Shakespeare in the Parks Live in Roundup

Story by Elizabeth Wood

On a beautiful summer evening last week, Roundup hosted the Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (MSIP) performance of Shakespeare's "Cymbeline." An enthusiastic audience of over 130 folks cheered the return of live theater to Roundup after this tough year.

"Cymbeline" is a play most of us had never heard of, with a complex plot in a fairy tale setting. But with the new bigger stage and the beautiful hills in the background it was a fun night out in Roundup.

Many people help bring Montana Shakespeare in the Parks to Roundup each year. Roundup Arts & Culture Committee (A & C) of the Musselshell Valley Community Foundation sponsors this annual event with the generous support of our patrons and the community. Your on-going support makes it possible for us to continue this fine work initiated by Mary Brower in 1984. MSIP has been touring Montana for 49 years, and has been bringing shows to Roundup for the last 36 years.

First off, we need to thank the City of Roundup for use of the well kept grounds of baseball field and concessions stand at the Park for such a beautiful site to perform the play. Local businesses that continue to provide advertising for MSIP in Roundup are First Security Bank, Panther Country Radio, the Roundup Record Tribune, and the many local businesses that put up posters to promote the event.

The cost of the performance in Roundup is reduced somewhat, because A & C feeds and houses the actors. This year because of the Covid virus, the troupe chose not to stay in private homes, but to stay in motels. Autumn's Inn, Big Sky and The Ideal all shared MSIP's summer itinerary with their patrons.

The Busy Bee Cafe provided a sumptuous lunch for the actors as they pulled into town around noon. Thank you for your generous and continuing support, Mark and Mary Ann Petrie. After lunch the actors with truck and trailer head to the park to build up the stage.

Following the performance, Tomi Alger organized a delicious potluck dinner with many folks bringing food: Dale & Tomi Alger, Rose and Marc Blum, Barb Crosby, Madeline Cooper, Andrea Durgin, Vivian Edwards, Erin Janoso, Tom & Dixie Liggett, Pat and Deb Perrella, Julia Sirovetz, Norma Trent, and Peggy Unterseher. Thank you. Good visiting with the actors follows these cheerful meals. The actors express such appreciation for Roundup's generous provisions for them.

A morning meal was hosted at the beautiful home of Stacey and Rob Mihalovich. Breakfast provided by Tomi and Dale Alger, Madeline Cooper, Roberta Hagstrom, Erin Janoso, Tom and Dixie Liggett, Stacey Mihalovich, Wilbur & Elizabeth Wood. Thank you.

The Arts & Culture Committee of the Musselshell Valley Community Foundation is a 501.c.3 organization. All gifts are tax deductible. If you wish to learn more, or want to participate in organizing an arts or cultural event in Roundup, please contact Dale Alger, [email protected]. Thank you, Roundup, for another successful evening with Shakespeare in the Parks.