Richard III Coming to Seeley Lake

SEELEY LAKE - Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (MSIP) will be in Seeley Lake Aug. 26. The 10-player company will present "Richard III" at 6 p.m. on the Double Arrow Grounds.

"Richard III" is a particularly challenging play to stage but the MSIP players are seasoned professionals who do an amazing job of bringing the Bard's words to life. Executive artistic director Kevin Asselin said, "This is the first time in MSIP's 44-year history that we'll bring 'Richard III' to our stage." Even 400 years after Shakespeare's death, the play offers relevance, especially at this politically active time in our country."

Though the historical drama takes place in mid-15th century England during the reign of Edward IV, Shakespeare wrote "Richard III" under the patronage of the Tudor Queen Elizabeth I. Whether out of sincere belief or to please the queen, Shakespeare's play portrays Richard as an evil, scheming villain who plots to remove his elder brother Edward from the throne and take the crown for himself. The twists and turns in the ruthless fight over the English throne involve brothers plotting against brothers, Yorkists against Lancastrians, marriage arrangements and assassinations and the imprisonment and secret assassination of the young princes in the Tower of London.

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is an outreach program of Montana State University's College of Arts and Architecture. Grants, corporate sponsorships and hundreds of individual donors support the free performances. The 10 professional actors of MSIP are selected through national auditions. They tour without technical assistance and bring live theatre to Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Washington and Idaho. Since its formation in 1973, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks has had the goal of bringing Shakespeare directly to the people who would not otherwise have the opportunity, with an emphasis on underserved rural communities. This summer, 66 percent of the communities reached by the troupe have populations of 5,000 or fewer.

All performances are free and open to the public. Audiences are encouraged to arrive early with chairs and blankets. The Double Arrow Resort will have food and drinks available for purchase.

"Richard III" kicks off the 2 Valleys Stage (2VS) 2016-2017 Season. The rest of the season line-up includes Japanese drumming by Fubuki Daiko, Oct.18; University of Montana's Celebration Brass Quintet, Nov. 20; Latin American music by Maracuja, Jan. 8; Native American culture through music, poetry and spoken word by Jack Gladstone, March 12 and a wide range of chamber music offerings by The Sapphire Trio, April 23. Season tickets may be purchased at the 2VS booth on the Double Arrow Grounds.

Alpine Artisans and 2 Valleys Stage wish to thank all the generous donors who make performances possible in Seeley Lake and Condon. Special thanks goes to the Double Arrow Lodge for providing housing for the MSIP troupe and an incredible venue for "Richard III."