‘Meagher of the Sword’ to be performed this weekend
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News from the Port Polson Players
POLSON — “Meagher of the Sword,” a musical history presentation, takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25, 26 and 27 at Polson’s beautiful Theatre on the Lake. Curtain times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. The show is free-will admission as a thank you to the Mission Valley for 50 years of patronage and support.
Thomas Francis Meagher, the Irish patriot who became Montana’s first acting territorial governor, led a most incredible life in 43 short but eventful years. He is immortalized as “the guy on the horse” outside our state capitol. This one-hour program has toured the region and Ireland, illustrating Meagher’s life and legacy since 2011 with relevant folk music, lies, legends and a few laughs.
In January, “Meagher of the Sword,” featuring Players producers Neal and Karen Lewing, will be presented at the 43rd annual Cygnet Folk Festival in Tasmania. Van Diemen’s Land, as it was known in Meagher’s time, played a significant role in his amazing story, as he spent over two years in the penal colony there before escaping to America.
Auditions for the Port Polson Players production of “A Christmas Carol” will be held on Tuesday,
Oct. 29. Students grades 1 - 8 can try out at 4 p.m. on the PHS stage, with high school through adults at 6:30 p.m. at the Theatre on the Lake. A great way to meet new people.
No prepared material is necessary, but auditioners should be prepared to read, dance and sing, as the show is a musical. Show dates are Dec. 5-8.
About the beautiful Theatre on the Lake
Mission Valley Friends of the Arts and its Board of Directors are the stewards of the building, having coordinated nearly $500,000 through grants and membership drives over the last 38 years. MVFA was formed to renovate the building to give the Port Polson Players a place to produce plays, 38 years ago as the building was in desperate disrepair. The Port Polson Players trade out the use of the building as they help MVFA coordinate grants, run membership drives, oversee maintenance, and serve as the go-to folks for contractors.
According to Port Polson Players producer Karen Lewing, MVFA’s current board of directors: President Chris Strom, Vice President Suz Rittenhouse, Financial Advisor Kathy Kuberka, with Garden Supervisors Charles Bertsch and Suz Rittenhouse have given their time and money for many years.
Lewing says she’s also grateful to former board members Carmine Mowbray, Chuck Jarecki, and Dennis Anderson as well as hundreds of MVFA members who continue to contribute annually.
“The Port Polson Players would not be celebrating their 50th season if it weren’t for all those people who came together to provide a roof, so the Players could provide the plays,” she said. “In addition, we’re honored the City of Polson believed the performing arts would attract grant and membership funding to fix up that beautiful 1938 log building - a true and historical Montana treasure.”