Gretchen Minton, professor of English at Montana State University, will travel to Townsville, Australia, to study site-specific theater. MSU Photo by Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez

BOZEMAN – A Montana State University professor has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award that will take her to Townsville, Australia, to study applied environmental theater — a style that sets its action in the real world rather than a traditional theater — and write an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”  

"It’s a big honor to receive the Fulbright,” said Gretchen Minton, professor in the Department of English in MSU’s College of Letters and Science.  

“It’s exciting to be recognized and given the opportunity to travel, research and meet new people, fostering new relationships with scholars on the other side of the globe,” she said. In addition to research and presentations at James Cook University, Queensland, Minton will guest lecture at the Australian National University in Canberra. 

Minton has spent more than two decades teaching and researching Shakespeare, and she also serves as dramaturg, or literary adviser, for Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, an outreach program of MSU’s College of Arts and Architecture. She is also co-founder of Montana InSite Theatre, a group that stages plays in site-specific outdoor locations. 

Much of her earlier research included writing in-depth annotations and footnotes to Shakespeare’s works, as well as those of many of his 16th- and 17th-century contemporary playwrights. After working on annotations of Shakespeare’s lesser-known play “Timon of Athens,” Minton was fascinated by the idea that the bard’s plays could be placed in Montana to speak about environmental challenges.  

“Shakespeare’s understanding of non-urban environments really exceeds most of his contemporaries,” Minton said. “He is immersed in thinking about the flowers, trees and waterways — and how humans relate to those ecosystems.”  

She learned from local scientists and historians to create Montana-based performances, including “Timon of Anaconda,” a historical look at the copper kings and the Berkeley Pit through the lens of Shakespeare, and an adaptation of “Macbeth” depicting a futuristic Montana with few natural resources.  

“In both adaptations, we were using Shakespeare’s language and themes to reflect on our own times and environment,” she said. Her research on Shakespeare in Montana led her to writing a book of the same name that was published in 2020 which won the Montana Book Award in 2020 and the 2021 High Plains Book Award.  

Minton will go to Queensland while on sabbatical in the spring of 2023 and use the Fulbright appointment to expand upon her environmental humanities research, including an adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night.” Minton will collaborate with Claire Hanson, a lecturer at the Australian National University who also specializes in Shakespeare and ecocriticism.  

“Twelfth Night” is considered a quintessential Shakespeare play that starts with a tragedy – a storm and shipwreck – and then transitions to comedy. Minton plans the adaptation to address environmental topics surrounding the Queensland ecosystem, including the degradation of the Great Barrier Reef and increasing ocean temperatures, she said. 

“I'm interested in how Shakespeare's stories can help us get beyond those moments of tragedy and environmental upheaval to think more creatively and find solutions,” she said. 

As a part of the research, Minton plans to work with the James Cook University Blue Humanities Lab, a research group with members from anthropology, history, literary studies and political science, whose research is centered on the “blue” spaces such as reefs, oceans and rivers. 

“Environmental humanities have shown that it's really important to collaborate with other humanities scholars, but also collaborate with scientists,” Minton said.  

Once the adaptation is created, Minton and Hanson will workshop the script with a local theater group to get feedback from the public.  

When she is back in Montana, Minton plans to work on a future environmental adaptation to Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” to address changes in annual snowfall and snowpack. She hopes to use what she will learn from her collaboration with Hanson and Australian scientists to enhance the production’s look at different “blue” topics, such as snow levels and glaciers, she said. 

 “I look forward to my work with Claire and the Blue Humanities Lab,” she said. “After we get feedback about how this adaptation works in a different environment, I want to take that experience to apply it to future productions.” 

Following last summer’s acclaimed premiere of Strange Mating Calls, Nervous Theatre presents a radically reimagined production of Bertolt Brecht’s urgent political fable. A multitude of colorful characters are played by only four actors as the story of Chalk Circle unfolds throughout the unique spaces of the Tinworks Art warehouse.

