What began as a small independent company has grown into its own performance space and a reputation for staging ambitious productionst. Their newest show, The Three Musketeers, continues that tradition with sword fights, political intrigue, and a classic adventure story adapted specifically for their Rapid City stage.

The script itself comes from Seraphim’s own Stephen Farruggia, who adapted Alexandre Dumas’ novel for this production. The original story was first released as serialized fiction, appearing in episodic installments rather than as a single book. That structure meant making choices about what to keep and what to streamline for the stage.

Farruggia focused the adaptation around the famous diamond scandal storyline while sharpening Cardinal Richelieu into a more clearly defined villain, allowing the plot to move quickly from one adventure to the next without getting bogged down in exposition.

“It’s a fun adventure,” Farruggia said. “And I wanted to play with swords.”

The swords are very much part of the show.

Director Chris Wheeler, who also choreographed the combat in Seraphim’s earlier production of The Scarlet Pimpernel, worked with the cast to train them in stage rapier fighting. Rehearsals included weeks dedicated specifically to learning the mechanics of swordplay before folding the choreography into the broader production.

Staging that kind of physical action presents a particular challenge in Seraphim’s intimate theatre. The story moves through multiple locations and requires room for duels, escapes, and shifting alliances. Instead of relying on frequent scene changes, the set was designed to transition quickly between different levels and spaces so the story can keep moving while the action unfolds. 2026-03-12 -The Three Musketeer…

That kind of creative problem solving has become part of the company’s identity. Each production seems to push the limits of what their space can do.

Farruggia hints that this show goes even further.

“We went for it with this show,” he said. “There are some elements we’ve never done at Seraphim before.”

Having their own theatre has opened the door for that kind of experimentation. It also raises expectations. Sets become more elaborate. Costumes more detailed. Productions begin to approach the scale of much larger venues.

“Once you break the seal on making everything top notch,” Farruggia said, “you can’t go back.”

For audiences, that ambition is part of the draw. Seraphim productions often feel closer to big-city theatre than what people might expect from a small independent company operating in Rapid City.

And that may be the real story behind this production.

The Three Musketeers is a tale about loyalty, courage, and a handful of characters who refuse to back down from impossible odds. It turns out that spirit isn’t limited to the story on stage. Sometimes it belongs to the people building the stage itself.

The Three Musketeers
Seraphim Theatre
March 6 – March 14

Tickets: $17–$50