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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260216T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260216T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260212T013136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T013138Z
UID:10130210-1771234200-1771273800@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Downtown Missoula)
DESCRIPTION:The 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival features daily screenings around Downtown Missoula at The Wilma\, Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children’s Theatre from Friday\, February 13 thru Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nNow entering its 23rd year\, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. The upcoming festival will take place February 13-22\, 2026. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20\,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with local Montana flavor. A hybrid festival\, audiences can enjoy the festival program live in unique exhibition spaces across downtown Missoula and in Big Sky’s virtual cinema from nearly anywhere in the world. Selected for 9 years running by MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee\, BSDFF is a top-100 rated festival on FilmFreeway and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short documentaries. \n\n\n\nThe annual 10-day event takes place each February in downtown Missoula\, Montana. \n\n\n\nThe festival hosts over 200 visiting artists\, presents an average of 150 non-fiction films\, and offers a variety of exciting events at the historic theater The Wilma and neighboring downtown Missoula venues. In addition to screenings\, the Big Sky DocShop is a five-day industry event that includes panels\, master classes\, workshops\, and the Big Sky Pitch session. DocShop’s participants have included: HBO Documentary Films\, Showtime Documentary Films\, Tribeca Film Institute\, Sundance Doc Fund\, The New York Times Op-Docs\, ESPN Films\, Participant Media\, BBC Storyville\, CNN Films\, ITVS\, POV\, PBS\, America ReFramed\, American Experience\, Al Jazeera\, Nia Tero\, Chicken & Egg Pictures\, Field of Vision\, Film Independent\, Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund. \n\n\n\nSpecial retrospective programs have included the films of: Barbara Kopple\, The Maysles Brothers\, Travis Wilkerson\, Joe Berlinger\, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar\, Brett Story\, Lucy Walker\, Matt Wolf\, Ondi Timoner\, Doug Pray\, Daniel Junge\, Bill & Turner Ross\, Chuck Workman\, Jeff & Michael Zimbalist\, Sam Green\, John Cohen\, EyeSteelFilm\, Jeanie Finlay\, Kartemquin Films\, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Indy Rock legends Yo La Tengo\, Comedian Tig Notaro\, Steve James (Hoop Dreams)\, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams)\, Greg Barker (Sergio)\, Joe Berlinger (Crude)\, Ron Mann (Grass)\, Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series)\, Chuck Workman (The Life & Times of Andy Warhol)\, and Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution). \n\n\n\nRecent Award winners at the festival have included: Colette (Anthony Giacchino)\, Public Trust (David Garrett Byars)\, St. Louis Superman (Smriti Mundhra\, Sami Khan)\, My Country No More (Rita Baghdadi\, Jeremiah Hammerling)\, Cradle of Champions (Bartle Bull)\, The Last of the Elephant Men (Daniel Ferguson\, Arnaud Bouquet)\, Siblings are Forever (Frode Fimland)\, A World Not Ours (Mahdi Fleifel)\, This Way Of Life (Thomas Burstyn)\, Steam of Life (Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen)\, Blood Brother (Steve Hoover)\, Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski)\, Last Train Home (Lixin Fan)\, Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor)\, Gasland (Josh Fox)\, Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto)\, Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green)\, In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar)\, and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed). Find the complete list of award winners here. \n\n\n\nPurchase Single Screening Tickets\, 5-Film Pass\, All-Screening Pass\, and All-Access VIP Pass HERE
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/23rd-annual-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-downtown-missoula/2026-02-16/
LOCATION:Downtown Missoula\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Documentaries,Festivals,Film Festivals,Movies,Short Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Big-Sky-Documentary-Film-Festival-logo-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260217T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260217T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260212T013136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T013138Z
UID:10130211-1771320600-1771360200@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Downtown Missoula)
DESCRIPTION:The 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival features daily screenings around Downtown Missoula at The Wilma\, Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children’s Theatre from Friday\, February 13 thru Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nNow entering its 23rd year\, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. The upcoming festival will take place February 13-22\, 2026. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20\,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with local Montana flavor. A hybrid festival\, audiences can enjoy the festival program live in unique exhibition spaces across downtown Missoula and in Big Sky’s virtual cinema from nearly anywhere in the world. Selected for 9 years running by MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee\, BSDFF is a top-100 rated festival on FilmFreeway and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short documentaries. \n\n\n\nThe annual 10-day event takes place each February in downtown Missoula\, Montana. \n\n\n\nThe festival hosts over 200 visiting artists\, presents an average of 150 non-fiction films\, and offers a variety of exciting events at the historic theater The Wilma and neighboring downtown Missoula venues. In addition to screenings\, the Big Sky DocShop is a five-day industry event that includes panels\, master classes\, workshops\, and the Big Sky Pitch session. DocShop’s participants have included: HBO Documentary Films\, Showtime Documentary Films\, Tribeca Film Institute\, Sundance Doc Fund\, The New York Times Op-Docs\, ESPN Films\, Participant Media\, BBC Storyville\, CNN Films\, ITVS\, POV\, PBS\, America ReFramed\, American Experience\, Al Jazeera\, Nia Tero\, Chicken & Egg Pictures\, Field of Vision\, Film Independent\, Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund. \n\n\n\nSpecial retrospective programs have included the films of: Barbara Kopple\, The Maysles Brothers\, Travis Wilkerson\, Joe Berlinger\, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar\, Brett Story\, Lucy Walker\, Matt Wolf\, Ondi Timoner\, Doug Pray\, Daniel Junge\, Bill & Turner Ross\, Chuck Workman\, Jeff & Michael Zimbalist\, Sam Green\, John Cohen\, EyeSteelFilm\, Jeanie Finlay\, Kartemquin Films\, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Indy Rock legends Yo La Tengo\, Comedian Tig Notaro\, Steve James (Hoop Dreams)\, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams)\, Greg Barker (Sergio)\, Joe Berlinger (Crude)\, Ron Mann (Grass)\, Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series)\, Chuck Workman (The Life & Times of Andy Warhol)\, and Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution). \n\n\n\nRecent Award winners at the festival have included: Colette (Anthony Giacchino)\, Public Trust (David Garrett Byars)\, St. Louis Superman (Smriti Mundhra\, Sami Khan)\, My Country No More (Rita Baghdadi\, Jeremiah Hammerling)\, Cradle of Champions (Bartle Bull)\, The Last of the Elephant Men (Daniel Ferguson\, Arnaud Bouquet)\, Siblings are Forever (Frode Fimland)\, A World Not Ours (Mahdi Fleifel)\, This Way Of Life (Thomas Burstyn)\, Steam of Life (Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen)\, Blood Brother (Steve Hoover)\, Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski)\, Last Train Home (Lixin Fan)\, Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor)\, Gasland (Josh Fox)\, Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto)\, Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green)\, In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar)\, and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed). Find the complete list of award winners here. \n\n\n\nPurchase Single Screening Tickets\, 5-Film Pass\, All-Screening Pass\, and All-Access VIP Pass HERE
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/23rd-annual-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-downtown-missoula/2026-02-17/
LOCATION:Downtown Missoula\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Documentaries,Festivals,Film Festivals,Movies,Short Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Big-Sky-Documentary-Film-Festival-logo-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260217T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260217T200000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260217T071942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260217T071944Z
UID:10130298-1771351200-1771358400@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Crazy Canyon Through-Hike to Town with Montana Dirt Girls
DESCRIPTION:Meet up at 6:00 pm Tuesday\, February 17 with Montana Dirt Girls for a shuttle up Pattee Canyon Road for a Crazy Canyon Through-Hike back to town\n\n\n\n\n\nCrazy Canyon Through-Hike to TownMeeting Location: Maurice Ave Trailhead for Sentinel\, to Carpool up to Crazy Canyon \n\n\n\nWe’ll meet up at the end of our hike location to carpool up to Crazy Canyon. At the end\, only a few gals will be needed to deliver the drivers back to Crazy Canyon. \n\n\n\nThe hike begins at the Crazy Canyon Parking Area and we’ll hike the trails and old roads up\, then down into town. ~450’ of climbing and 1200’ decent. Total distance is ~5 miles.Items to bring: \n\n\n\n\nwater                    * snacks\n\n\n\nheadlamp             * bear spray          \n\n\n\nlayers of clothing  * grippers\n\n\n\n\nWe have lots of folks coming in and out each week. \n\n\n\nHere are some good rules of thumb:* Try to get the group started soon after 6pm* Do intros\, ask if we have any new folks and get a head count* Break into groups if needed & find someone to coordinate each group* You don’t have to be the fastest in the group to lead but just make sure we don’t leave someone behind* Have fun! \n\n\n\nNote: Friendly and well-behaved dogs are welcome to join us on hikes. If your pup can be aggressive or unpredictable around other dogs/people\, please leave them at home. If your dog isn’t under voice control\, please plan to leash them up for your hike. Also\, make sure you check if the area is open to dogs. There are several closures that start Dec 1 and some are yearlong. It’s also good to know the trail-specific leash protocol.
