Dear editor,
Big Sky Community Theater is holding auditions this month for a spring production, the first time since the organization was formed in 2013 that it has hosted a two-show season after producing “Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding” in November of last year.
Auditions will be held on Feb. 27 from 6-8 p.m. at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center. No preparation or experience required. Local Renaissance men Jeremy Blyth and Jonathan Gans are preparing to helm a collaborative ensemble of vignettes about mountain town life. The show (with working title “On the Face of It”), will feature a through-line of mountain mayhem, while focusing on moments of humor, tragedy and the everyday beauty of small-town alpine life. The performance is slated for stage at WMPAC on Wednesday, May 21.
The themes in “On the Face of It” will resonate with both locals and visitors; additionally, theater is an opportunity to connect with the community during the area’s colder months.
In the long, dark weeks that seem to stretch out over a Big Sky winter, people can opt to retreat to the coziness of home and hearth. There may be ski days or the occasional trip to somewhere warmer, but many locals tend to take this time for rest and (relative) solitude, or a time to work and be productive before the spring sun starts to thaw the icy season’s grasp. But is this isolation a blessing or a curse?
With the polarization of our nation adding to winter gloom, it’s easy to withdraw to that which is familiar and safe; to double down on friends and family that we hold close and comfortable, and to protect ourselves from a larger society’s dangers and possibilities. But as we isolate, our bonds with the wider world are weakening. A recent article from The Atlantic, called “The Anti-Social Century,” made note of the changing social atmosphere atrophied by smartphones and hastened by the pandemic. People simply aren’t as social, nor do they feel the need to be. Families teach us love, the article said. Close friends, or the “tribe,” teach us loyalty. But the village—that broader scope and community created by interacting with our surrounding neighbors, coworkers and strangers—is what teaches us tolerance.
As Big Sky Community Theater initializes plans for its 13th production this spring, all are invited to be a part of this larger village. The opportunity to be creative onstage is only a fraction of what community theater can provide. Even in this small town, participants remark on how much they enjoy getting to know new faces, or fresh components to a familiar neighbor’s persona. Shelley Henslee, who was part of the cast for “Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding,” stated that she “joined BSCT to meet new people and have a fun adventure. The experience did not disappoint! Great fun with great people!”
Backstage opportunities are also available for those who don’t wish to memorize lines or appear in the spotlight, and the troupe is always seeking suggestions for shows they could create or produce in the future.
Looking for fun and a chance to step out of isolation and meet new people? Want to dip your toe into the world of theater? Consider joining BSCT for this season’s production—the ensemble rejoices in welcoming new faces into this community. Please reach out to ashleyhegseth@gmail.com for further information.
Ashley Dodd
Big Sky, Montana