In the outbreak of war, a mother abandons her son. Grusha, a kitchen maid, rescues the child and embarks on a perilous journey. “Terrible is the temptation to be good…”

Brecht’s intensely political and deeply human story exposes the destructive power of ownership, as well as the arbitrary nature of justice. The play asks, “how do we decide who is best fit to care for the lands we inhabit?”

Director Connor Berkompas says of the production, “Nervous Theatre is redirecting this essential question to the Bozeman community in a playful, bold, and engaging new adaptation. Our production brings the audience directly into the conversation from the moment they enter the space.”

“You’ll never see Brecht done like this anywhere else,” says Danielle N. Sather, who plays Grusha. “Creating Nervous Theatre’s adaptation has been collaborative, intentionally spontaneous, and includes lots of cardio.”

The Caucasian Chalk Circle is directed by Berkompas and created in collaboration with the company, which includes Danielle N. Sather, Isabel Shaida, Gabriel Taurman and Sympathie the Clown. 

Nervous Theatre is a nomadic theatrical collective currently based in Bozeman, Montana. The group recently premiered Strange Mating Calls, an experiential performance presented at the Tinworks Art 2021 exhibition. Previous works include the theatre/film hybrid MOMMY’S DEAD AND THEY BURIED HER IN MOSCOW (a riff on Three Sisters) and a touring production of The Maids. More information can be found at nervoustheatre.com

The Caucasian Chalk Circle runs July 14, 15 and 16 at Tinworks Art, 719 N Ida Ave. in Bozeman. The production will also play at The Westside Theater in Missoula August 5 and 6.

Performances start at 7:30pm.. Doors open at 7pm.  Please note: Throughout the performance, patrons will be asked to move to and from different spaces. Nervous Theatre aims to make this immersive event as accessible as possible. Please reach out to info@nervoustheatre.com with any concerns regarding mobility. There will be no late seating due to the immersive nature of the staging. Run time: 90 minutes. Tickets are $18 and may be purchased online or at the door (cash only). 

To purchase tickets online for the Bozeman performances, visit https://chalk-circle.eventbrite.com 

To learn more, visit nervoustheatre.com 

Proceeds From Past Red Ants Pants Music Festivals Enrich and Promote Rural Communities

White Sulphur Springs - The Red Ants Pants Foundation announced recipients of its 2022 community grant cycle today featuring organizations across Montana with active projects to enrich and promote rural communities. Each year, with proceeds from the Red Ants Pants Music Festival, the Red Ants Pants Foundation awards grants to organizations and individuals whose projects further the Foundation’s mission to increase women’s leadership, enrich and promote rural communities, and support working family farms and ranches. To date, the Foundation has granted over $130,000 to nearly 100 entities across nearly every corner of Montana. 

2022 FOCUS AREA: Enriching and promoting rural communities

This year, the Foundation sought applications for projects that support our mission pillar of ‘enriching and promoting rural communities.’ The 2022 grant recipients include rural economic development organizations, museums, and volunteer-driven organizations that provided creative proposals to revitalize and enhance the small towns they serve.

“Whether it’s bringing back a small-town drive-in experience to support the local museum or coming up with creative ways to beautify run-down spaces, our 2022 grantees are making important strides toward leading the rural revitalization,” said Sarah Calhoun, executive director of the Red Ants Pants Foundation. “We thank our grantees for their innovative approaches and look forward to working with them to continue to create positive ripple effects across Montana. We also thank our Red Ants Pants Music Festival fans who help fund these grants through buying tickets.”

The 2022 Red Ants Pants Music Festival is coming up July 28 – 31st. Tickets can be purchased online at www.RedAntsPantsMusicFestival.com/tickets.
 