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/crazy-canyon-through-hike-to-town-with-montana-dirt-girls/
LOCATION:Maurice and South Trailhead\, 2601 Maurice Avenue\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hiking,Outdoors,Women's Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Maurice-and-South-Trailhead-Street-Parking-Missoula-300x250-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Dirt Girls":MAILTO:montanadirtgirl@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260218T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260218T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260212T013136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T013138Z
UID:10130212-1771407000-1771446600@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Downtown Missoula)
DESCRIPTION:The 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival features daily screenings around Downtown Missoula at The Wilma\, Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children’s Theatre from Friday\, February 13 thru Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nNow entering its 23rd year\, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. The upcoming festival will take place February 13-22\, 2026. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20\,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with local Montana flavor. A hybrid festival\, audiences can enjoy the festival program live in unique exhibition spaces across downtown Missoula and in Big Sky’s virtual cinema from nearly anywhere in the world. Selected for 9 years running by MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee\, BSDFF is a top-100 rated festival on FilmFreeway and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short documentaries. \n\n\n\nThe annual 10-day event takes place each February in downtown Missoula\, Montana. \n\n\n\nThe festival hosts over 200 visiting artists\, presents an average of 150 non-fiction films\, and offers a variety of exciting events at the historic theater The Wilma and neighboring downtown Missoula venues. In addition to screenings\, the Big Sky DocShop is a five-day industry event that includes panels\, master classes\, workshops\, and the Big Sky Pitch session. DocShop’s participants have included: HBO Documentary Films\, Showtime Documentary Films\, Tribeca Film Institute\, Sundance Doc Fund\, The New York Times Op-Docs\, ESPN Films\, Participant Media\, BBC Storyville\, CNN Films\, ITVS\, POV\, PBS\, America ReFramed\, American Experience\, Al Jazeera\, Nia Tero\, Chicken & Egg Pictures\, Field of Vision\, Film Independent\, Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund. \n\n\n\nSpecial retrospective programs have included the films of: Barbara Kopple\, The Maysles Brothers\, Travis Wilkerson\, Joe Berlinger\, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar\, Brett Story\, Lucy Walker\, Matt Wolf\, Ondi Timoner\, Doug Pray\, Daniel Junge\, Bill & Turner Ross\, Chuck Workman\, Jeff & Michael Zimbalist\, Sam Green\, John Cohen\, EyeSteelFilm\, Jeanie Finlay\, Kartemquin Films\, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Indy Rock legends Yo La Tengo\, Comedian Tig Notaro\, Steve James (Hoop Dreams)\, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams)\, Greg Barker (Sergio)\, Joe Berlinger (Crude)\, Ron Mann (Grass)\, Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series)\, Chuck Workman (The Life & Times of Andy Warhol)\, and Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution). \n\n\n\nRecent Award winners at the festival have included: Colette (Anthony Giacchino)\, Public Trust (David Garrett Byars)\, St. Louis Superman (Smriti Mundhra\, Sami Khan)\, My Country No More (Rita Baghdadi\, Jeremiah Hammerling)\, Cradle of Champions (Bartle Bull)\, The Last of the Elephant Men (Daniel Ferguson\, Arnaud Bouquet)\, Siblings are Forever (Frode Fimland)\, A World Not Ours (Mahdi Fleifel)\, This Way Of Life (Thomas Burstyn)\, Steam of Life (Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen)\, Blood Brother (Steve Hoover)\, Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski)\, Last Train Home (Lixin Fan)\, Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor)\, Gasland (Josh Fox)\, Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto)\, Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green)\, In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar)\, and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed). Find the complete list of award winners here. \n\n\n\nPurchase Single Screening Tickets\, 5-Film Pass\, All-Screening Pass\, and All-Access VIP Pass HERE
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/23rd-annual-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-downtown-missoula/2026-02-18/
LOCATION:Downtown Missoula\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Documentaries,Festivals,Film Festivals,Movies,Short Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Big-Sky-Documentary-Film-Festival-logo-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260218T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260218T235900
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260218T074807Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260218T074844Z
UID:10130565-1771441200-1771459140@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Atmosphere Winter Carnival Tour with Sage Francis\, R.A. the Rugged Man\, Kool Keith and Mr. Dibbs at The Wilma
DESCRIPTION:Logjam Presents welcomes Atmosphere for a live concert performance on their 2026 Winter Carnival Tour with Sage Francis\, R.A. The Rugged Man\, Kool Keith\, and Mr. Dibbs at The Wilma in Downtown Missoula at 7:00 pm Wednesday\, February 18\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 6:00 pm \n\n\n\nLogjam Presents welcomes Atmosphere for a live concert performance on their 2026 Winter Carnival Tour with Sage Francis\, R.A. The Rugged Man\, Kool Keith\, and Mr. Dibbs at The Wilma in Downtown Missoula at 7:00 pm Wednesday\, February 18. \n\n\n\nTickets on sale at Logjam Presents Box Offices and online while supplies last. All tickets are general admission standing room only. All ages are welcome. \n\n\n\nTake a look at these tips to best prepare yourself for a smooth ticket buying experience. \n\n\n\nAdditional ticketing and venue information can be found here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout AtmosphereFor over two decades\, Atmosphere has maintained a course of rigorous output\, releasing over two dozen studio albums\, EP’s and collaborative side projects in as many years. In that time\, the venerated duo have built a legacy out of bringing honesty\, humility and vulnerability to the forefront of their music\, continually challenging themselves to evolve without straying too far from their roots. Slug has proven masterful at storytelling and writing compelling narratives\, leaving a trail of his own influence while paying homage to the rappers and songwriters that helped shape him. Ant has skillfully molded the soundtracks with inspiration from soul\, funk\, rock\, reggae\, and the wizardry of hip-hop’s pioneering DJ’s and producers\, creating his own trademark sounds while providing the pulse for songs about life\, love\, stress and setbacks. At its essence\, Atmosphere has been a musical shepherd\, and with each new album comes a new journey as they guide generations of listeners through this thing called life. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Sage FrancisSage Francis is a forefather of the indie rap movement\, the CEO of Strange Famous Records\, and is widely considered one of our generation’s greatest lyricists. His career derives mainly from gifted wordplay which creates vivid narratives to instigate as well as inspire. There’s a lot more to it\, but who has time for all that during times like these? \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout R.A. the Rugged ManR.A. The Rugged Man is one of the most fascinating figures in hip-hop history. His career spans decades\, and defies simple narratives. The Rugged Man has been an up-and-coming star\, an industry outcast banished and forgotten\, an underground cult hero\, an independent success story\, and an influential master of the art form. He can obliterate rappers with ferocious battle rhymes\, craft heartfelt personal songs fans can relate to\, offend sensitive listeners with shocking vulgarity\, challenge corrupt politicians and corporations\, paint pictures with captivating storytelling\, and deliver jaw-dropping flows that prove his lyrical skills are unmatched. He’s also worked with a staggering number of hip-hop’s most respected artists\, including legends like The Notorious B.I.G.\, Wu-Tang\, Tech N9ne\, Rakim\, Mobb Deep\, Talib Kweli\, Kool G Rap\, Public Enemy\, Brother Ali\, and many more. And while others struggle to maintain a foothold in the ever-changing rap landscape\, R.A. The Rugged Man is the rare artist who has become more relevant with time\, with each new album more compelling than the last. \n\n\n\nOriginally from Long Island’s Suffolk County\, R.A. was raised by his father\, a Vietnam veteran whose exposure to Agent Orange left two of R.A.’s siblings with severe disabilities. After building a reputation as one of the most talented unsigned MCs on the scene\, he sparked a bidding war between several major labels. R.A. eventually signed to Jive Records\, but his outspoken defiance and reckless behavior spelled the end of that deal and left him banned from venues\, labels\, and recording studios. The Rugged Man re-emerged in the late 90s\, pioneering the indie rap hustle by pressing up his own 12” singles and contributing to compilations from the celebrated Rawkus Records. He earned a Gold record for his work on the WWE Aggression album\, and his music was featured on the video game Tony Hawk’s Underground\, which sold millions of copies. \n\n\n\nR.A. then unleashed his seminal independent album Die\, Rugged Man\, Die\, along with the critically acclaimed compilation Legendary Classics. The latter included show-stealing collaborations and many of the storied tracks that fueled his rise\, including the Jedi Mind Tricks song “Uncommon Valor”\, on which the Rugged Man delivers what is widely recognized as one of the greatest verses in rap history. R.A. has also made his mark in journalism and film. He’s interviewed Academy Award winning filmmakers and world boxing champions for outlets like Complex and Vibe\, and worked as a screenwriter and director\, notably writing and producing the cult classic Bad Biology. By the time his last album Legends Never Die debuted at #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart\, R.A. was thoroughly established as an independent hip-hop icon\, playing sold-out shows across the world and drawing widespread praise for his undeniable contributions to the culture. \n\n\n\nNow\, R.A. The Rugged Man is back with All My Heroes Are Dead\, a brand new album that stands as his best work to date. “So many of the greats are gone\, and the legends who made it out alive are cast aside\,” R.A. says. “Society left our heroes and their culture for dead. We have to dig that greatness out of its grave\, and bring it back with an angry vengeance.” While Legends Never Die was dedicated to the memory of his father\, All My Heroes Are Dead is R.A.’s first album since becoming a father of two himself. “When you have children\, that’s a whole other level of joy and pain and emotion\,” he describes. “It opens whole entire universes with the pen.” The music covers a wide range of moods\, and transcends hip-hop cliches. “I didn’t want to make a whole album of just destroying rappers and rapping better than everyone.” the Rugged Man explains. “There’s a lot of places my albums take you\, and there’s way more storytelling on this one. I love to bring listeners into different worlds.” Now available worldwide\, All My Heroes Are Dead features an all-star cast of hip-hop heavyweights\, including Chuck D\, Slug of Atmosphere\, Ghostface Killah\, Immortal Technique\, Vinnie Paz\, Ice-T\, M.O.P.\, Kool G Rap\, DJ Jazzy Jeff\, Onyx\, Brand Nubian\, Chris Rivers\, Inspectah Deck\, A-F-R-O\, Masta Killa\, and more. The highly-anticipated album showcases the full scope of R.A. The Rugged Man’s considerable talent\, making it a powerful statement from an unforgettable artist. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Kool KeithAfter single-handedly redefining “warped” as the mind and mouth behind the Bronx-based Ultramagnetic MC’s\, Keith Thornton — aka Kool Keith\, Big Willie Smith\, Dr. Octagon\, Dr. Dooom\, and Tashan Dorrsett\, among other personas — headed for the outer reaches of the stratosphere with a variety of solo projects. Keith’s lyrical thematics remained as free-flowing here as they ever were with the N.Y.C. trio\, connecting up complex meters with fierce\, layers-deep metaphors and veiled criticisms of those who “water down the sound that comes from the ghetto.” His own debut single\, “Earth People” by Dr. Octagon\, was quietly released in late 1995 on the San Francisco-based Bulk Recordings\, and the track spread like wildfire through the hip-hop underground\, as did the subsequent self-titled full-length released the following year. \n\n\n\nDr. OctagonecologystFeaturing internationally renowned DJ Q-Bert (of Invisibl Skratch Piklz) on turntables\, as well as the Automator and DJ Shadow behind the boards\, Dr. Octagon’s left-field fusion of sound collage\, fierce turntable work\, and bizarre\, impressionistic rapping found audiences in the most unlikely of places\, from hardcore hip-hop heads to jaded rock critics. Although a somewhat sophomoric preoccupation with body parts and scatology tended to dominate the album\, Keith’s complex weave of associations and shifting references is quite often amazing in its intricacy. The record found its way to the U.K.