Living a brand new dream

Jesse DeVine is living the dream.

Since moving to Whitefish, she has met and married her "very supportive, red-headed Irish husband" Kevin. They have two much-loved dogs, a lazy Labrador and a high-energy border collie. But it's her new role as Whitefish Theatre Co.'s artistic director that has DeVine over the moon.

DeVine, 36, took over the position in September from Nancy Nei, longtime director and one of the nonprofit theater group's founding members.

"I can't imagine being happier," DeVine said. "Having a job I love, being able to contribute to a community I love - life doesn't get any better."

The position might be her dream job. But it isn't the job she'd once dreamed of. She'd planned on being in the spotlight, not outside it.

DeVine was born and raised in central Connecticut. She was a performer practically from birth, and by the time she was 12, she had an agent and landing acting jobs in New York City.

After high school, DeVine went to Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., one of the top musical theater programs in the country. She continued performing and landed several professional acting gigs before graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater.

After spending a little time in London studying Shakespeare and acting, DeVine headed to New York City full time, "like every good little performer does," she said, laughing.

She was busy in New York, averaging six shows a year for five years. Her work included industrial films, commercials, bit parts in movies and off-Broadway productions.

DeVine was busy and happy working in the craft she loved, but she wasn't completely satisfied.

"Something was missing. It was almost like I needed some new challenge," she said.

So she decided to head back to college to pursue a master's degree in directing. But before heading to the University of Maine, DeVine spent a few months teaching at Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown, Conn.

"That's when the lights and bells went off," she said. "I was able to give to someone else something that has been so powerful in my own life. And I have a good knack for getting the best out of others."

Her desire to teach solidified at grad school, when she encountered a woman using theater to help at-risk youths discuss issues they faced in their daily lives. That opened up a new world of possibility for DeVine.

"I've always felt a need to somehow contribute to social issues, whether it's on a community issue or a national level or an international level in some way," she said. "I could possibly combine my love of theater with my love of politics and communities and tackling these issues."

In addition to the directing degree she'd originally sought, DeVine ended up earning a master's in "devising theater," in which a play is built out of researching a topic of interest to a community.

"It becomes a show that does not tell the audience what to believe, but it challenges them to see other perspectives," she explained.

After earning her degrees, DeVine worked theater jobs in several East Coast states before moving to western Washington. She'd recently found a new dream, which she told her roommate about one day.

"I mentioned how much I would love to find a small mountain town that was rich with culture" and had community or community college theater opportunities, DeVine said.

Her roommate had the perfect suggestion: "Well, I just left the Flathead Valley. They have a small community college there. And Whitefish Theatre Co. - you might want to check them out."

DeVine had never been to Montana before, but she started writing letters to potential employers in the Flathead. Before she knew it, in 2007, she'd been hired as an adjunct professor at Flathead Valley Community College and was teaching acting and devising theater classes and choreographing songs for college productions.

But she knew she'd found where she truly belonged when she checked out her first Whitefish Theatre Co. performance.

"This is going to sound a bit off," she warned. "I had not even seen a show yet, but I felt a wave of emotion. I felt like I was supposed to be here.

"The community was so welcoming and warm. I just couldn't wait to contribute. I was just hoping I would get the chance."

She got that opportunity in December 2008, when the theater group needed a guest director for its annual winter musical. DeVine was chosen to direct "Peter Pan."

"That started what I think is a mutually beneficial relationship, one I hope continues for the next 30-plus years," she said.

That was when DeVine first met Nei. She was immediately impressed with the other woman's ability to offer kind, constructive criticism.

"She just always knew what to say, but more importantly, when to say it," DeVine said. "She would watch, sit back, gather her thoughts and say, ‘Work on this' or ‘Tweak that,' but she always coupled that with many, many positive comments as well.

"It was a wonderful experience, learning from her."

DeVine was called back again in 2009 to direct "The Wizard of Oz." She also directed a black curtain play, "Distracted," and performed in "Well," which Nei directed.

When Nei decided to step down as artistic director, DeVine threw her hat into the ring. After an in-depth application and interview process that drew candidates from across the country, the board unanimously decided to offer DeVine the job.

She official took over in September, although she is continuing to learn from Nei.

"I'll be mentoring Jesse ... working with her, being on hand to help her not make the same mistakes I have," Nei said.

Nei said she stepped down from the position to give herself a little more free time and time with her grandchildren. She'll continue to work with the theater company, however, and is directing "The 39 Steps," which opens Thursday.

DeVine has also been busy directing. She is once again in charge of Whitefish Theatre Co.'s winter musical; this year, the group will be performing "The Sound of Music."

"The script calls for 20. I have cast 44," she said. "That is because we have such an amazing pool of talent in this community. It was hard enough to cut those that I did."

Being part of that talented community seems to be all DeVine has ever wanted.

"What I love best about Whitefish Theatre Co. is that it is rooted in community," she said. "It's also very exciting to be able to contribute to it now in a time when it's growing in program diversity.

"I am very excited to see what's coming in the next stage of Whitefish Theatre Co. and to be a part of that, to contribute to the next stage. ... I think it's only going to get better."