The critically acclaimed Broadway classic “The Music Man” opens at the Firehouse 5 Theatre on Friday, March 7 and runs through March 30. The “affectionate homage to Smalltown, U.S.A. of a bygone era” features “a nostalgic score of rousing marches, barbershop quartets, and sentimental ballads.” Harold Hill, the smooth and fast-talking salesman, hoodwinks the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize – this despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef.

Based on a story by Franklin Lacey
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Meredith Willson

The Firehouse 5 is in the Sleeping Giant Trade Center, 5237 US HWY 89 S #4, Livingston.

Tickets are $12 - Adult, $10 - College Student/Senior Citizen (60 and over), $8 - Youth (17 and under), and $5 - Youth. Box office: (406) 222-1420. Online reservations.

There will be a special Gala Benefit and performance on Saturday, March 8.

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At the Livingston Center for Art and Culture: Friday, February 29 at 6:30 PM – Artist reception for an Exhibit of Works by Tandy Riddle. Riddle creates floor cloths, tiles, and paintings. She is also a regular teacher at the Center. This interesting exhibit opened on February 19 and focuses on the art process itself. Riddle will add a new piece each day of the show. A timeline of the show’s creation will be a part of the exhibit, which runs through March 15.

On Friday, March 7 from 5:30 to 8:30 Saturday, Crazy Mountain Digital Photography will host an artist reception for Warren Mabie whose photography exhibit, “One Soldier’s View: Vietnam ‘70-’71,” will run through May 31. Mabie, a relative newcomer to Livingston, served as an army photographer during the war. Mabie was assigned to the role shortly after his arrival in-country. He began documenting the war using Army-issued cameras that were subject to the country’s high humidity. He completed his duties using a Nikkormat that he purchased himself. For those who can’t bear to see combat photography, former Lieutenant Mabie’s photos do not show the carnage of the war, but capture the day to day operations of his division, showing the war and the nature of soldiering in a different light.

Filed under: Photography, Events/Shows | 1 Comment »

The Livingston Weekly has completely revamped its Web site, and you are going to love it. Feature articles are posted as blog entries, making it possible for you to add comments. This week’s feature on the Yellowstone Gateway Museum’s Whithorn Collection of historic photographs is posted, and you can click on the article’s images to see them in a larger size. This format does justice to images. Regular columns, event listings, the dining guide, and classifieds are all there, too. Kudos to the LW crew. This is good work, and now you can view the paper from anywhere, even when you are out of town: livingstonweekly.com

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The March/April issue of AAA’s VIA magazine has been delivered to members, and is available online. Even though we’re used to seeing Livingston in print, it is a nice thing to see ArtsMontana.com covered as it nears it’s first birthday (3/27). The blessing is a little mixed, however, because a quote of mine about “gifted amateurs,” coupled with a mention of Russell Chatham, might be misunderstood. Chatham is, as most locals know, self-taught, but has been well past the usual definition of amateur for many years. The missing context (likely edited at the magazine) in this sentence pairing is that no one is asking for credentials at the door, only proven character and talent.

Local writer/photographer Lynn Donaldson wrote the piece and shot the excellent portraits. She has captured, through conversation with John Bailey, Maggie McGuane, and me, what our town is about. My favorite part was what Maggie observed, which is that downtown is still the heart of community.

Filed under: Articles/Interviews, Blog Info/News | 2 Comments »

I received this as a comment on the About page and thought it merited a post.

The Madison River Foundation announces its first annual plein air painting competition June 21-27 in Ennis MT. Top three juried pieces will receive cash prizes. Housing is provided to participants. For more information and applications to join, please contact Shay(at)3rivers(dot)net.

The Madison River Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization whose goal is to protect and enhance the river’s trout fisheries. The Foundation represents the river, and the welfare of its trout, in public policy forums and works with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Madison Valley landowners to determine the most feasible and pertinent projects.

Shay Sayre has sent me a detailed description and schedule (downloadable PDF file).

Filed under: Call for Artists/Exhibit Opportunities, Art(s) News | Add Comment »