-based abstract hip-hop imprint Mo’Wax (for whom Shadow also recorded) in mid-1996\, and was licensed by the label for European release. Mo’Wax also released a DJ-friendly instrumental version of the album titled\, appropriately\, The Instrumentalyst.First Come\, First Served \n\n\n\nThe widespread popularity of the album eventually landed Keith at DreamWorks in 1997. The label gave Dr. Octagon (retitled Dr. Octagonecologyst) its third release mid-year\, adding a number of bonus cuts. In early 1999\, however\, Keith’s alter ego Dr. Dooom unfortunately “killed off” Dr. Octagon on the opening track of First Come\, First Served (released on Thornton’s own Funky Ass label). Kool Keith signed to Ruffhouse/MCA for his second album under that alias\, 1999’s Black Elvis/Lost in Space. Records released as Kool Keith followed in 2000 (Matthew) and 2001 (Spankmaster)\, while the 2002 collaboration Gene appeared as KHM (Kool Keith plus H-Bomb and Marc Live). His next project was a four-rapper group named Thee Undatakerz with Keith taking on a new persona\, Reverend Tom. Kool Keith Presents Thee Undatakerz hit the streets in May 2004. Keeping busy\, Keith released Diesel Truckers in August of the same year with old friend/producer KutMasta Kurt.Official Space Tape \n\n\n\nAs if 2004 hadn’t been filled with enough Kool Keith releases\, some truly oddball ones started to appear that year. The Official Space Tape borrowed from previous releases to create the ultimate Keith mixtape; the R&B-leaning Personal Album was released in a limited edition of 500 and with a high price tag; plus the Real Talk label issued Dr. Octagon\, Pt. 2\, an unauthorized release that had little to do with the original and was quickly pulled from the shelves by court order. The next year was much calmer\, with the Global Enlightenment\, Pt. 1 DVD released at the beginning of the year\, followed by Lost Masters\, Vol. 2 in the summer. Nogatco Rd. from 2006 introduced a new character\, Mr. Nogatco (“Octagon” backwards). The UFO-obsessed album was a collaboration with producer Iz-Real. The two-CD Collabs Tape compilation and The Return of Dr. Octagon followed soon after.The Best Kept Secret \n\n\n\nIn early 2007\, Keith was part of an Ultramagnetic MC’s reunion that yielded Best Kept Secret. Tashan Dorrsett\, another concept-driven release from Keith\, was released in 2009 with the remix album The Legend of Tashan Dorrsett following in 2011. His 2012 album\, Love and Danger\, hinted at retirement with songs like “Goodbye Rap\,” but he was still in business in 2013\, making a guest appearance on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs album Mosquito. In 2015 he collaborated with L’Orange and received co-billing with the producer on their album Time? Astonishing! He also collaborated with Ray West for an album titled A Couple of Slices\, which was released as a standard LP as well as a limited deluxe edition packaged in a pizza box with a bonus 7″ and cassette. A third Tashan Dorrsett album\, The Preacher\, as well as Feature Magnetic\, which featured guest appearances by MF Doom\, Godfather Don\, Sadat X\, and others\, arrived in 2016. Keith revived Dr. Octagon two years later with Moosebumps: An Exploration into Modern Day Horripilation. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Mr. DibbsBrad Forste\,better known as Mr. Dibbs\, is a DJ and hip hop producer. The founder of the turntablist collective 1200 Hobos\, he has also appeared on numerous underground hip hop records as producer or DJ as well as releasing a number of solo works. \n\n\n\nBorn in Cincinnati\, Ohio\, Forste was introduced to DJing around 1985\, when he saw Grandmaster Flash performing on the syndicated light news/entertainment show PM Magazine\, but “didn’t really understand what he did”. \n\n\n\nAfter watching an MTV broadcast of Grand Mixer DXT performing with Herbie Hancock on the latter’s 1980 single “Rockit”\, he learned the hand motions and began to learn scratching himself. He estimates that he spent six months “getting the hang of” scratching\, subsequently spending two years “cutting and scratching to whatever was on TV” to practice. \n\n\n\nDibbs formed his own turntablist crew\, the 1200 Hobos\, in the early 1990s. The crew’s rotating line-up has included Buck 65\, Adeem\, Sixtoo\, Doseone\, Jel\, DJ Abilities\, Adverse\, and DJ Signify among others\, and at its largest numbered 23 members. \n\n\n\nThey have released two mixtapes.In addition to the 1200 Hobos\, Mr. Dibbs has also been on-off touring DJ for Minneapolis hip hop group Atmosphere (though never an official member) and\, with anticon.’s Doseone and Jel\, a member of the group Presage\, who released one album\, Outer Perimeter\, in 1998. \n\n\n\nMr. Dibbs’ “Turntable Hardcore” series of releases was notable for its genre-straddling approach\, blending a wide variety of styles along with more usual hip hop turntablism.In 1996\, Forste teamed up with graffiti magazine Scribble to put on the first Scribble Jam event as a promotion for the magazine’s launch. \n\n\n\nThe event has since become America’s largest hip hop festival\, with separate competitions for rapping\, DJing\, graffiti\, b-boying and beatboxing; its past participants and guests have included such names as Eminem\, Big Daddy Kane\, Masta Ace\, Juice\, Prince Paul\, Hi-Tek\, Rhymefest\, Sage Francis\, El-P\, Cage\, Doseone\, Atmosphere\, Buck 65 and Mr. \n\n\n\nDibbs himself.Mr. Dibbs is the founder and owner of his own label\, Self Core Records.Mr. Dibbs is now the tour DJ for rapper El-P.
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/atmosphere-winter-carnival-tour-with-sage-francis-r-a-the-rugged-man-kool-keith-and-mr-dibbs-at-the-wilma/
LOCATION:The Wilma Theater\, 131 Higgins Avenue\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:DJs,Music,R&B,Rap
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Wilma.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260218T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260218T213000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260127T062847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T062850Z
UID:10129202-1771443000-1771450200@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Montana Repertory Theatre "Can't Drink Salt Water" with UM School of Theatre & Dance at UM Montana Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s “Can’t Drink Salt Water” with the UM School of Theatre & Dance in the Montana Theatre with performances from Saturday\, February 14 through Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 30 minutes before show time \n\n\n\nWith transformative support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and in partnership with UM School of Theatre and Dance\, Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s Can’t Drink Salt Water. The opening night of this gripping new play will take place Saturday\, February 14\, 2026 in the Montana Theatre on the UM Campus (PARTV Building)\, with eight additional performances following\, through February 22. \n\n\n\nJuxtaposing a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House\, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking\, this timely story weaves together Native identity\, maternal grief\, contemporary religious faith\, humor\, and a call to action. The production showcases professional Indigenous talent from across the country\, including cast members Allison Hicks\, Jennifer Rader\, Serenity Mariana\, and Bradley Lewis\, costumes by Asa Benally\, lighting design by Emma Deane\, sound design by Rory Stitt\, and mask design and creation by Cannupa Hanska Luger. As a co-production\, it showcases UM student actors\, designers\, and crew alongside the professionals. The cast includes students Shadie Wallette\, who previously performed in the 2023 staged reading\, and Octavio Jimenez\, who has toured the state over the past year with State of Mind\, a collaboration between The Rep and the University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. UM Students in the crew include Ronnie Avansino as the Props Designer\, Rae Scott as the Assistant Stage Manager\, and Aaron Prati as the Assistant Lighting Designer. The playwright\, Kendra Mylnechuk Potter\, is a University of Montana alum\, and is based in Missoula. \n\n\n\n“I am humbled to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many artists in this meaningful way. And for the work to get to live on this particular stage where I first worked over 20 years ago as a student\, my “home stage” as it were\, is a straight up dream\,” Potter said. “The caliber of work – soup to nuts – from designers through performers\, is just such a treat for our town to get to share in\, and getting to mingle seasoned professionals at the top of their craft while highlighting the talent here in town with that of our UM student artists is a joy that brings this experience additional heart. My sincere hope is that we are able to provide a theatrical experience that feels like a useful contribution to the issues we seek to address: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People\, community care\, ecosystems\, and seeing what (and who) has been here all along.” \n\n\n\n“The School of Theatre and Dance is proud to partner with Montana Repertory Theatre to tell this vital story. We are so grateful to the Native artists\, The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and to all involved for sharing their artistry\, talents and resources with our students and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the Montana Theatre to see Can’t Drink Salt Water\,” said Bernadette Sweeney\, Director of UM School of Theatre and Dance. \n\n\n\n This project began in 2019 with the idea to commission an original work from an Indigenous artist\, grounded in The Rep’s action-oriented Land Acknowledgement: “Montana Repertory Theatre acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We also acknowledge the privilege of gathering on this land to share stories. We pledge to always hold a place on our stages for the stories of this land and of its first peoples.” The original commission was supported by the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky\, Montana\, and this story was chosen by a nationwide team of Indigenous artists\, including Lily Gladstone\, DeLanna Studi\, Madeline Sayet\, and Andre Bouchard. \n\n\n\n“The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) is thrilled to see the next phase of Can’t Drink Salt Water coming to life in Missoula this spring. Any chance we can get to help support new\, adventurous work like the piece that Kendra Mylnechuk Potter has created\, we’re fully on board\, especially when it comes to cultural realities that authentically embody lived experiences here in Montana\,” said John Zirkle\, Executive Director / Artistic Director at WMPAC. \n\n\n\nThis production is supported by a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Founded in 2014 by Roy Cockrum and Benita Hofstetter Koman with winnings from Mr. Cockrum’s Powerball lottery jackpot\, the Foundation’s mission is to award grants to support world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout America. Since 2014\, 76 American theaters and performing arts organizations have received major grants from the Foundation. Inspiration for its mission derives from a Camus quote:“Without culture\, and the relative freedom it implies\, society\, even when perfect\, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.” ― Albert Camus\, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays.This performance includes mature themes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets LINK
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/montana-repertory-theatre-cant-drink-salt-water-with-um-school-of-theatre-dance-at-um-montana-theatre/2026-02-18/
LOCATION:UM Montana Theatre\, 32 Campus Drive\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Indigenous,Play,Theatrical Plays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UM-Montana-Theatre.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Repertory Theater":MAILTO:Salina.Chatlain@MontanaRep.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260219T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260219T220000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260212T013136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T013138Z
UID:10130213-1771491600-1771538400@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Downtown Missoula)
