Central ND News

In Dickinson, the Badlands Opera Project (BOP) has entered into a long-term agreement with Dickinson State University (DSU) for exclusive use of the Dorothy Stickney Auditorium. This partnership marks a significant moment for BOP as it returns to its original performance venue.

Chandra McClelland, Human Resources Director of the non-profit, stated, “The first Badlands Opera Project (BOP) production was a premier of Fairy Tale Suite at Dorothy Stickney Auditorium. I'm thrilled that we're partnering with DSU to give BOP, it's artists, and the community a long-term home.”

This collaboration follows a controversial reorganization led by former DSU President Stephen Easton, which resulted in the termination of tenured faculty from seven programs, including music and theatre. The changes led to protests and criticism from various groups and significantly reduced arts offerings at DSU.

Currently, there are no theatre classes available at DSU. Joel Walters, BOP's marketing director and performer, expressed gratitude for the new arrangement: “As an alum of DSU, we are grateful for this partnership,” he said. “The DSU Foundation has been incredibly generous."

Under this agreement, BOP will have reserved use of the auditorium for performances and dedicated office and storage space while still sharing the auditorium with other community organizations and university activities. Their next performance is "Into the Woods," scheduled for March 28-30, 2025.

Sarah Crossingham, Fine Arts and Performing Arts Advisor at Dickinson State University, commented on the partnership’s significance: “By continuing our university’s rich tradition of performance arts in a new collaborative way, we aim to inspire current and future Blue Hawks to be active participants and dedicated supporters of the arts.”

Founded in 2019, BOP also organizes an annual Summer Youth Camp. This year's camp will take place from June 8-14 at DSU. Walters confirmed that past camps have reached full capacity.