The Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (MSIP) tour reaches 64 communities across the Rocky Mountain region with free, professional theatre every summer. Our acting company of 11 does it all—building the stage, repairing the costumes, servicing the vehicles, etc.—all while traversing over 7,000 miles through summer heat and surprise thunderstorms.
Sometimes our community partners are able to support our group with lodging and homemade meals, but most of the time our group relies upon grocery store runs and late night fast food or bar options. Starting in 2018, Jay Smith and YTI recognized the impact that a 5-star meal at the end of a long day would have on our weary band of traveling troubadours. Following the evening’s performance of Othello at Arch Park in Gardiner, MT, and subsequent stage deconstruction, Jay invited the company for a meal at Rosie’s Bistro. Discussing the complex themes of Shakespeare’s play, modern relevancy, and overlap between the respective missions of MSIP and YTI, Jay provided a much needed respite from the typical evening routine for our company members.
Since then, the relationship between MSIP and YTI has grown, with Jay donating his time, resources, and counsel to the entire MSIP staff in addition to our summer acting company. These days, YTI hosts a massive BBQ meal for our entire 60-person administrative, artistic and production staff on the day of our first outdoor rehearsal. Jay always takes time to connect with our diverse company of artisans from all over the country—embodying the YTI mission of incorporating “faith, adventure, and the arts.” While many of our artists may not necessarily consider themselves religious or come from non-Christian backgrounds, Jay connects with people based on the common ground of community values that exists at the core of the MSIP mission—to create opportunities for connection around shared humanity.
As federal funding priorities shift, and the cost of touring programs increases, the 54-year-old MSIP tradition of providing free access to community enrichment experiences continues to exist because of the leadership of individuals like Jay Smith, and the support of partner organizations like YTI. Together, MSIP and YTI exist to “hold the mirror up to nature,” as Shakespeare writes in Hamlet, and to re-focus our community on the importance of compassion, service, and love.
From all of us here at MSIP, thank you and we look forward to the future of our community partnership!