DESCRIPTION:The 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival features daily screenings around Downtown Missoula at The Wilma\, Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children’s Theatre from Friday\, February 13 thru Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nNow entering its 23rd year\, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. The upcoming festival will take place February 13-22\, 2026. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20\,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with local Montana flavor. A hybrid festival\, audiences can enjoy the festival program live in unique exhibition spaces across downtown Missoula and in Big Sky’s virtual cinema from nearly anywhere in the world. Selected for 9 years running by MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee\, BSDFF is a top-100 rated festival on FilmFreeway and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short documentaries. \n\n\n\nThe annual 10-day event takes place each February in downtown Missoula\, Montana. \n\n\n\nThe festival hosts over 200 visiting artists\, presents an average of 150 non-fiction films\, and offers a variety of exciting events at the historic theater The Wilma and neighboring downtown Missoula venues. In addition to screenings\, the Big Sky DocShop is a five-day industry event that includes panels\, master classes\, workshops\, and the Big Sky Pitch session. DocShop’s participants have included: HBO Documentary Films\, Showtime Documentary Films\, Tribeca Film Institute\, Sundance Doc Fund\, The New York Times Op-Docs\, ESPN Films\, Participant Media\, BBC Storyville\, CNN Films\, ITVS\, POV\, PBS\, America ReFramed\, American Experience\, Al Jazeera\, Nia Tero\, Chicken & Egg Pictures\, Field of Vision\, Film Independent\, Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund. \n\n\n\nSpecial retrospective programs have included the films of: Barbara Kopple\, The Maysles Brothers\, Travis Wilkerson\, Joe Berlinger\, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar\, Brett Story\, Lucy Walker\, Matt Wolf\, Ondi Timoner\, Doug Pray\, Daniel Junge\, Bill & Turner Ross\, Chuck Workman\, Jeff & Michael Zimbalist\, Sam Green\, John Cohen\, EyeSteelFilm\, Jeanie Finlay\, Kartemquin Films\, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Indy Rock legends Yo La Tengo\, Comedian Tig Notaro\, Steve James (Hoop Dreams)\, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams)\, Greg Barker (Sergio)\, Joe Berlinger (Crude)\, Ron Mann (Grass)\, Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series)\, Chuck Workman (The Life & Times of Andy Warhol)\, and Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution). \n\n\n\nRecent Award winners at the festival have included: Colette (Anthony Giacchino)\, Public Trust (David Garrett Byars)\, St. Louis Superman (Smriti Mundhra\, Sami Khan)\, My Country No More (Rita Baghdadi\, Jeremiah Hammerling)\, Cradle of Champions (Bartle Bull)\, The Last of the Elephant Men (Daniel Ferguson\, Arnaud Bouquet)\, Siblings are Forever (Frode Fimland)\, A World Not Ours (Mahdi Fleifel)\, This Way Of Life (Thomas Burstyn)\, Steam of Life (Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen)\, Blood Brother (Steve Hoover)\, Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski)\, Last Train Home (Lixin Fan)\, Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor)\, Gasland (Josh Fox)\, Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto)\, Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green)\, In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar)\, and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed). Find the complete list of award winners here. \n\n\n\nPurchase Single Screening Tickets\, 5-Film Pass\, All-Screening Pass\, and All-Access VIP Pass HERE
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/23rd-annual-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-downtown-missoula/2026-02-19/
LOCATION:Downtown Missoula\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Documentaries,Festivals,Film Festivals,Movies,Short Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Big-Sky-Documentary-Film-Festival-logo-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260219T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260219T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260213T060619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T060621Z
UID:10130273-1771527600-1771533000@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:"Kinship Medicine" author Wendy Johnson\, MD\, MPH in conversation with Robin McLean at Fact & Fiction
DESCRIPTION:“Kinship Medicine” author Wendy Johnson\, MD\, MPH will be in conversation with Robin McLean at Fact & Fiction in Downtown Missoula at 7:00 pm Thursday\, February 19\n\n\n\n\n\nKINSHIP MEDICINE: Cultivating Interdependence to Heal the Earth and Ourselves is based in the premise that our well-being is rooted in relationships and connection–with each other and the natural world. Western medicine sees our bodies as machines to be repaired\, but a more apt metaphor would be a garden\, we are a part of nature. Your body itself is an ecosystem\, existing inside progressively larger ecosystems until we consider the whole earth itself. We cannot be truly healthy when those ecosystems are sick and dying. Our modern way of living in most of the Western World is incompatible with maintaining the healthy ecosystems on which we depend. KINSHIP MEDICINE is aimed at raising awareness of the deep connection between our well being and the health of the natural world. \n\n\n\nDr. Wendy Johnson is a family physician\, public health professor\, activist and writer who has spent her life advocating for a world where everyone can live long lives in equitable communities. Her career includes stints scaling up HIV treatment in Mozambique\, overseeing and urban health department\, and most recently\, directing a community clinic in Santa Fe. She has a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins and hold faculty appointments at the University of Washington and the Universtiy of New Mexico. She currently practices family and addiction medicine in rural Northern New Mexico with El Centro Family Health. Dr. Johnson has been a vocal activist on many progressive issues locally and globally and is a two time TEDx speaker. \n\n\n\nRobin McLean worked as a lawyer and then a potter in the woods of Alaska before turning to writing. Her first story collection Reptile House won the BOA Editions Fiction Prize\, was twice a finalist for the Flannery O’Connor Prize\, and was noted as a best book of 2015 in Paris Review. Her debut novel Pity the Beast was published Nov. 2o21 by And Other Stories was noted as a best book of fiction of the year in such outlets as The Guardian\, Wall Street Journal\, White Review\, and long-listed for the Reading the West Prize. It was a recommended paperback in the NYTimes in Nov 2022. Her second story collection\, Get’em Young\, Treat’em Tough\, Tell’em Nothing was published by And Other Stories in Oct. 2022\, was an Editors’ Choice in the NY Times\, and was longlisted for the 2022 Republic of Consciousness Prize.
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/kinship-medicine-author-wendy-johnson-md-mph-in-conversation-with-robin-mclean-at-fact-fiction/
LOCATION:Fact & Fiction\, 220 N. Higgins Avenue\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Author Live Reading,Book Readings,Book Signing,Literature
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Fact-and-Fiction-logo-PNG.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260219T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260219T213000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260127T062847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T062850Z
UID:10129203-1771529400-1771536600@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Montana Repertory Theatre "Can't Drink Salt Water" with UM School of Theatre & Dance at UM Montana Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s “Can’t Drink Salt Water” with the UM School of Theatre & Dance in the Montana Theatre with performances from Saturday\, February 14 through Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 30 minutes before show time \n\n\n\nWith transformative support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and in partnership with UM School of Theatre and Dance\, Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s Can’t Drink Salt Water. The opening night of this gripping new play will take place Saturday\, February 14\, 2026 in the Montana Theatre on the UM Campus (PARTV Building)\, with eight additional performances following\, through February 22. \n\n\n\nJuxtaposing a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House\, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking\, this timely story weaves together Native identity\, maternal grief\, contemporary religious faith\, humor\, and a call to action. The production showcases professional Indigenous talent from across the country\, including cast members Allison Hicks\, Jennifer Rader\, Serenity Mariana\, and Bradley Lewis\, costumes by Asa Benally\, lighting design by Emma Deane\, sound design by Rory Stitt\, and mask design and creation by Cannupa Hanska Luger. As a co-production\, it showcases UM student actors\, designers\, and crew alongside the professionals. The cast includes students Shadie Wallette\, who previously performed in the 2023 staged reading\, and Octavio Jimenez\, who has toured the state over the past year with State of Mind\, a collaboration between The Rep and the University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. UM Students in the crew include Ronnie Avansino as the Props Designer\, Rae Scott as the Assistant Stage Manager\, and Aaron Prati as the Assistant Lighting Designer. The playwright\, Kendra Mylnechuk Potter\, is a University of Montana alum\, and is based in Missoula. \n\n\n\n“I am humbled to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many artists in this meaningful way. And for the work to get to live on this particular stage where I first worked over 20 years ago as a student\, my “home stage” as it were\, is a straight up dream\,” Potter said. “The caliber of work – soup to nuts – from designers through performers\, is just such a treat for our town to get to share in\, and getting to mingle seasoned professionals at the top of their craft while highlighting the talent here in town with that of our UM student artists is a joy that brings this experience additional heart. My sincere hope is that we are able to provide a theatrical experience that feels like a useful contribution to the issues we seek to address: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People\, community care\, ecosystems\, and seeing what (and who) has been here all along.” \n\n\n\n“The School of Theatre and Dance is proud to partner with Montana Repertory Theatre to tell this vital story. We are so grateful to the Native artists\, The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and to all involved for sharing their artistry\, talents and resources with our students and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the Montana Theatre to see Can’t Drink Salt Water\,” said Bernadette Sweeney\, Director of UM School of Theatre and Dance. \n\n\n\n This project began in 2019 with the idea to commission an original work from an Indigenous artist\, grounded in The Rep’s action-oriented Land Acknowledgement: “Montana Repertory Theatre acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We also acknowledge the privilege of gathering on this land to share stories. We pledge to always hold a place on our stages for the stories of this land and of its first peoples.” The original commission was supported by the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky\, Montana\, and this story was chosen by a nationwide team of Indigenous artists\, including Lily Gladstone\, DeLanna Studi\, Madeline Sayet\, and Andre Bouchard. \n\n\n\n“The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) is thrilled to see the next phase of Can’t Drink Salt Water coming to life in Missoula this spring. Any chance we can get to help support new\, adventurous work like the piece that Kendra Mylnechuk Potter has created\, we’re fully on board\, especially when it comes to cultural realities that authentically embody lived experiences here in Montana\,” said John Zirkle\, Executive Director / Artistic Director at WMPAC. \n\n\n\nThis production is supported by a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Founded in 2014 by Roy Cockrum and Benita Hofstetter Koman with winnings from Mr. Cockrum’s Powerball lottery jackpot\, the Foundation’s mission is to award grants to support world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout America. Since 2014\, 76 American theaters and performing arts organizations have received major grants from the Foundation. Inspiration for its mission derives from a Camus quote:“Without culture\, and the relative freedom it implies\, society\, even when perfect\, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.” ― Albert Camus\, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays.This performance includes mature themes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets LINK
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/montana-repertory-theatre-cant-drink-salt-water-with-um-school-of-theatre-dance-at-um-montana-theatre/2026-02-19/
LOCATION:UM Montana Theatre\, 32 Campus Drive\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Indigenous,Play,Theatrical Plays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UM-Montana-Theatre.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Repertory Theater":MAILTO:Salina.Chatlain@MontanaRep.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260220T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260220T220000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260212T013136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T013138Z
UID:10130214-1771581600-1771624800@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Downtown Missoula)
