Big Sky Community Theater announces fall production and auditions

Raucous comedy “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” to take stage Nov. 8 and 9

By Stephanie Kissell GUEST COLUMNIST

It’s 30 minutes to curtain time and 23 Big Sky Community Theater cast members huddle in a circle, costumes and wigs in place. The production, “A Monologue Show (from Hell),” is about the culmination of a high school drama class’s final project and its ultimate undoing. 

Actor John Hannahs—Lone Peak High School teacher and athletic director—leads the diverse group at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, some business owners, some bartenders, others ski patrollers and retirees, in a pumped-up cheer. While the countdown ensues, actors employ various methods of managing their nerves. Some do push-ups, others rehearse their lines facing a wall, some chat excitedly, while others are focused and quiet.

Big Sky Community Theater has been gathering locals to the stage yearly since 2013 with the purpose of entertaining, inspiring and enlightening audiences. Funded through Big Sky School District’s Adult Education Program, the theater group comprises volunteer community members of all backgrounds and levels of stage experience. Maggie Luchini, who has been in multiple productions, finds BSCT a welcome setting for Big Sky community members.

“[It’s] a place where people of many ages, many abilities and many interests can come together and create something fun,” Luchini said. “We get to play, let go of outside stressors, and be a part of something greater than ourselves in a fun, inclusive setting.”

The troupe’s fall 2024 production is the raucous comedy “Tony and Tina’s Wedding,” directed by BSCT veteran Vanessa Wilson. Wilson, who has been involved in every BSCT production since its inception, is thrilled for her directorial debut.

“I’m very excited about this particular show for our community,” said Wilson, a teacher at LPHS. “It gives a lot of creative freedom when developing the characters and it’s a great one for community members who would love to get their feet wet without the intimidation of being on the stage. So, if you’ve been thinking about joining a production, this is your time to shine!”

Jeremy Blyth loves the opportunity and challenge of community theater. He first got involved withBSCT in 2021 for the production of “Almost, Maine” after seeing the deleterious impact COVID-19 had on live theater. For Blyth, who is also a director and playwright, community theater has been a favorite. He appreciates the “effort and vulnerability it requires from non-professional actors,” he said. “I had seen a number of previous productions … and I trusted the people of BSCT to respect and uplift all involved.”

Laura Seyfang, who made her acting debut in “A Monologue Show,” agreed.

“BSCT felt like a safe way to engage in theater—the Big Sky audience is always supportive and appreciative,” she said. “The cast felt like family. It was a great experience overall.”

Over the past several years, BSCT productions have covered a variety of themes and genres, from “The Great Gatsby” and “The Importance of Being Earnest” to “Almost, Maine” and “Nothin’ Serious.” Local interest in community theater involvement has been steadily rising, while sold-out fall productions have garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback and a demand for more opportunities to learn about theater. Audiences want the theater to produce more shows that utilize this art form in ways that broaden its range of storytelling and provide opportunities to entertain and educate viewers.

The performance of “Tony and Tina’s Wedding” will be BSCT’s first foray into “dinner theater,” an interactive evening with the audience participating as wedding guests. With the support of the Big Sky School District Lunch Ladies, the crew is delighted to bring “Tony and Tina’s Wedding,” a production that has been performed in more than 100 cities worldwide since its opening in 1988, to the WMPAC on Nov. 8 and 9. Auditions will be held Sept. 3 from 6-8 p.m. at WMPAC, and no experience or preparation is required. For those who cannot make auditions, or would like to be kept up to date on future productions, contact Ashley Dodd at ashleyhegseth@gmail.com.

BSCT will be holding a spring production in May 2025, a series of one-act plays exploring the spectrum of story telling with participants encouraged to try out new roles within theater. Blyth is looking forward to directing this spring.

“I enjoy nights made up of one act plays, they are a great way to explore a number of playwrights in conversation with each other on the stage,” Blyth said. “I hope to help start up those conversations and see where they lead.” 

Seyfang emphasized the many ways folks can get involved. She would like to act next spring, but plans on helping with set design and build this fall, and hopes to try directing eventually. When asked what message BSCT should share with its audience, both Seyfang and Blyth replied that it should deepen our introspection and impact our actions as individuals and as a community.

“Theater should always raise questions about vulnerability. The power dynamics involved in situations of vulnerability make excellent theater and hopefully inform the ways we act towards each other,” Blyth said.

Echoing his sentiment, Seyfang added that theater has the ability to raise important themes and issues, and create opportunities for constructive dialogue. “It should frequently entertain but also make us think a little deeper about who we are and what we do,” she said.

Back on the stage, these lofty ideals could prove to be a difficult objective for some 25 volunteers. After 10 weeks of rehearsals, several set build days and countless hours of memorizing, character development and honing in lighting and sound cues, their time and emotions are maxed.

The anticipation excites and motivates some while filling others with nervous energy. Each actor grabs their assigned letter card for the opening number and files in line silently backstage. The electrifying hum of the audience on one side of the curtain merges with thumping heartbeats on the other and, for just a moment, all are connected as one vibrant entity surging with life, open to endless possibility. The curtain opens and the story begins.