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.

Rising Curtain Theatre Academy Announces Award Winners

The Rising Curtain Theatre Academy Award winners 2008-2009 Season:
Youth Company Performer of the Year 2008-2009 Hope Starr, The Wizard of Oz
Youth Company Performer of the Year 2008-2009 Ryan Groel, Annie Jr.
Company Performer of the Year 2008-2009 Jaclyn O'Hara , My Fair Lady
Company Performer of the Year 2008-2009 Rob O'Hara, My Fair Lady
Best Youth Actress in a Supporting Role 2008-2009 Sena Carey, Willy Wonka Jr.
Best Youth Actor in a Supporting Role 2008-2009 Cole Franklin, Annie Jr.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2008-2009 Becky Moritzky, The Wizard of Oz
Best Actor in a Supporting Role 2008-2009 Peter Franklin, Willy Wonka Jr.
Best Youth Actress in a Leading Role 2008-2009 Dianna Link, Annie Jr.
Best Actress in a Leading Role 2008-2009 Kelly Oury , My Fair Lady
Best Actor in a Leading Role 2008-2009 Elliot Clough , The Wizard of Oz
Outstanding Youth Singer 2008-2009 Gillian Brick, Annie Jr.
Outstanding Singer 2008-2009 Laurel Ellis , The Wizard of Oz
Outstanding Youth Dancer 2008-2009 Adrian Stallcup
Outstanding Dancer 2008-2009 Rob O'Hara
Best Performance by an adult Actress Barb Moritzky, Steel Magnolias
Best Performance by an adult Actor Eric Franklin , My Fair Lady

Curtains Up Theatre Company
Featured Performance by a Youth Actor 2008-2009 Brandon Metoyer, Godspell
Company Performer of the Year 2008-2009 Jennifer Chengery, Godspell
Company Performer of the Year 2008-2009 Charles Burden, Godspell
Company Performer of the Year 2008-2009 Patrick Brownson, Godspell
Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2008-2009 Shaina Wexler , Oklahoma
Best Actor in a Supporting Role 2008-2009 Aaron Paschall, Oklahoma
Best Actress 2008-2009 Dessa Baxman , Harvey
Best Actor 2008-2009 Torrey Jenkins, Godspell
Costumes of the Year 2008-2009 The Rising Curtain Theatre Academy Mary Link & Tammy Franklin- My Fair Lady
Best Performance by a Non-Human 2008-2009 Biscuit Carey as Toto, The Wizard of Oz
Director of The Year 2008-2009 The Rising Curtain Theatre Academy Eric Franklin , Willy Wonka Jr. & The Wizard of Oz
Director of The Year 2008-2009 Curtains Up Theatre Company Aaron Paschall, Godspell
Production of the Year 2008-2009 The Rising Curtain Theatre Academy My Fair Lady
Production of the Year 2008-2009 Curtains Up Theatre Company Godspell Spirit of the Artist Elliot Clough

Education fund established:
The Rachel E. Gilbert Memorial Education Fund.
The fund is for students wishing to study theatre and children who wish to attend performances.

Colorado Shakespeare Festival Presents The Two Gentlemen of Verona

In the wonderful world of Shakespeare’s comic imagination, there is very little constancy and very little perfection. Proteus, the changeable one, swears everlasting love to Julia and within a short span is courting his best friend Valentine’s girl, Sylvia. Valentine is his best friend. Aye, there’s the rub…. In Renaissance times, male friendships were held in highest esteem, came with certain social obligations—and loyalty to one’s best friend was a matter of honor. So Proteus’ transgression leaves him far from perfect. It is, however, a perfect setup for comic conflict. What is the resolution?

Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona will be given in the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre on the University of Colorado at Boulder’s campus, through August 9. There are only nine performances. Adult ticket prices range from $14 - $54; children ages 5 -12 can come for just $5 to any performance; and teens ages 13-17 can come for half price, any performance. Children and teen prices do not apply to Dress Circle.

Director Tom Markus, using the tradition of the “play within the play,” frames his story as a rehearsal—that’s right, a rehearsal. Markus recognizes that we all like to see people at work. It’s the process that fascinates, just as much as the finished product. So in this production, there’s a director (actor Gary Wright) calling the scenes, making demands; the actors: Proteus (Matt Mueller), Valentine (Mat Hostetler), Julia (Jamie Anne Romero), Sylvia (Alexandra C. Lewis) all doing what actors do—talking, refining, questioning motivation.? In Markus’ words, “Our concept is especially appropriate for this play because the title characters revise and refine their concept of true love and honorable friendship through the twists and turns of the plot….”

But make no mistake. This is a polished production that creates the illusion of a final rehearsal. To quote dramaturg, “Bruce Bergner’s set uses architectural structures that resemble an Elizabethan theatre, while the set pieces suggest the rehearsal furniture used in 21st -century rehearsals before the actual set is completed. Similarly, although Markas Henry’s costumes look like contemporary everyday wear, they are designed to reveal character traits and to show relationships between characters. The 21st century costumes are accessorized with pieces that actors normally use as they prepare an Elizabethan-period production; the rehearsal skirts, doublets, tabards, gauntlets…help the actors to prepare their roles. The result is a show that looks and feels like a rehearsal—both in 2009 and in the year 1594, when the play was first staged.”? The concept captures the backstage world and its spirit of improvisation to capture your imagination and guide you to look with new eyes at one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies.

CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF PHAMALY, COLORADO’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED THEATRE COMPANY, AT THE ANNUAL “CIRCLE OF STARS” GALA

Event: The 2009 Circle of Stars: Reaching the Unreachable
When: Thursday, July 30, 2009 ● 6 - 11p.m.
Where: The Space Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex
Why: PHAMALY’s (the Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League, Inc.) annual fundraising celebration with pre-show cocktails, tapas and entertainment; $20,000 in 20 minutes live appeal including “surprise box” auction followed by VIP performance of this summer’s production, “Man of La Mancha,” The evening’s festivities come to a close with champagne and dessert with the cast.
Cost: $75 per person. ($40 tax deductible).
RSVP: Email tickets@phamaly.org or call 303-575-0005
Who: Honorary Chair: Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper
Auctioneer: Gary Corbett
Hosts: The PHAMALY Board of Directors
Org. info: PHAMALY is an award-winning Colorado based theatre company whose mission is to enable persons with disabilities to showcase their talents and abilities through live productions and to make the performing arts more accessible to everyone.
For more information go to www.phamaly.org

And Toto Too Theatre Company Selects Heads For Fall

DENVER, CO –September 1, 2009 - And Toto Too Theatre Company a not-for-profit theater company producing new works by women playwrights, today announced the selection of The Francesca Primus Prize award winning new play Heads by E.M. Lewis as the company’s fall production. The regional premiere will be performed on September 30, 2009 and the show will run through October 29, 2009 at the Denver Victorian Playhouse.

E.M. Lewis is an award winning playwright, not only of the Francesca Primus Prize, which was until 2002 administered by the Denver Center Theatre Company, but also just received the 2009 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for her new work Song of Extinction.

Heads is the timely and compelling story of a British Embassy worker, an American engineer, a network journalist and a freelance photographer who are held captive in Iraq; as death draws close, each hostage must decide what he’ll do to survive. This is a play that Edward Albee calls “provocative and wonderfully threatening."

See Calendar for performance details.

Backstage Theatre Turns Melodramatic with The Drunkard

Breckenridge’s Backstage Theatre goes back to its early days of producing melodramas with a revival of the hysterically goofy and sweetly affecting temperance melodrama, The Drunkard, opening July 16.

The Drunkard is one of the most produced plays in the Backstage Theatre’s 35 year history. In this new adaptation, written by Backstage Theatre artistic director Christopher Willard, it is 1859 in Breckenridge, and the town constabulary has hired a theatre troupe to present the great temperance melodrama to steer the citizens away from the temptations of “demon rum”. Edward Middleton is a young temperance leader led on a wild fall from grace by Lawyer Cribbs, a dishonest solicitor bent on destroying Middleton to gain possession of his inheritance and to win the hand of the innocent and beautiful Mary Wilson. Audience members are invited to join in with the proceedings, “boo” the villain, “cheer” the hero, and to sign “The Pledge of Sobriety” in the theatre lobby. It’s an evening of silly, melodramatic fun that is pure, unabashed entertainment.

The cast features Dustin Murphy (BST’s Reefer Madness) as Edward, Seth Maisel (Victorian’s Greater Tuna) as Cribbs, Maggie Frazer (BST’s Wizard of Oz) as the Widow, and newcomers Frank Lilly as Bertie, and Tasha Milkman as Mary. The show is helmed by guest director Rick Bernstein, Co-Artistic Director of Miners Alley Theatre in Golden. Costume design is by Meredith Murphy. Original music – played live on piano – is by Keve Wilson. Set design is by Adam Kelly and Brad Harding. Lighting design is by Jacob Welch (BST’s The Fantasticks). The show is sponsored by Breckenridge Accommodations.

See Calendar for performance details.

Central City’s Annual Student Summer Performing Arts Intensive

Denver, Colo – Central City Opera partners for its 6th year with the Colorado Springs Conservatory on the Summer Performing Arts Intensive. This two-week program for high school students culminates in two FREE public performances of scenes from drama, musical theater and opera, plus a short student-composed original opera on Thursday, July 17, at 8:00p.m. and Sunday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. This year’s theme for the students’ study and performance is “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. Both performances will take place at Williams Stables located across from the Opera House on Eureka St. in Central City. No advance tickets are needed and seating is based on availability.

“By joining forces with the Conservatory, we are able to offer these students a transformative experience at a crucial point in their young lives. Not only are they instructed in voice, drama, movement and composition by the finest teaching artists, they also explore new avenues of creativity by writing and performing an original short opera, AND they observe and are mentored by CCO performing artists who are at the peak of their form”, commented Central City Opera Education and Community Programs Director Deb Morrow.

Students, aged 14-19, are selected through audition to participate in this unique educational experience. This year, 20 young adults were selected from as far as New York and Oregon to engage in two weeks of immersion studies in music, theater, composition and related disciplines. The students spend 10 days in residence at Colorado College and four days in residence with the Central City Opera. During this process, they study with faculty from the Colorado Springs Conservatory, prestigious visiting teaching artists and Central City Opera artistic personnel.

A major component of the program is the process of creating an original short opera based on the “Rags to Riches” theme, led by composer-in-residence Roger Ames. Mr. Ames composed the Latin-inspired music for Central City Opera’s one-act Spanish/English bilingual opera, En Mis Palabras (In My Own Words). Commissioned by the company to be performed for family and student audiences, the opera tells the story of a teenage Latina’s journey into adulthood through the relationships with her family. Mr. Ames is known for his operas, musicals and choral pieces including The End of Forever, an opera he recently composed about the Native American experience in Indiana; and the choral piece In Memoriam, Warsaw 1943, which deals with the subject of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in 1943.

Prior to their residency in Central City, the students will perform in Colorado Springs. On Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15, the “Rags to Riches” Scenes Program will be presented at the Edith Kinny Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center at Colorado College, Studio A. The program will consist of well-known scenes from drama, musical theater, and opera as well as scenes from the students’ original piece. Tickets will be available at the door for $5.

