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“I saw a need, particularly for … “

Note the noun: need. What prepositional phrase tends to modify a noun like need? This person is standing in the middle of Montana, seeing a need. What could it be?

ding! ding! ding!

”dinner theater.”

You guessed it. No more context clues needed. Everywhere, everyone, everywhen has a need for a dinner theater.

Before we unpack that; I would like to declare that I agree. I don’t know anything about Great Falls, Montana…but my little tour of Gloria Steinemstan has convinced me that Gloria’s ”surefire way out” of any bad circumstance is telling your story, listening to other peoples’ stories and discussing solutions. She recommends doing it live…I am sure she would not object to dinner service being included. Dinner theater is an everywhere need. I don’t mind if you say that’s silly, but I mean it, with no sarcasm.

The theater is hiding in plain sight inside Tianta Steven’s other business. I had trouble spotting it, Google Maps sent me to that building across from “Times Square” … the one without windows. What do you think is going to happen to that empty building? Hopefully, a historical society-approved deluxe rebuild, not a derelict and soon-to-be demolished gutting before the wrecking balls come in. This is a tourism town with a pretty huge wealth disparity between the year-rounders and the 2nd-homers. What would you put in that empty building? High-end hotels and urgent care clinics seem to be what builders bet on. Those aren’t bad, but …

That’s the marquee on Act Normal Theater Troupe’s website. In my experience most towns want a life, a livelihood and a local culture that is built for the folks that live there, not the folks passing through.

What’s the “probable culture” of Great Falls, Montana that Sir Laurence Olivier might perceive from this theater?

There was a theater called Center Stage that closed in 2008, then Montana Actors Theater opened and closed after a few years. And, poof central Montana had no theater for 5 years.

“I thought it sounded fun.”

That’s why she started the theater. Did you know that theater people are the most fun folks? Yes, we suck the air out of the room, but look! Montana has air to spare.

I bet the “inward culture” of these people has a ton to do with the outside, because it takes your breath away. Even this theater owner has a mountain as her backdrop in her profile.

In fact, all that air is the perfect match for locking oneself into a confined space with extroverted strangers. This business owner offers two avenues to experience tense moments with a group in windowless rooms:

Escape room by day, dinner theater by night…wait! There is more small dark spaces fun!

Name 15 movies shot in Montana.

Beethoven’s 2nd (well done, I knew you would have the second of the slobbering St.Bernard movies franchise front of mind). Forest Gump rides or runs through Montana? The River Runs Through [Montana], makes sense.…I’m not going to look up the rest, but the person who compiled that list put this one on it:

Montanas = Mountains + Mysterious Murders…and Ms.Stevens is in a movie about one!

In this true story man vs. himself mountain saga, Tianta plays the attractive daughter of one of a pair of retiring rescue workers.

The site that I found this movie on recommended it as a prerequisite to visiting Montana — while wandering into the woods to find oneself, one might wonder if it is okay to die by bear bite if those mountains are the backdrop for your demise.

This is the perfect movie to have on in the background in a chic bar…another dark windowless space! Maybe that will be her next endeavor…oh wait, that is our next Montana theater.

Does this dinner theater serve drinks? Really, when most of us go out…we are responding to a need to be around other folks…but also for a need to feed our mild to moderate alcohol habits. At least me and mine are. I don’t think she has a liquor license.

Did you know that if you wear a mask you don’t need any drinks to dance? The Act Normal Theater Troupe does!

Proven by science and Truman Capote in 1966 when he told everyone to wear a mask to his Black and White ball.

The masks were an enormous icebreaker: even men rarely caught on a dance floor seemed happy. Clifton Daniel, for instance, jitterbugged with an expertise that increased one’s respect for The New York Times. Arthur Schlesinger Jr. smiled beatifically as he performed a spirited foxtrot. Kenneth Galbraith turned out to be one of the few men who dances well and talks well at the same time. David Merrick held his partner well away, and appeared to be counting the house. Wyatt Cooper bounced on the balls of his feet, and Philip Roth managed everything but rock ‘n’ roll. If Ralph Ellison’s musicianship wasn’t obvious in his novels, it was on the dance floor, and Billy Baldwin, in a unicorn headdress, danced everything.

Even though Ms. Stevens from Montana would have fit into this historical party so well…and, if transported back to 1966, Ms.Steinem and Ms. Stevens would have recognized in each other the ability to gather folks and emit a giddy glow. They’d clink glasses and dance … I’m feeling afraid to mail her a copy of Gloria…

1. There is no Black and White ball scene in Gloria, so she wouldn’t even be able to use that fabulous mask.
2. It’s such a lefty script. A wonderful-woke-world ancient archive play-from 6 years ago.

Act Normal Theater Troupe and Escape the Falls are businesses…not typical non-profits with their left-leaning constituencies. The small slice of Great Falls that this theater is in voted for Kamala Harris at ….. 51%! The only little bit of pale blue in a sea of pink to red. The nearest Kamala-positive precinct is 3+ hours away.

Obviously, you don’t have to have voted for Kamala Harris, or be swing voter generally, to tolerate this show about a 2nd wave feminists life … but, in my experience, public figures in purple towns are careful about affiliating openly. And, we all tend to ascribe the words of the show to person saying them, and the ideas of the show to the theater playing them.

I’m going to send the Great Falls dems to the theater instead!

Maybe I’m a chicken, but I think we could all get used to the act of gathering before we crack the case on creating a more functional country. Maybe an ad for a living room Gloria: A Life in their next program….

‘There are a variety of ways to support Act Normal Theatre. First, go see a show! Second, your business can purchase ads at an extremely reasonable rate in the show program which are seen by over 500 people. Third, you can donate funds to support the arts in Great Falls. Fourth, you can donate any fabulous costume items you might have lingering in the back of your closet. And fifth, go see a show!’

But this one is next!

I know! I should end this! But, this theater and Ms. Stevens keep giving me gold!

Another novel way to get involved is to sponsor one of Act Normal Theatre’s productions. To highlight and thank Procraft Body and Paint for sponsoring The Play That Goes Wrong, Stevens created a thirty-second live action commercial humorously highlighting Procraft’s services which they acted out at the end of each show. One overheard comment was, ‘I think that’s the best commercial I’ve ever seen!’

A live-action Gloria ad in which you make it clear that it is okay to disagree…!?!? And, that Gloria thanked people when they called her a bitch…but maybe don’t call anyone a bitch.

What did you imagine in that abandoned building above? An urgent care for all of the visitors that get mauled by bears? A boutique B&B for the guests of the 2nd home set? Or, a theater? Is a theater a sound economic decision in a town that wants a thriving and employed year round population? If you have fun theater folks being their full funky selves, i.e. Tianta Stevens and The Act Normal Theater Troupe, I think yes. Will that solve all of our problems…yes?