DESCRIPTION:The 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival features daily screenings around Downtown Missoula at The Wilma\, Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children’s Theatre from Friday\, February 13 thru Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nNow entering its 23rd year\, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. The upcoming festival will take place February 13-22\, 2026. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20\,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with local Montana flavor. A hybrid festival\, audiences can enjoy the festival program live in unique exhibition spaces across downtown Missoula and in Big Sky’s virtual cinema from nearly anywhere in the world. Selected for 9 years running by MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee\, BSDFF is a top-100 rated festival on FilmFreeway and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short documentaries. \n\n\n\nThe annual 10-day event takes place each February in downtown Missoula\, Montana. \n\n\n\nThe festival hosts over 200 visiting artists\, presents an average of 150 non-fiction films\, and offers a variety of exciting events at the historic theater The Wilma and neighboring downtown Missoula venues. In addition to screenings\, the Big Sky DocShop is a five-day industry event that includes panels\, master classes\, workshops\, and the Big Sky Pitch session. DocShop’s participants have included: HBO Documentary Films\, Showtime Documentary Films\, Tribeca Film Institute\, Sundance Doc Fund\, The New York Times Op-Docs\, ESPN Films\, Participant Media\, BBC Storyville\, CNN Films\, ITVS\, POV\, PBS\, America ReFramed\, American Experience\, Al Jazeera\, Nia Tero\, Chicken & Egg Pictures\, Field of Vision\, Film Independent\, Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund. \n\n\n\nSpecial retrospective programs have included the films of: Barbara Kopple\, The Maysles Brothers\, Travis Wilkerson\, Joe Berlinger\, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar\, Brett Story\, Lucy Walker\, Matt Wolf\, Ondi Timoner\, Doug Pray\, Daniel Junge\, Bill & Turner Ross\, Chuck Workman\, Jeff & Michael Zimbalist\, Sam Green\, John Cohen\, EyeSteelFilm\, Jeanie Finlay\, Kartemquin Films\, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Indy Rock legends Yo La Tengo\, Comedian Tig Notaro\, Steve James (Hoop Dreams)\, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams)\, Greg Barker (Sergio)\, Joe Berlinger (Crude)\, Ron Mann (Grass)\, Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series)\, Chuck Workman (The Life & Times of Andy Warhol)\, and Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution). \n\n\n\nRecent Award winners at the festival have included: Colette (Anthony Giacchino)\, Public Trust (David Garrett Byars)\, St. Louis Superman (Smriti Mundhra\, Sami Khan)\, My Country No More (Rita Baghdadi\, Jeremiah Hammerling)\, Cradle of Champions (Bartle Bull)\, The Last of the Elephant Men (Daniel Ferguson\, Arnaud Bouquet)\, Siblings are Forever (Frode Fimland)\, A World Not Ours (Mahdi Fleifel)\, This Way Of Life (Thomas Burstyn)\, Steam of Life (Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen)\, Blood Brother (Steve Hoover)\, Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski)\, Last Train Home (Lixin Fan)\, Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor)\, Gasland (Josh Fox)\, Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto)\, Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green)\, In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar)\, and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed). Find the complete list of award winners here. \n\n\n\nPurchase Single Screening Tickets\, 5-Film Pass\, All-Screening Pass\, and All-Access VIP Pass HERE
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/23rd-annual-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-downtown-missoula/2026-02-20/
LOCATION:Downtown Missoula\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Documentaries,Festivals,Film Festivals,Movies,Short Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Big-Sky-Documentary-Film-Festival-logo-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260220T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260220T213000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260127T062847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T062850Z
UID:10129204-1771615800-1771623000@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Montana Repertory Theatre "Can't Drink Salt Water" with UM School of Theatre & Dance at UM Montana Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s “Can’t Drink Salt Water” with the UM School of Theatre & Dance in the Montana Theatre with performances from Saturday\, February 14 through Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 30 minutes before show time \n\n\n\nWith transformative support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and in partnership with UM School of Theatre and Dance\, Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s Can’t Drink Salt Water. The opening night of this gripping new play will take place Saturday\, February 14\, 2026 in the Montana Theatre on the UM Campus (PARTV Building)\, with eight additional performances following\, through February 22. \n\n\n\nJuxtaposing a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House\, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking\, this timely story weaves together Native identity\, maternal grief\, contemporary religious faith\, humor\, and a call to action. The production showcases professional Indigenous talent from across the country\, including cast members Allison Hicks\, Jennifer Rader\, Serenity Mariana\, and Bradley Lewis\, costumes by Asa Benally\, lighting design by Emma Deane\, sound design by Rory Stitt\, and mask design and creation by Cannupa Hanska Luger. As a co-production\, it showcases UM student actors\, designers\, and crew alongside the professionals. The cast includes students Shadie Wallette\, who previously performed in the 2023 staged reading\, and Octavio Jimenez\, who has toured the state over the past year with State of Mind\, a collaboration between The Rep and the University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. UM Students in the crew include Ronnie Avansino as the Props Designer\, Rae Scott as the Assistant Stage Manager\, and Aaron Prati as the Assistant Lighting Designer. The playwright\, Kendra Mylnechuk Potter\, is a University of Montana alum\, and is based in Missoula. \n\n\n\n“I am humbled to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many artists in this meaningful way. And for the work to get to live on this particular stage where I first worked over 20 years ago as a student\, my “home stage” as it were\, is a straight up dream\,” Potter said. “The caliber of work – soup to nuts – from designers through performers\, is just such a treat for our town to get to share in\, and getting to mingle seasoned professionals at the top of their craft while highlighting the talent here in town with that of our UM student artists is a joy that brings this experience additional heart. My sincere hope is that we are able to provide a theatrical experience that feels like a useful contribution to the issues we seek to address: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People\, community care\, ecosystems\, and seeing what (and who) has been here all along.” \n\n\n\n“The School of Theatre and Dance is proud to partner with Montana Repertory Theatre to tell this vital story. We are so grateful to the Native artists\, The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and to all involved for sharing their artistry\, talents and resources with our students and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the Montana Theatre to see Can’t Drink Salt Water\,” said Bernadette Sweeney\, Director of UM School of Theatre and Dance. \n\n\n\n This project began in 2019 with the idea to commission an original work from an Indigenous artist\, grounded in The Rep’s action-oriented Land Acknowledgement: “Montana Repertory Theatre acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We also acknowledge the privilege of gathering on this land to share stories. We pledge to always hold a place on our stages for the stories of this land and of its first peoples.” The original commission was supported by the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky\, Montana\, and this story was chosen by a nationwide team of Indigenous artists\, including Lily Gladstone\, DeLanna Studi\, Madeline Sayet\, and Andre Bouchard. \n\n\n\n“The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) is thrilled to see the next phase of Can’t Drink Salt Water coming to life in Missoula this spring. Any chance we can get to help support new\, adventurous work like the piece that Kendra Mylnechuk Potter has created\, we’re fully on board\, especially when it comes to cultural realities that authentically embody lived experiences here in Montana\,” said John Zirkle\, Executive Director / Artistic Director at WMPAC. \n\n\n\nThis production is supported by a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Founded in 2014 by Roy Cockrum and Benita Hofstetter Koman with winnings from Mr. Cockrum’s Powerball lottery jackpot\, the Foundation’s mission is to award grants to support world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout America. Since 2014\, 76 American theaters and performing arts organizations have received major grants from the Foundation. Inspiration for its mission derives from a Camus quote:“Without culture\, and the relative freedom it implies\, society\, even when perfect\, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.” ― Albert Camus\, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays.This performance includes mature themes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets LINK
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/montana-repertory-theatre-cant-drink-salt-water-with-um-school-of-theatre-dance-at-um-montana-theatre/2026-02-20/
LOCATION:UM Montana Theatre\, 32 Campus Drive\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Indigenous,Play,Theatrical Plays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UM-Montana-Theatre.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Repertory Theater":MAILTO:Salina.Chatlain@MontanaRep.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260220T230000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260221T020000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260218T081710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260218T081712Z
UID:10130566-1771628400-1771639200@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Maddy O'Neal "Creatures of My Mind" Winter Tour with Artifakts at The Top Hat
DESCRIPTION:Logjam Presents welcomes Maddy O’Neal for a live performance on the “Creatures of My Mind” Winter Tour with special guest Artifakts at the Top Hat in Downtown Missoula at 11:00 pm Friday\, February 20\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 10:00 pm \n\n\n\nLogjam Presents welcomes Maddy O’Neal for a live performance on the “Creatures of My Mind” Winter Tour with special guest Artifakts at the Top Hat in Downtown Missoula at 11:00 pm Friday\, February 20. \n\n\n\nTickets on sale at Logjam Presents Box Offices and online while supplies last. All tickets are general admission standing room only with limited bench seating. All ages are welcome. \n\n\n\nTake a look at these tips to best prepare yourself for a smooth ticket buying experience. \n\n\n\nAdditional ticketing and venue information can be found here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout Maddy O’NealMaddy O’Neal’s music embodies a rich tapestry of genres within bass music. Her sound\, characterized by lush future textures and atmospheric layers\, draws heavily from her roots in funk and soul. These influences meld with deep melodic bass frequencies and innovative synth designs\, creating a unique sonic space within the electro-soul and bass music communities. Coming up in the Denver scene from 2011 and newly a Los Angeles resident\, Maddy has carved out her distinct niche\, infusing her productions with a signature blend of soulful melodies\, driving basslines\, and glitchy hip-hop rhythms. \n\n\n\nAs a self-taught producer and DJ with a creatively charged background\, Maddy’s live performances are dynamic and immersive. She crafts a narrative journey through her sets\, mixing original compositions with drum pad sequences and diverse tracks ranging from gritty\, low-end bangers to shimmering\, mid-tempo vocal bass and head-nodding disco beats. Her relentless touring schedule\, boasting numerous shows annually for the past five years\, Maddy showcases her unstoppable momentum and ability to energize audiences nationwide. \n\n\n\nMaddy’s discography includes standout tracks like “Zest Please\,” a collaboration with CloZee that garnered over 4 million Spotify plays. Her impressive body of work also features two full length LP’s – “Ricochet” released in 2023 which really began her ascent into the stratosphere and Vital Signs in 2024 which gained credits by publications like billboard and forbes. Her most recent and heaviest EP to date “Creatures Of My Mind” EP showcase Maddy O’Neal’s dynamic range\, sound design and genre-blending prowess. Her extensive catalogue features a discography full soulful\, funky bass music with elements of future bass\, hip-hop\, and electronic vibes.  \n\n\n\nMaddy O’Neal has graced the stages of major festivals including Coachella\, Lollapalooza\, Electric Forest\, Bonnaroo\, Red Rocks (x5)\, to name a few. She has toured with and supported renowned artists such as Pretty Lights\, Griz\, Clozee\, LSDream\, Daily Bread\, Of The Trees\, Big Gigantic\, Liquid Stranger and more. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout ArtifaktsArtifakts is the multimedia undertaking of Garret Meyer that blurs the line between electronic genres. An ever-evolving artist\, Artifakts established his project in 2011 and has been able to break out of the confines of modern electronic music while also contributing to the project both sonically and visually. Landing noteworthy shows across the country with a wide array of both live and DJ sets\, this producer has shown his belonging among the ranks of seasoned beat makers. \n\n\n\nSince 2012 Artifakts has worked with a plethora of renown musicians\, labels and producers both musically and in design to provide a unique catalog of music and art very much rooted in the indie-electronic community. While toting a discography frequently favorited by study/relax playlists\, an Artifakts performance is anything but stringent in style\, often showcasing genres from current bass music to classic grooves\, rap flips\, and anything in between.