Colorado Springs Conservatory
The Colorado Springs Conservatory seeks to inspire, motivate and challenge all students to aspire to their highest potential as artists and human beings through arts immersion studies and community arts advocacy. The school encourages students to challenge their approach to learning through a commitment to the arts. In addition to the Summer Performing Arts Intensive, programs include opera productions, a jazz program, “WAM” (What Art Means), theater and musical theater, pre-school and outreach recital programs. For more information, visit www.coloradospringsconservatory.org

Central City Opera’s Education and Community Programs
The Summer Performing Arts Intensive is one of Central City Opera’s year-round Education and Community Programs that strive to enhance existing curriculum for young students and lifelong learning for everyone. The company has visited over 100 communities across Colorado with these programs, entertaining and educating more than 60,000 people each year. Central City Opera is one of the most active opera companies in the nation in education and community services.

NEA Announces Grants to 631 Nonprofit Arts Groups

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced direct grants to 631 nonprofit arts groups, totaling $29.775 million as part of the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These direct grants are in addition to the 63 state and regional sub-grants previously awarded in April, totaling $19.8 million. Both of these funds are part of a $50 million federal stimulus package being allocated by the NEA in support of job recovery programs for nonprofit and local and state public arts agencies.

More than 100,000 arts advocates and local, state, and national partners sent more than 85,000 messages to their members of Congress encouraging them to include funding for the arts in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. An additional 15,500 letters and blog entries were written and sent by advocates to local and online media in order to educate the general public about the very real role of the arts in the economy and what’s at risk.

“In just five short months since the passage of the economic recovery bill, the NEA enacted a plan that quickly and efficiently distributed $50 million to reach arts organizations in every corner of America. Many jobs will be saved and arts programs continued as a result of these much-needed funds. The tireless advocacy efforts of our nation’s arts community has truly paid off,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts.

Coal Creek Community Theater Seeks Directors for 2010 Season

Coal Creek Community Theater of Louisville, CO is currently accepting proposals from directors for the following plays (rights pending) to be produced for their 2010 season. Only one proposal per director, please. Proposals are due by July 27, 2009. Interviews will take place on August 3, 2009, 7:00 – 10:00pm at the Louisville Arts Center, 801 Grant Ave., Louisville, Colorado. Email your proposal, resume and references to Coal Creek Community Theater Play Reading Coordinator, Linda Orr at Linda_orr@comcast.net.

You may choose one (1) of the plays from the list below, or propose another you are passionate about.

Comedies
Blythe Spirit
The Nerd
I Hate Hamlet
Dramas
Glass Menagerie
All My Sons
The Children’s Hour
Mysteries
Angel Street (Gaslight)
Sorry, Wrong Number/The Hitchhiker
Loot
World Premier of Don Fried’s comedy, Shakespeare Incorporated. This play will be presented in the winter (Feb/March 2010) time slot as a collaborative effort with Theatre Company of Lafayette.

Remaining time slots are: Spring (April/May 2010) and fall (October/November 2010)

Your proposal should consist of:
• Your theater resume & two letters of reference.
• Preferred time slot
• Concept of show
• Casting requirements
• Set proposal/design
• Costume needs/design
• Production personnel required
What support you would need from CCCT to bring your 'vision' to full realization

complete proposal to Linda_orr@comcast.net by July 27, 2009.

Chosen Directors will be compensated via a profit-sharing agreement. For more information on Coal Creek Community Theater, please visit www.ccctheater.org

Colorado Shakespeare Festival Opens Much Ado About Nothing

July 10, 2009, Boulder, Colorado—The Colorado Shakespeare Festival opens its second play of the summer season with Much Ado About Nothing. The play weaves together the sunniest of conflicts between Benedick and Beatrice, who wage a “merry war” of wits against one another, with a darker story of two lovers, Hero and Claudio, almost destroyed by lies, scandal and jealous rage.

Performances of Much Ado are in the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre on the University of Colorado at Boulder campus, July 10 – August 7. There are only nine performances: July 10 (Preview), July 11 (Opening), July 11, 19, 21, 28, 29, 30, and August 6 and 7. Early 6:30 curtains times, as well as 8:30 start times are available. Adult ticket prices range from $14 to $54; children ages 5-12 can come for $5, and teens ages 13 – 17 are admitted for half price. (See Website www.coloradoshakes.org for curtain times, and to purchase tickets.)

Much Ado About Nothing might be seen as a dance between comedy and potential tragedy, sun and shadow. But the latter can’t linger for too long in a comedy. There’s a too- bad-to-be-true villain, the author of the plot against Hero and Claudio, brought low by the unforgettable constable, “Dogberry” (Chip Persons) and his sidekick, “Verges,” (Michael Kane), two of Shakespeare’s greatest comic creations. In the end, of course, the two sets of lovers are united amid joyous festivities.

While the plot follows the story line of most romantic comedies, it’s Shakespeare’s characters and his language that provide immeasurable pleasure. The feisty and super intelligent Beatrice is a true modern woman, while Benedick, for all his intelligence and wit, is blind to his own feelings until duped into acknowledging them. Played by CSF core company actors, Karen Slack and Geoffrey Kent, the chemistry is electric and oh so fun to watch. Claudio and Hero are drawn along more conventional lines—but Claudio’s sudden jealousy is all too real. And Hero—sweet, sweet Hero—who hasn’t met this high school dream girl? CSF fans will see charming new talents Ben Bonenfant and Caitlin Wise in these roles. The stern, quick to anger, yet genial Duke Leonato, Hero’s father, is played by perennial favorite, Sam Gregory. And Director Lynne Collins’ setting in sunny, Mediterranean Spain gives splash and dash to all these turns of passion.

As all the world knows, Shakespeare wrote in iambic pentameter. In this play, however, the language is seventy percent prose. What makes the language soar are the rapier-like thrusts of wit, the puns and near puns, the allusions and metaphor. You don’t have to be a scholar to follow the linguistic fireworks.

Curious Theatre Company Announces Battle of the Word Nerds

Denver, CO- Saturday, July 18th at 7p.m., an eclectic group of performers are going head-to-head in the BATTLE OF THE WORD NERDS, a creative spelling bee benefiting Curious Theatre Company.

Contestants:
• John Jurcheck, Curious Theatre Artistic Company Member
• Sam Adams, comedian and winner at the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival
• Sheryl Renee, renowned actress and singer recently named "Entertainer of the Year" by The African American Voice Newspaper
• Jaclyn Casey, young powerhouse attorney with Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons and Curious Theatre Company board member

Emcee:
• GerRee Hinshaw, host of Freak Train

Noted Celebrities:
• DJ Savior Breath, A.K.A. Westword music writer Eryc Eyl
• Scorekeeper Naughty Pierre (Jefferson Arca, emcee at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret) will challenge the contestants to not only spell, but perform creative feats associated with their given word

The Distinguished Panel of Judges:
• Garrett Ammon, Artistic Director of Ballet Nouveau Colorado
• Britta Erickson, veteran staff member of Denver Film Society
Lannie Garrett, local legend, and founder of Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret

"GerRee might ask Sam, for instance, to invent a definition for his spelling word, or Sheryl to use the word in a song," says event organizer and Curious Theatre Artistic Company member, Mare Trevathan. "The judges then factor in accuracy, chutzpah and entertainment value. And our audience gets to vote for their favorite contestant with their money. It's a very subjective system."

The spelling words have been selected by members of Curious Theatre Company and invited guests including former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers, playwright Lee Blessing, Denver Post theatre critic John Moore, Brandi Shigley of Fashion Denver, former Rocky Mountain News theatre critic Lisa Bornstein, Museum of Contemporary Art Executive Director Adam Lerner, Westword theatre critic Juliet Wittman and others.

"The contest lasts just 60 minutes. Then we'll spill into the parking lot for a party hosted by the Curious Theatre Artistic Company, beers and brats, and the musical styling’s of DJ Savior Breath,” says Trevathan.

BATTLE OF THE WORD NERDS a one-night-only event, Saturday, July 18, 2009, 7:00p.m., at Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St. in Denver. Tickets: $10 in advance/ $12 at the door / General Admission (seating begins at 6:30) / Cash bar and barbecue / Tickets available starting Monday, June 29, 2009, through the Box Office at 303.623.0524 or online at www.curioustheatre.org.

Rocky Mountain Arts Association Launches New Theatre Company

Rocky Mountain Arts Association (RMAA), parent of the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, Denver Women’s Chorus, Out Loud: The Colorado Springs Men’s Chorus and Mosaic Youth Chorus, is proud to announce its launch of a new theatre company project, Gravity Defied Theatre. Dedicated to the production of only musical theatre, Gravity Defied Theatre is Colorado’s first and only charitably focused theatre company, committed to donating a portion of proceeds from each production to another nonprofit organization in the state.

“Rocky Mountain Arts Association, in its 27th year, has experienced major growth over the last three years, now made up of 240 singing members in four community choruses ranging in age from 13 to 80, and has always been focused not only on the community we build inside of our organization, but the outside community that supports us in so many ways.” says Will Adams, RMAA executive director. “With our mission of building community through music, launching a theatre group focused on musicals is a natural fit for us, as is doing something to help the greater nonprofit community. By broadening our programming we will be better positioned to reach more and different audience members with our mission, all while diversifying our revenue stream in a very challenging economic environment not only for RMAA, but our nonprofit peers.”

Gravity Defied Theatre was conceived by Keith Rabin Jr and partner Danny Harrigan after years of performing in community and professional theatres. One of them, M.A.D. Theatre of Tampa, made a one-time contribution to another nonprofit organization after its inaugural production. Honored to have been able to support another worthy organization simply by performing incredible musical theatre, Rabin began a search for a way to support others with each and every production. The Gravity Defied name was inspired by the character Elphaba from the hit musical Wicked. Through with “playing by the rules of someone else’s game” and “time to trust (their) instincts,” Rabin and Harrigan set out on a new path. In a time when fully one-third of Colorado’s theatre companies have folded, it may seem counter-intuitive to launch such a project. But this theatre company promises to “defy the norm,” producing the most eclectic mix of professional quality musical theatre while recognizing the important contributions of Colorado’s nonprofits to the well-being of our state, especially during such difficult economic times.

Gravity Defied Theatre’s inaugural production is bare: the musical. Written by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo, bare centers on the coming-of-age story of a group of high school seniors at a Catholic boarding school. Knowing their stay in this insular world is drawing to a close, each of them questions where they are in their lives and what the future holds in store. Answers are sought in the church confessional and in less formal venues including a stage, a rave and a well-locked dorm room. At the center of the story are Peter and Jason, in love yet uncertain of how to respond. bare received its world premiere at the Hudson Mainstage Theater in Los Angeles in October 2000 and played Off-Broadway at the American Theatre of Actors in 2004. Since then, bare has played in Kansas City, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Minnesota, and more recently in Canada and Australia.

bare plays the Aurora Fox Arts Center Fridays and Saturdays, August 7th through the 22nd and is directed by Keith Rabin, Jr. Tickets and information are available online at www.rmarts.org.

Gravity Defied Theatre’s first beneficiary nonprofit is the Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League (PHAMALY,) a theatre group and touring company that performs throughout the greater Denver area. PHAMALY was formed in 1989 when a group of former students of the Boettcher School in Denver grew frustrated with the lack of theatrical opportunities for people living with disabilities, and decided to create a theatre company that would provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to perform. As a not-for-profit membership organization, PHAMALY is dedicated to producing traditional theatre in nontraditional ways. PHAMALY will assist Gravity Defied Theatre in marketing efforts for bare. (www.phamaly.org)

Gravity Defied Theatre’s second production is You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, which will play at the Aurora Fox in January, 2010. The beneficiary nonprofit for this production is Starlight Children’s Foundation Colorado, dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. (www.starlight-colorado.org)

Town Hall Announces Children’s Theatre Season

“Aesop-a- Rebop” A participation musical which utilizes Aesop fable vignettes to illustrate the importance and enjoyment of reading. Opens October 5, 2009 and runs weekdays and Saturdays through October 17, 2009 at Town Hall Arts Center.

