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The Ellen Theatre 17 W. Main Street Bozeman, MT 59715 406-585-5885
Anonymous Foundation Doubles All Contributions!!! An incredible opportunity has been offered to The Ellen Theatre. Every donation toward the current restoration project made between now and December 31, 2008 will be... DOUBLED! That's right -- An anonymous donor in the Gallatin Valley will match, dollar for dollar, every single contribution made, up to a dizzying $100,000. Simply put, any amount donated automatically becomes twice as much with a potential $200,000 being added to the renovation of one of Bozeman's most beautiful buildings. Read more... You can donate using your PayPal account or simply look for the credit card logos on the donation page and click the "Continue" button to conveniently donate via credit card.
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The Ellen Theatre, a marvelous tribute to those glorious playhouses of the early 1900s, will again illuminate its stage, celebrating the performing arts in the heart of downtown Bozeman. Once upon a timeless past, this lavishly decorated palace, designed by renowned architect Fred Willson, was a shining showcase for musical talents and vaudeville stars, including fan dancer Sally Rand and the legendary ventriloquist Edgar Bergen along with his wise-cracking wooden sidekick Charlie McCarthy. Originally opened in 1919, The Ellen hosted variety shows, movie premieres, school plays, weddings, symphony concerts and an opera featuring a live elephant. There's even a spot on a backstage wall where young acting hopeful Gary Cooper inscribed his name. If life were a play, The Ellen had a terrific Act One. This was the place to be. Friday night with your favorite sweetheart, the Saturday kiddie matinee and the Sunday family concert were staples of life at the historic landmark. However, like a tragic melodrama, there was a cruel twist in the plot and The Ellen, along with other similar theatres across the country, suffered decades of disrepair. The world of TV, DVD rentals and video downloads by-passed Bozeman's magnificent monument to a bygone era and, sadly, the spotlight slowly faded. Fortunately, our story has a happy ending. Montana TheatreWorks, a local theatre group established in 1995, recently purchased The Ellen and, after a lot of elbow grease, polish and paint, the curtain is ready to rise again. Ladies and gentlemen, the lights in the lobby are flashing, intermission is over, it's time for Act Two -- and we're saving you a seat. From the glow of the footlights in the front row to the balcony's spectacular view, you're invited to celebrate the grand re-opening of one of the most beloved buildings in all of Bozeman. Welcome back to The Ellen. When you see her again, we're sure that you'll agree, the ol' girl truly deserves a standing ovation.

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