2022 Red Ants Pants Foundation Grantees

Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) 
Location: Baker, MT
Award: $1,000
Eastern Plains Economic Development Corporation (EPEDC) wants to empower local individuals and organizations to create places in their community of which they can be proud. The Eastern Plains Placemaking Challenge is a creative placemaking grant competition open to residents of Carter, Dawson, Fallon, Prairie, and Wibaux Counties to encourage revitalization of underutilized or “ugly” spaces into something vibrant, exciting, and attractive. We are proud to support this competition that will allow locals to showcase and improve what they find valuable in their small town. All placemaking projects will take place in areas that are available to the public for the benefit of all!

 
Shawmut Community Center
Location: Shawmut, MT
Amount Awarded: $4,000
Along Highway 12 in Wheatland County is a tight knit community called Shawmut that is preserving a warehouse/lumber yard building that was moved next to the Shawmut school and rebuilt into a gym in the 1940's. After the Shawmut school closed in 2015, community members voted to refurbish the gym into a community center to host social gatherings, meetings, wedding receptions, class reunions, 4-H leadership and weed control updates, dances, craft fairs, and Wheatland County Precinct 3 primary and general elections. This grant will be used to continue the preservation and maintenance of the building by purchasing energy efficient window shades that will assist in improving facility temperature regulation and expand the times of year it is comfortable to gather in the center.

 
Liberty County Community Development Committee
Location: Chester, MT
Amount Awarded: $2,500
The Liberty County Community Development Committee was formed to create community events to bring folks together and attract others to enjoy their friendly community, in the heart of the Hi-Line. Our RAPF grant will go to support the production of the Hi-Line Harvest Festival – a free, one day, family-friendly festival in downtown Chester, Montana that will highlight their agricultural heritage and provide entertainment and activities for all ages.

Glacier Historical Museum
Location: Cut Bank, MT
Amount Awarded: $4,000
Glacier Historical Museum will be opening a reconstruction of Cut Bank's 1947 Point Drive-Inn. On selected summer days, the Point will be open for curb service with a limited menu of burgers, hot dogs, ice cream cones, sundaes, floats, sodas, shakes, malts, and bottled sodas, all offered for purchase at market prices. Funding from the Red Ants Pants Foundation will provide quality restaurant equipment to help them generate revenue for the museum, interpret the mid-1940’s and 1950’s, and reintroduce a forgotten, but cherished, Cut Bank tradition.

 
Glendive Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture
Location: Glendive, MT
Amount Awarded: $2,500
The Glendive Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture is dedicated to promoting business, tourism, quality of life, and economic development through local business alliances for Glendive, Dawson County, and surrounding area. Their rural community members love to come out for summer events with local food trucks and vendors. The Red Ants Pants Foundation Grant funds will help supply folding picnic tables and ambient light so that when community members attend these events, they have a place to sit, eat, and enjoy the experience. Their goal is to use the tables at numerous events throughout the entire year and become a staple for the community!

 
Winnett Agricultural Community Enhancement & Sustainability (ACES)
Location: Winnett, MT
Amount Awarded: $3,500
Serving ranchers and communities across the Musselshell Plains, locally led Winnett ACES works to strengthen their community by sustaining the health of their land, economy, and traditions for future generations. The core members of ACES share passions for agriculture, conservation, and making the communities of Central Montana resilient to what the future might bring. Through partnerships and dozens of primarily rancher volunteers, ACES strategically helps rural communities address the vitality issues that affect agricultural landscapes. The funding from the Red Ants Pants Foundation will support both the formal sharing of our community needs assessment with private property owners in Winnett and also create initiatives to contribute toward planning efforts that will help guide future growth and development of the rural community, which connects the working lands throughout Petroleum County.

 
Belt Valley Chamber of Commerce
Location:  Belt, MT
Grant Awarded:  $2,500
The Belt Valley Chamber of Commerce is a predominately businesswoman-led  Chamber serving other women-owned, small or home-based businesses and volunteer non-profits. They strive to bring people and economic vitality together by organizing events that foster a healthy community through shared work, enjoyment, and the offering of wholesome local produce and quality local products. The Red Ants Pants Foundation grant will support the Belt Summer Bash - a family-style carnival, vendor market, and nonprofit fundraising raffle that will be held in conjunction with Beltstock, a local music festival presented by a nonprofit partner-member. This event is designed to bring volunteers, residents, and families together to benefit from wholesome activities and entertainment, while also raising funds for seven nonprofit agencies that provide essential services to the greater Belt rural community.

