By TOM BENSEN
The Montana World Affairs Council has an immediate opening and is accepting applications for the position of Executive Director. This is a full-time position, reporting to the Board of Directors. The Montana World Affairs Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2000, enables Montanans to appreciate the relationship of foreign policy and international issues to their lives in the Rockies. The Council offers opportunities to better understand world events through people-to-people diplomacy, distinguished speakers, overseas visits, and educational outreach programs. Interested applicants should send resume, cover letter, and references to aryan@montanaworldaffairs.org. This position is open until filled.
The City of Missoula Public Art Committee has extended the deadline for two art calls in Silver Park. The new deadline is October 6, 2014. Visit the website for all information and the application.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture at the University of Montana presents Vanessa German: Bitter Root in the Paxson Gallery, and Amanda Browder: End of the Infinite in the Meloy Gallery. Both shows open October 16.
Bike Walk Bus Week runs through October 4, where you can get free coffee, cheap treats, assorted discounts and join in special events throughout Missoula. Visit the website for a complete listing.
The 10th annual Outdoor Sculptre Show at Caras Nursery is on display now through October 15, located at 2727 South 3rd West.
Shakespeare and Co. presents Our Adult Book Group, discussing Ruth Ozeki’s A Tale for the Time Being, 6:00 p.m. on October 1.
The Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for Winter Wonderettes on Sunday, October 5 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts, from 12:30-5:00 p.m.
Fact & Fiction presents Christopher Kelly signing America Invades, 4:00 pm September 30; Kim Zupan reading and signing The Ploughman, 5:30 on October 3; Phillip Douglas
signing Spirit Made me Smaller, 10:30 a.m. to noon October 4. All events are at F&F Downtown.
On Tuesday, September 30, 6:00 p.m. there is a reading and lecture in the Dell Brown Room of Turner Hall with Joanna Klink. As part of the Provost’s Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series, Klink will talk about the essential strangeness of poetry – its power to move you even when it doesn’t make sense. She will also read from her forthcoming book. This event is free and open to the public. For more information visit umt.edu/provost.
The Gallery of Visual Arts at the University of Montana presents Chad Steve’s Re/Creation and Stephen Glueckert’s We Use Then To Do Things through October, with an Opening Reception and Artist Talk for each on October 2 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the gallery. Call 243-2813 for more information.
The Dana Gallery is preparing for the fifth annual “Young Guns” show, opening October 2. Part of Dana Gallery’s mission, as a contributor to the local and regional arts community, is to support and encourage the next generation of young and emerging artists. Once a year we bring to the spotlight several incredibly talented regional artists under the age of 35, giving each a venue to share their ideas and inspirations with the Missoula community. Visit the website for more information.
Author Walter Kirn will be at the University of Montana to read his fiction on Friday, October 3, as part of the Fall 2014 UM Creative Writing Program Visiting Writer Series. The reading will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Dell Brown Room of Turner Hall and is free and open to the public. Kirn is the author of eight books, most notably “Up In the Air,” which was made into a movie starring George Clooney, and “Blood Will Out,” a memoir of his friendship with a Rockefeller imposter and convicted murder. Kirn has reviewed books for New York Magazine, The New York Times Book Review and The New York Times Sunday Magazine. He is a national correspondent for BBC and lives in Livingston. Kirn is UM’s Kittredge Visiting Writer for the fall semester. For more information, visit UM Creative Writing.
The Radius Gallery presents Wind & Bones Art Exhibit, October 3 through November 16. This is a new show paying tribute to Montana writer James Welch, whose poetry was once described as having a lot of “wind and bones” in it. As an inter-artistic exhibit, events throughout the month will draw from visual and literary arts as well as music and film.
The Williard Collaboration Mural is part of First Friday Gallery Walk on October 3 from 5:00-7:00 p.m., celebrating the native species in our state as we give back to the community through artwork. A group of Willard students collaborated with Stephanie Frostad and community volunteers to create a mural for the community to enjoy. The mural titled Flourishing was funded through a grant from the Office of Neighborhoods and Nutritional Laboratories International. The mural is located along the Bitterroot Spur Trail on the East wall of Nutritional Labs, 1001 S. 3rd St. W. Snacks, beverages and live music will be provided for your enjoyment. The artists will be at the mural from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on First Friday.
