Residents enjoy park plays

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks (MSIP) returned to Sanders County this year to bring Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and for the first time in the company's history, King Lear. Trout Creek Community Improvement Association (TCCIA) and Plains Woman's Club help bring MSIP to the rural communities in Sanders County for free. This year's performances drew in around 75 people at each play, even when bad weather moved King Lear from the Sanders County Fairgrounds to the Plains Elementary gym.

This year marked the 50th season for the company and to celebrate, MSIP presented a commemorative plaque to the Plains Woman's Club and TCCIA thanking them for their continued efforts in helping bring their performances to the area. TCCIA chairperson Liz Stender was highlighted this year by MSIP as the work TCCIA continues to do is what helps MSIP continue the longstanding tradition of performing for the county.

Stender says what she looks forward to most when MSIP returns is meeting the actors, seeing the set up and watching how quickly the stage comes together. "It is super fun to hang out and watch the performance with my mom and the kids," she told MSIP. "I look forward to it every year and I enjoy every aspect from start to finish of the performance."

The impact of bringing Shakespeare to Trout Creek is important to Stender as she says the exposure is influential for not only youths but all ages. She enjoys helping bring the experience to the community and hopes it only continues to grow.