Kurt Russell in Tombstone on July 27th at Ellen

Downtown Bozeaman’s mainstay the Ellen Theatre wants you to saddle up for its 3rd Annual Summer Western Series. A screening of Kurt Russell in Tombstone will take place, Wednesday, July 27th. Also starring Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot, and Bill Paxton, Tombstone is a wild west blockbuster jam-packed with outlaws and lawmen both, and depicts some of the most famous gunfights in American history. Jimmy Stewart in Winchester ‘73 will follow, Wednesday, August 3rd. For more information and a full schedule of films, visit theellentheatre.com/. Sponsored by Bozeman’s Western Café, all Westerns begin at 7pm and the Ellen Saloon opens for refreshments at 6pm. All seats for the Western Series are $5 plus fees. Giddy up and catch this Cowboy Train before it’s too late! Hee-haw! Also at the Ellen…get your tickets for the stage production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! for a show during its run, Friday, July 15th through Sunday, July 31st. There is nothing quite like a well-crafted musical to bring together a community. A talented cast of 33 and a live orchestra are in the spotlight for this all-singing, all-dancing, musical. You’re sure to be tapping your toes and humming along to Bart’s award-winning score with such favorites as “Consider Yourself,” “Food, Glorious Food,” “I’d Do Anything,” “Pick a Pocket or Two,” and “As Long as He Needs Me.” Presented by Montana TheatreWorks (producers of last year’s sold out hits Fiddler on the Roof and White Christmas), this beloved classic is based on Oliver Twist. The magical world of Charles Dickens leaps from the page to the stage–and into your heart–with such memorable characters as Fagin (Frank Simpson), Nancy (Hannah Meeks), Bill Sykes (Colter Langan), Artful Dodger (Julien Harris), and the young orphan boy at the center of it all, Oliver Twist (Stetson Tripp). Make plans to visit 1830s London and consider yourself part of The Ellen family with Oliver! Tickets to this spectacular production run $29 for premium seating, $23 for adults, $19.50 for seniors, and $16.50 for youth and upper balcony admission. Additional fees apply. Tickets are available at theellentheatre.com/. Performances run July 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th, and 30th at 7:30pm and July 17th, 24th, and 31st at 3pm. Please note: As this is an adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, there are some darker themes and parental guidance is suggested. Recommended for ages eight and up. Bozeman’s second PechaKucha Summer Rerun Redux will be held at the Ellen Theatre, Wednesday, July 20th. The event will feature more audience favorites from past shows including Laurie Kerzinick’s fascinating insights on spiders, Stefan Stern’s hilarious musical takedown of those cute penguins, Ritchie Boyd’s channeling of Groucho Marx, and the inimitable drumming corps, Chicks with Sticks. This special show will run one night only. Actor, director, funnyman, puppeteer, and writer Ryan Cassavaugh will serve as emcee for the evening’s festivities. Other favorites returning for the summer show include Billy Williams with his intimate look at sex in Bozeman, Missy O’Malley on “How to Be a DJ,” George Mattson on growing up in Yellowstone, Jim Madden on the colorful history of the “short, short ski,” and a perennial favorite, Joslin Fields on the surprising and amusing art to be found in the world of Barbie. Adding to the fun will be JP Pomnichowski who will reprise her droll, but inspiring look at the Montana Legislature, and Maria Oelkers on the pains and triumphs of a teenage gymnast. Doors open at 6:30pm, with the first presentation starting at 7:20pm. Pecha Kucha (peh-chak-cha) offers anyone with a passion or a vision–designers, artists, inventors, architects, adventurers, entrepreneurs–an opportunity to share their ideas with the community during a fast-paced, friendly social get-together. There’s just one catch–presenters have only 20 slides x 20 seconds each, a total of 6 minutes, 40 seconds! Pecha Kucha (sounds like chit-chat in Japanese) was created 13 years ago by a Tokyo architectural firm. Events are now held in more than 900 cities around the world. More information is available on Facebook at pecha-kucha-bozeman or by e-mailing pechakuchabozeman@gmail.com. You are encouraged to come early to socialize. There will be a 20-minute intermission. Advance tickets are $7 plus a $1 restoration fee and are available online at theellentheatre.com/, the Ellen box office, and at the door for $8 ($5 for students), space permitting. •