 
About The Red Ants Pants Foundation
Founded by Sarah Calhoun, Red Ants Pants is a company dedicated to making workwear for women.
Having grown up on a farm and completed years of work leading trail crews and instructing for Outward Bound, she became fed up with the lack of workwear for women. So, she moved to Montana and started a business making work pants for women in 2006. Red Ants Pants is headquartered in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, and all products are Made in the USA.

To show support for the hard-working side of Montana and beyond, the Red Ants Pants Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3), was born in 2011. The Foundation supports women’s leadership, working family farms and ranches, and rural communities.

HELENA – Following conversations with officials in Stillwater County and area utility companies, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is opening the Yellowstone River from Columbus to Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access Site, the Stillwater River, East Rosebud Creek to Rosebud Creek, and Rosebud Creek to the confluence with the Stillwater River. These rivers and creeks reopen June 28.

The area still has many hazards that could be life threatening including large log jams in side channels. For example, there is a log jam in a large flood plain side channel on river right starting at the downstream end of the BLM parcel upstream of White Bird Fishing Access Site. There is also a pipeline downstream of the Absaroka Fishing Access Site about 0.75 miles along North Stillwater Road.

An 8-inch gas line is exposed upstream of the Jeffries Landing FAS. NorthWestern Energy evacuated the gas from the line and it is not being used. Recreationists may see the orange and yellow line and should avoid it.

While these are known examples, there may be bridge decks, structures and other debris being exposed daily. Recreationists should use caution when deciding whether to float.

Some fishing access sites are open to walk-in only. Port a potties will be delivered to some sites, such as Jeffries Landing FAS, in the coming days to provide temporary latrines while work is done on the vault latrines. 

For current information about water restrictions and closures, visit the FWP website.

On June 26, 2022 at 12:55pm, Gallatin County 911 received a call for an injured skier on the Great One couloir in the Bridger Range. As a group of skiers made their way down the slope, one hit a hard, icy, patch of snow. The skier lost control and fell about 100ft down the slope and was eventually stopped by another member of the party. The individual sustained injuries to their head, neck, hands and legs.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Valley Section and Heli Team responded to the area, along with American Medical Response (AMR), and Bridger Canyon Fire Department. With coordinates from the 911 call, the Heli Team flew a shorthaul team to the area, while a ground team made their way to the patient from the Fairy Lake Trailhead.   The patient was shorthauled to the awaiting ambulance, where they were ultimately taken to Bozeman Health for further evaluation. Ground teams made contact with the other parties to ensure the person who helped stop the initial patient was ok.  After a patient evaluation, the teams walked the remaining group back to the trailhead and provided transportation to their vehicles.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind everyone recreating in the mountains to always travel in groups, in case someone is injured. It is also a good idea to have plenty of food, water, communication devices, and medical supplies in case of an emergency. If you are skiing during this time of year, be prepared to have changing snow conditions in different areas on the mountain.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

LIVINGSTON – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, in consultation with Park County and Park Electric Cooperative, has closed a small section of the Yellowstone River near Livingston to all recreation due to overhanging power lines that were damaged by recent flooding.

The river closure extends a total of about 3 miles, from Highway 89 Bridge Fishing Access Site to Sheep Mountain Fishing Access Site. These two sites and several others remain closed while repairs continue.

Recent flooding damaged a power pole, causing power lines that cross the river to hang down close to the water’s surface. Park Electric Cooperative has disconnected power to these lines and will be making necessary repairs.

This section of the river will reopen as soon as conditions allow safe floating. Recreationists can avoid accidents and injury to themselves and others by observing all safety closures and avoiding areas with high flows.

