Here’s a quick guide to some upcoming arts and cultural events happening around Missoula in the weeks ahead.
MCT’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’
(Oct. 10-12, 16-19)
MCT’s Community Series is opening its 2025-26 season with a musical that pulls the story from a Victor Hugo novel and the music from the 1996 Disney animated movie.
The tale of Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of the famed cathedral, who escapes his life of solitude to find himself in a struggle between the local villagers, including the Romani people, and the authorities, is outfitted with catchy tunes by Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid”) and Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”).
The story has some darkness to it, and tension about whether the protagonist will prevail or not, which appealed to MCT Artistic Director Joseph Martinez, especially for the first slot of the season, when fall is settling in. Over the past couple of seasons, they’ve opened with “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Young Frankenstein,” for instance, and audiences turned out.
It’s never been performed in Missoula, either, and a decent slice of the city’s large pool of musical theater aficionados appears to have a fondness for the Disney version, too.
“Because of the title and that generation of people who’ve grown up with it, we had almost 60 adults audition, and they were all in their mid-20s, early 30s age range. It brought in people who’d never done an MCT show before,” said Martinez. He’s directing the show with Assistant Director Sarah Sizemore.
Enrique Mendez, of MCT’s “Cinderella,” is in the title role, with a tenor voice that suited songs that have become very familiar to audiences. They cast Rachel Berger as Esmerelda, after a number of smaller roles, including “Beauty and the Beast.”
The music will also be significantly bulked up courtesy of an on-stage choir of 30 community members. Martinez said he’s told the cast it reminds him of actors getting together to tell a story in an afternoon. They act as a Greek chorus, taking on roles including gargoyles, statues and villagers.
Details: Missoula Children’s Theatre, go to mctinc.org for tickets and times. Equivalent of a PG-13 rating.
UM stages a new drama
(Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 9-12)
“End of Shift,” a brand new play, is getting its first full production here at the School of Theatre and Dance. Set in 2006, the two-act show by Jenny Connell Davis unfolds over the course of a single night on the final weekend before some small-town high-schoolers start their senior year. Their desire to party and commemorate an older kid who died a few years back collide with confrontations over social issues including coercion and assault. It’s a tough story to produce but the undergraduate cast of five fully commit to their characters’ optimism, naiveite and inevitable disillusionment.
Details: Masquer Theatre, PAR/TV Center, UM. Contains adult themes and language. Go to griztix.com for tickets and show times.
‘Golden Girls’-themed Halloween drag show
(Thursday, Oct. 9)
The drag scene in Missoula has increased to accommodate many niche interests, including those who find the idea of a Halloween show with a “Golden Girls” theme irresistible and hilarious. We’d like to think that Bea Arthur and Betty White would appreciate the homage. According to the ZACC website, in the show, titled “The Golden Ghouls,” the crew is set to perform at a Halloween ball when Sophia goes missing just before stage time.
Details: ZACC Show Room, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, $15 or $10 for a VIP ticket, $10 for students and seniors, go to zootownarts.org.
Opera Montana on tour
(Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 11-12)
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Opera Montana, a professional company dedicated to the art form, is taking its first statewide tour. They’ll perform composer Pauline Viardot’s “Cinderella,” a version of the classic story with a fresh English translation, video projections and more.
Details: Westside Theater, Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m. Go to westsidetheater.com.
A community play at Free Cycles
(Sunday, Oct. 12)
Over the years, the community bike shop has hosted some unconventional theater groups, ones like the Bread and Puppet Theatre, who produce original shows (with some big puppets) and pointed social and political commentary. In that spirit, executive director Bob Giordano and local writer-artist Taylor Stein and more folks generated their own show, “Excuse Us!,” using all recycled props. They premiered it last month and are bringing back an encore. According to an email from Giordano, it addresses “farm life, severe drought, community, a mysterious capitalist, a sick caterpillar, family, frogs and transformation.”
Details: 4-4:30 p.m., Free Cycles, open to all. Featuring a special guest, the local DJ/musician Dr. Fly.
The story of Montana skateparks in book form
(Tuesday, Oct. 14)
The Mobash skatepark just off Orange Street seems like a landmark now, but getting it dreamt up, approved, funded and built before its grand opening in 2006 was a long, uphill push led by local skateboarders. A new book written and photographed by two veterans of that community explains how efforts like that one spread across the state, resulting in a network of some 50 parks around Montana and its Native American reservations.
“Grit to Grind: Shaping Montana Communities One Skatepark at a Time,” is a joint effort between Andy Kemmis, a Missoula photographer, writer and founding member of the Montana Skatepark Association, and Chris Bacon, a local musician and Board of Missoula owner.
They’re throwing a book release party here in Missoula on the publication day. The book’s out now in hardcover with more than 100 color photos and a foreword by notable local skateboarder, Hi-Line native and Montana skatepark supporter, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.
Details: Missoula Public Library’s Cooper Room on the top floor. Doors at 5:30 p.m., talk from 6-8 p.m., free. Copies will be available for purchase and signing.
NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’ co-host in Missoula
(Tuesday, Oct. 14)
Ailsa Chang, the co-host of National Public Radio’s news program, is coming to town for an evening talk about her show and public media as a whole. She’ll take the stage at UM for a discussion with Austin Amestoy of Montana Public Radio.
Details: 7 p.m., Dennison Theatre, UM. Tickets are free, reservations encouraged at Griztix.com.
In brief
‘Conscience of a Nation’ at UM: The School of Music is presenting classical works that explore “the complex spirit of modern-day America,” according to a news release The selections include “Variations on America” by Charles Ives, “Lincoln Portrait” by Aaron Copland with narration by Mayor Andrea Davis, and more. Thursday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., Dennison Theatre. $16 at griztix.com, free for UM students and K-12.
The Jesuits’ history in the West: Last year, Sally Thompson, a trained archaeologist, published a book, “Black Robes Enter Coyote’s World: Chief Charlo and Father De Smet in the Rocky Mountains,” recounts the history of Jesuit missionaries as they came West into the territory of the Bitterroot Salish. The Arlee Community Development Corp. is hosting a reading and discussion on Thursday, Oct. 9, 1-3 p.m., with light refreshments.
Missoula Outdoor Cinema: This season’s plein air movie series wraps up with a return to the Northside and a Halloween-appropriate pick, “The Goonies.” The nostalgic scares begin at about 7 p.m. (dusk) at Headstart, 1001 Worden Ave. You can catch a block party beforehand from 5-7 p.m. There will be food trucks, live music and activities. The event’s free with donations suggested. It’s a program from Front Step Community Land Trust. Head to frontstepclt.org for more information.
Dance therapy workshop: Students in the University of Montana’s pre-dance therapy program are hosting a workshop, “Exploring Movement and Healing,” that runs 90 minutes. The program is part of the Festival of the Dead. Sunday, Oct. 12, 5-6:30 p.m., free, donations accepted, Missoula Senior Center.
Cory Walsh is the arts and entertainment reporter for the Missoulian.
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Cory Walsh
Arts and Entertainment Reporter
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