REXBURG—Westgate Theatre is the new theatre on the block in West Yellowstone. Their three rotating shows this summer are: “See How They Run,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and “The Great Western Melodrama.”
Born and raised in West Yellowstone, Cam Carter is no stranger to the stage. A year ago, she received her degree in Theatre Performance at BYU-Idaho. She is an actor, production manager and social media lead for Westgate Theatre. Carter said her theatre experience grew from her time at Center Stage Theatre in Idaho Falls.
“Being down in it, on the front lines of running a theater is 100% what prepared me to be able to kind of start-up Westgate,” Carter said.
Westgate Theatre is the first summer stock theatre in West Yellowstone that is owned and operated by people who live in town.
Each show offers something different for the audience to enjoy. “See How They Run” brings laugh-out-loud British comedy. “Annie Get Your Gun” is a Wild West musical that fits the culture of the location. “The Great Western Melodrama” brings classic stock characters for the audience to interact with.
“I feel like we just absolutely hit the jackpot with our first cast,” Carter said. “I cannot even believe how lucky we are.”
While Westgate Theatre is new, it has a rich and sentimental history to West Yellowstone. In 1964, Lynn Benson, a Ricks College professor with some business partners, created The Playmill Theatre. One of their first shows, “See How They Run,” will be back for Westgate’s first year. For 60 years, the Playmill was a family owned and operated stock theatre, but the Playmill is now in its new location in Island Park.
Lynn Benson’s grandsons Kyle, Travis, and Mark were inspired to revive the theatre experience in West Yellowstone. The brothers approached Jeff and Lisa Carter to handle theatrical operations.
In the past six months, Westgate Theatre has been restored to its former glory.
“It has the exact same layout, the same charm, the same four exterior walls, the same floor, the same ceiling as it has had for the last almost 100 years since it was originally built,” Carter said.
With the rebuilding came some modern upgrades to make it ADA compliant. This included new air conditioning, leveled floors and updated bathrooms.
“Lots of just small amenity things that are going to make it a more comfortable theatrical experience for everybody who is there,” Carter said.
All night shows start at 7 p.m. with a 30-minute preshow of singing and dancing. Wednesday matinees are at 4 p.m. and Saturday matinees are at 2 p.m.
“I hope that if anybody finds themselves in the Yellowstone area, they at least stop by to kind of enjoy the remodel and hopefully catch a show,” Carter said.
Westgate Theatre’s summer season runs until Aug. 27. Their fall show will run the following day until Sept. 26.
To learn more, go to westgatetheatre.com or follow them on their social media at Westgate Theatre.