ARTS & CULTURE

Artsand

CULTURE

The pandemic put a temporary dent in Bozeman’s arts and culture scene, but things

came back with a roar in 2021. Nightlife in Bozeman was bright with new concert venues, bars and clubs opening. Summer staples like the Music on Main series and two weekly farmer’s markets returned to full capacity. Most of the town’s performing arts centers and theatres began live performances again and plan on having full 2022 schedules.

The Ellen Theatre

Right across the street from the historic Rialto Theater sits the historic Ellen Theatre, the home to Montana Theatreworks and one of Bozeman’s most famous buildings. The Ellen was opened in 1919 as a vaudeville theater, but hosted all sorts of events, from films to circuses with live elephants. By 2005, the building was facing an unknown future, but Montana TheatreWorks raised the money to buy the building and, in 2008, began remodeling the massive historic landmark. In December 2019, work was finished on the facade of the building to bring it back to its 1920s art deco glory, all based off of original blueprints by the famous Bozeman architect Fred Willson. Productions have been on the stage since 2008, except for an 18-month pandemicinduced hiatus. The hiatus offered some time to finish renovations—mostly restoring the Ellen—that have been ongoing for years. The Ellen reopened for its first show in over a year in October 2021 and since has had a robust lineup from live music, indie film showings to live theater performances. 17 W. Main St., 406-585-5885, Theellentheatre.com

Bozeman Actors Theatre

For 10 years, Bozeman Actors Theatre has brought contemporary and classical performances to the Bozeman community. Performing in a variety of venues around town, the professional theater strives to produce thought-provoking performances of all kinds. Bozemanactorstheatre.org

The Rialto Theatre Bozeman

The Rialto has been a fixture of Main Street since it was built as a post office in 1908. The historic building got a massive makeover in 2018, hosting multiple acts a week in every genre, from Bluegrass to EDM. The venue has an exclusive booking contract with Missoulabased Logjam Presents—which has several live-music venues in and around Missoula. The space can also be rented out for private events. Logjam Presents also opened The ELM, another live-music venue in Bozeman, in 2021. Information on upcoming concerts, events and ticketing information can be found online at rialtobozeman.com. 10 W. Main St., 406-404-7911. The Verge has been open 26 years. The community theater puts on plays that are open to all, calling it “radical inclusion” - a space where anyone, regardless of experience, can find a community. The theater typically holds totally open auditions and hosts bi-weekly improv shows. As of the publication date, the theater is still looking for a new home—it moved out of its former space due to COVID-19. Plans are still underway for new productions in 2022. Typically, the black box theater puts on plays and musicals throughout the year, and produces an annual, not-to-miss production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

For more information on upcoming plays, auditions, ticketing info visit the website at vergetheater.com, or 406-585-0737

The Elm

The long-anticipated new concert venue on Seventh Avenue opened its doors to Bozeman in 2021. Missoulabased Logjam Presents built the new venue, which can hold up to 1,100 people. Logjam also has exclusive booking rights to the Rialto, but it’s owned by The Lark. Located in an area of fast redevelopment called midtown, the venue will offer live music of all genres and boasts it’s a concert venue to fill the space between the more intimate Rialto venue and the massive Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

Tickets to shows at the ELM are available online, or at the ELM’s box office. 506 N. 7th Ave, 406-830-4640, logjampresents.com/venue/theelm/

The Filling Station

Dating back to 1976, the Filling Station is known for live music and is the home of the VFW. It’s a hub for local artists and musicians, but also books touring bands and artists.

For information on upcoming concerts visit its Facebook page. 2005 N. Rouse Ave., 406-587-0585.

The Emerson Center For The Arts And Culture

Occupying an old schoolhouse building downtown, the Emerson is a collection of art galleries and artist spaces. The Emerson hosts gallery openings of all kinds, from ceramics to oil paintings to massive installations with running water, and it holds adult art education classes for people who want to get in touch with their inner creative. 111 S. Grand Ave., 406-587-9797, theemerson.org

Montana Ballet Company creates everything from scratch, including sets and costumes, making MBC shows once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. During the pandemic, MBC put on beautiful virtual performances. Live performances are back at the ballet. The company also offers ballet classes for children for kids who want to learn to dance in an environment that will foster their creativity and health. Executive Director Elizabeth DeFanti, a lifelong dancer herself, said the ballet’s job is to tell a story without words, whether that story be Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” or the famous “Nutcracker” ballet. Performances are made up of mostly junior and senior company members, along with academy children and visiting artists.

