The regional and national theatre and film community will come together on Friday, August 12th at the Virginia City Opera House in Virginia City, Montana to celebrate the life of Ben Tone—beloved actor, director, and theatre instructor. The day’s events will be hosted by Ben’s daughter, son, grandchildren, and close family friends. Ben is well-known in our region for co-founding the Virginia City Players in 1949 and helping to cultivate a small local community of 1960s artists that is credited with establishing Bozeman’s flourishing art scene today. He passed away April 13, 2016, a few days shy of his 95th birthday.

Ben’s rich mentoring career included inspiring many young actors including Bill Pullman, Tom Morris, Joel Jahnke, John Pribble and countless others who went on to have award-winning careers in acting, make-up, lighting, and set design. He also developed close ongoing mentoring relationships with John Hosking and Rhonda Smith, the co-founders of the Bozeman-based Vigilante Theatre Company. Privately, he was even more generous in sharing his home and wisdom with his children, grandchildren, and close friends. You can’t find a man who lived life more fully!

Events formal and informal will be held throughout August 12th and the following weekend. To be notified about details, please email BenToneCelebration@gmail.com