The New Frontier

For the 75th season of the Black Hills Playhouse (BHP), we are producing the season in a different way, but with a nod to the past. From 1947-1950, the BHP performed in a tent theater near Legion Lake called the Frontier Theatre. Forced by the hand of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the board, staff, funders, and volunteers of the BHP have worked to ensure the safety of artists and patrons in this challenging time by creating this new outdoor performing space. The New Frontier Theatre, a name born of pragmatism and nostalgia, represents meeting this challenge, but also an opportunity for future performing arts programs at the BHP.

Our primary concern as we made decisions back in October, was getting back to performing in the Park, but also making a plan to keep people (audiences and artists) healthy. We are working with a smaller company this year which makes it even more imperative.

NFT Team

Led by Associate Director, Randy Niles, the BHP Alum NFT Crew and BHP Physical Plant Committee have put in countless hours to make it possible for us to perform during the 2021 Season. Special thanks to BHP alum, Chris Jones, of CDJ Creative Services for his design of the performing space and to Scott Mollman, the Technical Director and Production Manager of USD Theatre for creating and installing the audience shade canopy. Special thanks to Henry Mollman for his help constructing the canopy.

BHP Physical Plant Committee

Rick Giesel, Chair Gary Merkel Don Massa Monni Karim Ron Jeffries Charolyn Mize Randy Niles

In-Kind Donations

Adam Boggs, (fill dirt) Black Hills Energy (power poles, installation) Central States Fair (stage, risers) Custer Area School District (chairs) Gene Fennell (preliminary design) Mike Albertson (preliminary design review) Chris Jones CDJ Creative Services (current / final design) Jorgenson Log Homes (skid steer) Scull Construction (lift for canopy installation)

BHP Alum NFT Crew

Chris Jones, CDJ Creative Services Scott Mollman, USD Jonathan Allender-Zivic, USD Victor Shonk, USD John Utter, Technical Director, BHP Chris Haug, Amber Marisa Cook, SEMO Dan Workman, Artistic Director BHP Randy Niles, Associate Director BHP

We are eternally grateful to NFT Donors & Funders

Mark & Carolyn Mollers John T. Vucurevich Foundation Black Hills Area Community Foundation Black Hills By Choice Donors Black Hills Energy Meg & Loyd Garrison Mike & Marnie Gould Jeff Kingsbury Karen & Scott McGregor DeElda McPherson Charolyn & Phil Mize Vesta Lund in memory of Vida Bernard Ron, Marion, & Kathy Reed