Farmer by day, actress by night

NEW ENGLAND, N.D. — As a dairy farmer, being around cows alone for most of the day can be a little isolating. For Ariann Doe, participating in community dinner theatre is a way to get off the farm, connect with her community and bring smiles and laughter to others.

“I enjoy things like this,” Doe said. “There’s nothing better than having an audience react to what we’re doing; it’s a sense of pride.”

Born and raised on a dairy farm near New England, Doe has always enjoyed being involved in her hometown. On the farm, she works alongside her parents, husband, son and brother and his family, grinding feed and milking cows.

Doe first joined the Rainy Butte Performers, the local theatre group, in 2018. Over the years, she became more involved, later joining the nonprofit’s board and now serving as its president. The group relies primarily on volunteers and donations, with sound and lighting being the only paid services, Doe said.

“Everybody in our cast provides costumes and props, builds the set and everything like that,” she said. “We do dinner theatre, so our cast makes a meal as well.”

This year, the Rainy Butte Performers are presenting “The Treasure of Shiver River,” a comedic, Western-themed play. When she isn’t acting, Doe helps direct, manages advertisements, selects cast members, finds volunteers and ensures the stage is ready for opening night. Money raised from ticket sales goes directly back into the community as well.

“We’ve been helping out the high school drama club and supporting other local causes, like individuals with medical expenses or improvements to Memorial Hall, which is the building that we perform in,” Doe said.

Rehearsals for the upcoming show began in late August, taking place twice a week in preparation for three performances: Oct. 18, 23 and 24. Once production wraps up in October, Doe said she typically starts reading through new scripts to prepare for the next project.

“Most of us are farmers and ranchers, so it’s during harvest season when we start practicing,” she said. “We’re all in combines, trucks (and) tractors reading through our scripts and learning our lines.”

Doe said she squeezes in practice time reading scripts and listening to lines while she’s grinding feed or chopping corn.

She’s also in charge of selling tickets, which can be chaotic at times. Doe said many people call and message the designated phone for ticket sales while she’s driving to cornfields.

“It gives me something else to focus on besides milking cows and everything else,” she said. “We always manage to pull it together, but people ask, ‘How do you learn your lines?’ Well, I just keep repeating them over and over again.”

Doe’s family helps handle farm chores when she’s at rehearsals or performing. They also lend a hand with productions. Doe said her mother often finds clothing for costumes and preps food, while her son and husband build set pieces.

Beyond the farm and Rainy Butte Performers, Doe volunteers with the high school clay target shooting team and participates in another community dinner theatre nearby.

She has also become a local celebrity by dressing up as the Grinch to run 5Ks and attend events.

“I started running around 10 years ago, and there was a Jingle Bell 5K where you dress up in your favorite Christmas outfit,” Doe said.

That first year, Doe only wore green leggings and a Grinch hat. Over time, the costume evolved into the full Grinch character, complete with a prosthetic facial mask and movie-inspired outfits like the Santa suit and light-up sweater. Cindy Lou Who, portrayed by one of Doe’s friends, Sara Krebs, even joins in on the fun as the two participate in the Santa Run in Bismarck each year. Doe has also participated in local turkey trots, appearing as the Grinch dressed as the fall bird.

“It’s another way to be silly and make people laugh and smile,” Doe said. “It’s just a hobby — we don’t get paid for any of it — we do it for fun.”

As Doe continues her work with the Rainy Butte Performers, she wants to keep bringing joy to the community while supporting local causes. Looking ahead, she hopes the theatre group will be able to purchase its own sound and lighting equipment. Continuing to help improve Memorial Hall, a space used by many residents, remains another goal, she said.

“This is one of the most unique things in the area,” she said. “It’s a very special experience for people, especially in our local community, and it gives back; we’re always trying to help out and look out for everyone.”