Girls’ night

By Katie Nieland - 05/31/2008

Jamie Reopelle, Amber Crowley, Kellie Johnston and April Markovich gather with about Jamie Reopelle, Amber Crowley, Kellie Johnston and April Markovich gather with about 50 other women of all ages Friday night at The Depot for a ‘Sex and the Mining City’ party before being driven to the movie theater for the opening of the new ‘Sex and the City.’

Women — drinking pink cosmos — flaunted their designer dresses and high heels at The Depot Friday night in preparation for the “Sex and the City” movie.

From there, rented limos took them to the local theater for the film’s opening.

The show is based on the HBO series that featured the lives of four women in their mid-30s, living in New York City and searching for love. The often racy production ran for six seasons until its finale in 2004.

The self-proclaimed “biggest ‘Sex and the City’ fan in Butte,” Melissa McGregor, said she used to think she was alone in her obsession for the show.

“But there are tons of people here. It just shows that the show speaks to women,” she said. “And where else can you wear a purple mini-dress in Butte, Montana?” McGregor, who identifies herself as a Carrie, one of the show’s lead characters, said since the series ended, the wait for the movie has been long.

“It’s been this huge countdown since I heard it was coming out,” she said. “The thought that it’s not going on after this makes me tear up.” Similar pre-movie parties took place elsewhere too, said party-goer Lisa Johnson.

“It’s just a chance to get dressed up and meet with the girls,” she said.

Many of the mid-30s and older party-goers said the show supports strong, independent women.

“The show gives us a sense of independence,” said Deanna Worley, whose brother owns The Depot. “It shows that we have a choice to be whoever we want to be — single, married, with kids or without — it doesn’t matter.” Worley helped plan the event, buying 42 tickets to the show. She said another woman bought 25. The theater has about 160 seats.

“We tried to buy out the whole theater, but they wouldn’t let us,” she said with a smile.

Laurie Stephan, who helped plan the event, said a little get-together at The Depot escalated into a large party, complete with party favors.

“We’re calling it ‘Sex and the Mining City,’ ” she said.

— Reporter Katie Nieland may be reached at katienieland@gmail.com