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/maddy-oneal-creatures-of-my-mind-winter-tour-with-artifakts-at-the-top-hat/
LOCATION:Top Hat\, 134 W. Front Street\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bass Music,Dance Parties,DJs,EDM,Electronic,Funk,Funky,Hip Hop,Music,Soul
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/The-Top-Hat-Lounge-e1585257580391.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260221T121500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260221T214500
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260212T013136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T013138Z
UID:10130215-1771676100-1771710300@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Downtown Missoula)
DESCRIPTION:The 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival features daily screenings around Downtown Missoula at The Wilma\, Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children’s Theatre from Friday\, February 13 thru Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nNow entering its 23rd year\, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. The upcoming festival will take place February 13-22\, 2026. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20\,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with local Montana flavor. A hybrid festival\, audiences can enjoy the festival program live in unique exhibition spaces across downtown Missoula and in Big Sky’s virtual cinema from nearly anywhere in the world. Selected for 9 years running by MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee\, BSDFF is a top-100 rated festival on FilmFreeway and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short documentaries. \n\n\n\nThe annual 10-day event takes place each February in downtown Missoula\, Montana. \n\n\n\nThe festival hosts over 200 visiting artists\, presents an average of 150 non-fiction films\, and offers a variety of exciting events at the historic theater The Wilma and neighboring downtown Missoula venues. In addition to screenings\, the Big Sky DocShop is a five-day industry event that includes panels\, master classes\, workshops\, and the Big Sky Pitch session. DocShop’s participants have included: HBO Documentary Films\, Showtime Documentary Films\, Tribeca Film Institute\, Sundance Doc Fund\, The New York Times Op-Docs\, ESPN Films\, Participant Media\, BBC Storyville\, CNN Films\, ITVS\, POV\, PBS\, America ReFramed\, American Experience\, Al Jazeera\, Nia Tero\, Chicken & Egg Pictures\, Field of Vision\, Film Independent\, Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund. \n\n\n\nSpecial retrospective programs have included the films of: Barbara Kopple\, The Maysles Brothers\, Travis Wilkerson\, Joe Berlinger\, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar\, Brett Story\, Lucy Walker\, Matt Wolf\, Ondi Timoner\, Doug Pray\, Daniel Junge\, Bill & Turner Ross\, Chuck Workman\, Jeff & Michael Zimbalist\, Sam Green\, John Cohen\, EyeSteelFilm\, Jeanie Finlay\, Kartemquin Films\, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Indy Rock legends Yo La Tengo\, Comedian Tig Notaro\, Steve James (Hoop Dreams)\, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams)\, Greg Barker (Sergio)\, Joe Berlinger (Crude)\, Ron Mann (Grass)\, Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series)\, Chuck Workman (The Life & Times of Andy Warhol)\, and Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution). \n\n\n\nRecent Award winners at the festival have included: Colette (Anthony Giacchino)\, Public Trust (David Garrett Byars)\, St. Louis Superman (Smriti Mundhra\, Sami Khan)\, My Country No More (Rita Baghdadi\, Jeremiah Hammerling)\, Cradle of Champions (Bartle Bull)\, The Last of the Elephant Men (Daniel Ferguson\, Arnaud Bouquet)\, Siblings are Forever (Frode Fimland)\, A World Not Ours (Mahdi Fleifel)\, This Way Of Life (Thomas Burstyn)\, Steam of Life (Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen)\, Blood Brother (Steve Hoover)\, Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski)\, Last Train Home (Lixin Fan)\, Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor)\, Gasland (Josh Fox)\, Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto)\, Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green)\, In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar)\, and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed). Find the complete list of award winners here. \n\n\n\nPurchase Single Screening Tickets\, 5-Film Pass\, All-Screening Pass\, and All-Access VIP Pass HERE
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/23rd-annual-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-downtown-missoula/2026-02-21/
LOCATION:Downtown Missoula\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Documentaries,Festivals,Film Festivals,Movies,Short Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Big-Sky-Documentary-Film-Festival-logo-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260221T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260221T160000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260127T062847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T062850Z
UID:10129205-1771682400-1771689600@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Montana Repertory Theatre "Can't Drink Salt Water" with UM School of Theatre & Dance at UM Montana Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s “Can’t Drink Salt Water” with the UM School of Theatre & Dance in the Montana Theatre with performances from Saturday\, February 14 through Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 30 minutes before show time \n\n\n\nWith transformative support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and in partnership with UM School of Theatre and Dance\, Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s Can’t Drink Salt Water. The opening night of this gripping new play will take place Saturday\, February 14\, 2026 in the Montana Theatre on the UM Campus (PARTV Building)\, with eight additional performances following\, through February 22. \n\n\n\nJuxtaposing a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House\, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking\, this timely story weaves together Native identity\, maternal grief\, contemporary religious faith\, humor\, and a call to action. The production showcases professional Indigenous talent from across the country\, including cast members Allison Hicks\, Jennifer Rader\, Serenity Mariana\, and Bradley Lewis\, costumes by Asa Benally\, lighting design by Emma Deane\, sound design by Rory Stitt\, and mask design and creation by Cannupa Hanska Luger. As a co-production\, it showcases UM student actors\, designers\, and crew alongside the professionals. The cast includes students Shadie Wallette\, who previously performed in the 2023 staged reading\, and Octavio Jimenez\, who has toured the state over the past year with State of Mind\, a collaboration between The Rep and the University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. UM Students in the crew include Ronnie Avansino as the Props Designer\, Rae Scott as the Assistant Stage Manager\, and Aaron Prati as the Assistant Lighting Designer. The playwright\, Kendra Mylnechuk Potter\, is a University of Montana alum\, and is based in Missoula. \n\n\n\n“I am humbled to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many artists in this meaningful way. And for the work to get to live on this particular stage where I first worked over 20 years ago as a student\, my “home stage” as it were\, is a straight up dream\,” Potter said. “The caliber of work – soup to nuts – from designers through performers\, is just such a treat for our town to get to share in\, and getting to mingle seasoned professionals at the top of their craft while highlighting the talent here in town with that of our UM student artists is a joy that brings this experience additional heart. My sincere hope is that we are able to provide a theatrical experience that feels like a useful contribution to the issues we seek to address: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People\, community care\, ecosystems\, and seeing what (and who) has been here all along.” \n\n\n\n“The School of Theatre and Dance is proud to partner with Montana Repertory Theatre to tell this vital story. We are so grateful to the Native artists\, The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and to all involved for sharing their artistry\, talents and resources with our students and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the Montana Theatre to see Can’t Drink Salt Water\,” said Bernadette Sweeney\, Director of UM School of Theatre and Dance. \n\n\n\n This project began in 2019 with the idea to commission an original work from an Indigenous artist\, grounded in The Rep’s action-oriented Land Acknowledgement: “Montana Repertory Theatre acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We also acknowledge the privilege of gathering on this land to share stories. We pledge to always hold a place on our stages for the stories of this land and of its first peoples.” The original commission was supported by the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky\, Montana\, and this story was chosen by a nationwide team of Indigenous artists\, including Lily Gladstone\, DeLanna Studi\, Madeline Sayet\, and Andre Bouchard. \n\n\n\n“The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) is thrilled to see the next phase of Can’t Drink Salt Water coming to life in Missoula this spring. Any chance we can get to help support new\, adventurous work like the piece that Kendra Mylnechuk Potter has created\, we’re fully on board\, especially when it comes to cultural realities that authentically embody lived experiences here in Montana\,” said John Zirkle\, Executive Director / Artistic Director at WMPAC. \n\n\n\nThis production is supported by a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Founded in 2014 by Roy Cockrum and Benita Hofstetter Koman with winnings from Mr. Cockrum’s Powerball lottery jackpot\, the Foundation’s mission is to award grants to support world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout America. Since 2014\, 76 American theaters and performing arts organizations have received major grants from the Foundation. Inspiration for its mission derives from a Camus quote:“Without culture\, and the relative freedom it implies\, society\, even when perfect\, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.” ― Albert Camus\, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays.This performance includes mature themes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets LINK
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/montana-repertory-theatre-cant-drink-salt-water-with-um-school-of-theatre-dance-at-um-montana-theatre/2026-02-21/1/
LOCATION:UM Montana Theatre\, 32 Campus Drive\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Indigenous,Play,Theatrical Plays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UM-Montana-Theatre.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Repertory Theater":MAILTO:Salina.Chatlain@MontanaRep.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260221T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260221T213000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013556
CREATED:20260127T062847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T062850Z
