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Create in summer, present in winter, inspire year-round
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Outlaw PartnersCelebrate four season programming with the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
By Timothy Behuniak EBS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Warren Miller once said, “Every person’s intuition is their
constant search for freedom.” For Warren Miller Performing Arts Center’s
Executive and Creative Director John Zirkle, this quotation could not be more
relevant, especially for an arts theatre in a small ski town.
“I feel emboldened [by this phrase],” Zirkle said. “What does it mean to feel
free as an arts programmer and potential audience member? I want to be unrestricted
in what I can explore—I want to go off in that unknown area despite dangers
that lie ahead.”
Since March 12, 2013, when the theatre first opened its doors, the WMPAC has been doing exactly this—foraging ahead into the unknown, despite the risks. “There’s risky programming and safe programming … I know what will sell well,” Zirkle said. “But we would be doing Warren Miller a disservice if we just gave people what they wanted all the time. We want to present things that are new experiences for audience members, even if some think they’re horrible.”
Although this winter season’s schedule had a national personality and “safe programming,” such as NPR’s Ira Glass, WMPAC also hosted shows like The Last Five Years, an off-Broadway musical. “I’d say that most people have probably never heard of the show before,” Zirkle said. “But it brought the most people to the theatre in our history. We brought nearly 750 people [over three nights] to our little theatre of 280, in a town of 2,800 residents. That to me is a huge success.”
For Zirkle, no matter how safe or risky a scheduled show is, every WMPAC stage performance is a testament to the theatre’s mission: To grow a community of confident performers and inspired audiences. No matter the season, WMPAC aims to produce quality over quantity. Although there may be just a handful of shows in one winter, every performance is of the highest possible quality, all vetted by Zirkle, the WMPAC team and other professionals in the industry.
“What I hope to achieve is that we create a diverse, theatre-going community,” Zirkle said. “I want to help facilitate, amplify and foster an environment where people like to ski and do fun things with the community every week.”
And although WMPAC’s main focus is the winter season, it also provides year-round opportunities to participate in and view performances. December through March marks the theatre’s winter season, while the summer conservatory is from July to August. During shoulder seasons, there is a focus on local and regional artists.
In May there is a community theatre production, while in June there is an annual Big Sky Broadway with local kids, usually ranging from fifth to ninth grade. This year the students will present Matilda, a musical.
“We’re showing this route which is anchored in pro artists in the summer making and refining work, then coming back in the winter season to present in the fullest form,” Zirkle said. “During that process, we’re working alongside the local community, too.”
Zirkle tries to keep a few things in mind when scheduling future performances, such as the diversity in media and style. “We want shows to feel different and rich each time, not just present theatre and dance,” Zirkle said. “We have people that come to every show, and others that come to just a few. So, we want to aim for the diversity of a ski day: a couple of groomers, something intense, going up the tram and a nice hot chocolate at the end of the day.”
Another important aspect when thinking of scheduling is to maintain the spirit of Warren Miller because, after all, he is whom the theatre is named after. While the creative director refrains from the direct approach of presenting Warren Miller films, he keeps Miller’s adventurous legacy in mind.
“That typically takes place in the form of a new music piece,” Zirkle said. “I want people to walk in and have no idea of what to expect.”
While WMPAC has operated for seven successful seasons, each year brings its own set of challenges, ticket sales being the most obvious. Because there is programming that people may not be familiar with, such as The Last Five Years or The Wonderheads, potential audience members may shy away from shows at the theatre.
But, art is a terrible and abstract word, according to Zirkle. “I’m both a ski bum and an arts person. When I don’t have to teach, I go to the tram as often as possible,” Zirkle said. “I would love for it to feel less abstract and only reserved for people who have a lot of experiences [in the art world].”
To help combat the fear of the unknown, Zirkle and the WMPAC team do their best to focus on the words “diversity” and “inclusion.” Although it takes two to three years to program each season, the WMPAC staff is constantly thinking of ways to make sure there is a show for everyone at the theatre.
“We’re working to bridge the urban and rural divide by bringing big-city artists to small-town Montana, and ask them to work with our audiences as well as the local and regional community,” Zirkle said. “We want to make sure that people come to WMPAC, and want to come back.”
Visit warrenmillerpac.org for more information about the theatre and to purchase tickets for upcoming shows, such as the Big Sky Community show, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” on May 16.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
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Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
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Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy
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My Barking Dog is a nightmare comedy that tells the story of Toby and Melinda, two lonely people whose lives are forever changed the night they encounter a starving coyote at their apartment building. Over time they grow to expect him, leaving ritual offerings to entice the coyote every night. Toby and Melinda forge a connection over this visitor and share curiosity and concern about his presence in the city. The coyote expands their world–until, one night, their world is shattered. Their lives are pushed suddenly into uncharted territory, sending them on a surreal odyssey that changes their city–and the world–forever.
Directed by LX Miller. Starring Max Schneider and Denise Hergett
Verge Theater is continuing their mission to provide accessible theater to our community. Tickets for My Barking Dog are Pay What You Wish with a suggested price of $35. Audience members are offered the opportunity to select the price point that is comfortable for them when purchasing tickets.
My Barking Dog runs March 15-17, 22-24, 28-30
Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays begin at 7:00 p.m., with Sunday matinees offered at 3:00 p.m.
Suitable for ages 16 . No animals are harmed in the staging of this production.
Tickets are available online at www.vergetheater.com
Time
15 (Friday) 7:00 pm - 30 (Saturday) 8:30 pm
Location
Verge Theater
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
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Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
29mar3:00 pm4:00 pmGood Friday Mass: St. Joseph Catholic Mission3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Event City:Big Sky
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Friday of the Passion of the Lord St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Friday of the Passion of the Lord
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Friday) 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm