Join Us in Taking Part: One Small Vote for the Arts Equals One Big Change

Parker, CO - Inspire Creative, a performing arts company based in Parker, CO, announces their musical production of Guys And Dolls opening Friday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m. and continues Saturday, July 24 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 30 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 31 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Guys And Dolls will be held at the Byron Theatre located in the Robert and Judi Newman Center for Performing Arts at 2344 E. Iliff , Denver, CO 80208.

Denver will be treated to some of its best local talents of over 45 people performing to live audiences in a major musical event that brings to life the Tony Award winning musical Guys and Dolls. Damon Runyon’s story set in a mythical New York City tells the story of Nathan Detroit, Sky Masterson, Sarah Brown, and the beloved Adelaide. Unforgettable music and zany characters make this an audience favorite and a delightful musical theater offering to enjoy this summer.

Individual tickets are $28.75 for adults, $26.75 for students and seniors, and $21.25 for children (12 + under). Tickets can be purchased through all Ticket Master outlets. ticketmaster.com or phone 1-800-982-ARTS or at the Newman Center Box Office open Monday - Friday 10 am - 4 pm 2344 E. Iliff at University and Iliff. For more information call 303-871-7720 du.edu/newmanenter.

For more information about Inspire Creative or this event, please visit InspireCreative.org or call (303) 790-0875.

About Inspire Creative
INSPIRE CREATIVE, INC. is a three-fold arts organization with a heart to encourage individuals to discover their artistic talents, develop them in a safe atmosphere that encourages growth rather than ego and provides them with opportunities to use those talents through exceptional performances, service, training and community. Inspire Creative offers several performance arts opportunities. For more information on Inspire Creative, visit InspireCreative.org or call (303) 790-0875.

Vintage Theatre Presents A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight! A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum is simply one of the best musical comedies ever. This Roman farce revolves around Pseudolus (Bernie Cardell), a slave who will do almost anything to gain his freedom. When Pseudolus is left in charge of his owner's young son Hero (Rob Rehburg), who has fallen madly in love with the beautiful courtesan Philia (Kelly Twedt), the fun begins. The young boy promises Pseudolus his freedom if he can arrange a marriage before his father returns. Pseudolus, of course, agrees. But not even the conniving slave can foresee the tangled web that he is about to weave.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which was the first Broadway production to boast music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, drew most of its farcical situations directly from the plays of Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC-184 BC). The writers, hoping to give Broadway a taste of what once convulsed ancient Roman audiences, carefully studied all 21 of Plautus' surviving comedies and then created their own original story, drawing characters and situations freely from many of the old scripts.

With its unforgettable zany characters, a hysterical, perfectly constructed book by Larry Gelbart (of M*A*S*H and City Of Angels fame) and Burt Shevelove Forum is full of outrageous gags, gorgeous girls, and mistaken identities, stunning surprises, cunning disguises and such keen witted Sondheim songs as Comedy Tonight, Bring Me My Bride, Lovely, Pretty Little Picture and Everybody Ought to Have a Maid.

Colorado Theatre Guild's 5th Annual Henry Awards

The Colorado Theatre Guild will hold the Fifth Annual Henry Awards on Monday, July 19 in the Space Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex located at Speer Blvd and Arapahoe St.

The evening will commence at 6 p.m. with a cash bar, silent auction and complimentary hors d 'oeuvres followed by the awards ceremony, hosted by Buntport Theatre and featuring performances from area theatre companies, at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $20 advance ($25 at the door), $50 VIP seats includes reserved Main Floor seating + drink ticket.

Call Gloria Shanstrom at 303-931-7241. MasterCard & VISA accepted. We invite the theatre loving public to attend.

This event is the annual fundraiser for The Colorado Theatre Guild (a 501c3 not for profit organization)

And the Nominees are....

Outstanding Direction of a Musical
Stephen Bourneuf, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Rod Lansberry, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Alicia Dunfee, Chicago, Boulder's Dinner Theatre
Robert Wells, Guys and Dolls, Town Hall Arts Center
Steve Wilson, Man of La Mancha, PHAMALY

Outstanding Musical Direction
Donna Debreceni, Man of La Mancha, PHAMALY
Neal Dunfee, Chicago, Boulder's Dinner Theatre
David Nehls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
David Nehls, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Adam Stone, Jugged Rabbit Stew, Buntport Theatre Company

Outstanding Direction of a Play
Buntport Theatre, The World is Mine, Buntport Theatre
Israel Hicks, A Raisin in the Sun, Denver Center Theatre Company
Robert Kramer, Grace and Glorie, Miners Alley Playhouse
Jane Page, To Kill a Mockingbird, Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Chip Walton, Opus, Curious Theatre Company
Chip Walton, Yankee Tavern, Curious Theatre Company

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
David Ambroson, Guys and Dolls, Town Hall Arts Center
Leonard E. Barrett, Jr., Man of La Mancha, PHAMALY
Scott Beyette, Singin' In The Rain, Boulder's Dinner Theatre
David B. Johnson, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Herman Sebek, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Kevin Vortmann, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Joanie Brousseau-Beyette, Chicago, Boulder's Dinner Theatre
Mari Carlin Dart, Dietrich and Chevalier, Miners Alley Playhouse
Alicia Dunfee, Chicago, Boulder's Dinner Theatre
Regan Linton, Man of La Mancha, PHAMALY
Sarah Rex, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
EJ Zimmerman, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Steven J. Burge, Fully Committed, Aurora Fox Theatre
Erik Edborg, The World is Mine, Buntport Theatre Company
Sam Gregory, The Voysey Inheritance, Denver Center Theatre Company
Chris Kendall, A Picasso, Miners Alley Playhouse
Geoffrey Kent, Much Ado About Nothing, Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Kathleen M. Brady, Well, Denver Center Theatre Company
Kendra Crain, Grace and Glorie, Miners Alley Playhouse
Paige Lynn Larson, A Picasso, Miners Alley Playhouse
Billie McBride, Grace and Glorie, Miners Alley Playhouse
Marlene Warfield, A Raisin in the Sun, Denver Center Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Rob Costigan, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Stephen Day, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Daniel Herron, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Matt LaFontaine, Guys and Dolls, Town Hall Arts Center
David Villella, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Evan Weissman, Jugged Rabbit Stew, Buntport Theatre

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Hannah Duggan, Jugged Rabbit Stew, Buntport Theatre
Beth Flynn, Nine, Arvada Center
Cindy Lawrence, Singin' In The Rain, Boulder's Dinner Theatre
Erin Rollman, Jugged Rabbit Stew, Buntport Theatre
Megan Van De Hey, Nine, Arvada Center

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Keith L. Hatton, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Shadow Theatre Company
Bob Moore, Over the River and Through the Woods, Miners Alley Playhouse
Philip Pleasants, The Voysey Inheritance Denver Center Theatre Company
Jean-Pierre Serret, Mariela in the Desert, Denver Center Theatre Company
Michael Winters, The Voysey Inheritance, Denver Center Theatre Company

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play
Courtney Davis, Tick, Tick ... Boom, Evolution Theatre Company
Hannah Duggan, The World is Mine, Buntport Theatre
Boni McIntyre, London Suite, Denver Victorian Playhouse
Dawn Scott, A Raisin in the Sun, Denver Center Theatre Company
Kim Staunton, A Raisin in the Sun, Denver Center Theatre Company

Outstanding Choreography
Stephen Bourneuf, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Alicia Dunfee & Scott Beyette, Singin' In The Rain, Boulder's Dinner Theatre
Alicia Dunfee & Matthew D. Peters, Chicago, Boulder’s Dinner Theatre
Kelly Kates, Guys and Dolls, Town Hall Arts Center
Kelly Kates, The Secret Garden, Town Hall Arts Center

Outstanding Costume Design
Bill Black, The Voysey Inheritance, Denver Center Theatre Company
Chris Campbell, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Clare Henkel, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Jimmy Miller, Guys and Dolls, Town Hall Arts Center
Jimmy Miller, The Secret Garden, Town Hall Arts Center

Outstanding Lighting Design
Don Darnutzer, Mariela in the Desert, Denver Center Theatre Company
Richard Devin, Opus, Curious Theatre Company
Gail Gober, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Gail Gober, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Jen Orf, The Sound of a Voice, Paragon Theatre Company

Outstanding Scenic Design
Buntport Theatre, The World is Mine, Buntport Theatre
Bill Forrester, Absurd Person Singular, Denver Center Theatre Company
Brian Mallgrave, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Brian Mallgrave, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Vicki Smith, Mariela in the Desert, Denver Center Theatre Company

Outstanding Sound Design
El Armstrong, Voices in the Dark, Denver Victorian Playhouse
William Burns, Mariela in the Desert, Denver Center Theatre Company
Brian Freeland, Opus, Curious Theatre Company
Jason Ducat, When Tang Met Laika, Denver Center Theatre Company
Steve Stevens, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Steve Stevens, Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Warren Sherrill, The Sound of a Voice, Paragon Theatre Company

Outstanding New Play
Conviction, Maya Productions, Written by Oren Neeman; translated and adapted by Ami Dayan.
Eventide, Denver Center Theatre Company,Adapated by Eric Schmiedl from the novel by Kent Haruf
Indiana, Indiana, Buntport Theatre
Jugged Rabbit Stew, Buntport Theatre
The World is Mine, Buntport Theatre
When Tang Met Laika, Denver Center Theatre Company, Rogelio Martinez

Outstanding Production of a Play
A Picasso, Miners Alley Playhouse, Robert Kramer, Director
A Raisin in the Sun, Denver Center Theatre Company, Israel Hicks, Director
Grace and Glorie, Miners Alley Playhouse, Robert Kramer, Director
Opus, Curious Theatre Company, Chip Walton, Director
The World is Mine, Buntport Theatre Company

Outstanding Production of a Musical
Chicago, Boulder's Dinner Theatre, Alicia Dunfee, Director, Neal Dunfee, Musical Director
Guys and Dolls, Town Hall Arts Center, Robert Wells, Director, Donna Debreceni, Musical Director
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center, Stephen Bourneuf, Director, David Nehls, Musical Director
Man of La Mancha, PHAMALY, Steve Wilson, Director, Donna Debreceni, Musical Director
Miss Saigon, Arvada Center, Rod Lansberry, Director, David Nehls, Musical Director
Singin’ In The Rain, Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, Scott Beyette, Director, Neal Dunfee, Musical Director

Outstanding Ensemble
A Picasso, Miners Alley Playhouse
Grace and Glorie, Miners Alley Playhouse
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Arvada Center
Miss Saigon, Arvada Center
Opus, Curious Theatre Company

Outstanding Season for a Theatre
Arvada Center
Buntport Theatre Company
Curious Theatre Company
Denver Center Theatre Company
Miners Alley Playhouse
We look forward to seeing you on July 19!

TyeeTligman Fundraiser Announced

Tyee Tilghman has been accepted into the MFA program at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. The only thing that stands in his way?

$10,000.

Whoa!!!!.

Friends of Tyee are throwing him a party throwing a party! Actually, a TTFR, to be exact. That's a Tyee Tilghman FundRaiser. (We know there's no capital 'R' in "fundraiser," but right now, there's no Tyee in A.C.T. and we want to fix that!)

Please join us at the TTFR on Sunday, July 25th, 6-9pm in the beautiful auditorium of Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma Street, Denver, CO; Tickets are $19.99 in advance and $24.99 at the door. All proceeds go to help Tyee get to A.C.T. There will be Improv entertainment, featuring the quick, quirky wit of Matt Zambrano and Jessica Austgen, Carnival games, Silly auctions, Yummy food and Potent drinks.

To purchase tickets: events.constantcontact.com.

$10,000 is a lot for one person to raise -- but it's a lot less for a whole community to raise, while having a great deal of fun along the way.

PHAMALY Presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Denver, Co. - A TALE AS OLD AS TIME, TRUE AS IT CAN BE. Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to the PHAMALY stage. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, this classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters and songs like Be Our Guest and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of PHAMALY's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Director Steve Wilson has cast Jenna Bainbridge in the role of Belle and Leonard E. Barrett Jr. in the role of Beast.

Many veteran company members and new actors join the cast including Stephen Hahn (Gaston), Regan Linton (LeFou), Kathleen Traylor (Mrs. Potts) and son Daniel Traylor (Lumiere), Mark Dissette (Cogsworth), David J. Wright (Maurice), Lyndsay Palmer (Babette), Jodi Hogle (Wardrobe), Molly Nash (Chip), Lucy Roucis (Monsieur D'Arque) with the Silly Girls portrayed by Linda Wirth, Amber Marsh and Briana Berthiaume. Rounding out the ensemble is Gregg Vigil, Rhonda Knight, Michael Barlow, Sean McGee, Anna Logan, Katrina Weber, Kathi Wood, Alex Marin, Kevin Pettit, Juliana Trunfio, Devin Vogal Woodall, Don Gabenski, Troy Willis, Laurice Quinn, Donna Gunnison, Jaylen Anders, Kevin Ahl, Julius Gordon and Twanna LaTrice Hill.

PHAMALY's annual Circle of Stars gala will be held Thursday, August 5. Tickets are $75 and include pre/post show reception and the show.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:00 p.m., Sundays and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 26. Tickets are $30 adult, $28 senior/student/military, $24 (Industry Night) Monday, July 26 and $15 for July 15 and 16 previews. A specially discounted Family Four Pack will be available for a limited time only. $99 includes two adult, two student tickets and four small beverages at BackStage Coffee located at the entrance to the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Denver Center Ticketing at 303-893-4100; online at phamaly.org; at Tickets West outlets in all regional King Soopers stores; or at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. $22 tickets groups of ten or more - call 303-931-7241.

PHAMALY’s production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast will also be presented under the Stars at the Arvada Center Amphitheatre, August 26 & 27. Tickets range from $10 - $28, for reservations go to phamaly.org or call the Arvada Center Box Office at 720-898-7200.

An Audio Described and ASL Signed performance is scheduled for Sunday, August 8 at 2:00 p.m. PHAMALY will offer a backstage sensory tour at 11:00a.m. The sensory tour brings individuals on stage for a tactile experience, touching elements of the set, costumes, and prop pieces. The tour is free but advance reservations are required by calling the PHAMALY office at 303-575-0005 or email info@phamaly.org.

Now celebrating its 21st season, PHAMALY is an award winning Colorado based Theatre Company comprised entirely of performers with a wide variety of physical challenges. PHAMALY's mission is to enable persons with disabilities to showcase their talents and abilities through live performance and to make the performing arts more accessible to everyone.

See Calendar for details.

Please, God, don't let me be normal ... .

Or so prays Luisa, the ever so normal heroine of The Fantasticks. Asked why this simple little show has had the longest run in the history of off-Broadway musical theatre, most critics point to the absolute universality of its themes. It’s all about normality: youthful illusions, falling in love "in the moonlight," falling out of love "in the sunlight," overcoming adversity, discovering wisdom. And then there's the incomparable music . . . comic, romantic, melodic. . . .Once heard, it never leaves you.

June 30, 2010, Boulder, Colorado - The Colorado Shakespeare Festival (CSF) opens its second show of the summer season with The Fantasticks, the classic American musical presented "in the round." Audience members can sit on stage (better than Dress Circle) at discounted prices.

Preview performance is July 2, opening night is July 3. Performances are in the University Theatre, Mainstage on the University of Colorado at Boulder's campus.

The Fantasticks will run for 15 performances: July 2 (Preview), 3 (Opening Night), 7, 8, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 and August 3, 4, 7, and 8. Curtain times are 7:30 pm, except for the July 25 and August 8 when matinees are at 2:00 pm. See coloradoshakes.org for more information.

Adult tickets range from $18 - $54, with youth (ages 13 - 17) at $20 and kids (ages 5 - 12) priced at only $10 for Orchestra section seating. Purchase tickets online at www.coloradoshakes.org, by calling the box office at 303.492.0554. Tickets may also be purchased at the CSF Box Office on the garden level of the Theatre & Dance Building, University of Colorado at Boulder, 10am-6pm Tuesday-Friday and Noon to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Central City Opera Presents Regional Premier of Jake Heggie's Three Decembers

Denver, Colo. - For its final offering in the 2010 Festival, Central City Opera (CCO) presents the regional premiere of American Composer Jake Heggie's Three Decembers. This new production will open on July 10 and continue through Aug. 6. The opera will be performed in English with supertitles.

Three Decembers, which premiered as Last Acts in 2008, follows the relationships of a dysfunctional American family. A famous actress, Madeline Mitchell often chose the spotlight over her now adult children, Bea and Charlie, and must deal with the outcome of her actions. Through a series of phone calls, letters, and interactions, family relationships and strife are revealed. The narrative follows three decades (between 1986 and 2006) in three acts.

”Three Decembers is a deeply personal, heartfelt and meaningful opera. Whatever your line of work, whatever your path in life, you have belonged to family-you have had to deal with hurt, loss, joy, misunderstanding, secrets, and hopefully, forgiveness. This is a story for all of us," said Mr. Heggie. This production marks the debut of Jake Heggie's work on the Central City Opera stage.

The opera's libretto, written by Gene Scheer (Therese Raquin, An American Tragedy), is based on Terrence McNally's unpublished play Some Christmas Letters (and a Couple of Phone Calls). McNally and Heggie continued their creative partnership for this new opera after their highly acclaimed first collaboration on Dead Man Walking, which premiered in 2000 at San Francisco Opera. In addition to his writing capabilities, Gene Scheer is also a lauded singer who has appeared often with Central City Opera including his recent appearances as Lutz in the 2004 production of The Student Prince and Dr. Pangloss and Voltaire in the 2000 production of Candide. This production marks the first time a work with a libretto by Gene Scheer will be performed at the Central City Opera.

Since Three Decembers' 2008 premiere at Houston Grand Opera, and subsequent performances of the original production, a scene was cut and a new aria for Madeline (Maddy) was written to create the one act version that will be seen in CCO's Festival production this summer. Gene Scheer explains, "We felt we could do better. We wanted to see Maddy doing what she does brilliantly and 'wow' the audience so we can understand why she is as great as she is."

In May, the composer-librettist team of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer premiered their opera Moby-Dick at the new Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in Dallas. The New York Times hailed Gene Scheer’s libretto as "an economical wonder, casting off Melville's landlocked opening and stretches of minutiae regarding whales and whaling" and applauded Jake Heggie for his "fundamentally sound theatrical instinct."

Ticket and Festival Information
Subscriptions and single tickets are now available for Central City Opera's 2010 Festival. Subscriptions to see Three Decembers as well as Madama Butterfly, the classic tale of one woman betrayed by her love and her ultimate sacrifice, and Orpheus in the Underworld, the satirical operetta based on the story of Orpheus from Greek mythology featuring the famous "Can-can" dance, during the 2010 Festival start at just $90 and go up to $237. Single ticket prices range from $38 to $99. Supersaver and group discounts are also available for select performances. For opera-goers' convenience, an opera bus leaving from Glendale and Simms Steakhouse in Lakewood will be available for $18 round-trip for select matinee performances.

Festival Extras
2010 Festival atendees can enhance their experience in Central City with additional artistic programming performed by the acclaimed Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Apprentice and Studio Artists. Opera a la Carte at Williams Stables offers patrons the opportunity to see staged scenes from a wide range of opera favorites. An annual tradition, CCO artists-in-training will stage the one-act cabaret opera about the Central City legend of the famous painting on the Teller House floor, The Face on the Barroom Floor. This year, artists-in-training will also stage Signor Deluso, a one-act comedy of errors about couples and their suspected affairs. Prior to several matinee performances, patrons have the opportunity at the Teller House to enjoy a Salon Recital by a 2010 Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training performer. Before every performance, a FREE pre-performance preview, Opera Notes, allows the audience to gain further insight into each production. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the Central City Opera Box Office at 303-292-6700 or go online to centralcityopera.org.

Paragon Bowlathon Scheduled For May 23

Gather your team of four, reserve your lane and get ready for a rockin' time!

It's that time again. Time to dig out your foot spray, dust off your balls and join us for a fun-filled morning of bowling to benefit Paragon Theatre. Sip on a mimosa or bloody mary, win the best prizes ever and mingle with ensemble members and Paragon supporters like you, all while prancing around in rented shoes.

It just keeps getting better and better! Last year was a blast and this year promises to be even more fun! Round up your best bowling buddies and reserve your lane today.

As always, there will be off-the-wall contests and cool prizes such as Rockies Tickets, Restaurant Gift Certificates, Trophies and Tiaras. Last year a lucky recipient won the Cry-Baby Award (or Save the Drama for your Mama Award) and someone else walked away with Sweatiest Bowler Award...eeew!

The Bowlathon will be held on May 23rd, 2010 from 10 AM - 1 PM at Elitch Lanes in the Highlands Neighborhood, 3825 Tennyson Street (NW corner of 38th and Tennyson) in Denver.

COST: $28 per person or $100 per foursome ($25 each).

Did you lose the popularity contest? Can't round up a foursome? Don't worry! We can hook you up with other loners....ummm, we mean "participants" who don't have a team!

Bowling begins promptly at 10:00. Please arrive early to check in, get your shoes and your lane.

Sign up today by calling 303.300.2210

Bluegrass Comes Home To Crested Butte

Crested Butte, Colo.- For thirteen years, the Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) has turned Crested Butte into one big concert hall in the summer, with music resounding from outdoors venues, hotels, stunning private homes, churches and barns. This summer, for the first time, CBMF will host "Bluegrass in Paradise", a five-day festival for one of the most popular musical genres in the American West.

From July 6-10, both traditional bluegrass and newgrass will be showcased in a range of events: a three-day camp for kids, workshops for adults, children's performances and six top-level bands. For five days of foot-stomping fun, learning, and camaraderie, Bluegrass in Paradise will keep festival goers on their feet.

The host of the Festival is internationally acclaimed newgrass star - and resident of Crested Butte - Drew Emmitt. Emmitt is not only one of the most energetic and innovative mandolin players in bluegrass today, he is also a singer, storyteller, and master of multiple stringed instruments. He has played with the band Leftover Salmon, and most recently, the Drew Emmitt band. This jack-of-all-roots-trades will be a stimulating guide through the five days of "Bluegrass in Paradise."

2010 Performer Line-Up
Friday, July 9
Spring Creek: In 2009, Spring Creek joined the ranks of Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Kenny & Amanda Smith and Steep Canyon Rangers as a Rebel Records recording artist. Hailing from Lyons Colorado, Spring Creek's creative original songs and meticulous harmony vocals made it the first Colorado-based band to be signed by Rebel.
Bearfoot: Bluegrass music from Alaska? Not just any bluegrass, but some of the best. Telluride Band Contest winner Bearfoot has a fresh approach to acoustic music that features twin fiddles, fast-picking mandolin and guitar, upright bass, and beautiful harmony vocals. Bearfoot's exuberant stage presence elicits an appeal that bridges generations.
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys: Stanley, The Godfather of Bluegrass, is still the best banjo picker and tenor singer in bluegrass music after 55 years in the business. As a recording artist, he has performed on more than 170 albums, tapes and CDs. He has written countless songs both individually and together with his brother, the late Carter Stanley. Ralph has played throughout the United States and the world, including several tours of Japan.

Saturday, July 10
Blue Highway: Now in its sixteenth year as a band, Grammy-nominated Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. With a deep bench of virtuosic songwriters, vocalists and instrumentalists, Blue Highway's hallmark is an unwavering commitment to the ensemble, the democracy of the band that makes this band a powerhouse.
Shannon Whitworth: Shannon Whitworth, a founding member of the acclaimed acoustic quartet The Biscuit Burners, has set a high bar for Americana music in the last few years. Her definitive songwriting and captivating voice have earned her national praise. Shannon's debut solo release, No Expectations, is pure, strong, and heartfelt, catching the ears and touching the hearts of the most unsuspecting bystander.
Emmitt-Nershi Band: Festival host Drew Emmitt will perform with Billy Nershi, the founding member and acoustic guitarist of The String Cheese Incident, an American jamband from Boulder, Colorado. The Emmitt-Nershi Band will feature Emmitt on mandolin and vocals, Nershi on acoustic guitar and vocals, Andy Thorn who plays with both Larry Keel and the Drew Emmitt band on banjo, and Tyler Grant from the Drew Emmitt Band on bass.

Bluegrass Camp for Kids and Adult Workshops
Kid's Camp: The Bluegrass Camp for Kids is a 3-day bluegrass and folk music program for children ages 5-17, organized and taught by members of the band Bearfoot. The band, which will also be performing at the Festival, has taught thousands of kids worldwide. Children can pick from a wide range of classes, including all levels of guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle, and vocals. Campers are also involved in a band class with their peers, daily jams, square dances, art projects, optional private lessons, and games, as well as an end-of-camp concert for their friends and family. All levels welcome. Advanced registration required, and interested participants can sign up at the music festival's office.

Workshops for Adults: The Bluegrass in Paradise workshops provide a friendly, noncompetitive environment for everyone from beginners to advanced players. The well-planned program includes seminars and drop-in workshops.

Ticket Pricing and Information
Tickets are on sale now. Weekend pass is $90 per person, and Single Day pass is $50 per person. Children 12 and under are FREE, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Daycare is not offered. Lodging packages are available through the Crested Butte Mountain Resort (skicb.com). For more information on the 2010 Festival or to buy tickets, call 970-349-0619 or visit BluegrassInParadise.com.

Beyond Bluegrass: Other Fun in Crested Butte
Nestled in the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, Crested Butte offers both outdoor beauty and a vibrant historic town to its visitors. With quaint Victorian storefronts and expressive local characters, the town remains true to its heritage and radiates an unparalleled welcoming and inviting spirit that celebrates a simpler life and time. Thanks to a widely diverse landscape, outdoor enthusiasts of all levels and types, from mountain bikers to skiers to fly fishers, will find a new challenge with each visit. Crested Butte is one of Colorado's best-kept secrets.

The Crested Butte Mountain Resort, location of Bluegrass in Paradise, offers a wealth of things to do for families visiting the festival. In 2009, the Resort opened its base area Adventure Park, featuring year-round ice skating on Super-Glide synthetic ice, bungee trampolines and a climbing wall. Skate this summer on Colorado's first synthetic ice-skating rink!

The bungee trampolines provide a turbo-charged, gravity-defying ride up to 30 feet in the air. Multiple bungee cords transform the traditional trampoline into an adrenaline-induced grin enhancer. Jumpers are able to reach incredible heights in a secure environment, allowing them to explore acrobatic movements and somersaults, or to simply jump as high as they can into the thin air.

The Climbing Pinnacle features a 28-foot, 6-route tower with auto-belay. The routes range in difficulty from beginner to expert and are geared toward climbers of all ages and ability levels. The views from the top are well worth the climb.

The Adventure Park is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily throughout the summer. For more information on the Adventure Park, as well as Crested Butte's lodging, meeting facilities, and special packages, call Crested Butte Vacations at 800-600-2803 or visit skicb.com.

Celebrating its 13th season, the Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) brings world-class musicians, singers and dancers each summer to the wildflower capital of the world. The goal of the CBMF is both to enrich the community by offering affordable and free music, opera and dance performances, and to educate a diverse audience in music, opera and dance.

Buntport Opens With The Musical, Jugged Rabbit Stew

Opening May 21, Buntport Theatre wants to introduce everyone to Snowball, the rabbit that redently quit coming out of the top hat...He's depressed. And magic..And an amateur collector of random objects.

He is loved by Marla (the magician's assistant who was cut in half and attached to the wrong legs), and by Alec a slight of hand artist whose Right Arm has a mind of its own. The arm is the only one who appreciates Snowball's latest addition to his collection....The Woman. Her appearance with all of Snowball's other floating objects is about to change everything.

Jugged Rabbit Stew is a musical written by all six members of Buntport along with composer/lyricist, Adam Stone.

See Calendar for details.

Opera Colorado Appoints Lisa R. James As Director of Development

DENVER, CO - After an exceptionally thorough search in conjunction with Arts Consulting Group, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa James as Director of Development for Opera Colorado, said General Director Greg Carpenter. As we searched, we included board members, staff, and community leadership to find and hire an outstanding candidate. Lisa's extensive skills in fundraising and in particular her experience as Director of Development for the San Francisco Opera will provide a major infusion of energy and creativity to our fundraising operations. I am thrilled that we added Lisa to our team.

Ms. James brings extensive experience in non-profit and performing arts fundraising to her new position. From 1998 to 2003 she worked at San Francisco Opera, beginning as Director of Institutional Gifts and completing her service as Director of Development. During her tenure at SFO, Ms. James oversaw a staff of 22 and led the restructuring of the fundraising program at the opera as well as participated in crafting a strategic plan for the organization.

Before her time in San Francisco, Ms. James worked as a producer and a presenter for non-profit fine arts and performing arts organizations across the country. She has also directed the development efforts for environmental, medical research, and educational institutions. She has volunteered for or served as a board member for several non-profit institutions, including Breast Cancer Action, Arts Festival of Atlanta, National Performance Network, and the Playwrights Foundation, among many others. Ms. James also served as a panelist and site evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts, the Western States Arts Foundation, and other national and regional funding organizations.

Says Ms. James, I left Denver in 1981 and returned in 2007 to find a community transformed. Opera Colorado is recognized by the opera industry as one of the exciting regional companies to watch.

Ms. James received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Denver and her Master of Arts in Business from the University of Wisconsin-Madision. She is a graduate of William J. Palmer High School in Colorado Springs.

Spotlight Theatre Features A Hotel on The Marvin Gardens

A friendly game of Monopoly turns into a night of ruthless strategy and good old American greed in Nagle Jackson's A Hotel On The Marvin Gardens . Such is the case when the staff of ME magazine gets together for their annual all-day Monopoly party in which corporate gamesmanship takes a backseat to down and dirty dice rolling. All strategy goes out the window and all bets are off as we take a comical look at the real-life struggle for power that emerges between the magazine staff through what started out as a seemingly harmless game.

The cast, under the direction of Pat Payne includes, Andy Anderson as Bo, Bernie Cardell as Henry, Molly Killoran as KC, Linda Williams as Erna and Johanna Jaquith as Rose.

Nagle Jackson has directed twenty shows at the Denver Center Theatre Company since the 1992/93 season, including the original production of A Hotel On The Marvin Gardens during the 1999/2000 season. He has directed at major theaters throughout the U.S. and on Broadway, (The Utter Glory Of Morrissey Hall, starring Celeste Holm, Mark Hellinger Theater, 1979) in Europe and was the first American ever invited to direct in the Soviet Union. He served as Artistic Director of both the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre (1970-76) and the Tony Award winning McCarter Theatre, Princeton (1979-90).

See Calendar for details.

Modern Muse Theatre Presents 2nd Annual New Play Festival

(Denver, CO) - On Thursday, June 10, Modern Muse Theatre Company will present its second annual new play festival, The Play's the Thing at the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo Street in Denver.

The new play festival features new work by three celebrated local women playwrights: Judy GeBauer, Melissa Lucero McCarl, and Coleen Hubbard. In addition to staged readings of the three new works, the festival will include a late-night reading of five ten-minute plays inspired by social media, a talk-balk about Charisma, a play-writing workshop, and a Wrap/Rap party.

Thursday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m.
The Charisma Contest by Coleen Hubbard
Directed by Jim Hunt
In the office of a popular women's magazine, the editorial staff sponsors a readers' contest to nominate men and women who have an extra dose of that most admired-and often misunderstood-human quality: charisma. As the nomination letters and emails pour in, four staff members are over-whelmed with the dramatic and hilarious stories about the charismatic individuals we all love-and sometimes hate.
Charisma Panel Discussion - Thursday, June 10 immediately after the staged reading of The Charisma Contest by Coleen Hubbard - Local panel of artists and audience will discuss Charisma.

Friday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Lost Creatures by Melissa Lucero McCarl
Directed by Patrick Elkins-Zeglarski
Ailing British theatre critic Kenneth Tynan arrives at the door of iconic silent film star Louise Brooks with whom he has been obsessed for years. He intends to interview her for a profile in The New Yorker, but both parties embark on a journey of riled ghosts and revealing insights, catalyzed by an abundance of sexually charged repartee and a fine Burgundy.

E-pisodes: The Facebook Dialogues - FRIDAY, June 11 immediately after the staged reading of Lost Creatures by Melissa McCarl - Five adventurous writers use social media - Facebook, Twitter, MySpace - as inspiration for five ten-minute, small-cast plays read by facile and spontaneous Denver actors. The readings will be followed by a discussion about the process, the plays themselves, and social media's influence on art.

Saturday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Breslin Rayhope by Judy GeBauer
Directed by Stephen Lavezza
A talented and gifted high school student has jazzy parents, a comfortable life, and may be on her way to Princeton, when she witnesses a horrific crime committed by someone she loves. She must choose between love and duty. Breslin Rayhope explores the complexities and consequences involved in doing the right thing.

New Play Festival Rap/Wrap Party - Saturday, June 12 immediately after the staged reading of Breslin Rayhope by Judy GeBauer - Mingle with the actors and playwrights involved in the festival for an informal discussion of the exciting new work presented throughout the weekend.

The featured actors include Paul Borrillo*, Gabriella Cavallero*, Josh Hartwell , Drew Horwitz, Jim Hunt, Billie McBride*, Leslie O'Carroll*, Jessica Robblee, Mark Rubald*, Tracy Shaffer*, and Marcus Waterman.*
*Members of Actor's Equity.

Other Festival Events
Workshop:
Beginnings: Getting Into the Play - Saturday, June 12 (9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) Celebrated local playwright, Judy GeBauer, will conduct an intensive play-writing workshop to examine some strategies for beginning a play and finding a way into the world of the characters' lives. -Cost: $30.00 per person (Class size limited to 8 writers.) To reserve a space, call 303-780-7836.

Vintage Theatre presents the World Premiere of Books on Tape

Vintage Theatre continues its late night theatre with Books on Tape opening Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.

(* please note production date changes) with remaining performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m.; Sundays at 7:30 p.m. and running through June 20 at Vintage Theatre, 2119 E 17th Ave in Denver . Tickets are $16; $12 in advance. Industry Night is Tuesday, June 8 @ 10:30 - all tickets $12. Purchase tickets by calling 303-839-1361 or online at vintagetheatre.com

This new comedy answers the three most important questions in life: Does god exist? What is your purpose? And what should you do when you're charged with plagiarism? The story revolves around a chance meeting at a Barnes and Noble between Jeffrey, an actor who records books on tape and Adriane, a makeup artist who loves to listen. Soon they set out to understand Mother Teresa, professional rodeo announcers, near death experiences, pigeons and their effect on jet

The cast, under the direction of Kellie Rae Rockey , includes Anthony Bianco as Father Larry, Boni McIntyre as Donna Paige Miller, James O'Hagan-Murphy as Jeffrey and Kellie Rae Rockey as Adriane.

William Missouri Downs has authored 20 full-length plays, including Innocent Thoughts, the winner of the National Playwright's Award; Jewish Sports Heroes and Texas Intellectuals, which took first place at the Mill Mountain Theatre's Festival Of New Plays; and Kabuki Medea, which won the Bay Area Critics Award for best production in San Francisco and the Jefferson Award for best production in Chicago. His play Seagulls In A Cherry Tree won the Larry Corse Prize for playwriting and was produced at the 2006 Orlando Shakespeare Festival's PlayFest. In Hollywood , Mr. Downs wrote for such NBC sitcoms as My Two Dads (starring Paul Reiser), Amen (starring Sherman Hemsley), and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (starring Will Smith). He also won the Jack Nicholson Award for screenwriting.

Though Mr. Downs now enjoys living in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming he is pleased that Colorado companies are producing three of his works this year; Books on Tape at Vintage, Innocent Thoughts opening September 19 at Shadow Theatre and Kosher Lutherans at Bas Bleu Theatre in Ft. Collins opening November 27.

World Premier Coming To The Avenue Theatre

Glittery pop star Veronica Falana has it all: Fame, fortune, hair weaves and a crazed stalker who wants her dead. There's only one man strong enough to protect her: THE BOOTYGUARD.

ritten by Andrew Shoffner, this spirited comedy is a ruthless parody of the pill-popping, booze-soaked entertainment world inspired by the 90s romantic thriller THE BODYGUARD.

The Cast:
Andrew Shoffner as Veronica Falana the Diva
Benjy Schirm as Farmer the Bootyguard
Jack Wefso as Marmaduke Salisbury the Manager
Amanda Earls as Didi the Best Friend
Steven Burge as Assistant #1 and others
Carla Kaiser-Kotrc as Assistant #2 and others

ANDREW SHOFFNER is honored to return to Denver where he debuted his works 20,000 LEAGUES BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, HOUSE OF COLLAGEN and CELLBLOCK SIRENS OF 1953: The Women's Prison Musical, written with Christopher Willard, which since debuting in Denver, (nominated for Best New Play of 1997 by the Denver Drama Critics) has been produced in Chicago, Missouri, and Texas. He is especially thrilled to be working with Nick Sugar with whom he shared much success at Denver's Theatre On Broadway in PSYCHO BEACH PARTY.

In New York City, he has performed in LOOKING4SEX at the Wings Theatre. His short plays KISS DOLLY GOODBYE, SPANGLES and THE TRICK OR TREATER have been produced Off-Off Broadway. His most recent work GHOULS was the winner of the Shortened Attention Span Theatre Horror Festival. He is a script reader for Summer Play Festival and New York Musical Theatre Festival and a member of TOSOS.

See Calendar for performance information.

Galaxy Trek...The Lost Episodes

To bawdily go where no man has gone before!

Denver, CO - The twisted minds that brought you The Night of the Living Dead like it was never meant to be seen - live and on stage - are at it again! The Bug Theatre and PaperCat Films present the silly, sexy, sci-fi space parody 'Galaxy Trek...The Lost Episodes.'

Journey along with Captain Quirk, Mr. Spork, Scotchy, Dr. Bones, and the crew of the Secondprise, as they bawdily go where no man has gone before! Join us for two exciting 'lost' episodes and watch as the crew crash lands on Galligan's Island ! Marvel as Captain Quirk has his Mojo stolen by the evil Klingies! Blush when you see what really goes on in the transponder room!

And as a special double-feature bonus, The Scoopy Doo Gang gets a little help from Abraham Lincoln in solving The Mystery of the Ghost of the Haunted Lighthouse of Pirate's Cove! What this has to do with the crew of the Secondprise is anyone's guess, but all will be revealed!

"As a lifelong Trekkie and Scooby Doo fan since childhood, this show has been a blast to write and direct. We like to think of it as an homage to our childhood TV heroes, rather than a parody," said Kris Hipps, the show's director and one of its writers.

Another writer, Jessamyn Geesaman, added: "Being such a geek myself, I had so much fun spoofing all the things I've been a geek about over all these years."

Many from the cast of The Night of the Living Dead join the crew of the Secondprise, including Duane Brown (Captain Quirk), Patrick Mann (Dr. Bonesy), Jessamyn Geesaman (Libida), and Kris Hipps (Janice Randy). Newcomers to The Bug stage include Jeff Bontrager (Spork), Tom Auclair (Mr. Scotch) Robert Payo (Jagoff), Sara Michael (Frack, the evil Klingie Queen), Pete Yribia (Dorg, evil Klingie King), Cara Schiff (Eroticella) and Jeanette Cerami (the ill-fated Yoeman Duncan). Theatre vet Jonathan Ruiz is the Assistant Director/Stage Manager.

The four episodes that make up Galaxy Trek...The Lost Episodes were written by Kris Hipps, Duane Brown, Patrick Mann and Jessamyn Gessaman. Produced by Donna Morrison, Alex Weimer and Kris Hipps. Directed by Kris Hipps.

The Bug Theatre is supported in part by the SCFD, Breckenridge Brewery, Yelp.com and the Onion.

Theatre of Dreams Celebrates 7th Year

After four years of trying, Eric Buss is finally appearing at Castle Rock's Theatre of Dreams May 21 & 22.

Known to the David Letterman audience, Buss is a co-me-dy Im-ag-i-na-tor.

Definition:
1.A clever and funny person who imagines crazy concepts and inventions, turns them into reality, and performs them for an audience with hilarious results.
2.Eric Buss - As the Comedy Imaginator, Eric Buss has entertained and amazed audiences worldwide. His innovative and high energy brand of comedy has earned him some of the industry's top awards, and a reputation as one of the funniest acts working today. Eric Buss is not a comedian telling jokes about airline food. He is not a magician wearing a bright yellow leotard. Eric is an imaginative performer with a knack for funny. Eric Buss invites the audience into his world where hysterical antics are brought to life.

AWARDS & HONORS:
2007 Graduate of The Second City
2007 Magic Magazine Feature Story Snakes on a Buss
2006 Genii Magazine Feature Story Danger Man
2000 Cabaret Magician of the Year - International Magicians' Society
2000 M.U.M. Magazine Cover Story A Peek at Eric Buss
1999 Stage Champion The Magic Hands - Sindelfingen, Germany
1995 Stage MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR - International Brotherhood of Magicians - USA

Memorial Day weekend for The Theatre of dreams features Funnyman, David Deeble, May 29. Deeble is best known from The Tonight Show and America's Got Talent. An opening act for Ray Romano and Kevin James, David's bizarre skills and hilarious observations are seen most frequently enjoyed at The Magic Castle in Hollywood and The Comedy & Magic Club in Los Angeles. He performs regularly on network television, for corporations, comedy clubs, cruise ships, colleges and art centers. - BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

See Calendar for performance details.

Theatre of Dreams Summer Wizard Camp Ready For Registration

The annual Summer Wizard Camp runs June 7-20, 2010 and June 21-24 9:30 AM-12:30 PM each day

On the last day of the camp. A Professional Stage Recital will be preformed at Noon for family and friends.

Learning Magic is excellent for dexterity, self confidence, stage presence and self motivation. Heavy focus on performance and presentation!

Ages 7 & up...boys and girls! Fee includes all supplies needed, a magical canvas tote bag and Recital Show for family & friends. Call for details! (303) 660-6799.

This is how to sign up for camp this year. $175 check payable to Dream Masterz and mailed to 3721 Starflower Road Castle Rock, CO 80109

We will have liability forms on first day of camp. We will not cash check until we have a minimum of 10 participants.

7th Anniversary For Theatre of Dreams with WORLD CLASS Magician

Castle Rock, CO - When the Theatre of Dreams opened in 2003, the Rocky Mountain News had them on the cover of the Spotlight section with a caption" QUITE A TRICK" - meaning that it may be impossible to keep a small theatre operating in Castle Rock...and that was before the economic downturn! "We are still here", says Joe Givan, co-owner of this magical theatre!

