Montana Actors' Theatre in search of Renaissance-themed performers

Prior to its performance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Montana Actors' Theatre has planned a pre-show event Saturday and is seeking performers.

"Two hours before we open, we're going to have beer and wine and Streatery food truck up there. So we're just looking for any sort of period appropriate, Elizbethen or earlier-we aren't being super strict-entertainment, so choirs, single vocalists or jugglers, acrobats, or musicians of any sort really," MAT Artistic Director Grant Olson said.

These are free family-friendly events, a promotion from MAT said. Opening night will be Friday with an open bar beginning at 5:30 p.m. 

Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. behind Pershing Hall on the Montana State University-Northern campus.

The pre-show event will be Saturday starting at 5 p.m. MAT is looking for singers, dancers, musicians, jugglers, fire eaters, and other performers interested in participating in the event. 

In keeping with the theme of the evening, MAT is most interested in performances with a Renaissance feel. Acts should be no longer than 15 minutes. An email said performers are welcome to collect tips.

Olson said, like with the decision to perform "Midsummer," the pre-show event's Renaissance theme was chosen with the COVID-19 pandemic in mind.

"A couple years ago, we did a more in-depth Renaissance-type fair but because of COVID-19, we were trying to just keep it simpler and less, sort of, less direct interaction with things like interacting with stalls and booths and that sort of thing but with the entertainment where people can be spread out and that sort of thing. We figured we could make that work well," Olson said.

Olson said pre-show events like this are not typically held at shows, but this was a special occasion as the performance is outdoors.

"It's just kind of special for being outside, we figured the weather's gonna be gorgeous. We wanted to kind of get a little bit of the atmosphere we had when we did the full Renaissance Fair. So you know, to have a little picnic out before, if you want to get some food from Streatery and sip on a glass of wine and that sort of thing, make a whole afternoon of the thing then the performance," he said.

People interested in being pre-show performers can send an email to [email protected]. 

Olson said the community should expect a great performance in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

"Everybody's been working really hard on the memorization, and we're really pretty good so far. I haven't been too stressed about it, about the acting. We've put in longer rehearsals than we normally do. We're usually there for four hours every night and usually I run a two- to three-hour rehearsal. Especially the actors playing the young lovers, they've put in overtime, and it's really going to show," Olson said.