As our passionate, audience-driven volunteers scurry to mount our 2020 season of making theatre, I must smile. We are all so fortunate to live in this community with access to organizations like MTVarts. Last year we wrapped up production on our 44th show and, believe it, making theatre is hard work. 2019 ended the decade strongly with 20 performances of 4 shows with 19,848 recorded volunteers’ hours from 263 folks. The dollar value of that (according to the Independent Sector) is $504,727. There is even more when you consider prep work and event support that isn’t recorded. Now that is passion for the arts! To cover our 2019 production costs, our tickets should have averaged $31 but thanks to amazing… Read More

We at MTVarts often talk of the power of live theater and how it influences our artsIQ participants? What starts out in a workshop setting culminates into a full theatrical production. Having taught for more years than I would like to admit, I’ve seen first hand that theater makes for smarter, braver human beings. Theater helps connect the head to the heart.Theater also connects to the importance of reading. A play has the ability to jump a story off the page and bring it to life. This can be a revelation to regular bookworms, but also a connection to reluctant readers. Part of what is happening on stage is very similar to the roleplaying all children do. The difference with… Read More

I am a drummer. It’s not my day job, it’s not my hobby – it’s my way of life. By trade, I work as a Vice President for one of the largest banks on the planet. By spirit, I am a drummer. Why? Well, it started when I was given my first “Country Western” beginners drum set for Christmas at the age of 5. I have to assume my parents were either gluttons for punishment or they just wanted me to beat on something besides the furniture. Because I was born with the blessed curse of constant rhythm in my head. So, I drum. Always. I describe drumming as a “blessed curse” because it’s both a natural gift I was… Read More