Whitefish Theatre Company opens 48th season with sobering comedy, ‘The White Chip’

The Whitefish Theatre Company opens the season with a Black Curtain production of “The White Chip,” a “dry comedy about drying out.” 

Despite spending more time drunk than sober, Steven McAlister has managed to graduate from college, create an extremely successful theater group, get married and thrive in a dream job at one of the most prestigious regional theaters in the U.S. Sure, it’s gratifying to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting where they reward participants with a white chip just for showing up, but does he really have a problem? Even with an ailing father, a marriage on the rocks and his professional life careening out of control, Steven has constructed a careful balancing act that keeps it all together — until it all falls apart.  

A dark comedy told with humor, honesty and compassion, “The White Chip” is a deeply relatable look at addiction and how sometimes hitting rock bottom might be the best shot at recovery. 

Starring Matt Strool, Andrew Matulionis and CrisMarie Campbell, performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 and 27. A 2 p.m. performance is also scheduled for Sept. 27. 

 Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and can be purchased at whitefishtheatreco.org; by calling 406-862-5371 or at the box office, 1 Central Ave., Whitefish.  

As a Black Curtain production, sets, props and costumes will be minimal and actors will read from scripts. 

The show is sponsored by Sukey Pfirman and Tim Strand, Masterpiece Carpet One/Stuart Green, John and Marianne Evenhuis, Tru Green/Deborah Roberts and an anonymous donor.