Arts & Entertainment
WMPAC announces 2021 Winter Season
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3 years agoon
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Admin(Yes, it’s happening!)
WARREN MILLER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
BIG SKY – It comes as a surprise to no one that the world of performing arts has faced changes and challenges over the past year. The heart of the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center is bringing the community together to share an arts experience; restrictions on social gatherings have made it impossible to pursue that goal in the same manner as in the past. With no immediate end to the pandemic in sight, the question was whether or not the center could adapt its offerings to still serve the community, or whether they would retreat from the limelight for a season.
“Giving up was never an option,” said John Zirkle, executive director of WMPAC. “We knew it would be difficult and require insane flexibility and creativity, but we knew we could do it. We’ve changed absolutely everything about our model, from ticketing to seating to the types of performances we bring. But we are confident that we’re still providing incredible arts experiences to the Big Sky community—it just looks different than it used to.”
During the peak of lockdown this spring, WMPAC built a new, high-quality streaming infrastructure to seamlessly broadcast performances to its audiences. Perhaps the most prominent adaptation of the 2021 Winter Season is the option for audiences to buy either a virtual or in-person ticket to almost every performance. Guests who prefer to keep their distance but still engage from home will log in to the virtual platform, wmpac.live, and watch the performances live.
Another necessary change to this season is the in-person experience at the theater, for those who choose to participate. WMPAC’s seating capacity is limited to 25 percent, and groups of ticket-buyers will be seated at least six feet apart from each other. Masks are required for the duration of the time indoors, and each performance has eliminated an intermission to reduce foot traffic in the lobby.
“There’s something unbeatable about gathering in a space with others to witness a performance live,” said Zirkle. “We wanted to still be able to provide that experience for Big Sky, but safety was without a doubt our top priority.”
So, what type of performances are on the roster for this brand new kind of season? WMPAC has booked a series of artists that is as diverse and engaging as ever. Broadway musical star Bobby Conte Thornton, who made his Broadway debut starring in “A Bronx Tale,” directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks, opens the season on December 5. Thornton will sing a series of reimagined Broadway classics for both a virtual and in-person audience. Following Thornton is Manual Cinema’s creative 2020 adaptation of Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.” Manual Cinema first came to WMPAC in 2015, and will perform their unique blend of puppetry and cinema live in Chicago as it’s streamed into the WMPAC theater.
The rest of the season holds an evening of stand-up comedy, performances by Kronos and Cascade Quartets, perennial favorites James Sewell Ballet, and much more.
“This is a new kind of season, in every way,” Zirkle said. “But we’re ready for whatever comes, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Both virtual and in-person tickets are on sale now. The full performance lineup, information about Covid safety measures, and tickets are available at warrenmillerpac.org.
Upcoming Events
march, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
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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)
Event Details
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
Event Details
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
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Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Event Details
Thursday of the Lord’s Supper Mass
St. Joseph Catholic Mission
Time
(Thursday) 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm