There’s no thinning of Verge Theater’s stage calendar as the holiday season approaches! Here’s a look at some of the fantastic performances happening in the coming weeks.
Partnering with HAVEN, Verge and the local nonprofit continue to present More Than Bruises: Stories of Abuse and Healing. Written by Jessie Sherman, this production shares the stories of women from the Gallatin Valley. This original verbatim play weaves together their stories of abuse and healing into a play that challenges audiences to truly listen, inviting us to come together as a community.
The play was created solely from interviews with survivors and aims to provide a space for survivors of domestic violence to share their stories with each other and with the larger community. By co-sponsoring this powerful show, HAVEN and Verge Theater aim to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue about domestic violence, as well as to foster communities of support, large and small, for victims and survivors.
Please be mindful that this play contains descriptions of physical, sexual, and psychological violence, and may not be suitable for all viewers.
Following its Bozeman performances, the show heads to Livingston’s Shane Lalani Center for a three-night run, Thursday through Saturday, November 15th–17th. All performances begin at 8pm. These shows are FREE of admission but seating is limited. Please reserve yours in advance.
Verge Theater celebrates Greg Owens’ 30th anniversary as a playwright with staged readings of new short works. Incongruous – Short Works by Greg Owens will be performed at Verge Theater by friends and family on Saturday, November 24th at 7pm.
With the offbeat humor and intelligence for which the work of this 20-year Bozeman resident has been praised around the country, Owens spins tales of a grieving Goth teen bonding with her retired neighbor lady through karate, a troubled college student who tries to save the relationship of his surrogate parents by building a time machine, and an agoraphobic writer whose life is transformed by stolen underwear.
Eight short works in all reflect the versatility of the playwright, whose work has been described as “a welcome return to the American folk tradition of storytelling” (Chicago Reader), “an unexpectedly rich portrait of American hope” (Los Angeles Times), and “something Hunter S. Thompson might have thought up on a hallucinogenic trip in a stolen Caddie in Vegas” (The Ryder Magazine).
The staged readings will be performed by an all-star local cast including Kent Davis, Kari Doll, Bennett Drozic, Lila Michael, Eiseley and Lorelei Michael-Owens, Alex Miller, and E.J. Porth.
The event is being held as a fundraiser to support scholarships for Verge Theater’s education program, which helps nurture self-confident, problem-solving citizens and grow community. Suggested donation is $10 per person. Seating is limited. This show is recommended for teens and adults.
But before the Greg Owens celebration, local youth takes over the stage! Verge brings together the talents of middle and high schoolers with Emma! A Pop Musical on Friday, November 16th at 7pm, and Saturday, Nov. 17th at 3pm and 7pm. This joint production is a great way for teens of all ages to expand their community of friends and mentor one other. Directed by Mark Kuntz and Assistant Director Jaelyn Silvey, this cast of talented teens will entertain audiences with kooky characters and catchy pop hits. Get ready for some lunch room dance numbers! Advanced tickets are $7, or $9 at the door. These performances are sponsored by Synergy Resource Solutions.
Also at the Little Black Box – the always-hilarious Monday night Improv on the Verge shows. With a mixture of short-form games (like you see on the popular tv show Whose Line is It Anyway?) and long-form stories, everything you see on stage is created on th
e spot using audience suggestions. With crowd favorites, the Bozeman Improverts AND some new faces, you won’t want to miss the best way to start your week. Come get cheap thrills for your laugh hole with advanced tickets for only $7, or $9 at the door. Upcoming shows are set for November 19th and December 10th. All shows start at 7pm. Ages 17+.
Verge is now offering Silly Moose Comedy Improv for Kids darn near monthly to give families extra chances to laugh together. After all, laughter decreases stress hormones. It also increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, improving our resistance to disease. And of course, laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, giving people an overall sense of well-being. The next show, set for Saturday, December 1st, will be held FREE at Country Bookshelf at 3pm, just before the Downtown Christmas Stroll!
And finally, mark your calendars for Ryan Cassavaugh’s latest and greatest Christmas play, Eddie’s First Christmas on Patrol, opening December 6th. The long-awaited sequel to Jimmy’s First Christmas on Parole features the same actors as new characters in a fresh setting. You can rest assured you’ll be seeing the most original Christmas play out there. As Ryan says, “Jimmy’s was just the beginning…” This show is recommended for ages 17+ due to adult themes and language. Tickets are $14 in advance, or $16 at the door.
Visit www.vergetheater.com for reservations and further information about the entire 2018-19 season! Advance tickets are also available in store at Cactus Records. See you at “The Little Black Box on the Edge (of Bozeman)!”
