Around the Town: Helena-area arts and entertainment news published Feb. 13

World-acclaimed Israeli Pianist Roman Rabinovich will return to the Queen City at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 for the Helena Symphony’s Masterworks IV at the Helena Civic Center, 340 Neill Ave.

He will perform Prokofiev’s explosive Piano Concerto No. 3, described by the composer as “devilishly difficult,” and Dvořák’s emotional profound Seventh Symphony concludes the concert as a personal reflection on grief and joy.

Rabinovich was top prizewinner of the 12th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Israel in 2008. He made his Israel Philharmonic debut under Zubin Mehta at the age of 10, and has appeared as a soloist throughout Europe and the United States.

Tickets are at boxoffice@helenasymphony.org or call 406-442-1860.

Masterworks IV is sponsored by the Sonder Financial Strategies, Rocky Mountain Title Guaranty, and Jeanne and Ron Baldwin.

A new women’s choir is being formed in Helena and rehearsals are scheduled to begin in March.

Steve Michelson, conductor of the Helena Chamber Singers, former music director at Helena High School and current music director at Plymouth Congregational Church, is forming a select women’s choir of 16-24 singers that will rehearse and present various styles of traditional choral music with two concerts in May and an additional performance at a memorial service in June.

A prominent feature of this choir will be the performance of music with great poetry, music specifically written for women’s voices and intended to be sung by experienced singers. A prerequisite for membership will be the availability to attend the concerts and the memorial service. The name of the choir has not been determined.

Qualifications for membership include a mature, warm tone quality, preferably with some vibrato, accurate intonation, some sight-reading ability and experience singing in an advanced choir.

If interested and/or needing more information, contact Steve Michelson at 406- 459-8259, or send an email to skmichelson46@gmail.com. A short (15 minute) interview will be necessary and needs to be scheduled with Michelson.

The interview can be over the phone, but a short vocal audition will be necessary before the first rehearsal.

Cohesion Dance Project is hosting Helena’s 13th annual Community Choreography Showcase on Feb. 22, at Cohesion Center.

This family-friendly performance showcases new and seasoned choreographers of all ages and abilities as they share their creative works in a variety of dance styles including Irish, hip-hop, jazz, tap, salsa, tango, belly dancing, modern/contemporary and more.

The performance highlights an energetic collection of dancers and dance groups from across the community.

Shows are 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at 1020 Argyle St. in Helena.

Advanced ticket sales only (seating is limited). Tickets are $15 at cohesiondance.org.

“The Columbia River Canoe Project: An Adventure from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean” will be shown 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at The Myrna, 15 N. Ewing St.

This film follows Robert Lester of Butte and a cousin as they canoed 1,300 miles over 55 days from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean. This will be the first time the film is shown in Helena.

It chronicles their journey while focusing awareness and attention to the health of the river basin and how dramatically the use of the river has changed since the Native people who lived with and on these waters.

Lester will be available to answer people’s questions and talk about the trip after the film.

He said he is also going to Helena High on the same day to give talks to the science students on the trip and environmentalism.

The public is invited to a free reception and live preview/premiere showing of the documentary “Montana, Montana, Glory of the Seas” at the Myrna Loy Theater, 15 N. Ewing St. in Helena, beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 with the documentary to be shown at 6:40 p.m., the USS Montana Committee said. 

Following the program there will be a discussion and question-and-answer session about the documentary and its production, as well as the status of SSN 794.

The documentary’s producer, Craig Wirth, will join the discussion.

Hors d’oeuvres and nonalcoholic beverages provided, beer and wine available for purchase.

The event, cosponsored by the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce and the USS Montana Committee, is free, but reservations are required at 406-442-4120 or info@helenachamber.com.

Helena’s craft beer scene is hosting Helena Craft Beer Week from Feb. 16 to Feb. 23, and six local breweries will bring a week of craft beer-themed events offering something for everyone — from beer aficionados to casual sippers.

