Please come support SDITC and help send students (Kaitlyn Welsh, Chip Brackett, Tabitha Walks, Whitley Rautio & Sydney Reichhardt) to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska in June to audition for college admission, theatre scholarships, participate in workshops, and network with theatre professionals and peers from around the country, by attending the dinner theatre fundraiser: “Singin’ For Your Supper”

Dates: Friday 4/24, Sat 4/25, and Sun 4/26

Time: First Course served at 6:30pm, show starts at 7:15pm

Place: SDITC Theatre-900 West Broadway, Butte

Admission: $10 per person, group of 4=$30, 5 or more=$2 off admission

Performers: Bruce Wayne Brackett, Peytan Campbell, Melissa Ann Hansen, Brianne Holland-Stergar, Woody Kelleher, Amanda Lindgren, Megan Ness, Quincy Rohach, Randy Skates, Cheri Taylor-Trbovich, Makayla Walker, Tabitha Walks, Tishina Walks, Tristan Walks, Amy Welsh, Kaitlyn Welsh.

Menu: First Course-Soup & Salad
Second Course-Spaghetti & Bread
Dessert-Apple Crisp Ala Mode

Reservations: Please call 498-3483, space is limited

Please attend, and share this info with others who may wish to attend.

Many Thanks-
Melissa

This review is copied from the Montana Standard. The last performance is tomorrow’s matinee at 2 p.m. Don’t miss out. See details at the end of the story.

Theater Review: ‘Last Five Years’ has right balance
By Cheri Taylor-Trbovich - 04/03/2009

Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Co.’s production of “The Last Five Years” sensitively and honestly portrays a five-year relationship between Jamie Wellerstein, a writer (Landon Hansen), and Cathy Hiatt, a performer (JoAnne McAllister-Nordhagen).

They each recount the history of their relationship, she from end to beginning, and he from beginning to end.

Hansen and McAllister-Nordhagen have created complex characters that are relatable, and compliment one another beautifully. Both deliver commanding individual vocal performances, and together sound absolutely marvelous. Each proves that stage performance is his or her forte, and makes “The Last Five Years” a must-see production.

The music is fabulous and encompasses a variety of musical styles. Each of the 14 songs tells an independent story, and the author has brilliantly woven them together to create an engaging and genuine musical. My hat’s off to music director Dave Coleman and the orchestra who so capably play such a diverse score.

My favorite songs include “The Schmuel Song,” set during the holiday season. In this song, Hansen does a superb job addressing Jamie’s concern for Cathy’s future. He tells a story about a Jewish character, Schmuel, in which parallels are drawn to illustrate Cathy’s need to “take a breath, take a chance, take your time.” The portrayal is charming and endearing.

In “Climbing Uphill,” Cathy examines the balance between her marriage, career and her husband’s successes. She shows her vulnerability, insecurity and final resolve to “not be the girl who requires a man to get by.” McAllister-Nordhagen shows versatility and gives so much through her stunning voice.

“The Last Five Years” is a poignant and heartrending production that offers the right balance of emotion, reality and humor to make it an enjoyable experience. I strongly recommend this production, which is best suited for mature audiences.

Cheri Taylor-Trbovich majored in drama dance at the University of Montana, where she earned a degree in interpersonal communications. She is a veteran stage performer who has appeared with a variety of acting troupes in Butte over the past 20 years.

If you go … Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Co. presents the contemporary musical, “The Last Five Years” at the troupe’s theater, 900 W. Broadway St. Shows are Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 5, at 2 p.m. “The Last Five Years” is appropriate for mature audiences, and reservations are requested. Adult admission is $11; student/senior admission is $9. Call 498-3483.

Melissa sent out this email, and I wanted to make sure that we had it up on the website too. Help out SDITC!

Hello All-

After many years of his own faithful recycling, Landon has finally inspired me to get on the bandwagon. I, in turn, am hoping to inspire you to recycle, too. Of course, environmentally, recycling is critically important…and now…your recycling can benefit SDITC…here’s how:

You can take your separated recyclables to A & S Metals (2100 Meadowlark-out by the Forset Service) and have them weighed. They will give you a slip for the value, which you take inside and tell them it’s for Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Company. They will put it in our file, and send us a check periodically.