Professional sleight-of-hand expert performs on April 9 & 10th ONLY at the Theatre of Dreams in Castle Rock at 7:30 pm each night. The 90+ minute THIEF, a Criminal Act will feature Arthur Trace Los Angeles as the headliner. The opening act includes a three time world champion magician, Joe Givan and his partner professional female magician, Carol Massie known as "Dream Masterz". The variety is what makes this unique show; magic, mind-reading, card-sharking, pick pocketing, mental manipulation, outrageous close-up magic, comedy and dynamic grand illusion.

TRACE, a show like you've never seen has been touring the country with rave revues! Arthur Trace has taken magical entertainment in a new direction of performance art by combining magic and theatre in an innovative and artful way. Highly acclaimed by his peers as one of the most UNIQUE acts in the world of magic today! His awards include:
2006 FISM award winner at the World Championship of Magic ( Olympics of Magic) in Stockholm, Sweden
2007 "Best Cabaret Magician" at the World Magic Awards on Fox TV
2008 The 8th magician in the HISTORY to be awarded The International Brotherhood of Magicians "GOLD MEDAL INTERNATIONAL Award of Excellence."
2009 Arthur was a featured performer on T.V. series Masters of Illusion

This small Colorado Theatre of Dreams opened its doors in April of 2003 and is celebrating its 7th year of operation- one of 4 venues of it's kind in the country. They feature famous magicians and world class performers from around the world at this intimate venue which plays to mostly sold out audiences.

This particular show is appropriate for ages 16 and up, or parental discretion is advised who will find great enjoyment and merriment in these captivating public performances. Business Attire is encouraged for this classy performance.

Carol feels that "Interactive Live Theatre" stimulates people to develop tools of communication and creativity unlike any other form of entertainment. "From lively costumes to amazing magic with lots of laughter, the audience gets to experience up-close impossibilities not often seen".

See Calendar for performance information.

Aurora Fox Theatre Company Announces 2010-2011 Season

Aurora, Co - The Aurora Fox is pleased to announce their 26th season which includes 4 regional premieres, two of which are musicals.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (Regional Premiere)
by Ray Bradbury
October 1 - October 31, 2010
This fantasy thriller analyzes the conflicting natures of good and evil. Two 13-year-old boys, Jim Nightshade and William Halloway, have a harrowing experience with a nightmarish traveling carnival that comes to their Midwestern town just before Halloween. The carnival's leader is the mysterious "Mr. Dark" who bears a tattoo for each person who, lured by the offer to live out his secret fantasies, has become bound in service to the carnival. Mr. Dark's malevolent presence is countered by that of Will's father, Charles Halloway, who harbors his own secret desire to regain his youth.

Red Ranger Came Calling - A Guaranteed True Christmas Story (Regional Premiere) by Berkeley Breathed
November 26 - December 19, 2010
Retelling the autobiographical story that his late father related every Christmas Eve, Berkeley Breathed introduces a cynical young man (self-named The Red Ranger of Mars) who meets his match in a retired Santa. On Christmas morning, hoping against hope for his heart's desire, a Buck Tweed bicycle, Red finds instead a treasure unlooked for, within himself. While Breathed, author/artist of the cartoon strip "Bloom County," often seems to look over the heads of children to wink at the adults in the audience, there's plenty to fascinate children of all ages.

The Wedding Singer - The Musical Comedy (Regional Premiere)
music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin,
and book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy
February 11 - March 6, 2011
Based on the hit movie, The Wedding Singer celebrates the 80;s in earnest. It’s 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. He's the life of the party - until his own fiancee leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. But Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of the decade, the girl of his dreams will be nothing more than a dream.

K2
by Patrick Meyers
March 11 - April 3, 2011
Two long term friends/climbing partners are trapped on a tiny shelf of ice 27,000 feet up on K2, the 2nd highest mountain in the world. One man has a severely injured leg and the other has lost a vitally important length of climbing rope. They face the impossible task of getting off the deadly mountain. While their backgrounds and lifestyles are vastly different, theirs is a friendship and partnership that goes beyond words. Through their ordeal, we realize that when people set aside their differences, they are capable of great feats under the most severe conditions. In this instance, however, only one will survive.

While We Were Bowling (Regional Premiere)
by Carter Lewis
April 8 - May 8, 2011
Centering on the Irish Catholic McGlaughlin family, this is a coming-of-age comedy told through the eyes and experience of 17-year-old Lydia. However, While We Were Bowling is not simply about one family. It's about more than Buffalo and bowling, too. It's about the '50s and '60s, how one led up to the other and about how very different the two decades were.

Season Subscribers also receive FREE admission to Phamaly's winter production of The Diviners (Dates: TBD). Season packages are on sale now for renewing subscribers. New subscriptions can be ordered starting April 21st. Call the Aurora Fox Box Office at 303-739-1970.

TCL Presents Lloyd's Prayer

The Theater Company of Lafayette (TCL) presents Lloyd's Prayer, Kevin Kling's hilarious comic parable about Bob, the raccoon boy, and what happens to him when he is captured and taught how to be human. This brilliant comedy was the hit of the Actors Theatre of Louisville 1988 Humana Festival. Kling is also a renowned story teller whose commentaries are heard frequently on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

Says director Brian Miller, "Lloyd's Prayer makes fun of a lot of things that deserve to be made fun of. The play's central theme is being saved. All the characters are being saved from one thing or another. But it's different for each of them, and what each character is being saved from changes repeatedly throughout the play." Miller particularly likes the way script specifies that two actors play 7 different roles. "It makes a statement about the connection between each actor's characters, reducing humanity to a small number of stereotypes."

The cast of Lloyd's Prayer includes long-time TCL favorites Ashley VanScoyoc and Jacqueline Garcia; Kyle LaBoria, returning after his TCL debut as the Monkey Man in last year's Lincoln/Darwin festival; and TCL first-timer Robert Byrnes.

See Calendar for Performance information

Colorado Shakespeare Festival Hosts Kickoff for American History Play Project

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, in collaboration with Shakespeare & Company of Lenox, Massachusetts will co-commission and co-produce a cycle of plays about the history of our nation. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which is engaged in a similar project, will also participate. This will be a national initiative and merit national attention.

The kickoff for this huge project will occur April 9 through 10 at a conference hosted by CSF in tandem with the University of Colorado-Boulder's Conference on World Affairs and funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. The first event, free and open to the public, is a CWA panel entitled Reinventing the Great American Story scheduled from 9:00-10:20 in Old Main Chapel on the University of Colorado-Boulder campus. The panel, moderated by Philip Sneed, CSF's producing artistic director, will include Ramin Bahrani, Jim Hightower, Tina Packer and Laura Simms.

Following this initial event CSF will host a two and a half day discussion at the Dairy Center for the Arts. This discussion, key to defining the scope of the American History Play project and setting the stage for the creative process, will be attended by playwrights, historians and artistic leaders. Playwrights Constance Congdon, Emily DeVoto, and Gary Wright, along with historians Thomas Andrews, Mark Fiege, Anne Hyde, Phoebe S. Kropp, Jared Orsi, William Philpott, Greg Smoak, and Paul Sutter will participate. The artistic leaders are Alison Carey, director of U.S. Histories, Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Tina Packer, Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, Shakespeare & Company; and Philip Sneed, Producing Artistic Director, Colorado Shakespeare Festival. This portion of the conference is not open to the public, but there will be future opportunities for the public to participate in the conversation.

A central question for discussion is "What does it mean to be an American?" This provocative question will be answered through new large-scale works to be produced by a consortium of theatres, working in collaboration. The plays will be developed and produced in multiple theatres, and seen by communities large and small in many regions across the country.

Shakespeare's history plays are an inspiration and offer a parallel: In ten plays, covering 350 years of English history, he told the story of his homeland, using historical subject matter to speak to his countrymen about their own times and their national identity. While many American Shakespeare festivals do produce original works today, few have made a commitment to develop new works on a large scale that is comparable to Shakespeare's. By commissioning and developing a cycle of plays about American history, this project seeks to explore what it means to be an American today-to explore on many levels the times in which we live. The project will ask the big questions about the American experience: What were the circumstances that allowed this country to come into being? Have we ever lived up to the promise of our founders? What are the forces which drive America? What can we learn about our future by exploring our past?

Girls Only Denver Engagement Ends June 27, 2010

Denver, CO - Denver Center Attractions (DCA) announced today that the Denver engagement of the hit comedy GIRLS ONLY - The Secret Comedy of Women will end its remarkable run on June 27, 2010. When the show closes on June 27 after 570 performances, nearly 96,000 women will have seen the comedy in Denver, and the show will have grossed well over $2 million. GIRLS ONLY is currently enjoying a sell-out limited engagement at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, and will open in Charlotte, NC May 7 for a three-month run.

“We could not be more pleased with the tremendous response we've seen for GIRLS ONLY in Denver,” said DCA President Randy Weeks. "This show is a true audience favorite here, and we look forward to seeing more productions of GIRLS ONLY in the future."

GIRLS ONLY, written by Barbara Gehring and Linda Klein, is an original comedy that celebrates the honor, truth, humor and silliness of being female. A combination of sketch comedy, improvisation and musical numbers, with a little audience participation thrown in, the show reminds audiences of the very funny and very charming similarities all women share. With a two-woman cast and audiences full of raucous, laughing ladies, the show is a unique examination of all things girly. The Denver cast includes Gehring and Klein, along with Diana Dresser, Amie Mackenzie and Allison Watrous.

GIRLS ONLY, now playing at Denver's Garner Galleria Theatre must end June 27. Tickets start at just $29. To charge by phone, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Groups of 10 or more, please call 303.446.4829. Tickets may also be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby, or at the Guest Services Desk at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. TicketsWest outlets are located in all King Soopers stores. Buy and print online at denvercenter.org

GIRLS ONLY is produced by Denver Center Attractions and is generously sponsored by MillerCoors. Media sponsorship for DCA is provided by The Denver Post, CBS4 and Denver Magazine. DCA's season is generously supported by United Airlines, and DCA is also supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Please visit our website at denvercenter.org

Denver Center Attractions, the Broadway show division of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, presents touring productions at The Buell Theatre and The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. A top market for touring shows, DCA presented the 2007 pre-Broadway engagement of Disney's The Little Mermaid and launched the national tours of Sunset Boulevard, Barrymore, the revivals of Hello, Dolly! and A Chorus Line, and Disney's The Lion King. DCA also produces cabaret shows at The Garner Galleria Theatre, including Forever Plaid, Forbidden Broadway, Always...Patsy Cline, My Way, Denver's longest-running musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, The Second City's Red Scare and How I Lost My Denverginity, The Taffetas, and Girls Only.

For more information on GIRLS ONLY, please visit GirlsOnlyComedy.com

Call For Artists For 64thAnnual Fine Art Exhibition

Central City, Colo - The Gilpin County Arts Association announces a call for entries for its 64th Annual Fine Art Exhibition. The exhibit will run from June 5 thru August 14 in the CentralCity Gallery located at 117 Eureka Street, Central City, CO. The exhibition is open to all artists living in the Rocky Mountain West and is inclusive of all mediums of work. Three jurors have been elected to adjudicate the selected entries and award cash prizes. The deadline for submissions is April 15. Visit gilpinarts.org to download a full prospectus and for information or call 303-455-4142.

CALL FOR ENTRIES - FACT SHEET
Eligibility:
Open to all artists living in the Rocky Mountain states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming.
Submission Materials:
For a complete prospectus and entry form:
Download via the website at gilpinarts.org
To request that a prospectus be mailed to you, contact GCAA Board President, Sandy Early at earlyclay@comcast.net or call 303-455-4142.

Accepted forms of entry are: Up to three pieces in two-dimensional fine art and five pieces in three-dimensional fine art. Digital images must be submitted in jpeg format 300 dpi at 4" x 6" = 1200 x 1800 pixels on CD. Digital entries only will be accepted this year. Slides can be converted to CD at Reed Photo Imaging with a special cost of $10 for five images. Call 303-573-8084 and ask for the Gilpin County Arts Association rate. Mail entries to: GCAA, c/o 5081 Decatur St., Denver, CO 80221 . Entry fee is $35.

Important Dates:
Entry deadline - Postmark April 15
Opening reception- June 5, 5 to 8 p.m. at the Central City Gallery - Open to the Public
Public show dates-June 5 - August 14
Artist Compensation:
A minimum of $2,000 in cash awards will be given at the discretion of the jurors.
Jurors:
Andy Cook, Colorado Springs Fine Art Photographer, Photography
Steve Sumner , Center for the Arts Evergreen, Two Dimensional Fine Art
t Bebe Alexander , Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities, Three Dimensional Fine Art

World Premier For The Mommie Rants Appears In Boulder

What happens at a baby shower stays at a baby shower. It's Samantha's baby shower and everyone is coming. Well ... almost everyone.

The Mommy Rants takes you to a baby shower where conversation turns to the crazy journey of motherhood, pregnancy, new moms, women with no children and those who don't want children, and women who have tried to have children but can't. Fathers are not left out, although there is a stay at home dad dealing with problems of his own. This humorous and touching one act play explores all the insane things that happen when you become a mother with the experiences no one dares talk about.

The Mommy Rants, an unique theater experience for mommies and the people who love them. Upon entering the lobby, guests will get to experience the following

(**please arrive up to one hour prior to show time):
- Free massages
- Artwork by Moms
- Vendors with mom-centric products
- Chance to win a gift basket from the vendors
- Free cakes, tea, coffee and punch
- Then over to the theatre to enjoy the show including audience participation in baby shower games
Christie Winn received her BA in Theater Arts from the University of Northern Colorado and then moved to Chicago where she received her Masters in Education and did professional children's theater for ten years. She has written children's plays for The Northbrook Theater receiving rave reviews for her one act, Coffee Talk. Back in Denver Christie began teaching elementary school and, of course, she became a mother- which inspired her to write The Mommy Rants. Thus, as a Mommy and a Ranter she felt extremely qualified to write this play.

Connie Ferger holds an MFA in Prose from Naropa University. She has had several short screenplays produced and her upcoming short Carma will be released summer 2010 by Slacktronix Productions. Connie has been published in the Ventura County Reporter, Elephant Magazine, and other periodicals. She served as the editor-in-chief for Bombay Gin, Naropa's famed literary magazine. She currently runs her own freelance marketing business, but her most important job is being a mama

Child Care

Children under 12 months are invited to be in the audience for the show.

Daycare is available on Friday for the 11a.m. & 3 p.m. shows and Saturday for the 3 p.m. show. Price is $15/hr. per child, with a special sibling rate of $18/hr. through 911 Nanny Care. 911 Nanny Care, 909 Brooklawn Dr. Boulder, CO. (just 5 minutes from the theatre.) Reserve daycare by calling 720-940-0142 or on line at rantingmamas.com

See Calendar for complete performance information.

Gravity Defied Theatre Presents 5th Theatrical Fundraiser, Totally Flashin' Back

In celebration of the regional premier of Jonathan Van Dyke's 80s Show Choir Musical, Totally Electric, Gravity Defied presents a sneak peek of its upcoming production. Act one of the fundraiser will feature song and scene selections from Totally Electric. Act two will be a mix of 80's hits and musicals, some from the upcoming 2010 season (and possibly a glimpse of the 2011 season).

The fundraiser features the talents of the incredibly eclectic cast, ranging in age from 12 to 42, and showcasing talent from Denver School of the Arts, Cherry Creek High, and friends and neighbors from your community! The theatrical fundraiser defies gravity presents music, acting and dance for a full-fledged theatrical experience!

Gravity Defied Theatre is a project of Rocky Mountain Arts Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization. Proceeds from this event will help support our upcoming production of Totally Electric, playing this April and May at Aurora Fox Arts Center!

This performance will be upstairs at the whimsical Mercury Cafe, which provides the finest in organic dining and fantastic beverages. So get there early and enjoy lunch and drinks before the performance! (Note: The Mercury Cafe does not accept credit cards for dining or drinks. Credit cards accepted for the Fundraiser but we DO for day of event ticket purchases!)

See Calendar for Fundraiser Information.

Next Stage Press Launches Accessibility to New Plays:A Note from Gene Kato:

Hopefully (keep everything crossed) - in the next week or so Next Stage Press will be able to post the first half of each play on the website so that people can read them for free before buying the whole text. It's our first time working with Adobe Acrobat 9 - but if all goes well - they will be available to read - but not print or copy/paste.

Of course, we will save the 2nd half of each play for those who purchase the acting editions.

What I would love would be for us to start a whole network and get the word out to every Grade School, College Theatre Department, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Artistic Director, Play Selection Committee Chair, Director, Playwright, and Actor that we know.

New plays are already on the slate for 2010 publication - let's get them onto stages across the U.S.!!!

The web address is: facebook.com/l/9e790; NextStagePress.net

Gene

GIRLS ONLY HEADS SOUTH!

DENVER - Having put female audiences in Denver, Des Moines and Winnipeg in stitches over the past two years, the irrepressible comedy GIRLS ONLY will next debut in Charlotte, NC, playing the Stage Door Theater at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center May 7 through August 1, 2010. The Denver production of the show continues to play its regular schedule at Denver's Garner Galleria Theatre.

GIRLS ONLY, an original comedy written by Barbara Gehring and Linda Klein, is a delightfully candid look at just what it means to be female. From diaries and first crushes to "the change" and the never-ending battle with pantyhose, GIRLS ONLY covers it all in a side-splitting take on the things all women go through together. Born out of the earnest and sweetly absurd writings the two authors discovered in their girlhood diaries, GIRLS ONLY is a mix of sketch comedy, improvisation, audience participation, and lively songs and videos.

The Charlotte cast of GIRLS ONLY will feature Bethel Caram, Diana Dresser and Christine Rowan. Bethel Caram also starred in the Des Moines engagement of GIRLS ONLY and writes and performs sketch comedy in NYC. Her comedy credits include Legs Wide Shut at the Bank Street Theatre, NYC; Insomnia at the West Bank Theatre, NYC and Faking it, again at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, which then moved to the HBO Workspace in LA. Theatre credits include Browntown (NYC Fringe Festival/ Arab American Festival) and both national and European tours of A Chorus Line (playing Val and Kristine.)

Diana Dresser is currently in the Denver cast of the GIRLS ONLY. She has been a company member at Creede Repertory Theatre for thirteen seasons and has performed in, directed or choreographed over 25 productions there, including Kimberly Akimbo, The Memory of Water, Forever Plaid, Crazy for You, and the late night improv show Boomtown. She has also appeared with Curious Theatre Company, Arvada Center, Theatre Aspen, Theatre de la Jeune Lune and Modern Muse Theatre Company.

Christine Rowan is a regular on the Denver Center Theatre Company stage, most recently appearing in Quilters, A Christmas Carol and White Christmas. Other credits include Reluctant Pilgrim--the Lesser Known Songs of Stephen Schwartz (New York Musical Theater Festival), FLOPZ (Joe's Pub), Embrace! (Westside Theatre), Sacramento Music Circus, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Barter Theatre, Sierra Rep, Seaside Music Theatre and the Ryman Auditorium.

GIRLS ONLY plays the Stage Door Theater at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center May 7-August 1, 2010. Tickets start at $34.50. To purchase, call 704.372.1000 or buy online at BlumenthalCenter.org

GIRLS ONLY is now playing in Denver at the Garner Galleria Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. To charge by phone, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Groups of 15 or more, call 303.446.4829. Tickets may also be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby, or at TicketsWest outlets, located in all King Soopers stores. Buy and print online at DenverCenter.org

Denver Center Attractions, the Broadway show division of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, presents touring productions at The Buell Theatre and The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. A top market for touring shows, DCA presented the 2007 pre-Broadway engagement of Disney'’s The Little Mermaid and launched the national tours of Sunset Boulevard, Barrymore, the revivals of Hello, Dolly! and A Chorus Line, and Disney’s The Lion King. DCA also produces cabaret shows at The Garner Galleria Theatre, including Denver’s two longest-running musicals, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, which ran for over four years. GIRLS ONLY is generously sponsored in Denver by MillerCoors. Denver Center Attractions is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Please visit our website at DenverCenter.org

Join Us in Taking Part: One Small Vote for the Arts Equals One Big Change

All the arts for all the people: that’s our vision. Help Americans for the Arts keep working to ensure that the arts thrive in every community and in every school across our country. Vote today for Americans for the Arts in the Members Project:TakePart.com/MembersProject.

Americans for the Arts is one of only 10 arts nonprofits lucky enough to be included in the Members Project, a new online collaboration from American Express and its social media partner, TakePart

We have a chance to receive $200,000 from the project sponsors to further our work in advancing the arts and arts education. We want to put every dollar to good use in serving communities around the country, but we need your help to do it-we need your vote!

Voting is easy and takes less than five minutes. You don't have to be an American Express cardholder-just register once and vote for Americans for the Arts. If you have a Facebook account, it's even easier to register through Facebook Connect.

You can vote online once a week, now through May 24.

Help us take advantage of this amazing opportunity to more deeply support the work of passionate people and dedicated organizations around the country. Cast your vote today!

Gravity Defied Theatre Takes You Back To The '80s In Totally Electric

Denver CO (March 25) - Gravity Defied Theatre will present Jonathan Van Dyke's Totally Electric at the Aurora Fox Arts Center's Studio Theatre on April 26, 29, 30 and May 1, 3, 6 at 7:30 p.m. and April 25, May 1, 2, and 9 at 4:00 p.m. This will be Gravity Defied Theatre’s Annual Fundraiser Production.

Tickets are $18 adult, $15 for seniors (over 55) and students (13 to 21). Tickets for Totally Electric and all RMAA events may be purchased at Wild Flowers at 12th Avenue and Madison in Denver, at Poor Richard's Bookstore at 320 N. Tejon Street in Colorado Springs, and at the Rocky Mountain Arts Association Web site RMarts.org. Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the performance at Aurora Fox Arts Center.

Totally Electric is the rockin' good time that will have you reminiscing about your own high school days - be they two or twenty years ago - before the night is over. Come relive the days of Day-Glo, Jordache, and jelly shoes with the music that audiences can't stop talking about!

Totally Electric begins at the high school reunion for the West Lake High School Class of 1989. When the award-winning West Lake show choir "The Syncopated Sensations" are unable to perform, the musical flashes back to the 1980s and the Sensations' last weeks of high school. Through their determination, talent, and friendship - and with the help of some new friends - the Sensations will leave their mark on West Lake forever.

The cast of Totally Electric include six students at Denver School of the Arts and one from Cherry Creek High. Denver School of the Arts students Wyatt Manobla and Madison Kitchen were both last seen in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, as was cast member Erin Hassell. Sarah Harmon, also a DSA student, was in GDT's inaugural production, bare: the musical.

Gravity Defied Theatre Director Keith Rabin helped produce the original production of Totally Electric at New York City's Duplex and originated the role of Jessie Newton-John. Choreographer Danny Harrigan appeared as the title role in January's GDT production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Music director Nick Roseth is a recent graduate of Susquehanna University in music education and teaches band and orchestra at Erie Middle School in Erie, Colorado. He is a member of Colorado Music Educators Association and MENC, the national association for music education.

Stories On Stage Features Nothing Ventured

DENVER, Co. - Stories on Stage presents Nothing Ventured as part of their always on Sunday series, featuring Becky Ann Baker, Sam Gregory and Shishir Kurup. Show times are 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18 in the Stage Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Single tickets are $25; tickets for groups of 10 or more are $20 per person and LoDough (scholarship) tickets are also available. Tickets are available by calling 303-494-0523 or online at StoriesOnStage.org.

A SPOILED MAN by Daniyal Mueenuddin, read by Shishir Kurup When just a little happiness is too much to ask for.

Daniyal Mueenuddin was brought up in Lahore, Pakistan and Elroy, Wisconsin. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Yale Law School, his stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Zoetrope, The Best American Short Stories 2008, selected by Salman Rushdie, and the forthcoming PEN/O.Henry Prize Stories 2010. For a number of years he practiced law in New York. He now lives on a farm in Pakistan's southern Punjab.

Shishir Kurup is an actor-writer-director-composer born in Bombay, India, and raised in Mombasa, Kenya, and the United States. Mr. Kurup's adaptation of Merchant on Venice, which deals with Hindu/Muslim tensions, won the California Arts Council, Roger L. Stevens/Kennedy Center and TCG extended collaborations awards. He has been seen on TV in the series Surface, Heroes; and has made appearances in Numbers, Lost, Sleeper Cell, Monk, Six Feet Under, M.D.'s, The West Wing, among others. Mr. Kurup was one of only six people nationwide to receive the TIME (Time for Inspiration, Motivation and Exploration) Grant from the Audrey Skirball Foundation in recognition of his body of work.

SUMMARY JUDGEMENT by Jay McInerney read by Becky Ann Baker You can't blame a girl for trying.

Jay McInerney is the author of BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY (which he adapted for the screen), RANSOM, STORY OF MY LIFE, BRIGHTNESS FALLS, THE LAST OF THE SAVAGES, and MODEL BEHAVIOR. He is also the author of BACCHUS & ME: Adventures in the Wine Cellar, a collection of musings on wine, and writes a wine column for House & Garden magazine. He lives in New York City.

Becky Ann Baker. An accomplished stage performer, Baker made her Broadway debut in the 1981 production of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", and received a Drama-Logue Award in 1994 for her work in "Night and Her Stars". Other Broadway appearances include All My Sons, Assassins, Titanic and A Streetcar Named Desire. Her films include Spider-Man 3, Death of a President, War of the Worlds, A Simple Plan and In & Out. Ms. Baker's television series include Freaks and Geeks and Kings with appearances in Law & Order, Life As We Know It, Oz, Frasier and Sex and the City. Ms. Baker is a member of the Actor's Studio and a Usual Suspect at the New York Theatre Workshop.

ANTIHEROES by George Saunders, read by Sam Gregory In a democracy everyone should have a right to superpowers.

George Saunders Writer and educator George Saunders is known for his use of satire in his works of fiction to expose consumerism and the corporate culture, as well as his examination of questions of morality. His style of writing, a mixture of humor and devastating tragedy, has been compared to the writing of the great Kurt Vonnegut, to whom Saunders said he's indebted. Although he didn't start his career writing books, he has gained prominence for his award-winning, critically-acclaimed works for more than ten years.

Sam Gregory is a Denver Center Theatre Company member. He has performed on stage at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and regionally with the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Play House, San Jose Repertory Theatre and the California Shakespeare Festival. Mr. Gregory has appeared in daytime dramas One Life to Live and As the World Turns.

"A Spoiled Man" and "Antiheroes" originally published in The New Yorker.

Stories On Stage, an award winning performing arts organization features some of America's best actors from stage and screen today performing the words of many of the finest contemporary writers.

Marilyn Megenity Celebrates 35 Years with Mercury Cafe

On March 15, 2010, I celebrated 35 years in business.

After 35 years, my purpose is still the exploration of food and the community and culture and politics that surround food.

I am grateful to the farmers, vintners and ranchers of Colorado that I buy my organic food from and to my staff of young, inspirational workers. I am equally grateful to the poets, actors, dancers and musicians who enliven the Mercury (You know, we dance every night!)

My goals for the future are to continue to build a cross-cultural, multi-generational community. To add to the 36 solar panels and two windmills we have and to plant more trees. I want to continue to teach the value of community, of local organic food, a healthy social life and to help point the way to joyful sustainability in my city.

Thank you to the good people in the media who always let the public know about the goings on at the Mercury Cafe.

Thank you, magic Denver, for 35 great years!

With continued appreciation,
Marilyn Megenity
Mercury Café

PHAMALY Announces Cast for Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Denver - "Once upon a time" there lived a selfish young Prince, who had everything his heart desired. One stormy night, an old Woman begs for shelter in the Prince's castle offering in return, a single red rose. Unwilling to help her, he turns the old woman away. As punishment, she transforms him into a hideous Beast and places a powerful spell on the castle and all who live there. Years later, a kindly old villager, loses his way in the woods. Terrified of the ominous forest, Maurice seeks shelter at the old castle, but the Beast takes him captive instead. Maurice's daughter, Belle, desperate to save her father gives up her freedom to set him free. With the help of the enchanted castle's residents, Belle sets out to tame the unfortunate Beast not knowing she will break the spell and discover her handsome prince.

Director Steve Wilson has cast Jenna Bainbridge in the role of Belle and Leonard E. Barrett Jr. in the role of Beast.

Many veteran company members and new actors join the cast including Stephen Hahn (Gaston), Regan Linton (LeFou), Kathleen Traylor (Mrs. Potts) and son Daniel Traylor (Lumiere), Mark Dissette (Cogsworth), David E. Wright (Maurice), Lyndsay Palmer (Babette), Jodi Hogle (Wardrobe), Molly Nash (Chip), Lucy Roucis (Monsieur D'Arque) with the Silly Girls portrayed by Linda Wirth, Amber Marsh and Briana Berthiaume. Rounding out the ensemble is Don Mauck, Gregg Vigil, Rhonda Knight, Michael Barlow, Sean McGee, Anna Logan, Katrina Weber, Kathi Wood, Alex Marin, Kevin Pettit, Juliana Trunfio, Devin Vogal Woodall, Don Gabenski, Troy Willis, Laurice Quinn, Donna Gunnison, Jaylen Anders, Kevin Ahl, Julius Gordon and Twanna LaTrice Hill.

Tickets go on sale June 1 for the Physically Handicapped Actors & Musical Artists League's (PHAMALY) production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Previews begin on July 15 & 16, opening at the Space Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex July 17 through August 15, 2010. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2:00 p.m., Sundays and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 26. Tickets are $30 adult, $28 senior/student/military, $24 (Industry Night) Monday, July 26 and $15 for July 15 and 16 previews. Tickets can be purchased by calling Denver Center Ticketing at 303-893-4100; online at phamaly.org; at Tickets West outlets in all regional King Soopers stores; or at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. $22 tickets groups of ten or more - call 303-931-7241.

An Audio Described and ASL Signed performance is scheduled for Sunday, August 1 at 2:00 p.m. PHAMALY will offer a backstage sensory tour at 11:00a.m. The sensory tour brings individuals on stage for a tactile experience, touching elements of the set, costumes, and prop pieces. The tour is free but advance reservations are required by calling the PHAMALY office at 303-575-0005.

Now celebrating its 21st season, PHAMALY is an award winning Colorado based Theatre Company comprised entirely of performers with a wide variety of physical challenges. PHAMALY's mission is to enable persons with disabilities to showcase their talents and abilities through live performance and to make the performing arts more accessible to everyone.

Evolution Theatre Company Goes Tick, Tick...Boom

Tick, Tick... Boom! by Jonathan Larson, Pulitzer-prize winning creator of Rent, is a musical look at the courage it takes to follow your dreams. It is Larson's autobiographical tale of a young composer on the brink of turning 30 and falling into oblivion. His girlfriend wants to get married and move out of the city (Tick,), his best friend is making big bucks on Madison Avenue (Tick...), yet Jon is still waiting tables and trying to write the great American musical (Boom!). Containing fourteen songs, ten characters, three actors, and a live rock band, Tick, Tick... Boom! takes you on the playwright/composer's journey that led to the Broadway blockbuster, Rent. Set in 1990, this traditional book musical is filled with instantly appealing melodies, and a unique blend of pop and musical theatre styles with which Rentfans already are familiar. Everyone, regardless of age, will love this youthful, energetic, thoughtful piece, and surely will embrace the universal ideal of holding onto your dreams through life';s most difficult challenges. Rated PG for some mature themes.

The Bug Invaded by Captain Swift & The Invasion From Dimension X!

Captain Swift and the Invasion From Dimension X is a science fiction melodrama serialized in 12 cliffhanger chapters, created & directed by Seth Iniguez, and brought to the stage by the Planet X Players. Between these serials will be additional short performances. Load up your entire species in a handy warp-capable starship and come be entertained!

Xerxes Klatar, evil ambassador from Dimension X, plots to assassinate the President of the Galaxy with a robot duplicate of the First Lady. Meanwhile, Captain Swift and the officers of the Galactic Defense Corps rush to rescue the galaxy from an extra-dimensional invasion. To save the day, the heroes must survive a crash landing on a dangerous planet, escape from Klatar's dungeon, fight a hostile alien, overcome a malicious computer system, and survive countless more dangers that the evil agents of Dimension X put in their path.

Captain Swift creator/director Seth Iniguez's background in game design and science fiction writing segued to writing sketch comedy and performing for Planet X Players beginning in 2003. Since then, Iniguez has involved himself other significant projects including performing with the stage-blood-soaked neo-kabuki group OFM (Odam Fei Mud), playing supporting roles in independent films, and of course galactic domination.

Planet X Players formed in 2003 from a group of regulars from the Bug Theatre's Freak Train, an open stage show that has been a fixture of the Denver performing arts scene for nearly 10 years. Seth Iniguez, the group's founder & creative director, decided to apply his irreverent writing style to the stage, assembling talented individuals crazy enough to help Iniguez pull it off. The five-minute, once-a-month format seemed like the perfect opportunity to tell a continuing story, which was a first for the Freak Train. After the conclusion of the 12-episodic cycle, Planet X Players stayed active, both on the Freak Train stage and beyond, with a variety of comedy, musical, and dramatic skits, often featuring science fiction and fantasy themes. The villains of the play, Xerxes Klatar, played by Seth Iniguez, and his incompetent sidekick Tresdek, played by Linn, have also performed around town as a comedy duo, bringing an extra-dimensional perspective to the quirks of humankind.

Many of the performers from the first run of Captain Swift have returned for the full stage show, including Ryan Pierce as Captain Swift, and Denver's avant-pop maniac, Little Fyodor, as President of the Galaxy Archibald Proctor. A variety of supporting acts appear between episodes, including the neo-kabuki performance group OFM, the comic magic of Max Mago, the musical puppetry of Pat Angello, saxophone virtuoso Scott Osbourne, and of course, the satirical music of Little Fyodor.

One of the more recent additions to the cast, Meg Spohn Bertoni, went on her first date with Seth Iniguez to watch him perform at the Freak Train. Two years later, the Freak Train stage had yet another first, when Seth proposed to Meg in song. Now the couple is ready to take on the galaxy together, or at least the Denver theater scene.

See Calendar for performance information.

Festival Playhouse Knows What The Butler Saw

What the Bellhop Saw opens April 9 playing Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. & Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and $13 on Sunday through April 25. Tickets are available by calling 303-422-4090 or online at FestivalPlayhouse.com. The Festival Playhouse is located at 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd in Arvada.

When a mild-mannered young man checks into an expensive suite in New York City's finest hotel, he only intends to begin an illicit affair. Little does he know that his indiscretion will precipitate a fantastic nightmare involving not only his abrasive wife, but a renowned author, a middle-eastern terrorist, a scheming bellboy, an incompetent CIA agent, a sex-starved maid, a ditzy secretary, and a little girl in pig-tails. Naturally, with this crazy cast of characters, things quickly spin out of control and into a delightfully absurd evening of pure comedic gold!

Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore are two of the most often-produced playwrights in the world. ("The masters of modern farce." New York Times) They are also accomplished stage actors, producers, and writers for film and television where they've received Emmy nominations, People's Choice Awards, and won International Film Festival awards.

Charles Ault, Sr. started The Player Guild in 1936 as a means to put food on the table in the middle of the depression. A love for the theatre and a creative mind brought a group of talented community actors and actresses together to provide the public with live entertainment. This concept was passed on to his son Charley Ault, Jr. who now runs The Players Guild, beginning its 74th year of productions.

See Calendar for performance information.

Nonesuch Theater Relocates la-de-da

la-de-da... performing arts for young people is thrilled to announce it has relocated its workshops to Nonesuch Theater. Now, young actors will be able to pursue professional training in musical theater, acting and improvisation in the renowned jewel box theater space of historic downtown Fort Collins.

la-de-da... has been training young actors for over 12 years, inspiring them to think of the performing arts as a craft and a way of living creatively and having way too much fun.

Nonesuch continues with its schedule of evening entertainment currently running the original musical comedy hit, NATIVE.

Find out more about la-de-da... at ladedacolorado.com and on Facebook

Mingle And Frolic Celebrating The Dairy Center For The Arts

Saturday, April 24, 2010 | 7:30 pm
At The Dairy Center for the Arts
2590 Walnut Street, Boulder 80302
Tickets: $50 per person
Performing:
Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, Comedian DrKevinFitzgerald.com
Peter Davison, Boulder Ballet BoulderBallet.org
The Hazel Miller Band, HazelMiller.com
Celebrate the extraordinary work happening at The Dairy Center for the Arts with an evening of entertainment, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and refreshments.
Kevin Fitzgerald, known for his appearances on Animal Planet, The NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, and his weekly segment on CW2's morning news show, Animal House will keep us laughing with his stand-up comedy routine. Boulder Ballet's Peter Davison, formerly of AirJazz, will delight us with vaudeville, while Boulder favorite The Hazel Miller Band will keep guests dancing throughout the evening.
Buy Tickets Online or at The Dairy Community Box Office, (303) 444-7328.

Denver Center Theatre Company Announces 2010-2011 Season

DENVER - In announcing the Denver Center Theatre Company's 2010/11 Season, Artistic Director Kent Thompson expands the company's reputation with American playwrights and theatre professionals as a center for new work by selecting three new plays read at the 2010 Colorado New Play Summit for full production - two of them Denver Center world premieres. In addition he has selected a remarkably current list of critically-acclaimed works, including the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner, to complement a horror classic, an exciting French Canadian import and a favorite Shakespeare comedy.

2010/11 Season includes:

Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps
Adapted by Patrick Barlow
From the novel by John Buchan
From the movie of Alfred Hitchcock
Original concept by Nobby Dimon and Simon Corble
Sept 10-Nov 14, 2010 | Ricketson Theatre

Adaptor Patrick Barlow has dusted off Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 spy thriller, The 39 Steps, and reinvented it for the 21st Century. With four malleable actors playing more than 150 roles, the film noir gem has been retooled into a hilarious comedy that manages to be faithful to the movie. Whether or not they have seen the film, virtuoso performances and dazzling, inventive stagecraft promise to have audiences rolling in the aisles.

Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits
By Caridad Svich
Based on the novel by Isabel Allende
Sept 17-Oct 23, 2010 | Space Theatre
Contains adult language and situations.
A haunting and lyrical adaptation of Isabel Allende's critically-acclaimed bestseller, The House of the Spirits, looks at four generations of political, social and familial upheaval through the powerful lens of memory. In this vibrant family saga set in Latin America, unforgettable characters tell a story filled with music, romance and violence.

Bram Stoker's Dracula
By Charles Morey
From the novel by Bram Stoker
Oct 1-30, 2010 | Stage Theatre
The towering horror classic comes to the Denver Center stage. Bram Stoker's terrifying psychodrama pits the demonic Count against two vulnerable young women, and the valiant men who risk everything to save their lives - and their souls.

Reckless
By Craig Lucas
Nov 12-Dec 18, 2010 | Space Theatre
It's a snowy Christmas Eve at the Fitsimmons house, when Rachel's husband Tom announces he's taken out a contract on her life. Rachel flees into a hilarious and surreal looking-glass adventure, confronting psychoanalysis, TV game shows, poisoned champagne, human organ trafficking and so much more. "I always wanted to do something reckless, you know? Run away in the middle of the night with some strange man who would ruin your reputation and make you really happy. I think we get these ideas from rock 'n' roll songs." Deck the halls.

A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Adapted for the stage by Richard Hellesen
Nov 26-Dec 24, 2010 | Stage Theatre
What better way to shine a light in the dark of winter than enjoying this holiday tradition, the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge confronting the ghosts of past, present and future and finally finding redemption. With original songs, enchanting sets and opulent costumes, this production of A Christmas Carol will help audiences discover anew the true meaning of Christmas.

World Premiere
Map of Heaven
By Michele Lowe
Jan 14-Feb 26, 2011 | Ricketson Theatre
Lena's painting career is on the rise - her beautiful maps of places real and imaginary are poised to take New York by storm. But when her husband makes a fateful decision, the couple's life is upended. A contemporary story, Map of Heaven explores the overwhelming consequences of a single lapse in judgment.

World Premiere
The Catch
By Ken Weitzman
Jan 21-Feb 26, 2011 | Space Theatre
America's national pastime meets America's financial meltdown. A failed dot-commer schemes to regain his lost fortune by catching a star slugger's record-breaking homerun ball - through willpower, planning and sheer determination. Playwright Ken Weitzman's baseball drama The Catch knocks the cover off the national obsession with sports, stardom, money - and positive thinking.
Young lovers, magical forests, love potions, mischievous fairies, and bumbling tradesmen with show-biz aspirations collide hilariously in Shakespeare's most popular comedy. "The course of true love never did run smooth," and so each pair of lovers must undergo a romantic trial by fire before they can blissfully be united. But there’s more fun to come: the delightfully inept play-within-the-play performed at the wedding reception is nothing short of comic genius.

A Midsummer Night's Dream
By William Shakespeare
Jan 28-Feb 26, 2011 | Stage Theatre
Young lovers, magical forests, love potions, mischievous fairies, and bumbling tradesmen with show-biz aspirations collide hilariously in Shakespeare’s most popular comedy. "The course of true love never did run smooth," and so each pair of lovers must undergo a romantic trial by fire before they can blissfully be united. But there's more fun to come: the delightfully inept play-within-the-play performed at the wedding reception is nothing short of comic genius.

Limited Engagement!
Traces
Created by The 7 Fingers
March 11-May 15, 2011 | Stage Theatre
The 7 Fingers (Les 7 doigts de la main) is an astonishingly talented French Canadian company that has pioneered a whole new brand of theatrical entertainment. On what may prove their last night on earth, seven street youths celebrate life with dazzling, gravity-defying displays of skill - balancing on each other's heads, tumbling through hoops and leaping spectacularly up giant poles. More than just a display of acrobatic brilliance, the audience is gradually drawn into the performers' real life stories and, by the dramatic climax of the show, on the edge of their seats, willing them to pull off the seemingly impossible.

Winner! 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Ruined
By Lynn Nottage
March 18-April 30, 2011 | Ricketson Theatre
Contains adult language and situations.
Mama Nadi is struggling to keep her business, a small bar and brothel, prospering in the midst of the civil war raging in the Congo. By catering to soldiers on both sides of the conflict, she manages to keep her girls safe and find time for a little romance herself. Lynn Nottage's 2009 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama explores with compassion, outrage and even humor what it means to survive in a terrible time of war.

Superior Donuts
By Tracy Letts
April 1-May 7, 2011 | Space Theatre
Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway playwright Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) tells the tough but tender story of a down-at-heels donut shop, its aging proprietor, his immigrant regulars, and a young black assistant eager for a new day. Superior Donuts affectionately explores our roots, the need to embrace change and the redemptive power of friendship.

square product theatre Presents Word Premier For One Woman Show

Boulder, Colo. - square product theatre presents the World Premiere of "One Woman Show" April 23-May 8, 2010 at the Wesley Chapel.

Luke List directs this ensemble created comedy conceived by Mary-Laurence Bevington. The cast includes Bobby Dart, Emily K. Harrison, Jessica J. Johnson. Video guests include: Elizabeth Baron, Joan Bruemmer, Michelle Ellsworth, Mark Hatfield, Kelsie Huff, Charlotte Brecht Munn, Beth Osnes, Petey the Clown, Karen Slack, Philip Sneed, Mare Trevathan, Gemma Wilcox & more!

Carol Anne has lived a life - well, a chunk of one, anyway. Carol Anne has been places and seen things. And Carol Anne has some things she needs to get off her chest. Carol Anne has had an epiphany: she's going to write and star in her own one woman show! OMG! In this Waiting For Guffman-esque comedy we witness the trials and tribulations that go into the creation of original performance. Along her journey, there will be inspiration; there will be nervous breakdowns; there will be sage wisdom and some of the worst advice ever given to someone creating art of any sort. Can Carol Anne sift through the neurotic morass and emerge with a piece of work that accomplishes what she hoped it could? Or will the journey become so convoluted that she is unable to "successfully" complete the project?

square product theatre’s Mission: The mission of square product theatre is to create and collaborate on original, honest and innovative works of theatre and performance with local artists. We strive to continue to create and produce new works, as well as to present innovative productions of existing dramatic texts. We dedicate ourselves fully to the beauty of simplicity and the importance of theatre and performance as a vehicle for communication, relation and change. For more information on square product theatre, visit SquareProductTheatre.org.

See Calendar for Performance information.

Buntport Theatre Hosts Harrington & Kauffman In Cabaret Terrarium

New York's Harrington & Kauffman (easily Buntport's favorite Fringe find back in 2000) return to Denver for the third time with their memorable but ever-so-indescribable characters Gustavo (the ex-mercenary Belgian cabaret singer) and his silent partner Nhar. If you were lucky, you first saw them at Buntport (or the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival) in Motel California, followed a couple of years later by Nharcolepsy, which left them at the North Pole ostensibly dying of hypothermia. In Cabaret Terrarium, a man is found in a block of ice by Norwegian archeologists ... and thus our latest adventure with the oddest vaudevillians begins.

It’s Jason Bourne meets Samuel Beckett meets Serge Gainsbourg, except Gustave and Nhar take themselves far more seriously than any of those guys, which is the key to Harrington & Kauffman's ultra-deadpan physical comedy.

This show should not be missed!

"Harrington & Kauffman reinvent, or just blow up, whatever category they're meant to occupy ... you'll find it either insanely brilliant, or brilliantly insane, and probably both." -Edmonton Journal
"Harrington & Kauffman raise the level of comedy to high art." -The Globe & Mail, Toronto
"These two are masters of deadpan humor, intertwining a font of Belgian grandmother jokes with a surprising amount of emotionality." -Seattle Times
"The actors have created two totally inexplicable characters who could probably stand on stage brushing their hair for 20 minutes and make you laugh." -Baltimore CityPaper

Town Hall Arts Center Becomes Altar Boyz Tour

ALTAR BOYZ tells the holy inspiring story of 5 small-town boys - Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham - trying to save the world one screaming fan at a time. Throughout the show, the boys learn about brotherhood; and in the end, when faced with a tough decision, they all realize how important they really are to each other.

The show is presented in real time as a concert, the last concert of their national "Raise the Praise" tour, by the five-member group, the ALTAR BOYZ, and their band. The members of the group address the audience directly and perform with choreographed dancing in the style of boy bands, and present several scenes concerning the group and its origins, as well as each member's strengths and demons, as part of the concert.

The cast features: Barrett Harper, Kent Randell, Benji Schirm, Chris Trimboli and Ryan Turner with musicians Mitch Samu (keyboard), Tag Worley (drums), Neil Haverstick and Scott Smith (guitar).

Central City Opera Announces Casting For 2010 Festival

Denver, Colo.- The slate of internationally renowned artists has been selected for Central City Opera's (CCO) 2010 Festival featuring three productions of works ranging from classic to contemporary. Running June 26 to Aug. 8, the Festival includes a revival of CCO;s best selling show to date, the popular 2005 production of Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, the tragic tale of one woman betrayed by love and her ultimate sacrifice; Orpheus in the Underworld, the satirical operetta based on the story of Orpheus from Greek mythology featuring the famous "Can-can" dance; and Jake Heggie's Three Decembers, a modern chamber opera about the struggles of a famous actress and the twists and turns of the relationships with her two adult children. A full cast list for each of the 2010 productions is located at the end of this release.

Madama Butterfly (June 26 - Aug. 7) - Giacomo Puccini’s tale of love, betrayal, and sacrifice, the ever-popular Madama Butterfly is the opening production of Central City Opera's 2010 Festival. Set in early 20th century Japan, the story follows the marriage of a naive geisha, Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly), and her aloof husband, Naval Officer Lt. Pinkerton. The lush musical score incorporates Japanese themes and includes such favorite arias as "Un bel di vedremo." Puccini’s opera with text by Giacosa and Illica was a fiasco upon its premiere at La Scala in Milan on Feb. 17, 1904. A revision in May of 1904 led to its status that continues today as one of the most beloved pieces in the operatic genre.

Performing Artists
British maestro Matthew Halls, who made his CCO debut with 2009’s Rinaldo, will return to conduct his first production of Madama Butterfly. Recently, Mr. Halls assumed the position of Artistic Director for the newly formed Retrospect Ensemble based in the U.K. Following their successful May 2009 inaugural performance at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, the Ensemble already boasts a new annual season at the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London, and tours to Korea, Israel, Portugal and Switzerland. Korean soprano Yunah Lee* makes her Central City Opera debut as Cio Cio San (Butterfly). Touted by The Sunday Business Post as "a comprehensively beautiful and believable Butterfly ... notable not just for the effortless ease of her singing but for Lee's extraordinary ability to heighten the dramatic tension," the Juilliard graduate has performed the role of Cio Cio San around the globe. Ms. Lee recently performed the role for De Vlaamse Opera in Belgium as well as Braunschweig Staatstheater in Germany, and returns to New York City Opera for performances this April before singing Cio Cio San in her debut with the Dallas Opera in May. Tenor Chad Shelton returns as Cio Cio San's love interest, Lt. Benjamin F. Pinkerton, after his most recent performances with the company as Alfredo in La Traviata in 2007 and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni (2006). A former CCO Apprentice Artist, Mr. Shelton has performed often with the company as well as across the United States with such companies as San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and New York City Opera, as well as abroad with the Australian Opera, Grand Theatre de Genève in Switzerland and Opera National de Lorraine in France, to name a few.

Japanese mezzo soprano Mika Shigematsu returns as Butterfly's loyal servant, Suzuki, after making her Central City Opera debut in the same role with the 2005 production. A signature role for Ms. Shigematsu, she has performed Suzuki with companies such as Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera and Opera de Montpellier in France, among many others. Baritone Grant Youngblood returns as U.S. Consul Sharpless after his performances as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor last summer. Having performed often with Central City Opera, other recent appearances include Reverend Olin Blitch in Susannah in 2008 and Giorgio Germont in La Traviata in 2007. A role he has performed often, as Sharpless his credits include San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera and Madison Opera. Tenor Joseph Gaines makes his main stage debut with Central City Opera as Goro, the marriage broker, after his appearances in L'Incoronazione di Poppea and The Ballad of Baby Doe while an Apprentice Artist in the company’s Bonfils-Stanton Young Artists Training Program in 2006. This spring, Mr. Gaines performs as Basilio/Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro with Pittsburgh Opera and as Cicillo in I Gioielli Della Madonna with Teatro Grattacielo in New York City. Additional roles in Madama Butterfly will be performed by members of the 2010 Bonfils-Stanton Young Artists Training Program.

Production Team
Catherine Malfitano returns as stage director, having staged this production of Madama Butterfly for its premiere at CCO in 2005. A Central City Opera milestone, the 2005 production is Central City Opera's best selling production to date. The 2005 CCO landmark was the career directorial debut of Ms. Malfitano, who had also made her debut as a professional singer with CCO in 1972 as Nannetta in Falstaff. Ms. Malfitano's recent directing credits include Rigoletto at Washington National Opera and Don Giovanni for the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera, along with her upcoming staging of Tosca scheduled for this May with English National Opera. In addition to her 2005 debut, Ms. Malfitano also directed CCO's The Saint of Bleecker Street in 2007, as well as Lucia di Lammermoor last summer. Canadian Dany Lyne designed the colorful, traditional Japanese sets and costumes for this production. A Dora Award winner for her set design of productions in Toronto, Ms. Lyne has collaborated on over 70 opera, theatre and musical theatre productions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. David Martin Jacques returns this summer for his tenth festival as Resident Lighting Designer. Mr. Jacques will light all three productions for the 2010 Festival. Having designed more than 300 theatre, opera, television, dance and special event productions, he will also be collaborating with director Catherine Malfitano on the upcoming production of Tosca at the English National Opera this May. The wig/makeup designer for all three productions in 2010 is Alison Mizerski, who returns for her sixth summer in residence with Central City Opera.

Orpheus in the Underworld (July 3 - Aug. 8) - As the second offering in the 2010 Summer Festival, Central City Opera will present a new production of Jacques Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld . This marks the first staging by Central City Opera of the operetta famous for its widely recognized "Can-can" music. A work of opéra bouffe, the satire focuses on the story of the character, Orpheus, from Greek mythology. He is sent begrudgingly by the representative Public Opinion to Hades to rescue his estranged wife, Eurydice, from her new lover, Pluto. Jupiter, who learns of Orpheus’ plight from his fellow gods, joins the pursuit and intends to win the hand of Eurydice as well. After employing the magical powers of the gods, Jupiter succeeds in seducing Eurydice to the delight of Orpheus and the dismay of Public Opinion.

Performing Artists
Having made his CCO debut in 2007's production of La Traviata, Martin Andre returns to conduct Orpheus in the Underworld. Familiar with conducting Offenbach's oeuvre, Mr. Andre has previously led his Ritter Blaubart at both the Bregenz Festival and the St. Pölten Festival in Austria. Other recent engagements include Martinu's Mirandolina at Garsington Opera in England and Janácek's The Excursions of Mr. Broucek with both Opera North and Scottish Opera. Soprano Joanna Mongiardo returns as the female love interest, Eurydice, in Orpheus in the Underworld after her appearances as Baby Doe in the company's 50 th anniversary production of The Ballad of Baby Doe in 2006. A past Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Studio and Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera, Ms. Mongiardo has since gone on to perform with New York City Opera, Portland Opera, at the Caramoor Festival and at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Germany. She is joined by baritone Matthew Worth* who makes his Central City Opera debut as Jupiter. Hailed by the New York Times for a voice that is "fully powered and persuasively expressive," Mr. Worth’s additional engagements in the 2009-10 season include the role of Charlie in Jake Heggie's Three Decembers at Chicago Opera Theater, Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette with New Orleans Opera and the title role in Don Giovanni with Virginia Opera.

Mezzo soprano Joyce Campana returns to Central City Opera as Public Opinion, after her most recent appearances with the company as Prince Orlovsky in Die Fledermaus and Mrs. Jones in Street Scene in 1999. Tenor Ryan MacPherson returns as Aristeus-Pluto after making his Central City Opera debut in 2005 as Hot Biscuit Slim in Paul Bunyan. Mr. MacPherson's recent appearances include Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Lyric Opera Dublin, Ferrando in Così fan tutte and Heurtebise in Phillip Glass’ Orphée with Portland Opera. Rising young tenor Edward Mout makes his mainstage debut with Central City Opera as Orpheus, after performing with the company as an Apprentice Artist in 2005. Recent appearances include Beppe in I Pagliacci (student matinees) and Shepard in Tristan und Isolde both with Lyric Opera Chicago. Mr. Mout also garnered third place in the Midwest Region's Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions this February. Baritone Curtis Olds returns as John Styx after his most recent appearances with the company as Frank in Die Fledermaus and Dick McGann in Street Scene in 1999. A former Studio and Apprentice Artist with Central City Opera, Mr. Olds now enjoys a career in both opera and musical theatre having performed in the original German production of Cats, on Broadway in Riverdance, as well as with opera companies such as Arizona Opera, Edmonton Opera and Hawaii Opera Theatre, to name a few. Additional roles in Orpheus in the Underworld will be performed by members of the 2010 Bonfils-Stanton Young Artists Training Program.

Production Team
A Central City Opera veteran, Marc Astafan returns to direct Orpheus in the Underworld, after accomplishments with last summer's Rinaldo, 2007’s Cendrillon and 2006's Don Giovanni. Colorado audiences may also remember Mr. Astafan for his direction and choreography of H.M.S. Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance and Mikado, all of which were collaborations between Central City Opera and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Astafan recently made two company debuts with critically acclaimed productions including Tosca at Virginia Opera and Romeo et Juliette at Syracuse Opera. Set designer Arnulfo Maldonado* makes his debut with Central City Opera with his timeless designs for Orpheus in the Underworld. Recent designs for Mr. Maldonado include La finta giardiniera at the Alexander Kasser Theater, The Hairy Dutchman at the University of Rochester, and Romeo and Juliet for Classic Stage Company. Sara Jean Tosetti, who designed the "eye-catching styles" for 2007’s Cendrillon labeled a "coup de theatre" by the Rocky Mountain News, and the "luxuriant costumes" for last year's Rinaldo hailed "nothing short of spectacular" by the Denver Post, returns to design the costumes depicting Greek mythology to the opulence of the Underworld. Ms. Tosetti's recent credits include The Merry Wives of Windsor with Shakespeare Festival of Saint Louis and Artifice with Complexions Inc. on Broadway.

Three Decembers (July 10 - Aug. 6) - Central City Opera's final offering in 2010, Three Decembers, was created in 2008 by American composer Jake Heggie. This production marks the debut of Jake Heggie’s work on the Central City Opera stage. The opera's libretto, written by Gene Scheer ( Therese Raquin, An American Tragedy), is based on Terrence McNally's unpublished play "Some Christmas Letters (and a Couple of Phone Calls)." McNally and Heggie continued their creative partnership for this new opera after their highly acclaimed first collaboration on Dead Man Walking, which premiered in 2000 at San Francisco Opera. In addition to his writing capabilities, Scheer is also a lauded singer who has appeared often with Central City Opera including his recent appearances as Lutz in the 2004 production of The Student Prince and Dr. Pangloss and Voltaire in the 2000 production of Candide. This production marks the first time a work with a libretto by Gene Scheer will be performed at the Central City Opera.

Three Decembers follows the relationships of a dysfunctional American family. A famous actress, Madeline often chose the spotlight over her now adult children, Bea and Charlie, and must deal with the outcome of her actions. Through a series of phone calls, letters, and interactions, family relationships and strife are revealed. The narrative follows three decades (between 1986 and 2006) in three acts.

Performing Artists
CCO Music Director John Baril will serve as conductor, having led a wide range of productions during his tenure with the company; most recently Lucia di Lammermoor last summer. After recently making his Nashville Opera debut conducting Don Giovanni, he also led the young artist performance of The Barber of Seville for Opera Colorado in February and makes his Opera Delaware debut in May conducting Tosca.

Making her role debut as Madeline in Three Decembers, mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle marks her 40th career anniversary in opera this year. With an extensive repertoire of 132 roles from Strauss and Wagner to Bernstein and Sondheim, Ms. Castle's recent portrayal of roles in contemporary opera have earned her much acclaim. No stranger to the work of Heggie and Scheer, Ms. Castle recorded the duo's song-cycle "Statuesque" in 2008 for a benefit CD. In 2005, Ms. Castle portrayed the role of Mrs. Bertram in Heggie's The End of the Affair at Seattle Opera and again in 2007 at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in which performances were recorded for commercial release. A CCO veteran, Ms. Castle returns to Central City Opera after notable appearances as Augusta in 2006's The Ballad of Baby Doe and Elizabeth in the highly acclaimed 2001 production of Britten's Gloriana. Soprano Emily Pulley returns to CCO in her role debut as Madeline's daughter, Beatrice. Also a CCO regular and a former CCO Apprentice Artist, Ms. Pulley most recently appeared with the company in the title role of Susannah in 2008. Having performed a wide range of roles in her career with opera companies from the Metropolitan Opera to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London and everywhere in between, Ms. Pulley has enjoyed many of her biggest successes in contemporary American operas. Her credits in the genre include Lavinia in Marvin David Levy's Mourning Becomes Electra at New York City Opera, Lysia in Mark Adamo's Lysistrata with Houston Grand Opera and New York City Opera and Sarah Miles in Heggie's The End of the Affair at Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Baritone Keith Phares* makes his Central City Opera debut as Madeline's son, Charlie. Having created the role for the world premiere production of Three Decembers, Mr. Phares has previously performed Charlie at both Houston Grand Opera and San Francisco Opera. Other recent appearances included Haly in L’Italiana in Algeri with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Falke in Opera New Jersey's Die Fledermaus and Ned Keene in Peter Grimes with Washington National Opera.

Production Team
Stage Director Ken Cazan returns to CCO to direct Three Decembers after his recent credits for A Little Night Music in 2009 and the sold-out West Side Story in 2008. The resident stage director for the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, Mr. Cazan is one of America's most sought after directors, having staged more than 100 productions for more than 40 opera companies. Cameron Anderson, who made her debut with Central City Opera in 2008 with the popular West Side Story and returned last summer as scenic designer for A Little Night Music, returns with her contemporary set designs depicting windows into the lives of the characters as the past unfolds in Three Decembers. Having designed extensively for both opera and theater, her recent designs include La Cenerentola for Glimmerglass Opera, Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Maria Padilla at Minnesota Opera. Costume designer Alice Marie Kugler Bristow returns for this production after her design work for A Little Night Music last summer and West Side Story in 2008. Having designed for the company many times, Ms. Bristow is also an Assistant Professor of Costume Design at Berry College.

2010 Festival Tickets on Sale Now!
Subscriptions and single tickets for the 2010 Festival are on sale now. Single tickets for individual shows are $38 to $99 and subscriptions to see all three productions range from $90 to $237. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 303-292-6700 or visit www.centralcityopera.org

Tickets On Sale For In The Heights

Denver Center Attractions brings In the Heights to the Temple Buell Theatre, April 28-May 9, 2010.

In the Heights is a sensational new show about chasing your dreams and finding your true home. Winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Choreography, Score and Orchestrations, In the Heights is an exhilarating journey into a vibrant Manhattan community—a place where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Find out what it takes to make a living, what it costs to have a dream and what it means to be home…In the Heights.

Lakewood Cultural Center Presents Chicago City Limits in Wikiphobia

Lakewood Cultural Center presents Chicago City Limits in Wikiphobia at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20.

Chicago City Limits Touring Company is a comedy improvisation troupe. The Internet is slowly seeping into every corner of our lives and transforming the world as we know it. In Wikiphobia, the cast of Chicago City Limits surfs the web at high-speed, taking issue with the issues and finding comedic links between the biggest stories in the news and actual news. Whether it’s global warming or global blogging, networking or Netflix, international affairs or interpersonal ones, Chicago City Limits delivers an evening of fast-paced, high-energy, family-friendly improvisational comedy! The company’s website is chicagocitylimits.com

The Chicago City Limits performs to rave reviews at colleges and regional theaters throughout the country. The company has made numerous TV appearances— including performances on Comedy Central, PBS, “The Today Show,” “The McLaughlin Group,” “The Joan Rivers Show,” “The Jackie Mason Show” and “Good Day New York” —and were featured on its own series, “Reel News,” on the USA network.

the country, the company has appeared at such diverse venues as Lincoln Center, HBO's US Comedy Arts Festival, the Smithsonian Institution, the Super Bowl, and the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon. Touring Company cast features some of the best professional improvisers working in New York City today.

See Calendar for performance details.

ODC/Dance Performs The Velveteen Rabbit

Lakewood Cultural Center presents The Velveteen Rabbit, Margery Williams’ beloved 1922 children’s book brought to life in this theatrical presentation by ODC/Dance.

The Velveteen Rabbit is the classic tale of a well-worn nursery rabbit that becomes real. ODC/Dance tells the story through contemporary dance, enchanting music by Benjamin Britten, colorful costumes, and larger-than-life characters. The Velveteen Rabbit celebrates the unique relationship between a little boy and his stuffed rabbit and the enduring power of love. Recognized for its community outreach, ODC/Dance will be joined by 10 local young dancers from Ballet Nouveau Colorado in the performance.

ODC/Dance is known throughout the world for its athleticism, passion and intellectual depth. The Company's three resident choreographers—Brenda Way, KT Nelson, and Kimi Okada—are considered among America's important contemporary choreographers and have created a dynamic movement vocabulary that has significantly influenced dancers and choreographers alike. In 38 years, ODC/Dance has performed for more than a million people in 32 states and 11 countries.

ODC/Dance has just returned from a tour of the East Asian and Pacific region (Thailand, Burma, Indonesia) as part of DanceMotionUSAsm, a unique program dedicated to sharing the story of American dance with international audiences. Conceived and funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and produced by Brooklyn Academy of Music, DanceMotionUSAsm invited only three American companies to share this country’s rich dance culture in separate performance tours in 2010.

See Calendar for performance details.

Dearly Departed Rises Again at the Aurora Fox

One of the most popular comedies of the ‘90s, “Dearly Departed”, is coming back to Denver – this time with music.

The show is slated to open March 19 in the Studio space in the Aurora Fox Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax, Aurora, 80010 and will run Thursdays through Sundays for five weeks.

Produced and directed by long-time Avenue Theatre owner John Ashton, the show features cast members who performed in the Avenue’s two productions - in 1992-’93 and 1999-2000. Altogether, the two productions ran almost three years at the Avenue’s former location at East 17th Avenue and Vine Street.

Dearly Departed, one of the most frequently produced shows by theatre companies across the country, is a fast-paced comedy about an extended family in the Bible Belt who come together for better and worse after the death of the family patriarch.

“Audiences love the show, and we have so much fun doing it, we just couldn’t help ourselves,” Ashton said. “We had to do it one more time.”

Among the cast members returning are Amie MacKenzie, Pam Clifton, Bill Berry, Tupper Cullum, Judy Phelan-Hill, Michael Katt, Steve Sealy, Eric Weber and Pam Vanderpool. Two of them – Berry and Katt – will be coming in from southern Illinois and Seattle, Washington, respectively, just to join their colleagues in this reunion production.

The script includes two songs, and Ashton said he was adding one or two more. “We’ve got incredible musical talent in the cast,” he said, “so we’re going to take advantage of it, and play some down-home bluegrass and country.” Plans also call for the cast to sing before and after the show.

“All that, plus cash bar. You can’t beat it,” Ashton said.

Opera Colorado Presents Art Song Recital Series

DENVER, CO - Opera Colorado announced the dates of the 2010 Art Song Recital Series, featuring the Opera Colorado Young Artists.

The Young Artists are a group of five singers and one coach accompanist who bring opera directly to schools and other community venues throughout Colorado and surrounding states. These young professionals come to Denver for a period of approximately seven months to perform in education programs, touring operas, and a student matinee of a mainstage production. The singers receive training and coaching from Opera Colorado staff and guest artists. The Artists also have the opportunity to perform in a recital in the Art Song Recital series.

The recitals will feature a wide variety of classical music from a wide array of composers. Singers will perform selections from opera as well as art songs, which are poems or lyric songs intended to be sung in recital, and popular selections.

The first recital of the season is scheduled for Sunday, March 7 at 2 pm at Denver’s Church of the Ascension, 600 Gilpin Street. The recital will feature soprano Donata Cucinotta, baritone Ted Federle and bass Alexander Scopino, all accompanied by Robert Spillman.

The second recitals will take place Friday, March 26 at 7:30 pm at St. John’s Cathedral, 1350 Washington Street in Denver. The evening will include mezzo-soprano Julia Tobiska and tenor Brendan Daly accompanied by Ruth Ann McDonald.

Both recitals are free and open to the public. No tickets required. For additional information about the recitals or the Opera Colorado Young Artists, call 303.778.7350 or visit OperaColorado.org/org.

Michelle Williams Returns to Chicago On Broadway

NEW YORK, NY -This winter, Grammy Award-winning recording artist Michelle Williams returns to Broadway as Roxie Hart in the Tony Award-winning hit musical CHICAGO for a seven-week limited engagement, Monday, February 8, 2010 through Sunday, March 28, 2010 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).

Williams first took on Roxie Hart last year, playing the role to critical and popular acclaim in London's West End production of CHICAGO at the Cambridge Theatre. Her limited engagement proved so successful that it was extended an additional three weeks by popular demand.

Singer-songwriter-performer Michelle Williams rose to international renown after joining Destiny's Child, the top-selling female group of all time, in 2000. As a member of Destiny's Child, Michelle received three Grammy Awards and performed on several #1 hit singles by the group. Following the success of Destiny's Child, Williams became the first member of the group to release a solo record. Her 2002 solo debut album - the gospel-infused Heart To Yours - entered the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart at #1, peaked at #3 on the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart and became the year's top-selling Gospel album.

Her second solo album, Do You Know, achieved similar success to her debut, peaking at #2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart and #3 on the Top Christian Albums chart following its release in 2004.

Released in October 2008, Unexpected, her third solo album, introduced a bold new dance/pop sound for Williams, showcased by the #1 Billboard Hot Dance tracks "We Break the Dawn" and "The Greatest."

Michelle made her television acting debut in February 2006 on the UPN comedy series, "Half & Half."

Williams made her Broadway stage debut in 2003, replacing R&B icon Toni Braxton in the title role of Disney's Aida. In April 2007, she joined the national touring company of the hit musical The Color Purple, performing extended runs in CHICAGO, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix with members of the original Broadway cast.

For more information on Michelle Williams, visit MichelleWilliamsOnline.com.

Visit ChicagoTheMusical.com for more information.

TICKETING & PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

CHICAGO plays on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). The regular performance schedule is as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Ambassador Theatre Box Office. Regular Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Town Hall Arts Center Announces 2010 - 2011 Season

Rent
September 17, 2010 - October 17, 2010
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
1996 Winner of four Tony awards including best musical and Pulitzer-prize winning Broadway musical based loosely on Puccini's opera La Bohème. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York's East Village while at the same time facing the realities of AIDS, infidelity, homosexuality and drug use. Rated R

White Christmas
November 12, 2010 - December 26, 2010
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin, Book by David Ives and Paul Blake
A beloved and timeless story of a couple of WWII veterans with a successful song-and-dance act, who follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by their former army commander.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
January 7, 2011 - January 30, 2011
Music and Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin
A hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

The Unsinkable Molly Brown
February 11, 2011 - March 13, 2011
Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson, Book by Richard Henry Morris
This spirited tale of a legendary, real-life American original follows the exploits of feisty Molly Brown, as she marries a lucky prospector, enters the highest echelons of Monte Carlo society, survives the sinking of the Titanic and, most importantly, earns the approval she so desperately seeks of those “Beautiful People of Denver.”

Chicago
April 1, 2011 - May 1, 2011
Book by Fred Ebb, Music by Bob Fosse, Lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb
Set in the roaring twenties, Chicago has one show-stopping-song after another. It’s a sensational musical tale of sin, corruption, murder, and all that jazz. Chicago has received countless honors, including six Tony® Awards.

Damn Yankees
May 20, 2011 - June 19, 2011
Words and Music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross
Based on the novel by Douglass Wallop “The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant”. Middle-aged baseball fanatic Joe Boyd trades his soul to the Devil for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees.

Ticket Information:
Season ticket packages go on sale in May and single show tickets on sale in July. Reserved seating tickets priced $21.00-$36.00 at the Town Hall Arts Center box office, 303-794-2787 ext. 5 or on-line at TownHallArtsCenter.com.

Miners Alley Playhouse Offers Tom Ziegler’s Grace & Glorie

For Miners Alley Production of Tom Ziegler’s Grace & Glory opening March 19, Grace (Billie McBride) is a feisty 90 year old lady who has checked herself out of the hospital to return to her beloved homestead cottage in the Blue Ridge Mountains to finish her life alone. Glorie (Kendra Crain), a young volunteer with a Harvard MBA recently moved from New York. As she attempts to care for and comfort the cantankerous rustic, this sophisticated urbanite gains new perspectives on life's highs and lows.

Opening Night features a gala hors d’ oeuvres reception after the show. The audience is invited to join the festivities and mingle with the cast. On Saturday, March 27, Miners Alley holds its "Second Saturday" talk back with the cast after the performance.

Tom Ziegler’s Grace and Glorie (first presented in workshop at The Shenandoah Valley Playwrights Retreat as Apple Dreams in 1990) went on to a successful Broadway run starring Estelle Parsons and Lucie Arnez. Hallmark Hall of Fame filmed it for television with Gena Rowlands as Grace and Diane Lane as Glorie. Other works include the musical Glory Bound, Home Games, and The Ninth Step.

See Calendar for Performance information.

Denver Center Theatre Company Completes Season

Denver, Co. - The Denver Center Theatre Company completes the 2009/2010 season with Mama Hated Diesels - a Denver Center World Premiere musical by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman, an intimate setting of William Shakespeare's Othello and the winner of the National Latino Playwriting Award - Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías.

A Denver Center World Premiere Musical
Mama Hated Diesels
by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman
with additional material by Charles Weldon
Directed by Randal Myler
Musical Direction by Dan Wheetman
March 19 - May 9, 2010 (Opening Thursday, March 25)
The Stage Theatre
Playwright and Director Randal Myler and Playwright and Musical Director Dan Wheetman (Fire on the Mountain, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, Appalachian Strings) create musicals that, in Wheetman’s words, "part the curtain that stands between our perception of a group of people - coal miners, blues singers - and who they really are." Their Denver Center World Premiere musical Mama Hated Diesels gives the audience a poignant, humorous and exuberant look at the independence, hopes, fears and loneliness of the men and women who drive 18-wheelers across America.

With a song list that includes the music of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, the Stage Theatre is expected to reverberate like a truck stop or roadside diner on a crowded Saturday night. The trucker's story is further enhanced by the personal experiences of company actor Charles Weldon who took a three-year break from acting to drive a rig. A special scenic element of the production is projected original photographs by award-winning Colorado photographer James D. Steinberg who drove more than 8000 miles to complete this project.

The design team for Mama Hated Diesels includes Scenic Designer Vicki Smith (Eventide, Inana, Noises Off), Costume Designer Kevin Copenhaver (A Christmas Carol, Noises Off, Fire on the Mountain), Lighting Designer Don Darnutzer (Quilters, Richard III, Fire on the Mountain), Sound Designer Craig Breitenbach (Quilters, A Christmas Carol, Fire on the Mountain) and Projection Designer Charlie I. Miller (When Tang Met Laika).

The acting company includes Brad Bellamy (Picasso at the Lapin Agile), Kathleen M. Brady (Quilters, The Trip to Bountiful), Jan Leslie Harding (Denver Center Debut, Broadway’s The Green Bird), Mike Hartman (Eventide, Glengarry Glen Ross), Jeanne Paulsen (The Voysey Inheritance, A Prayer for Owen Meany), Charles Weldon (Radio Golf, Gem of the Ocean) and Augustus Lane Filholm (Eventide, A Christmas Carol). Joining the cast are nationally-known singers and musicians, all making their Denver Center debuts – vocalist Rhonda Coullet (Broadway’s The Robber Bridegroom, Pump Boys and Dinettes), vocalist/guitar musician Jason Edwards (Broadway’s Ring of Fire), bass and keyboard musician David P. Jackson, electric guitar and keyboard musician David Miles Keenan, and drummer James Cruce.

Othello
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Kent Thompson
March 26 – May 1, 2010 (Opening Thursday, April 1)
The Space Theatre
Director Kent Thompson has often wondered why Shakespeare’s play Othello is often produced as if it were Verdi’s opera Otello, with expansive sets and countless extras. He envisions a more intimate and interpersonal production with an emphasis on the relationships of the characters. Therefore as Artistic Director of the company, he chose to stage his Othello in the intimacy of the in-the-round Space Theatre.

Set in Venice and Cypress at the turn of the last century, Thompson’s Othello will explore what make Shakespeare’s classic a tragedy – an interracial romance, irrational jealousy, betrayal, psychological manipulation and revenge.

The Denver Center Theatre Company production of Othello has received a grant from Shakespeare in American Communities initiative, Shakespeare for a New Generation targeting middle and high school students, introducing more than 750 young people to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare.

Leading the cast are Robert Jason Jackson (Richard III, King Lear) as Othello and John Hutton (Eventide, Absurd Person Singular) as Iago. The company includes Philip Pleasants (A Christmas Carol, The Voysey Inheritance) as Brabantio, Harry Carnahan (Denver Center Debut, Broadway’s An Inspector Calls) as Cassio, David Ivers (Eventide, A Prayer for Owen Meany) as Roderigo, Randy Moore (When Tang Met Laika, The Voysey Inheritance) as the Duke of Venice, Meghan Wolf (Denver Center Debut, Geva Theatre Center, The Guthrie Theater) as Desdemona, Kathleen McCall (Absurd Person Singular, A Prayer for Owen Meany) as Emilia, Allison Pistorius (Denver Center Debut) as Bianca, Stephen Weitz (Richard III, King Lear) as Lodovico, and John Arp (Denver Center Debut, Creede Repertory, Curious Theatre) as Gratiano. National Theatre Conservatory actors Chad Callaghan, Tom Coiner, John DiAntonio, Lincoln Thompson and Caitlin Wise make their Denver Center debuts completing the cast.

Winner of the National Latino Playwriting Award
Mariela in the Desert
by Karen Zacarías
Directed by Bruce K. Sevy
April 2 – May 15, 2010 (Opening Thursday, April 8)
The Ricketson Theatre
Karen Zacarías won the National Latino Playwriting Award for her play Mariela in the Desert – the passionate, emotional journey of a young painter returning home to the Mexican desert to reconcile with her dying artist father. Although the richness and diversity of Mexico is evident in her play, she says her play “is not about being Mexican, it’s about being a family…it’s a mystery about what happens to a family when creativity dies.”

Director Bruce K. Sevy (The Voysey Inheritance, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Doubt) has assembled a creative team and company of actors to bring the vast Mexican desert and this singularly creative family to life. Original music was composed for Mariela in the Desert by Gregg Coffin (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pride and Prejudice). The scenic designer is Vicki Smith (Eventide, Inana, Doubt), costume design is by Clint Ramos (Denver Center Debut, Lincoln Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival), lighting design is by Don Darnutzer (Quilters, Richard III, A Christmas Carol), and sound design is by William Burns (Denver Center debut, Curious Theatre Company, Boulder Ensemble Theatre).

Making their Denver Center Debuts in the cast are Yetta Gottesman (Seattle Repertory, Hartford Stage) as Mariela, Geno Silva (The Goodman, Dallas Theatre Center) as Jose, Franca Barchiesi (Yale Repertory, Woolly Mammoth) as Oliva, Vivia Font (The Old Globe, Princeton Repertory) as Blanca, and Jean-Pierre Serret (Haverhill Theater Center) as Carlos. They are joined by company member Sam Gregory (The Voysey Inheritance, Doubt) as Adam.

A complimentary pre-show discussion providing a perspective on each play is scheduled:
Mama Hated Diesels Friday, March 19 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
Othello Friday, March 26 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
Mariela in the Desert Friday, April 2 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre

Accessibility
The Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Cordless headsets are available for patrons with hearing impairments at Patron Services.

See Calendar for Performance information

Denver Center Announces Closure of National Theatre Conservatory

DENVER, CO - The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) announced today that it will phase out its National Theatre Conservatory (NTC) over the next two years. The Conservatory is a three-year, accredited Master of Fine Arts program in acting. Founded in 1984 and chartered by US Congress, it currently has 28 students.

Considered one of the leading MFA programs in the country, its graduates have been successful in the professional world. To name a few recent examples, January LaVoy (Class of 2002) has been cast in the London West End transfer of Enron to Broadway, set to open April 8. John Behlmann (Class of 2006) will star in the off-Broadway transfer of the Tony Award-winning The 39 Steps, opening March 25. Mat Hostetler (Class of 2009) recently began filming in Martin Scorsese's new HBO series, "Boardwalk Empire."

"Our mandate at The Denver Center first and foremost is to produce world class theatre on our professional stages," said Daniel L. Ritchie, Chairman and CEO. "With the prevailing economic conditions and their impact on our operations, we have decided to concentrate our resources on that principal endeavor."

The Denver Center will expand its highly successful educational programs, which serve more than 50,000 students each year, including in-school workshops such as Dramatic Learning and Living History, the popular student matinee program and classes for children and adults.

Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre Names New Executive Director

The day dawned a little brighter in Southern Colorado Monday, February 8th. After months of sifting through resumes and scrutinizing candidates by the SCRT Board of Directors, that was the day Mr. Arthur Espinoza began his tenure as SCRT’s new Executive Director. When the SCRT began its search back in October, resumes poured in from all over the country, and the applicants claimed such associations as The 75th Anniversary of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and The Stephen Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts.

About Arthur Espinoza:
Born in Monte Vista, CO
- Youngest of 10 siblings
- Attended CSU in Fort Collins
- Fluent in Spanish
- General Manager, Colorado Ballet, 1999 – 2010
- Producer, Unique Lives & Experiences
- Executive Director, Canyon Concert Ballet
- Program Director, Fort Collins Children’s Theatre

"We were literally blown away by the depth of talent in those resumes," said Mark Danielson, President of the SCRT. "But in the end, our choice was clear; there was no question Arthur was our man." The SCRT’s Search Committee utilized criteria ranging from budget oversight and labor management to grant writing skills and large project experience. "Arthur brings to the table a wealth of experience and a passion to grow the SCRT into a regionally and nationally recognized theatre," Danielson went on to say. Espinoza comes to Trinidad and the SCRT from the Colorado Ballet, one of the oldest and most respected performing arts organizations in Colorado. As the General Manager, he increased annual ticket sales, boosted annual attendance, and produced dozens of the company's productions. In Denver, Espinoza also serves as producer of Unique Lives & Experiences, a premiere international women’s lecture series that featured such celebrities, journalists, and political figures as Mia Farrow, Diane Keaton, and Robert Kennedy, Jr.

It was his small town upbringing that called him back to Southern Colorado. "I wanted to be a part of a strong community, one in which I could serve and grow," said Espinoza. "Trinidad feels like home."

Espinoza sees the potential in the SCRT to be a theatre with the same reputation and draw as other popular regional theatres like the Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, CO. "I am especially fortunate to be a part of the magic of the SCRT," said Espinoza with a warm smile.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse Features Heroes Among Us Banquet

The Heroes Among Us Event will be held March 2nd at 6 p.m. at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. Created 8 years ago by the Healthier Community Coalition of Larimer County, this annual event is now sponsored by the Loveland Mountain View Rotary. Heroes Among Us gives Thompson Valley students a chance to honor the people, the heroes, that have made a difference in their lives.

The celebratory night will consist of dinner, a key note speaker and recognition of the kids and their heroes. This years speaker is Steve Shoppman, nominated for National Geographic's Adventurer of the year. The event is funded by sponsorships and the Loveland Mountain View Rotary.

This year over 50 students will attend with their family and their heroes.

Inspire Creative Features Local Actors in A Raisin in the Sun

Parker, CO - February 17, 2010 - Inspire Creative, a performing arts company based in Parker, CO, presents A Raisin in the Sun in celebration of Black History Month, featuring local actors Cris Davenport, Gwendolyn Harris, Sheila Fortson, Joseph Fuqua Jones and Tyler Palmer. A Raisin in the Sun plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. March 12 - 20 at Parker Mainstreet Center, 19650 Mainstreet in Parker. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Group discounts are available for groups of 20+. Tickets can be purchased online at www.InspireCreative.org or by calling 303-790-0875.

In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, conflict arises when an insurance check provides the means to fulfill conflicting dreams for Lena Younger (Mama) and her children Walter Lee and Beneatha. Hope, racism, feminism, and pride in African heritage are some of the themes in this play about a poor black family's struggle to gain middle-class acceptance in 1950s Chicago.

A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway in 1959 and was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, as well as the first Broadway play with a black director (Lloyd Richards). As the first play to portray black characters, themes, and conflicts in a realistic manner, A Raisin in the Sun received the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play of the Year. Hansberry was the youngest playwright, the fifth woman, and the only black writer at that point to win the award.

Cris Davenport (Walter Lee Younger) recently played Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in The Meeting, and has appeared as Hambone in Two Trains Running, Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin in the Sun, Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy, Zues in Metamorphoses, and in a national commercial for Intelligent Office. John Moore called Cris a "superlative newcomer" in his review of Two Trains Running. Cris received his MFA from the Actors Studio.

Gwendolyn Harris (Lena Younger) most recently performed the title role in Zora at the Mercury Cafe.

The 73rd Avenue Theatre Company Presents The Sword In The Stone

The 73rd Avenue Theatre Company presents "The Sword in the Stone" March 6 - April 25 at the 73rd Avenue Playhouse, 7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO.

Based on the Arthurian legend, in the midst of the Dark Ages, when England had no rightful ruler, a sword imbedded in a stone mysteriously appears in a London churchyard, bearing the inscription "Who so ever pulleth out the sword of this stone and anvil is right wise king born of England." Scores of would-be kings traveled to London to attempt the feat and thereby claim the throne. They all failed. Years later a 16-year-old squire nicknamed Wart meets the great magician Merlin. The well meaning, but absentminded, wizard declares himself Wart's mentor and claims that he will lead the boy to his destiny.

More information at http://www.the73rdavenuetheatrecompany.com

See Calendar for performance Information.

Aurora Fox Celebrates Black History Month With Zora

Special for Black History Month and to celebrate the memory of the greatest influence during the Harlem Renaissance - ZORA (featuring Lea LaShawn, directed by donnie l. betts).

Zora Neale Hurston, a woman of enormous talent, remarkable drive, and rare intellectual prowess, published four novels, two books of folklore, an autobiography, many short stories, and several articles and plays over a career that spanned more than thirty years. The year 1937 saw the publication of what is considered Hurston's greatest novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God".

Although she enjoyed some popularity during her lifetime, her greatest acclaim has come posthumously. All of her books were out of print when she died in poverty in 1960, but today nearly every black woman writer of significance - including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker - acknowledges Hurston as a literary foremother.

See Calendar for performance Information.

Chilean Theater Group Visits Su Teatro

From the unquiet mind of Guillermo Calderón comes a haunting futuristic drama about war in the Americas: Diciembre. Performed by the Chilean company, Teatro en el blanco (Theater on Target), Su Teatro presents this gripping contemporary drama as part of the National Performance Network's Performing Americas project, which is dedicated to promoting theater exchanges between U.S. and Latin American theater companies.

Diciembre takes place in Santiago on Christmas Eve 2014 with the city besieged by Peruvian forces. Young soldier Jorge returns home on a 24-hour leave to celebrate the holiday with his pregnant twin sisters, who each have sharply different views on nationalism and the morality of war. One wants Jorge to defect, the other demands he return to the fight. Jorge, however, has his own take on the matter.

A darling of the international theater circuit, Guillermo Calderón has quickly become one of the most talked about young playwrights from South America. With Diciembre, he takes a hard look at irrational racism and the complicated divide between nationalism and pacifism.

Su Teatro Artistic Director Anthony Garcia says: "We have a tendency to look at war from a U.S. perspective. Diciembre challenges us to see beyond that narrow reality."

Teatro en el blanco members will present master acting workshops while in residence at Su Teatro. The workshops will feature a combination of movement and exercises in rhythmic, vocal, and emotive expression, employing a combination of movement techniques that include yoga and dance.

Presented in Spanish with English surtitles, Diciembre will travel first to Miami Dade College in Florida and REDCAT theater in Los Angeles before ending its U.S. tour at Su Teatro.

Performances are Thursday, March 4, Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6 at 7:30pm at Su Teatro's new home, the Denver Civic Theatre at 721 Santa Fe Drive.

Please note: This is a special preview performance. Su Teatro will officially begin its tenure at the Denver Civic Theatre with the opening of La Carpa de los Rasquachis on March 18, 2010. More information coming soon.

Fool's Gold Theatre Company Presents An Adventurist Prospect

The Fool's Gold Theatre Company will hold its Spring Fundraiser on March 14th, at the Denver Victorian Playhouse. The evening will include local Irish music by Cellar Door, Irish Step dancers, delicious food and drink, a silent auction filled with local artist’s work- paintings; jewelry, photography, and much more. The Fool's Gold will perform excerpts from the four shows they are taking on tour in May to Ireland. The Company members of The Fool;s Gold are: Lou Adducci, Rita Broderick, Ann K Flynn, Laura Ione, Seth Maisel and Austin Terrell.

The Fool's Gold Theatre Company was created over St Patrick's Day 2009 by company members seeking an opportunity to bring American Theatre on tour to Ireland. Everyone is Irish somewhere in their history and from there the planning began. Leaving in May the tour will begin in Dublin where the company will perform at Comedy Sports in the city and continue their adventure all over Ireland.

During their travels, they are offering not only theatre, but also interactive, educational Children's Theatre classes and fight-choreography lessons, and will be performing a new work, "Selggin and the Battle of the Mollinduffs", for schools and summer programs.

Contributions can be made on the night of the Fundraiser or by contacting the company at foolsgoldtheatre@gmail.com if you would like to know more about The Fool's Gold please go to thefoolsgold.org. The company is currently working on their 501c3 status. Inquiries and contributions can also be mailed to PO Box 100374, Denver, CO 80250.

The Fool's Gold is sponsored in part by Wade and Lorraine Wood at the Denver Victorian playhouse and The Celtic connection.

See Calendar for benefit details.

Bluegrass Comes Home To Crested Butte

Crested Butte, Colo. - For thirteen years, the Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) has turned Crested Butte into one big concert hall in the summer, with music resounding from outdoors venues, hotels, stunning private homes, churches and barns. This summer, for the first time, CBMF will host "Bluegrass in Paradise", a five-day festival for one of the most popular musical genres in the American West.

From July 6-10, both traditional bluegrass and "newgrass" will be showcased in a range of events: a three-day camp for kids, workshops for adults, jam sessions, children's performances and six top-level bands. For five days of foot-stomping fun, learning, and camaraderie, "Bluegrass in Paradise" will keep festival goers on their feet.

The host of the Festival is internationally acclaimed new grass star - and resident of Crested Butte - Drew Emmitt. Emmitt is not only one of the most energetic and innovative mandolin players in bluegrass today, he is also a singer, storyteller, and master of multiple stringed instruments. He has played with the band Leftover Salmon, and most recently, the Drew Emmitt band. This jack-of-all-roots-trades will be a stimulating guide through the five days of "Bluegrass in Paradise."

2010 Performer Line-Up
Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys: Stanley, The Godfather of Bluegrass, is still the best banjo picker and tenor singer in bluegrass music after 55 years in the business. As a recording artist, he has performed on more than 170 albums, tapes and CDs. He has written countless songs both individually and together with his brother, the late Carter Stanley. Ralph has played throughout the United States and the world, including several tours of Japan.
Emmitt-Nershi Band: Festival host Drew Emmitt will perform with Billy Nershi, the founding member and acoustic guitarist of The String Cheese Incident, an American jamband from Boulder, Colorado. The Emmitt-Nershi Band will feature Emmitt on mandolin and vocals, Nershi on acoustic guitar and vocals, Andy Thorn who plays with both Larry Keel and the Drew Emmitt band on banjo, and Tyler Grant from the Drew Emmitt Band on bass.
Bearfoot: Bluegrass music from Alaska? Not just any bluegrass, but some of the best. Telluride Band Contest winner Bearfoot has a fresh approach to acoustic music that features twin fiddles, fast-picking mandolin and guitar, upright bass, and beautiful harmony vocals. Bearfoot's exuberant stage presence elicits an appeal that bridges generations.
Shannon Whitworth: Shannon Whitworth, a founding member of the acclaimed acoustic quartet The Biscuit Burners, has set a high bar for Americana music in the last few years. Her definitive songwriting and captivating voice have earned her national praise. Shannon's debut solo release, No Expectations, is pure, strong, and heartfelt, catching the ears and touching the hearts of the most unsuspecting bystander.
Blue Highway: Now in its sixteenth year as a band, Grammy-nominated Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. With a deep bench of virtuosic songwriters, vocalists and instrumentalists, Blue Highway's hallmark is an unwavering commitment to the ensemble, the "democracy of the band" that makes Blue Highway a powerhouse.
Spring Creek: In 2009, Spring Creek joined the ranks of Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Kenny & Amanda Smith and Steep Canyon Rangers as a Rebel Records recording artist. Hailing from Lyons Colorado, Spring Creek's creative original songs and meticulous harmony vocals made it the first Colorado-based band to be signed by Rebel.

Camps and Workshops
Kid's Camp: The Bluegrass Camp for Kids is a 3-day bluegrass and folk music program for children ages 5-17, organized and taught by members of the band Bearfoot. The band, which will also be performing at the Festival, has taught thousands of kids worldwide. Children can pick from a wide range of classes, including all levels of guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle, and vocals. Campers are also involved in a band class with their peers, daily jams, square dances, art projects, optional private lessons, and games, as well as an end-of-camp concert for their friends and family. All levels welcome. Advanced registration required, and interested participants can sign up at the music
Workshops for Adults: The Bluegrass in Paradise workshops provide a friendly, noncompetitive environment for everyone from beginners to advanced players. The well-planned program includes seminars and drop-in workshops.

Beyond Bluegrass: Other Fun in Crested Butte
Nestled in the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, Crested Butte offers both outdoor beauty and a vibrant historic town to its visitors. With quaint Victorian storefronts and expressive local characters, the town remains true to its heritage and radiates an unparalleled welcoming and inviting spirit that celebrates a simpler life and time. Thanks to a widely diverse landscape, outdoor enthusiasts of all levels and types, from mountain bikers to skiers to fly fishers, will find a new challenge with each visit. Crested Butte is one of Colorado's best-kept secrets.
The Crested Butte Mountain Resort, location of Bluegrass in Paradise, offers a wealth of things to do for families visiting the festival. In 2009, the Resort opened its base area Adventure Park, featuring year-round ice skating on Super-Glide® synthetic ice, bungee trampolines and a climbing wall. Skate this summer on Colorado's first synthetic ice-skating rink!
The bungee trampolines provide a turbo-charged, gravity-defying ride up to 30 feet in the air. Multiple bungee cords transform the traditional trampoline into an adrenaline-induced grin enhancer. Jumpers are able to reach incredible heights in a secure environment, allowing them to explore acrobatic movements and somersaults, or to simply jump as high as they can into the thin air.
The Climbing Pinnacle features a 28-foot, 6-route tower with auto-belay. The routes range in difficulty from beginner to expert and are geared toward climbers of all ages and ability levels. The views from the top are well worth the climb.
The Adventure Park is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily throughout the summer. For more information on the Adventure Park, as well as Crested Butte's lodging, meeting facilities, and special packages, call Crested Butte Vacations at 800-600-2803 or visit skicb.com
Performer line-up, ticket pricing and information on accommodations will be available in March. Visit crestedbuttemusicfestival.com
Celebrating its 13th season, the Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) brings world-class musicians, singers and dancers each summer to the wildflower capital of the world. The goal of the CBMF is both to enrich the community by offering affordable and free music, opera and dance performances, and to educate a diverse audience in music, opera and dance.

Central City Opera Announces New Board of Trustees

Denver, Colo. - Central City Opera (CCO) is pleased to announce new leadership for its Board of Trustees for 2010. The incoming slate of officers includes: Chairman - J. Landis Martin; President/CEO - Nancy Parker; Treasurer - Dr. Gordon E. von Stroh; Secretary - Michael Huseby.

J. Landis (Lanny) Martin will once again serve as Chairman of the Central City Opera Board in 2010, having previously held the position from 1987 to 1994. Mr. Martin will also continue his service in the coming year as President of the Central City Opera House Association Endowment Fund Board, a position he has held since the inception of the Endowment in 1997. 2010 marks the 25th year of service for Mr. Martin, who joined the Central City Opera Board of Trustees in 1985. An extremely dedicated Board member during his tenure, in addition to his previous service as Chairman, he has also led the Board as President/CEO previously serving in the role from 1986 to 1988, in 2001, and again last year. Mr. Martin was also given the honorary title of Chairman Emeritus in 2002. An avid opera fan since his introduction to the art form in high school, Mr. Martin previously served as Chairman and President of the Houston Grand Opera. He and his wife Sharon, an active CCO Guild member for many years, also devote their time and service to other arts, cultural and educational organizations. Lanny Martin is the Founder and Managing Director of Platte River Ventures, a private equity firm focusing on small and middle market operating companies.

A Central City Opera Board member since 1987, Nancy S. Parker will return to the position of President/CEO. Having served in this role previously for more than ten years, from 1988 to 2001, Ms. Parker was named President Emeritus in 2001. Also a founding member of the Endowment Fund Board, she has served as the Fund's Secretary/Treasurer since its inception and will continue to hold this office for 2010. A dedicated Central City Opera volunteer in many capacities, Ms. Parker was also President of the Central City Opera Guild for two years in 1986-87 and has chaired multiple fundraising events for the organization including last year's successful "Music and Martinis." Ms. Parker’s many other community service activities include the Denver Botanic Gardens, Historic Denver, Children's Hospital and Graland Country Day School. For her tireless volunteer efforts, Nancy Parker was the recipient of the first Rex Morgan Community Service Award presented by the board of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District in 1998.

Dr. Gordon E. von Stroh returns for his second year as Central City Opera Board of Trustees Treasurer in 2010. An active Board member since 1981, during his tenure with the CCO Board, Dr. von Stroh has held the offices of president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. A Professor of Management and Director of the Customized MBA program for the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, Gordon E. von Stroh has received many awards for his work at DU including the Daniels College of Business’ Diamond Teaching Award for "Excellence in Teaching," an award for "Distinguished Service to the University" and most recently the DU faculty recognized him for his professional service with their "Outstanding Service for the Public Good Award" in 2009. He has consulted extensively in both the business and government sectors and has published more than 150 academic and trade journals and served as project leader for more than 50 major research and action-oriented studies. In addition to Central City Opera, Dr. von Stroh is an active member of the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Communities Corporation and the Board of the Cherokee Ranch and Castle Foundation.

A Board member since 1996, Michael Huseby will be serving as Board Secretary in 2010. During his tenure on the Central City Opera Board, Mr. Huseby has chaired the Development Committee and served on the Long Range Planning and Finance Committees. Mr. Huseby is a Denver native, having attended both the Colorado School of Mines and Western State College in his geology studies. With extensive experience in the oil and gas industries, he has worked for Thomasson Partner Associates, Black Hills Partners, Enserch Energy Corporation and Phillips Petroleum Company, to name a few. His professional affiliations include American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists and Denver Association of Petroleum Landmen, among others. An avid runner, Mr. Huseby is also the founder of Runners of the Rockies, Inc., a Colorado foundation which has awarded college scholarships for athletes each year since 1984.

New Central City Opera Board Members Elected
Central City Opera is also pleased to announce the addition of several new members elected to join the Central City Opera Board of Trustees in 2009 and at the first Board meeting of 2010. 2009 additions include: Elisabeth M. Armstrong, Joanne Field, Lizabeth A. Lynner, Bryan Pulte, Jodi Sorenson, Susan Stiff, Dr. Robert Coombe (Ex-Officio), and the Mayor of Central City, Honorable Ron Slinger, (Ex-Officio). Board members elected in February, 2010 include: Maureen K. Barker, Joanne Sender and Dr. James Herbert Williams.

Central City Opera’s 2010 Festival features three productions ranging from classic to contemporary, running from June 26 to Aug. 8. It kicks off with a staging of the popular 2005 CCO production of Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, the tragic tale of one woman betrayed by love and her ultimate sacrifice; followed by Orpheus in the Underworld, the satirical operetta based on the story of Orpheus from Greek mythology featuring the famous "Cancan" dance; and Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers, a modern chamber opera about the struggles of a famous actress and her two adult children. Tickets for the 2010 Festival are now on sale with subscriptions to see all three productions ranging from $90 to $237 and single tickets for each show from $38 to $99. For more information or to purchase tickets for the 2010 Festival, call 303-292-6700 or visit CentralCity.org.

RMAA's Gravity Defied Theatre Announces 2010 Season

Denver CO (February 15) - Rocky Mountain Arts Association's Gravity Defied Theatre has announced its three-production 2010 season.

Gravity Defied Theatre's first production will be Jonathan Van Dyke's Totally Electric at the Aurora Fox Arts Center's Studio Theatre on April 26, 29, 30 and May 1, 3, 6 at 7:30 p.m. and April 25, May 1, 2, and 9 at 4:00 p.m. Totally Electric is a new musical written by Jonathan Van Dyke; it has run in many states and this will be its Colorado premier.

Totally Electric begins at the high school reunion for the West Lake High School Class of 1989. When the award-winning West Lake show choir "The Syncopated Sensations" are unable to perform, the musical flashes back to the 1980s and the Sensations’ last weeks of high school. Through their determination, talent, and friendship - and with the help of some new friends - the Sensations will leave their mark on West Lake forever.

Tickets for Totally Electric will be $18 adult and $15 for seniors (over 55) and students (13 to 21). This will be Gravity Defied Theatre's Annual Fundraiser Production. Gravity Defied Theatre's second production will be The Wild Party at the Aurora Fox Arts Center's Mainstage Theatre on August 6, 7, 13, 14, 21, and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and August 8, 15, and 23 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets for The Wild Party will be $25 adult, $20 for seniors (over 55), and $18 for students (13 to 21).

Set in the Roaring Twenties, The Wild Party tells the story of one crazy evening in the Manhattan apartment shared by Queenie and Burrs, a vaudeville dancer and a vaudeville clown. In a relationship marked by vicious recklessness (mirroring the era in which they live), they decide to throw the Party to End All Parties!

The Wild Party was originally produced in New York City by the Manhattan Theatre Club with book, lyrics, and music by Andrew Lippa (b. 1964), based on Joseph Moncure March's 1928 poem.

The Wild Party won the Outer Critics Circle Award for best Off-Broadway musical of the season and Lippa won the 2000 Drama Desk Award for best music. The show was nominated for 13 Drama Desk Awards including best new musical. Lippa is the resident artist at the Ars Nova Theater in New York City.

He wrote the original music for Aaron Sorkin's 2007 Broadway play, The Farnsworth Invention. His current project, The Man In The Ceiling, is being produced by Disney Theatrical; Pulitzer-Prize-winner Jules Feiffer is writing the book for this musical.

Lippa is writing and developing the music and lyrics for the upcoming musical The Addams Family, based on the Charles Addams's New Yorker Addams Family cartoons with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

Gravity Defied Theatre's third production is will be [title of show] at the Aurora Fox Arts Center's Mainstage theatre on November 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and November 7, 14, and 21 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets for [title of show] will be $25 adult, $20 for seniors (over 55), and $18 for students (13 to 21).

Unpredictable, funny, tune-filled and (very) self-aware, [title of show] deals with two hypertalented young New York songwriters trying to write a new musical about two hypertalented young New York songwriters. With actress friends in tow, they’re on a Cinderella journey from the unemployment line to the Great White Way.

Music and lyrics for [title of show] are by Baltimorean Jeff Bowen (b. 1971) with book by Tuscaloosan Hunter Houston Bell. [title of show] won a 2006 Obie Award and was nominated for that year’s GLAAD Media Award. Their "Villains Tonight!" has been produced on the Disney Cruise Line. They are currently developing a television show for the ABC network.

Opera Colorado Announces 2010-2011 Season

DENVER, CO - General Director Greg Carpenter will announce plans for Opera Colorado's 2010-2011 season at a special reception for donors at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Tuesday, January 26th.

"Opera Colorado continues to expand our repertoire selection during the 2010-2011 Season," Carpenter said. "We launch our season with one of the most beloved operas of all time. We then explore unfamiliar territory with some exciting new repertoire. Our final opera has not been seen on the Opera Colorado stage since 1995. During the entire season, we will welcome many new artists who will be joining us along the way for the very first time."

By including a very familiar title along with two works that are new or less familiar to the Colorado audience, Carpenter hopes to appeal to a broad spectrum of opera fans with next season’s repertoire. "We've selected operas that we believe will interest both seasoned opera lovers and audiences new to the art form."

Season tickets will go on sale to existing season ticket-holders beginning January 27. The general public will be able to purchase tickets beginning March 15. Individual tickets for the operas will go on sale next fall. More information is available at the Opera Colorado website (www.operacolorado.org) or by calling the Opera Colorado box office at 303.468.2030.

The 2010-2011 Opera Colorado season is sponsored by Ellie Caulkins and Boettcher Foundation.

La Boheme
By Giacomo Puccini
November 6, 9, 12 and 14, 2010
"It seems that no season is complete without a blockbuster Puccini opera and we will begin our season with one of his most beloved works, La Boheme," Carpenter said. This masterwork has enchanted generations of opera goers.
A chance meeting between a young poet and the beautiful young woman next door ignites one of the most romantic love stories of all time. Love blossoms under the moonlit Paris sky as Rodolfo and Mimì share their hopes and dreams. But can their love survive in the face of looming tragedy? The passion, beauty and fragility of young love vividly comes to life in this romantic work of genius.
The cast features four artists debuting in the leading roles. "Jennifer Black was a revelation as Mimì," raved the Santa Fe New Mexican. "Her soprano was gleaming and glorious, with wonderful nuances of light and shade and complete dynamic control. She showed the little seamstress's shyness, archness and saucy ardor perfectly, and her arias were meltingly sung. Her sad Act III duet was one of the best I've ever heard."
"Richard Troxell has movie-star good looks as the poet Rodolfo," according to the Roanoke Times. "His tenor instrument has huge power."
Morgan Smith will sing the role of Marcello. The Dallas Morning News described his voice as "a rich, oiled-walnut baritone."
Completing the quartet is Sari Gruber as Musetta, who has been described by Opera Magazine as "nothing short of sensational."
The same team that created Opera Colorado's 2008 production of The Pearl Fishers will lead this production: stage director Andrew Sinclair and conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing.

Rusalka
“The centerpiece of our 2010 - 2011 Season will be a evocative new production of Antonín Dvoøák's masterpiece Rusalka," Carpenter continued. "This will be the first time that Opera Colorado has delved into the intoxicating realm of Czech repertoire and we have put together a sensational cast for this groundbreaking venture."
Based on the folk story of a water sprite who longs to become human, Rusalka sings the haunting "Song to the Moon," begging the celestial orb to tell the Prince of her love. The witch Jezibaba makes Rusalka's dreams come true. But when the Prince she loves is unfaithful, there are tragic results for all.
Rusalka will star soprano Kelly Kaduce in the title role. Opera News praised her work, writing "Kaduce sings with a bell-like purity and silvery sweetness, and she suspends her legato with an effortless, sensual spin. A born actress, Kaduce is also a masterful illuminator of text."
Making their Opera Colorado debuts will be tenor August Amonov as the Prince and mezzo-soprano Catherine Cook as the witch Jezibaba.
The production will be directed by Eric Simonson and conducted by Alexander Polianichko, both of whom are making their Opera Colorado debuts with this production.
"Rusalka will also be the focal point of a citywide festival of Czech cultural arts, titled Czech Point Denver," said Carpenter. "Spearheaded by Opera Colorado, the festival will be a celebration of Czech cultural arts, including music, visual arts, film and more. Opera Colorado will partner with arts organizations throughout the Denver community to create this high profile event. We are excited to be the catalyst for this unique festival and to collaborate with our colleagues at many of Denver's premiere arts organizations."

Cinderella (La Cenerentola)
By Gioachino Rossini
April 30, May 3, 6, 8, 2011
"Our 2010-2011 Season concludes with Jean Pierre Ponnelle's charming and elegant production of Rossini's Cinderella," Carpenter announced. "Opera Colorado has not performed Rossini's poignant comedy since 1995."
The story revolves around a young girl who yearns for true love while under the thumb of her cruel stepfather and vain stepsisters. When Cinderella offers kindness to a stranger, her fate is forever altered as she is whisked away to the ball and becomes the woman who captures the prince's heart. Rossini's version of the classic folk tale is a delight. However in the end, Cinderella's transformation is brought about not by supernatural powers, but through the magic of music.
Daniela Mack will make her company debut in the title role. The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently praised her singing as "a mix of honey and fire, with plenty of expressive facial gestures to reveal the girl's changing emotions."
Tenor Michele Angelini will debut as the prince. The Dallas Morning News raved about his performance in the role: "Michele Angelini, as a handsome Prince Ramiro, displays a voice of silken loveliness as well as graceful agility."
Dale Travis, who last appeared with Opera Colorado as Don Alfonso in last season's Così fan tutte, will sing the role of Alidoro.
Daniel Belcher will return to Denver to make his Opera Colorado debut in the role of the prince's valet, a portrayal hailed in The Contra Costa Times as "a sure-voiced, superbly comic Dandini."
Conductor Tim Long will make his Opera Colorado debut. The production comes from San Francisco Opera and was originally created by legendary French stage director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. Stage director Grischa Asagaroff, one of Ponnelle's original assistants, and Greg Fortner will collaborate to direct the production.

The Enlightenment - A Musical in a12 - Steps Comes To Denver in March

The Center for Spiritual Living Denver will present the regional premier of The Enlightenment - A Musical in 12 Steps at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theater in Denver.

This humorous, compassionate, and thought-provoking story features eight main characters in recovery from substance abuse, each taking a turn in the spotlight to tell how they got to their addictions and what has led them to enter recovery. The two-act play with 15 musical numbers takes place in the context of a 12-step meeting and unfolds through a lively combination of music, dance and dialogue.

"The Enlightenment" is directed by Sarah Roshan (whose credits include the award-winning and critically acclaimed 2009 production of The Fantasticks at the Denver Victorian Playhouse, Barefoot in the Park, I Hate Hamlet with the Evergreen Players, The Split Decision at Metro State College of Denver and Wizard of Oz at Denver Kidstage) with music direction by Lee Ann Scherlong (award-winning music direction for Titanic, The Musical for Augustana Arts) and Denver newcomer Ron Troester (recently from Omaha where he was a professional musician for Central Dance Theatre and Nebraska Shakespeare Festival) and choreography by Kelly Van Oosbree (veteran of many Denver-area productions as director and choreographer). The production will feature a cast of 30 and an 8 piece live orchestra, conducted by Scherlong.

“"The Enlightenment" was co-written by the musical writing team of Rev. Soni Cantrell-Smith and John Kito. Rev. Soni Cantrell-Smith was born in the Appalachians and has been performing music since the age of three. At the age of nineteen Ms. Cantrell-Smith toured with the New York Performance/Rhythm and Blues band, Pegasus. She is a popular speaker in many twelve-step venues and is the founding and current minister of the Ahava Center for Spiritual Living in Lexington, KY.

Originally from New York City, John Kito toured internationally as keyboardist and musical director for The Mamas and the Papas for fifteen years. On Broadway he played keyboards for Les Miserables, Cats, and Leader of the Pack. Since 2001 John has been the pianist for Namaste Science of Mind and Spirit Center in Long Beach, CA, where he co-wrote "The Enlightenment" in 2002. He continues to be active in the Los Angeles music scene as a composer, arranger and performer.

See Calendar for performance Information.

Colorado Theatre Guild Sponsors Laughing Stock

Fear and hatred explode on an upscale, private college campus in the wake of a raucous, hilarious and - some say - horribly offensive student sketch comedy show. What are the limits of comedy and free speech, and who gets to decide? Based on true events. Colorado Theatre Guild offers Laughing Stock for one-night only, February 8, Vintage Theatre, 212210 E. 17th Ave., directed by Lee Massaro.

OUR CAST:
Candy Brown
Zach Cantor
Laura Chavez
Kelli Crump
Misha Johnson
Kimber Kirwin
Jeremy Make
Eric Mather
Billie McBride
Angela Mercier
Tyrell Rae
Erik Tieze

The real-life LaughingStock, a student theatre ensemble at Vassar College, transgressed boundaries of politically-correct speech in order to poke fun at what they felt was hypocrisy and posturing. The resulting outcry consumed the campus for weeks, dividing the faculty and student body into opposed and supporting factions. The troupe was de-recognized (only to re-form later under the name "No Offense.")

A talkback follows the performance with the author and cast.

This event is free and open to the public.

NO reservations required.

National Theatre Conservatory Ready To Perform

In April, the National Theatre Conservatory will present Moliere's Tartuffe and Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The most popular of all Moliere's plays, this sparkling romp about hypocrisy, a religious con artist and a family of none-too-bright rich folks makes for an evening of high farce and elegant silliness. Watch Tartuffe, the villainous scoundrel, use faith as a means to infiltrate a nobleman¹s home where he tries to seduce the wife, gull the husband and steal all the money. Tartuffe is ultimately brought down; the day is saved by the King but not before everyone is exposed.

Just when you thought you knew Shakespeare, comes the NTC Rep's Hamlet, an electrifying ghost story brought to life as a living graphic novel. Working with acclaimed British director Robert Richmond, the NTC actors shake the dust from this story of murder, betrayal and revenge to discover why it is arguably the greatest play in the English language.

See Calendar for Performance details.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse's 2010-2011 Season

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is pleased to announce its 3rd Season of great Tony Award-winning musicals:

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Book and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice
June 4, 2010 through August 22, 2010

OLIVER
Book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart
August 27, 2010 through October 24, 2010

WILL ROGERS FOLLIES
Book by Peter Stone, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman
October 29, 2010 through January 16, 2011

BYE, BYE BIRDIE
Book by Michael Stewart, lyrics be Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse
January 21, 2011 through March 20, 2011

THE KING AND I
Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Music by Richard Rodgers
March 25, 2011 through May 29, 2011

Individual and season tickets go on sale January 26, 2010 for all shows. Ticket prices range from $45.50 - $57.50 based on day of week. Student tickets are $29.50 for ages 18 and under with each full price adult ticket. Show only tickets are $29.50 (seating restrictions apply). A great 5 show season ticket package is available for just $190 ($38/show), coffee, tea and soda are included.

Show and season tickets are available online at coloradocandlelight.com or by calling the box office at 970-744-3747 (Tuesday-Fridays 10am-5pm; Saturdays Noon-5pm).

The 73rd. Ave. Theatre Company Presents The Foreigner

The 73rd. Ave. Theatre Company presents Larry Shue's The Foreigner February 5 to March 14. The play will be directed by Cristina "Kiso" Kyle.

The scene is a fishing lodge in rural Georgia often visited by "Froggy" LeSeuer, a British demolition expert who occasionally runs training sessions at a nearby army base. This time "Froggy" has brought along a friend, a pathologically shy young man named Charlie who is overcome with fear at the thought of making conversation with strangers. So "Froggy," before departing, tells all assembled that Charlie is from an exotic foreign country and speaks no English. Once alone the fun really begins, as Charlie overhears more than he should - the evil plans of a sinister, two-faced minister and his redneck associate; the fact that the minister's pretty fiance is pregnant; and many other damaging revelations made with the thought that Charlie doesn't understand a word being said. That he does fuels the nonstop hilarity of the play and sets up the wildly funny climax in which things go uproariously awry for the bad guys, and the good guys emerge triumphant.

Winner of two Obie Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards as Best New American Play and Best Off Broadway Production.

Larry Shue was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his career as a professional actor and playwright after serving in the Vietnam War. Shue's two best-known plays were written and first performed while he was playwright in residence at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater: The Nerd premiered in April 1981, and was produced successfully in London's West End. It transferred to Broadway in 1987.

See Calendar for performance details.

Equinox Theatre Company Readies For Wendy McLeod's The House Of Yes

Equinox Theatre Company Presents The House of Yes by Wendy McLeod, Directed by Deb Flomberg and Arthur Pierce at The Bug Theatre.

Jackie-O anxiously awaits her brother's visit home for Thanksgiving, but isn't expecting him to bring a friend. She's even more shocked to learn that this friend is his fiance. It soon becomes clear that Jackie-O's obsession with Jackie Kennedy is nothing compared to her obsession with her brother. It also becomes clear she isn't the only member of the family with problems.

The cast includes Lindsey Christian, Anthony Bianco, Brandon Stiller, Maggie Tisdale, and Jill Tafel.

Wendy McLeod is a new Dramatist alumna and a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. She is the James E. Michael Playwrightin-Residence at Kenyon College and has been a guest professor at Northwestern University's film and theatre departments. Her play, The House of Yes became an award winning Miramax film starring Parker Posey, earning a Special Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

See Calendar for Performance Information.

Buntport Theatre Peeks Into Eugene O'Neill's Mind

The World is Mine is an absurd dramedy that takes place inside the head of playwright Eugene O'Neill as he prepares to write Long Day's Journey Into Night. Based on some fact and an awful lot of Buntportian fiction, this world premiere is a glimpse into the process of creation. As O'Neill musters the strength to write a tragedy about his own life, all sorts of things rattle about in his brain: his dramatic wife who is trying to decorate their new home, the nurse that reminds the author of his estranged daughter, and a Swedish emissary delivering the Nobel Prize in literature. Part 1930's screwball comedy, part O'Neill tragedy, The World is Mine is ALL Buntport.

For the full experience, see Paragon Theatre Company's production of O’Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night. See the play at Paragon and a fictionalized account of how the play was created at Buntport! The artistic cross-over will also involve Born Broken: a lively panel discussion about Eugene O'Neill at the main branch of the Denver Public Library on Monday February 22nd from 6:30-8:00. This collaboration is made possible by the SCFD.

See Calendar for performance information

Legally Blond Debuts at Denver's Buell Theatre

DENVER - The first national tour of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL will begin performances at Denver's Buell Theatre February 2 for two weeks only. Tickets for this hit musical, written by Colorado native Heather Hach, are on sale now.

Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more "serious," Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

In its first year on Broadway, LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, ten 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations, a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award and the chorus of the musical was honored by Actors' Equity Association’s Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) with the first ever ACCA Award. The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster "Arts & Theatre Events" for 2007. LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL received three 2009 Touring Broadway Awards in New York City on May 4, 2009. The show won awards for Best New Musical, Best Production Design and Best Choreography of a Touring Production. The Awards, presented by The Broadway League, honor excellence in Touring Broadway. It is the only such national award.

Becky Gulsvig, the Elle understudy in the original Broadway cast, is Elle Woods in the tour. Fans of the MTV reality show "Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods", which premiered on June 2, 2008, will recognize a familiar face in the tour casting: Third runner-up and fan favorite Rhiannon Hansen appears as Elle's best friend Margot. The reality show represented the musical's second venture with MTV. In the fall of 2007, MTV aired LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL in its entirety to stellar ratings and was subsequently nominated for two 2007-2008 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Joining Ms. Gulsvig and Ms. Hansen are DB Bonds as Emmett, Natalie Joy Johnson as Paulette, Jeff McLean as Warner, Megan Lewis as Vivienne, Coleen Sexton as Brooke, Ken Land as Professor Callahan, Tiffany Engen as Serena, Lucia Spina as Enid and Candice Marie Woods as Pilar.

Also featured in the cast are: Barry Anderson, Sara Andreas, Kyle Brown, Nick Dalton, Ven Daniel, Brooke Leigh Engen, Spencer Howard, Paul Jackel, Leslie McDonel, Ashley Moniz, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Brian Patrick Murphy, CJay Hardy Philip, Alex Puette, Jonathan Rayson, Constantine Rousouli and J.B.Wing.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL was released on Ghostlight Records, an imprint of Sh-K-Boom Records, and captured the #1 slot on the Billboard Cast Album chart and charted at #86 on the Billboard Top 200. The album has continued its success, charting every week as one of the top-selling Broadway cast recordings and soared to the Top 10 albums (of any genre) on iTunes once the show premiered on MTV.

As on Broadway, Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell is the director and choreographer. Music and lyrics are by both Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and the book is by Heather Hach. The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and sound design by ACME Sound Partners.

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL is produced on tour by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals and Dori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

See Calendar for Performance schedule

Colorado Shakespeare Festival Delegates Appear In London

Philip Sneed, Producing Artistic Director of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, has joined delegates from over 100 Shakespeare-producing theatres and festivals from the USA and Canada attending the twentieth annual conference of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America (STAA) this week at Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Sneed, who is also the President of STAA, is joined by Colorado Shakespeare Festival Associate Alphonse Keasley and CSF's Marketing Director, Irene Weygandt.

The conference programme, entitled Who Owns Shakespeare?, has been devised in cooperation with the current President of STAA, Philip Sneed, Artistic Director of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and runs until January 10. Peter Kyle, Chief Executive of Shakespeare's Globe, Dominic Dromgoole, Artistic Director, and Patrick Spottiswoode, Director, Globe Education will all lead sessions during the conference. Adrian Noble, former artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company will be a guest speaker.

Delegates will be taken on a private visit to Middle Temple Hall, the venue of the first recorded performance of Twelfth Night where Tim Carroll, former Associate Theatre Director at Shakespeare's Globe, will explore the influence of playing spaces on performance. Tim Carroll directed Twelfth Night at Middle Temple Hall before its transfer to the Globe for the play's 400th anniversary in 2002.

Patrick Spottiswoode, who is also a member of the STAA Executive Committee, says: "Shakespeare's Globe is honoured to be hosting this conference and looks forward to discussing key issues of ownership with fellow artistic, managing and education directors including the influence of the recession on choices of repertoire, who really owns Shakespeare's text, how theatres are responding to changing demographics and reaching out to new audiences, particularly youth. Young people taking ownership of Shakespeare has always been at the heart of our work at the Globe - a theatre where actors and audiences share the same light.”

Paragon Theatre Announces New Season

After another successful year of bold, intimate theatre offerings, Paragon Theatre embarks on its 2010 season at a new location, a cultural and performance center shared with Kim Robards Dance.

Located at 1385 S. Santa Fe, the new center (official name yet to be announced) is in the same building as Foothills Lighting between Mississippi and Florida. This new venture with Kim Robards Dance will provide Paragon with more permanency than it has ever had before, with such amenities as its own office, rehearsal and storage spaces. The facility will allow both companies to cut costs by sharing the main performance space, scene shop, dressing rooms, kitchen, etc., and will present many new collaborative opportunities for both entities.

Paragon Theatre is absolutely thrilled and quite honored to take residency in the cultural and performance center that Kim Robards Dance has acquired, said Warren Sherrill, Paragon's artistic director. This is such an incredible opportunity for Paragon both artistically and financially, and the beautiful shared space will allow for collaboration on many levels with Kim Robards Dance while giving us the freedom to maintain and grow the Paragon brand. Kim Robards, Artistic Director/CEO of KRD said We are delighted to be sharing the space with Paragon Theatre knowing their artistic quality and mission, and looking forward to potential collaborative efforts.

Please join Paragon as we set out on this new and exciting venture with a beautiful new performance space and, as always, a line-up of intriguing classic and new plays.

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT by Eugene O'Neill
Paragon christens its new location with the American classic LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT by EUGENE O'NEILL. In Mr. O'Neill's autobiographical, Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, we join the Tyrones in their seaside Connecticut home over the course of one fateful day. With heartbreaking humor, the family's sins and secrets are gradually revealed to explosive effect.
Starring Denver favorites Jim Hunt, Kathryn Gray, Michael Stricker, Brandon Kruhm and Holly Ann Peterson, directed by ensemble member Jarrad Holbrook
February 13 - March 13, 2010.

THE SOUND OF A VOICE by David Henry Hwang
In May, Paragon will stage THE SOUND OF A VOICE by DAVID HENRY HWANG. A beautiful woman living alone in the woods offers food and shelter to an aging samurai who happens upon her. Despite the eerie sounds he hears each night, the samurai decides to remain with his benefactress. As this gorgeous and haunting Japanese fable unfolds, the samurai learns the tragic truth behind his mysterious lover and the noises surrounding her.
Directed by Paragon's Artistic Director, Warren Sherrill.
May 8 - June 5, 2010

THE REAL THING by Tom Stoppard
Paragon's summer offering welcomes back award-winning DCTC favorite, Sam Gregory* to star in the hilarious THE REAL THING by TOM STOPPARD. Max and Charlotte's marriage is on the rocks. Or is it? Henry and Annie are fighting. Or are they? In Tom Stoppard's passionate exploration of love and honesty, nothing is as it seems-even when it seems like the real thing.
Directed by ensemble member Wendy Franz and featuring a powerhouse group of actors including Sam Gregory*, ensemble members Emily Paton Davies, Warren Sherrill and Barbra Andrews among others.
July 17 - August 14, 2010.
*Appears courtesy of Actor's Equity Association

(W)HOLE by Tracy Shaffer
Finally, Paragon is proud to present (W)HOLE by local playwright TRACY SHAFER who gave us SAINTS & HYSTERICS six years ago. In (W)HOLE, Ames is an artist whose life is shattered by the self-destructive model she hires. Yet amid the rubble of her relationships, Ames discovers what it means to become truly whole.
Ensemble member Michael Stricker directs 2009 Ovation Award Best Actress nominee and ensemble member Carolyn Valentine with other Denver favorites.
October 16 - November 13, 2010

Lida Project Announces 15th Season

As The LIDA Project enters its 15th season of producing groundbreaking and provocative work, we are proud to announce our 2010 season. Infect your mind.

Roller Skating With My Cousin
15 January - 20 February 2010
Part science lab, part disco, Roller Skating With My Cousin combines the mythology and archetypes of the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel with the sexual revolutionary act of roller skating, while simultaneously asking whether we can all create a custom-designed universe in our kitchen sink and, furthermore, why did Ronald Reagan fail as the anti-Christ? This mash-up of themes results in a lively, dark romp in which a synchronized chorus of roller skaters builds a tower under a star-flecked mirror ball sky.
A collaborative devised work directed by Brian Freeland and Tonya Malik.

Mouse in a Jar
by Martyna Majok
23 April - 29 May 2010
Written by emerging playwright Martyna Majok, Mouse in a Jar tells a story of Ma, an illegal immigrant and her daughters, who live under the shadow of the Man in Boots amidst the fog of sizzling sausages. Mouse in a Jar is a horror story of violence and subterranean life forms. This is a mindfuck of a story that embraces Stoc holm Syndrome, the grace in bondage, and the hilarity of human choice.
Directed by Julie Rada.

PoE
27 August - 2 October 2010
A twisted creation developed by The LIDA Project ensemble, playwright Rebecca Gorman, and director Brian Freeland. Manipulations of darkness and light and juxtapositions of ghastly imagery help to re-imagine Edgar Allen Poe's work. PoE promises a flood of blood and nightmares darker than a raven’s wing.
A collaborative devised work directed by Brian Freeland.

A Very Merry Unauthorized Scientology Pageant
by Kyle Jarrow
12 November - December 18 2010
This controversial musical stars grade school children singing and dancing to the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. A Very Merry Unauthorized Scientology Pageant follows Hubbard through his rise to Supreme Leader of his (highly-profitable) religious empire, only to climax with the story of the evil alien prince Xenu and his lust for power and the infection of all human souls. Featuring cameos from Kirstie Alley, John Travolta, and Tom Cruise.
Directed by Brian Freeland.

Denver's Theatres And Arenas To Acquire Crossroads Theatre

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 14, 2009 - The City and County of Denver's Division of Theatres and Arenas - proprietors of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Colorado Convention Center and the Denver Coliseum - today announced an intent to acquire the struggling Crossroads Theatre in the historic Five Points neighborhood. With the support of Crossroads' current owner Kurt Lewis and landlord Hope Communities, Theatres and Arenas is working to take possession of the space as early as January 2010.

Assuming the lease and management of Crossroads Theatre is one of the most creative endeavors Theatres and Arenas has undertaken, said Jack Finlaw, Director of Theatres and Arenas. Our agency's mission is to provide cultural and public assembly facilities to Denver’s diverse communities. Adding Crossroads to the catalog of venues we manage on behalf of the City will greatly advance our goal of offering affordable spaces, and will enable us to foster a diversity of programming for residents and visitors to Denver.

The construction of Crossroads Theater at Five Points implemented the idea of a convergence of diverse cultures and art forms in an intimate performance space located in the heart of the city, said Kurt Lewis, current owner and operator of the venue. Since its opening, Crossroads has hosted poetry, music, theater, film, dance, visual art, storytelling, lectures and community meetings for all cultures in the city. I am excited to see Theatres and Arenas take the baton so that Crossroads can continue to provide an intimate affordable venue for Denver’s artists and performers to tell the story of our city.

The 100 seat Crossroads Theatre has served small, independent performing arts groups and the Five Points community since 2007. When Kurt Lewis began searching for an entity to take over his stake in the venue, Theatres and Arenas recognized an opportunity to partner with and serve two vital Denver communities: the Five Points neighborhood and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Tier III performing arts organizations. With collaboration from Denver's Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA), the Denver Office of Economic Development, the new Five Points Business District, District 8 Councilwoman Carla Madison and Mayor John Hickenlooper, Theatres and Arenas aims to preserve an important cultural space and contribute to the economic development of one of Denver’s most treasured neighborhoods.

"Crossroads Theatre is an incredible cultural asset of the historic Five Points neighborhood," said Andre Pettigrew, Executive Director of the Denver Office of Economic Development. "Its continued success is paramount, as it further activates the neighborhood and provides a spark for future growth, as outlined in our office's Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative District Development Plan for the area."

"Crossroads has been an important part of the revitalization of Five Points; it was part of the reawakening of the cultural center that Welton Street had been known for," said City Councilwoman Carla Madison. "When it looked like Crossroads was going to close, neighbors felt like it was a huge step backward. We are so grateful to Theatres and Arenas for stepping up and not only preserving live theater, but continuing Kurt Lewis' vision of creating a community-based theater. This is a great solution for local theater groups and the community at large."

Rather than take possession of the space with a programming agenda already in place, Theatres and Arenas will gather community input through public meetings to determine how the Five Points and SCFD Tier III communities would like to see the space utilized. Theatres and Arenas will make every effort to provide a venue where these communities can develop organic, sustainable programming that will enhance the cultural economy in Denver, while promoting and preserving the heritage of the neighborhood surrounding Crossroads Theatre.

"The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs is greatly supportive of the decision by the Division of Theatres and Arenas to take over management of the venue," said Erin Trapp, Director. "We believe the move will be mutually beneficial to the Five Points community and the local arts organizations that choose to use the space. DOCA's own use of the space through the 5 Points Jazz Festival has been a strong success and we hope that other performance groups will benefit from this important community resource."

All events currently scheduled at Crossroads Theatre will take place planned. For location, event and ticket information, visit www.denvercrossroads.com. Information on public meetings related to the space will be announced soon.

The City of Denver's Division of Theatres and Arenas owns and operates Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Colorado Convention Center and the historic Denver Coliseum. For more information visit redrocksonline.com / artscomplex.com / denverconvention.com or denvercoliseum.com.

The Festival Playhouse Announces January - June 2010 Season

Festival Playhouse begins the 2010 season with Love Letters by A.R. Gurney, February 12 -28.
A.R. Gurney's Love Letters is being performed as a fundraiser and, as such, the Festival Playhouse is calling for the public to submit a Love Letter to their special someone.
- Letter can be signed or anonymous.
- It can be to your spouse, lover, partner, Mom, Dad, sibling, child, a friend, mentor or a pet for the love they have given to you.
- Letters will be printed in the February Love Letters program.
- One special letter will be chosen and read at each performance and that author will receive dinner for two at one of our advertising restaurants.
- Letters and payment must be received by January 30.
- Love Letter submissions by email will be accepted at Cjactor@aol.com
- Submission cost is $20.00 and should be mailed to:
Festival Playhouse, P.O. Box 944, Arvada, CO 80001

Love Letters by A.R. Gurney
Love Letters is comprised of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. The story of their bittersweet relationship gradually unfolds from what is written - and what is left unsaid - in their letters. A smash hit both off and on Broadway, Love Letters captures these two people with a precision of detail and depth of feeling only Gurney can command. Age Appropriate - over 13.
Feb 12 - 28
Fri\Sat 8 p.m. & Sun at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 Fri\Sat; $13 Sun
The Festival Playhouse, 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd.
Box Office: 303-422-4090 or festivalplayhouse.com

April
What the Bellhop Saw by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore
A nice fellow checks into an expensive suite in New York City's finest hotel, precipitating a fantastic nightmare involving a Salman Rushdie type author, an Iranian terrorist, a shrew like woman, a conniving bellboy, an incompetent F.B.I. agent, a nubile celebrity mad maid, a dimwitted secretary and a little pig tailed girl. Gag lines are popping as events transpire at a whirlwind velocity. Topical humor blends with the traditional antics of farce: doors slamming, characters careening and confusion reigning supreme. Age Appropriate - over 13
April 9 - 25
Fri\Sat 8 p.m. & Sun at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 Fri\Sat; $13 Sun
The Festival Playhouse, 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd.
Box Office: 303-422-4090 or festivalplayhouse.com

June
Seniors of the Sahara by Barbara Pease Weber
Sylvia Goldberg, a respectable retired New Jersey school teacher, brings home more than just souvenirs upon returning from her grandson's wedding in Israel. Sylvie's troubles begin when she realizes that the old teapot she purchased at an outdoor market is actually a priceless relic containing a geriatric genie "Eugene" with a bad back and a penchant for vodka and V8. Keeping Eugene a secret from her three best friends, Mabel, Thelma and Fannie, proves to be nearly as difficult as protecting herself from Eugene's former master who follows Sylvie home and threatens her at knifepoint Age appropriate - all.
Dates: June 4 - 13
Fri\Sat 8 p.m. & Sun at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $15 Fri\Sat; $13 Sun
The Festival Playhouse, 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd.
Box Office: 303-422-4090 or festivalplayhouse.com

73rd Avenue Theatre Offers Children's Performance Classes

Performance Art Classes for children 6 to 12
Each class will be formed by 10 lessons of an hour and a half each day.
All classes are from 4:30 to 6 PM.
Each course has a cost of $150 per student. (10% off per second child enrolled)
- - - At least 5 children per class should be enrolled for a class to open.
- Payment is divided in two parts, the first one due on the first class, the second one on the week of Feb. 22
- Monday: Belly Dance – Mom and me
Teacher: Rafiah
January 18 to March 22
Tuesday: Tap Dancing
Teacher: Ellen Farnsworth
January 19 to March 23
*Please note that Tap Shoes are required
Thursday: Acting
Teacher: John McDonald
January 21 to March 25
The 73rd Avenue Theatre Company is located at 7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO. for further information, call (720) 276-6936. Website: the73rdavenuetheatrecompany.com

Denver Center Theatre Company Announces 5th Annual New Play Summit

DENVER - The Denver Center Theatre Company’s fifth annual Colorado New Play summit is scheduled for February 11-13, 2010. When he inaugurated The Denver Center Theatre Company's Colorado New Play Summit in 2006, Artistic Director Kent Thompson called the event a “summit” because of the glorious Rocky Mountains and his goal to build the event into a peak experience… "a new play festival that is a must see event for theatre professionals from across the United States."

The young Summit continues to establish its place in the top tier of American new play festivals with the announcement of four readings of new American plays and the commissioned world premieres of When Tang Met Laika by Rogelio Martinez and Eventide by Eric Schmiedl, based on the novel by Kent Haruf. Adding to the festival's national scope is the decision by the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) to hold its winter meeting at the Summit bringing critics from across the country to Colorado.

Artistic Director Kent Thompson, Director of New Play Development Bruce Sevy and Literary Manager Douglas Langworthy have selected the following new works to present to artistic directors, literary managers, dramaturgs, directors, press representatives and ATCA critics who will travel to Denver February 11, 12 and 13 for the 2010 Summit.

THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS
by Caridad Svich based on the novel by Isabel Allende
From the confines of her prison cell in an unnamed Latin American country, Alba thinks back over the past 50 years of her family's history. Her grandfather made his fortune working in the mines, but her father became a field hand and revolutionary. While the tensions between the haves and the have-nots escalate, the Communist party takes power. Caridad Svich's haunting and lyrical adaptation of Isabel Allende's critically-acclaimed bestseller, The House of the Spirits, looks at four generations of political and social upheavals through the powerful lens of memory.

Caridad Svich
Caridad Svich is a US Latina playwright, translator, lyricist and editor whose works have been presented across the US and abroad at diverse venues including Repertorio Espanol, The Women's Project, INTAR, 59East59, Cincinnati Playhouse, McCarren Park Pool, 7 Stages, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, ARTheater-Cologne, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival/UK. The summer 2009 issue of American Theatre magazine featured a significant profile about her work, and she is the recipient of the 2009 Lee Reynolds Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women. Among her key plays are 12 Ophelias, Any Place But Here, Alchemy of Desire/Dead-Man's Blues, Fugitive Pieces, Iphigenia...a rave fable, Instructions for Breathing, and The Booth Variations. She has translated nearly all of Federico Garcia Lorca's plays as well as works by Lope de Vega, Calderon de la Barca, Julio Cortazar and new plays from Spain, Cuba and Mexico and has freely adapted works by Wedekind, Sophocles, Euripides and Shakespeare. She's a former Harvard/Radcliffe Institute Bunting Fellow and has received grants from the NEA, TCG, Pew Charitable Trusts and California Arts Council. She has edited several books on theatre and performance including Trans-Global Readings: Crossing Theatrical Boundaries (Manchester University Press) and Divine Fire (BackStage Books). Her work is published by TCG, Smith & Kraus, Playscripts and more. She is alumna playwright of New Dramatists, founder of NoPassport theatre alliance & press, associate editor of Routledge's Contemporary Theatre Review and contributing editor of TheatreForum. She is member of PEN American Center, The Dramatists Guild and is featured in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Latino History. She holds an MFA from UCSD. Website: caridadsvich.com

MAP OF HEAVEN
by Michele Lowe
Lena's painting career is on the rise; her beautiful abstracted maps of places real and imaginary are poised to take downtown New York by storm. But her husband Ian, a radiologist, makes a fatal error that upends Lena's relationship with her agent and threatens to take down her first show. A contemporary drama with tragic undertones, Map of Heaven explores the devastating consequences of a single lapse in judgment.

Michele Lowe
Michele Lowe is the author of Inana, which premiered at the Denver Center Theatre Company and was a finalist for the 2009 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Her play Victoria Musica recently premiered at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. New York productions include The Smell of the Kill (Broadway debut) and String of Pearls (Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play). She is the librettist and lyricist for the musical A Thousand Words Come to Mind (Joe’'s Pub), which she wrote with composer Scott Richards. She also is the author of Mezzulah, 1946 (City Theatre) and Backsliding in the Promised Land (Syracuse Stage). Lowe has been commissioned by the Denver Center Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Arden Theatre and Geva Theatre. Her plays have been produced by companies around the world including Primary Stages, Vineyard Theater, Intiman Theater, Florida Stage, Reykjavik City Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Asolo Rep, and Cleveland Play House. Her work has been developed at the Eugene O'Neill National Music Theatre Conference, Colorado New Play Summit, New Harmony Project, PlayLabs, New York Stage and Film, Hartford Stage's BRAND: NEW Festival, the ACT & Hedgebrook Women Playwrights Festival and the Lark Play Development Center. Her work appears in New Playwrights/The Best Plays of 2005 (Smith & Knaus, 2006), The Best Women's Stage Monologues 2005 (Smith & Knaus, 2006) and Monologues for Women by Women (Heinemann, 2004). Screenplays include The Emergence of Emily Stark and Quitting Texas. She recently completed her first novel, It Goes Without Saying. Lowe is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, Playwrights' Center and ASCAP.

THE CATCH
by Ken Weitzman
America's national pastime meets America's financial meltdown. A failed dot-commer plots to regain his fortune by catching a star slugger's record-breaking home run ball - through a mix of willpower, determination and sheer optimism. Playwright Ken Weitzman's baseball drama The Catch knocks the cover off our national obsession with sports, stardom, money - and positive thinking.

Ken Weitzman
Ken's previous plays include The As If Body Loop (Humana Festival '07), Arrangements (Atlantic Theatre Company, Pavement Group), Spin Moves (Summer Play Festival), Hominid (Theatre Emory), Fire in the Garden (Castillo Theatre), Stadium 360 (Out of Hand Theater), Memorabilia (Alliance Theatre). Ken's plays also have been developed and presented at, among others, New York Stage and Film, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, Arena Stage, the Geva Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Dad’s Garage, Florida Stage, Page 73 Productions, Hartford Stage, and the New Harmony Project. His awards include The L. Arnold Weissberger Award for Arrangements, the McDonald Playwriting Award for The As If Body Loop (best new play in San Diego), The Mario Fratti/Fred Newman Political Playwriting Contest for Fire in the Garden, and the Elizabeth George Commission for an Outstanding Emerging Playwright (chosen and awarded by South Coast Repertory Theatre). He has been commissioned by Arena Stage, South Coast Repertory, the Alliance Theatre, Theatre Emory, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. Currently, Ken is the Playwright-in-Residence for Out of Hand Theater Company. Ken received his MFA from the University of California, San Diego, and has taught Playwriting at Emory University, University of California San Diego, and, currently, at Indiana University.

CIVILIZATION (ALL YOU CAN EAT)
by Jason Grote
The filming of a post-racial TV commercial kicks off Jason Grote's fierce burlesque of America's love/hate obsession with food. A giant pig on the rampage, mass choreography, Washington and Jefferson selling snacks to the inner city, the search for love and meaning - all are braided together to devastating effect through the inspired vision of the author of 1001 - DCTC's acclaimed 2007 premiere. Commissioned by Clubbed Thumb.

Jason Grote
Jason Grote's 1001 was developed in The Denver Center's first Colorado New Play Summit in 2006 and received its world premiere here the following year. That production received an Ovation Award from The Denver Post, was named best new non-local play by Westword, and was listed in the year-end top ten lists of The Boulder Daily Camera and The Rocky Mountain News. It has since been published by Samuel French and gone on to ten more productions throughout the United States, one of which (Page 73) was listed in Time Out New York's Top Ten of 2007, and another of which (Theater @ Boston Court) was nominated for Best Performance of 2008 by L.A. Weekly. The Washington, DC premiere (Rorschach Theater) was the subject of a feature by Voice of America, broadcast in Farsi into Iran. He is currently developing a musical version of the play with composer Marisa Michelson as part of Montclair State University's 2010 New Works Initiative. His other plays include Maria/Stuart, Hamilton Township, Darwin's Challenge, Box Americana, and This Storm Is What We Call Progress. Other recent projects include HABIT, an installation piece with conceptual artist David Levine, (The Water Mill Center, The Luminato Festival, Mass MoCA); the screenplay to What We Got: DJ Spooky's Quest For The Commons; a radio play program, The Acousmatic Theater Hour on WFMU; and commissions from The Denver Center and ACT/Seattle. Civilization (All You Can Eat) was a commission from Clubbed Thumb, supported with a grant from The New York State Council on The Arts.

The 2010 Colorado New Play Summit also will include a panel of theatre professionals and ATCA critics discussing "New Works and the Critics." Denver Center trustee and national theatre philanthropist Jim Steinberg of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust will moderate the discussion. Panelists include Christine Dolen from The Miami Herald, Jeffrey Eric Jenkins editor of Best Plays and Christopher Rawson from the Pittsburgh Post - Gazette.

With additional funding from the Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Associate Artistic Director and Director of New Play Development Bruce K. Sevy and Dramaturg and Literary Manager Douglas Langworthy are insuring the future of the Colorado New Play Summit by developing one of America’s most ambitious new play commissioning programs, building a collection of new works, now numbering more than 20, to be featured at Summits and eventually at the Denver Center and other national stages in full productions.

THE LIDA PROJECT OPENS 15TH SEASON WITH ROLLER SKATING WITH MY COUSIN

Denver, CO - On January 15th, 2010, The LIDA Project begins its fifteenth season of experimental theatre in Denver with Roller Skating With My Cousin. Co-directed by LIDA's Artistic Director, Brian Freeland, and guest artist Tonya Malik, this bold, new piece has been devised over several months through The LIDA Project's unique ensemble development process. Part science lab, part disco, Roller Skating With My Cousin combines the mythology and archetypes of the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel with the sexual revolutionary act of roller skating, while simultaneously asking whether we can all create a custom-designed universe in our kitchen sink and, furthermore, why did Ronald Reagan fail as the anti-Christ and how did he hide the mark of the Beast? This mash-up of themes results in a lively, dark romp in which a synchronized chorus of roller skaters builds a tower under a star-flecked mirror ball sky. Only The LIDA Project begins the New Year with this kind of party.
Roller Skating With My Cousin runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm January 15th through February 20th, 2010. All performances will be at BINDERY | space, 2180 Stout Street, Denver, CO. Tickets for The LIDA Project and all events at BINDERY | SPACE can be reserved by calling 720.221.3821 or emailing LIDA@lida.org.
WHAT:
Roller Skating With My Cousin is a story of universe creation as experienced through the sexual revolutionary act of roller skating…with a love note to Ronald Reagan.
WHEN:
Fridays and Saturdays
January 15 - February 20, 2009
8:00pm
WHERE:
BINDERY | space
2180 Stout Street
Denver, Colorado 80205
RESERVATIONS:
online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93585
phone: 720.221.3821
email: LIDA@lida.org
Tickets: $15 - $17

The California Actors Theater Announces Arthur Miller-s All My Sons

All My Sons, Arthur Miller's first commercial success, tells the story of an American family caught up in the struggle between personal responsibility and duty to their country. Joe Keller, a successful, self-made man has done a terrible thing: during World War II, hurriedly trying to meet an order from the Army, he knowingly sold them defective airplane parts which later caused the planes to crash and killed 21 men. He engineered his own exoneration and falsely turned in his business partner; now, his son is about to marry the partner's daughter, the affair is revisited, and his lie of a life is revealed. Joe, spending his whole life in the pursuit of wealth for the sake of his family, represents the American Dream gone wrong. The play, which opened on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in New York City on January 29, 1947, closed on November 8, 1947 and ran for 328 performances, was awarded the 1947 Tony Award for Best Authored Play. It was directed by Elia Kazan (to whom it is dedicated) and won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, beating Eugene O’Neill's The Iceman Cometh. It won both the Tony Award for Best Play and the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play. Our production stars Marian Bennett, David Barclay, Robert Bubon, Mandy Scott, Tom Priestley, Jan Davison, Robert Mess, Julie Marino, Nicholas Lee, and Sammi Bubon. It is directed by Kim Bubon for The California Actor's Theater.
See calendar for performance details.

Avenue Theater Reveals Secrets of A Soccer Mom

Directed by Robert Wells. The Avenue Theater unveils The Secret Of A Soccer Mom, a new comedy by Kathleen Clark, featuring Laura Norman, Megan Van De Hey, and Emily Patton Davies.
The Secrets reunites three of Denver's best actresses, Laura Norman, Emily Paton Davies and Megan Van de Hey as three soccer moms at a Sunday afternoon match with their 8-year-old sons. (The three women performed together in the Avenue's award-winning The Smell of the Kill.) They reluctantly take the field in a mothers-vs.-sons soccer game. They intend to let the children win, but as the game unfolds they become determined to win. The competition ignites a fierce desire to recapture their youthful humor, independence and sexiness, and they consider changes they need to make in their lives.

Denver Victorian Playhouse Hears Voices In The Dark

Voices in the Dark opens Thursday, January 7 at the Denver Victorian Playhouse.
Mysterious phone calls, a remote cabin, a storm and a woman alone are all part of the stew that John Pielmeier cooks up. At the play's start, we meet Dr. Lil, a psychotherapist with the #1 radio talk show in the country who has an astounding track record for saving desperate callers' lives. She juggles a commuter marriage with her husband based in Washington, D.C., while she broadcasts from Manhattan.
Her career is soaring, but her marriage has taken a nosedive, so she arranges a weekend retreat to her husband's cabin in the Adirondacks to try and sort things out. Some mysterious phone calls that start on her radio show follow her to the cabin, and when her husband doesn't arrive as planned, Lil is left alone for the weekend. Soon the ominous phone calls continue, and she has more than her marriage to save - perhaps her very life.
The cast, under the direction of El Armstrong, includes Erica Lyniece Cain (Caller #1), Annie Gavin Li (Lil), Wade Scot Livingston (Blue), Seth Maisel (Owen), Tim Shaeles (Red), Austin Terrell (Bill), Joseph C Wilson (Hack) and Wade P Wood (Egan).
John Pilelmeier began his career as an actor, working at Actors Theatre of Louisville, the Guthrie Theater, Milwaukee Rep, Alaska Rep, Baltimore's Center Stage, and the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference. It was at the O'Neill that his play Agnes of God was first staged. A co-winner of the Great American Play contest, Agnes premiered professionally at Actors Theatre of Louisville, which production was followed by several regional productions and a seventeen month run on Broadway. Voices in the Dark was produced on Broadway and winner of the 1999 Edgar Award for Best Play.
See Calendar for performance details.

World Premieres of When Tang Met Laika and Eventide

DENVER - The Denver Center Theatre Company is set to open the two world premiere productions that will be the centerpiece of the 2010 Colorado New Play Summit. Artistic Director Kent Thompson and Director of New Play Development Bruce Sevy commissioned When Tang Met Laika by Rogelio Martinez and Eventide by Eric Schmiedl - based on the novel by Kent Haruf, read both new works at the 2009 Summit, and now will unveil the full productions.

A Denver Center Commissioned World Premiere
Eventide
The epic story of Holt, Colorado began with Kent Haruf's bestselling novel and Eric Schmiedl's critically-acclaimed play - Plainsong, commissioned and premiered by the Denver Center Theatre Company in 2008. The McPheron brothers, Harold and Raymond, captured the hearts of audiences from across the Rocky Mountain West and a national Colorado New Play Summit audience of theatre professionals.
The small town story continues for those who loved Plainsong and is introduced to a new audience with the world premiere of Schmiedl's commissioned adaptation of Haruf's companion novel Eventide. Haruf's plainspoken and endearing characters - the aging McPheron brothers and Victoria Roubideaux, the pregnant young girl they took into their home - are joined in Eventide by a lonely young boy who generously cares for his grandfather, and a mentally challenged couple trying to hold their family together.
Artistic Director Kent Thompson directs Eventide (Plainsong, Dusty and the Big Bad World, Irving Berlin's White Christmas) and has reunited many members of the creative team from Plainsong. They include Scenic Designer Vicki Smith (Inana, Noises Off, Doubt), Lighting Designer Don Darnutzer (Quilters, Richard III, The Trip to Bountiful), Sound Designer Craig Breitenbach (A Raisin in the Sun, Quilters, A Prayer for Owen Meany), Composer Gary Grundei (Plainsong, Oedipus Rex, The Merchant of Venice), Fight Director Geoffrey Kent (Absurd Person Singular, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III), Vocal and Dialect Coach Michael Cobb (Absurd Person Singular, Noises Off, Pride and Prejudice) and Dramaturg Allison Horsley (Plainsong, 1001). They are joined for Eventide by Costume Designer Susan Branch Towne (The Diary of Anne Frank, King Lear, A Flea in Her Ear).
Returning to the cast from Plainsong as Harold and Raymond McPheron, respectively, are Philip Pleasants (A Christmas Carol, The Voysey Inheritance) and Mike Hartman (A Raisin in the Sun, Prayer for Owen Meany). They are joined by Tonantzin Carmelo (Denver Center debut, TNT miniseries Into the West) as Victoria Roubideaux, Drew Cortese (Richard III, 1001) as Del Gutierrez, David Ivers (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Plainsong) as Luther Wallace, Leslie O'Carroll (A Christmas Carol, Plainsong) as Betty June Wallace, William Zielinski (Denver Center debut, Arden Theatre) as Hoyt Raines, Lauren Klein (Plainsong, You Can't Take it with You) as Rose Tyler, Ron Crawford (Denver Center debut, Steppenwolf Theatre Company) as Walter Kephart, Augustus Lane Filholm (A Christmas Carol, A Prayer for Owen Meany) as DJ Kephart, John Hutton (Absurd Person Singular, Plainsong) as Tom Guthrie, Kathleen McCall (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Plainsong) as Maggie Jones and Ellie Schwartz, Thomas Russo, Jenna Panther, Rebecca Martin, Carole Healey, Geoffrey Kent, Joseph Yeargain, Sam Gregory, Sean Lyons and Chris Mazza.

Student $10 rush ticket are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability.
Senior and military rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability.
Groups of 10+ contact 303.446.4829 or groupsales@dcpa.org
No children under six will be admitted to any theatre.

Perspective on the Plays
Complimentary pre-show discussion:
When Tang Met Laika Friday, January 22 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
Eventide Friday, January 29 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre
Accessibility
The Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Cordless headsets are available for patrons with hearing impairments at Patron Services.
Audio-described and ASL Interpreted Performances
When Tang Met Laika, Saturday, February 20 at 1:30pm
Eventide, Saturday, February 27 at 1:30pm
For more information and Colorado New Play Summit registration visit denvercenter.org/summit

Special Ticket Offer for DCTC's World Premier Of Eventide

Save 50% on tickets through Friday, January 8 at midnight for the Denver Center Theater Company's World Premier of Eventide written by Eric Schmiedl from Kent Haruf's novel.
Eventide plays The Stage Theatre at the Helen Bonfils Complex, DCPA, January 29-February 27, 2010. Recipient of Edgerton Foundation Award, Eventide will be directed by Kent Thompson.
When ordering tickets, use the code: EVENTIDE.
Eventide engulfs itself with The awkward yet endearing McPheron brothers stay on the ranch as their adopted daughter and her toddler depart for college. In her absence, families are forged from necessity in rural Holt, Colorado, as everyone struggles to overcome loss only to discover that love - no matter who you are - is never out of reach.
See Calendar for Eventide performance details

Monkeys And Mayflies Invade Backstage Theatre Courtesy of David

Welcome to the comic world of All in The Timing, a place where anything is possible and the lunatics (or in this case monkeys) really do run the asylum. Master writer David Ives' clever, contemporary, and anything but conventional evening of fast and funny plays about time, human connections, and the absurdities of daily life premieres at Breckenridge's Backstage Theatre January 15.

In these brain-teasing and hugely rewarding comical pieces, a man and woman must repeat the minutiae of the dating ritual in order to get it right; the universal language of Unamunda holds the power to unite two lonely people striving for connection; an exiled Russian revolutionary experiences his own death in eight hilarious and differing variations; two mayflies are born, meet, and contemplate mating all within the span of a day; three monkeys in a cage are given typewriters as part of an experiment to see if they will eventually produce Hamlet; and an insignificant shlub seeks to transform his life by deciding to become Edgar Degas for a day. Winner of the Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award for Playwriting, this evening of six brilliant comic sketches is ludicrous and elating, a comic masterpiece, and more fun than a lab full of monkeys. Unexpected, hilarious...and not to be missed!

See Calendar for performance details.

Gravity Defied Theatre To Present Jonathan Van Dykes's New Musical Totally Electric

Totally Electric is a new musical written by Jonathan Van Dyke; it has run in many states and this will be its Colorado premier. For more information on Totally Electric and its production history visit totallyelectricthemusical.com.

Totally Electric begins at the high school reunion for the West Lake High School Class of 1989. When the award-winning West Lake show choir The Syncopated Sensations are unable to perform, the musical flashes back to the 1980s and the Sensations' last weeks of high school. Each unique, the Sensations find friendship and trust in their group while being bullied by the Socs, the mean kids whose primary goal seems to be making the Sensations' last days of high school a miserable experience. However, the Sensations are ready to show West Lake High School what they are made of, as the year's final pep rally approaches. Through their determination, talent, and friendship - and with the help of some new friends - the Sensations will leave their mark on West Lake forever.

Gravity Defied Theatre is a project of the Rocky Mountain Arts Association, home of the Denver Gay Men's Chorus, Denver Women's Chorus, Out Loud: The Colorado Springs Men's Chorus, and Mosaic Youth Chorus. Rocky Mountain Arts Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Gravity Defied Theatre is a member of Colorado Theatre Guild.

Afterthought Theater presents The Meeting At Shadow

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Afterthought Theater Company presents The Meeting by Jeff Stetson for one night only on Saturday, January 16 at Shadow Theatre, 1468 Dayton Street, Aurora, CO. 80010.

If the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had met for an hour or so, what would they have found to say to each other? The Meeting probes what would have happened if the two met before they were assassinated - just three years apart. This intriguing idea is portrayed as a dialog. A hotel room provides a compelling setting for these two prominent men of recent history, who changed our nation and the world.

Let us not forget these two national treasures, revisit their legacies and embrace their ideals as we march toward a brighter tomorrow. President Barack Obama.

The cast includes Cris Davenport as Martin Luther King Jr. and Joseph Fuqua Jones as Malcolm X.; Russell Costen joins the cast as Rashad, bodyguard to Malcolm X.

Jeff Stetson is an internationally acclaimed award-winning playwright and screenwriter for film and television.

Stetson adapted The Meeting for PBS. and American Playhouse where it received an Emmy award and was called the perfect play by The Los Angeles Sentinel. He is currently writing a movie based on the play for Black Entertainment Television. The Meeting received a Louis B. Mayer Award, eight NAACP Theater Awards, and six New York AUDELCO nominations. It has been produced throughout Asia, Europe and the United States.

See Calendar for performance details.

The LIDA Project opens 15th Season with Roller Skating With My Cousin

Denver, CO - On January 15th, 2010, The LIDA Project begins its fifteenth season of experimental theatre in Denver with Roller Skating With My Cousin. Co-directed by LIDA's Artistic Director, Brian Freeland, and guest artist Tonya Malik, this bold, new piece has been devised over several months through The LIDA Project's unique ensemble development process. Part science lab, part disco, Roller Skating With My Cousin combines the mythology and archetypes of the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel with the sexual revolutionary act of roller skating, while simultaneously asking whether we can all create a custom-designed universe in our kitchen sink and, furthermore, why did Ronald Reagan fail as the anti-Christ and how did he hide the mark of the Beast? This mash-up of themes results in a lively, dark romp in which synchronized chorus of roller skaters builds a tower under a star-flecked mirror ball sky. Only The LIDA Project begins the New Year with this kind of party.

See Calendar for performance details.

The Play's the Thing - Daylong Program for winter break plus winter term class

The Denver Center Theatre Academy brings warmth to the winter with invigorating theatre classes. Theatre Daze, designed for students ages four to ten, encourages creativity and imagination during Winter Break while Winter Drama Classes, available for children, teens and adults, are now enrolling.

A perfect way to kick-off the Winter Break while freeing parents up for last-minute shopping or work, Theatre Daze will be offered December 18, 21 and 22 from 9 am to 4 pm and will feature a different theme each day. These day-long activities will focus on acting, design, movement/dance, and voice/singing. Enrollment for each day is $45 plus a $5 registration fee; register at 303.446.4892.

Drama classes for the Winter quarter are currently enrolling and begin January 16. Classes are available for children (ages 2 and up), teens and adults. This session typically runs eight weeks with several weekend intensive classes planned, including the popular Rumble in the Rockies stage combat course. Day of week and cost varies by class; to register, go to denvercenter.org/education or call 303.446.4892 to receive a course catalog.

All classes take place at 1101 13th Street in the Newman Center for Theatre Education.

Boedecker Foundation Funds Dairy Center Art House Cinema

BOULDER, Colorado - A substantial grant from The Boedecker Foundation has funded an art house movie theater to be built in The Dairy Center for the Arts.

The Boedecker Foundation's generous support is a catalyst for transition of The Dairy Center, formerly a milk processing plant, into a world class arts center, said Richard Polk, chair of The Dairy's Board of Directors.

The Dairy Center for the Arts is a nonprofit cultural arts organization founded in 1992, and one of the only places in Boulder, Colorado, where the community can experience dramatic theater, comedy, live music, dance performances and visual arts under one roof. The Dairy is home to more than a dozen resident arts organizations, providing residents with arts-related classes and opportunities.

The endowment from George B. Boedecker Jr.'s foundation will also seed the future operations of the Dairy Center, helping to ensure the facility's viability. This generous endowment also serves as the initial donation for a community campaign to fund the new face of The Dairy which includes a beautiful glass atrium that will complete the repurposing of The Dairy's historic building.

We feel that the Dairy Center project fits nicely with some of our core values at The Foundation, said Boedecker. This project represents an excellent example of good people coming together in a united effort to enhance the lives of children and families throughout a community. We're very pleased to be a part of such a forward-thinking endeavor.

Housed in the historic Watts-Hardy Dairy building at 26th and Walnut streets, the 42,000- square-foot facility, once a dairy storage and processing plant, is a nationally recognized model for adaptive reuse of an abandoned industrial space. The Dairy, the city's largest multidisciplinary arts center, includes two black-box theaters of 80 and 100 seats, a 250-seat performance space and multiple galleries.

The Dairy's mission is to provide the Boulder community with diverse opportunities to create learn and participate in high-quality performing and visual arts experiences. Boulder is rated one of the top cities in the country for its local arts and culture.

Adding a small amount of square footage to the front of The Dairy building assures that growing crowds will be able to enjoy adequate space and easier access to multiple events with a safer, ADA-compliant, convenient entry.

The new theater, at the south end of the building in a space that formerly housed CATV, will offer a high-quality cinema experience for arts-related cinema programming including films and documentaries, broadcasts of operas and live theater, with state of the art acoustics. It can accommodate live performances or speakers as well. Working through Emerging Cinema, a digital provider of original content, the theater's programming will include international film festival presentations, first run independent/international films, high definition productions of concerts, operas, live theater and documentaries, as well as children's programming and other educational programs.

The primary focus of the new façade for the facility at 26th and Walnut streets is to make the building safer.

It will enclose a large portion of the outside patio, adding a safe, dramatic and convenient entrance along with programming and gallery space. A flowing curved roof covers a transparent glass atrium space and dramatically enhances the solid, block forms of the existing Dairy building.

The new entrance will provide easy exit in case of emergency, allowing people to leave safely through the same entrance where they entered, and will ensure complete ADA compliance. The City of Boulder, owner of the building, will contribute funding.

Improved energy efficiency will allow greater sustainability through zone control and energy savings in heating and cooling systems, and the project incorporates alternative sources of energy, including passive solar, day lighting and the first phase of a solar array.

The larger lobby provides additional programmable space, allowing simultaneous access to separate events and added display space using movable walls and partitions. The Dairy's success has dramatically increased audiences, classes and performances.

Crowds routinely pack the main lobby and other venues. Nearly 150,000 community members enjoy The Dairy as artists, students or audience each year, and attendance at events is up an amazing 38 percent compared with the same time last year, with an 8 percent increase in the number of performances offered.

George B. Boedecker Jr., founder and former CEO of Crocs Shoes, established his Boulder-based private, non-solicited foundation with the mission of providing critical resources to nonprofit organizations that inspire positive change within diverse communities around the world. He served as CEO and as a member of the Crocs board of directors from its inception through December, 2004. During that span, Crocs grew from a company with eight employees into a billion-dollar industry. From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Boedecker was an executive of Quiznos Corp. and was a founder and managing member of Oregon Food Concepts LLC. More information on the man and his foundation can be found at boefoundation.org.

Architect Stephen Sparn, former board member, longtime friend and architect of The Dairy Center for The Arts, has donated design services to develop initial plans. Deneuve Construction Services provided estimating services. The project will stimulate the local economy during construction, and later as an improved venue for Boulder's thriving arts community. Nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences contribute more than $25 million and 800 jobs annually to Boulder's economy.

Most Awarded Magician in The World Performs at Theatre of Dreams

Shawn Farquhar offers a fast paced, audience participation experience that will draw everyone into an evening of entertainment you will not soon forget. As a 3-time world champion of magic. Shawn's unique look, flashy suits and infectious smile are his trademark. In fact, for the past half-decade Shawn and his family have been entertaining audiences on board luxurious cruise vessels around the globe. Shawn's show is filled with incredible magic, gut busting humor and his dynamic personality which has earned him over 500 standing ovations in the last five years!

The Canadian Association of Magicians awarded Shawn the MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR, the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians awarded him the GRAND PRIX D'HONNEUR and the International Brotherhood of Magicians awarded him both STAGE MAGICIAN and SLEIGHT OF HAND MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR, making him the ONLY magician in history to win BOTH world championships!
- 2009 – First Place- Olympics of Magic, China
- 2006 - Silver Medal - Sleight of Hand - World Magic Olympics
- 2006 - Silver Medal - Parlour Magic - World Magic Olympics
- 2003 - Silver Medal - Sleight of Hand - World Magic Olympics
- 2003 - Magician of the Year - Canadian Association of Magicians
- 2001 - 1st Place - Sleight of Hand - International Brotherhood of Magicians
- 2001 - 1st Place - Sleight of Hand - Society of American Magicians
- 2000 - Grand Prix - Sleight of Hand - Pacific Coast Association of Magicians
- 1998 - 1st Place - Stage Magic - International Brotherhood of Magicians
- 1992 - Gold Medal - Stage Magic - Pacific Coast Association of Magician

Stories on Stage Presents Making Merry

DENVER, October 30, 2009 - Stories on Stage presents Making Merry Sunday, December 13 in the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

The talents of Jacqueline Antaramian, Jamie Horton, Mahira Kakkar and Randy Moore bring warmth to the season with classic holiday stories in Making Merry.

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, read by Mahira Kakkar

Love that looks not with the eyes but with the mind.

O. Henry was the pen name of American writer William Sydney Porter. O. Henry's short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization and clever twist endings. Most of his stories are set in his own time, the early years of the 20th century. Many take place in New York City, and deal for the most part with ordinary people: clerks, policemen, and waitresses. O. Henry published 10 collections and over 600 short stories during his lifetime Mahira Kakkar trained at the Juilliard School, the Guthrie Experience and Chautauqua Theatre Conservatory. Her regional credits include Miss Witherspoon, Betrothed, Three Sisters, Macbeth, Lady Windermere's Fan, Once in a Lifetime, Our Town and she has appeared on the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, read by Randy Moore

Kenneth Grahame is most famous for The Wind in the Willows (1908), one of the classics of children's literature, which focuses on four animal characters in pastoral England. The wayward headstrong nature he saw in his little son Alistair (also known as "Mouse") was transformed into the swaggering Mr. Toad, one of its four principal characters. Grahame also wrote The Reluctant Dragon; both books were adapted into Disney films in the 1940’s.

Randy Moore is now enjoying his 15th season at Denver Center Theatre Company. His credits include: Trip to Bountiful, A Christmas Carol, The Miser, The Winter’s Tale, A Flea in Her Ear. As a 30-year veteran of the Dallas Theater Center acting company Mr. Moore performed as Cyrano, Hamlet, Iago, Sherlock Holmes, and others.

Vera's First Christmas Adventure by Arnold Bennett, read by Jacqueline Antaramian
All I want for Christmas is…..exactly what I want.

Arnold Bennett won a literary competition in 1889 and was encouraged to take up journalism full time. His most famous works are the Clayhanger trilogy and The Old Wives' Tale. Vera's First Christmas Adventure is taken from The Grim Smile of the Five Towns, a collection of short stories published in 1907.

Jacqueline Antaramian's Broadway credits include Mary Stuart, Coram Boy, Julius Caesar and Wrong Mountain.

She has been seen in episodes of Fringe, Lipstick Jungle, Third Watch, Law & Order and The Sopranos and in the movie The Siege. Ms. Antaramian has performed leading roles in more than 60 regional productions, including nine years at the Denver Center Theatre Company, and was awarded the 2006 Barrymore Award for Best Actress for her performance in Nine Parts of Desire.

Another Christmas Carol by P.G. Wodehouse, read by Jamie Horton
Egbert Mulliner's best holiday dinner ever.

P.G. Wodehouse is best known for his creation of the quintessential British gentleman and valet "Jeeves". He was first published in 1902 and enjoyed enormous popular success during a career of more than seventy years. Wodehouse was also a playwright and lyricist who was part author and writer of 15 plays and of 250 lyrics for some 30 musical comedies. His prolific writings continue to be widely read.

Jamie Horton returns to Denver once again to delight the Stories on Stage audience. A 23-year veteran of the Denver Center Theatre Company, Mr. Horton engaged Denver audiences as an actor in numerous shows including Orphans, The Dresser, Sylvia, Gross Indecency and Bernice/Butterfly; director of Inna Beginning, and The Scarlet Letter and writer: A Rumor of Angels, NBC's St. Elsewhere and Top of the World. Mr. Horton had a twenty-year association with the National Theatre Conservatory's MFA program as adjunct teacher and mentor. He is currently an Associate Professor of Theatre at Dartmouth College.

Stories On Stage, an award winning performing arts organization features some of America's best actors from stage and screen today performing the words of many of the finest renown authors.

See Calendar for performance details.

Nathaniel Merrill Founders Room dedicated at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House

DENVER, CO - Denver's Division of Theatres and Arenas, along with Opera Colorado and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, dedicated the Nathaniel Merrill Founders Room, a new event and meeting space adjacent to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Newton Auditorium at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The elegant lounge overlooking 14th and Champa Streets was created in memory of Opera Colorado's late founder, Nathaniel Merrill.

Located on the house left side of the Ellie and accessed via the mezzanine-level lobby of the opera house, the 1,000-square-foot Founders Room features a built-in bar and casual seating. The space will be available to Opera Colorado and Colorado Ballet for board meetings, donor cultivation events and post-show gatherings with artists. Like the Chambers Grant Salon at the Newton Auditorium and the Buell Theatre's Wolf Room, the Nathaniel Merrill Founders Room also will be available for rent to individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations for meetings and parties. Funding for the design and construction of the new event and meeting space was provided through Theatres and Arenas' capital budget and a grant from the Gates Family Foundation.

The City is very pleased to have this opportunity to honor Nat Merrill and to celebrate all that he did for Opera Colorado and the Denver performing arts community, said Jack Finlaw, Director of Theatres and Arenas. Nat's vision for grand opera in Denver led to the birth of Opera Colorado. Opera Colorado's success as one of the nation's best regional opera companies is a tribute to his passion and hard work. Nat's presence is greatly missed by everyone who knew or worked with him, but his name and spirit now will live on at the Ellie, which is home to the company he founded.

In a career that spanned four decades, Opera Colorado founder Nathaniel Merrill became one of the most revered and accomplished directors and producers of opera of his generation. Merrill served for 28 seasons as Resident Stage Director for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, and he directed more than 100 different operas in over 200 separate productions worldwide. During the late 1950s and 1960s, he directed productions for the Central City Opera Festival, including a notable offering of Aida starring a young Beverly Sills. Merrill moved to Denver in 1981 to found Opera Colorado, and the organization became the first company in the United States to produce grand opera in the round at Boettcher Concert Hall. The company produced two operas annually in repertory, adding a third production to its season at the Buell Theatre during its 1990-1991 season.

