RAPID CITY, S.D. – Black Hills Community Theatre concludes its 2025-2026 Mainstage Season with the midwestern family drama “Eminent Domain” by Nebraska Playwright Laura Leininger-Campbell.
When Rob Macleod’s family farm is threatened by construction of a pipeline underneath it, the event will light a fuse, threatening to divide the family he loves. While futilely fighting the changing times, Rob clashes with his daughter, who long ago left home, and his son, who has patiently stayed by Rob’s side.
Meanwhile, the real threat is a Heartland that doesn’t include the next generation.
Eminent Domain is directed by Shannon Truax, who is making her mainstage directing debut but has appeared
backstage and onstage in various BHCT productions. Truax says of the show, “As a director, and someone who
works in Public Works, I’m drawn to “Eminent Domain” because it explores the tension between progress and
preservation at the heart of every community.
She continued, “It’s a timely story that asks us to consider not just what we build, but what we risk losing and who is most affected along the way.”
The artistic leadership of the show also features Assistant Director Lynne Mazzone. The cast of local actors is led by Al Christenson as Rob MacLeod, Natalie Gronlund as his daughter Adair and Jakob Enzminger as his son Bart.
The rest of the cast includes Rodney Swendener, Carmen Rosendahl, Victoria Fuller, Caleb Belden, Chami Senarath and Thomas Fletcher. This production contains adult language.
Black Hills Community Theater is also excited to showcase Midwest Artists in Conversation with this play. During the run of the show, audiences will get to view photographs by Robert Bordeaux that speak to the themes of “Eminent Domain”.
Additionally BHCT will host playwright Laura Leininger-Campbell for events during the show’s opening
weekend. Events will include a talkback with Leininger-Campbell immediately following the opening night
performance on May 1st and she will also lead a playwriting workshop at 10am on Saturday May 2nd.
More information about these events will be found at bhct.org. Show times are May 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 at 7:00pm; May 3, 10, 17 at 2:00pm at the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City. Tickets ranging in price from $20-$30 are available at the Performing Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 605-394-1786 or by ordering online at www.bhct.org