• Ascension Brewery is hosting a three-course dinner.
• Blackfoot River Brewing Co. will feature their Peaks to Prairie Milk Stout.
• Missouri River Brewing has a variety of events including bingo and live music.
• Speakeasy 41 is excited to hold a Roarin’ 20s Costume Party.
• Ten Mile Creek Brewing looks forward to an Open Mic Night.
• Lewis & Clark Brewery is having a Run to the Brewery on Feb. 22.
• Myrna Loy will host a Brew and View on Feb. 20, combining a “Fargo” film screening and craft beer for a night of entertainment.
• Montana Brewers Association’s Annual Montana Craft Beer Awards are on Feb. 22, featuring live music by the Rocky Mountain Pearls.
• Special events will be held at Headwaters Crafthouse, Brothers Tapworks and The Western or a special beer ice cream at the Big Dipper!

An event lineup can be found at helenamt.com/craftbeerweek

Every time someone visits one of the participating craft breweries during Craft Beer Week, they will receive a ticket entering them into a drawing for a Lone Mountain cooler — donated by Capital Sports — and filled with beer from every participating brewery.

Montana is home to almost 100 craft breweries, making it one of the top states in the nation for breweries per capita. 

For a full schedule and details, visit Helenamt.com/craftbeerweek.

Get ready for a lively night of tunes with Larry & Joe’s unique blend of Latin folk and bluegrass music.

Hailing from Venezuela, Larry Bellorín is a legend of Llanera music. Joe Troop is a Grammy-nominated bluegrass and old-time musician from North Carolina. The singular and lively duo come together to play The Myrna Loy 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13.

Tickets are $24. Call or visit The Myrna Loy box office at 406-443-0287, 15 N. Ewing or online at themyrnaloy.com.

“Jazz and Just Desserts” fundraiser will feature The Wilbur Rehmann Quintet and Helena’s Up-And-Coming Jazz Musicians, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 28, at E.L. Wiegand Creativity Center at the Holter Museum of Art, 12 E. Lawrence St.

Event tickets are $30 each

The event is a fundraiser for the Holter Museum of Art and the music programs at Capital and Helena high schools.

It will feature jazz performances by The Wilbur Rehmann Quintet and local high school students, and attendees will be treated to an assortment of dessert samples from local bakeries.

The raffle is for a three-day jazz trip to New Orleans.

Raffle tickets: (winner does not need to be present at the event) $20 each or 3 for $50 and at: holtermuseum.org/events/jazz-and-just-desserts. 

The Holter Museum of Art is planning its largest community fundraising event of the year, the annual Gala & Auction, on May 17, at the Helena Civic Center and is seeking artists to submit their work to be part of it.

The deadline to apply is March 3.

The gala aims to generate funding for exhibitions and arts education, support the Museum’s high-impact work in the Helena and Montana communities, and highlight the artists who help make that happen.

A portion of the proceeds from artists’ work helps make scholarships available for youth education programs and cultivates the promotion of quality exhibitions and events. Artists, when they submit a piece to be juried for the auction, have the option to decide how much of the proceeds from the sale of the piece are donated to the museum. This year they can either choose 70% or 100% 

Visit https://holtermuseum.org/call-for-artists-2025-gala-silent-auctions/ for more details and to apply.

The Montana Playwrights Network presents Readers Theatre-style performances of “We Need To Talk,” a romantic comedy play by Kathy Dunnehoff, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 at the Helena Avenue Theatre, 1319 Helena Ave. in Helena.

Tickets are $15 each and available online at www.montanaplaywrights.org.

The play is about a romance novelist who wants to be alone with her writer’s block, but the duplex neighbor loses his electricity and hopes to find some at her place. 

Carroll College Theatre is having two spring productions set to be produced in the FLEX Theatre in the lower level of the Carroll College Campus Center.

“Untitled Calamity Jane Play” by Kati Frazier runs Feb. 21 through March 2, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. (without live music).

This comedy blurs the lines between history and folklore. Set in Deadwood, South Dakota, it tells the story of the famous sharpshooter Calamity Jane. It has strong language and violence.

Ticket prices include drink vouchers (every show) and live music cover charge (evening performances). Friday and Saturday general admission tickets are $20, with discounted rates available for students, seniors, and veterans at $18. Children ages 2-12 and those with a Carroll ID are $14.

For Sunday matinees, general admission is $15, with student, senior and veteran tickets priced at $13. Children ages 2-12 and those with a Carroll ID are $9.

“Suzette Who Set to Sea” by Australian Finegan Kruckemeyer runs April 4-13, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and runs about one hour.

This play designed for all ages explores themes of bravery and destiny.

Tickets are on sale now via Booktix: https://cct.booktix.com. Tickets are also available at the door beginning one hour before curtain.