Man,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “The Foreigner.” Call 406-646-7757 or visit www.playmill.com for details.
Flathead & Mission Valleys
“The Sunshine Boys” – 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, July 5-14 at the Theatre on the Lake in Polson; the Port Polson Players launch “a kind of sentimental season, laced with humor,” opening with Neil Simon’s comedy, performed in honor of its author who passed away last August. The Polson Players have produced 15 of his comedies and look forward to shining a light once again on Simon’s story of two aged vaudeville performers. The second summer show for the Players is also a revival, “Tonight on Wild Horse Island.” Local attorney and playwright John Mercer wrote the musical comedy 18 years ago and has updated the dialogue and added a few new songs. The show, staged July 18-Aug. 4, honors Polson’s late Jean Turnage and Ronald B. MacDonald from Butte, who worked together to make Flathead Lake’s largest island a state park. The season wraps up Aug. 8-25 with “The Savannah Sipping Society” which centers on four middle-aged single Southern women, drawn together by fate, a little yoga, and the occasional liquid refreshment. The Players perform at 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at Polson’s historic 1938 Theatre on the Lake. Go to PortPolsonPlayers.com or call 406-883-9212 for info or reservations.
Dare to Dream: The Road to Broadway – 8 p.m. July 20 and 26-27 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center; Alpine Theatre Project’s one-night-only concert on July 20 explores the talent, passion and commitment it takes to make it on Broadway with seven actors who did just that. A week later, July 26-27, two performances celebrate the passion and dreams of the next generation with Broadway Summer Training Camp students taking the stage alongside their Broadway mentors. Call 406-862-8640 or visit atpwhitefish.org.
“Boeing, Boeing” – 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, Aug. 14-24, at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish; it’s the 1960s, and swinging bachelor Bernard couldn’t be happier: a flat in Paris and three gorgeous fiancées, all flight attendants that he’s managed to separately juggle with a well-planned schedule and the reluctant assistance of his housekeeper. But Bernard’s perfect life gets bumpy when his friend Robert comes to stay and a new and speedier Boeing jet throws off all of his careful planning. Call 406-862-5371 or visit www.whitefishtheatreco.org.
Central Montana
“Footloose” – 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, July 11-27 at Grandstreet Theatre in Helena; kick off your Sunday shoes and get ready for one of the most beloved movie musicals ever to hit the stage. Based on the 1984 Kevin Bacon film, “Footloose” tells the story of out-of-towner Ren, who moves from big city Chicago to small town America and sets out to bring forgotten joy to the town. Rock to the Oscar- and Tony-nominated top 40 score and soundtrack that reached number one on the Billboard charts. Also on stage this summer is “Sister Act,” Aug. 2-17: when wannabe disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a crime, the cops hide her in the last place anyone would think to look – a convent! Featuring original music by eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken, this uplifting musical is filled with toe-tapping songs, show-stopping dancing and a moving story about the universal power of friendship. In “The Cake,” Sept. 5-15, Della’s life in her North Carolina bakery appears to be sugary sweet. When her late best friend’s daughter returns home to reveal that she’s engaged and is marrying another woman, Della must decide if she will make a wedding cake for a friend she loves like family. Call 406-447-1574 or visit grandstreettheatre.com.
“She Kills Monsters” – 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, July 25-Aug. 3 at MSUN/MAT Theatre in Havre; in this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and ’90s pop culture, acclaimed young playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all. Call 406-945-0272 for details.
Missoula & Bitterroot Valley
“The Little Prince” – 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 16-23, at the Hamilton Playhouse; charming play, based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, is a timeless story of an unlikely friendship between an aviator who crashes in the Sahara Desert and the innocent yet wise Little Prince who has fallen from the sky. Call 406-375-9050 or visit hamiltonplayers.com for details.
“Go. Please. Go.” - 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 28-Sept. 8, with an additional matinee Sept. 7, at UM Masquer Theatre in the PARTV Center in Missoula; a couple decides: This isn’t working. He says he’ll leave, and then he doesn’t. He stays and stays, through 70 years of marriages, bar mitzvahs, baptisms and funerals. Montana Rep’s season opener asks what it means to love somebody for a lifetime, and what a lifetime even means. Visit montanarep.com.
(Photo): The Illustrious Virginia City Players celebrate 70 years with another season of melodrama and vaudeville.
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