Going Broadly

Decidedly relatable subject matter and a host of performing experience are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the newest company on the Sioux Falls theatre scene.

And with one show under its belt, Broad Cast Theatre is already forward-facing, looking to the next phase of its presence in the growing world of local theatre.

The company’s first performance was Nora and Delia Ephron’s Love, Loss & What I Wore, a series of monologues about women and relationships and how wardrobe can serve as a unique symbol of the interplay.

“The show is perfect for a variety of audiences,” said co-founder and marketing manager Jill Johnson, whose history in South Dakota’s theatre scene includes performing for the Sioux Falls Community Playhouse—now Sioux Empire Community Theatre (SECT)—and Comfort Theatre Company’s touring production, Always… Patsy Cline, for nearly 20 years. “I’ve performed in every gymnasium and Elks hall in the tri-state region.”

“It’s been a good first show for us,” said co-founder and scheduling/booking manager Nancy Tapken. “We’re trying to get as much life out of this one as we can.”

Tapken herself graduated from University of South Dakota with a theatre degree before spending time in New York and San Francisco, studying theatre, directing and performing, before returning to Sioux Falls.

The response to Broad Cast’s first show has been encouraging for the company and its leadership, according to co-founder and treasurer/business manager Beth Olsen.

“One woman who came to the show in December loved it and bought 10 tickets as Christmas gifts to bring all her friends,” said Olsen, who despite majoring in biology in college has had her hand in theatrical productions since her daughter encouraged her to start performing with SECT, starting with 2013’s To Kill a Mockingbird. She’s since participated in six additional productions, as well as performed with the Mighty Corson Art Players.

(Pictured, From Left) Anna Thvedt, Nancy Tapken & Julie Sauer perform Love, Loss & What I Wore at Full-Circle Book Co-Op.

The inception of Broad Cast was born out of a mutual love of theatre and a desire to find more opportunities for women to perform in a variety of settings. The founders, including fourth team member Julie Sauer, met performing in SECT’s production of Calendar Girls.

“We sort of kept in touch after that,” Olsen said.

“We really clicked well together,” Johnson added.

And with turnout for auditions consistently high for female performers in the community, the group saw an opening for a company that specialized in just such a thing.

“There are such limited opportunities for women in our age range,” Olsen said, “so every time there’s an opportunity, 400 women show up. There are really a lot of great, talented women in this town.”

Broad Cast was built on the mission of entertaining, elevating and empowering through great theatre and meaningful partnerships. The team’s first such partnership was with Monstrous Little Theatre Company (MLTC), who assisted Broad Cast in first getting Love, Loss & What I Wore off the ground in late 2019.

“What we found is that the theatre community in Sioux Falls is very supportive of one another,” Olsen said. 

“Having that connection is so helpful,” Tapken said of the link to MLTC, which included co-marketing the production and assisting with the behind-the-scenes direction of the performance. “It’s tough to do it yourself, even your first time out.”

“We do really owe a debt of gratitude to MLTC for helping us get that first show up and running,” Olsen said.

Since that first performance, Broad Cast has performed the Ephron work seven additional times, with a growing number of audience members at each subsequent outing.

(Pictured, From Left) Jill Johnson, Sue Martens, Nancy Tapken & Beth Olsen perform Love, Loss & What I Wore at REACH Literacy.

“I think this show does have legs,” Olsen said. “It’s very portable.”

“And we’re the right age for it,” Johnson said.

“(The audience) leans female, but we’ve had plenty of men in the audience who enjoyed it as well,” Tapken said. 

“‘That’s the most fun I’ve ever had hearing women talking about their clothes,’” Johnson said of one male audience member’s response to the monologues.

“It’s been nice to have a great reception,” Tapken said. “It’s a little bit of a Sally Field moment. It’s been a good beginning, for sure.”

For such a recently founded theatre company, the next natural step, though, is to ask, “What’s next?” And the team is hard at work determining the answer to this question.

“We’re looking for the next big thing—we’re looking for number two,” Tapken said, with an eye for fall 2020 for Broad Cast’s next production. “We also have writing our own show on our radar—there are so many topics out there.”

“Theatre can be a lifesaver,” Johnson said. “Theatre can help you stay focused, confident and grounded.”

And with whatever work is selected as Broad Cast’s next subject matter, the team is in agreement on what a future audience can expect from it.

“Relatability,” Olsen said.

“Professional,” Johnson said.

“Integrity—we strive to be real,” Tapken said. “And gut-busting laughs.”