Missoula Symphony Orchestra opens its 60th season with “Music, Love and Other Drugs” featuring Tim Fain, violin soloist, best know for his Grammy-nominated playing in the films Black Swan and Twelve Years a Slave, October 4 at 7:30 p.m. and October 5 at 3 p.m. Dennison Theatre. For season tickets, single tickets and more information visit the Symphony website, call 721-3194, or stop by the office at 320 E. Main St. in Missoula.
The Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for Winter Wonderettes on Sunday, October 5 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts, from 12:30-5:00 p.m. Please use the Main Street entrance. The show will be under the direction of Andy Meyers, with Lizzie Hatfield serving as music director. Winter Wonderettes is the holiday sequel to the Marvelous Wonderettes. MCT is seeking four female singers/actors/movers, between the ages of 18-40 who also have a good sense of humor. The roles to be cast are “Missy,” “Suzy,” “Betty Jean,” and “Cindy Lou.” All roles are available. Those auditioning must be able to sing tight, four-part harmony to holiday tunes such as “Run, Rudolph Run,” “Santa Baby” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” The dates of the production are December 11-14 and December 17-21, 2014. For questions regarding auditions, please call MCT at 728-1911 Monday-Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. There are a limited number of perusal scripts that may be checked out in advance.
UM Dancers on Location perform at Noon on October 5 at the Mansfield Mall. UM Dance Students will perform this annual, site-specific dance concert. Free and open to the public. Call 243-4481.
The UM Department of Music presents a Faculty & Guest Artist Series at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall, with guest artist Adam McCord on saxophone. Call 243-2441.
The UM School of Music Student Ensemble Series presents the third annual Choral Gala, featuring University Choir, Women’s Chorus and Chamber Chorale, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre on October 6. This performance will include music from multiple continents in an electric blend of styles and cultures. Solo and small-group performances also will be featured. Call 243-2441.
The UM School of Music presents the 7th annual Pianissimo! concerts October 10 and 11, at 7:30 p.m., at the Music Recital Hall. Featuring nine pianos, over 30 pianists and a rollicking good time, this fun and lighthearted concert has something for everyone. For tickets go to GrizTix, or stop by the Adams Center Box Office.
The 2014 Humanities Montana Festival of the Book will take place October 9-11 in Missoula.
The World Affairs Council of Montana presents Council in the Classroom, offering students a unique opportunity to engage with diplomats, dignitaries, and international experts from around the world. With just a few clicks, classrooms in all corners of the state are connected to distinguished speakers through this live, interactive videoconferencing tool. On October 8, the program presents “Hope is Not Lost” with John Dau, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” author of the book God Grew Tired of Us. To sign up, or to find out if your school has the capability to connect, contact Alli DePuy
The 2014 Humanities Montana Festival of the Book will take place October 9-11 in Missoula. Last year’s Humanities Montana Festival of the Book celebrated the literature of the West with over 80 authors in downtown Missoula. Two days and three nights of readings, panels, exhibits, demonstrations, signings, workshops, entertainments, receptions, and other special events were free and open to the public. Venues included the Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park, the Missoula Art Museum, the Wilma Theatre, and the Missoula Public Library. Included in the festival is Tell Us Something at the Top Hat, October 9 at 6:00 p.m. The theme is The Things We Carry.
The Montana Natural History Center presents the Fall Celebration Dinner and Auction October 10 at 5:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel. Call 327-0405 for more information.
Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT) offers the Third Annual “Do It in 72” hours or less film contest. Contestants will get 72 hours to make a short movie to compete for prizes of $500, $300 and $100.00. The completed short film (under five minutes) can be any style or subject but must be shot & edited within three days. MCAT is going to release the three elements that have to be in the movie 72 hours before the deadline of Monday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m. To enter, contestants should come to MCAT on Friday, October 10 at 5:00 p.m. and hear about the three elements that have to be in the film. In past years the elements have included a particular line of dialogue, a location, or the display of certain numbers in a scene of the completed film. MCAT can also lend equipment to contestants given enough advance notice. MCAT is located at 500 North Higgins. The completed films will be screened at the Roxy Theater on Saturday October 25 at 7:00 p.m. and the prize money will be awarded to the winners. Entering the contest is free and open to participants of all ages. Contestants can make their movie on a smart phone, point and shoot camera or sophisticated equipment. The judges are looking for originality and spirit. For more information visit MCAT’s website, or call Joel at 542-6228.