“TeeVee or Not TeeVee” This show was created to teach, inform, and excite middle and high school age students on the writings of William Shakespeare. Post performance workshops are available where the professional actors will work with a class crafting their own Shakespeare scenes. Begins to tour September 21, 2009 and continues throughout the year upon request.

“The Differentest School of All” Based on the Dr. Seuss story, Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, this participation musical tells the story of a school that has to take a test in order to stay open. Opening January 25, 2010 and running through February 6, 2010 at Town Hall Arts Center, this production is strategically timed for schools to make use of the subject matter in order to prepare students for the annual C-SAP (Colorado State Assessment Program) tests.

“Destination Dinosaurs” A participation play covering Colorado Model Content Standards in science, history, and geography where the entire audience boards a time machine and travels back in time with famed paleontologist, Henrietta Higglemeyer, in search of a dinosaur egg. Begins to tour March 1, 2010 and continues through May 2010.

Blue Grass Comes Home To The Crested Butte Music Festival

Celebrating its 12th year, the 2009 Festival will run July 4 - July 26, and this year will include many opportunities to hear not only opera and symphony music but also some of the best bluegrass in the nation, featuring The Blue Canyon Boys and The Infamous Stringdusters.

Artistic and Managing Director Alexander Scheirle has announced that the theme for the 2009 season is Follow the Generations Through Paradise, sure to entertain people of all ages.

The Infamous Stringdusters
Voted Best Emerging Artist in 2007 by the prestigious International Bluegrass Music Association, the Infamous Stringdusters will perform their magic for audiences in the picturesque Ein-Lynch Barn at 7:30 p.m. on July 11. Considered the new vanguard of acoustic music, the Infamous Stringdusters will engage listeners with well-crafted songs, vivid arrangements, instrumental virtuosity, stunning improvisation, unique individuality and unbeatable harmonies. This incredible Nashville-based sextet features Andy Falco on guitar, Andy Hall on Dobro, Travis Book on bass, Jeremy Garrett on fiddle, Jesse Cobb on mandolin, and Chris Pandolfi on banjo. Their tight, quick-moving shows sparkle with an infectious energy. Individual adult tickets are priced at $30, and student tickets are priced at $10.

The Blue Canyon Boys
Colorado's own Blue Canyon Boys will entertain audiences at 7:30 p.m. on July 25 with the flawless harmonies and virtuoso banjo riffs that distinguish them. Winners of the 2008 Telluride Bluegrass festival band contest, the Blue Canyon Boys offer a unique style of Colorado Bluegrass that combines tradition with innovation. This band consists of Gary Dark on mandolin, Jason Hicks on guitar, Drew Garrett on bass, and Jeff Scroggins on banjo. Astounding vocals and instrumentals raise the energy and keep audiences on their feet. The Blue Canyon Boys have become one of Colorado's most celebrated Front Range bluegrass bands. Held at the Center for the Arts in Crested Butte, individual tickets are priced at $30, and student tickets are priced at $10.

A Package for Every Pocketbook
For the first time, the CBMF is offering special packages that include Bluegrass, enabling music lovers to enjoy renowned talent at a remarkable price:
• Platinum Pass: Truly a passport to musical paradise, the Platinum Pass offers admission for one to all 14 ticketed performances, three operas, each of the four home soirees, and a patron ticket to the CBMF's annual fundraising Celebration. Pricing is $1,140.
• Gold Pass: For the lover of all types of music, the Gold Pass is perfect with admission for one to all 14 ticketed performances, one opera and two home soiree events. Pricing is $660.
• Red Lady Special: For those who are passionate about saving Crested Butte's precious lands, the Red Lady Special is ideal. For each ticket sold, the CBMF will make a donation to the Red Lady Coalition, which benefits the preservation of Mt. Emmons. This package includes a ticket to the following performances: Arias with Altitude on July 8; Bernstein on Broadway performed by UNT on July 14; The Infamous Stringdusters on July 11; The Blue Canyon Boys on July 25; and, the Opera Le Nozze di Figaro on July 26. Pricing is $145.
Butte Bundle: Perfect for families with kiddos, the Butte Bundle features two adult tickets and two children tickets to each of the following performances: Arias with Altitude on July 8; Scenes in Paradise on July 11; Bernstein on Broadway performed by UNT on July 14; Grooves of Generations with the students from UNT on July 21; and, the Blue Canyon Boys on July 25. Pricing is $300.

Tickets within a package must be used for the exact performances specified.

Both events use general admission seating with doors opening a half hour prior to show time. Seating for persons with disabilities is available. Student tickets apply to those ages 6 - 18 and to persons with a valid student ID.

Subscriptions for the 2009 Festival are now available. Individual ticket prices will range from $10 to $200 (not including the Festival's free performances). For more information about the 2009 Festival, please call 970-349-0619 or visit www.crestedbuttemusicfestival.com

Celebrating its 12th season, the Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) brings world-class musicians, singers and dancers each summer to the wildflower capital of Colorado. The goal of the CBMF is both to enrich the community by offering affordable and free music, opera and dance performances, and educate a diverse audience in music, opera and dance. The CBMF is supported by funding from the Colorado Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Colorado General Assembly, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The CBMF is also funded in part by grants from Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, and Town of Mt. Crested Butte in addition to many generous sponsors and supporters.

square product theatre/Wreckingball Theatre Lab present Regional Premier

Boulder, Colo. – square product theatre and WreckingBall Theater Lab present the Regional Premiere of Joan Bruemmer's "Good Girls Don't, But I Do" as part of the 2009 Boulder International Fringe Festival. "Good Girls Don't, But I Do" is an innovative work incorporating both original and culled texts, movement, and song in an exploration of what it means to be a woman in contemporary society. Inspired by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider’s controversial Best Seller “The Rules: Time-Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right,” the piece humorously explores the do's and don'ts of dating from a variety of perspectives. Are there “rules” for meeting Mr. Right? "Good Girls Don't, But I Do" asks what inquiring minds want to know.

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.

WreckingBall Theater Lab's Mission: WreckingBall Theater Lab is a group of multi-talented collaborators working together to make relevant and affordable theater for our community. Theater that is portable and potent. The group was formed in 2006 and is made up of MFA graduates from the Contemporary Performance Program at Naropa University who share a commitment to present exhilarating and thought-provoking performance work that integrates bold physicality and dynamic vocal work with socially piercing texts and scripts. Members of the Lab work independently for much of the year and then re-converge to explore an emerging interest of one of its members. For more information on WreckingBall Theater Lab, visit www.wreckingballtheaterlab.com.

The Boulder International Fringe Festival exists to enrich our cultural lives and foster creativity. Our goal is to develop and stimulate audiences, economic growth and the creative community at large. By making the arts readily available, affordable, exciting and deliriously cool the festival raises public awareness to support and inspire local organizations in their year-round endeavors. The Boulder International Fringe Festival is in service to the local and regional community, building bridges between audiences, artists, businesses and civic organizations all across the Front Range and the world. The Festival is a year round way of life capped by an annual 12-day celebratory performance event packed with live theatre, circus art, performance art, spoken word, puppetry, music, dance, multi-media, film, visual art, storytelling and cinema. This year’s Fringe runs August 14-25 at various venues throughout the city of Boulder. The Fringe is exhilarating and inspiring as it brings exciting performances to the city of Boulder and Front Range arts community in a rollicking, white-knuckled, breath-taking fashion. For more information: boulderfringe.com

See Calendar for production details.

Central City Opera Debuts New Production of A Little Night Music

Denver , Colo. – For its second offering of the 2009 Festival, Central City Opera (CCO) presents Sondheim’s homage to turn-of-the-century operetta style, A Little Night Music. For the first time in the history of the company, this new production will open with a special matinee performance at 2:30 p.m. on July 4 to complement Central City and Blackhawk’s all-day 4th of July Celebration. A Little Night Music continues through July 31 at the Central City Opera House in Central City, Colo. The musical will be performed in its original English without supertitles.

Winner of the Tony® Award for Best Musical, Best Book and Original Score, A Little Night Music explores the humor, compassion, and irony of upper crust couples searching for the right partner in early 20 the century Sweden. Confrontations occur at a country dinner party where the romantically entangled guests consist of past and present loves of the famous stage actress, Desiree, and their current lovers who are united in their resentment of the actress. Stage director, Ken Cazan, explains the dizzying intricacies, “ Constantly changing love triangle relationships provide the underlying theme of this production. You have Desiree/Fredrik/Anne, Anne/Fredrik/Henrik, Desiree/Count Carl-Magnus/Fredrik, Carl-Magnus/Charlotte/Desiree, Desiree/Mme. Armfeldt/Fredrika, Fredrika/Desiree/Fredrik, and on and on.”

The book by Hugh Wheeler was inspired by the Ingmar Bergman comedic film, Smiles of a Summer Night. After almost a decade of directing films to mostly local and regional acclaim, Smiles of a Summer Night launched Ingmar Bergman’s international career in 1956 when it was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or Award. Composed by Stephen Sondheim, the musical is set almost entirely in three-quarter waltz time. Sondheim is the recipient of seven Tony Awards©, more than any other composer, and has been described by Frank Rich of the New York Times as “the greatest and best-known artist in the American musical theatre”.

With its sophisticated music and lyrics, A Little Night Music has been added to the repertoire of several opera companies including New York City Opera, where it was staged in 1990, 1991 and 2003; the Houston Grand Opera, where it was presented in 1999; and Los Angeles Opera with a production in 2004.

Ms. McNair’s 25 year career spans from opera and oratorio to cabaret and musical theater, taking her from the Metropolitan Opera to the Rainbow Room. A breast cancer survivor, her new biographical one-woman show Subject to Change is scheduled to be released soon and she continues to perform as a regular guest vocal and violin soloist in America and Europe.

Soprano Sarah Jane McMahon returns as Anne Egerman after her acclaimed performances as Maria in West Side Story and as Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia last summer. A past CCO Bonfils-Stanton Foundation apprentice artist, Ms. McMahon has since performed with such opera companies as New York City Opera and Los Angeles Opera (in Parsifal opposite Plácido Domingo), in addition to a wide array of musical theater credits. Mezzo-soprano Myrna Paris returns to Central City Opera as Madame Armfeldt after appearing with CCO as the Old Lady in Bernstein’s Candide (2000) and previously as Mamma McCourt in The Ballad of Baby Doe (1996), a role she has received acclaim for at New York City Opera and Pittsburgh Opera. Ms. Paris has also been touted for her Gilbert & Sullivan and musical theater roles. Stephanie Nelson returns as Petra after her acclaimed debut with the company as Anita in 2008’s West Side Story. Ms. Nelson is an accomplished singer and dancer who recently performed at the Metropolitan Opera in Iphigénie en Tauride with Plácido Domingo, and has also appeared with companies such as Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Kansas City Lyric Opera. Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm is portrayed by baritone Jeff Mattsey, who returns after his CCO debut in the title role of Don Giovanni (2006). A frequent performer at the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Mattsey has also performed abroad at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires and is known for his Gilbert & Sullivan roles. Mezzo-soprano Sarah Kleeman, a Bonfils-Stanton Foundation apprentice artist with CCO in 2007, returns in her main stage debut as Countess Charlotte Malcolm. Recent credits include Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro with Pacific Repertory Opera and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Bear Valley Music Festival. An alumnus of Central City Opera’s Bonfils-Stanton Foundation 2008 program as a studio artist, tenor Matthew Giebel returns this summer in his main stage debut to portray the role of Henrik Egerman. Giebel was recently a studio artist with Sarasota Opera Company and performed in their production of Don Carlos.

