by Bridget Michlig
It is with great pride and honor that Bigfork celebrates the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Bigfork Summer Playhouse in a season-long street party complete with entertainment, food, special events and special travel bargains.
Under the direction of Don and Jude Thomson, the Bigfork Summer Playhouse (BSP), also known by many as the “theatre by the bay,” has grown from a small professional group into the most respected repertory theatre company in the Northwest and is a past recipient of the Montana Governor’s Award for the Arts (1997). All members of the cast, crew and orchestra are hand picked by the Thomsons after a relentless audition process that takes The Thomsons to University drama departments and regional auditions quite literally from coast to coast over an eight week period.
The Thomsons put as much care into selecting the shows as they do in selecting the players, and this year they worked extra hard to choose jaw dropping programs befitting a spectacular celebratory 50th season. This year’s shows bring Broadway musical magic to the Flathead Valley. The summer season opens May 15 with Smokey Joe’s Cafe ,Broadway’s longest running musical revue which highlights the best-known songs by legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Even if their names don’t jog your memory, their music will- they are best known for writing for others including Elvis Presley (Jail House Rock, Hound Dog, Treat Me Nice), The Drifters (On Broadway), Ben E. King (Stand by Me), The Clovers (Love Potion No. 9), and many more. Added to the rotation in June are Seussical The Musical, based on the books by Dr. Seuss, and The Wiz, a modern musical stage adaptation of the much loved classic based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. These two plays are a great way to introduce live theater to families with children. Rounding out the summer schedule are the modern classics Singin’ in the Rain and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Spectacular shows and a spectacular cast and crew deserve a spectacular facility. Summer 2009 marks the unveiling of the newly expanded and renovated lobby. The curved glass facade facing Electric Avenue, richly shimmering aurora borealis tiles on the pillars, and Tiffany style lighting add new elegance and set the tone for the entire theatre experience. At slightly over 2,500 square feet, the new lobby is now perfect for hosting community events such as fund raisers, seminars and luncheons. The $1.1 million dollar project was funded by donations from individuals and businesses in the Bigfork community, including many of the contractors who participated, and also received a matching funds grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust. The project created more than 35 jobs between October 2008 and March 2009.
August is reunion month, bringing alumni from the first fifty years of the Bigfork Summer Playhouse back to Bigfork for a weekend of reminiscence and parties. Since its inception in 1969, cast and crew members total 982, many of whom have gone on to perform on Broadway, on television and in Hollywood blockbuster films. At least one has his own action figure!
The entire Bigfork community is celebrating this Golden Anniversary – 50 years of continuous live theater- with an array of events, specials and deals, making Bigfork an ideal summer destination full of fun, excitement and value. Whether you come for a Sunday matinee or make a long weekend out of it, the shops, art galleries, restaurants, hotels and inns will keep you entertained, inspired and sated. Laugh, cry and applaud with 435 of your newest friends in perhaps the most unique repertory theater in the country. Enjoy the elegant setting and the state of the art stage production, and mix and mingle with cast and crew after the show. It is very likely you will be shaking hands with the Broadway and Hollywood stars of tomorrow!
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