A Carousel for Missoula, a volunteer-built, hand-carved carousel in Caras Park, will be the topic of the Art Associates of Missoula monthly meeting. Please join us Wednesday, October 15, at 10:00 a.m. in Caras Park at the carousel to learn more about the carousel and its Painted Ponies! Art Associates meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please call Susie at 544-0891
The International Choral Festival and the UM School of Music will present their annual benefit performance of George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre on the UM campus. This free concert is a beloved community sing-a-long with a volunteer chorus, which has delighted local singers and audiences annually since 1995. The chorus will be conducted by Dr. David Edmonds, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Montana, and accompanied by an orchestra of professional area musicians. And, honorable Mayor John Engen will be there too to welcome everyone and to mark the official kick-off of the holiday season in Missoula with this concert.
Out of the Box Productions presented by MCT, Inc. announces a return engagement of The Woman in Black, Oct. 9-12.
Join the Chorus by signing-up online at either website. The concert is free to the public, but as a fundraiser, singers are required to raise or donate a minimum of $75 to join the chorus ($40 for students), and are encouraged to obtain sponsorships from friends and family that exceed these minimums. Exciting prizes such as overnights with deluxe lodging, float trips, gift certificates, etc. will be awarded to those singers who bring in the highest level of sponsorships. Proceeds will equally support Missoula’s 10th International Choral Festival scheduled for July 13-17, 2016, and the UM School of Music students traveling to Vienna.
Out of the Box Productions presented by MCT, Inc. announces a return engagement of The Woman in Black. This dark thriller combines the power and intensity of live theatre with the dark style of film noir. Performances nightly at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 9-12 at the Missoula First United Methodist Church (300 E Main). Tickets on sale now for $15.00, which includes a $5.00 credit towards
a meal at Five on Black Brazilian Grill-the show’s sponsor. Purchase. Seating is general admission. Tickets available online at the MCT web site, by calling 728-7529 or at the door.
The University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance presents Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand October 7-11 and October 14-18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montana Theatre, PARTV Center, U of M Campus.
Missoula’s premier vocal ensemble Dolce Canto has produced a new audio compilation of Christmas music entitled, “A Joyful Noise.” This new recording includes a wide selection of familiar carols, spirituals, and contemporary compositions that you will want to share with your family and loved ones during the holiday season. To celebrate the CD’s release, the choir will host a free public event at the Downtown Dance Collective (121 W. Main St.) on Saturday, October 18, at 6:00 p.m. The CD release party will feature refreshments, social time with the choir, and live a cappella singing. For more information, visit the DolceCanto website.
Learn Aikido, the martial art of harmony, with a 4 Week Fall Intro for beginning adults starts Tuesday, October 21 at 5:30 p.m. This class meets Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., through November 13. For more information, visit the website.
The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre directors, dancers, musicians, Native Americans, performance artists, Missoulian videographer, and crew are traveling to China to perform the Destination Missoula program to Beijing, and throughout the Henan and Guangxi Provinces. While in China, RMBT will perform for Ambassador Max Baucus and his wife Melodee, Chinese Cultural and Foreign affairs officials, USA embassy and consulate officials and for many large Chinese audiences. Additional funds are still needed to cover our remaining expenses. Visit the Kickstarter page to donate.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website
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Tom Bensen has lived in Missoula since 1986, and has been the executive director of the Missoula Cultural Council since June 2004. He has directed First Night Missoula each New Year’s Eve since 1997. He is a member of Missoula’s choral ensemble Dolce Canto, and enjoys being outdoors, whether it is hiking, biking, skiing, walking the dogs, or mowing the lawn. His wife Susan works for Montana Public Radio, and their son Peter attends Hellgate High School.