As part of their rigorous vocal and performance training, members of the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training program will perform the roles of the Liebeslieder Singers and other roles in A Little Night Music. Created by Artistic Director Emeritus John Moriarty in 1978, the rigorous 10-week program integrates daily training in diction, movement, and stage combat; individual coaching; and sessions in career management with rehearsals and performance opportunities in the summer's main stage and surrounding productions. A full cast list is available at the end of this release.

Ticket and Festival Information
Subscriptions and single tickets are now available for Central City Opera’s 2009 Festival. Subscriptions to see Lucia di Lammermoor and A Little Night Music (with exclusive subscriber-only pricing for Rinaldo) during the 2009 Festival start at just $95 and go up to $183. Bus subscriptions are available, as well as a 15% discount for groups of 10 or more and special discounts for seniors and students. Single ticket prices range from $50-$99. Supersaver discounts are also available for select performances. NEW THIS YEAR: Tuesday and Friday night performances start early at 7:30 p.m. with Thursday and Saturday night performances starting at 8:00 p.m.

2009 Festival goers 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 cabaret opera about the Central City legend, The Face on the Barroom Floor. Commissioned by CCO in 1978, the popular one-act opera tells the legend of the famous painting on the Teller House floor. Prior to several matinee performances, patrons have the opportunity at the Teller House to enjoy lunch by Kevin Taylor and a recital by a 2009 Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training performer for Salon Recitals. Before every performance, a free pre-performance preview, Opera Notes, allows the audience to gain further insight into each production.

Town Hall Announces 2009-2010 Season

Grease Directed by Nick Sugar September 9, 2009 – October 25, 2009 Get ready for “Those Summer Nights!” Don’t miss your chance to experience all the fun at Rydell High as Sandy, Danny and the rest of the gang sing your favorite Grease hits.

Oliver! Directed by Christopher Willard November 13, 2009 – December 27, 2009 Oliver! is one of the most beloved British musicals, vividly bringing to life Dickens’ timeless characters with its ever-popular story of the boy who asked for more.

Sylvia, Directed by Pamela Clifton January 8, 2010 – January 31, 2010 What can a dog offer its owner? Laughter, enjoyment and good company. But what if this little creature becomes a barrier between you and your wife, then what?

Guys and Dolls, Directed by Robert Wells February 12, 2010 – March 21, 2010 “A Musical Fable of Broadway” based on a story and characters by Damon Runyon, featuring favorite songs like, “If I Were a Bell”, and “Luck Be a Lady Tonight.”

Altar Boyz, Directed by Nick Sugar April 2, 2010 – April 25, 2010 Hilarious account of a struggling Christian boy-band (with one nice Jewish boy) looking for their big break in the Big Apple.

The Secret Garden, Directed by Sharlene Wanger May 7, 2010 – June 13, 2010 is based on the beloved book that follow the spoiled Mary Lennox, whose personality blossoms as she helps to bring new life to a neglected garden, her heart-broken uncle and sickly cousin.

Ticket Information: 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.

Denver Theatre District and Clear Channel Branded Cities Launch Partnership to Re-Energize ‘Brightest Street in America’

(DENVER, June 25, 2009) – The Denver Theatre District (DTD) and Clear Channel Branded Cities are pleased to announce a partnership that will energize and transform the Downtown Theatre District. The announcement is made upon the completion of Clear Channel Branded Cities first permanent sign, intended to emulate the Curtis Street of the early 20th Century – once referred to as the “Brightest Street in America.” This one-of-a-kind initiative will also raise additional funds for the local arts.

“This new partnership opens the door for us to create a downtown ‘Wow Factor.’” said Walter Isenberg, chairman, Denver Theatre District. “The color, energy and light will evoke great theatre districts in other cities, but our district will have a public purpose. Money generated from the signage will cycle back into our local economy through the DTD’s public arts initiatives.”

As part of the partnership, 15-percent of every dollar generated from advertising sales will be given back to the DTD to enhance art programs. In addition, Branded Cities will invest millions in the downtown signage infrastructure. This investment will better position Denver as a highly sought-after market for national advertisers, which will ultimately circulate even more money into the local economy.

“We want to continue our efforts to make downtown a warm, light and welcoming place,” said Mayor John Hickenlooper. “This type of public-private partnership bringing light and activity to the streets is the kind of innovative economic development that is a hallmark of Denver.”

Denver is the first city in the nation to embrace Branded Cities’ forward-thinking, experiential marketing strategy. This type of marketing approach goes beyond the traditional advertising messages, literally surrounding the Denver visitor and resident with one-of-a-kind activation and programming.

“For example, an automotive company may have a more traditional advertising message on one of our signs,” said Chris McCarver, COO, Clear Channel Branded Cities. “But as part of this ‘all-senses-type marketing,’ that car company may also be giving away merchandise, hosting a near-by test-driving site, exhibiting full-motion video on screens scattered around the area, even sponsoring a free concert for visitors to enjoy. It’s a 360-degree approach advertising sales.”

At full build out, there will be 37 large-scale signs within the 16-block DTD area. The first sign was completed June 23, with continual production through the end of 2009.

"This next step in the build-out of the Theatre District furthers the vision of the Downtown Area Plan, the 20-year vision for Downtown, which includes a focus on creating a mosaic of districts with distinct personalities,” stated Tami Door, President of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “The new sign is a symbolic addition of what is yet to come in this area."

“We are thrilled to launch this concept in Denver and hope to use its success as a model and apply it to other forward-thinking cities to help them energize and enliven their downtown cores,” added McCarver.

Central City Opera Announces 2010 Festival

Denver, Colo. - General/Artistic Director Pelham G. Pearce announces Central City Opera’s (CCO) 2010 Festival with three productions ranging from classic to contemporary including the revival of a Central City Opera milestone, a celebration concert of Colorado’s contribution to Broadway, and the commemoration of mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle’s 40th career anniversary in opera. The 2010 Festival will feature 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; A Blast of Broadway, a Broadway revue celebrating the Tony Awards’© namesake and Denver’s own, Antoinette Perry; and Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers, a modern chamber opera about the struggles of a famous actress and her two adult children.

The first Festival production will be Giacomo Puccini’s tale of love, betrayal, and sacrifice, Madama Butterfly. Set in early 20 th century Japan, the story follows the marriage of a naïve 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 as one of the most beloved pieces in the operatic genre.

Catherine Malfitano returns as stage director, having staged this production of Madama Butterfly when it premiered 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 also made her debut as a professional singer with CCO in 1972 as Nannetta in Falstaff. Ms. Malfitano’srecent directing credits include Rigoletto at Washington National Opera and Don Giovanni for the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera. Currently, Ms. Malfitano is directing CCO’s 2009 production of Lucia di Lammemoor, after her staging in 2007 of CCO’s The Saint of Bleecker Street.

As the second offering in the 2010 Summer Festival, Central City Opera will produce A Blast of Broadway, a Broadway revue celebrating the Tony Awards’© namesake and Denver’s own, Antoinette Perry. Featuring selections from award winning Broadway productions, A Blast of Broadway will follow the progression of musical theater’s greatest triumphs. Paying homage to its own theatrical past, Central City Opera will revisit its Broadway roots with this production. Known as the “play season,” CCO presented a Broadway production during the month of August each year from 1947 to 1974. Theater veterans including Robert Edmond Jones, Walter Huston, Ruth Gordon, Neil Simon, Mike Nichols, and Francis Ford Coppola were some of the stars who came from New York to present these highly anticipated works.

Stage Director Ken Cazan returns to CCO to direct A Blast of Broadway after his recent credits for this season’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. Recent credits include Owen Wingrave at Chicago Opera Theater and Cunning Little Vixen at Long Beach Opera.

Antoinette Perry, born in Denver in 1888, rapidly rose to leading lady status during the early 1900s. Due to her stature in the theater world, Perry was named chairman of the board of the American Theater Wing at the beginning of World War II. She is credited with starting the Stage Door Canteens, a program that sent stage and screen celebrities to serve and entertain troops at home and abroad. Perry also began directing at this time and her talent was especially seen in her direction of Harvey written by her friend and fellow Denver native, Mary Chase. Following Perry’s death in 1946, her friends in the industry honored her legacy in 1947 by launching the Tony Awards© to award outstanding Broadway performances and productions. Her production of Harvey was brought to CCO the same year and her original stage directions were preserved for the occasion. For her vast contributions to the arts, Perry’s name was added to one of the Central City Opera House’s Memorial Chairs, created to honor Colorado’s pioneers and those who were responsible for the early success of the Opera House.

Central City Opera’s final offering in 2010, Three Decembers, was created in 2007 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 (Thèrése 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 brilliant 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.

Having premiered at Houston Grand Opera in 2008 under its original title Last Acts, 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. Commenting on his gift for intertwining story and music, The San Francisco Chronicle praised Heggie for his “tender, often emotionally luminous score” for Last Acts/Three Decembers.

Portraying the role of Madeline in Three Decembers, mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle will mark her 40 th career anniversary in opera in 2010. 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 Heggie and Scheer’s work, Ms. Castle recorded Heggie and Scheer’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. In addition to his role with A Blast of Broadway, stage director Ken Cazan will direct.

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 this fall. For more information on the 2010 Festival or for the current 2009 Festival, please call 303-292-6700 or visit www.centralcityopera.org

For the 2009 Summer Festival June 27 to August 2, Central City Opera will feature three new productions. The Festival includes Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, the popular Italian bel canto style opera about feuding families in Scotland and young Lucia’s forbidden love; Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, the Tony Award® winning musical that portrays the romantic lives of couples in Swedish society; and Georg Friedrich Handel’s Italian opera Rinaldo, a heroic story of battle and love set in the time of the First Crusade. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the Central City Opera, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call (303) 292-6700.

Denver Victorian Playhouse Hosts Benefit for Doug Rosen

Following the Benefit performance of The Fantasticks at the Denver Victorian Playhouse, Executive Producer, Wade Wood announced to the audience in his Woodesque way, that the benefit gleaned $4.98 for Doug. No one gasped. Everyone laughed, knowing full well Wade was being Wade. The benefit, which played to a 99.9.5 full house raised over $2000 for Doug.

Doug, a member of the Fantasticks cast was able to attend doing his share of laughing as Wade stepped into his role of Henry. Having seen the Fantastics during his first weekend, when things had just not come together, the cast gave a magnificent performance Sunday, June 28.

Doug was recently diagnosed with HCC ((Hepatocellular Carcinoma), a type of tumor, neither benign or malignant, on the liver caused by his Hepatitus B which he has had for years. The inoperable tumor, can be treated with medication to slow its growth. Doctors are making him as comfortable as possible. As soon as the pain is under control, they will start him on the medication. Doctors have told him that in 50% of the cases people made it beyond two years. Doug asked The Fantacticks’ director, Sarah Roshen to remind everyone he is a fighter, and he will not let this keep him from living his life. At the Benefit, a very gracious Doug Rosen stood tall in his appreciation for the much needed financial assistance.

Contributions can still be made. Checks made out to Doug Rosen or The Denver Victorian Playhouse, c/o Doug Rosen can be sent to the Denver Victorian Playhouse, 4201 Hooker Street, Denver, CO, 80211.

Broadway Actor joins local troupe for The Fantasticks

Veteran Broadway actor Mark Branche has accepted the role of El Gallo in “The Fantasticks” opening August 8 and running through August 16 at Town Hall Arts Center in downtown Littleton.

America’s longest running musical, “The Fantasticks” tells the story of two young would-be lovers, Matt (Adam Luhrs) and Luisa (Ashlie Harris) and their conniving fathers’ attempts to bring them together with the help of a traveling carnival pitch man (Branche) and his rag-tag entourage. Memorable songs include “Try to Remember,” “They Were You,” “Round and Round,” and “Plant a Radish.”

Mark Branche, whose Broadway musical credits include A Chorus Line, Cats, and Les Miserables, plays brilliantly off the well-intentioned but hilarious antics of the two fathers (John McDonald, Russ Smith).

Presented in association with Littleton’s 81st annual Western Welcome Week, the show is directed by Town Hall children’s theater director, Pam Clifton, and is produced by Littleton’s mainstay community theater groups, Main Street Players and Ovation Players. A special Industry Night performance on Monday, August 10, offers reduced-price tickets to members of the theater trade and the public.

For complete information on show times and ticket ordering, visit ovationplayers.com or call 303-355-2177. The production is partially funded by a grant from the Arapahoe Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

Candlelight Offers Wining And Dining by Candlelight

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse features wining and dining Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Five wines meet five gourmet courses in a happy friendship and you are their special guest. Executive Chef Josh Thompson introduces delicious summer flavors accompanied by carefully selected wines with a jazz trio to entertain your remaining senses.

This fine dining event has limited seating for exceptional table side service and intimate enjoyment of this culinary delight. Tickets are $65 per person and only available by phone 970.744.3747.

Five delicious Wines. Five delicious courses.
Seating begins at 5:30pm with the first course served at 6:00pm.
The Menu
Gazpacho accented by Ahi Tuna Tartar tossed with Passion ....
Ferrari Carano - Sauvignon Blanc
Mango Lobster Spring Rolls with mixed greens, avocados, mint...
Conundrum - Blend
Watermelon Sorbet topped with Candied Rind...
Marques de Riscal - Rose
Roasted Duck Confit Empanadas stuffed with Applewood bacon...
Broquel - Malbec
Sausage encrusted New Zealand Lamb Chops with Rosemary...
Sebastiani - Cabernet Sauvignon
Chocolate Soup with Peanut Butter Beignets...
Cocktail ala Brian
Tell them Holly sent you.

NEA Gets Approval for $15 Million Increase

The House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee of Congress, which sets the initial funding level for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), approved a $15 million increase for the NEA in its FY 2010 spending bill, setting it on a path towards final House consideration. Chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA) has once again championed the arts and culture and proposed an increase in funding.

Currently funded at $155 million, this increase would bring the agency's budget to $170 million. In his statement, Chairman Dicks referenced the Arts Advocacy Day hearings the subcommittee held as demonstrating that "the endowments are vital for preserving and encouraging America's arts and cultural heritage." On Arts Advocacy Day, Americans for the Arts presented a panel of witnesses before Chairman Dicks' Appropriations Subcommittee calling for a significant increase in funding for the NEA. Witnesses included Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis, renown singer-songwriter Josh Groban, legendary singer Linda Ronstadt, Reinvestment Fund CEO Jeremy Nowak and Americans for the Arts President & CEO Robert Lynch.

Thanks to all of the grassroots advocates for your letters and calls to Congress and for attending Arts Advocacy Day We're seeing the results!

The FY 2010 Interior Appropriations bill will next go to full committee and then to the House floor for final consideration where your help may be needed to defend against floor amendments attempting to cut this increase. We must now put pressure on the Senate to match this funding level.

Fiddles and Horns Headline Music in the Mountains

Durango, Colorado - June 9, 2009. Music in the Mountains is set to begin its' 23rd Festival season with three amazing performances of fiddles and horns at the Festival Tent, Durango Mountain Resort.

Headliners scheduled to perform include the American Brass Quintet, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, and the Clavier Trio.
• Monday, July 13, 7 pm. The American Brass Quintet is recognized as one of the premier chamber music ensembles of our time and has been touted by Newsweek as "the high priests of brass". Their rich history includes performances in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and all 50 United States.
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• Tuesday, July 14, 7 pm. Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul hailed by the New York Times as the "Jimi Hendrix of the violin" - established Ivers as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. She is a nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, winner of numerous awards and has performed with Riverdance, The Chieftains, the London Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony at the KennedyCenter and the Boston Pops. Wednesday, July 15: Pagosa Springs
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Thursday, July 16, 7 pm. The Clavier Trio whose members include Music in the Mountains Conservatory Artistic Director, Arkady Fomin on violin, celloist Jesus Castro-Balbi and one of this Season's Festival guest artists on piano, David Korevaar - have all played to critical acclaim throughout the world and perform regularly at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Friday, July 17: Pagosa Springs

Music in the Mountains celebrates ¡Pasión! in this Festival season of orchestra, chamber music & conservatory performances. Musical leaders Gregory Hustis and Arkady Fomin bring acclaimed soloists and renowned musicians to spectacular venues in Durango and Pagosa Springs, including Durango Mountain Resort, BootJack Ranch, MooMaw Ranch, FortLewisCollege, Three Springs and community parks. Susan Lander, Executive Director for Music in the Mountains stated, "My love of the Spanish language and culture make this season especially wonderful. The tent is set, soon the musicians arrive and it will be show time! This season promises to be one full of passion!" Music in the Mountains is a fully integrated summer festival of orchestra, chamber and world music with a concurrent conservatory young artists program along with a year-round schools program, Music in the Mountains Goes to School. Southwest Colorado's three-week Festival of classical music, featuring world renowned musicians, runs July 10 through August 2, 2009. Tickets may be purchased online at www.MusicintheMountains.com in person at the Festival Office, 1063 Main Avenue and the Community Concert Hall Ticket Office at 7th & Main Avenue in Durango or by calling (970) 385-6820. Group and Series ticket discounts are available. Pagosa Springs concert tickets may also be purchased at the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce, 402 San Juan in Pagosa Springs.

Families Examine Immigration, Diversity, Tolerance

The Denver Center Theatre Academy presents New Kid for family audiences from July 7-18. Back by demand, this compassionate comedy by Dennis Foon and directed by Billie McBride takes audiences along with a kid who immigrates to America. The twist is the audience can understand him and no one else. Audience members share his experiences and bewilderment as he struggles to understand his new world and make new friends in spite of a strange language and different customs. The production examines bullying, immigration, cultural diversity and tolerance as well as language arts and nonviolent conflict resolution.

A special fundraising event hosted by the Denver Center Alliance will be held at New Kid on July 11 at 1pm. The $25 ticket price includes a ticket, hot dogs courtesy of Baur's Ristorante and ice cream. Proceeds support youth attendance at New Kid. Tickets for July 11 are available at 303.446.4815.

Support for the production comes from Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, U.S. Bank, Xcel Energy Foundation, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Fine Arts Foundation, Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and Oscar G. & Elsa S. Mayer Family Foundation.

Shadow Theatre Company Launches Youth Ensemble

Shadow Theatre Company, in collaboration with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra, will engage an exceptional group of young people ages 13-18 in a five-week journey of creative expression and awe! Classes, taught by local theatre professionals and other artists, will engage the young people in the many facets of live performance, as well as provide them with information on strategies for realizing their long term artistic goals. Classes and workshops will incorporate acting, orchestral music, dance, singing, production, stage production, writing, personal reflection, and creative movement, and will culminate in a show written by the artists in collaboration with a professional playwright. The program runs July 7- August 5.There are no fees to students participating in this program and applications are available at shadowtheatre.com or by calling 720-857-8000, and will be taken through June 19. The work of these young artists culminates with performances August 6 – 16, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Shadow Theatre Company Celebrates Women, Mothers and Daughters During Season 13

Season Tickets are now on sale as our 2009-2010 season begins September 3 with “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson and directed by Jeffrey Nickelson. “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom” explores the racial realities of black recording artists as embodied by the famous 1920s blues singer, Ma Rainey. September 3 - October 17, 2009.

Opening on November 19 is the the World Premiere of “The Christmas of the Angels” by Denver playwright Michael R. Duran and directed by Richard H. Pegg. A young woman's faith is put to the test. Word comes to Mary, via an angel, that she will carry the long-awaited Messiah. November 19 - December 20, 2009

In Honor of Black History Month will be the regional premiere of “A Song for Coretta” by Pearl Cleage and directed by Ladi Crenshaw, February 11 - March 13, 2010. February 6, 2006, people began lining up at dawn outside of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church to pay respects to the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Beautifully written, "A Song for Coretta," focuses five women from different backgrounds and experiences.

April 15 - May 15, 2010 brings to life the regional premiere of “Simply Simone, The Music of Nina Simone,” a Musical by Robert Neblett and David Grapes, is directed by Hugo Jon Sayles.

Jeffrey Nickelson Blues for an Alabama Sky by playwright Pearl Cleage June 17 - July 17, 2010. Set in New York in 1930, the creativity of the Harlem Renaissance had to make room for the harsh realities of the Great Depression.

Hugo Jon Sayles directs Youth Ensemble (aka CRUNK) in a original production celebrating women, mothers and daughters from August 5 - August 15, 2010.

The Shadow Theatre Company Youth Ensemble is a unique summer program, designed for young people who believe that their own self expression is their greatest gift. Classes, taught by local theatre professionals and other artists, will engage the young people in the many facets of live performance, as well as provide them with information on strategies for realizing their long term artistic goals. Classes and workshops will incorporate acting, orchestral music, dance, singing, production, stage production, sound, writing, personal reflection, and creative movement, and will culminate in a show written by the young performing artists in collaboration with a professional playwright. The Youth Ensemble in collaboration with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra will feature a performance celebrating women, mothers and daughters.

* Dates and Shows Subject to Change

Season Ticket prices range from $150 - $420 and are available by calling 720-857-8000.

Purchase your tickets by July 30, 2009 and receive a $10 discount. Additional subscriber benefits can be found online at shadowtheatre.com.

Heritage Music Hall Says Yes To Loud

Eleven yeas ago, Heritage Music Hall thought that a rock & roll revue show would be fun to do for the summer... and it was. We never dreamed it would be as popular as it was. Several times we thought that public interest was waning, but when we gave these shows a rest, people would ask when we were doing another "Loud" show. These shows have been so much fun for us that here we are again, performing some of our (and your) favorite rock and roll hits from the past.

We began this musical adventure with a group of friends who loved playing the music of their favorite rock artists. The "stage" was Mom's basement... which quickly became too close and too loud for Mom's comfort. With Mom constantly yelling down to the budding musicians "that's too loud," our young performers were soon shuttled off to the garage. Mom's friends were always near to keep a watchful eye on the group, and to enjoy the music that even they grew to love. When they actually became quite good, the teenagers were summoned to perform for school dances. Our little group of friends became legend in the school, and even after graduation, were called on for entertainment and fundraisers.

Our perpetually young-at-heart friends, some of whom are now firmly ensconced in their middle ages, are embarking on their 8th musical venture. "That Way Loud, This Is Now" finds our heroes and heroines performing for "Mom's friends" at a retirement community. This show includes The Beatles, Shania Twain, Blues Brothers and many more.

