THE REP ROUNDUP
GET TO KNOW THE REP
Why Produce So Many New Plays?

We produce a lot of new plays at the Rep. In fact, with the exception of War of the Worlds, everything we produced in our 2019-2020 season was a world premiere. A lot of folks ask why we’re not producing more classics. There are a lot of answers to that question:
 
·     Our mission is to tell stories by, about and for the people who live right here in Montana. When we commission a playwright to write a play specifically for us, we can ask for stories about our Indigenous communities, about specific people who live here, or about important moments from our history. It helps us give space to stories that aren’t being told.

·     Every American classic was once a new play. We’re excited to find the next Lorraine Hansberry, Tennessee Williams, Lillian Hellman, Neil Simon – the playwrights whose works will be produced for decades.

·     We have colleagues right here in Missoula, like MCT, who do classics and do them incredibly well. Focusing our energy elsewhere decreases competition and gives more variety to Missoula.

·     As humans, we’re natural risk-takers when it comes to arts & entertainment, whether we realize it or not. It’s fun to try out a new restaurant, our Netflix queues are loaded with stuff we’ve never heard of before but are excited to sample, and who doesn’t love to discover a new band on Spotify?

·     Maybe most importantly, it’s vital that we sometimes encounter stories that aren’t familiar – to spend an hour or so in the dark, listening to the experience of someone who walks a different path than we do.
 
So, we hope that when we produce a show you’ve never heard of, you’ll take the journey with us. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new theatrical favorite.

 
Sincerely,


Michael Legg
Artistic Director

WHAT'S NEW
CHANGES TO OUR 2020-2021 SEASON
We were so grateful for the opportunity to safely produce Zombie Thoughts and The Fog in 2020, but unfortunately, we can’t perform our entire 2020-2021 season socially distanced on top of a fire tower. Safety remains our top priority, so our in-person productions of Bingo! and ReEntry have been postponed until February and April 2022, respectively. These productions were created with their own unique, indoor stages in mind, and it is our every hope that we’ll be able to gather for them safely by that time.
 
2020-2021 season members will be entitled to a free ticket to both shows when we’re able to perform, regardless of their membership status for the Rep’s 2021-2022 season. Thank you all for your understanding and patience.
COMING SOON

Did you think we would just sit back and twiddle our thumbs until we could perform Bingo! and ReEntry next year? Well, think again! The Rep is unveiling two new projects that will bend the boundaries of traditional theatre and reach new corners of Montana. 
 
First up we have Plays on Call coming mid-March, which will allow you to listen in on a series of audio plays from any phone. Much like calling a customer service line, you'll dial the number and then select options to hear seven short stories written by an incredible lineup of both nationally known (Emily Feldman, Jen Silverman, Nubia Monks, Marisa Carr) and local (Jay Kettering, Shannon Sivertsen & Tyson Gerhardt) playwrights. On top of that, we’ve got some pretty cool actors recording their work, including Missoula native and True Blood alum Dale Raoul and Jeff White, who plays Jimmy on Yellowstone.  
 
Next up is Go Play! coming mid-April. We've partnered with UM’s School of Media Arts to build an exciting new app for the Rep (both Apple & Android accessible) featuring a unique set of plays, all tied to specific locations around town—sort of like geocaching, but with theatre! Download the app and subscribe to find out when new plays become available, and where they’re hiding in Missoula. And no cheating allowed—each play will remain locked until your phone is at the correct location. Some will be single short plays, others might be a five-part series that will require you to visit 5 different locations, and all will be tied to where you’re standing when you experience them.
 
Sound exciting? We sure think so, and we can’t wait to roll out these new projects come spring.
GET INVOLVED

BECOME A REP FOR THE REP

Your support means the world to us. So much so, in fact, that we want to thank you through our brand-new Rep Ambassador program. We’re looking for Montana Rep Ambassadors interested in sharing the latest Rep news and offerings on their social media in exchange for exclusive access and tickets.

If you’re interested in helping out your favorite Montana theatre and receiving free stuff in return (who wouldn’t be?), send a message to Michael at michael.legg@montanarep.com. 

CONSIDER DONATING
It’s been a tough year for the Rep, and so many other local arts organizations. Between the lack of ticket revenue and our continued commitment to pay our actors, the pandemic has taken a large toll. We need your help to continue our mission to bring exceptional, professional live theatre to Montana. If you are able, please consider a donation to the Rep and help us keep the show going.