Things to do in Missoula: Constitutional play, Portland indie rock (2024)

Here's a quick guide to some upcoming arts and cultural events happening around Missoula in the coming week.

‘What the Constitution Means to Me’

(Thursday-Friday, May 16-17)

The Montana Repertory Theatre is closing out a busy spring season with this (mostly) one-person show, coming on the heels of "Hip Strip Hijinks," a series of site-specific plays that sold out all but one night.

Heidi Schreck’s play centers on a 15-year-old version of herself, "whose journey to fund her college education by winning Constitutional debate competitions unfolds with humor and hope,” according to a Rep news release.

Schreck performed the piece herself on Broadway in 2019 and was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The awards site describes it as “a charming and incisive analysis of gender and racial biases inherent to the U.S. Constitution that examines how this living document could evolve to fit modern America.”

The Rep production stars Kelly Quinnett, who regulars will recognize from the production of “Go. Please. Go.,” a twisty comedy about a couple who break up but no one ever moves out of their shared apartment, and “Re-entry,” which was based on direct quotes from U.S. service members about their experiences returning home and deploying again to build an original story.

The show runs two nights only in the retro environs of the Elks Club Ballroom. The Thursday evening show is a benefit for the Rep, which is a professional theater company based at the University of Montana.

Details: 7:30 p.m. both nights in the Elks Club Ballroom. Go to montanarep.com.

Art talk at Torrents

(Thursday, May 16)

Torrents, the art program in the Confluence Center, has a show up this month that raises money for Earth Within Girls.

The two featured speakers are Erin Huffman, who grew up in Montana and spent time honing her painting in Hawaii, and fellow painter Grace Lawless,according to a news release. The two will talk about their processes and how nature informs their work.

All month, Torrents has been exhibiting an auction show, "Women: A Force of Nature," for the nonprofit.

Details: Doors at 5:30 p.m. Program runs 6-8 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Symphony’s Broadway tribute

(Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19)

In the spring, after the symphony has wrapped its final masterworks concert, they're throwing a Broadway tribute.

This year, they’ve got Missoula on the list for “Jerry Herman: The Broadway Legacy Concert,” a show that’s only playing in four cities, according to a news release.

The symphony will back performers that Herman selected (Jason Graae, Debbie Gravitte, Kelli Rabke and Ron Raines) through selection of his back catalog, which includes the shows “Mame,” “Hello Dolly!” and “La Cage aux Folles” (which inspired the film "The Birdcage.”)

Details: Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. Dennison Theatre. Go to missoulasymphony.org for tickets.

Little Red Riding Hood revisited

(Sunday, May 19)

The Sussex School Shadowcat Theatre is presenting a fresh take on the old tale.

Brennan Buhl devised the play, the director is Rosie Seitz Ayers, known for acting and comedy work, along with collaborator Ryan Eggensperger.

It promises “a whirlwind of fairy tales with a hilarious forest full of jokes and nonstop witch action,” according to a ZACC news release.

Details: 2 p.m. matinee with doors at 1:30 or 6:30 p.m. show with doors at 6. Cover is $15 or $10 for students, $5 for kids age 2 to 13, kids 2 and under are free but they have to sit on a lap. The show runs for 55 minutes with no intermission.

Indie rock at the ZACC

(Wednesday, May 22)

Dream-pop/indie rock band Bug Seance of Portland includes Missoula local Pete Benson on guitar.

You can also hear the mighty Rob Travolta, an instrumental bass-drums project led by four-stringer Rob Cave; plus post-rock/hardcore band Hibernator, who have members from around southwest Montana.

Details: ZACC Show Room, doors at 7 p.m., show at 7:30, $10 or $15-$20 to pay extra to the artist.

Quick hits

Connor Racicot Trio at Stave and Hoop: This piano trio, led by a UM music professor and backed by two students, has instrumental skills to spare with a fun variety of taste, so a set could be anything from Brad Mehldau to Radiohead and more. Saturday, May 18, 8-10 p.m., 21 and up, no cover.

Fruit Bats at the Wilma: The long-running indie rock band (jangly and folk friendly) is returning to Missoula for a Wilma show. Get a sample of their live sound with, “Starry-eyed, in Stereo,” out this year on Merge Records. The openers are David Nance and Mowed Sound, who just released a record on Jack White’s Third Man Records. Sunday, May 19, $28-32, all ages, logjampresents.com.