"That Was Loud, This Is Now" opens May 29, and plays Wednesday - Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons thru September 6. Our extensive buffet prior to the show includes a great salad bar, several entrees and fresh vegetables, and dessert. Prices for dinner and show: Wednesday & Thursday $35.50; Friday & Sunday $38.50,annd Saturday $40.50. Show only prices: Wednesday & Thursday $27.50; Friday & Sunday $30.50; and Saturday $31.00. Our Box Office opens daily at 9:00am. 303-279-7800 hsmusichall.com

Modern Muse Theatre Offers New Play Festival

(Denver, CO) - On Thursday, June 25, Modern Muse Theatre Company opens its first annual new play festival “The Play’s the Thing” at the Bindery Space, 2180 Stout Street in Denver.

The new play festival features work by three celebrated local playwrights: Judy GeBauer, Gary Leon Hill, and Josh Hartwell. In addition to staged readings by of the three new works, the festival will include a Season Announcement Party, a “Why is the Play the Thing?” panel discussion, a movement workshop, a play writing workshop, and a Wrap/Rap party.

Play Reading Schedule and Descriptions:
Thursday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Conscience by Judy GeBauer

Ambitious industrialist Scott Carmody's schemes are threatened when he is blackmailed by person or persons unknown. A veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Carmody calls in the sergeant who was his closest ally from those days to save his career, and in the process, a whole new can of worms is opened.

Friday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m.
Up at the Lab by Gary Leon Hill
Originally commissioned by The Z Space Studio in San Francisco in collaboration with Catherine Castellanos, Francis Lee McCain, Luis Saguar and director David Dower, Gary Leon Hill’s play Up at the Lab weaves Peter Malmgren’s oral histories of blue collar workers at New Mexico’s Los Alamos National Laboratory with first person accounts from the Pueblo communities surrounding the lab.
This vivid tapestry of voices from one of the nation’s most charged and shrouded landmarks evokes the history of Los Alamos nuclear weapons production as it explores the lab’s continued impact on the land and people of the immediate region and conscious life on this planet.

Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Dylan Went Electric by Josh Hartwell
In a Bohemian tavern in Greenwich Village, 1969, Norman writes and plays folk music in front of a sparse and uninterested audience. He meets Gina, a worn-out, self-described gypsy, who is hoping to disappear and be noticed at the same time. Their tumultuous friendship ignites into passion, cruelty, and music—heavily influenced by the input of the other bar-flies—an intoxicated old woman who has spent her life in the Village; a patriotic black comic-artist; and a brooding young photographer from Czechoslovakia. What is the Village? What is a bohemian? When is art honest, and when is it hypocritical?

Other Festival Events
Season Announcement Party – Thursday, June 25 immediately after the staged reading of Conscience by Judy GeBauer – Artistic Directors Stephen J. Lavezza and Gabriella Cavallero will announce the line-up for Modern Muse Theatre Company’s Fifth Season (2009-10) at a post-show party that will include informal conversation with the playwright.
“Why is the Play the Thing?” Panel Discussion – Friday, June 26 immediately after the staged reading of Up at the Lab by Gary Leon Hill – Local panel of artists and audience will discuss
• Is the “play” still the thing in the modern world?
• Why/if theatre is still important?
• What is the importance of story?

New Play Festival Rap/Wrap Party – Saturday, June 27 immediately after the staged reading of Dylan Went Electric by Josh Hartwell – Mingle with the actors and playwrights involved in the festival for an informal discussion of the exciting new work presented throughout the weekend.

“The Play’s the Thing” Workshops – Saturday, June 27
Moving with the Muse (10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) – Artistic Directors Stephen J. Lavezza and Gabriella Cavallero will lead a workshop demonstrating how to bring stories to life through a series of movement based games and exercises – no experience necessary; wear comfortable clothes so you can move freely – Cost: $20.00 per person (Class size is limited)
The Power of Story…Live! (1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.) – Celebrated local playwright, Josh Hartwell, will conduct an intensive play writing workshop that helps aspiring writers explore this exciting genre – no experience necessary – Cost: $20.00 per person (Class size is limited)

DENVER CENTER ATTRACTIONS ANNOUNCES ENGAGEMENTS OF RAIN AND RIVERDANCE

DENVER – Denver Center Attractions announced fall engagements of two immensely popular touring shows to play the Buell Theatre. RAIN – A Tribute to The Beatles will play September 22-27, and RIVERDANCE will play eight farewell performances November 24-29. Ticket on-sale information will be announced at a later date

About RAIN: In a show the Denver Post calls “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles,” RAIN boasts a repertoire of nearly 200 Beatlemaniac favorites, ranging from such beloved songs as “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude” to classic hits including “Revolution” and “Come Together.” RAIN covers The Beatles from their very first Ed Sullivan Show appearance through the Abbey Road album, through the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking rooftop days. RAIN is a multi-media, multi-dimensional experience which includes a fusion of historical footage and hilarious television commercials from the 1960s.

For the four longtime band members – Joey Curatolo (Paul McCartney), Joe Bithorn (George Harrison), Ralph Castelli (Ringo Starr) and Steve Landes (John Lennon), with a little help from their friend Mark Lewis (keyboards, percussion) – the music is first and foremost. For more than two decades, RAIN has distinguished itself by focusing on details, always being faithful to The Beatles with the ultimate goal of delivering a perfect note-for-note performance. All the music is performed live, with no pre-recorded tapes or sequences.

About RIVERDANCE: This thunderous celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has tapped its way onto the world stage thrilling millions of people around the globe will play eight farewell performances in Denver. Composed by Bill Whelan, produced by Moya Doherty and directed by John McColgan, to date, RIVERDANCE has played over 10,000 performances, been seen live by more than 21 million people in over 300 venues throughout 32 countries across 4 continents. They have traveled well over 563,000 miles (or to the moon and back!), played to a worldwide television audience of nearly 2 billion; sold over 3 million copies of the Grammy Award-winning CD (certified Platinum in the US) and over 10 million videos making it one of the best-selling entertainment videos in the world! RIVERDANCE had its world premiere at the Point Theatre, Dublin, in February 1995, where it opened to unanimous critical acclaim.

RAIN – A Tribute to The Beatles and RIVERDANCE are added attractions in Denver Center Attractions’ 2009 season, which is generously sponsored by United Airlines. Media sponsorship for DCA is provided by The Denver Post, CBS4 and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine. Denver Center Attractions is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Please visit our website at denvercenter.org.

For more information about RAIN, please visit raintribute.com
For more information about RIVERDANCE, please visit riverdance.com.

August: Osage County Comes To The Buell Direct From Broadway

DENVER – August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma will launch its national tour in Denver, running July 24 through August 8 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

The play stars Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons in the role of the family matriarch, Violet. Ms. Parsons played Violet in the Broadway production of August: Osage County from June 2008-May 2009, where The New York Times raved, “Estelle Parsons gives a superb performance…sends chills down your spine. It may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career."

Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts (Superior Donuts, Man From Nebraska, Killer Joe, Bug), this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm.

Directed by 2008 Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County is a rare theatrical event: a large-scale work filled with 13 unforgettable characters, a powerful tragicomedy told with unflinching honesty and the unforgettable breakthrough of a major American playwright. August: Osage County premiered and was produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in 2007.

Nominated for seven Tony Awards including Best Play and Best Director, and the recipient of Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, including Best Play, Best Director and Best Scenic Design, August: Osage County opened at the Imperial Theatre Broadway on December 4, 2007 to wide critical acclaim. The New York Times called August: Osage County “the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years,” and it was voted The #1 Play of the Year by Time, The Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, and TimeOut New York. After a sold-out engagement at the Imperial Theatre, the show re-opened at the Music Box Theatre on April 29th, 2008, and will reach its 500th performance on February 3, 2009. The show, which the London critics hailed as “the must-see play of the year - possibly a lifetime,” opened to rave reviews at The National Theatre on November 26, 2008, where it played a limited eight-week engagement featuring members of the original Broadway company.

The show’s creative team includes Tony Award winner Todd Rosenthal (sets), Ana Kuzmanic (costumes), Ann G. Wrightson (lights), Richard Woodbury (sound) and David Singer (original music).

August: Osage County is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler and Jerry Frankel.

For more information on August: Osage County, please visit AugustOnBroadway.com.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Coming To Denver

DENVER – CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the most fantasmagorical Broadway musical in the history of everything, will fly into Denver’s Buell Theatre July 23-26! Based on the timeless novel by famed James Bond author and creator Ian Fleming, the production features the music and lyrics by the legendary Sherman brothers, composers of Mary Poppins. The national tour features an original script and fresh adaptation directed by Denver favorite Ray Roderick (Denver Center Attractions’ The Last Five Years, The Taffetas and I Love a Piano.)

The production is searching for six children in the Denver area to make their stage debut with CHITTY when it comes to the Buell Theatre. (See Auditions)

The Broadway production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG received five Tony Award nominations, ten Outer Critics Circle Award nominations and four Drama Desk nominations during its Broadway run at the Hilton Theatre. It opened on April 28, 2005. The London production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG was nominated for three Laurence Olivier Awards in 2003, including Best New Musical, and won Best Musical at the Variety Club Awards in 2003. The production opened on April 16, 2002 to rave reviews and record-breaking business at the London Palladium and continues to sell-out on tour across the U.K.

This stage adaptation of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG features a beloved score, including memorable classics such as “Truly Scrumptious,” “Toot Sweets,” “Hushabye Mountain” and the Oscar-nominated title song, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG was originally directed by Adrian Noble on Broadway. This newly conceived version, with direction and adapted script by Ray Roderick, features sets and costumes by renowned English designer Anthony Ward, additional set designs by Robert Bissinger and lighting by Charlie Morrison. New choreography is by JoAnn M. Hunter. The national tour of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is executive produced by Daniel Sher of Big League Productions.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG is an added attraction in Denver Center Attractions’ 2009 season, which is generously sponsored 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 on CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, please visit chittyontour.com

Candlelight Flies To Oz for Wizard Wisdom

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse proudly announces the opening show of our second season, the classic THE WIZARD OF OZ by L. Frank Baumm, adapted by Frank Gabrielson with music and lyrics of the MGM motion pictures score by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg.

Central City Opera Offers Rare Opportunity to Invest in Pieces of Colorado History

Denver , Colo. — Take home a piece of Colorado history at Central City Opera’s Public Auction of a selection ofantiques and memorabilia from The Teller House and The Chain O’ Mines Hotel in Central City. This once in a lifetime opportunity will take place on Saturday, June 6, at 1:00 p.m. at Baker Auction House located at 5001 Oakland Street, Denver, CO 80239.

Festival's Figueroa Expects Enthusiastic Audiences With Music In The Mountains

Durango, Colorado - Music in the Mountains, July 10-August 2, 2009, looks forward to enthusiastic audiences when Music Director and Conductor, Guillermo Figueroa returns for his second season with the 23-year-old Festival. In his debut last summer, he quickly developed rapport with Festival attendees through his concert introductions and thrilled concertgoers with his varied repertoire and stunning solo performances.

"For me, it will be close to coming home once again to be in those beautiful mountain venues where musicians can so readily develop such close relationships with audiences," said Figueroa from his post in Albuquerque, where he is Music Director and Conductor of the New Mexico Symphony. A fourth generation member of Puerto Rico's most distinguished musical family, Figueroa also is Principal Guest Conductor of the Puerto Rico Symphony.

