BOZEMAN – Montana Shakespeare in the Parks will perform William Shakespeare’s Henry V and George Farquhar’s The Recruiting Officer during its upcoming 2013 tour throughout Montana, northern Wyoming, eastern Idaho, western North Dakota and eastern Washington this summer.
In its 41st season, the troupe expects to perform 75 performances in 60 of the region’s communities. The company features 10 professional actors who tour without technical assistance, bringing live theatre primarily to underserved, rural communities.
The 10-week tour launches June 19 with eight performances in Bozeman, and then hits the road July 1 through Sept. 8. All performances of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, with the exception of those at Bozeman’s Sweet Pea Festival, are free.
“This summer, an anticipated audience of more than 30,000 will be treated to two wonderful performances that encompass classic history to hilarious restoration comedy,” said Joel Jahnke, MSIP’s artistic director and a professor of theater at Montana State University.
Jahnke, who has been with the company since 1977, will direct this year’s production of Henry V, and associate artistic director William Brown will direct The Recruiting Officer.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is an outreach program of Montana State University’s College of Arts and Architecture. For more information on the plays and a complete tour schedule, visit shakespeareintheparks.org.
Selected performances from the 2013 tour schedule:
July 1: Big Timber, Henry V, 6:30 p.m., City Park
July 23: Cody, Wyo., The Recruiting Officer, 6:30 p.m., Canal Park
July 24: Red Lodge, Henry V, 6 p.m., Lions Park
July 25: Cooke City/Silver Gate, The Recruiting Officer, 6 p.m., Silver Gate Park
July 27: Gardiner, The Recruiting Officer, 6 p.m., Arch Park
July 30: Driggs, Idaho, Henry V, 6:30 p.m., Driggs City Center Plaza
July 31: Dillon, Henry V, 6 p.m., JayCee Park
Aug. 1: Chico Hot Springs, Henry V, 6 p.m., Main Lawn
Aug. 2: Sweet Pea, Bozeman, The recruiting Officer, 4:30 p.m., Lindley Park
Aug. 4: Sweet Pea, Bozeman, Henry V, 5 p.m., Lindley Park
Aug. 14: Philipsburg, Henry V, 6 p.m., Philipsburg City Park
Aug. 15: St. Ignatius, The Recruiting Officer, 6 p.m., St. Ignatius Amphitheater
Sept. 2: Bozeman, The Recruiting Officer, 6 p.m., Rockin’ TJ Ranch
Sept. 5: Big Sky, The Recruiting Officer, 6 p.m., Town Center
Sept. 6: Livingston, The Recruiting Officer, 6 p.m., Shane Center
Sept. 8: Bozeman, Henry V, 1 p.m., Ellen Theater