Under Nathaniel Merrill's leadership, artists such as Placido Domingo, Eva Marton, James McCracken, Jon Vickers, Sherill Milnes, Diana Soviero, Elizabeth Holleque, Catherine Malfitano, Pilar Lorengar, Justino Diaz, Richard Bonynge, Julius Rudel, Cornell MacNeil, Hao Jiang Tian, Yalun Zhang, Samuel Ramey, set designer Ming Cho Lee and many others lent their talents to Opera Colorado's world-class productions. Merrill received many accolades during his time with Opera Colo ado, including the Mayor’s Award for Special Achievement for Excellence in the Arts (1983 and 1989), a recognition by the Colorado General Assembly (1989), the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Annual Award for Contributions to the Field of Arts and Humanities (1990), and the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts (1991). Nathaniel Merrill passed away on September 9, 2008. He is survived by his wife Pamela Merrill, his sons Christopher and Hank, his daughter Linda Ely and his brother Henry.

In 2003 the historic Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium was completely renovated through the combined use of a taxpayer-supported City bond initiative and private funds. The Newton Auditorium now houses the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, a state-of-the-art lyric style opera house that is the home of Opera Colorado and Colorado Ballet. The Ellie also hosts touring Broadway productions, rock, folk and pop concerts and film festivals. The Chambers Grant Salon at the Newton Auditorium is one of Denver’s most popular venues for fine dining and social gatherings.

The City of Denver's Division of Theatres and Arenas owns and operates Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Colorado Convention Center and the historic Denver Coliseum. For more information visit RedRocksOnline.com, ArtsComplex.com, DenverConvention.com and DenverColiseum.com.

Letter from Actor Paul Page

Hello,
You may not have heard from me for awhile. Or you may no longer live in Denver, but still possibly have some business connections in Denver. Or we may also communicate via Facebook and you already know this, but I was recently downsized by Qwest. Everyone knows this is not a good time to be unemployed, and it's especially tough for me as I am not 23 anymore. Plus, I have two dependent children and as of November 1 none of us has healthcare coverage.

I'm writing to ask if you know of any leads or openings in the greater Denver area, please keep me in mind. I have a very strong and diverse office management background as well as some experience in employee communications.

I'd also be open to short-term, part-time hourly employment. So please let me know if you have any suggestions!

Thanks.
Paul Page
303-596-8601

Laughs are next for the Denver Center Theatre Company

DENVER - Comedy takes over at the Denver Center Theatre Company for this pre-holiday season - Lisa Kron's funny autobiographical comedy Well opens the 2009/10 season in The Ricketson Theatre and Absurd Person Singular, Alan Ayckbourn's uproarious adult comedy set on three consecutive Christmas Eves warms up The Space Theatre.

Lisa Kron wrote her autobiographical play Well - a humorous exploration of wellness and illness - as an innovative comedy of ideas in a play that knows it's a play. Kron (Kate Levy) layers her 30-something life story with interruptions from her on-stage mother (Kathleen M. Brady) who admonishes her daughter to be honest about her intentions for the play and "lovingly" corrects her memories of the past. An ensemble of actors weave their way in and out of the scenes as mother and daughter explore the power of illness, family and community with endearing poignancy and frankness.

Director Christy Montour-Larson makes her Denver Center directing debut with Well. Her design team includes Scenic Designer Lisa M. Orzolek (The Voysey Inheritance, The Trip to Bountiful, Gee's Bend), Costume Designer Meghan Anderson Doyle (Denver Center debut), Lighting Designer Jane Spencer (The Voysey Inheritance, Sunsets and Margaritas, Doubt) and Sound Designer Kimberly Fuhr (Doubt, Lydia, The Diary of Anne Frank). The Dramaturg for Well is Douglas Langworthy (The Voysey Inheritance, Quilters, Sunsets and Margaritas) and Fight Direction is by Geoffrey Kent (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III, The Miracle Worker).

The cast is led by Kate Levy (Uncle Vanya, A Christmas Carol) as Lisa Kron and Kathleen M. Brady (Quilters, The Trip to Bountiful) as her mother Ann Kron. The ensemble includes Rachel Fowler (The Miracle Worker, Measure for Measure), Shauna Miles (A Prayer for Owen Meany), Robert Jason Jackson (Richard III, King Lear) and Erik Sandvold (Plainsong, The Diary of Anne Frank).

Outlandish behavior and dark, adult humor hilariously disrupt three consecutive Christmas Eves in Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn (Season's Greetings) - Britain's acclaimed comic playwright. In what Artistic Director Kent Thompson jokingly calls "the perfect adult antidote to A Christmas Carol," three British married couples scuffle to position themselves on the ladder of social mobility. Adding to the hilarity, Ayckbourn sets the action not in the rooms where the holiday parties are actually happening, but in the three kitchens behind them.

Director Sabin Epstein, Head of Performance Skills at the National Theatre Conservatory, makes his debut with the Denver Center Theatre Company. The design team for Absurd Person Singular includes Scenic Designer Bill Forrester (Glengarry Glen Ross, All My Sons), Costume Designer Angela Balogh Calin (The Miracle Worker), Lighting Designer Charles R. MacLeod (A Raisin in the Sun, Radio Golf, Dusty and the Big Bad World) and Sound Designer Jason Ducat (The Voysey Inheritance, Radio Golf, Dusty and the Big Bad World). Fight Direction is by Geoffrey Kent (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III, The Miracle Worker) and the Vocal Coach is Michael Cobb (Noises Off, Plainsong, Pride and Prejudice).

The three couples in the cast are Chris Mixon (A Christmas Carol, White Christmas) and Megan Byrne (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Noises Off) as Sidney and Jane Hopcroft, John Hutton (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III) and Jeanne Paulsen (A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Miracle Worker) as Ronald and Marion Brewster-Wright, and David Ivers (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Noises Off) and Kathleen McCall (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III) as Geoffrey and Eva Jackson.

See Calendar for specific information for tickets, reservations, and dates.

Joseph Returns to The Arvada Center with Bright New Colors

ARVADA, CO - The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities presents an all new staging of the award-winning production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, running November 24 - December 27, 2009 in the Main Stage Theater.

A Musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Joseph returns to the Arvada Center for a limited, one-time only production for the holidays! This award-winning show promises to delight returning audiences and awe first timers with the joyful and "colorful" retelling of the biblical life of Joseph. Filled with high-spirited songs and energetic choreography, this next generation of Joseph is great for all generations, making it a perfect holiday event for the entire family.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Friday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. & Wednesday, December 9 at 1:00 p.m. - Talk back with members of the cast and production team following the performance.
Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 p.m. - Audio-described performance, to accommodate patrons who are blind or have low vision.
Children's price: 50% off for children 12 and under. Some restrictions apply. Children's tickets can only be purchased by calling the Box Office at 720-898-7200.
Holiday Schedule: Added Show, Sun, Nov 29, 7:30PM; Mon, Dec 21, 7:30PM; Sun, Dec 27, 7:30PM. No shows Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Joseph is directed by Stephen Bourneuf, who has worked previously with the Arvada Center on two other productions; Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and the acclaimed Broadway hit Altar Boyz, which was nominated for a Denver Ovation Award for outstanding choreography.

CAST LIST: (* Denotes Equity)
Piper Arpan * Wife
Chelley Canales * Wife
Patric Case * Asher/ u-s Pharaoh
Rob Costigan * Napthali / Baker
Stephen Day * Jacob / Potiphar
Ben Dicke * Simeon
Zak Edwards * Issachar
Nick Henderson Zebulon
Kitty Skillman Hilsabeck * Wife
Jessica Hindsley Wife
Rikki James Judah
David B. Johnson * Joseph
Megan Koumis * Wife
Jill Nacke * Wife
Mercedes Perez * Mrs. Potiphar
Sarah Rex * Narrator
Rob Reynolds * Levi
Matthew J. Schneider * Reuben
Michelle Sergeeff * Wife
Justin Stapp * Benjamin
Ryan Turner Gad
Aaron Umstead * Dan
David Villella * Pharaoh
See Calendar for specific days, times, and ticket prices.

Alice Finds Wonderland At The Denver Victorian Playhouse

The Denver Victorian Playhouse Children's Theatre program presents "Alice in Wonderland." Performances are Saturday and Sunday, November 21 through December 20. Denver Victorian Playhouse is located at 4201 Hooker St. in Denver. Tickets are $12 Adult and $8 Children (12 and under) and available by calling 303-433-4343 or online at DenverVic.com

Join Alice on her adventure as she meets many fun and interesting characters. "I wonder if I've been changed in the night?" Let me think - Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is "Who in the world am I?"

Alice wonders. Does she have the strength to stand up to the Queen of Hearts and decide what is real and what is not?

The stellar cast includes Pam Clifton as the Queen of Heart's, Lauren Lang as Alice, Sloan Lyons, Matthew Miller and Eloise Morris as the Storyteller's , Zach Page as Mad Hatter and Trevor Rutkowski as Lewis Carroll. With Bonnie Evans (Cheshire Cat), Abriella Higman (Dormouse), Alek Kay (Caterpillar), Alexander Myers (White Rabbit), Clarissa Solis (March Hare), Emily Weston (Pigeon/Gardener), Neveah Brock, Soren Cacek, Miah Solis, and Seth Peterson (Cards).

All costumes and set design are created by this young and talented cast as they learn all aspects of theatre during their experience in Wonderland.

*On December 19 from 2-4p.m. a special guest visits us from the North Pole - Santa will join us in the lobby. Photographer Sarah Roshan will be taking picture and packages will be available beginning at $5.00 for purchase online. There is no charge to visit Santa, however donations of a new toy or unwrapped gift is appreciated. Those gifts will be collected and delivered for the holidays to Familytree.org, a non profit serving Homeless, at risk youth, Domestic violence victims and there families.

See Calendar for specific dates, times and ticket prices.

New Arts Company: Visionbox, Arrives On The Scene

Visionbox, a new arts company founded by producer director and teacher Jennifer McCray Rincon in collaboration with actor and director Bill Pullman, makes its debut on October 23, 2009. Visionbox and Spk1st presents Ellis Woods, Jr’s play Fatherlessness Stand’s Trial at the Warren United Methodist Church, 1630 E. 14th Ave., Denver, CO. Rincon is the production director and curtain is 7:00 PM.

The company is committed to the education and development of new work of visionary artists in our community and world wide. Woods, the founder of Spk1st, is an inspirational/motivational speaker/playwright concerned with projects of social significance in our community.

This new play is only 30 minutes long and the beginning of a series of pieces to come. The performance is free and open to the general public. Families are encouraged to attend, but material is not suitable to children under 10 years old.

Please come and support this new company. Visionbox is also working out of Capitol Hill United Neighborhood Center (CHUN), offering professional level actor training to actors of all ages and experience. Jennifer McCray Rincon is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and was the Head of Acting at the National Theatre Conservatory from 1991 to 2008. She has worked at Shadow Theatre Company and El Centro Su Teatro, most recently as director of Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me Ultima.

For questions contact Visionbox at e-mail Visionbox1212@gmail.com or you may call Jennifer Rincon at 720-810-1641 or contact her assistant, Maggie Blumer 402-521-0504.

See Calendar for details.

New Denver Center Blog Gives Glimpse Behind The Scenes

DENVER, CO - Daniel L. Ritchie - Chairman and CEO of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Chairman Emeritus of the University of Denver, and renowned businessman and philanthropist - tackles his most challenging role yet when he introduces The Denver Center's new blog.

Launched at denvercenter.org/blog, the blog gives a behind-the-scenes look at everything from the production process to the dressing room. It engages actors, directors, students, designers and stage managers in an online dialogue with the public.

See Mr. Ritchie "step into character" as he provides a unique overview in the Denver Center Blog mydenvercenter.org/2009/10/06/225.

Wicked To Host Wicked Rocks

On Monday, November 9, the First National Touring Company of WICKED will host WICKED ROCKS, a night of Rock and Roll Music. Held at the Bluebird Theatre, the event will feature cast and crew members of the company in performances of music by members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The net proceeds of this event will benefit BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS and Denver’s PROJECT ANGEL HEART.

Produced by company members, the evening is an opportunity for them to step out of their roles in the musical and present an evening of rock and roll’s greatest hits, including songs by The Beatles, Queen, the Rolling Stones, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin; and will feature company members including Richard H. Blake (Fiyero), Ben Liebert (Boq), Merideth Kaye Clark (Elphaba Standby), as well as members of the ensemble and the touring staff. The evening will be hosted by Richard Kline (The Wizard).

Admission to WICKED ROCKS is by donation. Tickets will be available at the door, in advance at TICKETMASTER.COM (800-745-3000) or online at Blacktie-Colorado.com. In person purchase is available at the OGDEN THEATRE, Saturdays from 10:00am-2:00pm.

WICKED ROCKS is part of an ongoing series of performances by the touring company throughout the country to support charitable causes which advance WICKED’s theme of acceptance and illuminate the musical’s message that people should not be judged on first impressions. The company believes that in these divisive times we must come together to support those in need throughout the country and around the world. In its four years on the road, the company has raised well over $500,000 in donations to BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS and local AIDS Services organizations all over the country.

Project Angel Heart: Since 1991, delivering nutritious meals to improve quality of life, at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illness. Project Angel Heart addresses the critical need for nutrition by providing home-delivered meals specifically designed to meet the heightened nutritional requirements of people battling life-threatening illnesses. We rely on crews of volunteers, working six days per week under the supervision of a professional chef, to prepare, cook, and package our meals in our own kitchen, Randy's Kitchen. We prepare our own meals using only the freshest ingredients and we modify up to 60% of our meals each day to meet individual client's dietary restrictions.

Clients can receive up to the equivalent of three meals per day, depending on need as measured by the stage of disease, resources and the ability to access other sources of nutrition, like food banks.

To provide these services, Project Angel Heart successfully relies on our dedicated volunteers. It takes more than 250 scheduled volunteers each week, out of a pool of 4,076 total volunteers in 2006, to operate Project Angel Heart. All told, volunteers worked 39,452 hours in 2006 or the equivalent of 21 full-time staff people.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fund raising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American theater community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $150 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV, and other serious illnesses.

DCPA Revamps Free Ticket Program

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ 15-year-old Free For ALL program has been revamped in order to expand upon its original goal — to introduce theatre to persons who would otherwise not be able to attend. The program, which has served more than 70,000 people, is made possible by taxpayer support of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District.

The revised program will operate as a ticket drawing; persons wishing to attend a theatrical performance will:
• complete an online application (available November 1 at denvercenter.org/free)
• be entered into a ticket drawing
• be notified when seats are available and invited to attend a performance

The benefits to this new structure are considerable. Tickets will:
• be available to Broadway touring productions as determined by the producer
• be available to Denver Center Theatre Company productions
• be available on multiple dates thereby increasing the total tickets available
• be available at different times including weekday and weekend matinees
• be guaranteed in advance without waiting in line
• provide an optional companion ticket

Persons wishing to apply should visit www.denvercenter.org/free on or after Nov. 1. Please note: Tickets are not guaranteed and specific productions may not be requested. Each entry is eligible for no more than two tickets. The Box Office counter opens one hour prior to the performance time; tickets must be claimed one half hour before the performance. Questions may be directed to 303.893.4100, TTY 303.893.9582 or freetickets@dcpa.org.

Opera Colorado Presents Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann

DENVER, CO— A poet explores a surreal dreamscape as he recalls his lost loves in Opera Colorado’s production of Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, playing for four performances only at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, November 7 through the 15. Tickets, ranging in price from $30 to $160 are available at OperaColorado.org or by calling 800.982.ARTS.

Created by director Renaud Doucet and production designer André Barbe, the opera is a vivid flight of the imagination about a poet named Hoffmann who is in love with four unforgettable women. The hero travels to a mad scientist’s laboratory, the surreal home of a fragile young singer, and a Venetian brothel, but encounters evil villains who seek to ruin his chance at love. Offenbach’s lush music fuels the visual style of the stage design, inspired by graphic artist M.C. Escher, and the lavish costumes, inspired by 19th century French couture. This will be Opera Colorado’s first performance of Offenbach’s masterpiece in more than twenty-five years.

The opera stars Australian tenor Julian Gavin (Carmen, 2005) in the title role alongside soprano Pamela Armstrong (La traviata, 2007), who takes on the challenging task of performing all four female roles. Normally these roles are performed by three different singers; to take on all four roles is truly a superhuman feat for any soprano. French-Canadian bass-baritone Gaétan Laperrière makes his Opera Colorado debut performing the roles of the Four Villains. The performance will be conducted by renowned French conductor Emmanuel Joel-Hornak, making his Opera Colorado debut.

The Tales of Hoffmann was created by Opera Colorado in cooperation with Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Boston Lyric Opera.

Spring Awakening Tickets On Sale October 18

DENVER – Broadway’s most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award®-winner in years is coming to The Buell Theatre, presented by Denver Center Attractions. SPRING AWAKENING, the eight-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, plays a limited two week engagement December 1-13. Single tickets go on sale Sunday, October 18 at denvercenter.org or by phone and walk-up Monday, October 19 at 10am.

SPRING AWAKENING swept the 2007 Tony Awards, winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams) and Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).

Hailed as the “Best Musical of the Year” by the NY Drama Critics Circle, the Drama Desk, the Outer Critics Circle and the Tony Awards, SPRING AWAKENING has emerged as the most talked about new musical on Broadway.

Based on the infamous 1891 Frank Wedekind play, SPRING AWAKENING features an electrifying score by Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics Steven Sater, direction by Michael Mayer and choreography by the award-winning Bill T. Jones.

Set against the backdrop of a repressive and provincial late 19th century Germany, SPRING AWAKENING tells the timeless story of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality as seen through the eyes of three teenagers. Haunting and provocative, SPRING AWAKENING celebrates an unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with a power, a poignancy and a passion you will never forget.

Set design is by Christine Jones, costume design is by Tony Award-winner Susan Hilbert, lighting design by Tony Award-winner Kevin Adams and sound design by Brian Ronan.

SPRING AWAKENING opened on Broadway on December 10, 2006 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, following its world premiere at the Atlantic Theater Company. The original cast recording won the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. SPRING AWAKENING is produced by Ira Pittelman, Tom Hulce, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and the Atlantic Theater Company.

SPRING AWAKENING contains mature themes, sexual situations and strong language. For a parents’ guide, please visit parents.springawakening.com.

Single tickets for SPRING AWAKENING start at just $25, and go on sale Sunday, October 18 at denvercenter.org and Monday, October 19 at 10am for phone and walk-up sales. To charge by phone, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Groups of 15 or more, please call 303.446.4829. Tickets may also be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby, or at TicketsWest outlets, located in all King Soopers stores. Buy and print online at denvercenter.org.

SPRING AWAKENING is a featured attraction in Denver Center Attractions’ 2009 season which is generously supported by United Airlines. Media sponsorship for DCA is provided by The Denver Post, CBS4 and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Please visit our website at denvercenter.org.

For more information about SPRING AWAKENING and to watch an introductory video, please visit springawakening.com. Praise for SPRING AWAKENING:

“Broadway may never be the same. This brave new musical, haunting and electrifying by turns, restores the mystery and the thrill to that shattering transformation that stirs in all of our souls.” Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

“A miracle that must be seen to be believed … The best new musical in a generation.” John Heilpern, The New York Observer

“The most explosive new musical since RENT!” Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger

Su Teatro’s Tony Garcia Visited The White House

Su Teatro Executive Artistic Director Anthony J. Garcia returned from Washington DC yesterday. He was a special guest at In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina, a concert hosted by the President and Mrs. Obama on the South Lawn of the White House. The program celebrated Hispanic musical heritage and included performances by Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, George Lopez, Thalia, Tito "El Bambino", the Bachata music group Aventura, and the Chicano rock band Los Lobos, with Sheila E. as the musical director. The sixty-minute program aired October 15, 2009 on PBS stations nationwide.

Naropa University Presidential Inauguration Presents a Day of Service & Learning in Local Community

BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 14, 2009)—With a proven history of success at other institutions, the new president of Naropa University, Dr. Stuart C. Lord, seeks to boost the level of Naropa’s involvement in the broader community. In honor of President Lord’s commitment, Naropa will hold the Naropa University Day of Service & Learning during his inaugural weekend, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2009. For more information please go to www.naropa.edu/inauguration.

Naropa’s Day of Service and Learning is open to the public and will begin with a period of contemplative practice, followed by a “kick-off breakfast”. Speakers will accompany breakfast and lunch, including the topic of Service-Learning in Higher Education and a “Community Café” meeting titled Examination of Local Social Issues and Opportunities to Address Them.

Members of Naropa’s student body, faculty and staff will participate in a number of off-campus and on-campus service projects on Oct. 30. For example, participants will visit the Sister Carmen Community Center in Lafayette to help with sorting food and clothing donations, and others will assist Growing Gardens in north Boulder with harvesting the fall crop. Projects have also been scheduled with the I Have a Dream Foundation in Boulder, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity in Broomfield and Project YES (Youth Envisioning Social change) in Lafayette, among many other entities. The public is invited to join. If interested, please complete the Day of Service and Learning registration form.

Participants of Service and Learning will have the opportunity to combine service-related action with contemplative learning. President Lord hopes that students who engage the community through service will also bring the issues they encountered back to the classroom, where a transformative problem-solving process can begin.

“If we can inspire students to think about transforming the problems of the world, and learning habits of the heart while they are studying, it can serve as a foundation for engaged learning and engaged service,” said Lord.

On Oct. 30, Lord plans to spend his service time off-campus at a variety of sites. But he also said his commitment to service won’t end at 5 p.m.– and he wants the entire Naropa community to follow his lead.

“This is not just a Day of Service. This is the beginning of a refocusing and a reinvigorating of our commitment to service,” said Lord.

Lord came to Naropa from DePauw University (1988–2000) and Dartmouth College (2000–2009), where he made strong commitments to increasing levels of student service at both institutions. Student body participation in community service increased from 25 percent to more than 93 percent during his tenure at DePauw, and from 45 percent to more than 70 percent during his time at Dartmouth.

He has also built an impressive record of personal service. Lord has led international service trips to Bangladesh, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Sierra Leone. He has developed programs to aid domestic communities, including areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. In 1996, he was the executive director of the President’s Summit for America’s Future under President Clinton. In this role, Lord provided leadership to a national volunteer initiative targeted at improving the quality of life for America’s youth.

“I think that the mission of Naropa University has always been ‘teaching with a heart,’” said Lord. “In the classroom, the local community and the global community, the goal is to prepare them to be citizens in the world, but not just an average citizen – an active citizen.”

While only time will tell how many members of the Naropa community will follow Lord’s call to service, he won’t have to convince Portia Johnson to dedicate herself to service-learning. She’s already doing it at Sanchez Elementary, and she’s also helping to coordinate Day of Service activities for Lord’s inauguration.

Johnson, a Naropa senior who is majoring in Early Childhood Education, said service-learners help create a reciprocal relationship in which the student and the community member's) learn from each other. She has spent most of her service-learning time in youth empowerment programs, and she is currently involved as the coordinator of a program called “Arts for Social Change” at Sanchez Elementary School in Lafayette.

“In service-learning,” said Johnson, “all parties are partners, learning and benefiting from each other through communication – asking each other what they really want and need…there is no server and no served. The fact that Dr. Lord has reached out into the Naropa community to create a day dedicated to service speaks to the importance he places on it and the path which he desires to continue steering the university.”

Naropa University has a long-standing history of participation in community partnerships and service learning programs throughout the Denver metro region, including the Denver Vet Center, the University of Colorado Center for Multicultural Education and Boulder County Mental Health. Peace Studies students have been active in the “Reading to End Racism” program in Boulder public schools. Graduate psychotherapy students have served at internship placements throughout the state of Colorado for three decades.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

Candlelight Dinner’s Scrooge Has a Heart Honoring Vets Opening Weekend

In honor of Veteran's Day, all Veterans and active duty service men and women are invited to be the guests of Candlelight Dinner Playhouse for Opening Weekend of "Scrooge the Musical" November 13th through the 15th.

Veterans and Active Military need simply to mention their service when they call the box office at 970-744-3747 to book a reservation for dinner and show. This is for new reservations only, please.

This is the second year Candlelight has honored Veteran's and Active Military. Active Military can also enjoy $35 tickets throughout the year.

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse would like to sincerely thank all of our heroes for their service.

Halloween Family Fun forum Spooktacular Fun For All Ages

The Denver Center Theatre Academy wraps up Fall Break and the Halloween weekend with a FREE Family Fun Forum on Sunday, November 1 from 12-2pm in the Newman Center for Theatre Education at 1101 13th St.

The afternoon engages families and groups in Halloween-themed activities designed for the smallest goblin to the oldest warlock. Participants will walk the tightrope of terror, fly from a trapeze and hone their witches cackle - all the while earning tokens redeemable for prizes and treats. Costumes are encouraged - this is the theatre after all!

Supported by Target, Family Fun Forums are free but reservations are appreciated at 303.446.4892.

Central City Opera Guild’s 33 rd Annual L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour and Gift Boutique Comes to the Historic Lowry Neighborhood

DENVER, COLO. – Tour goers can get in to the holiday spirit with the 33rd annual L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour and Gift Boutique benefiting the Central City Opera House Association. Presented by the Central City Opera Guild, this year’s tour will feature homes in the historic and newly developed Lowry neighborhood starting at 6 th Ave. and Quebec in Denver. Tour hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 20 to Sun., Nov. 22.

The L’Esprit de Noel Tour features homes beautifully decorated for the holiday season with festive tabletop settings and decor. It will feature six destinations including three custom homes on Crescent Park and 6 th Ave. Parkway, two residences in the Steam Plant lofts, and the historic Eisenhower Chapel located at Lowry Town Center.

Denver’s top floral designers and decorators participating in the event include: Newberry’s, Moss Pink, Compleat Gourmet, Les Belles Fleurs, Neiman Marcus, Sweet William Market, Wildflowers, The Bunny Gate and Side Effects. New this year is a special “winter scape” treatment that will be created by Phase One Landscaping and Jennifer Smith at a private, outdoor courtyard at the Steam Plant Lofts.

The expanded L’Esprit Gift Boutique will be held at the Stanley British Gymnasium at 350 Quebec. A great place to purchase one-of-a-kind items for everyone on the Christmas list this year, more than 35 vendors will sell their wares with items including gourmet foods, hand-painted pottery, holiday silverware, unique handbags, children’s clothing and even bath products. Admission and parking for the Boutique are FREE. Boutique hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Sponsors of the 33 rd L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour & Gift Boutique include Coldwell Banker Devonshire, Re Max of Cherry Creek, GE Johnson, Megastar Financial and Lori Rickert, State Farm Insurance, The Villager and Denver Newspaper Agency.

A popular sneak peek at the home tour is the Patron Preview Party and Tour on Thursday evening. Attendees at this exclusive party will get a preview tour of the homes, followed by cocktails and an elegant buffet. Tickets are $250 for benefactors, $150 for patrons and $90 for junior patrons (age 35 and younger).

Music of the season will be performed at L’Esprit de Noel this year with performances by the professional singers of the Central City Opera Ensemble in the Eisenhower Chapel on Saturday and Sunday of the Tour, Nov. 21 and 22. Performance times TBA.

Tickets for the home tour are available for $18 in advance at local King Soopers locations or $20 through the Central City Box Office at (303) 292-6700. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door on the days of the event for $20. Admission is free for the Boutique, and parking also is free for all Home Tour and Boutique guests. For more information please visit centralcityopera.org.

Proceeds support Central City Opera’s programs including its annual Summer Festival, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, the preservation and maintenance of the Opera House and more than 30 other Victorian-era properties and its Education and Community Programs, which serve more than 80,000 people each year through performances in elementary and secondary schools, community centers, senior residences and theaters.

Recognized as a national model for urban development, Lowry has been transformed from what was once a working Air Force base to what is now a thriving community where more than 25,000 people live, work, play and learn. Twenty-seven historic buildings have been preserved and the area is now home to five neighborhoods and more than 140 employers including small, large and non-profit businesses and schools.

Halloween Dreams Invades Vintage Theatre

(Denver, CO) - Vintage Theatre opens L. Don Swartz’ Halloween Dreams on Friday, October 2.

Halloween Dreams is a wonderful, nostalgic, family thriller. For the month of October, Gram Doobie rules her daughter's household. Her obsession with Halloween has been passed on to her grandchildren, especially the oldest. It is of special interest this particular Halloween in Chestnut Hollow because there are gruesome axe murders occurring. The killer is still on the loose. The family, church, school, police and the news all look to find a true suspect to end this gruesome situation. But, this is a Halloween show, so....you'll have to take the trip with the characters to find out who it is.

The cast includes Nita Froelich, Patrick Collins, Scott Glennon, Janine Kehlenbach, Lilly Mattingly, Danielle Samler, Ellie Fotaki, Paige Flageolle, Campbell Hart, Amanda Lively, Aron Langass, Ali Oksnar, Max Stewart, Julia Thompson and Stephanie Caulk.

See Calendar for Performance details.

Naropa University Brings Tibetan Book of the Dead to Life

BOULDER, Colo. (Sept. 17, 2009)–Naropa University is pleased to announce the upcoming performances of Luminous Emptiness, directed by International Butoh Artist Katsura Kan. The staged multimedia production, based on a 1975 translation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead by Naropa’s founder Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, is a co-production of the Golden Sun Foundation for World Culture, directed by Ken Green, and Naropa University's MFA Theater: Contemporary Performance Program, directed by Wendell Beavers.

Public performances will be held on Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16-18 in the Performing Arts Center at the Naropa University, 2130 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, Colo. 80302. For reservations and ticketing, contact (303) 245-4798 or http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/79202. The cost is $15 general admission, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for Naropa students, faculty, staff and alumni with ID.

Luminous Emptiness seeks to provide the audience with an immersive and captivating illustration of the journey from death to the intermediate state and on to rebirth, in accordance with the teachings of The Tibetan Book of The Dead, or Bardo Thodol in Tibetan. Also, the tale of how Luminous Emptiness came into being includes another journey—from ancient Tibetan history to the early years of Naropa, then to contemporary artists and the use of state-of-the-art technological tools.

Ken Green, who conceived and designed the overall project, is co-producing the performance with Naropa MFA Director Wendell Beavers. Green is currently the executive director of The Golden Sun Foundation for World Culture, a Boulder-based nonprofit cultural organization. He was a member of the original board of directors that founded Naropa in the 1970s and was a senior student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

According to Green, The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a teaching by Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. The text was recovered 600 years later by Karma Lingpa and was soon adopted throughout the region as one of the principal texts for giving aid and guidance to the dying. It was subsequently passed down through the Trungpa lineage, and in the late 1970s Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche asked Green to adapt the text for film and theater, so it would be accessible to the general public.

The 2009 project seeks to make an ancient and esoteric text exciting and accessible for modern audiences through the use of new media technology. To weave together Tibetan art and computer-generated images, the project team will be working with digital imagery and enhanced video tools, so it can composite, render and blend pictorial elements from Tibetan Thangka paintings with high-resolution video, CGI objects and algorithmic animation. The Bardo Thodol is a complex tract filled with visual and sonic imagery, and brilliant images, colors and sounds will be an integral part of the performance.

The current workshop performance is being crafted by a team of highly talented local and international artists and technical wizards, including composer Gary Grundei, new media artist and animator John Vega, video and media artist Kevin Anderson, and technology consultant Wyndham Hannaway. Master painter Romio Shrestha and his team of artisan monks have created postmodern versions of Tibetan Thangka art. Douglas Penick, a Boulder-based writer, librettist and scholar, wrote the text adaptation that is central to the upcoming performance.

Luminous Emptiness will be performed by members of the 2nd Year Ensemble of Naropa’s MFA Theater: Contemporary Performance Program, which is noted for its unique physical theater, music and dance cross-training. The program has produced notable public productions over the past four years, including works by Meredith Monk and last year’s extraordinary versions of Euripides’s Trojan Women and Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.

The director, Katsura Kan, is an internationally known artist in the Japanese discipline of Butoh, an avant-garde dance movement that began to develop after World War II in Japan. He has been a frequent contributor to Naropa’s MFA program.

Beavers said Butoh has its roots in ancient Japanese culture, but also has a connection to pre-war German expressionism and a powerful post-war avant-garde movement in Japan. He said Butoh is an appropriate form for a work that presents “a very full and deep expression of Buddhist cultural thought,” and added that Butoh’s movement style will help illustrate Bardo Thodol concepts such as impermanence, decay and a non-dualistic idea of life and death.

Green noted that the Tibetan title, Bardo Thodol, means “Great Liberation through Hearing.” “The entirety of the Bardo Thodol is grounded in the teaching that every single moment of life, death and transition contains the seed of complete and immediate enlightenment. Luminous Emptiness embodies the aspiration and prayer of Padmasambhava that all sentient beings realize the freedom and enlightenment that is already within them, and that can be awakened in all the phenomena of life and death. All adaptations of this text, including this one, are offered with this intent,” said Green.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

Modern Muse Theatre presents The Woman In Black

Modern Muse Theatre Company presents regional premiere of The Woman in Black the Little Theatre in Margery Reed Hall on the University of Denver campus (corner of University Blvd. and Evans).

Thursday, October 29 at 8:00 P.M -- Special "Trick-or-Treat" for the Poor to benefit the Most Precious Blood Food Bank -- Bring non-perishable food items and receive $5.00 off general admission tickets.

The Woman in Black Arthur Kipps, a middle-aged solicitor, hires the services of a professional actor to help him re-enact to family and friends -- and thereby hopefully exorcise -- a ghostly event that befell him many years previously with horrifyingly tragic results. From a cluttered stage, Kipps begins to read his story: painfully self-consciously, and hesitantly at first, but, coached by the actor and aided by theatre artifice, he grows in confidence and ability as he assumes a variety of roles and the play moves from narration to enactment. The actor portrays the young Kipps, sent by his London firm to settle the estate of an elderly recluse, the late Mrs. Drablow, in whose isolated marshland house Kipps encounters the woman in black. The mere mention of the woman in black terrifies the locals, for she is a specter who haunts the neighborhood where her illegitimate child was accidentally killed.

The cast includes Larry Hecht (Arthur Kipps) who has appeared at the Denver Center as Tupolski in “The Pillowman” and Mick Dowd in “A Skull in Connemara.” He is Head of Acting at the National Theatre Conservatory where he has been teaching and directing for the last 11 years. Larry has been a member of Actors' Equity Association for more than 30 years.

The role of the younger Kipps is played by Andrew “Drew” Horwitz. Drew moved to Denver two years ago from New York and has performed with the California Shakespeare Festival, Downtown Cabaret Theatre in CT, the Carolinian Shakespeare Festival and several other companies on both coasts.

Town Hall Arts Center Receives Colorado Council on the Arts Grant

The Board of Directors for the Littleton Center for Cultural Arts Foundation, doing business as Town Hall Arts Center, announced that the organization has received a matching grant of $3,900 from the Colorado Council on the Arts. This grant was awarded through the CCA’s Grants to Artists and Organizations program in support of Town Hall Arts Center’s 2009-2010 Children’s Theatre Program.

State grants are awarded through a competitive process. This grant demonstrates that Town Hall Arts Center provides a high level of quality programming and has the administrative ability to implement that programming effectively. The grant will support the creation of children’s theatrical pieces that are designed, directed and performed by professional artists at Town Hall Arts Center’s main stage and subsequently through outreach performances touring to schools. The funding will not only help offset direct production costs, but also underwrite attendance for hundreds of children in Title I schools who would otherwise not be able to participate.

State Senator Linda Newell (District 26) stated, “We know that the arts enrich our lives in many ways. Public support for Town Hall Arts Center through the Colorado Council on the Arts is very important as it will open the magic of theatre to hundreds of children in the south Metro Denver area who might not otherwise be exposed to this unique art experience.”

The first Town Hall Children’s Theatre production will be Aesop-A-Rebop presented October 5th through 17th at Town Hall Arts Center for children aged pre-K to 5th grade. For more information about the Town Hall Children’s Theatre program, visit our website at townhallartscenter.com.

Night of the Living Dead Invades The Bug Theatre

Denver, CO - Just in time for Halloween, flesh-eating zombies return to Denver’s historic Bug Theatre in the classic tale Night of the Living Dead like it was never meant to be seen: live and on stage!

To escape a horde of flesh-eating zombies, seven people hole up inside a desolate farmhouse. One has the virus…one has a gun…one has lost her mind. The ghouls increase in number outside as tensions mount between the survivors inside. Will any of them make it out alive?

Adapted from the 1968 George Romero film classic of the same name by local playwrights Kris Hipps and Duane Brown, the play is being unleashed by The Bug Theater Company and Papercat Films. A unique aspect of the show is that all the action taking place inside the farmhouse is on stage, while the action outside the house is projected onto an overhead screen, utilizing sequences re-created and shot by Papercat Films.

“I've been a zombie fan since the first time I saw the original ‘Night of the Living Dead’ as a kid and immediately started thinking about ways to barricade our house in case of a zombie attack. When I got older, some friends and I watched the film on Halloween one year and came up with the idea of doing a stage version. I eventually brought the idea to my partners in comedy, Duane Brown and Alex Weimer, and we agreed it would be a perfect choice for the Halloween season.”

Last year’s inaugural run of Night of the Living Dead played to several sold-out shows and is fast becoming a Denver ‘must-see’ for the Halloween season. The show is being produced by Alex Weimer, Kris Hipps, Duane Brown, and Donna Morrison.

“The show was such a success and so much fun last year, it just had to be resurrected for another Halloween season. Like those pesky zombies, it refuses to die,” said Hipps.

“It’s great to be back among the dead. Playing a zombie is just non-stop, pure and simple fun,” said Jessie Geesaman, who was in last year’s production and plays one of the unfortunate souls turned into a zombies (among other roles). Other cast members include local stage veterans Owen Price, Faith Rohrbacher, Joseph Graves, Matt Schultz, Colin Cooper, Nancy Cain, Deb Flomberg, Melissa Zarb-Cousin and Matt Hayes. The unique set was designed by Sean Cochrane. Kate Gibson is doing makeup and prosthetics.

The Bug Theatre is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Breckenridge Brewery and Yelp.com. For more information, please go to www.bugtheatre.org.

See Calendar for Performance Details.

Donnie Betts & René Marie Present World Premier of Slut Energy Theory

donnie l. betts (No Credits Productions) and rené marie present Slut Energy Theory in a World Premier at the Crossroads Theatre.

Slut Energy Theory had its conception nearly ten years ago during a late-night conversation among girlfriends. The topic turned to the counterproductive effects that romantic/sexual relationships often brought to bear on creativity and productivity. Some women seemed to expend endless energy on pursuing sex and/or sexual relationships (which became referred to tongue-in-cheek as “slut energy”) rather than on creative and intellectual endeavors.

The question then arose: when are little girls typically first made aware of the sexual aspects of their bodies - and by whom? Out of nearly 30 women asked this question, each gave the same response: it was when a male either said something about or did something to their bodies. While these answers were by no means scientifically researched, the anecdotal evidence was unexpected, inspiring a creative exploration of the long-term effects these first experiences have on the way girls perceive their bodies and maintain these perceptions on into womanhood.

What forces or influences move little girls away from their sexual innocence and into a life that centers on sexual activity? How do these forces color their view of the world and themselves? Is it possible to free oneself from these forces? If so, how?

Out of these questions comes the first of four installments: the story of U’dean, deceased matriarch of 4 generations of “sluts” - so far. Subsequent plays scheduled for production in 2010 will introduce U’dean’s disturbed daughter, Sophie; the elegant and high-powered granddaughter, Lorna; and U’dean’s great-granddaughter, Tulsa, given up for adoption by Lorna and oblivious to her lineage.

The performance on Thursday, October 7 is the “Help Us Keep Theatre in Five Points” Benefit for Crossroads Theatre. Q & A after each performance. Explicit Language and Content and seating is limited.

See Calendar for performance details.

Stories on Stage: Teetering at the Edge

DENVER, October 25, 2009 – Stories on Stage presents Teetering on the Edge on Sunday, October 25 in the Stage Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Teetering on the Edge features four incredible stars of stage and screen; Kathleen Chalfant, one of the theatres most celebrated actors, Emmy Award winner Michael Learned who portrayed one of televisions most beloved characters, The Closer’s Robert Gossett who has an enviable career on stage, in film and television and Candy Brown who has made theatre history.

“In Black” by David Schickler, read by Kathy Chalfant
The winds of compassion at hurricane force.
David Schickler is the author of the acclaimed best sellers, Kissing in Manhattan (that includes “In Black”) and Sweet and Vicious. “Schickler pierces straight through the everyday world with his deadpan vision.” - The New York Times.
Award-winning actress Kathy Chalfant has worked on and off-Broadway (Angels in America, Wit), in film (Duplicity, Kinsey) and television (Rescue Me and Mercy). Ms. Chalfant received Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for Angels in America and the Drama Desk, OBIE and Outer Critics Awards for Wit.

“The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson, read by Michael Learned
Everybody needs a purpose in life.
Shirley Jackson’s “The Possibility of Evil” concerns itself with the darkness that lies beneath the placid surface of a small American town. It won 1966 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best mystery short story. “Jackson's work is the single most important mid-20th century body of literary output yet to be critically revalorized in the present day”. - Elaine Showalter.
Michael Learned is best known for her role as Olivia Walton in The Waltons, a show for which she won three Best Actress Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe nominations. She has graced the New York stage in The Three Sisters and The Sisters Rosensweig and toured nationally with On Golden Pond. On television, Ms. Learned made guest appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Scrubs and cameos on All My Children and One Life to Live.

“Silver Bullet” by James Alan McPherson, read by Robert Gossett
Confliction in the grassroots.
James Alan McPherson is one of America's most venerated fiction writers. McPherson has garnered an impressive collection of accolades, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1973 and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1978 for his collection of stories, Elbow Room, which includes “Silver Bullet.”
Robert Gossett currently stars in the hit series The Closer and has been seen in episodes of Bones, ER, NYPD Blue, Charmed and Touched by an Angel. Off-Broadway credits include Fences, A Raisin in the Sun and The Last Minstrel Show just to name a few; film credits include Arlington Road, White Man's Burden, The Net and Batman Returns.

“I Hate My Purse” by Nora Ephron, read by Candy Brown
Learning to dramatize while you accessorize.
Nora Ephron Is best known for her romantic comedies and is a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle. In “I Hate My Purse,” Ephron sees her purse as a microcosm of her life.
Candy Brown, a longtime actor with Denver Center Theatre Company, was performing on Broadway in Pippin in 1974 when Michael Bennett convened 18 dancers at midnight in a New York gym. What happened that night - and into the next morning - became one of the longest-running, most beloved musicals ever – A Chorus Line.” Lisa Bornstein, RMN. Ms. Brown performed with Gwen Verdon in Chicago and Cab Caloway in Hello Dolly. She was seen in the 2001 blockbuster film Ali and has appeared in Six Feet Under, CSI: Miami, NYPD Blue and Chicago Hope.

Stories On Stage, an award winning performing arts organization features some of America's best actors from stage and screen today performing the words of many of the finest contemporary writers.

After the performance stay and enjoy complimentary cookies and milk.

Teetering on the Edge is sponsored by Diana & Mike Kinsey and in part by the SCFD Scientific and Cultural Facilities District Making It Possible.

See Calendar for performance Details.

Naropa University Brings Tibetan Book of the Dead to Life

BOULDER, Colo. (Sept. 17, 2009)–Naropa University is pleased to announce the upcoming performances of Luminous Emptiness, directed by International Butoh Artist Katsura Kan. The staged multimedia production, based on a 1975 translation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead by Naropa’s founder Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, is a co-production of the Golden Sun Foundation for World Culture, directed by Ken Green, and Naropa University's MFA Theater: Contemporary Performance Program, directed by Wendell Beavers.

Public performances will be held on Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16-18 in the Performing Arts Center at the Naropa University, 2130 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, Colo. 80302. For reservations and ticketing, contact (303) 245-4798 or http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/79202. The cost is $15 general admission, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for Naropa students, faculty, staff and alumni with ID.

Luminous Emptiness seeks to provide the audience with an immersive and captivating illustration of the journey from death to the intermediate state and on to rebirth, in accordance with the teachings of The Tibetan Book of The Dead, or Bardo Thodol in Tibetan. Also, the tale of how Luminous Emptiness came into being includes another journey—from ancient Tibetan history to the early years of Naropa, then to contemporary artists and the use of state-of-the-art technological tools.

Ken Green, who conceived and designed the overall project, is co-producing the performance with Naropa MFA Director Wendell Beavers. Green is currently the executive director of The Golden Sun Foundation for World Culture, a Boulder-based nonprofit cultural organization. He was a member of the original board of directors that founded Naropa in the 1970s and was a senior student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

According to Green, The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a teaching by Padmasambhava, who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. The text was recovered 600 years later by Karma Lingpa and was soon adopted throughout the region as one of the principal texts for giving aid and guidance to the dying. It was subsequently passed down through the Trungpa lineage, and in the late 1970s Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche asked Green to adapt the text for film and theater, so it would be accessible to the general public.

The 2009 project seeks to make an ancient and esoteric text exciting and accessible for modern audiences through the use of new media technology. To weave together Tibetan art and computer-generated images, the project team will be working with digital imagery and enhanced video tools, so it can composite, render and blend pictorial elements from Tibetan Thangka paintings with high-resolution video, CGI objects and algorithmic animation. The Bardo Thodol is a complex tract filled with visual and sonic imagery, and brilliant images, colors and sounds will be an integral part of the performance.

The current workshop performance is being crafted by a team of highly talented local and international artists and technical wizards, including composer Gary Grundei, new media artist and animator John Vega, video and media artist Kevin Anderson, and technology consultant Wyndham Hannaway. Master painter Romio Shrestha and his team of artisan monks have created postmodern versions of Tibetan Thangka art. Douglas Penick, a Boulder-based writer, librettist and scholar, wrote the text adaptation that is central to the upcoming performance.

Luminous Emptiness will be performed by members of the 2nd Year Ensemble of Naropa’s MFA Theater: Contemporary Performance Program, which is noted for its unique physical theater, music and dance cross-training. The program has produced notable public productions over the past four years, including works by Meredith Monk and last year’s extraordinary versions of Euripides’s Trojan Women and Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.

The director, Katsura Kan, is an internationally known artist in the Japanese discipline of Butoh, an avant-garde dance movement that began to develop after World War II in Japan. He has been a frequent contributor to Naropa’s MFA program.

Beavers said Butoh has its roots in ancient Japanese culture, but also has a connection to pre-war German expressionism and a powerful post-war avant-garde movement in Japan. He said Butoh is an appropriate form for a work that presents “a very full and deep expression of Buddhist cultural thought,” and added that Butoh’s movement style will help illustrate Bardo Thodol concepts such as impermanence, decay and a non-dualistic idea of life and death.

Green noted that the Tibetan title, Bardo Thodol, means “Great Liberation through Hearing.” “The entirety of the Bardo Thodol is grounded in the teaching that every single moment of life, death and transition contains the seed of complete and immediate enlightenment. Luminous Emptiness embodies the aspiration and prayer of Padmasambhava that all sentient beings realize the freedom and enlightenment that is already within them, and that can be awakened in all the phenomena of life and death. All adaptations of this text, including this one, are offered with this intent,” said Green.

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Naropa University is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian liberal arts institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. This approach to learning integrates the best of Eastern and Western educational traditions, helping students know themselves more deeply and engage constructively with others. The university comprises a four-year undergraduate college and graduate programs in the arts, education, environmental leadership, psychology and religious studies.

Nomination Forms For 2010 Governor’s Arts Awards Available

The Governor's Arts Award is given annually to one Colorado city or town which has effectively utilized the arts to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of their community. The 2010 Governor's Arts Award Nomination forms are now available online at the Colorado Council on the Arts' website at www.coloarts.org, or may be requested by mail by calling 303-892-3802. The postmark deadline for nomination forms is October 23, 2009. A separate Call to Artists interested in competing for this commission is also available on www.callforentry.org. Artist deadline is midnight (MST), October 7, 2009.

Colorado Jobs in the Arts Receive $568,040 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funds

Colorado Jobs in the Arts Receive $568,040 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funds. Together with the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA), and the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), Colorado Council on the Arts (CCA) announced recently that 47 Colorado non-profit arts organizations will receive $568,040 in federal recovery funds to preserve or restore 313 salaried and contract positions.

The grants, administered by CCA, DOCA, and WESTAF, are part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to help combat job loss in the arts due to declining philanthropic and other support in the current economic climate. This one-time funding allocation allowed CCA, DOCA, and WESTAF to distribute grants according to narrow federal guidelines designed to ensure jobs preservation and restoration in the arts and cultural sector over the next year.

These grants have significant impact on arts organizations statewide:
• Organizations in 15 counties and 17 cities received ARRA funding.
• More than 300 jobs, including contract positions, will be preserved or reinstated.
• 47 grantee organizations include theatre, music, dance, visual arts, film, and arts festivals.
• Many of these jobs are key leadership positions critical to the daily operation of each organization. Other positions will allow organizations to continue to provide innovative and educational programs and services that greatly benefit numerous Colorado communities.

CCA, DOCA and WESTAF reconciled their individual grant award process to maximize the impact of stimulus support, and to ensure that each grantee organization receives funds from only one source--a condition of the NEA. Recipients of ARRA funds include:

Colorado Council on the Arts:
Adams State College, Alamosa, $10,000
Anderson Ranch Arts Foundation, Snowmass Village, $10,000
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Aspen, $10,000
Bas Bleu Theatre Company, Fort Collins, $10,000
Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, Boulder, $10,000
Bravo! Colorado at Vail-Beaver Creek Inc.,Vail, $10,000
City of Longmont – Museum, Longmont, $10,000
Colorado Children's Chorale, Denver, $10,000
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, Wheat Ridge, $10,000
Colorado Film Society, Boulder, $10,000
Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Springs, $10,000
Colorado Symphony Association, Denver, $10,000
Creede Repertory Theatre, Creede, $10,000
Delta Montrose Youth Services, Inc., Montrose, $10,000
Denver March Powwow, Inc., Denver, $10,000
Downtown Aurora Visual Arts, Aurora, $10,000
Durango Latino Education Coalition, Durango, $10,000
Fort Lewis College Theatre, Durango, $10,000
Gunnison Council for the Arts, Gunnison, $10,000
Imagination Makers Unlimited, Boulder, $10,000
Int'l Institute for Indigenous Resource Mgmt., Denver, $10,000
Koshare Indian Museum, Inc., La Junta, $10,000
PlatteForum, Denver, $10,000
Rocky Mountain Children's Choir, Denver, $10,000
Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival, Colorado Springs, $10,000
San Juan Symphony, Durango, $10,000
University of CO at Boulder - Shakespeare Festival, Boulder, $10,000
University of CO at Colorado Springs – THEATREWORKS, Colorado Springs, $10,000
Vail Jazz Foundation, Inc., Vail, $10,000
Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, $10,000
YMCA of Boulder Valley, Boulder, $10,000
Total: $310,000

Denver Office of Cultural Affairs:
ArtReach, Denver, $12,000
Friends of ArtStreet, Denver, $10,660
Chicano Humanities & Arts Council, Denver, $12,000
Colorado Chamber Players, Denver, $8,500
Curious Theatre Company, Denver, $21,000
Denver Art Museum, Denver, $20,000
Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, $16,640
The Denver Brass, Denver, $17,200
Harmony A Colorado Chorale, Denver, $8,500
Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Denver, $20,000
Mizel Arts and Culture Center, Denver, $10,000
Museo de las Américas, Denver, $24,000
Museum of Contemporary Art|Denver, Denver, $25,000
PHAMALY (Physically Handicapped Actors & Musical Artists League), Denver, $12,000
The Spirituals Project, Denver,$7,500
Total: $225,000

Western States Arts Federation:
El Centro Su Teatro, Denver, $33,040

ARRA funds are restricted to eligible nonprofit organizations to preserve jobs in the arts through salary support for one or more positions that are critical to an organization’s artistic mission and that are in jeopardy or have been eliminated as a result of the current economic climate. Funds may also be used for fees for previously engaged artists and/or contractual personnel to maintain or expand the period during which such persons would be engaged.

Art in Public Places Debate - Update
As we noted in the last newsletter, for over 30 years the Art in Public Places (AIPP) statute has set aside 1% of any State capital construction project for public art. Thanks to this program, the State has a wonderful collection of public art at many different kinds of State buildings. Recently, an argument has been made that AIPP should not apply to State capital construction projects funded using lease-purchase agreements. Arts for Colorado believes there is no ambiguity or doubt and that AIPP applies whether the State chooses to finance its construction with bonds or lease-purchase agreements. We met with the Governor’s office and the Governor has asked the Attorney General for a formal opinion about this area of the law. Recently we met with lawyers in the AG’s office. We expect the AG’s formal opinion to be issued within a month or two. Arts for Colorado will continue to work to see that the Art in Public Places program is consistently implemented on all state financed capital construction projects.

Arts News from Around the Nation
Americans for the Arts Monograph
Americans for the Arts recently released a new Monograph which summarizes many of the topics that have been discussed since the 2002 inception of their five-year National Arts Forum Series, a program created in partnership between the MetLife Foundation and the Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts.

The MetLife Foundation Forum Series draws on real-life lessons from real-field situations. Forum participants at sites all across the country explored timely themes relating to arts and business in their communities, and these discussions have resulted in meaningful strategies that are benefiting the field now. The Monograph includes case studies, best practices, and summaries of the forums. You may download a copy of the publication here: http://www.magnetmail.net/images/clients/ArtsUSA/attach/September2009Monograph.pdf

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Reinforces Importance of Arts Education Last month, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released a letter to school officials and community leaders reminding them of the important role of arts education in a student's life. This letter offers strong encouragement to education decision makers to find time and funds in the school day to offer a comprehensive, sequential and standards-based arts education.

A public teleconference with Secretary Duncan was also held, where he reminded listeners that states and local school districts have the flexibility to support the arts through Federal Title programs and U.S. Department of Education programs, including professional development of arts teachers as well as for strategic partnerships with cultural, arts and other nonprofit organizations. In addition, Duncan stated that local school districts can use funds under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the arts along with other district expenses. Read the full text of Secretary Duncan’s letter here: http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/08/08182009a.pdf

TCL Reprises Stage Parody of the Twilight Zone

The Theater Company of Lafayette (TCL) will present an all new Return to the Twilight Zone, a parody of the classic 1950s television show, from October 16 – November 7. With comic stage renditions of three popular episodes, campy take-offs on vintage commercials, and trivia contests, this is the 6th time that TCL has reprised this hugely popular format.

TCL’s Artistic Director Madge Montgomery says, “We’re especially excited this year, since it’s the 50th anniversary of The Twilight Zone’s 1959 debut. It's a nostalgic celebration that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether they’ve ever seen an episode from the original series or not. The show’s a part of our popular culture; its theme song and its creator, Rod Serling, are instantly recognizable. We preserve the great storytelling while poking a bit of fun at this cultural signpost.”

This year’s episodes are:
• “Nothing in the Dark” (directed by Ian Gerber): an old woman fears that Mr. Death has come knocking. Will she let him in? • “A Piano in the House” (directed by Don Thumim): a venomous theater critic purchases a magical player piano that has the power to reveal the secrets of all who hear it; and • “The Howling Man” (directed by Bill Graham): A visitor to a monastery encounters a strange shrieking prisoner. Is he the devil or just an innocent man, wrongly imprisoned?

Ian Gerber is delighted to be playing the role of Rod Serling for the third time. “Everyone says I look and sound just like Serling,” he says. “It’s a bit eerie, but I guess that’s fitting for The Twilight Zone.”

In a special guest appearance, Colorado Theater Guild General Manager Gloria Shanstrom will act in the Bold detergent commercial on Friday, October 30.

A portion of the proceeds of the production will go to the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation, which preserves the legacy of Serling through a variety of projects, including educational scholarships. “We’ve donated money to the Foundation several times in the past,” says Montgomery. “They’re thrilled with what we’re doing and with the contributions we’ve made.”

Fab Four Day Sale

Rain, a tribute to the Beatles running at the DCPA’s Temple Buell Theatre, September 22-27, 2009 is running a four day sale of all tickets for $22.00 for performances scheduled for September 22,23, & 24 only.

Buy tickets through www.denvercenter.org. Sale ends midnight, September 20,

The Good Body Features Mare Trevathan

Directed by Joshua Blanchard and starring Mare Trevathan, The Good Body, by the author of "The Vagina Monologues", Eve Ensler, is a bold, piercing and very funny look at our obsession with feminine appearance.

Drawing on interviews both real and imagined with women around the world, Ensler crafts an array of frank and even shocking characters.

A young Puerto Rican woman obsesses over her "lower butt," and demonstrates how she manipulates her fat during sex in order to appear less fleshy.

A middle-aged Jewish woman from Brentwood has her aging vagina tightened to the surprise of her much older husband.

A 74-year old Masai woman has the nerve to love her body: from the half-moons of her fingertips to her long, aging breasts.

Says Trevathan, "When Christopher Alleman [the Artistic Director at Lake Dillon Theatre] first approached me about doing this play, I thought I'd have a unique appreciation for it, having grown up as a dancer with a heightened sense of self-criticism. What I learned during our performances in the mountains is that nearly every woman- and quite a few men- feels a personal resonance with the show. In part, that's thanks to Ensler steeping all of this serious stuff in great guffaw-inducing humor. That's her real strength as a writer, I think. She navigates that treacherous line between poignancy and comedy with astounding agility."

Director Blanchard agrees, adding, "Plus, chicks dig it."

Every performance of the 70-minute show will be followed by an optional discussion with Trevathan and a cash bar.

See Calendar for Performance details.

Performance Now Presents Oliver!

Performance Now Theatre Company proudly presents “Oliver!” October 9 - 18, at the Lakewood Cultural Center. 470 S. Allison Parkway. Lakewood, CO.

After eating their miserable daily ration, one boy, Oliver, dares to ask 'Please sir, I want some more.' Mr. Bumble, who runs the Workhouse, is enraged and takes Oliver into the cold snowy streets and sells him for a mere seven guineas to an undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry. Ill treated and bullied Oliver runs away to London and is taken in by Fagin to join his gang of child pickpockets. Fagin sends his criminal brood off to work, and the Artful Dodger, by stealing a gentleman of his wallet, initiates Oliver into his life of crime. But it is Oliver who is promptly apprehended for the crime and taken away by the police. The Artful Dodger reports that Oliver was apprehended, but that he was found innocent and is now in the care of a wealthy gentleman. The next morning Oliver awakens to a new life of unexpected luxury. But Fagin is determined to have Oliver returned to his den of thieves.

OLIVER! is one of the world's best loved musicals because its timeless story is matched by Lionel Bart's timeless score, brimming with superb songs like “Food Glorious Food,” “Where is Love,” “Consider Yourself,” and “As Long As He Needs Me, I'd Do Anything.”

“Oliver” is directed by Gene Kato and features Gary Crow-Willard as Fagin, Spencer Fairbairn as Oliver, Nancylee Manus as Nancy, Jack Brogan as Artful Dodger, T.J. Hogle as Bumble, Darren Chilton as Bill Sykes and Marielle Gurule as Widow Corney. This cast is joined by a talented ensemble and supporting cast.

Naxos Announces Release Of Nixon in China Recording

Conducted by Marin Alsop, Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony and Conductor Laureate of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the recording features the talents of Robert Orth (Richard Nixon), Maria Kanyova (Pat Nixon), Marc Heller (Mao Tse-tung), Tracy Dahl (Madame Mao), Chen-Ye Yuan (Chou En-lai), Melissa Malde, Julie Simson and Jennifer DeDominici (the three Secretaries) as well as the Opera Colorado Chorus and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

“Few operas written in the last quarter of the twentieth century have withstood the test of time to remain as musically and dramatically vibrant today as they were at their premieres,” noted Opera Colorado General Director Greg Carpenter. “Nixon in China is one of a handful of American operas to achieve celebrity status. Opera Colorado is proud to have been part of this exciting recording project, the first such recording in Opera Colorado’s history.”

The new recording was inspired by Marin Alsop’s dedication to performing and promoting contemporary classical music and was produced in cooperation with Opera Colorado and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra Association. Composer John Adams attended performances of the work as it was recorded live in Denver

Naxos’ highly-acclaimed American Classics series boasts a unique catalog of both well-known and rarely recorded masterpieces. The landmark series features the greatest American composers from Charles Ives and John Cage to Adams, Philip Glass, John Corigliano and William Bolcom among many others.

The recording will be available for purchase nationally as well as through the Naxos website.

Philip Sneed directs at University of Alabama

Philip Sneed is currently a guest director of William Saroyan’s The Time of Your Life at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. During his five-week stint at the university, he will also preview Wallace Shawn’s one-actor play, The Fever.

square product Produces Why We Have A Body

Boulder, Colo. – square product theatre presents the Regional Premiere of Claire Chafee’s Why We Have a Body. October 9-24 in the East Theater at the Dairy Center for the Arts

Claire Chafee’s award-winning Why We Have a Body focuses on the stories of four women searching for connections. Meet Lili, a private investigator specializing in cheating husbands, her sister Mary, a well-meaning criminal with a penchant for holding up 7-Elevens at gunpoint, their mother Eleanor, an explorer traversing the landscape of the female mind, and Lili’s love interest Renee, a paleontologist struggling with her blooming sexuality.

The New York Times described Why We Have a Body as a "smart, surreal comedy." Like her characters, Chafee is an "ardent fan of free association," skipping gracefully from airport bars (which provide the perfect “mix of terror and boredom") to Feminist Nightmares, to telepathic faxes, and the martyrdom of Joan of Arc. Can Lili find meaning in all this chaos? Can any of us? In a hundred surprising and quirky ways, Chafee finds the beating heart of each character as they struggle to navigate "the way things go."

square product theatre’s Mission: The mission of square product theatre is to create and collaborate on original, honest and innovative works of theatre and performance with local artists. We strive to continue to create and produce new works, as well as to present innovative productions of existing dramatic texts. We dedicate ourselves fully to the beauty of simplicity and the importance of theatre and performance as a vehicle for communication, relation and change. For more information on square product theatre, visit www.squareproducttheatre.org.

See Calendar for Performance Details.

Celebration Works To Produce Bill Downs’ Kosher Lutheran

Celebrationworks produces Koser Lutherans written by William Missouri Downs, noted playwright, (Dead White Males), and a professor in the theatre department at the University of Wyoming opening November 6, 2009

Kosher Lutherans introduces us to Franklyn and Hannah, a childless, Jewish couple facing a moral dilemma. They bring into ther home, an unwed, pregnant teenager from Iowa. Franklyn and Hannah wish to adopt the baby. whose baby they want to adopt. The teenager reveals she has never known anyone Jewish and what she's heard isn't good.

Kosher Lutherans will be drected by Linda Orr.

Denver Vic Turns Deft And Diabolcal

The Denver Victorian Playhouse presents Walter and Peter Mark’s The Butler Did It.

The scene is the set where Anthony J. Lefcourt, writer and director, is rehearsing his new play, a "classic whodunit" (all the characters are named Butler). LeFcourt hopes to regain success that eluded him in recent seasons. Desperately eager to stimulate his cast to their best efforts, he deliberately withheld the final scene of the play. His patience is worn thin by petty jealousies and romantic rivalries detracting from concentration. In an effort to spur them on he "stages" the murder of one of the actresses. The plot twists and turns with such dazzling ingenuity--and hilarity--that actors and audience lose track of what is real and what is make-believe. A surprise ending sets matters straight in a bizarre and ironic way.

Director Pat Payne has cast Mark Ivan Branche as Anthony J Leftcourt, Matt Block as Michael/Aldo, Timmi Ann Lasley as Claudia/Miss Butler, Mike Pearl as Robert/Mr. Butler, Clark Brittain as Sam/Mimford and Molly Killoran as Natalie/Vicki.

Described as the Off-Broadway equivalent of Deathtrap, this deft and diabolically clever thriller mingles laughter and chills while skillfully unwinding its twisted tale of murder and mayhem.

Jeffrey Nickelson’s Memorial Service

A Memorial Service for Jeffrey Nickelson, who died unexpectedly Saturday, September 5 will be held at Shadow Theatre., 1468, Dayton Street, Aurora, CO Saturday, September 12, at 10:00 AM.

Tributes to Jeffrey:
September 5, 2009
The Death of Jeffrey Nickelson from Bill Downs

I first met Jeffrey Nickelson fifteen years ago. He was starting a new theatre company and wanted his first production to be the world premier of Innocent Thoughts a dark comedy I had written about the relationship between African-Americans and Jews in America.

A few months later, on opening night, I waited in the old Ogden Street theatre. No one showed. Then just moments before curtain three people ambled in. I couldn’t endure this embarrassment so I made for the door, but in the lobby I ran in to Jeff. Not only was he playing the lead he was also the usher. I couldn’t escape, so I prepared for the worst. That night Jeff took the stage and gave a command performance. Two hours later he received a standing ovation - from three people and seventy empty seats. It was magic. After the performance he greeted the audience, shook their hands, and asked, with that signature broad smile, if they’d be kind enough to call three of their friends and tell them about the Shadow Theatre. Three weeks later there were no empty seats and the run was extended.

My last conversation with Jeff was just a few months ago. I had finished a new dark comedy called Forgiving John Lennon, and I had written the lead role expressly for him. The play is about political correctness on college campuses and Jeff loved it but sadly said that he couldn’t yet produce it at the new Shadow on Dayton Street because “original plays don’t make money” and he had too many bills to pay. Then he warmly hugged me but behind the smile there was a touch of melancholy.

I will miss Jeff's friendship. I will miss his energy. And I will always remember his smile.

William Missouri Downs

September 7, 2009
From: Su Teatro Board of Directors
On the Death of Jeffrey Nickelson
On behalf of the Latino cultural arts community, and the Latino community in general, and as representative of Su Teatro Inc. the Board of Director offers our condolences and friendship to the members of Shadow Theatre Company and their community on this sad occasion of Artistic Director Jeffrey Nicholson’s very untimely death.

Su Teatro’s kinship with Shadow Theatre goes back many years, and includes performances of Sweet Corner Symphony at El Centro Su Teatro and Bless Me Ultima at Shadow Theatre. We have appreciated our special relationship, knowing that the commonalities that we have as sister organizations gave us a bond that was deep and important. We always looked forward to interacting with Shadow’s audiences and knew that our audiences loved their work.

There are so many of our supporters that also attend Shadow Theatre, it is clear that Shadow serves the entire metropolitan community. The work that Jeffrey Nickelson did to cultivate and nurture an appetite for African American theatre has made Shadow an artistic jewel.

We are deeply saddened by Shadow’s loss, and want you to know that we share in the loss. We want to publicly express that Jeffrey Nickelson’s death is a tragedy for the Latino community as well. His alliance with Su Teatro was based on his desire to bring our two communities closer together.

Last February, at the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, Jeffrey spoke on our behalf, he called upon everyone to support our efforts in building a “world class” institution, in his words, “We need more institutions of color.” This is a sentiment that binds us.

We offer our friendship and support to Shadow Theatre and its community. We believe as a principle that the survival of Shadow Theatre is key to the survival of African American theater in Denver. Please know that Su Teatro will always walk at Shadow’s side.

We offer our support to Shadow Theatre and to the new Artistic Director Keith Hatten and their audience and subscribers. Whatever we offer in Jeffrey’s memory will be guaranteed by our commitment to your future work, and the future generations of our children that will benefit from our bond.

Sinceramente
Laura Marfil, President
Su Teatro Inc.
Board of Directors

Voice of the Prairie Comes To The Coal Creek Community Theater

Coal Creek Community Theater of Louisville, CO presents Voice of the Prairie, written by John Olive and directed by Linda Orr. The play, spanning three decades, from 1895, through the early days of radio in 1923, centers on the adventures of Davey Quinn and Frankie, the Blind Girl, as re-told some 30 years later by the now middle-aged David Quinn. Quinn becomes famous sending his stories into the “Ethernet” through the infant industry of radio as The Voice of the Prairie. Frankie hears Davey’s stories and reenters his life as the FCC threatens them all for broadcasting without a license.

See Calendar for performance details.

Party Honors Doug Rosen, and You?re Invited

Sarah and Bobby Roshan will host a party to honor Doug Rosen who died last Saturday. An invitation has been sent out, but Sarah thinks she may have missed some people who knew Doug and admired him. She wants to be sure all of his friends know about the opportunity to share stories, videos, or pictures of him.

The party is scheduled for Monday, September 14 at 6:00 PM at Sarah and Bobby?s: 11780 Jasper Street, Commerce City, CO.

They are hosting the party on a Monday night in hopes many of his theatre friends can attend.

It?s a BYOB and a little something to eat if you can. Sarah says, ?I am sure there will be plenty of food?. She also says ?Come share a story, a hug, a drink, some food, and Celebrate a wonderful life that ended too soon.?

Contact Sarah and Bobby at info @ mailva.evite.com if you would like to help, and if you can attend.

Slut Energy Theory World Premiere

Slut Energy Theory had its conception nearly ten years ago during a late-night conversation among girlfriends. The topic turned to the counterproductive effects that romantic/sexual relationships often brought to bear on creativity and productivity. Some women seemed to expend endless energy on pursuing sex and/or sexual relationships (which became referred to tongue-in-cheek as slut energy) rather than on creative and intellectual endeavors.

The question then arose: when are little girls typically first made aware of the sexual aspects of their bodies - and by whom? Out of nearly 30 women asked this question, each gave the same response: it was when a male either said something about or did something to their bodies. While these answers were by no means scientifically researched, the anecdotal evidence was unexpected, inspiring a creative exploration of the long-term effects these first experiences have on the way girls perceive their bodies and maintain these perceptions on into womanhood.

What forces or influences move little girls away from their sexual innocence and into a life that centers on sexual activity? How do these forces color their view of the world and themselves? Is it possible to free oneself from these forces? If so, how?

Out of these questions comes the first of four installments: the story of U?dean, deceased matriarch of 4 generations of ?sluts? - so far. Subsequent plays scheduled for production in 2010 will introduce U?dean?s disturbed daughter, Sophie; the elegant and high-powered granddaughter, Lorna; and U?dean?s great-granddaughter, Tulsa, given up for adoption by Lorna and oblivious to her lineage.

Nobody Likes a Smartass

DENVER, September 2, 2009 - Stories on Stage begins its 9th successful season with Nobody Likes a Smartass, in collaboration with Lighthouse Writers Workshop.

Nobody Likes a Smartass will be performed on Saturday, September 26 in the Jones Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Show times are 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Single tickets are $25, tickets for groups of 10 or more are $20 per person and LoDough (scholarship) tickets are also available.

Tickets are available online at storiesonstage.org or by phone at 303-494-0523.

Nobody Likes a Smartass features four stories being read by fantastic actors that will transport you into different lives and different worlds:

You're Ugly Too by Lorrie Moore, read by Rachel Fowler
A weekend in the life of one witty, difficult, brittle and fascinating woman.
Lorrie Moore is the internationally renowned fiction writer who inspired novelist Nick Hornby to tout her as "the best American writer of her generation."

Bullet in the Brain by Tobias Wolfe, read by Frank Corrado
Good manners can save your life.
Tobias Wolff is one of our great contemporary masters of the short story. Joan Smith Salon.com

A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor, read by Lauren Klein
You really never know what's just around the corner.
Flannery O'Connor wrote two novels and 32 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries, prior to her death in 1964 at age 39.

Plus, an original Story by the winner of the Lighthouse Writers short story contest and read by a surprise guest artist.

After the performance, enjoy complimentary cookies and milk, and a talk-back with the cast and artistic director.

Lighthouse Writers Workshop is an independent creative writing program in Denver, Colorado, founded and operated by working writers and university-level teachers of writing. Since 1997, Lighthouse has enabled writers to explore their craft in a supportive yet challenging environment. More information at www.lighthousewriters.org

Stories On Stage, an award winning performing arts organization features some of America's best actors from stage and screen today performing the words of many of the finest contemporary writers.

Nobody Likes a Smartass is sponsored in part by the Citizens of the Scientific and Cultural District (SCFD)

Denver Center Theatre Company Offers Free Performances

The Denver Center Theatre Company, a division of The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is offering a Free For ALL, a series of performances designed to make theatre accessible to everyone.

WHEN: The Voysey Inheritance
OtherBy Harley Granville-Barker New adaptation by David Mamet
Directed by Bruce K. Sevy
Thur, Sept 17 6:30pm Space Theatre
What would you do if you found out your family's wealth is built on a lie. Take a ride with the Voysey family in this financial thriller about a business built on deception, fraud and the choice of facing bankruptcy and disgrace or continuing the sham that defines the family in society.
Producing Partners: Sheri & Lee Archer

A Raisin in the Sun
By Lorraine Hansberry Directed by Israel Hicks
Wed, Sept 30 ? 6:30pm Stage Theatre
File VersionsWarning: Restoring an older verAn insurance settlement could change the lives of three generations of the inner-city Younger family, but Mama?s dream of living in a better neighborhood and her daughter's plans for medical school clash with her son's wish to buy into a liquor store. Pride and aspirations, but at what cost? Lorraine Hansberry's breakthrough drama resonates loudly with its fearless look at ways to keep the American dream alive.
Sponsors: HealthONE and The Broker Restaurant

WHERE:
The Space Theatre and Stage Theatre are located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex at Speer & Arapahoe in downtown's Denver Performing Arts Complex.

WHY:
Free For ALL performances are designed for persons who have not had an opportunity to experience live theatre.

HOW:
Free For ALLs are generously underwritten by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District.

RULES:
Tickets are available on the day of the performance at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex box office. Tickets are available beginning at 4:30pm on a first-come, first-served basis: one ticket per person in line and no telephone or other reservation will be allowed. No children under six years of age will be admitted. All shows are recommended for children 13 years of age and older. House doors open 30 minutes before the performance.

Festival Playhouse Presents Sex Please, We?re Sixty

Sex Please, We're Sixty opens September 18 at the Festival Playhouse.

Mrs. Stancliffe's Rose Cottage Bed & Breakfast has been successful for many years. Her Guests (nearly all women) return year after year. Her next door neighbor, the elderly, silver-tongued, Bud Bud the Stud Davis believes they come to spend time with him in romantic liaisons. The prim and proper Mrs. Stancliffe steadfastly denies this, but really doesn?t do anything to prevent it. She reluctantly accepts the fact that Bud the Stud is, in fact, good for business. Her other neighbor and would-be suitor Henry Mitchell is a retired chemist who has developed a blue pill called Venusia, after Venus the goddess of love, to increase the libido of menopausal women. The pill has not been tested. Add to the guest list three older women: Victoria Ambrose, a romance novelist whose personal life seems to be lacking in romance; Hillary Hudson a friend of Henry's who has agreed to test the Venusia: and Charmaine Beauregard, a Southern Belle whose libido does not need to be increased! Bud gets his hands on some of the Venusia pills and the fun begins, and attempts to entertain all three women! The women mix up Bud's Viagra pills with the Venusia, and we soon discover that it has a strange effect on men: it gives them all the symptoms of menopausal women, complete with hot flashes, mood swings, weeping and irritability! When the mayhem settles down, all the women find their lives moving in new and surprising directions.

Charles Ault, Sr. started The Player Guild in 1936 as a means to put food on the table in the middle of the depression. A love for the theatre and a creative mind brought a group of talented community actors and actresses together to provide the public with live entertainment. This concept was passed on to his son Charley Ault, Jr. who now runs The Players Guild, beginning its 74th year of productions.

See Calendar for performance details.

Trinity United Methodist Church Offers Music Classes

Denver, Colo. - Trinity United Methodist Church announces the fall semester of its Early Childhood Music (ECM) classes, beginning Sept. 16. The program is based on the Musikgarten curriculum with a wide variety of classes for families and children, from age birth to ten years, and back by popular demand for its second year, an adult keyboard class will be offered.

The schedule this fall provides families and adults opportunities for both evening and daytime classes. Evening classes are available on Monday at 5:30, 5:45 and 6:15 p.m. and Wednesday at 5:00, 5:45 and 7:00 p.m. Daytime classes are offered on Wednesday mornings at 9:30, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Parent Orientations, designed to introduce parents to the curriculum for each class offered as well as to the basic principles of Musikgarten, will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9th for Wednesday classes and on Monday, Sept. 14th for Monday classes.

Eight different classes will be offered ranging from Music for Baby & Me, for children birth to 16 months with activities like bouncing, rocking, wiggles and tickles and peak-a-boo games, to Exploring Music & Movement for ages 3 to 5 with storytelling, movement activities, singing songs and more, along with Music Makers at Home and Around the World for ages 4 to 7 with musical explorations of natural environments and animals, as well as music of the British Isles, Germany, American Indians and African-American heritage. Music Makers at the Piano will also be offered to help children ages 6 to 10 learn comprehensive musicianship at the keyboard and build a foundation for life-long instrument playing.

A class introduced for the first time to the schedule last year and back by popular demand for 2009-10 is an Adult Keyboard class for those who have always wanted to learn to play the piano. A 60-minute class, it creates a fun, stress-free environment in which adults can easily learn. No experience is necessary! This class will be held on Wednesday mornings at 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 5:45 and 7:00 p.m. Course descriptions for classes offered are available online at www.trinityumc.org.

"Enrolling your child in music classes beginning at a very young age is the best way to prepare him or her for both school and instrumental music instruction," states Director of Early Childhood Music at Trinity, Jackie Ives. "Musikgarten is a wonderful curriculum designed to introduce children to music & movement concepts only when they are ready for them. Over time, we see our children develop true musicianship in a natural and pleasurable way."

At the 10th annual Musikgarten Teacher Festival last April, where teachers from all over the United States and Canada participated in three days of music-making and seminars, a select number of teachers were recognized for their outstanding Musikgarten Studios. Director of Early Childhood Music at Trinity, Jackie Ives, was awarded the 2008 Musikgarten Exemplary Program Award. This award signifies that Ms. Ives is the director of a music studio that offers a full complement of Musikgarten classes for children from newborns to age ten. Early Childhood Music at Trinity was one of only 54 programs in North America to receive this prestigious award for 2008.

Musikgarten, touted as the preeminent early childhood music education company, draws on the research and child development theories of Edward Gordon, Maria Montessori, and Albert Tomatis, as well as the music development philosophies of Dalcroze, Kodaly, Laban, and Orff. All of Trinity's Early Childhood Music teachers have been certified in the curriculum through intensive training that combines many hours of lecture on the latest techniques of early childhood music education with hands-on activities. For more information on Musikgarten, go to www.musikgarten.org.

One of the most economical programs of its type in the region, tuition fees for Trinity's Early Childhood Music classes start at just $100 (plus a one time yearly materials fee) per 4 month semester. A family discount is offered for families enrolling multiple children in the program and scholarships are also available. To register or for more information on Early Childhood Music classes at Trinity United Methodist Church, go to www.trinityumc.org and click on the Musikgarten icon on the home page or contact Jackie Ives at 303-254-8489 or IvesSteeno@msn.com. Registration is open through Sept. 16.

Denver?s first church, the Auraria and Denver City Methodist Episcopal Mission, was organized Aug. 2, 1859 by minister, Jacob Adrience. For the next few years, the small congregation met in concert halls, theatres, cabins an even a carpenter shop in the town that would become Denver. The congregation created a more permanent building at 14th and Lawrence in downtown Denver that was the tallest building and largest concert hall in the city. The church at Lawrence was considered too far downtown for a family church by 1886, so several leaders of the congregation and their new minister Henry Buchtel began fundraising and planning for a new building at the edge of Denver, Trinity Church. The first licensed architect in Colorado, Robert Roeschlaub, who also designed the famous Central City Opera House in 1878, was hired to design the building out of local rhyloite and sandstone. When completed, Trinity became the tallest building and the largest concert hall in Denver. The sanctuary also now boasts a beautiful pipe organ complete with 4202 pipes built in 1888 and still used today. The current console of the organ will be replaced for the third time as part of the sesquicentennial celebration in 2009

Over the years, Trinity has hosted young adult ministries, women and men's ministries, mission and outreach ministries, music and arts ministries and even a basketball team. There have also been thousands of weddings and concerts in its sanctuary, hosting a multitude of visitors. To this day, Trinity continues to offer a welcoming and transforming experience: the love of Jesus Christ in the heart of the city.

150th Anniversary Celebration
sion will overwrite the current file without backing it up. New ArchiveArchive Name Back to Control PanelWeb Site .htaccess Editor Archive Gateway Disk Usage FTP FileManager FrontPage Extensions Secure Server Server In celebration of its sesquicentennial year in 2009, Trinity United Methodist Church is hosting a wide range of events from special vocal and instrumental concerts, including a benefit concert for the homeless by the Colorado Chamber Orchestra, an organ concert by world-renowned organist Sophie- V'nique Cauchefer-Choplin of St. Sulpice in Paris on Nov. 5th, and a Christmas at Trinity concert in December. For more information on Trinity's 150th anniversary celebration or on Trinity United Methodist Church in general, visit www.TrinityUMC.org

The 73rd. Ave. Theatre Company Presents Muriel's Memoirs

For those who have known her the longest, the unflappable persona that was once Dr. Muriel Morrison is only a faint glimmer in the fragile shell of an addled septuagenarian now struggling with Alzheimer?s. Muriel?s condition has clearly bred a state of contempt by her daughter, Claire, and fostered an unrealistic sense of duty in younger sibling, Becca. Becca, an aspiring writer, has moved back home to not only oversee her beloved mother?s care but also to record as many of the older woman's memories as she can while Muriel is still lucid. Friction erupts when Claire long estranged from both of them accuses Becca of trying to profit from the journal's content. When an accident forces the battling pair to engage the services of a home health care worker, it turns out to be the former floor nurse at the hospital where Muriel once practiced. Becca views Stella as a comforting godsend. Claire?s escalating antagonism toward the woman, however, masks the deeper fear that Stella?s presence might be just enough of a catalyst to destroy their lives forever.

The newly formed 73rd. Ave. Theatre Company opens the National Premiere of ?Muriel?s Memoirs? September 4

The cast, under the direction of Maru Garcia, features Lorraine Scott, Jessica Mason, Clara Evans, Geri Crawley.

Former actress and theater director Christina Hamlett is an award winning author and professional script consultant whose credits include 25 books, 125 plays and musicals, 5 optioned features, and hundreds of articles on the performing arts, humor, health, travel, and how to's that appear throughout the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Her latest book, "Movie Girl" (Outskirts Press) is the launch title of a new humor fiction series targeted to teen/tween girls.

Hamlett is a graduate of California State University, Sacramento, where her degree in Communications led to stints in all aspects of media, including cable television, radio mystery theater, and fundraising campaigns. She was also the manager and director of The Hamlett Players, a touring repertory company that not only provided performance opportunities for new actors but took original stage plays into communities not served by traditional theater arts organizations. She credits her mentor, the late Sylvia Burack, for her ongoing love of--and commitment to--the live theater experience. In addition to continuing to pen one-acts for PLAYS, INC., she has won awards for her full-length scripts and participated in living history programs through the California Governor's Mansion, Sutter's Fort, and Southern California's Heritage Square.

See Calendar for performance details

Backstage Presents Parallel Lives

The Backstage Theatre is pleased to host the award-winning Aspen Stage production of Parallel Lives, starring the incomparable duo of Peggy Mundinger and Wendy Perkins, playing September 18 thru 27 at the Breckenridge Theatre, 121 S. Ridge Street, in Breckenridge.

Lades will be given free reign on their own special ladies only nights September 18 & 25.

Parallel Lives is a two woman play written by Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney. This series of feminist sketches achieved cult status in its long Off-Broadway run. A delightful and biting comedy for two actresses, the play consists of hilarious scenes exploring the plight of women and the pandemonium that ensues when the two sexes try to get together for more than a drink. As intelligent as it is funny, Parallel Lives provides a fresh take on the oldest battle of the human race. Variety has called it ?a romp with a feminist sensibility...humor for a post-Lily Tomlin generation. Above all, Parallel Lives is a smart, provocative show."

In collaboration with Brad Moore (director), Tom Ward (sets), and Gordon and Loren Wilder (sound), Peggy Mundinger and Wendy Perkins transform into 27 different characters as they present this hysterical menagerie depicting the war between the sexes. This production has been performed to great acclaim in the Roaring Fork Valley, winning Best Production and Best Actress awards from the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition and selling out runs wherever it plays. "The appeal is how Peggy and Wendy have gotten to the heart of each character,? director Moore says, ?getting to the truth and honesty, getting them real. It's not stand-up comedy. So the humor comes through the relationships ? to each other, and the situations they're in.?

See Calendar for performance details.

Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind

Denver, CO- Curious Theatre Company is thrilled to announce the NeoFuturists in a one-night-only performance of TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND, Saturday, September 26, 2009, 10:30 p.m. at Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St in Denver, doors open at 10:00 p.m.

TOO MUCH LIGHT?, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in late 2008, now holds the title of the longest-running production in Chicago. Since opening at Stage Left Theater on December 2nd, 1988, TOO MUCH LIGHT... has debuted over 7,000 plays, currently welcomes about 20,000 audience members per year and has ordered nearly 2,000 pizzas to fulfill the promise that ?when we sell out, we order out?.