Tickets to MBC shows are available on the company’s website. 2304 N. 7th Ave., 406-582-8702, montanaballet.org

Montana Shakespeare In The Parks

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks tours the state, offering free performances in parks from communities the size of Billings to those the size of Ekalaka in an effort to bring professional productions of Shakespeare and other classics directly to the people of Montana, with an emphasis on rural and underserved rural communities. In operation since 1973, MSIP has performed in front of nearly a million people. MSIP canceled its 2020 tour, but returned in 2021 for its 49th season. MSIP also offers a three-week program for elementary school kids called Montana Shakes, which includes a costume trunk, puppetry, stage combat and a workshop titled “Green Eggs and Hamlet.”

Black Box Theater at 11th and Grant, 406-994-3303, shakespeareintheparks.org

Intermountain Opera

Since the 1970s, Intermountain Opera has brought professional performers to Bozeman for opera productions like “The Barber of Seville” and “The Marriage of Figaro.” Intermountain Opera performances are generally held at the Willson Auditorium at 404 W. Main St. or at the Ellen Theatre at 17 W. Main St. 406-587-2889, intermountainopera.org

Bozeman Symphont Orchestra

Big things have been happening for the Bozeman Symphony. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, it selected its newest music director, Norman Huynh, in 2020, and moved to a new office location in 2021. Throughout 2020, the symphony offered a slate of livestream concerts. In person performances returned for the 2021-2022 concert season. Performances typically take place at the Willson Auditorium. 402 E. Main St., 406-585-9774, bozemansymphony.org

Montana Chamber Music Society

Montana Chamber Music Society’s mission is to bring chamber music concerts to the Big Sky with a host of world-class musicians performing in Bozeman and throughout Montana. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, live concerts returned in 2021. More live concerts are on the way in 2022. Montanachambermusicsociety.org

Regal Gallatin Valley

Bozeman’s only dedicated movie theater is located inside the Gallatin Valley Mall. Operated by the national Regal chain, Regal Gallatin Valley has multiple theaters that show the most popular new releases. 2825 W. Main St inside the Gallatin Valley Mall, 844462-7342, regmovies.com

Bozeman Film Society

While Bozeman only has one dedicated movie theater, the Bozeman Film Society brings independent cinema to the community year-round with screenings at the Ellen Theatre. The nonprofit rallies behind the idea that independent films disperse new ideas, culture and art to its community. Currently, BFS also hosts virtual screenings of films. Check out its website for more info. 111 S. Grand Ave. Ste. 112, 406-599-9069, bozemanfilmsociety.org

Bozeman Documentary Series

Bozeman Documentary Series is a biweekly documentary screening, showing at the Emerson Center. The series brings new and groundbreaking documentaries to Bozeman, providing another alternative to blockbuster films. The series runs between October and April and is in its seventh season. Bozemandocseries.org

Last Best Comedy

Bozeman’s home for improv and standup found a permanent location last year, opening the town’s first dedicated comedy club in September 2021 in the basement of the Bozeman Hotel building. There, Last Best Comedy hosts local and national stand-ups, improv shows and classes for stand-up and improv. 321 E. Main St., 406-219-8841, lastbestcomedy.com

OPEN DOOR THEATRE —

Open Door Theatre started in 2014, with its inaugural performance of “Play On!” in January 2015. The goal of ODT is to create a place for all interested in being part of a play, whether onstage or off. The theatre held its first live production of 2021 in November with the comedy: “Don’t Talk to the Actors.” To be involved in a future production, get more info, or find tickets, visit its website. 406-548-5744, opendoorbozeman.org

BIG SKY Warren Miller Performing Arts Center

45465 Gallatin Rd., Gallatin Gateway 406-995-6345, warrenmillerpac.org

Music In The Mountains

A free outdoor summer concert series, put on by the Arts Council of Big Sky.

