Bozeman News

NYC doesn't have anything on Bozeman

Artistic Bozeman talks with Katie Goodman

By Lucia Stewart, 1-16-07

In a day in age where iPods and TV’s are the center of entertainment, and reading books and attending theater is decreasing, the Sunflower Center for the Arts in Bozeman is bringing energy back into what defines a vibrant community culture — its local arts.

The Sunflower Center for the Arts fosters the finding and the use of one’s creative voice by hosting writing workshop in fiction, poetry, scripts, and creative nonfiction.

Most recently, the center budded a salon speaker series, focused on creating conversation on the artistic ideas, values and visions that are thriving in the Gallatin Valley.

This month’s guest brought Katie Goodman, local director, producer, writer and actress. She is co-director of the professional and eclectic Equinox Theater Company that thrives on challenging their audiences, and is the founder and alpha female of Broad Comedy, a razor sharp and raw all female comedy ensemble.

On Sunday night to a group of 30 people, Goodman spoke to the bizarre links that have guided her life over the past 15 months, what inspires her creativity and how she is looking forward to returning to what fuels her feisty stage fire — writing.

A fiction help wanted ad might best describe the Broads diverse talents:
Do you live spontaneously in the moment? Are you willing to humor audiences on what they are uncomfortable and embarrassed about? Then join the ladies of the one-of-a-kind theater squad. Dexterity and knack to dance ballet and hip-hop, sing country and rap, act as a silly teenager cheerleader and a serious drama on our flagrant political state. Knowledge of Bozeman locals and their craziness helpful when script writing. Pay: A thriving stage and an audience to gather networks and opportunities due to the vibrant Southwest Montana theater and arts community.

When I haphazardly made use of a VIP pass at the Hatch Audiovisual Film Festival to see a sold out performance, I was in stitches on the floor laughing so hard. I didn’t know comedy until I saw these ladies. They are truly a sensational, provocative yet real and poignant group.

There hasn’t been something quite like these ladies, so even the big cities didn’t know how to market them on their recent national theater run.

It’s been a whirlwind for the Broads. After winning the Vancouver French Festival last year, they’re invites and performances have spanned Boston, Chicago, even Caroline’s Comedy Club in Time Square in New York City.

The question arose at the discussion, what does it mean to be artistically successful and can this only be achieved in the big city?

Goodman spoke to how there are similar networks and opportunities just as though you were in the Big Apple taking place here in Bozeman. It all depends what your definition of successful is as an artist.

“We’re all here and we’ve all chosen it, a lifestyle over our work,” said Goodman. “We are working towards fostering the creative process of theater enjoyment.” That’s what many of the Broads consider success.

When Equinox came to Montana, Vigilante Theater, an established theater company, took them under their wing. They invited them to use their office, their computer and their stage, seeing another player in the game all about making a bigger pie.

There is little to no threat in having other artistic players in our small Rocky Mountain town. Most of Bozeman is educated and savvy who welcome and support all forms of arts, entertainment and culture, knowing we are lucky to have such vibrancy in such a small community.

As they say in Bozeman, “The more something is going on here, the more something is going on here.”

Bozeman does have its limitations by not physically reaching many people. But does validation come from performing in front of large endless audiences?

Broad Comedy is only selling 800 seats for each theater run. But every one is a sellout.

As New York theater ticket sales are said to be decreasing, Broad Comedy is moving into a new and more spacious theater, a space they’ve been searching for over two years.

“The numbers don’t matter. If it excites and inspires the audience, that’s what matters,” said Goodman.

And what about the egos, can they create internal conflict? Goodman explained, “If the girls wanted theater careers that needed ego boasting, they would live in the city. We are all doing it for the love of the theater.”

Bozeman offers just what they need.

“That’s why we’re here,” said Goodman. “We’ve chosen it. So in a way we are successful.”

The next Sunflower Center for the Arts salon is with the Jeni Fleming Trio in February. Stay tuned.

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