This season, Figueroa will conduct six Festival Orchestra concerts. Four are scheduled in the Festival Tent at Durango Mountain Resort July 18, 19, August 1 and August 2; one will be held in the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College July 26, and one other is planned for BootJack Ranch in Pagosa Springs July 31. "I'm particularly excited about working with this outstanding group of musicians once again," Figueroa said. Festival Orchestra members are drawn from the ranks of major symphony orchestras across the U.S., and soloists come from international capitals to take part in performances. The vast majority of musicians will return following multiple seasons with the Festival.

Figueroa boasts an impressive record of conducting and performing experiences. Critical acclaim followed the debuts of the Puerto Rico Symphony under his baton at Carnegie Hall in 2003, the Kennedy Center in 2004 and Spain in 2005. In October 2009, he will make his debut with the Orquesta de Cordoba in Spain.

Also a renowned violinist, he has given the world premieres of four violin concertos written for him: in 1995, the Concertino for Violin and Orchestra by Mario Davidovsky, at Carnegie Hall with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; in 2007, the Double Concerto by Harold Farberman, with the American Symphony at Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center; in 2008, the Violin Concert/The Journey of a Lifetime by Miguel del Aguila, commissioned by Figueroa and the New Mexico Symphony, and in 2009, Insula, Suite Concertante for Violin and Strings by Ernesto Cordero with the Solisti di Zagreb, in Zagreb, Croatia.

Figueroa will be the featured soloist along with his sister-pianist Ivonne Figueroa-in two Chamber Music concerts. They will perform Grieg's Sonata No. 3 in C minor and Dvorak's Piano Quintet in A in concerts at BootJack Ranch in Pagosa Springs July 28 and in the Festival Tent at Durango Mountain Resort July 29.

"These are two of the most intensely passionate pieces written by these two composers, and they fit perfectly with our overall theme of ¡Pasión! this season," Figueroa says. "And they're such audience-friendly works that I'm confident our concertgoers will enjoy hearing them as much as we enjoy performing them."

The three-week Festival runs from July 10 through August 2, 2009. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Festival Office, 1063 Main Avenue and the Community Concert Hall Ticket Office, 707 Main Avenue, Durango or by calling (970) 385-6820. Student, Group and Series ticket discounts are available. Pagosa Springs concert tickets may also be purchased at the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce, 402 San Juan in Pagosa Springs and online muscinthemountains.com.

StageDoor Theatre Offers Summer Theatre Workshops

StageDoor Theatre, 25797 Conifer Rd, Conifer, CO, offers workshops and camps for grades K - 12! Registration deadlines are fast approaching! Go to www.stagedoortheatre.org for all the details and to download a registration form.

Summer Shakespeare * Audition Class * Mask & Characterization Class * Dialects Class * Creative Dramatics Mini Camp (K -2) * Animation * Twisted Fairytale Fun * Film * Juggling and Circus Arts * Math Rocks * Juggling * Bits of Broadway * Math & Drama - Operation Central

ALSO........................ Our StageDoor Juggling Troupe will perform May 29 - June 6th! Fri. & Sat. at 7pm, Sun. Matinee 2pm, Thursday June 4th Matinee at 2:00 p.m. Tickets just $6 each! Spectacular entertainment for the whole family! Tickets are online at www.stagedoortheatre.org or call 303-886-2819.

Gilpin County Arts association Announces Annual Fine Art Exhibition

Central City, Co - The Gilpin County Arts Association announces its 63rd Annual Fine Art Exhibition, running from May 31 thru August 14 in the Central City Gallery located at 117 Eureka Street, Central City, CO. The exhibition includes work by artists living in the Rocky Mountain West and is inclusive of all mediums. Three jurors were selected to adjudicate the entries and to select award winners. For additional information, call the Gallery at 303-582-5952 or go to www.gilpinarts.org.

In addition to the Juried Show featured in this year’s exhibition, there will be several additional components. These include Board Invitational artwork, with pieces chosen by the Gilpin County Arts Association Board; Juror Invitational artwork, with pieces selected by the three jurors involved in 2009 from their stable of artists; and an expanded Gift Gallery, with creative and attractive less expensive items provided by Gilpin County Arts Association Members.

The opening reception for the 63rd Annual Fine Art Exhibition will be held on Saturday, May 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Central City Gallery. The reception is free and open to the public and will include appetizers and wine for attendees.

63rd ANNUAL FINE ART EXHIBITION – FACT SHEET
Artists:
Included are artists living in the Rocky Mountain West: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah & Wyoming.

Important Dates:
Public show dates – May 31 - August 14
FREE Public Opening Reception – May 30, 5 to 8 p.m.
Gallery Hours – Noon to 6 p.m., Tues. to Sun.; Noon to 8 p.m., Central City Opera nights; Closed Mondays

Artist Awards:
A minimum of $2,000 in cash awards will be given at the discretion of the jurors. Award selection will be announced after presentation on May 30.

Jurors:
Gary Reed of Reed Photo, Photography; Christine Serr of Abend Gallery and Doug Brugger and Debbie Kneale of Show of Hands, Two Dimensional Fine Art

Sesquicentennial Theatrical Production on Boulder History:

BOULDER, Colo. (May 8, 2009)— When the city of Boulder’s “150th Committee” decided to sponsor Rocks Karma Arrows as an official Sesquicentennial event, they decided not just to celebrate acclaimed history but to support a theatrical piece exploring some of the disturbing history of race and class in Boulder in order to promote a future of economic and cultural diversity we can all celebrate. Artistic Director, Kirsten Wilson, believes theater can be aesthetically challenging, entertaining and create transformative community conversation.

Opening July 23rd at the ATLAS Center for Arts, Media, and Performance, Rocks Karma Arrows is a multimedia contemporary theater piece looking at Boulder history in relation to issues of economic and cultural diversity. The piece reveals the layers of stories that are embedded in the land that we walk on everyday. Although the piece focuses on the last 150 years - since Boulder’s founding – the context for the drama is the larger flow of history from when Boulder was once covered in a shallow sea. Historical figures, like the great chief Niwot, come alive to tell the story of the early founding of Boulder and the final massacre. Interviews with local historians and Buddhist monks are woven with historical photographs and film. At times the photographic images completely take over 180 degrees of the theatrical space so that actors are literally immersed in the history – interacting with the photos, struggling with the voices of the past, and trying to understand how they echo in the present.

Rocks Karma Arrows’ Artistic Director, Kirsten Wilson, is the first artist from the community designated by the ATLAS Center for Arts Media and Performance as an “ATLAS Innovator” for her multimedia explorations. She was given a part-time artist in residency at CU’s ATLAS to develop Rocks Karma Arrows for their technologically sophisticated Black Box Theatre. The large cast of 12 actors, dancers and improvisational musicians for this production includes some of the most dynamic performers in our community.

Rocks Karma Arrows is produced by Kirsten Wilson and the ATLAS Center for Arts Media & Performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The production opens July 23rd at 8pm with a Gala Reception, then runs July 24-25th at 8pm, July 26th at 2pm; then again July 30-Aug 1st at 8pm and Aug 2nd at 2pm. For more information about this performance or additional publicity shots, please contact publicist: Angela Delichatsios, 303-245-4660. To purchase tickets, go to: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/61128

Su Teatro Announces the Angelica Martinez Performance Hall at the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center

Denver, Co. - Su Teatro announces the Angelica Martinez Performance Hall at the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, made possible by a generous donation from Justice Alex J. Martinez and Katherine Martinez.

The $75,000 gift will establish the performance hall—a multi-purpose space adjacent to the theater—and will also be used as seed money to establish the Angelica Martinez Scholarship Fund.

Angelica Martinez, mother of Justice Martinez, was a longtime Denver Public Schools employee and maintained a lifetime commitment to education and the arts. Angie raised her family next door to the Elyria Elementary School at 4725 High Street, which later became El Centro Su Teatro. She continued to reside there after the theater was established and became a supporter of Su Teatro before her death in 1990. Angie was a powerful example of community support for Su Teatro in its new neighborhood. Su Teatro will also establish an annual Mother’s Day brunch, Serenata Madrelinda (Beautiful Mother’s Serenade), in honor of Angelica Martinez and in celebration of all mothers. The Martinez Family made the first installment of their gift on Angie’s birthday, April 20, to coincide with Su Teatro’s Mother’s Day celebration.

The fundraising goal for the Performance Hall and Scholarship Fund is $150,000. The scholarship will help support and expand the work of the Cultural Arts Institute, Su Teatro’s after-school and in-school arts education programs. An “angel” in the theater traditionally is a person who financially supports a production. Su Teatro is grateful for its angel, Angelica Martinez, and asks supporters to also become an angel by donating and joining our Mother’s Day celebration.

The first Serenata Madrelinda Mother’s Day Brunch will take place May 10 from 11am to 1pm and will feature a delicious menu prepared by Encantada Catering and music by Tony Silva and Trio Xochitl. Tickets are $35 or 4 for $120. For more information regarding the Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, visit www.suteatro.org or call (303) 296-0219.

FY 2010 Budget Request To Congress Revealed

President Obama released the final details of his FY 2010 budget request to Congress which includes the nation’s cultural agencies and programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS), and the Department of Education’s Arts in Education program. Write your members of Congress and tell them to support funding for these cultural agencies.

Americans for the Arts President & CEO Robert Lynch noted, "The president's proposed funding of $161 million would take the NEA to its highest funding level in 15 years and will help continue the upward trend of budgetary growth that Congress established several years ago. In contrast to the previous administration, this year's budget includes funding for the Arts in Education program at the Department of Education at $38.16 million. We hope that Congress will build on these initial budget requests to secure even higher funding levels to address the needs of the arts and arts education community." On Arts Advocacy Day, artists Wynton Marsalis, Linda Ronstadt and Josh Groban joined Americans for the Arts and over 550 arts advocates from around the country to testify on Capitol Hill and to meet with congressional leaders to request $200 million for the NEA and $53 million for arts education. These requests are just some of the legislative priorities for the nonprofit arts community in 2009.

Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change these funding levels.

Arts advocates can make their voices heard by writing their members of Congress and urging them to support funding for arts and culture through the NEA and increase funding for arts in education programs.

Paragon Bowlathon

Join Paragon Theatre on MAY 31st for the 7th annual Paragon Bowlathon at Elitch Lanes.

Gather your team of four, reserve your lane and get ready for a good ol' 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 31st, 2008 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 or email us at info@paragontheatre.org. SEE YA THERE!

LaLa Theater Company Presents Agamemnon

The war is won, but danger waits at home.

10 years at war overseas. Troy is burning. Sacrifices were made for victory, and now the King sails home. One actor and one violinist stage an entire Greek Tragedy. LaLa Theater Company presents Aeschylus’ Agamemnon. Adapted, directed and performed by Elizabeth Baron, with music performed Dr. Mikylah McTeer. Agamemnon opens June 19th, running for two weekends at the Dairy Center for the Arts’ Carsen Theatre, in Boulder, Colorado.

Elizabeth Baron and Mikylah McTeer orchestrate a piercing rendition of the epic Agamemnon, whose themes of war, revenge, victory, justice, and the endless cycle of violence prove chillingly relevant to our world today. In a gripping harmony of action, text, and original violin composition, the duo traverses the arc of Agamemnon’s return to his neglected country and queen, and the consequences that await the triumphant. Faithful to Ted Hughes’ translation of Agamemnon, Baron single-handedly breathes life into the tragedy’s characters with the accompaniment of Dr. McTeer’s violin. Chorus, queen, and oracle beckon us into a world where our shadows take graceful and gruesome shape. Our fears and unconscious instincts awakened, we consider the wide breadth of roles we each are capable of playing in our society and our ongoing human drama.

