Local
actors convey important role of community arts
By Michael Somerby ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
BIG
SKY – On May 16, a group of Big Sky locals representing the Big Sky Community
Theater took the stage at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, putting on
an impressive rendition of Tennessee William’s “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Considered
among the most noteworthy plays in the history of American theater, “A
Streetcar Named Desire” tells the story of Blanche DuBois, a schoolteacher
visiting her sister Stella in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Coming from a
wealthy Mississippi family, DuBois is stunned to find Stella and her husband
Stanley Kowalski living in relative poverty.
Through
the distrust and subsequent malicious and subversive initiatives of Kowalski,
who feels Blanche is cheating her sister out of inheritance money, the play
reveals that Blanche is not as refined and delicate as she seems, having copulated
with many men in Laurel, Mississippi, as well as her high school English student.
Her polished feminine nature and wit unravel to a tragic degree as a result of the
revelations.
John
Zirkle, WMPAC artistic director, feels the performance and journey leading up
to it served their purposes, keeping in line with the original intent of
forming a community theater group in Big Sky.
“We
wanted to create more opportunity for adults in the community to get their
creative spirit on, with a grassroots approach to performance artmaking,”
Zirkle said. “And these shows are one night only so it’s a really special night
for everyone.”
Stephanie
Kissell, a resident of Big Sky since 2005, played Blanche masterfully through a
well-done southern drawl, powerful line delivery and on-character airy intimations.
Kissell echoed Zirkle’s assertions about the space it creates for creative
outlet and community togetherness.
“That
team-playing aspect is really important to me, as well as being involved in the
creative process,” she said. “The performing arts center is an amazing place
and the support for the arts in our community is … incredible.”
Director Mark Kuntz as the beastly Stanley Kowalski on stage with Big Sky resident Stephanie Kissell undertook the lead role of Blanche DuBois. PHOTO COURTESY OF MATT DODD
Kissell
credited Zirkle with cultivating that support and interest over the years.
“The
performing arts center is amazing, and John has given us [the community] a
creative outlet that I really needed.”
For
his part, Zirkle felt that Kissell, who was initially unsure of the undertaking
due to the sheer commitment it requires, particularly with the amount of lines
Blanche has, rose to the challenge.
“Amazing.
She was amazing, truly,” Zirkle said. “Everyone was.”
Mark
Kuntz, a professional actor who was hired to direct this show and played the
brutish and uncouth Kowalski, also spoke to the importance of community theater
and the trials it presents as a director.
“It
has this stigma of not being as high of quality as professional productions,
and I take that on as a challenge,” Kuntz said. “It’s just really special to
see people you see every day in the community up on stage putting on a quality
show.”
The
community theater’s sixth performance since WMPAC opened in March, 2013, the
show garnered a healthy turnout of community members and patrons of the arts.
Big
Sky’s Community Theater first took shape in 2013 when Zirkle and Jeremy Harder,
then a fourth-grade teacher at Ophir Elementary, led the charge for the venue’s
first-ever show, Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.”
For
Zirkle, the genesis of the venture was an important step for a fledgling arts community
still taking shape. Finding success in Big Sky’s theater scene, he says, is
also a success for Big Sky.
“[These
shows] really do something for people. I think they help people dig their heels
in on what it means to be a fulltime resident of this community,” Zirkle said.
“It’s one of the core elements, one of the most important things that we [at WMPAC]
do because it’s truly grassroots. Each show is fully by the community, for the
community.”