EBS PHOTO CONTEST WRAPS UP FIRST OF FOUR ROUNDS

First place: Jordan Lefler

Jordan Lefler submitted this photo of the Jocko River taken outside Arlee in northwest Montana. Along with the submission, Lefler wrote: Rivers, to me, are the arteries of the planet, pulsing with the rhythm of life, unceasingly giving, and unconditionally nurturing. They are the intricate tapestry upon which the world weaves its flora and fauna, their waters serving as the essential elixir of existence. But their relevance extends beyond the realm of sustenance, permeating into the sphere of recreation, where I have spent countless hours fishing and immersing myself in their mesmerizing fluidity. Rivers, too, are my sanctuary, a place where the lens of my camera can capture nature’s unsullied splendor, reflecting not only the natural world’s magnificence but the profundity of my innermost sentiments. Above all, they soothe my soul, teaching me the art of resilience and adaptability, reminding me of the continuity of life amid its ebbs and flows.

The remaining three prize periods run from June 23 to July 6, July 7 to July 20 and from July 21 to Aug. 2.

Anyone interested in submitting to the contest can visit https://www.explorebigsky.com/wildlands-photo-contest/49429 and follow the link to the contest submission form.

A&E ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Big Sky Belly Laughs Wmpac To Host Improv Comedy Takeover

BY MARIO CARR EBS CONTRIBUTOR

The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center has been hosting comedy acts “since [its] inception” according to John Zirkle, WMPAC’s executive director. However, never before has the community had the opportunity to get involved in, learn, and participate in the artform itself.

Bozeman’s own Last Best Comedy (LBC) has teamed up with WMPAC to bring an improv comedy workshop that is open to the public.

“It’s open to everybody,” Zirkle emphasized. “You don’t have to particularly be a funny person to benefit from it.”

He explained that it’s a great opportunity for anyone looking to laugh and learn to make others laugh as well by “telling jokes and bringing joy to the space.” As WMPAC’s director, Zirkle told EBS that comedy is a special artform that really engages the audience, and “there’s nothing better than hearing a room full of belly laughs.”

For three Tuesdays in a row, beginning on July 11, WMPAC will host an improv comedy workshop starting at 5:30 p.m., with dinner provided by Big Sky’s own award-winning chef Lindsie Feldner an hour later and drinks from a cash bar provided by BYWOM, followed up finally with a different comedy act each night starting at 7 p.m. The workshops will be capped at 12 people per night, but the following acts will be open to all that are able to get tickets. More information and tickets will be available at warrenmillerpac.org.

These workshops are open to people of all ages, but the following comedy acts will be suitable for ages 15 and up. The comedy performances will include a Montana-born celebrity-magician that goes by Handsome Jack on the July 11, three stand-up acts from the Treasure State Comics on the July 18, and more stand-up from part-time Livingston resident and renowned comedian Rich Hall on July 25.

“All of these faces are gonna be new to Big Sky,” Zirkle said with glee.“Comedy is always great at WMPAC. I wish we could do more, you know we usually only have one big comedy event a year so I am excited we get to have a few more options for people to come out and laugh.”

Local and regional partners are important to WMPAC, especially in the summer and bringing Last Best Comedy to Big Sky provides a lighter side to the many projects that are “symbolic of our efforts to engage more of our regional arts community,” Zirkle mentioned.

Zirkle said that “Last Best Comedy has been doing really great work for the last few years,” while explaining the origins of this comedy take over. During a comedy show at the WMPAC in January of this year, LBC and WMPAC decided that they wanted to work together to create even more opportunities to get the spotlight on local comedy moving forward.

Zirkle and WMPAC want to make sure that they’re “owned by everybody in the community” because they’re one of the only dedicated performing arts spaces in the town. And Zirkle especially loves comedy and believes that in general it is an artform that “is a little bit more accessible than some other forms and it seems to bring out a more diverse cross section from the whole community, and I love that.”

Audience members can pay $25 for the workshop and dinner, $25 for dinner and the performance, or $40 for the complete evening of the workshop, dinner, and show.