Bigskyarts.org

LIVINGSTON The Shane Lalani Center For The Arts

415 E. Lewis St., 406-222-1420, theshanecenter.org

Blue Slipper Theatr

113 E. Callender St., 406-222-7720, blueslipper.org

Yellowstone Ballet Company

109 S. B St., 406-222-0430, yellowstoneballet.info

Empire Twin Theatres

106 N. 2nd St., 406-222-0111, livingstonmovies.com

MUSEUMS —

Museum Of The Rockies

The Museum of the Rockies is a Bozeman mustvisit and offers world-class museum exhibits yearround. MOR has been recognized as one of the world’s best history and research museums and has an impressive and large collection of dinosaur fossils, including a fully-mounted Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. With permanent exhibits, a Montana history hall, planetarium and museum shop, the museum also hosts three to five changing exhibits each year, holds educational programs and camps, lectures and benefit events. The museum has something for everyone in the family, with the Martin Children’s Discovery Center and an exhibit specially designed for children up to eight years old. One of the museum’s many claims to fame is its history with Jack Horner, who served as a museum curator prior to working as a paleontology consultant on the Jurassic Park movies. Dr. Caroline McGill, a doctor from Butte, founded the museum in 1957. She also served as the museum’s first curator. The museum was originally named the McGill Museum, and later incorporated as the Museum of the Rockies in 1965. It’s a nonprofit, college-level division of Montana State University, is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, one of just 1,095 museums nationwide to hold this distinction, and is a Smithsonian Affiliate museum. Admission provides unlimited access to the museum for one day, all exhibits and planetarium shows are included in the price of admission. 600 W. Kagy Blvd, 406-994-2251, museumoftherockies.org

Earth’s Treasures

Earth’s Treasures is a museum gallery, with authentic, ancient fossils on display, and a store. Th museum is free and displays a variety of fossils, minerals and gemstones. With staff supervision, there’s plenty for you and your kids to poke, prod and feel! Earth’s Treasures provides a unique experience as an educational experience for the whole family, with amazing pieces like the teeth of a Mammoth, and dinosaur eggs. Pieces at the museum often change, making it worth a second visit. 25 N. Willson Ave #B, 406-582-3451

The American Computer & Robotics Museum

The American Computer & Robotics Museum is open year-round, and offers a look into 4,000 years of human history from original cuneiform tablets to the first personal computers, and include topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, the Space Race, Cracking the Enigma Code, and more. ACRM is the oldest continually operating museum of its kind in the world. Founded in May of 1990 by visionary collector George Keremedjiev, ACRM inspires visitors of all ages to explore the past and imagine the future of the Information Age through thought-provoking exhibits, innovative storytelling, and the bold exchange of ideas. 2023 Stadium Dr., 406-582-1288, acrmuseum.org

Montana Science Center

The Montana Science Center is a place for kids and adults to learn side-by-side. Its mission is to provide hands-on learning experiences in science and technology that inspire creativity, innovation, and lead to real-world application. The center has a frequently rotating collection of interactive exhibits that families with children of all ages can explore together. The exhibit floor also hosts a Science Station featuring activities and experiments to take learning further. 2744 W. Main St., 406-522-9087, montanasciencecenter.org.

The Gallatin History Museum

The museum takes a glimpse into the history of the Gallatin County area. The Gallatin History Museum is located in an old jail, completed with hanging gallows and jail cells. The museum has a life-sized Pioneer cabin, exhibits on women, agriculture, and the jail history, and a photo archive with over 20,000 historic photos. The research library maintains an extensive file collection with local information, newspapers, oral histories, maps, yearbooks, family histories, and Montana, Lewis and Clark, and local history books. The Museum bookstore has hard-to-find materials dealing with the history of Gallatin County for sale at reasonable prices. 317 W. Main St., 406-522-8122, gallatinhistorymuseum.org

Bozeman Art Museum

The Bozeman Art Museum is the only fine arts museum in Bozeman—although the town boasts a number of galleries. The nonprofit’s mission is to inspire and foster creativity and love of art through high-quality exhibits. BAM works to educate the general public about art and art history through exhibits, lectures, classes and workshops, and providing an art education to kindergarten through high school students who do not have the advantage of art classes in their schools.

2612 W. Main St., 406-570-1419, bozemanartmuseum.org

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