Helena-area arts and entertainment news published Sept. 21, 2023

Join Musikanten Montana for Choral Evensong at St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Led by cantor Gerald Schafer, the traditional Anglican service includes Psalms, Bible readings, congregational hymns, choir anthems, prayers and supplications.

Musikanten Artistic Director Kerry Krebill will conduct the choir in Orlando Gibbons’ Magnificat and Nunc dimittis, the Preces & Responces of William Smith of Durham, anthems and motets of Richard Farrant and Thomas Tallis, and the opening movement of Benjamin Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb,” which was last heard during Helena Choral Week in June. Organist Wendy Yuen will play voluntaries by C. Hubert Parry and Louis Vierne.

Musikanten Montana is celebrating its 20th season of performing in Helena and nearby Montana cities. All are invited to join (singing or listening) with Musikanten and friends in this Choral Evensong liturgy, followed by a reception in the undercroft. St. Peter’s Episcopal Cathedral is at 511 N. Park in Helena.

The 2023 U.S. African Children’s Choir Tour will perform 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Live Covenant Church, 1025 N. Rodney St.

The choir is is composed of African children, aged 10 to 12, all who have faced hardship and lack of education.

No tickets or reservations are required.

Chemistry of the Moscow Mule will be discussed 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Wiegand Amphitheatre/Simperman Hall 101/102, Carroll College.

Have you ever wondered if your Moscow Mule cocktail is leaching copper from its mug? Please join Carroll College professors Caroline Pharr and John Rowley for some answers as they present the results from their publication titled: “Quantifying the Rate Copper Leaches from a Copper Drinking Vessel into Simulated Beverages Under Conditions of Consumer Use.”

The presentation is for a general audience and will cover the rate, total amount and mechanism of copper leaching for this popular drink.

Also, they will discuss the lab that allowed nine undergraduate co-authors to make meaningful experimental and intellectual contributions to the publication.

This event is free and open to the public.

The Last Chance Community Pow Wow, now in its 24th year, kicks off 6 p.m. Sept. 29, with the Grand Entry and runs through Oct. 1, at the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall.

The pow wow is “like a big family reunion, you’re seeing your friends and relatives. It’s a celebration of all that. And the dancing and drum are a healing part of the pow wow,” said Darcy O’Dell, a board member.

The pow wow is free and all are welcome. The theme is “Honor the Children.”

From 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 29, dancers and drummers will gather as part of Demonstration Day for schoolchildren, when hundreds of children join in a round dance.

O’Dell calls the Sept. 29 Grand Entry ”a must-see event,” with everyone entering in their regalia and participants coming from as far away as Canada and surrounding states.

For a full schedule, visit lastchancepowwow.com or visit them on Facebook.

Mike Jetty, Indian Education specialist with Montana’s Office of Public Instruction, will hold a noon event Sept. 29 at the state Capitol to discuss the symbols on the eight tribal flags of Montana flying in front of the building.

“I’m going to sing a flag song and give a little lecture on the symbolism of each one of them,” he said.

The event is planned at the flag plaza, but will move indoors if there is inclement weather.

As part of the Big Read, the Lewis & Clark Library offers a free screening of “Gather” at the Myrna Loy 7 p.m. Sept. 27.

The film is an intimate portrait of the growing movement among Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide.

And on Sept. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. The Myrna Loy celebrates Indigenous filmmakers by teaming with the OPI Indian Education Office and the Montana Historical Society to present four short documentaries that were all part of the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

“They’re all Indigenous-made films … on Indigenous topics,” says Mike Jetty, Indian Education specialist with Montana’s Office of Public Instruction.

Tickets for the Sept. 28 film showings go on sale after Sept. 21 at The Myrna Loy, 15 N. Ewing, https://themyrnaloy.com/happenings/desserts-documentaries [themyrnaloy.com], or call 406-443-0287.

From Sept. 22 through Oct. 13, the Front Gallery,  800 Front St., will present a major exhibition of works by celebrated artist Chris Riccardo.

The first comprehensive exhibition in the U.S. of Riccardo’s unique ceramic works in over six years, “Chris Riccardo: Slabs of Agony” showcases his return to the studio as a full-time artist.

These more than 30 clay slab works are described by Riccardo as “the expression of ideas that started forming in my mind years ago. They reflect my intense love of drawing and use of lines. I see this series as a group of sketches for larger scale work that I have in mind.”

The work of Robert Harrison will be displayed through Jan. 12 at the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, 1400 1st Ave N, Great Falls.

The Square held a ribbon-cutting Sept. 15 for Harrison’s two new outdoor sculptures on the north side of the museum building.

Harrison is a Helena artist who has built his 40+ year career in the site-specific large-scale architectural sculpture along with smaller-scale ceramics.

Harrison’s association with the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts began in the summer of 1982 as a summer Resident Artist. In 1993 he was appointed to the Bray’s board of directors and served as board president from 1998-2004.

Contact Nicole Maria Evans for more information or with inquiries at [email protected] or 406-727-8255.

Grandstreet Theatre presents “Misery” by William Goldman, based on the novel by Stephen King.

After surviving a wintery car crash, acclaimed romance novelist Paul Sheldon wakes to find he’s been rescued by Annie Wilkes, a seemingly kind nurse, who also happens to be his “No. 1 fan.”

Content advisory: Misery is intended for mature audiences only. This production contains adult language, moments of physical and emotional abuse, fake firearms, loud gunshots and fake blood.

Annie Wilkes is played by Teak Hoiness Schummer; Paul Sheldon is played by John Rausch; and is played by Pat Bousliman. The director is Corinne Woods and stage manager is Kendall Pargot.

The play runs Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. from Oct. 6-22, at 325 N. Park Ave.

Tickets are $27 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, $23 Wednesday evenings and Sunday matinees, and $17 for kids 18 and under.

For tickets, call the Grandstreet Box Office (afternoons): 406-447-1574, or order online at www.GrandstreetTheatre.com.

Raven’s Feather Productions present “Shiner,” Sept. 21 through Oct. 1 at Helena Avenue Theatre, 1319 Helena Ave.

“Shiner” follows two 13-year-old outcasts who bond over the grunge sounds of the ‘90s.

Audience discretion is advised.

Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for senior citizens and students. For more information, call 406-422-0497.

Auditions will be held on Sept. 30 at the Creative Arts Center, 718 Logan St., for the Premiere Dance Company’s annual production of “The Nutcracker.”

Under the direction of Charlene White, PDC’s “The Nutcracker” has been delighting audiences for three decades while bringing to life the story of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. Cast members can experience being a part of a full-length ballet while developing dance technique and performance skills. All community dancers ages 6 and older are invited to audition.

A parent of each auditioning dancer must attend a parents’ meeting held at the same time as their child’s audition. Dancers and parents should arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled audition. Audition forms are available at premieredancecompany.org and should be completed before the audition. Performers are required to pay a $50.00 performance fee.

Rehearsals will require Saturday and some evening commitments. Mandatory rehearsals will be Dec. 13-15. Performances will be 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Helena Civic Center.

Here is the audition schedule for Sept. 30:

• Ages 6 and older, little or no dance experience: 9-10 a.m.
• Ages 8 and older, 1-plus years of ballet training: 10-11 a.m.
• Ages 10 and older, 3-plus years of ballet training: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Ages 13 and older advanced level dancers (pointe work required): 1-4 p.m.

Call 406-442-6519 with any questions.