UID:10129206-1771702200-1771709400@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Montana Repertory Theatre "Can't Drink Salt Water" with UM School of Theatre & Dance at UM Montana Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s “Can’t Drink Salt Water” with the UM School of Theatre & Dance in the Montana Theatre with performances from Saturday\, February 14 through Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 30 minutes before show time \n\n\n\nWith transformative support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and in partnership with UM School of Theatre and Dance\, Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s Can’t Drink Salt Water. The opening night of this gripping new play will take place Saturday\, February 14\, 2026 in the Montana Theatre on the UM Campus (PARTV Building)\, with eight additional performances following\, through February 22. \n\n\n\nJuxtaposing a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House\, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking\, this timely story weaves together Native identity\, maternal grief\, contemporary religious faith\, humor\, and a call to action. The production showcases professional Indigenous talent from across the country\, including cast members Allison Hicks\, Jennifer Rader\, Serenity Mariana\, and Bradley Lewis\, costumes by Asa Benally\, lighting design by Emma Deane\, sound design by Rory Stitt\, and mask design and creation by Cannupa Hanska Luger. As a co-production\, it showcases UM student actors\, designers\, and crew alongside the professionals. The cast includes students Shadie Wallette\, who previously performed in the 2023 staged reading\, and Octavio Jimenez\, who has toured the state over the past year with State of Mind\, a collaboration between The Rep and the University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. UM Students in the crew include Ronnie Avansino as the Props Designer\, Rae Scott as the Assistant Stage Manager\, and Aaron Prati as the Assistant Lighting Designer. The playwright\, Kendra Mylnechuk Potter\, is a University of Montana alum\, and is based in Missoula. \n\n\n\n“I am humbled to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many artists in this meaningful way. And for the work to get to live on this particular stage where I first worked over 20 years ago as a student\, my “home stage” as it were\, is a straight up dream\,” Potter said. “The caliber of work – soup to nuts – from designers through performers\, is just such a treat for our town to get to share in\, and getting to mingle seasoned professionals at the top of their craft while highlighting the talent here in town with that of our UM student artists is a joy that brings this experience additional heart. My sincere hope is that we are able to provide a theatrical experience that feels like a useful contribution to the issues we seek to address: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People\, community care\, ecosystems\, and seeing what (and who) has been here all along.” \n\n\n\n“The School of Theatre and Dance is proud to partner with Montana Repertory Theatre to tell this vital story. We are so grateful to the Native artists\, The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and to all involved for sharing their artistry\, talents and resources with our students and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the Montana Theatre to see Can’t Drink Salt Water\,” said Bernadette Sweeney\, Director of UM School of Theatre and Dance. \n\n\n\n This project began in 2019 with the idea to commission an original work from an Indigenous artist\, grounded in The Rep’s action-oriented Land Acknowledgement: “Montana Repertory Theatre acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We also acknowledge the privilege of gathering on this land to share stories. We pledge to always hold a place on our stages for the stories of this land and of its first peoples.” The original commission was supported by the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky\, Montana\, and this story was chosen by a nationwide team of Indigenous artists\, including Lily Gladstone\, DeLanna Studi\, Madeline Sayet\, and Andre Bouchard. \n\n\n\n“The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) is thrilled to see the next phase of Can’t Drink Salt Water coming to life in Missoula this spring. Any chance we can get to help support new\, adventurous work like the piece that Kendra Mylnechuk Potter has created\, we’re fully on board\, especially when it comes to cultural realities that authentically embody lived experiences here in Montana\,” said John Zirkle\, Executive Director / Artistic Director at WMPAC. \n\n\n\nThis production is supported by a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Founded in 2014 by Roy Cockrum and Benita Hofstetter Koman with winnings from Mr. Cockrum’s Powerball lottery jackpot\, the Foundation’s mission is to award grants to support world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout America. Since 2014\, 76 American theaters and performing arts organizations have received major grants from the Foundation. Inspiration for its mission derives from a Camus quote:“Without culture\, and the relative freedom it implies\, society\, even when perfect\, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.” ― Albert Camus\, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays.This performance includes mature themes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets LINK
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/montana-repertory-theatre-cant-drink-salt-water-with-um-school-of-theatre-dance-at-um-montana-theatre/2026-02-21/2/
LOCATION:UM Montana Theatre\, 32 Campus Drive\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Indigenous,Play,Theatrical Plays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UM-Montana-Theatre.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Repertory Theater":MAILTO:Salina.Chatlain@MontanaRep.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260222T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260222T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013557
CREATED:20260212T013136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T013138Z
UID:10130216-1771761600-1771792200@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (Downtown Missoula)
DESCRIPTION:The 23rd Annual Big Sky Documentary Film Festival features daily screenings around Downtown Missoula at The Wilma\, Zootown Arts Community Center and Missoula Children’s Theatre from Friday\, February 13 thru Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nNow entering its 23rd year\, the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is the premier venue for non-fiction film in the American West. The upcoming festival will take place February 13-22\, 2026. Big Sky offers an ideal setting for filmmakers to premiere new work and develop lasting relationships with fellow filmmakers and industry. The festival draws an audience of 20\,000 and film entries from every corner of the globe to a uniquely intimate mountain town setting with local Montana flavor. A hybrid festival\, audiences can enjoy the festival program live in unique exhibition spaces across downtown Missoula and in Big Sky’s virtual cinema from nearly anywhere in the world. Selected for 9 years running by MovieMaker Magazine’s 50 Festivals Worth the Entry Fee\, BSDFF is a top-100 rated festival on FilmFreeway and is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short documentaries. \n\n\n\nThe annual 10-day event takes place each February in downtown Missoula\, Montana. \n\n\n\nThe festival hosts over 200 visiting artists\, presents an average of 150 non-fiction films\, and offers a variety of exciting events at the historic theater The Wilma and neighboring downtown Missoula venues. In addition to screenings\, the Big Sky DocShop is a five-day industry event that includes panels\, master classes\, workshops\, and the Big Sky Pitch session. DocShop’s participants have included: HBO Documentary Films\, Showtime Documentary Films\, Tribeca Film Institute\, Sundance Doc Fund\, The New York Times Op-Docs\, ESPN Films\, Participant Media\, BBC Storyville\, CNN Films\, ITVS\, POV\, PBS\, America ReFramed\, American Experience\, Al Jazeera\, Nia Tero\, Chicken & Egg Pictures\, Field of Vision\, Film Independent\, Ford Foundation and Catapult Film Fund. \n\n\n\nSpecial retrospective programs have included the films of: Barbara Kopple\, The Maysles Brothers\, Travis Wilkerson\, Joe Berlinger\, Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar\, Brett Story\, Lucy Walker\, Matt Wolf\, Ondi Timoner\, Doug Pray\, Daniel Junge\, Bill & Turner Ross\, Chuck Workman\, Jeff & Michael Zimbalist\, Sam Green\, John Cohen\, EyeSteelFilm\, Jeanie Finlay\, Kartemquin Films\, and Les Blank. Special guests have included Indy Rock legends Yo La Tengo\, Comedian Tig Notaro\, Steve James (Hoop Dreams)\, Les Blank (Burden of Dreams)\, Greg Barker (Sergio)\, Joe Berlinger (Crude)\, Ron Mann (Grass)\, Brendan Canty & Christoph Green (the Burn To Shine series)\, Chuck Workman (The Life & Times of Andy Warhol)\, and Hart & Dana Heinz Perry (Sex: The Revolution). \n\n\n\nRecent Award winners at the festival have included: Colette (Anthony Giacchino)\, Public Trust (David Garrett Byars)\, St. Louis Superman (Smriti Mundhra\, Sami Khan)\, My Country No More (Rita Baghdadi\, Jeremiah Hammerling)\, Cradle of Champions (Bartle Bull)\, The Last of the Elephant Men (Daniel Ferguson\, Arnaud Bouquet)\, Siblings are Forever (Frode Fimland)\, A World Not Ours (Mahdi Fleifel)\, This Way Of Life (Thomas Burstyn)\, Steam of Life (Joonas Berghäll & Mika Hotakainen)\, Blood Brother (Steve Hoover)\, Chasing Ice (Jeff Orlowski)\, Last Train Home (Lixin Fan)\, Sweetgrass (Ilisa Barbash & Lucien Castaing-Taylor)\, Gasland (Josh Fox)\, Rough Aunties (Kim Longinotto)\, Ashes of American Flags (Brendan Canty & Christoph Green)\, In A Dream (Jeremiah Zagar)\, and Bronx Princess (Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed). Find the complete list of award winners here. \n\n\n\nPurchase Single Screening Tickets\, 5-Film Pass\, All-Screening Pass\, and All-Access VIP Pass HERE
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/23rd-annual-big-sky-documentary-film-festival-downtown-missoula/2026-02-22/
LOCATION:Downtown Missoula\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59802\, United States
CATEGORIES:Documentaries,Festivals,Film Festivals,Movies,Short Film
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Big-Sky-Documentary-Film-Festival-logo-square.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260222T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260222T160000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013557
CREATED:20260127T062847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T062850Z
