For those who missed it — or those who want to see it again — the production of Josh Wagner’s play, “Ringing Out,” at the Crystal Theatre has been extended through Thursday night, Jan. 26. Performances begin nightly at 7:30 p.m.
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It is not uncommon for people to feel ready to be rid of holiday-themed music and entertainment by the time Santa flies through town. But as December morphed into January of this new year, Rebecca Schaffer found herself still preparing for the premiere of a new play in which Christmas figures prominently. Before you chalk up the upcoming opening of “Ringing Out” as just a late arrival to the holiday party, however, know this: This feast of the senses won’t taste anything like the traditional turkey. “Christmas is an important part of the play; but at the same time, I don’t think it’s really about Christmas,” said Schaffer, who directs the upcoming production of local playwright Josh Wagner’s script, at the Crystal Theatre. “Christmas is kind of a catalyst that serves as an instigator of what happens. But ‘A Christmas Carol’ this is not.” If anything, “Ringing Out” will more likely appeal more to fans of post-apocalyptic speculative fiction. [Read More...] Advertisement On Sunday, July 10, the Missoula Colony gathering of theatre artists gets down to business with its first event, a day-long discussion and workshop covering the particular challenges of scriptwriting for television. It is a topic known well by workshop leader Ron Fitzgerald, a writer with long-time Missoula connections and a resume stacked with impressive projects, including the Showtime series “Weeds,” NBC’s “Friday Night Lights,” and the upcoming NBC series, “Prime Suspect.” The day’s events culminate with an 8 p.m. staged reading of “Mississippi Queen,” a script for a television pilot by Missoula filmmaker Paige Williams. Based on her own life and autobiographical documentary of the same name, the script – Williams’ first – sets the stage for a fictionalized television series about a young lesbian woman growing up in a fundamentalist family in Mississippi. As much as the day’s events aim to convey useful professional guidance to participants in this year’s Colony, they also speak directly to the underlying spirit of the annual gathering, now in its 16th year. [Read More...] I wrote a preview of UM’s upcoming production of “Crazy For You,” which you can read below; time’s a wastin’, though, because today only, you can get two tickets for the price of one through the Missoulian’s Deal of the Day. Here’s that link; and here’s that preview… [Read More...] Over the years, MCT Community Theatre has carved out its niche by focusing on well-known, widely loved plays and musicals. In that broad sense, the company’s upcoming production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” fits the proverbial bill. But that’s where common expectations stop. First, because despite its fame, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is not remotely close in tone or content to the lighthearted musicals and slapstick comedies that have generally populated MCT’s seasons of late. And second, because the local buzz of anticipation for MCT’s show has less to do with the title at the top of the playbill, and more about the names on the cast list. “It’s an ensemble show,” said guest director David Mills-Low, “and we’ve got quite an ensemble.” …And that’s quite an understatement. When the curtain rises this weekend, audiences at MCT’s production might find themselves wondering if they’re in an insane asylum or an all-star revue of local thespian talent. [Read More...] The New York Times ran a fine obit about playwright Jim McLure this week; for those who knew him and even those who didn’t, it’s worth a read to remember what he contributed to the theatre world (including ours here in Missoula). Share on Facebook I received a note when I arrived at the office today that actor and playwright James McLure passed away yesterday after a protracted illness. Though he didn’t live here fulltime, McLure was a giant in the local theatre scene, due largely through his sustained involvement in the Colony, the annual gathering of theatre-folk at the University of Montana. Over the years, McLure was involved in several noteworthy productions in Missoula. I won’t ever forget his show-stealing turn in Ron Fitzgerald’s “Boomtown” last year — which ran at the Crystal Theatre in a two-week rotation with McLure’s own, brilliantly witty play, “Used Cars.” I only meet McLure once, while reporting a fun story about last summer’s river-float by participants in the Colony. I can still picture him standing waist-deep in the water, talking to me about this “magical place” he so loved. Here’s a short ode to McLure, written by Greg Johnson, artistic director of Montana Rep. [Read More...] Years ago, as a teenager, I attended a meeting of my church youth-group led by a guest minister. I still remember how he arrayed our group in a circle, and without any explanation, whispered something in the ear of one of our group members. She laughed, turned, and whispered in the ear of the person next to her, who then passed the message along around the circuit. The secret eventually got around to me. Now, 20-plus years later, I don’t remember much of it, but it had something to do with a bicycle, a list of items from the store, and some places and names. “Pass it on,” I was told. Eventually, the circle was completed. The minister asked the last person in line to say what he had heard out loud. Then, the minister read from a piece of paper the original message he had whispered in the first girl’s ear. Neither a single fact nor even the basic gist of the story had made it all the way around the circle. [Read More...] Montana Actors’ Theatre has put out an audition call for its upcoming production of “Arsenic & Old Lace.” Alas for you football-loving thespians, the auditions take place this Sunday, aka Super Bowl Sunday. Not to worry though; if you just can’t miss the game, they’ll find a way to hear your audition. Here’s the full call direct from the source: [Read More...] On Sunday night, MCT Community Theatre wrapped up its two-week run of Gilbert & Sullivan’s satirical operetta, “The Mikado,” with a frolicking performance at its home theatre on East Broadway in Missoula. On Monday morning, MCT executive director Michael McGill set about the hard business of mending all that had gone awry over the weekend, when word spread across the Internet that MCT’s production advocated the beheading of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. What began with a single letter to the editor, published in last Friday’s Missoulian, quickly erupted into a nationwide controversy after dozens of political bloggers picked up the thread and ran with it – some adding their own colorful amendments to the story. [Read More...] |
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