We want to thank everyone who attended our Volunteer Gala on Saturday, it was so much fun to be able to celebrate with all of the wonderful people who make up BFACT. We especially want to thank our Volunteer of the Year, Terry Hoscheid.
Terry has been putting in work for BFACT for years and in 2025 made the gigantic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory set come to life thanks to many, many long days and nights. Terry also helped design the very creative Is He Dead? set. Terry is someone who also works behind the scenes and is always an advocate for the theater arts in Belle Fourche and we can’t thank him enough!
We also want to recognize our other nominees. Crystal Woods is fairly new to BFACT but in 2025 helped with pretty much every show as well as our 90s Prom. She helped costume multiple shows and did tremendous work as costumer and acting in Is He Dead? She also acted and helped behind the scenes with our Christmas show.
Emma Tinsley has been with us since 2018 and in 2025 directed our first show of the season, Atomic Lobsters From the Center of the Earth. She also stepped up big time to help our director and became stage manager, helped procure most props, helped create the amazing set, and acted in Is He Dead? Emma is always ready to throw herself into every production.
We want to invite all BFACT volunteers, sponsors, and patrons to our 2026 Volunteer Gala on February 21 at 7pm. Join us at the Branding Iron Steakhouse Banquet Room as we party the night away as we celebrate all of our amazing volunteers for an amazing 2025 Season and for what will be an unforgettable 2026 Season. There will be music, games, karaoke, trivia, giveaways and so much more! There will also be amazing Branding Iron Steakhouse food as well as their full menu and bar, available to anyone who wants to partake.
Our theme this year will be Broadway, so come in your theater best, or come dressed as your favorite theater character. Whatever it is, just make sure you come in the spirit of celebration! Don’t miss out on this night that will sure to be a blast, open to all ages!
BFACT held its Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 24 at the Branding Iron & Steakhouse. The Board of Directors and Executive Director presented the 2025 Annual Report and spoke about what is to come in 2026 for the organization. There were also Board Elections held and the results are as follows:
Vice-President: Nathan Thompson
Treasurer: Kelsey Gronlund
Member-at-Large: Arianna Scherer
We want to thank Wes Barnhouse for his amazing work on the BOD throughout 2025.
I am a full-time double major in Psychology and Sociology at Black Hills State University. I also love to read, crochet, and go out in the hills.
How long have you been involved in a community theater, How long at BFACT?
I started acting in community theater shows when I was quite young. I came from a theater loving family, and was in a children’s production at the Homestake when I was only 7 or 8 years old. My first show with BFACT was Pride and Prejudice in 2023.
Arianna with the whole Bennett clan in Pride and Prejudice
What has been your favorite role to play?
I would have to say Chicago in the 15th Season’s summer show, Is He Dead? It was such a fun and challenging role for me, being my first time playing a male role.
What keeps you coming back to BFACT?
The people have been so welcoming. I couldn’t believe my luck getting a part my first time auditioning with a new theater in . There can be a stereotype that community theater is cliquey, but BFACT has never been like that for me.
What is your favorite BFACT memory?
My favorite memory (so far) would have to be the experience I had recently writing my first stage piece with the Center of the Nation Playwriting Festival. I had some hobby-writing experience, but I had never written a script before. Being inspired by the other writers at the workshop and seeing my piece performed on stage by my peers was such a touching experience.
Arianna on stage for the Center of the Nation Playwriting Festival where she wrote and directed
What is your favorite part of BFACT?
How much I have learned! I’ve learned set-building skills, I’ve helped with costuming and prop choices, I learned how to write a script, I have had roles that have challenged me, and I most recently learned how to navigate the light board!
Why did you join BFACT?
It had been years since I had last acted, and I saw a play that I recognized (Pride and Prejudice), so I decided to take a leap of faith that was greatly rewarded.
I am lucky enough to have two of the greatest jobs out there. I get to spend my days with my kiddos, building their little minds, and I get to assistant direct the BFHS theater program. When I’m not working on a show, I feed my creativity with writing fiction.
How long have you been involved in a community theater, How long at BFACT?
My first show with community theater was when I ran sound for BFACT’s first production of Is He Dead? I’ve been involved with community theater ever since. Even when I didn’t live here, I found there’s always a community willing to bring you into the fold.
What has been your favorite role to play?
Ooh, this is a very difficult question. My favorite role ever has to be Sylvia in Two Gentlemen of Verona. My favorite role within BFACT has been Maxine “Max” Jupiter in our 2020 online radio show Jupiter and Mars.
Allie horrified by the help in You Can’t Take It With You
What keeps you coming back to BFACT?
For sure the people. Our little town is very lucky to have such a passionate group of theater lovers who work so incredibly hard to not only put on fantastic productions, but build an atmosphere that welcomes everyone and has a place for anyone.
What is your favorite BFACT memory?
My favorite BFACT memory was opening night of Couch Potato. I was very green as a director and to see my vision come to life, beyond what I ever imagined, will stick with me forever. Huge shout out to the cast and crew of that show!
Allie with the full cast of The Importance of Being Earnest back in 2014
What is your favorite part of BFACT?
I love always having an outlet for my creativity. BFACT never lacks opportunities to work on a production or new project.
