Our Story

Board of Directors:

Artistic Director – Brach Thomson
Board of Directors – Dan Paine (president), Paul Hayden, Dan Kallenberger, Terri Loudermilk, Leona Maneval, Bridget Martel, and Renee

Wynne
Emeritus – Don and Jude Thomson, Shannon Barrett
In Memoriam – Dennis Yarbrough

Our story continued...

In 2014, through the generous support of BPCT families, patrons, donors, and the Bigfork community and beyond, BPCT secured its own rehearsal space, “The Center,” located on 833 Grand Drive in Bigfork. This additional site has thankfully allowed the program to expand its offerings. BPCT now has three different student choirs, a jazz band, sponsors a Christmas concert, and auditions a Christmas production which involves both kids and adults in the community.

Five and Holding, BPCT's first invite-only choir, was initially established in the Fall of 2009 for the BPCT Fairytale Ball fundraiser and with the intent to develop student leaders through performance. With a ready-to-go repertoire, the group showcases its talent at community events such as Rotary meetings, Festival of the Arts, Cowabunga, and the Bigfork Christmas tree lighting. Over the years, Five and Holding has evolved through various configurations (e.g. The Triple Trio, SSA, 5-6-7..., Barbershop Boys, etc.) — adapting to the needs and strengths of its members while maintaining its core mission.

In producing quality children’s productions, BPCT grows participants’ confidence, creativity, and social skills. The program challenges children to “think on their feet” and provides a wide range of opportunities in taking direction and collaborating with others. Beginning with the audition, show participation is extensive and includes rehearsing scenes with conceptual understanding; preparing lines and entrances; learning choreography; helping run technical operations; constructing sets; loading set pieces into the theatre; and striking the set and cleaning the theatre space after the final performance. The reach of the children’s theatre also extends to other youth in the community. Nearly 800 students from surrounding schools are bused in for each performance to experience the magic of live theatre - theater games with Justin Jest and the cast included!

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Parents and extended family members are another big part of BPCT’s success. They generously cart kids to rehearsals, work alongside them as they build sets or rehearse their lines, decorate the lobby for performances, help strike the set, sew costumes, assist in the green room, gather program advertisers, work concessions or merchandise ...and more! We thank you, BPCT families! Contributing fundraisers, past and present, include a Fairy Tale Auction, FOBS/Cowabunga, “The Center” building fund campaign, the BPCT Crab Boil, BPCT’s Spring Reveal Fundraiser, the BPCT Lemonade Stand, split-the-pot, and continuing donations.

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And last but not least, our patrons (both young and old!) help keep us going and afloat. Thanks so much for letting our kids entertain you and grow into amazing contributing adults within our community, near and far. We thank our Bigfork and Flathead Valley communities for generously giving their time and money, in a variety of ways, to support BPCT’s programming!

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