A & S metals accepts all recyclable materials except glass and tires. Right now, they are not paying for paper and some cardboards, but they are accepting them, and will start paying again in the future. They ask that you rinse out cans and plastic containers before bringing them. They ask that you sort things to keep all plastics together, all paper together, all cardboard together, etc. They don’t care what kind of container or bags you put the items in. They are open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm. So, please help SDITC and the environment by recycling!!!

Please let me know if you have questions, or call A & S Metals at 494-1661.

Happy Recycling-
Melissa

This is a fundraiser for Montana Thespian Troupe 5474 at Butte High School, to be applied to travel costs for student attendance at the international thespian festival, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Company presents the Frank Capra holiday classic, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ by James W. Rodgers, at the Same Difference Theatre, 900 West Broadway, Butte.

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ will be staged Fri 12/14 at 7pm, Sat 12/15 at 2pm & 7pm, Sun 12/16 at 2pm, and the following weekend on Fri 12/21 at 7pm, Sat 12/22 at 2pm & 7pm, and Sun 12/23 at 2pm.

Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

For more information or to secure reservations, please call 498-3483.

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month…

Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Company
proudly presents…

The One-Act Play
A MATTER OF
TRUST
A Drama About Sexual Assault
By Melissa Ann Hansen

Friday, April 20th: 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 21st: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 22nd: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Same Difference Theatre - MoFAB - 405 W. Park, 1st Floor
General Admission: $3

A portion of the proceeds to benefit SAFE SPACE, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program.

Production recommended for MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

For more information, please call 498-3483.

We currently have two more performances of our Double-Feature in recognition of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and we’d love to see you at one of them. We will be performing these shows today (Sunday, March 24th) at both 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Same Difference Theatre in the Museum of Fine Arts Butte (aka the old YMCA uptown) so please, bring the whole family and see some great local theatre in Butte.

For more information about the shows, click here.

Our own little Tommy Moody was featured in the Billings Gazette for his science project on the strength of paper towels.

From the Billings Gazette…

Before the Highland Elementary gym became a lunchroom Tuesday, it was crowded with young scientists for the annual science fair.

The event is something Tommy Moody, 8, wouldn’t ordinarily have a chance to do. He’s a special-needs student in one of the self-contained classrooms at the school, and standing in front of his display with his fifth-grade “buddies,” he couldn’t be still for a second and could hardly speak.

His attention flipped from the three-sided display to a yellow ball being caught in a rolled-up room divider hanging from the ceiling. Then, just as quickly, his pointing arms were wrapped around Kathleen Herbert, 11, his “big buddy.”

“He’s happy all the time,” said Ben Bruner, 11.

The science fair paired students in Darla Williams’ fifth-grade class with special-needs students in Grace Katolas’ Life Skills class. Katolas’ students range in age from 6 to 9, and this is the first time students in both classes have worked together on science projects.

“We would never be able to do this without the buddies,” Katolas said.

Bruner and Herbert helped Moody with the project by testing the strength of different brands of paper towels. They weighted the wet paper towels with pennies until they tore. Herbert and Bruner applied the scientific method to the project, and Moody did much of the assembly of the display, coloring, cutting and gluing.

…read more…

March is Disabilities Awareness Month and Same Difference Inclusive Theatre Company will be showcasing two plays to highlight and address this very topic. We will be presenting Same Difference: A Developmental Disabilities Awareness Play, in addition to Braille: The Early Life of Louis Braille.

Braille is an account of the early life of Louis Braille, who lived in France in the early 1800’s. When he was 9 years old, he had an accident, and became blind. He went to one of the world’s first Institutes for the Blind, where he developed the system by which blind people read and write today. This happened when he was 15 years old! It is a remarkable story.

For more information on both these shows, including showtimes and a complete cast list for Braille, please visit this page.