Facilitated by Daniel Chapman and the students from THTR 276 Play Production and Introduction to Directing

Small Auditorium

• Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm
• Saturday 2:30 pm Matinee
• Special Matinee on Monday 10^th at 1:00 pm

Synopsis:

The Play Fest tradition continues at UM Western! This festival is a popular and wildly welcomed event that gives the spotlight to students, faculty, staff, and community members. Often chock-full of exciting, emotional, and titillating scene work this event is a showcase of the talent we have at UM Western and the Dillon Community.

Disclaimer: The special matinee on October 10th is family-friendly, and parents are encouraged to bring their children to that performance! All other showtimes include sensitive material that are not suitable for young children.

Thursday at 7:30 PM

• The Complete Work of William Shakespeare (Abridged): Romeo and Juliet (Directed by Emily Hoy)
• GPS (Directed by Dylan Cowell)
• Beer Girl (Directed by Blake Sullivan)
• Pillow Talk (Directed by Jared T. Garcia)

Friday at 7:30 PM

• Beer Girl (Directed by Blake Sullivan)
• Pillow Talk (Directed by Jared T. Garcia)
• Dr. Mogato (Directed by Mason Semmler)
• The Right Approach (Directed by Katelynn Peterson)
• GPS (Directed by Dylan Cowell)

Saturday at 2:30 PM

• The Last Can (Directed by Logan Elliot)
• The Right Approach (Directed by Katelynn Peterson)
• The Complete Work of William Shakespeare (Abridged): Romeo and Juliet (Directed by Emily Hoy)
• Dr. Mogato (Directed by Mason Semmler)
• Pillow Talk (Directed by Jared T. Garcia)

Saturday at 7:30 PM

• The Last Can (Directed by Logan Elliot)
• The Right Approach (Directed by Katelynn Peterson)
• The Complete Work of William Shakespeare (Abridged): Romeo and Juliet (Directed by Emily Hoy)
• Dr. Mogato (Directed by Mason Semmler)
• Pillow Talk (Directed by Jared T. Garcia)

Monday at 1:00 PM (Family Friendly Show)

• The Housekeeper (Directed by Braden Swank)
• The Fam (Directed by Trevor Lake)
• Hitting on Women 101 (Directed by Tyler Walker)
• Brainsuckers (Directed by Jacksen Burkely)
• The Platform (Directed by James Aragon)

Directed by Susan Felder

Beier Auditorium

• 1:00 pm & 7:30 pm
• *Group pricing is available for schools at $3/seat. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Synopsis:

For its 30th season, Shakespeare in the Schools will present Macbeth in an engaging live performance. This production will be accompanied by a lively post-show talkback and workshops.

Free workshop

My voice is in my sword – Storytelling through Stage Combat

November 2nd at 3:30 PM by reservation only. Please contact [email protected] to reserve a seat.

Description: The characters in Macbeth reach for their swords when their words fail. For every one minute of combat, you see on stage there was an hour of rehearsal in which the actors built trust, consent, and specific storytelling. Stage combat requires extraordinary care, community, and collaboration. This workshop will invite students to experience and enact the care and storytelling (and fun!) that goes into creating violence onstage in the story of Macbeth.

Written & Created by Roger Bean

Musical Arrangements by Brian William Baker

Orchestrations by Michael Borth

Vocal Arrangements by Roger Bean & Brian William Baker

Directed by Breanna Humphrey and Bradie Matt

Small Auditorium

• Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm
• Sat-Sun 2:30 pm Matinee

Synopsis:

This smash Off-Broadway hit takes you to the 1958 Springfield High School prom, where we meet Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy, and Suzy: four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! As we learn about their lives and loves, the girls serenade us with classic ‘50s hits including “Lollipop,” “Dream Lover,” “Stupid Cupid,” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.” In Act II, the Wonderettes reunite to take the stage and perform at their ten-year reunion. We learn about the highs and lows the girls have experienced in the past decade and are charmed to find that no matter what life throws their way, they will conquer it together. Featuring over 30 classic ’50s and ’60s hits, The Marvelous Wonderettes will keep you smiling in this must-take musical trip down memory lane!

Conceived and Written by Michael McGill

Music and Lyrics by Michael McGill

Beier Auditorium

• 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm

Synopsis:

The much loved and ever entertaining Missoula Children’s Theater is back in town with the classic and epic tale of Aladdin! This enormously fun musical adaptation will feature children of all ages from the Dillon Community.

Community Auditions to be held in the Beier Auditorium at 4:00 pm on January 23^rd.  Auditions open to youth K-12.

Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe

Featuring Rosie Seitz Ayers and Ryan Eggensperger

Beier Auditorium

• Friday 10:00 am Special Matinee (approx. runtime: 70 min.)
  • *School groups are invited to attend the show for free. Please contact [email protected] to reserve seats for your school.
• Fri-Sat 7:30 pm
• Sat-Sun 2:30 pm Matinee

Synopsis:

THE STORY: You’re six years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. 1. Ice cream. 2. Kung Fu movies. 3. Burning things. 4. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out your nose. 5. Construction cranes. 6. Me. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. A play about depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love.

Written by Matt Cox

Directed by Stephen Alan Seder

*Parental guidance recommended for children under 13.

*Strong Language, Excessive Profanity, Innuendos, and Suggestive Situations

Small Auditorium

• Wed-Sat 7:30 pm
• Sun 2:30 pm Matinee

Synopsis:

For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs… who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.

The New York Times proclaims PUFFS, “A FAST-PACED ROMP through the ‘Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.’ For POTTERphiliacs who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit that world, ‘PUFFS’ exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry!

This clever and inventive play “never goes more than a minute without a laugh” (Nerdist) giving you a new look at a familiar adventure from the perspective of three potential heroes just trying to make it through a magic school that proves to be very dangerous for children. Alongside them are the Puffs, a group of well-meaning, loyal outsiders with a thing for badgers “who are so lovable and relatable, you’ll leave the theater wishing they were in the stories all along” (Hollywood Life). Their “hilariously heartfelt!” (Metro) and epic journey takes the classic story to new places and reimagines what a boy wizard hero can be.

Directed by Miranda Zent

Synopsis:

UM Western’s unique and captivating virtual production Mythfest returns for its third installment this Spring! Mythfest is a festival of performance that celebrates the art of storytelling. This virtual production will go live on April 20^th and will be free for all to watch. Donations will be accepted online.

Hosted by Erik Escobar

Facilitated by Stephen Alan Seder and the students from THTR 120 Introduction to Acting

Co-Produced by the UMW Drama Club

*Parental guidance recommended for children under 13.

Beier Auditorium

• 7:30 pm

Synopsis:

Come celebrate our final week of the school year with a comedic variety show! This extravaganza will include stand-up comedy, short-form improvisation, and sketch comedy featuring UMW Students and Faculty.

Erik Escobar, the host of the cabaret, is a stand-up and improv comedian from L.A. He has performed for theaters, night-clubs, and colleges across the nation. He has opened for comedians such as Rex Navarrete and Jerry Seinfeld. His on-screen credits include NBC’s Last Comic Standing, Buzzfeed, VH1, FOX’s I Can See Your Voice, and the upcoming feature film VHYe salongside Tim Robbins and Thomas Lennon. In 2020, Erik premiered his TEDx Talk titled, “Creating A More Fulfilling Lifestyle Through Humor.” He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Comedy Theory from Goddard College.