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Dakota Stage Ltd.

Dakota Stage Ltd. was founded in 1978 by a group of local residents with education and experience in the theater arts. They pledged their time and talent to enrich our community with the culture and creativity of the theater. The mission of Dakota Stage Ltd. is to contribute to the cultural development of our community by creating high quality, live theatre productions that enrich, educate, and entertain both audiences and participants. As a community-based theater, we constantly strive to provide a nurturing environment for participants of all ages and cultures to develop artistic and technical skills while promoting live theatre as an avenue for entertainment within our community. Today, we work with local theater artists to produce theater productions that engage local artists, volunteers, and audiences. Our purpose is to seek out and welcome newcomers and encourage their discovery and engagement with theater as an art form. No person is too old or too young to get involved. It is our goal to ensure our community members enjoy and participate in our productions, on stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience.

Past Productions

View the Dakota Stage Production History

Shade Tree Players

Shade Tree Players was founded in 1970 by Sister Barbara Ann Gehrki of the University of Mary as the Priory Community Center Children’s Theatre. The group presented one outdoor touring production each summer. In 1991, the organization merged with Dakota Stage Ltd. under its current name and has grown to include as many as nine full-scale summer children’s theater shows annually. Shade Tree Players provides opportunities for children of the Bismarck-Mandan area, ages seven to eighteen, to develop and grow their theatrical talents. The program’s mission is to provide as many children who are interested a chance to participate in the performing arts in front of their family, friends, and community. Performing with others fosters teamwork and communication, promotes confidence and motivation, and instills professionalism, responsibility, and commitment. These skills benefit the participants in their personal and professional lives for years to come.