Big Timber connection results in Shakespeare in the Schools Philadelphia performance

The Montana Shakespeare in the Schools troupe knows road trips. Each year the troupe puts thousands of miles on the odometer while introducing Montana students to the best of the Bard.

MSU University News – Carol Schmidt

As a result of a connection made at a recent Big Timber performance, the Montana State University-based theatre group traveled from Main Street in Bozeman to perform near Philadelphia’s Main Line, the longest-road trip in the troupe’s 30-year history.

"We’ve never ventured beyond schools in northern Wyoming," said MSU drama professor Joel Jahnke, artistic director of Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and Montana Shakespeare in the Schools. "We’re very excited about this opportunity to show the students how we do Shakespeare in Montana."

Actually, a few students in Philadelphia knew quite a bit about Shakespeare in the Schools. They saw the troupe perform a zany version of "Twelfth Night" at an arts roundup sponsored by Bob and Susan Burch on their Hobble-Diamond Ranch south of Big Timber. For the past two years, Burch has brought students of The Haverford School, an elite prep school that he once attended, as well as the Agnes Irwin School, both of Philadelphia, as well as Big Timber area students, to his ranch for a week of enrichment in the arts and good Montana fun.

The abbreviated version of "Twelfth Night" – just four actors in a 70-minute play performed on a stage in the Burch’s cattle barn — was such a hit that Joe Cox, headmaster of The Haverford School, determined that all of the students at his school would benefit from seeing it. He invited Shakespeare in the Schools to perform the play at their school in Philadelphia. A local supporter said the actors and the witty version of the class play were "gut-busting funny."

"Shakespeare in the Schools knocked them dead," recalled Big Timber attorney Tom Biglen of the performance. Biglen was the connection between Shakespeare in the Parks and Schools with Burch. Biglen and his wife, Diana, are the community coordinators for Big Timber Shakespeare in the Parks performances. He said that the Burch’s have been among the troupe’s most enthusiastic fans.

"They will fly out here from Philadelphia whenever Shakespeare in the Parks is around," Biglen said.

"These are great people," Biglen said. "They have dived into the community feet first from the time they arrived doing neat stuff."

Jahnke said accepting The Haverford’s School invitation was challenging. The four actors in the Shakespeare in the Schools troupe – Brett Tuomi of Great Falls, Mark Kuntz, an MSU graduate, Lydie Berger and Toni Grates – had torn down the set at the end of their season in October and dispersed in all directions. A couple already had other gigs.

"The actors all wanted to do this," Jahnke said. "They were all interested and made it happen. In fact, it was miraculous that they made it happen."

Biglen said the Burchs hope to have the MSU-based troupe again next year at their Arts Roundup. In fact, the troupe’s old stage is still in the Burchs’ cattle barn.

Jahnke said he understands the Philadelphia performance was a great experience for both the actors and the students, even though the troupe got stuck in an unusual Philadelphia snowstorm. Jahnke didn’t get to go to the performance, which included housing in the Burchs’ Main Line estates, because of a variety of conflicts at MSU. But the show must go on, they say. And sometimes, if you’re lucky and good, the show goes on to Philadelphia.

Contact: Joel Jahnke, Shakespeare in the Schools (406) 994-3903

http://www.montana.edu/commserv/csnews/nwview.php?article=1415