UID:10129207-1771768800-1771776000@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Montana Repertory Theatre "Can't Drink Salt Water" with UM School of Theatre & Dance at UM Montana Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s “Can’t Drink Salt Water” with the UM School of Theatre & Dance in the Montana Theatre with performances from Saturday\, February 14 through Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 30 minutes before show time \n\n\n\nWith transformative support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and in partnership with UM School of Theatre and Dance\, Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s Can’t Drink Salt Water. The opening night of this gripping new play will take place Saturday\, February 14\, 2026 in the Montana Theatre on the UM Campus (PARTV Building)\, with eight additional performances following\, through February 22. \n\n\n\nJuxtaposing a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House\, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking\, this timely story weaves together Native identity\, maternal grief\, contemporary religious faith\, humor\, and a call to action. The production showcases professional Indigenous talent from across the country\, including cast members Allison Hicks\, Jennifer Rader\, Serenity Mariana\, and Bradley Lewis\, costumes by Asa Benally\, lighting design by Emma Deane\, sound design by Rory Stitt\, and mask design and creation by Cannupa Hanska Luger. As a co-production\, it showcases UM student actors\, designers\, and crew alongside the professionals. The cast includes students Shadie Wallette\, who previously performed in the 2023 staged reading\, and Octavio Jimenez\, who has toured the state over the past year with State of Mind\, a collaboration between The Rep and the University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. UM Students in the crew include Ronnie Avansino as the Props Designer\, Rae Scott as the Assistant Stage Manager\, and Aaron Prati as the Assistant Lighting Designer. The playwright\, Kendra Mylnechuk Potter\, is a University of Montana alum\, and is based in Missoula. \n\n\n\n“I am humbled to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many artists in this meaningful way. And for the work to get to live on this particular stage where I first worked over 20 years ago as a student\, my “home stage” as it were\, is a straight up dream\,” Potter said. “The caliber of work – soup to nuts – from designers through performers\, is just such a treat for our town to get to share in\, and getting to mingle seasoned professionals at the top of their craft while highlighting the talent here in town with that of our UM student artists is a joy that brings this experience additional heart. My sincere hope is that we are able to provide a theatrical experience that feels like a useful contribution to the issues we seek to address: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People\, community care\, ecosystems\, and seeing what (and who) has been here all along.” \n\n\n\n“The School of Theatre and Dance is proud to partner with Montana Repertory Theatre to tell this vital story. We are so grateful to the Native artists\, The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and to all involved for sharing their artistry\, talents and resources with our students and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the Montana Theatre to see Can’t Drink Salt Water\,” said Bernadette Sweeney\, Director of UM School of Theatre and Dance. \n\n\n\n This project began in 2019 with the idea to commission an original work from an Indigenous artist\, grounded in The Rep’s action-oriented Land Acknowledgement: “Montana Repertory Theatre acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We also acknowledge the privilege of gathering on this land to share stories. We pledge to always hold a place on our stages for the stories of this land and of its first peoples.” The original commission was supported by the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky\, Montana\, and this story was chosen by a nationwide team of Indigenous artists\, including Lily Gladstone\, DeLanna Studi\, Madeline Sayet\, and Andre Bouchard. \n\n\n\n“The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) is thrilled to see the next phase of Can’t Drink Salt Water coming to life in Missoula this spring. Any chance we can get to help support new\, adventurous work like the piece that Kendra Mylnechuk Potter has created\, we’re fully on board\, especially when it comes to cultural realities that authentically embody lived experiences here in Montana\,” said John Zirkle\, Executive Director / Artistic Director at WMPAC. \n\n\n\nThis production is supported by a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Founded in 2014 by Roy Cockrum and Benita Hofstetter Koman with winnings from Mr. Cockrum’s Powerball lottery jackpot\, the Foundation’s mission is to award grants to support world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout America. Since 2014\, 76 American theaters and performing arts organizations have received major grants from the Foundation. Inspiration for its mission derives from a Camus quote:“Without culture\, and the relative freedom it implies\, society\, even when perfect\, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.” ― Albert Camus\, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays.This performance includes mature themes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets LINK
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/montana-repertory-theatre-cant-drink-salt-water-with-um-school-of-theatre-dance-at-um-montana-theatre/2026-02-22/1/
LOCATION:UM Montana Theatre\, 32 Campus Drive\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Indigenous,Play,Theatrical Plays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UM-Montana-Theatre.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Repertory Theater":MAILTO:Salina.Chatlain@MontanaRep.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260222T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260222T213000
DTSTAMP:20260605T013557
CREATED:20260127T062847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260127T062850Z
UID:10129208-1771788600-1771795800@missoulaunderground.com
SUMMARY:Montana Repertory Theatre "Can't Drink Salt Water" with UM School of Theatre & Dance at UM Montana Theatre
DESCRIPTION:Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s “Can’t Drink Salt Water” with the UM School of Theatre & Dance in the Montana Theatre with performances from Saturday\, February 14 through Sunday\, February 22\n\n\n\n\n\nDoors @ 30 minutes before show time \n\n\n\nWith transformative support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and in partnership with UM School of Theatre and Dance\, Montana Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Kendra Mylnechuk Potter’s Can’t Drink Salt Water. The opening night of this gripping new play will take place Saturday\, February 14\, 2026 in the Montana Theatre on the UM Campus (PARTV Building)\, with eight additional performances following\, through February 22. \n\n\n\nJuxtaposing a mother’s relentless search for her missing daughter with the journey of a young woman newly arrived at Bethel House\, an evangelical shelter for victims of sex trafficking\, this timely story weaves together Native identity\, maternal grief\, contemporary religious faith\, humor\, and a call to action. The production showcases professional Indigenous talent from across the country\, including cast members Allison Hicks\, Jennifer Rader\, Serenity Mariana\, and Bradley Lewis\, costumes by Asa Benally\, lighting design by Emma Deane\, sound design by Rory Stitt\, and mask design and creation by Cannupa Hanska Luger. As a co-production\, it showcases UM student actors\, designers\, and crew alongside the professionals. The cast includes students Shadie Wallette\, who previously performed in the 2023 staged reading\, and Octavio Jimenez\, who has toured the state over the past year with State of Mind\, a collaboration between The Rep and the University of Montana Co-Lab for Civic Imagination. UM Students in the crew include Ronnie Avansino as the Props Designer\, Rae Scott as the Assistant Stage Manager\, and Aaron Prati as the Assistant Lighting Designer. The playwright\, Kendra Mylnechuk Potter\, is a University of Montana alum\, and is based in Missoula. \n\n\n\n“I am humbled to have the opportunity to collaborate with so many artists in this meaningful way. And for the work to get to live on this particular stage where I first worked over 20 years ago as a student\, my “home stage” as it were\, is a straight up dream\,” Potter said. “The caliber of work – soup to nuts – from designers through performers\, is just such a treat for our town to get to share in\, and getting to mingle seasoned professionals at the top of their craft while highlighting the talent here in town with that of our UM student artists is a joy that brings this experience additional heart. My sincere hope is that we are able to provide a theatrical experience that feels like a useful contribution to the issues we seek to address: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People\, community care\, ecosystems\, and seeing what (and who) has been here all along.” \n\n\n\n“The School of Theatre and Dance is proud to partner with Montana Repertory Theatre to tell this vital story. We are so grateful to the Native artists\, The Roy Cockrum Foundation\, and to all involved for sharing their artistry\, talents and resources with our students and we look forward to welcoming audiences to the Montana Theatre to see Can’t Drink Salt Water\,” said Bernadette Sweeney\, Director of UM School of Theatre and Dance. \n\n\n\n This project began in 2019 with the idea to commission an original work from an Indigenous artist\, grounded in The Rep’s action-oriented Land Acknowledgement: “Montana Repertory Theatre acknowledges that we are in the aboriginal territories of the Salish and Kalispel people. We also acknowledge the privilege of gathering on this land to share stories. We pledge to always hold a place on our stages for the stories of this land and of its first peoples.” The original commission was supported by the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center in Big Sky\, Montana\, and this story was chosen by a nationwide team of Indigenous artists\, including Lily Gladstone\, DeLanna Studi\, Madeline Sayet\, and Andre Bouchard. \n\n\n\n“The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) is thrilled to see the next phase of Can’t Drink Salt Water coming to life in Missoula this spring. Any chance we can get to help support new\, adventurous work like the piece that Kendra Mylnechuk Potter has created\, we’re fully on board\, especially when it comes to cultural realities that authentically embody lived experiences here in Montana\,” said John Zirkle\, Executive Director / Artistic Director at WMPAC. \n\n\n\nThis production is supported by a generous grant from The Roy Cockrum Foundation. Founded in 2014 by Roy Cockrum and Benita Hofstetter Koman with winnings from Mr. Cockrum’s Powerball lottery jackpot\, the Foundation’s mission is to award grants to support world-class performing arts projects in not-for-profit professional theatres throughout America. Since 2014\, 76 American theaters and performing arts organizations have received major grants from the Foundation. Inspiration for its mission derives from a Camus quote:“Without culture\, and the relative freedom it implies\, society\, even when perfect\, is but a jungle. This is why any authentic creation is a gift to the future.” ― Albert Camus\, The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays.This performance includes mature themes. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets LINK
URL:https://missoulaunderground.com/mugevent/montana-repertory-theatre-cant-drink-salt-water-with-um-school-of-theatre-dance-at-um-montana-theatre/2026-02-22/2/
LOCATION:UM Montana Theatre\, 32 Campus Drive\, Missoula\, Montana\, 59812\, United States
CATEGORIES:Indigenous,Play,Theatrical Plays
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://missoulaunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UM-Montana-Theatre.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Montana Repertory Theater":MAILTO:Salina.Chatlain@MontanaRep.com
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END:VCALENDAR