Some fishing access sites that were impacted by flooding have reopened. However, several sites remain closed due to sediment and debris deposits, damaged infrastructure, and site erosion. FWP is working to reopen closed areas as soon as conditions allow. For a current list of closed sites, please visit go.usa.gov/xJ7DY.

On June 23, 2022, at 4:08 pm. Gallatin County Dispatch received a call from Big Sky Ski Patrol requesting assistance for a stranded hiker on Lone Peak.

Big Sky Ski Patrol had communication with the hiker and were able to determine the hiker could not self-extricate. Big Sky Ski Patrol assessed the situation and immediately called for SAR due to the location of the hiker and the terrain.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers responded from the Big Sky Section, Valley Section, and Heli Team. Big Sky Ski Patrol and SAR units staged on the mountain in support of the helicopter short haul mission. Big Sky Ski Patrol directed the helicopter to the hiker who was transported off the mountain by the Heli Team. The hiker was uninjured and required no further medical evaluation.

Sheriff Springer would like to commend the teamwork of Big Sky Ski Patrol working in conjunction with GCSSAR team members. Sheriff Springer recommends having a plan for unexpected events, having clothing appropriate for changing conditions, and bringing food and water when recreating in Gallatin County, even if only for a day hike in the mountains.

Photos courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Big Sky Ski Patrol.

BOZEMAN — A faculty member in Montana State University’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing has been invited to Washington, D.C., to discuss “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness,” a new documentary from Ken Burns, Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers.

Stacy Stellflug, associate professor with the MSU nursing college’s Billings campus, attended a screening June 22 at the White House for President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, as well as a screening today at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center for members of Congress. Following both screenings, Stellflug is participating in discussions about the film. Stellflug is a nurse practitioner, does research on nursing workforce issues, specializes in pediatric/adolescent health and is the principal investigator for two grants whose purpose is to increase the nurse practitioner workforce in rural Montana. Stellflug’s colleague Kee Dunning, a licensed clinical professional counselor in Billings, also consulted on and is featured in the documentary.

“Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness” tells the story of the mental health crisis among American youth. The film follows more than 20 young Americans from across the country, including two students from Montana, Maclayn Clark and Gabe Peaslee.

The film is set to premier on PBS stations nationwide June 27 and June 28.

In Montana, Montana PBS will broadcast the film in two parts: Part One at 8 p.m. Monday, June 27, and Part Two at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 28. Part One of the program will be rebroadcast at 1 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, and Part Two will be rebroadcast at 1 a.m. Thursday, June 30. More information is available at the Montana PBS member program guide, which can be accessed at montanapbs.org.

In addition, the Friends of Montana PBS is working with the Hiding in Plain Sight: Montana Committee to co-host a public screening of the film at the Alberta Bair Theater in Billings. The events will be held beginning at 7 p.m. June 27 and beginning at 6 p.m. June 28. More information about the public screening is available at hidinginplainsightdocumentary.com/. Additional public screenings are anticipated on MUS campuses across the state this fall, according to Aaron Pruitt, general manager of KUSM-TV/Montana PBS.

After its initial broadcast, the film will also be available through July 25 for viewing online. Viewers can access the online viewing page at pbs.org/show/hiding-plain-sight-youth-mental-illness/.

Finally, Montana PBS’s director of education, Nikki Vradenburg, is collaborating with Kee Dunning, a Billings-based therapist featured in the film, to host professional learning opportunities for K-12 teachers throughout the coming year. Efforts aim to assist teachers in identifying and supporting youth with mental illness, and segments from the film will be used. The series of in-person and virtual professional learning opportunities are supported by a grant from WETA, a public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, and teachers can earn Montana Office of Public Instruction credits for participating. More information is available at montanapbs.org/education/professional-learning-for-educators/.

