Top 10 Places to See Live Performance in Southwest Montana
Southwest Montana has a flair for the dramatic. Each year, the region hosts more live performances than you could possibly count. From elaborate annual productions like the Montana Folk Festival, An Ri Ra, and the Montana Ballet Company’s Nutcracker to bands playing in bars and cafes across the region, Southwest Montana will always entertain. There are, of course, far too many venues and performances to count, but here is a list of the top 10 places to see live performances in Southwest Montana.
1. Grandstreet Theatre, Helena—Featuring eight plays and musicals a year, the Grandstreet is home to Montana’s longest-running community theater as well as a nationally-known theater school for kids in grades K-12.
2. Motherlode and Orphan Girl Theaters, Butte—The opulent Motherlode Theater was built in 1923, and today serves as the home theater for nearly a dozen performance groups and events. The Orphan Girl Theater, on the lower level, is a nationally renowned children’s theater.
3. Opera House, Philipsburg—The Opera House Theater in Philipsburg hosts three different plays all summer long and features an ensemble cast of professionals from across the country.
4. Myrna Loy Center, Helena—From Tony winning musicals, indie movies, local bands, to visual artists, the Myrna Loy Center in Helena provides the community with an endless supply of high-quality arts and entertainment all year long.
5. Covellite Theatre, Butte—This historic building was originally a First Presbyterian Church, built in 1896. Now it’s a beloved stage in Uptown Butte where live music, theatre, comedy, film screenings, and festivals fill the calendar year-round. Showtimes are always changing at the Covellite, so check what’s on at their website, here.
6. Living History, Virginia City and Nevada City—Each Saturday and Sunday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, volunteers gather in two of Southwest Montana’s most famous ghost towns to relive past events from the Gold Rush Era. Living History activities change weekly, depending on the weather and volunteer availability. The Nevada City living history schedules are posted weekly on their Facebook, so give them a follow for all of the latest updates, here.
7. Bannack Days, Dillon—Step straight into Montana’s gold-rush past with two days of living history at Bannack State Park. You’ll find pioneer skill demos, gold panning, wagon rides, old-time photos, and an 1860s gold camp brought to life in Hangman’s Gulch. Don’t be surprised if an occasional gunfight breaks out on Main Street. Music will play throughout the weekend, with old-time dancing at the Meade Hotel and a Sunday morning church service.
8. Brewery Follies, Virginia City—Be prepared for a raucous good time at the Gilbert Brewery in Virginia City. Self-described as a “risque contemporary American-burlesque-cabaret musical and skit show,” the Brewery Follies provide a hilarious end to a day in Virginia City.
9. Live! At the Civic Center, Helena—Helena’s longest-running performance art series, Live! At the Civic Center offers a blend of contemporary and classical musical performances all year long.
10. Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Various Locations—Each summer, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks packs a full cast and an elaborate set into a few vans and travels the Northwest, providing incredible theatrical performances to some of the smallest towns in Montana.
