Alpine Theatre Project celebrates Women's History Month

This Women's History Month, Alpine Theatre Project is reflecting on a production that brought Broadway talent to Montana to tell the story of one of the most important women in American music. 

In February, ATP presented “Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill,” the acclaimed musical portrait of jazz legend Billie Holiday. The production starred Angela Wildflower, a Broadway actress and teaching artist, with Joshua Kartes as music director and pianist. The show was directed by LaTrisa Harper, also a Broadway veteran. ATP flew the artists to Whitefish for the run. 

ATP is co-led by Executive Director Cynthia Benkelman and Artistic Director Tracy McDowell, a Broadway veteran whose credits include the closing company of MOTOWN: The Musical and the 10th Anniversary Tour of Rent. Under their leadership, ATP produces professional theater, educational programs serving hundreds of young performers, and a summer training camp that brings working Broadway professionals to the Flathead Valley each year. 

"We didn't set out to make a statement about women in the arts," said Benkelman. "We set out to produce a great show. But the director was a woman, the star was a woman, the leadership team is women, and the story was about one of the most important women in American music. That's worth recognizing." 

Soon, the company's teen performers take the stage in Beetlejuice Jr., the wildly hilarious musical based on the Broadway hit and the beloved Tim Burton film. Directed by McDowell and choreographed by award-winning NYC choreographer Michael McCrary, performances are April 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. and April 19 at 4 p.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. Tickets at atpwhitefish.org.