On June 22, 2022 at 8:45pm, Gallatin County dispatch received a call for a hiker located above the M on the College M Trail, who thought they might be having a heart attack.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Valley, Bridger Canyon Fire Department, and American Medical Response responded to the trailhead.  Search and Rescue sent a hasty team with an AED up the trail first and made contact with the patient.  After an initial patient evaluation, the patient felt stable enough to walk slowly down the hill with assistance from SAR and medical personnel.

Additional SAR teams met the group at the M, where the patient was again feeling nauseas and pain in their right arm.  Crews decided to package the patient and wheel them down in the one wheeled litter.  All crews and SAR members made it back to the trailhead where the patient was transferred to the care of AMR and transported to Bozeman Health for further evaluation.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind hikers that accidents and medical emergencies can happen at any time and on any trail.  With warmer temperatures and longer days, remember to take more water than you think is necessary, make sure you have a reliable communication device, try to hike with at least one other person, and always tell someone where you are going and when you should be back.

Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

Helena, Mont. (June 23, 2022) – The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, an internationally renowned nonprofit creative center dedicated to the ceramic arts known as The Bray, has announced that Rebecca Harvey will be its new executive director, beginning July 1. The Bray worked with Arts Consulting Group, which specializes in national leadership searches for arts organizations, to conduct the international search. 

Harvey is a seasoned leader in arts education. Her career includes more than 25 years at The Ohio State University in numerous roles, including chair of the Department of Art, professor and chair of the senate steering committee. She also served at the Royal College of Art in London as head of programme, applied arts. Most recently, she has been director and professor at Ball State University’s School of Art. 

“Rebecca is wholly committed to collaborative, transparent and transformative leadership, always striving to create an environment where the community can thrive, and we believe she will bring an exciting, fresh perspective to The Bray,” said Steven Young Lee, director emeritus and special projects manager of The Bray. “With her extensive leadership experience at complex educational institutions, her passion for students and her commitment to the ceramic arts, she is the ideal person to lead us in our next phase of growth and vision, and we are honored to welcome Rebecca to The Bray.” 

“I am thrilled to be joining The Bray. I see my role as executive director as a way to take all of my skills and experiences, from boots-on-the-ground work to future planning, and help further evolve this storied organization,” said Harvey. “I am over the moon about the possibilities ahead—building upon The Bray’s tremendous history and continuing its essential work for an inclusive and collaborative future—and delighted to be able to center that conversation on all things ceramic.” 

Harvey received her MFA in Ceramics from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and her BFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She has received international recognition for her artistic practice, including residencies in Dresden, Germany; Uppsala, Sweden; Jingdezhen, China; and Olafsfjordur, Iceland.

Harvey is replacing Steven Young Lee, who spent 15 years at the helm of The Bray as resident artistic director. Lee has now transitioned to the newly created roles of director emeritus and special projects manager. As director emeritus, Lee will help transition the management and artistic leadership of The Bray to Harvey, and will continue to help build the organization’s foundation and maintain relationships with key donors. As special projects manager, he will help establish innovative programs that further The Bray’s reach into diverse communities.

“We are immensely grateful to Steven Young Lee for his many years of steady and impactful leadership. During his tenure, he has guided The Bray through a period of exceptional growth and evolution,” said Sue Tirrell, board chair at The Bray. “With new leadership and the recent, transformative $15 million endowment by the Windgate Foundation, The Bray is at an exciting and pivotal moment in our 71-year history.”
 

About The Bray

The Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts, known as The Bray, is a public, nonprofit creative center solely dedicated to the ceramic arts. Founded in 1951 by brickmaker Archie Bray, the mission of The Bray is to enhance commitment to, and investment in, the ceramic arts. Located in Helena, Montana, near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the 26-acre former brickyard serves as a gathering place for emerging and professional ceramic artists. Its programs include an international artist-in-residence program, workshops and community classes, curated exhibitions, an on-site and virtual sales gallery, and a ceramic supply facility that provides “Bray Clay” and technical support to artists from around the world. The Bray | Bray Clay | Bray Gallery