Over the years, TOO MUCH LIGHT?S roller coaster of personal, public, symbolic, unapologetic, risky, funny, sad, inspiring, direct and enlightening plays has become a true Chicago institution and remains at the top of thousands of tourist "to-do lists". Audiences line up around the block each performance night to secure their coveted space.

For many -- particularly multitudes of college students ? TOO MUCH LIGHT... is a live theatrical first, and often the show becomes a beloved tradition. The highly adventurous, talented and committed ensemble members take great pride in the influence that the show has on Chicago's youth, especially in the lives of young artists.

In 1988, Greg Allen set out to create the show ?that would run forever?. As no two shows are ever the same, audiences are promised a unique experience each night, bringing return customers and an unprecedented level of success. What has been established is a new and specific theatrical form.

Inspired by the Italian Futurists, Dada and Surrealism, TOO MUCH LIGHT? incorporates honesty, realism and political and social savvy in a rapid fire, explosive format where the audience decides the course of the evening. This ?ever-changing attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes? challenges the writer/actor/directors to create new material each week. The aesthetic, comprised of scripted plays, audience interaction and randomness, is uniquely ?Neo?. Actors present themselves, tackling current political and social topics using the full gamut of emotion while breaking down the fourth wall. Each play is independent of the next, resulting in a roller-coaster experience of intellectual and emotional highs and lows that not even the actors can anticipate. Not to be confused with sketch comedy or improvisation, all plays are scripted and rehearsed with a few items left to chance.

TOO MUCH LIGHT? has been performed around the globe at venues including The Joseph Papp Public Theatre, the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, on National Public Radio's This American Life, All Things Considered and Anthem, an international theater festival in Transylvania, Romania, Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, New York International Fringe Festival, WTTW's Wild Chicago! and Art Beat, Cleveland Public Theater, The Present Company Theatorium in New York City, the Majestic Theatre in Detroit, and the Geva Theatre in Rochester New York. Their work has been commissioned by the Humana Festival at the Actor's Theatre of Louisville, the Arts Club of Chicago, PBS, and The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. A sister company of Neo-Futurists set up shop in New York City in 2004 and has been running TOO MUCH LIGHT successfully ever since.

The Neo-Futurists
The Neo-Futurist ensemble has traveled the country presenting workshops at high schools, colleges and universities. To date, the Neo-Futurists have published three collections of plays, recorded a CD, and have even been turned into state-of-the-art computer animation by an Oscar-nominated filmmaker. Prime time shows have garnered numerous After Dark Awards and remounts at Theatre on the Lake. Recently, Greg Allen and the Neo-Futurists were invited to participate in the Eugene O'Neill Festival at the Goodman Theatre.

E Project Announces 2010 Season

With something for everyone, our new season promises to take audiences on a world tour, without charging for luggage! On a streamliner from New York to Paris, to the dirty streets of London, to the Victorian splendor of Moscow. We'll take you from the magic of the most beloved fairy tale, to a drama so epic it transcends time and space... then back to the rapid-fire comedy of Shakespeare as you've never seen it before. And we'll do it all in the intimacy of The E Project's 68-seat theater, where you're so close to the actors you never miss a moment. Join us as we celebrate fantastic theater new and old right here in Lakewood!

Gentleman Prefer Blondes
By Anita Loos, dramatized by Kristin Sergel
Apparently nothing goes right when streamlines cross the Atlantic! Set in the roaring 20's, Lorelei and Dorothy are about to embark on a learning trip through Europe... chaperoned of course, by Lorelei's father. But when the girls must travel on their own, sweet Lorelei and her constant forgetfulness threaten their ability to fulfill they're real plans of finding "cultured" European men to marry.

Shakespeare to the Letter
By Shakespeare, Kinda
What happens when a group of actors tackle every letter in every play ever written by Shakespeare and perform them all in 90 minutes or less? Shakespeare to the Letter: a hilarious night of your favorite (and soon to be favorite) excerpts from Billy Shakes. Expect fast-action comedy, ridiculous flubs, and lots of letters flying everywhere! Join us for our Summer of Shakespeare, as ...to the Letter is run in conjunction with our PAAL summer camps, where our camp kids will also be working with material by the Bard.

The Threepenny Opera
Book and lyrics by Bertolt Brecht
Music by Kurt Weill
The world we only hint to in My Fair Lady is explored in all its seediness in The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper in German). The beggars, pimps, and whores of London's underbelly take us on a trip with Mack the Knife, his new bride, her parents, and the crooked cops of Olde London Towne. Adapted from the 18th-century English ballad opera, John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, the famous music of Kurt Weill will come alive in ways you've never dreamed. Not suitable for our younger viewers.

The Nutcracker
A new play adaptation!
The holidays is the perfect time to bring everyone together and celebrate the love we share, and what better way to celebrate this than with our own version of the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker. The story by E. T. A. Hoffmann lives in the music of Tchaikovsky's ballet, and music lovers won't be disappointed when they hear all their favorite tunes accompanying the actors, where we learn a lot more about our Nutcracker, the Mouse King, and the joy of children's dreams.

Central City Opera Announces 2010 Artistic Team & New Production

Denver , Colo. - General/Artistic Director Pelham G. Pearce reveals a new production for the Central City Opera (CCO) 2010 Festival: Jacques Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld. Replacing the previously announced A Blast of Broadway, the new production of this operetta will mark its debut in the company's repertoire. The directors and conductors for each of the three productions in the 2010 Festival have also been chosen. Making her directorial debut in 2005's Madama Butterfly, Catherine Malfitano will return to direct the 2010 re-staging of the 2005 production. Matthew Halls, who made his CCO debut in 2009's Rinaldo, will return to conduct. Both veterans of CCO, Ken Cazan will direct Jake Heggie's Three Decembers and CCO Music Director, John Baril, will conduct. After making his CCO debut in 2007 conducting La Traviata, Martin Andre will return to conduct Orpheus in the Underworld. Following his successful staging of 2009's Rinaldo, Marc Astafan returns to direct.

"After evaluating our upcoming offerings, I feel Orpheus in the Underworld will enrich the artistic vision set for the 2010 season. Considered bold for its time, this rarely performed piece will complement our offerings of a traditional classic, Madama Butterfly, and an contemporary American work, Three Decembers," comments General/Artistic Director Pelham (Pat) Pearce.

A work of opera bouffe, the satire focuses on the story of the Greek mythology character, Orpheus. Orpheus is sent begrudgingly by the representative Public Opinion, to Hades to rescue his estranged wife, Eurydice, from her new lover, Pluto. Jupiter, who learns of Orpheus' plight from his fellow gods, joins the pursuit and intends to win the hand of Eurydice as well. After employing the magical powers of the gods, Jupiter succeeds in seducing Eurydice to the delight of Orpheus and the dismay of Public Opinion.

Orpheus in the Underworld opened at the Theatre des Bouffes Parisiens on October 21, 1858 in Paris. Not an immediate success, the work was a financial disaster for Offenbach until he was accused of blaspheming an ancient work and plagiarizing. The public's curiosity in the scandal created a great interest in the production. It soon became a hit and ran for 228 performances. The operetta is most famous for its Galop Infernal scene where the entire cast joins in a rowdy dance. The scene's music provides the basis for the widely recognized "can-can".

A Central City Opera veteran, Marc Astafan returns to direct Orpheus in the Underworld, after accomplishments with 2009's Rinaldo, 2007's Cendrillon and 2006's Don Giovanni. Astafan recently directed The Rape of Lucretia with Julliard Opera Theater, Romeo et Juliette with Syracuse Opera and Tosca with Virginia Opera. Making his CCO debut in 2007's production of La Traviata, Martin Andre returns to conduct. Recent engagements include Martinu's Mirandolina at Garsington Opera in England and Britten's War Requiem at the Royal College of Music, London.

As previously announced, CCO will also stage Puccini's Madama Butterfly , the tragic tale of betrayal and sacrifice. Catherine Malfitano returns as stage director. A milestone, the 2005 premiere is Central City Opera's top selling production to date. The 2005 CCO landmark served as the career directorial debut of Ms. Malfitano, who also made her debut as a professional singer with CCO in 1972 as Nannetta in Falstaff. After receiving critical acclaim for his company debut in 2009's Rinaldo, Matthew Halls returns to conduct. Recently, Mr. Halls assumed the position of Artistic Director for the newly formed Retrospect Ensemble based in the UK. Following their successful May 2009 inaugural performance at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, the Ensemble already boasts a new annual season at the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London, and tours to Korea, Israel, Portugal and Switzerland.

The final 2010 Festival offering, Jake Heggie's Three Decembers, is a modern chamber opera about the struggles of a famous actress and her two adult children. Previously announced, this production will commemorate mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle's 40th career anniversary in opera. With an extensive repertoire of 132 roles from Strauss and Wagner to Bernstein and Sondheim, Ms. Castle's recent portrayal of roles in contemporary opera has earned her critical acclaim. Ms. Castle returns to Central City Opera after notable appearances as Augusta in 2006's The Ballad of Baby Doe and Elizabeth in the highly acclaimed 2001 production of Britten's Gloriana. Stage Director Ken Cazan returns to CCO to direct Three Decembers after his recent credits for 2009's A Little Night Music and the sold-out West Side Story in 2008. The resident stage director for the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, Mr. Cazan is one of America's most sought after directors, having staged more than 100 productions for more than 40 opera companies. CCO Music Director John Baril will serve as conductor. After recently making his Nashville Opera debut in Don Giovanni, he will lead the young artist performance of The Barber of Seville for Opera Colorado in February 2010.

Further casting and artistic staff announcements for the 2010 Festival are to be announced. Subscriptions and single tickets for the 2010 Festival will be on sale in early October. For more information on the 2010 Festival, please call 303-292-6700 or visit www.centralcityopera.org

Central City Opera House Association is the nation's fifth-oldest opera company, located just 35 miles west of Denver in one of Colorado's official National Landmark Historic Districts. The company continues to present artistically excellent professional opera in an annual summer festival; to offer career-entry training to young singers; to produce education and community service programs; and to preserve and maintain the Opera House and 30 other Victorian-era properties. For more information or to purchase tickets to the Central City Opera, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700.

White Wave Foods Supports The Arts In Boulder

Boulder, Colorado - WhiteWave Foods, a progressive consumer packaged goods company based in Broomfield, has provided The Dairy Center for the Arts with an initial grant of $20,000.00 to support the arts in Boulder.

"We're extremely grateful for this gift," said The Dairy's Executive Director, Richard Harris. "With budgets unusually tight this year, it's the support of companies like WhiteWave Foods that secure our operations and make it possible for our center to connect artists and audiences throughout the Boulder community and beyond."

WhiteWave Foods is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Foods, and is a pioneer in creating healthy, innovative, responsibly produced foods, including organic and natural leaders Horizon Organic, Silk Soymilk and Rachel's yogurt, and indulgent favorites International Delight, LAND O?LAKES? and Stok.

Founded in 1992, The Dairy Center for the Arts provides the Boulder community diverse opportunities to create, learn, and participate in high quality performing and visual arts experiences. We accomplish this goal by providing music and dance studios, art galleries, performing arts spaces, rehearsal halls, and office space, coordinating, maintaining, and scheduling these spaces to serve the needs of Boulder County and its surrounding communities.

The Dairy Center for the Arts is open Monday through Sunday, 8 am - 11 pm, except on holidays.

Theatre of Dreams Features Shawn McMaster, Comedy Magician

For almost two decades, Shawn McMaster has been causing laugh riots across the country. His wild style of comedy and magic has been entertaining audiences of all ages from Hollywood to Las Vegas to off-Broadway, and everywhere in between. His hysterical appearance on the recent Fox MyNetworkTV show ?Masters of Illusion? was a favorite among viewers. Shawn is a frequent performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA, has appeared in television and film, and is an author of many books and articles on magicians and the art of magic.

BE WARNED: Every image you have of a magician will be shattered as Shawn doesn?t play by the rules. He uses no live animals or cheesy-looking props. Instead he offers a high energy, interactive show of incredible comedy and hilarious magic that will leave you minds mystified, your sides hurting from laughter, and you mumbling to yourself... ?I never knew magic could be this entertaining."

See Calendar for performance details

Paragon Revives Miscast

Have you ever seen a show and thought it was woefully miscast? Surely. But have you ever seen a show that was wonderfully miscast?

Paragon Theatre is honored to take the helm of Next Stage Theatre?s brilliant creation, Miscast.

You?ll see Denver?s top artists representing theatres all over the metro area, performing songs and scenes against type....and then some.

C0-hosted by KWGN The Deuce?s Chris Parente and KUSA 9News? Kirk Montgomery Miscast, Denver?s favorite fundraiser promises to be the event of the year.

Expect terrific performances of songs and scenes from such talents as Reyna Von Vett, Mare Trevathan, Kent Randell, Karen Slack, Jim Hunt, Josh Hartwell, Steve Burge, Rhonda Brown. Emily Patton Davies, Barbra Andrews, Gabriella LaVezza, and John Arp, to name a few.

Miscast will be at the Aurora Fox, September 28. Doors open at 6:30 PM for cocktails and a silent auction. The show starts at 7:30 PM

Boulder Fringe Turns Five

The 5th annual Boulder International Fringe Festival presents 350 events in 12 days at 15 venues, offering a huge selection of MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER, FILM, TALK SHOWS, WORKSHOPS and PARTIES. August 12-23rd, 2009. The Fringe Festival has something for everyone, whether it’s time for your annual shot of culture or live performance is a part of your daily diet. This year, the Fringe has acts coming from as far away as Japan and England to bring mirth and mayhem to the sultry summer nights of Boulder. Experience Izumi Ashizawa Performance’s new version of Gilgamesh - a retelling of this classic of western literature through the forms of traditional Noh and Kabuki theatre - or stay closer to home with Square Product Theatre’s co-production with Wreckingball Theater Lab: “Good Girls Don’t, But I Do” - an hilarious exploration of what it means to be a woman, inspired by Fein and Schneider’s controversial best seller “The Rules.”

If you’re the kind of person who prefers to take part in the action, the Fringe is offering an amazing collection of workshops to free your inner artist. Make musical instruments with your kids in Joey Medicinehorse’s workshop, Creation Song, or go full tilt and learn the basics of theatrical stage combat with Jenn Zuko Boughn (swords and light sabers! really!). For those with a more subtle turn of mind, Splendid Moments with Ruth Zaporah, former Cultural Envoy for the U.S. State Department, promises to redefine your body as a breath of the larger ecosystem. All Fringe Workshops:
Aug 19 - 23 A Splendid Moment – Improvisation with Ruth Zaporah
Aug 19 - 23 Going Solo – Solo Show Creation with Jimmy Hogg
Aug 22 Outside the Vox Box – Singing with Tom Weiser
Aug 14 - 15 Technology of the Circle – Dance with Onye Ozuzu
Aug 19 - 23 Stage Combat – Light Saber Basics with Jenn Zuko Boughn
Aug 15, 19 & 20 Creation Song – Instrument Making and Song For Children with Joey Medicinehorse

And here’s a quick look at your day planner for August, an overview of the Boulder Fringe 2009 Schedule:
Aug 13 - 22 Performances, Events and Workshops in 15 venues
Aug 13 - 22 Daily C.R.A.B. (Late Night Talk Show) featuring Fringe artists – Scotch Corner Pub
Aug 17 So You’re a Fringe Poet (Poetry Reading) – Laughing Goat Coffeehouse
Aug 18 - 19 Fast Forward Fringe – Film Program – CU Atlas Building (rm 102)
Aug 19 Naropa Performance Jam – Naropa Performing Arts Center
Aug 23 The Hill Flea – art Market and Baazar – Pennsyvania Ave and 13th St on the Hill
Aug 23 Fringe ENCORE! – audience picks – all performance venues

Box Office and Ticketing Information: Either go online at boulderfringe.com, buy passes at Fringe Central (The Laughing Goat Coffeehouse) or go directly to the venue within an hour of show times.

* see attached details below for prices and procedures.

2009 Venues: Naropa University’s Performing Arts Center, BMoCA, Trident Café, b.side lounge, Laughing Goat Coffeehouse, First United Methodist Church, CU Museum of Natural Science and History, Community Dance Collective, 1340 King Street (Lyra Mayfield Residence), Joyful Furniture, Dairy Carsen Theater, Scotch Corner Pub, Naropa University’s Lincoln Studios and Nalanda Campus, CU ATLAS rm102

PSA/Calendar Listing:
5th Annual Boulder International Fringe Festival through August 23rd, 2009 – 15 Venues throughout downtown Boulder. The Boulder Fringe Festival is a lively, 12-day, independent arts festival packed with everything from live theatre & dance to circus art, site-specific performance, music, film, and educational workshops. These multi-textured artistic offerings are hosted in spaces ranging from standard theaters to coffee shops, churches, rooftops, bars and taxis. Ticket prices from $0-$15. See boulderfringe.com for more info.

2009 Highlights
• MUSIC
o FRINGE CENTRAL - the Laughing Goat: The Fringe Festival’s central music venue hosts an assortment of musical acts each night. Shows are at 8:30pm.
o GLOAM with special guests - Five kids, Boulder natives, sisters, brothers, friends - making music in the magic hour when night slides out of day.
o The New Boulder Fringe CRABARET BAND providing tunes and entertainment at the DAILY C.R.A.B. beginning at 10:00pm sharp at the Scotch Corner Pub each evening.
o BB Black Dog Live - Late night at the Naropa’s Performing arts Center. Experimental “Sleeze Rock.”

• THEATER:
o “Like a Virgin” by Jimmy Hogg (Plymouth, UK)
o “Good Girls Don’t, But I Do” - Square Product Theater and Wrecking Ball Theater Lab
o “Gilgamesh” by Izumi Ashizawa Performance - Noh and Kabuki version of the classic story

• DANCE: “A Small Moment of Sky” by Tin House Experimental Dance

• BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue): Lyra Mayfield at her house (mi casa es su teatro), Jenny Tawse at Joyful Furniture

• SPECIAL EVENTS:
• The Hill Flea: A Local Cabinet of Creative Curiosities - Created by XO and the Fringe, The Hill Flea is a weekly interactive flea and arts market that encourages the green values of ‘recycle, repair, restore and reuse’ as well as creativity, art and edu-tainment.
• The Daily C.R.A.B. - The late night talk show with Jimmy Hogg and the Front Range famous CRABARET band, is not only an unpredictable, off-the-wall late night variety show, but provides audiences with the perfect opportunity to sample the Fringe’s offerings with live performances and interviews by different Fringe artists every night.
• Fast Forward Fringe (Programs A and B) - Groundbreaking independent films on the Fringe at the new ATLAS facility on CU’s Campus (rm102). Short films, two full-length features, hosted by Greg Baumhauer of Comedy Works, plus filmmaker q+a and stop frame animations with live musical accompaniment by Laura Goldhamer of Dovekins. Cinema on the fringe at it’s best.
Ø Program A - Tuesday, Aug 19, 7pm.
• FEATURE PRESENTATION - Natural Causes (New York, NY) 2008. Dir: Alex Cannon, Paul Cannon. Cast: Jerzy Gwiazdowski , Leah Goldstein . In the wake of a brief, but intense relationship with Shaina, David struggles to find the same connection with Cara, Shaina's former best friend. The two twenty-somethings flirt, date, get intimate, break up, and question their future in a heartwarming romantic drama conceived by the brother-directors after their own failed relationships.
Ø Program B Wednesday, Aug 20, 7pm
• FEATURE PRESENTATION - Finally, Lillian and Dan (Cambridge, MA) 2008. Dir: Mike Gibisser. Cast: Gretchen Akers, Jason Kean, Lucy Quinn. Finally, Lillian and Dan offers a meditation on young love and its delicacy, its hope and exhilaration, as well as its loneliness and naiveté. After a chance meeting, Lillian and Dan stumble their way toward one another in a love story that stutters, spits, and wears its heart on its sleeve.
• Fringe Encore! - Sunday, Aug 23. The audience’s choice, an encore performance in each venue, based on audience interest (ticket sales).

The Boulder Fringe Festival® is supported by both private and public organizations including:
Canadian Alliance of Fringe Festivals Boulder Weekly
US Alliance of Fringe Festivals KGNU
Boulder Arts Commission Naropa University
Convention and Visitors Bureau Laughing Goat Coffee House
Boulder City Council Trident Booksellers
Boulder County Arts Alliance University of Colorado, Boulder
SCFD XO Productions
The Community Foundation econsciousmarket.com
Downtown Boulder, Inc. Imedia
Pangea Organics JoyLife Theraputics
Copy Experts The Twisting Tree

Box Office and Ticketing:
With hundreds of shows of all genres, amazing workshops as well as other special events in the 2009 Boulder International Fringe Festival, it may seem overwhelming to make sense of it all. But with some helpful tips, you'll be on your way to discovering the magic that is the Fringe!
HOW TO FRINGE
Pick Up a Fringe Program You’re off to a great start already. Now, start flipping through the pages and create a list of shows that you absolutely have to check out. You can also check out more thorough descriptions online at BoulderFringe.com.
Getting Around Once you've picked your show, check out the venue map (pg. 12) to find the location of the venue and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get there before show time. Parking can be very limited around the Fringe sites so we suggest walking or cycling when Fringing.
Spread the Word and Vote Part of the fun of Fringing is finding out what other audience members are enjoying or passing on tips about the shows you've seen. So be sure to strike up a conversation with someone in line at a show and compare notes. And don't forget to rate all of the shows you see at www.BoulderFringe.com
Got Questions? During the festival, feel free to stop by the Fringe Central Box Office located at the Laughing Goat Coffeehouse 1pm to 9pm daily (August 13th-23rd) where you can get info, purchase merchandise and special passes and much more. You can also call the Fringe Info Line at 720-563-9950 or email us at info@boulderfringe.com

Ticket Prices
Theater, Dance and Music shows vary between $0-$15. Keep an eye out for special ticket deals for certain shows listed on the website and in the printed program. (Prices are set by the artists)
Workshop fees vary depending on the workshop. (Discounts available for early registration)
Special Events prices vary.
Fringe Encore! $12/$10. The highest selling show in each venue performs an encore show on August 23rd. (See website for more info).
Discounts Student/Senior Discounts - Varies per ticket (see specific show listings to see if Student and/or Senior discounts are offered) Group Discount - Varies per ticket (see specific show listings to see if Group discounts are offered) - But if you’re looking for bulk deals on tickets, consider getting a Frequent Fringer 5 or 10-Punch Pass or a Fringe All-Pass!

Special Fringe Passes
(available for purchase only at the Fringe Main Box Office at the Laughing Goat)
Frequent Fringer 5-Punch Pass - $50. (5 Show Punch Pass - admits one person per show / Value: $10 per show.)
Frequent Fringer 10-Punch Pass - $80. (10 Show Punch Pass - admits one person per show / Value: $8 per show)
Fringe All-Pass - $240. (Access to all shows between 13th and 23rd of Aug.)
Fringe Student All-Pass - $170. (Access to all shows between 13th and 23rd of Aug.)
Fringe Senior All-Pass - $170. (Access to all shows between 13th and 23rd of Aug.)
• Passes can be purchased in person at the Fringe Central Box Office at the Laughing Goat, 1709 Pearl Street, starting on Aug. 13.
• ID must be shown whenever using Special Fringe Passes. There are no refunds for any unused portion of a pass. Passes may NOT be used to book advance tickets.
• Passes are non-refundable and non-replaceable. Treat them like they’re cash!

Advance Ticket Sales
Advance tickets can be purchased up until midnight the day before the show. Tickets can be picked up on the day of the performance at the theatre starting one hour prior to show time. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before show time. Empty seats will be given to pass holders and at-the-door sales at 5 minutes before show time.

Online: Buy Tickets Online NOW at www.BoulderFringe.com - Bring printed online receipt and picture I.D. in order to receive actual ticket at the door. A fee of $3.00 per ticket is charged on advanced ticket sales unless otherwise specified. Payment Options: Credit Card only.

By phone or in person: The Fringe Central Box Office is located at the Laughing Goat Coffee House, 1709 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado. Call 720-563-9950 to purchase over the phone. Box office hours: 1 pm - 9 pm daily. Your credit card & picture ID must be provided at the venue for verification when you pick up your tickets. A fee of $3.00 per ticket is charged on ALL advanced ticket sales unless otherwise specified. (includes advanced sale walk up or phone in advance)
* No advanced ticket fee will be charged for day-of-show, at-the-door purchases.
Payment Options: Cash, Credit Card or check.

“At The Door” Ticket Sales
On site tickets for all performances will go on sale at the venue ticket counter one hour prior to the first show time each day. (No advanced ticket fee will be charged for day-of, at-the-door purchases.)
Payment Options: Cash and check only (at the door).

PHAMALY Fundraiser Presents Tommy at La Rumba

(Denver, CO) – On Friday, August 21 La Rumba hosts Instant Party, a celebrated Denver band that includes PHAMALY band members and well known vocalists in a special one night appearance. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to catch an intricately played performance of The Who’s 1969 Rock Opera Tommy to benefit PHAMALY – the Physically Handicapped Actors & Musical Artists League.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and Lipgloss DJ Tyler “Danger” Jacobson will play the music of The Who and other British Beat artists from 6 – 7 p.m. The live performance of Tommy runs from 7 – 9 p.m. Guests are welcome to stay for the Best of Westword award winning Friday night dance club Lipgloss which commences after the Tommy performance. Lipgloss cover charge will be waived for PHAMALY attendees. La Rumba is located at 99 W. 9th Ave. in Denver. Attendees must be 21 or older, ID required at the door.

PHAMALY’s award winning musical director Donna Debreceni, a third generation Denver native and a proud recipient of the Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Award for "special achievement in musical direction,” performs on keyboards. Joining her is an “A List” band that includes Rick Thompson on bass, Mitch Jervis on guitar and Larry Ziehl on drums. Local musical theatre rock stars Traci Kern and Daniel Langhoff provide the vocals.

Tommy, the fourth album by the English rock band The Who, tells a loose story about a "deaf, dumb, and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, Tommy was the first musical work to be billed overtly as a rock opera. Released 40 years ago in 1969, the album was mostly composed by guitarist Pete Townshend. In 1998 it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant" value.

See Calendar for Performance details.

Murder One Less Premiers At Boulder Fringe Festival

Boulder, CO - She is a plain and pensive woman. He is a rather ordinary man who lives in an extraordinary house. This house does algebraic equations and plots violence. According to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle one can never be exactly sure of both the velocity and the position of a particle. People (and houses) cannot always find out what they want to know. Uncertainty prevails. One evening, woman, man, and house collide; not all of them survive.

A Murder One Less is a world premier created by Denver performing artist Julie Rada featured at the Boulder Fringe Festival. Part poetry, part fever dream, A Murder One Less combines monologue, dance theatre and multimedia into an interdisciplinary performance experience. Produced by Vicious Trap; featuring Brandon Kruhm, Julie Rada, and a sledgehammer.

Theatre In The Park Ends Where it Began

Denver, CO. - Theatre In The Park took its final bow, not in Denver’s Civic Center Park where it lived, but on the gorgeous property of Sam and Betty Emmanuel during an invitational only party Sunday (8/9/09), where it began 20 years ago.

A victim of budget cuts from the City of Denver which provided security, the Emmanuel’s were forced to say “no more”. Yes, budget cuts, a necessary evil ..... However, for years prior to today’s economic fear factor and budget conundrum, whenever any budget needs to be trimmed, the arts, unfortunately, are the first to go. Remember the 1995 Richard Dreyfuss film Mr. Holland’s Opus? That wasn’t just an intriguing Dreyfuss movie. It was for real. Public schools have wrung their hands over this for eons. And this says what?

Theatre In The Park’s final curtain did not come down with a whimper. An Evening with Jacques Brel brought the house down with Erica Sarzin-Borrillo, Paul Page and Brian and Michelle Merz-Hutchinson. Playing to an audience of well over a hundred people in lawn chairs under a gorgeous Colorado sky, lightening reflected on the glass doors behind the stage underscoring Dan Whitcomb’s lighting design. It rained in a lot of places Sunday night, including my house. Somehow the theatre muses made a deal with the god of thunder and the goddess of rain, and not a drop landed on the historic theatre moment. Erica took the audience’s breath away with Brel’s My Death, Old Folks, Marieke, and Sons Of. The audience giggled with delight over Paul and Brian’s Middle Class, and Paul’s enchanting interpretation of Jackie. (Brel hated to be called Jackie, defending his stance through music.) For a few moments, giggles erupted throughout Brian’s powerful song The Bulls, until the meaning made itself crystal clear. Michelle delighted everyone with the fast paced fun Carousel, and I Loved.

20 years ago, Theatre In The Park took its first bow with CityStage Ensemble’s The Marriage of Figaro in exactly the same spot. So successful was it, it moved to City Center Park the following year.

Theatre In The Park contributed to Denver’s performing companies by providing attendees a cross section of some of Denver’s outstanding small theatres. Cost for attending Theatre In The Park was nothing, and over the years the productions played to well over 250,000 people. It featured the Aurora Fox’s productions of Carnival, Lion In Winter; Compass Theater Company’s Quilters; Garner Galleria Theatre’s (Denver Center Attractions) Always Patsy Cline; Theatre On Broadway's, The Complete Wilm Shkspr (Abridged); The Mizel Arts Center’s Androcles and The Lion; and The Bug Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as the Nomad Theatre’s Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris, to name only a few of the some 56 productions.

Theatre in The Park became one of Denver’s longest continuing festivals in downtown Denver and became known as one of Denver's cultural summer highlights. In 1993 it was awarded Westword’ s Best for Outdoor Summer Entertainment. In 1999 the Minoru Yasui Foundation awarded it for Outstanding Community Service. In 2000, the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District awarded it the Millennium Award which was shared with the Colorado Ballet and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. This resulted in the creation of the Millennium Ballet, performed jointly for free in the Denver Civic Center. It’s called the power in the arts, when the power is connected to the people, and now the power has been unplugged.

A Board of Directors and Staff managed the direction of Theatre In The Park becoming one of Denver’s finest moments.

Sam and Betty thought it only fitting that a tribute be given for closure.

A stunning performer who died way too early, Jacques Brel was known for his irreverent, sarcastic, and passionate gift with down to earth, graphic, and poignant lyrics taking people to where they lived.

Appropriate that Theatre In The Park should close on that note, especially with the closing song by the Company, If We Only Have Love. Appropriate that Theatre In The Park close where it began, under the stars .

Thank you Sam and Betty. Take a bow. Your commitment to the performing arts, your education of the performing arts to the general populace, your providing cultural opportunity with a price tag of zero making it available to everyone in the city, and your furthering theatrical knowledge of some of Denver’s finest theatres is a treasure to Denver’s history, if not to the treasury.

DCTC 2009/10 Season Tickets On Sale

DENVER – For the first time in its 30-season history, the Denver Center Theatre Company is putting single tickets for all performances on sale before the season’s opening in September. Tickets start at $18 and are available by phone, on-line, at the Denver Center box office, or through TicketsWest at all Kings Supers.

Artistic Director Kent Thompson announced lead casting for the new season beginning with director Bruce K. Sevy’s production of David Mamet’s adaptation of Harley Granville-Barker’s remarkably timely 1905 play about greed, guilt and high-level financial corruption – The Voysey Inheritance. Leading members of the cast include company members Philip Pleasants and Kathleen M. Brady as the family patriarch and his wife, Jeanne Paulsen as Honor Voysey, John Hutton as Major Booth Voysey and Sam Gregory as Edward Voysey. Returning to the Denver Center are Robert Sicular (Macbeth, The Tempest, The Rivals) as Trenchard Voysey and Michael Winters (The Time of Your Life, The Cherry Orchard, Long Day’s Journey into Night) as George Booth. Making his Denver Center debut as Hugh Voysey is Shawn Fagan (Utah Shakespearean Festival, Dallas Theatre Center, Arden Theatre). Previews for The Voysey Inheritance begin September 18, opening night is September 24 and the play closes October 24 in The Space Theatre.

Director Israel Hicks returns to the Denver Center Theatre Company to direct A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry’s breakthrough drama which fearlessly looks at ways to keep the American dream alive. Company members Kim Staunton, Terrence Riggins and Harvy Blanks play the roles of Ruth Younger, Walter Lee Younger and Bobo respectively. Denver actors Tyee Tilghman (The Merry Wives of Windsor) and Cajardo Rameer Lindsey (Shadow Theatre, The Arvada Center) also join the cast. Previews for A Raisin in the Sun begin October 2, opening night is October 8 and the play closes October 31 in The Stage Theatre.

Christy Montour-Larson makes her Denver Center directorial debut with Well, Lisa Kron’s autobiographical play about the sometimes exaggerated and improvised details of her 30-something life. Kate Levy (Uncle Vanya) returns to the Denver Center to play the lead role, Kathleen M. Brady plays her Mother and company regulars Rachel Fowler and Erik Sandvold are members of the ensemble. Previews for Well begin November 6, opening night is November 12 and the play closes December 19 in The Ricketson Theatre.

Tickets and Subscriptions
New and renewing subscribers may reserve their subscriptions now by calling 303.893.6030. TTY (303) 893-9582.

Single tickets for all performances this season start at $18 (some restrictions may apply) and are on sale now. The Denver Center Box Office located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone call (303) 893-4100 – for those outside the Denver calling area, 1 (800) 641-1222, TTY (303) 893-9582. Buy and print tickets on-line by visiting www.denvercenter.org

Student $10 rush ticket are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability. Groups of 10+ contact 303.446.4829 or groupsales@dcpa.org No children under six will be admitted to any theatre.

Performance Schedule
Stage, Space and Ricketson Theatres
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances at 6:30pm
Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30pm

The Voysey Inheritance by Harley Granville-Barker, adapted by David Mamet
September 18 – October 24, 2009 (Opening Thursday, September 24) The Space Theatre

Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
October 1 – 31, 2009 (Opening Thursday, October 8) The Stage Theatre

Well by Lisa Kron
November 6 – December 19, 2009 (Opening Thursday, November 12) The Ricketson Theatre

Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
November 13 – December 19, 2009 (Opening Thursday, November 19) The Space Theatre

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted for the stage by Richard Hellesen, Music by David de Berry
November 27 – December 26, 2009 (Opening Thursday, December 3) The Stage Theatre

A Denver Center Commissioned World Premiere
When Tang Met Laika by Rogelio Martinez
January 22 – February 27, 2010 (Opening Thursday, January 28) The Space Theatre

A Denver Center Commissioned World Premiere
Eventide by Eric Schmiedl, from the novel by Kent Haruf
January 29 – February 27, 2010 (Opening Thursday, February 4) The Stage Theatre

A Denver Center World Premiere
Mama Hated Diesels by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman, with additional material by Charles Weldon
March 19 – May 9, 2010 (Opening Thursday, March 25) The Stage Theatre

Othello by William Shakespeare
March 26 – May 1, 2010 (Opening Thursday, April 1) The Space Theatre

Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarias
April 2 – May 15, 2010 (Opening Thursday, April 8) The Ricketson Theatre

Taste of Broadway At Backstage Theatre

You’re invited to take part in a very special wine tasting event promising good food, excellent wines, and exceptional Broadway-style musical entertainment – all to support the Backstage Theatre. Save the date – A Taste of Broadway will be offered for one night only on Thursday, August 20th!

Backstage Theatre supporters Rhona and David Pessel have organized this event which will include appetizers and fine wine tasting. Whether hot or cold, sunny, raining, or snowing, it’s always nice enough weather to try some wine! And to ensure enjoyable palates, it’s even nicer to have appetizers to go along with them. Better yet, if you join us for wines and appetizers, you will enjoy and help support the fine entertainment provided by the Backstage Theatre.

The wines will vary from light to heavy and from white to red. And the appetizers will be on the “heavy” side so you won’t watch the show hungry.

The talent for the evening includes cast members from our current production of The Fantasticks – Matthew Dailey who plays Matt, Whitney Semin who plays Luisa, David Ambroson who plays El Gallo, and Mary Gottlieb, music director and pianist extra ordinaire. Joining this stellar group will be Doug Webster, previously seen at the Backstage in Cannibal the Musical!, and Lisa Finnerty, Denver singer featured in many shows at Littleton’s Town Hall.

This amazing group of singers will perform some of their favorite Broadway songs in an intimate cabaret evening you won’t want to miss. Technical support and direction will be provided by Backstage Theatre artistic director, Christopher Willard.

Wine tasting will begin promptly at 6 PM. The performance is at 7:30 PM. Tickets are only $35 per person or $60 per couple. All proceeds for the event will support the Backstage Theatre. The event location is the Breckenridge Theatre, 121 S. Ridge Street in Breckneridge.

Contact the theatre box office at 970-453-0199 to reserve seats. Seating is limited, so please call today!

Su Teatro inducts 8th class of Musica de Colorado Hall of Fame

Su Teatro is pleased to announce the inductions into the 8th class of the Musica de Colorado Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees, musician Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo, radio pioneers David Gallegos and Paul Chavez, and longstanding KUVO music program Cancion Mexicana, was honored Friday, August 7, as part of the 13th Annual Chicano Music Festival and Auction.

Induction into the Hall of Fame acknowledges the lifetime achievements of members of the Chicano community who have devoted themselves to the presentation or preservation of traditional Latino music in Colorado.

Dr. Lorenzo Trujillo is founder and leader of the Southwest Musicians. He’s earned numerous accolades for his work as a musician, ethnic dancer, folklorist, arts administrator, and culture bearer, including the Hilos Culturales Distinguished Traditional Folk Artist Premio and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Since 1985, jazz89 KUVO’s Cancion Mexicana has been one of the only programs in the metro area that focuses on English-speaking Latinos. Cancion Mexicana is the soundtrack of Sunday mornings, beginning at 10am, when listeners dance in their kitchens preparing breakfast, sing along at the top of their lungs, blast the program out of the window, or fondly remember their loved ones.

Sometimes referred to as Denver’s answer to Cheech and Chong, David Gallegos and Paul Chavez teamed up from for several years, beginning in 1980, to host The Latin Connection on KBNO radio, 1220 AM. Their humorous bilingual exchanges earned them a legion of loyal listeners and paved the way for future radio formats.

Awardees will receive a handsome cut glass trophy at the 13th Annual Chicano Music Festival on Friday, August 7’s Noche Tradicional, and their names will be inscribed in a permanent plaque at the new Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center at 215 South Santa Fe Drive.

Past inductees include Paco Sanchez, Eva Nuanez, Alfred Terrones, Luisa Mendoza, Levi and Carmen Beall, Henry Salas, and several other of Colorado’s finest musicians and musical pioneers.

For more information, please contact John Kuebler at (303) 296-0219 or john@suteatro.org And visit suteatro.org

Central City Opera closes 2009 Festival to critical acclaim and International Company debuts

Denver , Colo. - Central City Opera (CCO) closed its 2009 Festival on Aug. 2 to critical acclaim. Despite the current economic climate, ticket revenue remained strong for this year’s Festival with a total of $835,443 in sales, representing a combined rate of 80% audience capacity for the entire festival. Staging a shortened three show season with 31 performances, average revenue per performance was up by 2% over 2008. The Festival’s three shows had audience capacities of 88% for A Little Night Music, 75% for Lucia di Lammermoor, and 72% for Rinaldo. In response to focused Board and box office efforts, group sales were up by 4% from 2008.

By not compromising artistic quality in the face of national economic conditions, the 2009 Summer Festival proved to be another landmark season for the company and continued to build upon its reputation as a leader among summer festivals. “In a time when the economy is in decline and overall morale is low, it is more important than ever that we offer patrons a transcending escape. By remaining committed to our artistic vision and presenting unique masterpieces, I am proud that we once again were able to offer a truly one-of-a-kind musical experience,” states General/Artistic Director Pelham G. Pearce.

In a year marked by significant artistic milestones, CCO presented Rinaldo, its first production composed by Georg Friedrich Handel. The opera was staged in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death. Conductor and Artistic Director of the U.K.’s Retrospect Ensemble, Matthew Halls, made his U.S. debut with this production, further establishing his international reputation as a leader among the younger generation of Baroque musicians. Two internationally renowned sopranos, Lyubov Petrova and Kathleen Kim, also made their respective company debuts in the roles of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Armida in Rinaldo. Wes Blomster of the Boulder Daily Camera described Petrova’s portrayal of Lucia as “…a voice now without rivals in this role”. Charles Downey, a freelance classical music critic for the Washington Post, commented that Kim’s performance of Armida was “… made memorable by blazing high notes and a malevolent stage presence.”

As part of the Festival’s education and community offerings, CCO presented two, annual programs focused on exposing children and youth to the world of opera. The Nina Odescalchi Kelly Family Matinees offered community audiences the opportunity to see full-length productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and Rinaldo. The performances were given by members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program and included audience discussions before each act and a meet-and-greet with the young artists. The Summer Performing Arts Intensive Camp, a partnership with the Colorado Springs Conservatory and Colorado College, offered 20 young adults the opportunity to participate in two weeks of immersion studies in music, theater, composition and related disciplines. Chosen by audition, students came from as far away as New York and Oregon to participate. The program culminated with the students composing their own short opera based on a given theme. This year’s theme was “Rags to Riches”, a program collaboration with the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum and its exhibit on the 150th anniversary of the Pikes Peak gold rush. The students presented their new work in two, standing-room only performances at Williams Stables.

As a component of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, twelve scholarships were awarded to exemplary members at the Festival’s closing ceremonies on Aug. 2. The young artists are selected based on criteria including the artistic quality of performances given during the Festival season, a demonstration of a strong work ethic during training activities and career potential as a performing artist. Award winners were congratulated by General/Artistic Director Pelham G. Pearce, Artistic Director Emeritus John Moriarty, and Board Chairman Jeannie Fuller. Recipients for 2009 are: Amanda Russo – The McGlone Award; Sarah Mesko – The Shoshana Foundation Award; Annamarie Zmolek – The Apprentice Artist Award; James Baumgardner – The Studio Artist Award; Andrew Owens – The Iris Henwood Richards Award; Jonathan Cole – In Memory of William Russell, Jr. Award; Alisa Jordheim– In Honor of the 75th Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. William Henwood Award; Scott Johnson – The Young Artist Award; Stephanie Washington – The E. Atwill Gilman Award; Nicholas Nelson – The Ginney and John Starkey Young Artist Award; Tai Oney – The John Moriarty Award; and Tara Faircloth – the first recipient of the inaugural Adelaide Bishop Award.