By TOM BENSEN
The 21st annual Germanfest, produced by the Missoula Cultural Council, occurs September 7, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. in Caras Park, and features brats, beer and oom-pah music by Kalispell’s Bavarian Echoes. This annual event supports our sister-city partnership with Neckargemuend, and helps raise funds for the local high school exchange program with our sister-city. Commemorative steins pictured here will be available for sale at the event.
The City of Missoula Public Art Committee has extended the deadline for two art calls in Silver Park. The new deadline is October 6, 2014. Visit the website for all information and the application.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks visits Missoula this week, with a performance of Romeo and Juliet on August 25 and As You Like It August 26. Both shows are at the University of Montana Oval at 6:00 p.m. If it rains, performances will be in the Dennison Theatre.
Germanfest: September 7, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. in Caras Park
Current exhibits at the Missoula Art Museum include Blessingway: Prints by Melanie Yazzie through September 6; Bill Ohrmann: Tainted Revelations through October 11; The Art of Human Conflict Conflict through December 24; the Edgar Paxson Murals (pictured here) are on display through September 6, before returning to the Missoula County Courthouse; Pamela Caughey: Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogens through December 24;
Helen McAuslan: The Kent State Paintings, on loan from the Museum of the Rockies, through November 22.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture at the University of Montana presents Sandra Dal Poggetto: Meditations on the Field, in the Paxson and Meloy Galleries. Now through September 27, Helena-based artist Sandra Dal Poggetto is featured in a solo exhibition of new and recent works. Dal Poggetto uses an abstract language and fragments of the western landscape-hide, feathers, wood and wire-to create evocative paintings and drawings. She draws on and deconstructs both Euro-American pictorial language and American Indian visual traditions.
The Missoula Downtown Association’s Out to Lunch and Downtown Tonight wrap up the season this week, featuring Three Eared Dog on Wednesday and Salsa Loca Thursday evening.
Shakespeare and Co. presents William Wyckoff, Professor of Geography at Montana State University, reading from his new book How to Read the American West: A Field Guide, August 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Fact & Fiction presents two authors reading and signing their new books beginning at 7:00 p.m. on August 26: Boris Fishman reads from Replacement Life, and Nina Nayeri reads from Teaspoon of Earth and Sea, F&F Downtown.
Missoula Outdoor Cinema presents Blade Runner (1982) R 8:19 p.m. on August 30 at 1001 Worden Street on the North Side.
UM Theatre & Dance production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol are August 27 at 6:15 p.m. in the PAR TV Building on UM Campus. Please contact here for questions and more information.
Tangled Tones Music Studio presents Playing With The Band this fall. For ages 12 and up: Play in a band, learn from professional musicians and instructors, write original songs, cove favorite songs, and record your music. Visit the website for the details.
The Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for the production of Jekyll & Hyde The Musical on Sunday, August 31 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. Those wanting to audition may arrive anytime between 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., using the Main Street entrance. There are approximately 20 roles for men and women in the production and all of the roles are available for men and women ages 18 and older. There are no roles for children. The dates of the production are October 30-November 2, and November 5-9.
For questions regarding auditions, please call MCT at 728-1911 Monday-Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. MCT has a limited number of perusal scripts that may be checked out in advance.
The Gallery of Visual Arts and University of Montana School of Art will present the annual School of Art Faculty Exhibition and Lectures September 2-19. An opening reception will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 4, in the Gallery of Visual Arts on the first floor of the Social Science Building. Earlier that evening, Valerie Hedquist, UM professor of art history and criticism, will present a lecture titled “Spiritual Comfort and Charitable Healing in Ter Brugghen’s Saint Sebastian Tended by Irene.” It will be held from 5:10 to 6 p.m. in Social Science Building Room 356. Included in this year’s exhibition are faculty members Brad Allen, James Bailey, Kevin Bell, Mary Ann Bonjorni, H. Rafael Chacón, Jason Clark, Jennifer Combe, Elizabeth Dove, Julia Galloway, Matt Hamon, Trey Hill, Steven Krutek, Beth Lo, Elena Lourenco and Cathryn Mallory. For more information call Mallory at 406-243-2813.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Aug 25, and ‘As You Like It’ August 26, at the Univiersity of Montana Oval at 6pm.
The Missoula Community Chorus is getting ready for another season. If interested in singing with this group, visit this website for the performing and rehearsal schedule.
Snowbowl Mountain Music presents the David Grisman Sextet, September 14 at 5:00 p.m. Visit the website for more information.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre, in conjunction with Arts in Education Week, presents The Last of the Dragons, written by Kristin Walter and under the direction of Andy Meyers. The cast of this family-friendly show features 6 adult actors, and is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages! Special matinee performances of 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. are scheduled on Thursday, September 11 and Friday, September 12, so all ages of school and homeschool groups can schedule a field trip to the theatre! On Saturday, September 13 there is one performance only at 10:00 a.m. The performances are at MCT Center for the Performing Arts, and approximately one hour in length.
Tangled Tones presents a new Kid’s Choir for the Missoula Community, directed by Joshua Farmer and Caleb Van Gelder. Fall Session runs on Wednesdays, September 10 – December 18, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Audition date September 3 at Sussex School’s Music Room. For Children aged 8-13 years old who are interested in music and like to sing. Contact Kids Choir
Aikido Missoula presents a 4 Week Fall Intro for beginning adults starting Tuesday, September 16 at 5:30 p.m. at 208 E. Main, Located on the 2nd floor of the historic Union Hall Building. This class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., through October 9. Please visit the website or call 549-8387 for more information on getting started.
Registration is open for the Flamenco Montana Festival, featuring Teo Morca, Carlos Lomas, and Vicente Griego, is September 18-21. Visit the website for more information.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website
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Tom Bensen has lived in Missoula since 1986, and has been the executive director of the Missoula Cultural Council since June 2004. He has directed First Night Missoula each New Year’s Eve since 1997. He is a member of Missoula’s choral ensemble Dolce Canto, and enjoys being outdoors, whether it is hiking, biking, skiing, walking the dogs, or mowing the lawn. His wife Susan works for Montana Public Radio, and their son Peter attends Hellgate High School.