It’s hard to predict the exact snowfall for the upcoming winter in the small community and legendary ski town of Big Sky, Montana, but one thing is for sure: the cultural forecast looks amazing.

Big Sky’s new 280-seat Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (WMPAC) just opened its doors for their debut season, announcing a spectacular line-up of national and international acts ranging from dance to comedy, with a variety of musical genres in the mix. Located in the Gallatin Canyon, as an annex to the Ophir School building, the Arts Center is a valuable resource for the Big Sky community and also a new cultural hub in the Northern Rockies.

“The theatre was designed to be an intimate space that hosts world-class performances,” explains Artistic Director John Zirkle. “But it’s also a place for the community, where kids can further their arts education and people can explore opportunities in the performing arts in Montana.”

Launching into their debut season, the first of nine shows premiered December 28 with a sold out performance of the James Sewell Ballet. On January 11, the WMPAC will host the legendary Second City, a comedy improv group based in Chicago that has been the starting point for many “Saturday Night Live” actors, including Tina Fey and Bill Murray. On January 25, the Portland Cello Project, a high-energy “indie orchestra” will perform. This group aims to “bring the cello to places you wouldn’t normally hear it,” as well as in a format that you wouldn’t expect. The WMPAC will feature two shows in February—The Moth Mainstage Feb. 15 and The Brubeck Brothers Quartet Feb. 20—and four shows in March (see schedule below).
Along with national acts, the WMPAC hosts art events and education within the Big Sky community, with the goal of bringing more art opportunities to the area. This includes the Big Sky Community Theatre program, designed for all area adults with a passion to perform, and the Big Sky Community Chorus for those in the area who enjoy singing. Ophir School students will also benefit; during the school day, students fill the center with their ideas and talents under the supervision of a faculty of drama, visual arts and music professionals.

“The Art Center’s mission is to establish and maintain a clear and stable artistic infrastructure to grow a community of confident performers
and inspired audiences,” Zirkle says.

The WMPAC is named after the ski movie icon Warren Miller. He and his wife Laurie spend half of their time in Big Sky. “The name came about in part because of their involvement in the Big Sky community,” Zirkle says. “But it’s really because Warren Miller’s legacy demonstrates a bridge between skiing and the arts, and that really seemed appropriate here.”

Funding for the WMPAC was a collaborative initiative of the Big Sky School District #72, the Friends of Big Sky Education (FOBSE) and the Big Sky community. The Arts Council of Big Sky is also a Presenting Partner for some of the season’s shows.
The WMPAC was designed to make the arts accessible, and in this light, they have created different seating options and prices. Tickets range from $15-$55, with options for budget, general and premium seating, available through the WMPAC website (http://www.warrenmillerpac.org/). The tickets go on sale in stages, with January shows on sale now, the next three on sale January 1 and the last three on February 1. Lodging is available at Big Sky Resort (advance reservations are recommended) for the optimum ski/culture weekend. Each show will feature custom hors d’oeuvres catered by Bucks T-4 and a
cash bar.

Just when you thought Big Sky couldn’t get much cooler, or bigger! The schedule for the first season includes:
January 11: The Second City comedy improv group, which has been spreading its trademark comedic and improvisational sensibility for half a century while churning out Saturday Night Live alums like Tina Fey and Bill Murray. Tickets on sale December 1

January 25: The Portland Cello Project, which has been described by Spin magazine as an “indie orchestra that gives classical music a jolt of energy.”  Tickets on sale December 1

February 15: The Moth Mainstage, a touring show and podcast that has gained worldwide audiences, in which storytellers explore specific themes, often in unexpected ways.  Tickets on sale January 1.

February 20: The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, an exciting jazz ensemble featuring two members of one of America’s most accomplished musical families, Dan Brubeck (drums) and Chris Brubeck (bass & trombone). Tickets on sale January 1.

March 1: Antonii Baryshevskyi Ukrainian pianist who is known to “Set the keys on fire.” Tickets on sale January 1.

March 9: David Mason and Tami Haaland, a Poetry Slam and Poet Laureate Double-Header performance featuring Montana singer/songwriter Martha Scanlan, as well as a perspective-shifting talk about words. Tickets on sale February 1.

March 19: The Big Sky Commission with Montana musicians Philip Aaberg, Angella Ahn and Mike Reynolds for a one of a kind evening as composer Aaberg premieres his original, WMPAC commissioned piece. Tickets on sale February 1.

March 29: Mark Applebaum, a composer, performer and engaging speaker and Stanford University professor who will explore how boredom drives his creativity both in how he composes and the instruments he creates out of combs and doorstops. Tickets on sale February 1.

For more information about the WMPAC’s upcoming debut season, running December 2013 through March 2014, check out www.warrenmillerpac.org

Corinne Garcia is a Bozeman-based freelance writer, writing for a number of other national and regional publications, including The Land Report, Country Living, and Parents among others.