Shakespeare at Ekalaka Public Schools

Born from aspirations to bring the timeless tales of William Shakespeare directly to rural and under-served communities, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks has been enriching the lives of people in Montana and beyond for 50 seasons.

Created in 2008, Montana Shakes! is the only Shakespearean elementary school theater program designed for rural communities. Sixty tour stops stretch across Montana and Wyoming, reaching over 11,000 students each spring. Last week, Montana Shakes! stopped at Ekalaka Public Schools.

Montana Shakes! spent one day with local students, and actor-educators performed an original interactive play based on Shakespeare's beloved stories, accompanied by exciting classroom workshops designed by a specialist in theater curriculum. The play and workshops introduced the young students to Shakespeare in a way based on engagement and curiosity, not apprehension.

The play performed was "Bottom's Dream." It was written and directed by Matt Foss, and is based on Shakespeare's timeless classic "A Midsummer Night's Dream." An original play created for the Montana Shakes! program, "Bottom's Dream" follows the eccentric and earnest Nicky Bottom along with her three misfit friends Robin, Helena and Tania, as they set out to prove they can tell their version of Shakespeare's classic talk of magic and mayhem using a little imagination... and a lot of trash. Literally! The ragtag team works together to turn mess into masterpiece in this heartwarming retelling of the Rude Mechanicals.

About Montana Shakespeare in the Parks

In addition to their robust education programs like Montana Shakes! and Shakespeare in the Schools, MSIP also brings free summer and winter tours throughout Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.

Experience Montana Shakespeare in the Parks under the welcoming blue skies of the West and relish in world-class performances that are free and friendly to all, and, for all time.

Ushering Shakespeare's immortal stories of life, love, and tragedy into a modern era, MSIP is dedicated to preserving the cultural traditions of theater and literature. Through this artistic expression, they provide lively entertainment that evokes smiles and laughter, alongside tears of joy and sorrow, to all people.