Opera Montana to perform at Montana State in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

BOZEMAN - Montana State University will host Opera Montana for a performance and discussion of its "Ragtime" musical on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. in MSU's Strand Union Building, Ballroom A, with light refreshments included. It is free and open to the public, sponsored by Access and Success at MSU. Registration is not required.

Attendees will listen to select songs from Opera Montana's "Ragtime," an award-winning production following three families in pursuit of the American dream in early 20th century New York. After the performance, artistic director Michael Sakir and principal artists Kateena Bell and Jim Williams will discuss how the musical's themes of identity, belonging and social change connect to the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., whose leadership and activism were central to the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and '60s.

"Dr. King showed us that social change exists beyond theory and conceptual conversations," said Sophia Bielsky, director of MSU's Student Commons. "It is a practice rooted in our daily lives and shared stories, and 'Ragtime embodies that legacy."