Why did you join BFACT?
Not being a part of BFACT was never an option for me. From a very young age I knew that the theater is where I belong in one capacity or another. What a beautiful way for me to get to do what I love.
I work full time at Hersruds of Belle Fourche as a Sales Consultant and stay busy with my two awesome kids, Brayden (18) and Raya (13), who definitely keep life entertaining. Raya and I do Community Theater together, which has been a blast. I’m also slightly addicted to karaoke—I love to sing and get my fix by KJ’ing a couple times a month.
How long have you been involved in a community theater, How long at BFACT?
My first experience with community theater was in 2000 with The Green Earth Players, performing The Sound of Music, where I played both a Nazi soldier and a ballroom dancer. A year later, I appeared in a mystery dinner theater in Watertown as the best man at a 1950s/1960s wedding reception. After that, I took a 20-year break from theater. I returned to the stage in late summer of 2023 when I became involved with BFACT’s production of Rock of Ages, where I played the Venus Club DJ.
What has been your favorite role to play?
My favorite role to date was definitely Bastien André in Is He Dead?. It was a blast getting to play a villain, which was the complete opposite of most roles I’ve played before. He was wonderfully sinister, and I took great pride in doing my job well enough that the audience really didn’t like me.
Mike as the villainous Bastien André in Is He Dead?
What keeps you coming back to BFACT?
When I first got involved in theater, I was just looking for something to get me out of the house and meet new people. Rock of Ages definitely delivered. I met incredible new friends and found a group that gave me a real sense of belonging—turns out singing, acting, and a little stage chaos is great for making connections.
What is your favorite BFACT memory?
My favorite theater memory has to be the Karaoke Fundraiser for Rock of Ages. At one point, a random person queued up “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey, and everyone in the cast jumped in from our tables, singing in harmony. In that moment, our cast truly meshed—we became our characters, we clicked, we were one. That’s when I knew, and everyone else did too, that we were part of something really special.
Mike with fellow cast members from Rock of Ages
What is your favorite part of BFACT?
My favorite part of BFACT is definitely being part of a group that truly accepts everyone. They’re always finding ways to bring the community together through activities and social gatherings, and they really live up to their motto: there’s a stage for everyone.
Why did you join BFACT?
I originally joined BFACT to get out of the house and meet new people—and they definitely over-delivered. Since then, I’ve been honored to be voted onto the board, made countless friends I look forward to seeing at every show and event, and learned more skills while stepping out of my comfort zone time and time again. I hope to give back to BFACT even more than I’ve received, sharing the knowledge, friendships, and sense of community that have truly uplifted me, and hopefully inspiring others to join and experience the same.
That’s a wrap on “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
Thank you so much to everyone who came to It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play this past Saturday and Sunday. We know the weather wasn’t ideal, we had to cancel Friday because of that, so we appreciate everyone who came to this wonderful show. For sure we want to thank all of our front of house volunteers that took tickets and made our amazing bake sale happen, it is always a hit and always delicious. Of course we want to thank your amazing cast and crew for putting on such a fantastic show, their dedication and talent made this story come to life. Lastly we want to thank our director, Isabella Quijano for stepping in last minute to direct this show, she didn’t have much time but with this fabulous cast and crew made something truly memorable.
December 12 Performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” Canceled
TONIGHT’S PERFORMANCE IS CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
Although we all love a white Christmas, today is just a bit too much so for the safety of our patrons, cast and crew, we are canceling tonight’s performance of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Hopefully mother nature will cooperate tomorrow and we will be on for tomorrow night at 7pm! If you have already purchased tickets for tonight, we can either refund your tickets or exchange them for another performance date, just contact [email protected] to make arrangements. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Get your tickets for “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
With #GivingTuesday behind us we want to now put our focus on the last show of BFACT’s 15th Season, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Come enjoy this classic holiday story told in a unique way, as a classic radio drama. This show will be December 12 and 13 at 7pm and December 14 at 3pm. You can purchase your tickets at the door before any performance or online right now by clicking here.
As a thank you to all of our patrons for an amazing 15th Season, heck for an amazing 15 years of community theater in Belle Fourche, we are discounting our normal ticket prices for this show in the spirit of the holidays. Tickets are now $10 for adults, $5 for seniors/veterans and $3 for students. Don’t miss out on this Christmas classic!
#GivingTuesday is here and it is kicking off right now over on our social media accounts. You may ask, what is #GivingTuesday, let me give from the horse’s mouth so to say. From South Dakota Day of Giving.
Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations across the state unite to celebrate generosity before the sun comes up and well after the sun goes down by asking their community of supporters to, together, raise as much money as humanly possible.
South Dakota Day of Giving is unlike any other giving day in the country (really!) because, well, South Dakota is unlike any other state in the country (am I right or am I right?).
All day today our Executive Director, Derek Olson, will be telling stories and talking all things BFACT on our social media accounts. So make sure to stop on by and enjoy. If you are in a position to donate today, you can visit our Donation page by clicking here to learn how. If you aren’t able to donate monetarily right now, there are lots of other ways to give back to BFACT, learn about Volunteering by clicking here.
