Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
thew Shepard in Laramie. The play was produced by the New York-based Tectonic Theater
Project and was also made into an HBO film of the same name.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, a troupe based at the university in Bozeman, takes
their show on the road each summer to rural communities in Montana and northern Wyom-
ing. The performances are free and are well regarded for their high quality, drawing actors
for the cast from Chicago, Seattle, and Montana. Their plays are often summer highlights
in small towns that may not see much cultural infusion the rest of the year.
For opera lovers, it doesn't get much better than Intermountain Opera Bozeman, a be-
loved local company that stages two remarkable productions in the spring and fall. Built
under the guidance of renowned baritone Pablo Elvira, the company brings world-class tal-
ent from the Met, among others, to small-town Montana for two performances each season.
While towns in Montana and Wyoming certainly don't have the hip music scenes larger
cities may offer, there are plenty of tunes around to keep your toes tapping, especially in the
summer. Many communities have free music nights, and local bars and taverns are usually
good for a fun country band and the occasional touring act. In Montana, Billings and Mis-
soula have the most offerings, including arena shows, nightclubs, and theaters. In Wyom-
ing, Casper and Cheyenne are home to big arenas, while Cheyenne's Frontier Days rodeo
offers nightly performances by favorite country music stars each July.
It seems nearly every small town across both states has a bluegrass festival during the
summer, and Wyoming's Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival is one of the nation's best. Oth-
er popular music festivals include Montana's Sweet Pea Festival, the Magic City Blues
Festival, and Rockin' the Rivers, while Wyoming's Grand Teton Music Festival hosts clas-
sical concerts and workshops June-August.