Elizabeth Baron has performed internationally for more than 20 years. Her approach blends "psychological" acting with Lecoq-based Movement Theater. She is a member of Actors Equity and acted professionally in NYC, performing in Off-Broadway and regional theater productions, before moving to Colorado to earn her MFA in Actor-Created Physical Theater from Naropa University/London International School of the Performing Arts (LISPA.) For the past 6 years, she has been based in Boulder, Colorado, creating collaborative theater as an actor, musician, writer, director, and teacher. Most recently, she directed 52 Pickup, awarded "Best of Fest" in the 2008 Boulder International Fringe Festival. In 2010, she joins the faculty of Giovanni Fusetti's international theater school, which she has helped to create – Helikos: Scuola Internazionale Di Creazione Teatrale, in Tuscany, Italy.

Dr. Mikylah Myers McTeer is Assistant Professor of Violin at West Virginia University, where she maintains an active chamber music and solo performance schedule. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has called her performances "energetic and virtuosic." She is a returning member of the Colorado Music Festival.

CRESTED BUTTE MUSIC FESTIVAL BRINGS MUSIC TO THE MOUNTAINS

Crested Butte, Colo.- The 2009 Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF), which runs July 4 - July 26, offers many opportunities to hear the chamber group, symphony orchestra and jazz ensembles, featuring performers from all over the world and internationally acclaimed soloists.

For the first time, the Festival will feature a unique barn series. Patrons can enjoy all Symphony Orchestra performances in an unconventional new venue: the Ein-Lynch Barn! With outstanding acoustics, fresh air and a unique setting, these performances promise to be exceptional and exclusive in every way.

Artistic and Managing Director Alexander Scheirle has announced that the theme for the 2009 season is Follow the Generations Through Paradise. In keeping with this theme, the CBMF will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the works of Haydn and Mendelssohn, with the festival symphony orchestra bringing new talent and energy to these works for the festival. The CBMF will guide audiences from the classical era of Joseph Haydn to the early romantic era of Mendelssohn while also celebrating the lesser-known composers between these generations. Under the skilled baton of distinguished guest conductor Benjamin Wallfisch the CBMF will honor the work of these two great composers by presenting their masterworks in symphonic and chamber music programs throughout the month.

Benjamin Wallfisch, Guest Conductor
At age 29, Benjamin Wallfisch is one of the world's notable up-and-coming conductors, conducting major symphony orchestras across Europe. Wallfisch comes to Crested Butte from London - the very city where Joseph Haydn had his greatest success. Led by Benjamin Wallfisch and held at the magnificent Ein-Lynch Barn, symphony event highlights include: the Symphony Orchestra's Triple Fun on July 15 featuring works by Haydn and Mendelssohn and the American Premier of Daniel Schnyder's "Triple Concerto"; Persia in Paradise on July 19 with symphonies by Haydn and Mendelssohn; and, the concerto for the Ney (Persian Flute) and orchestra by Schnyder. Adult ticket prices are priced at $40, and student tickets are $10.

Chamber Music with Daniel Schnyder
During the last two weeks of the Festival, the CBMF will proudly host the celebrated jazz saxophonist and composer Daniel Schnyder from New York City. Schnyder will be the 2009 "Composer in Residence" and his works will be featured in chamber concerts and the symphony program. Schnyder is one of the leading composers and jazz saxophone players in the world, with his works performed by orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival in Austria.

Known for combining composition and improvisation, jazz and traditional chamber music, Daniel Schnyder will be working with the symphony orchestra, the jazz band from the University of North Texas and a string quartet of the CBMF Festival Symphony Orchestra. On July 21, Schnyder will perform Grooves of Generations with the students from the University of North Texas. In addition, vocal students from the University will perform Bernstein on Broadway, featuring some of Bernstein's greatest selection of hits on July 14. Both events will be held at the Center for the Arts, and adult ticket prices are $25, and student tickets are $10.

Events include: Songs and Fairytales on July 9 at the Union Congregational Church, Emotions on July 17 at the Center for the Arts, and Eight at 7:30 on July 23 at the Center for the Arts. Adult ticket prices are $25, and student ticket prices are $10.

Featured Instrument: The Ney
Each year the CBMF highlights a new instrument, and this year's Festival will feature the Ney, or Persian Flute. One of Schnyder's pieces will include this instrument in the Concerto for Ney and Orchestra. Neyist Bassam Saba from Beirut, one of Yo Yo Ma's Silkroad-Project musicians and one of the leading figures in the Arabic music scene, will debut the instrument at the Festival. On July 16, Schnyder and Saba will play an evening performance of Arabian Nights in a private home, providing an intimate musical experience. (See Home Soirees, below).

On July 18, Schnyder and Saba will present a special children's performance, A Morning in Persia. Saba will demonstrate how the Ney differs in sound and features from the traditional flute, and will perform some of his eclectic compositions inspired by Turkish gypsy music and classical Arabic song. Held at the Crested Butte Train Depot, this event is free.

Evening Home Soirees
The CBMF offers the opportunity to hear chamber music in a personal setting with its Home Soirees, elegant fundraising evenings of great music, wine and hors d'oeuvres. These events, which take place in magnificent mountain homes around Gunnison County, give listeners the opportunity to experience the music in an intimate setting. Evening home soiree events include: the Duo Extravaganza on July 6 with Concertmaster Ellen desPasquale on violin and Artistic and Managing Director Alexander Scheirle on cello; the Opera Home Soiree with the soloists from the mainstage opera production on July 13; Schnyder and Saba's performance of Arabian Nights on July 16; and, A Midsummer Night's Dream featuring Israeli Piano Duo Silver-Garburg on July 20. Ticket prices are $125.

Have A Beer With Beethoven
Festival tradition holds that down-home hospitality should meet world-class music to create something special, and this year is no exception. The extremely popular "Have a Beer with Beethoven" event will take place on July 12. This year, the CBMF will be presenting Beethoven's symphony Number 6, "Pastorale'" in the Ein-Lynch barn, which boasts unobstructed views of the majestic mountains. Distinguished guest conductor Benjamin Wallfisch will conduct. Adult ticket prices are $40, and student tickets are $10.

A Package for Every Pocketbook
For the first time, the CBMF is offering special packages for the 2009 season, enabling music lovers to enjoy renowned talent at a remarkable price:
• Platinum Pass: Truly a passport to musical paradise, the Platinum Pass offers admission for one to all 14 ticketed performances, three operas, each of the four home soirees, and a patron ticket to the CBMF's annual fundraising Celebration. Pricing is $999 when bought between May 1 - June 15, and $1,140 after June 15.
• Gold Pass: For the lover of all types of music, the Gold Pass is perfect with admission for one to all 14 ticketed performances, one opera and two home soiree events. Pricing is $599 when bought between May 1 - June 15, and $660 after June 15.
• Home Soiree Package: For festival goers seeking an intimate evening out, the Home Soiree Package features a ticket to each of the four home soiree events. Pricing is $399 when bought between May 1 - June 15, and $425 after June 15.
• Red Lady Special: For those who are passionate about saving Crested Butte's precious lands, the Red Lady Special is ideal. For each ticket sold, the CBMF will make a donation to the Red Lady Coalition, which benefits the preservation of Mt. Emmons. This package includes a ticket to the following performances: Arias with Altitude on July 8; Bernstein on Broadway performed by UNT on July 14; The Infamous Stringdusters on July 11; The Blue Canyon Boys on July 25; and, the Opera Le Nozze di Figaro on July 26. Pricing is $110 when bought between May 1 - June 15, and $145 after June 15.
• Butte Bundle: Perfect for families with kiddos, the Butte Bundle features two adult tickets and two children tickets to each of the following performances: Arias with Altitude on July 8; Scenes in Paradise on July 11; Bernstein on Broadway performed by UNT on July 14; Grooves of Generations with the students from UNT on July 21; and, the Blue Canyon Boys on July 25. Pricing is $199 when bought between May 1 - June 15, and $300 after June 15.

*Tickets within a package must be used for the exact performances specified.

Both events use general admission seating with doors opening a half hour prior to show time. Seating for persons with disabilities is available. Student tickets apply to those ages 6 - 18 and to persons with a valid student ID.

Subscriptions for the 2009 Festival are now available. Individual ticket prices will range from $10 to $200 (not including the Festival's free performances). For more information about the 2009 Festival, please call 970-349-0619 or visit www.crestedbuttemusicfestival.com

Celebrating its 12th season, the Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) brings world-class musicians, singers and dancers each summer to the wildflower capital of Colorado. The goal of the CBMF is both to enrich the community by offering affordable and free music, opera and dance performances, and educate a diverse audience in music, opera and dance. The CBMF is supported by funding from the Colorado Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Colorado General Assembly, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The CBMF is also funded in part by grants from Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley, and Town of Mt. Crested Butte in addition to many generous sponsors and supporters.

Reyna Von Vett and Hell’s Belles Now Performing at the Denver Civic Theatre In Leadville or BUST!

Burlesque: a humorous and provocative stage show featuring slapstick humor, comic skits and bawdy songs.

Leadville or BUST! is a boisterous romp through the 1880-1920’s. Reyna Von Vett and her Hell’s Belles bring Denver’s rich history to life as they joke, dance and sing in tight harmonies for a refreshingly different two hours of entertainment. Reflecting an era that reveled in the double entendre and viewed the can-can as the height of naughty dancing, this show is a celebration of the original girlie shows enjoyed by the settlers of the Old West.

From familiar, turn-of-the-century songs like “Ragtime Cowboy Joe,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “Seeing Denver” to bawdy songs like “Sam the Hot Dog Man,” “Hot Nuts (Get ‘Em From The Peanut Man)” and “Press My Button (Ring My Bell),” Leadville or BUST! is a tribute to the early history of girlie shows when sex and scandal was about corsets, bloomers and a bawdy song.

Reyna Von Vett (writer/singer/producer/director) is an accomplished singer and actress who performed for more than one million guests over three years as Tanya in Mamma Mia! at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Most recently, she played the role of Kaye in The Taffetas at the Denver Center for Performing Arts and led the cast of Swing! at the Colorado Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. Reyna’s solo act, Martini’s and Misbehavin’: a Celebration of the American Songbook has run in many of Las Vegas’ most prestigious hotels. She was the first country singer to perform in the lounge at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino during the National Finals Rodeo with her band, “Reyna and Rock Bottom”. Reyna was honored to sing at the 2001 Presidential Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C.

Audiences will recognize Hell’s Belles’ Teri English who was recently seen in CATS and The Producers at Carousel Dinner Theatre. Jessica Hindsley has performed at venues all over Colorado including the Town Hall Arts Center, Lakewood Cultural Center, Carousel Dinner Theatre and The Lincoln Center and Jill Nacke from performances at Country Dinner Playhouse and the Arvada Center. All three women have recently performed at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.

For more information about the show see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1OU-cq28nk or go to leadvilleorbust.com

THEATER COMPANY OF LAFAYETTE TO PREMIERE COMEDY MURDER MYSTERY BY LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT

The Theater Company of Lafayette (TCL) will present the world premiere of Red Herring, a comedy murder mystery by award-winning local playwright Don Fried, from June 12 – 27.

In the play, Edwin, a Broadway writer of murder mysteries whose star has dimmed, sets out on a dirty-tricks campaign to get revenge on the uncooperative cast and crew who are threatening the success of his comeback bid. But someone escalates Edwin’s dirty tricks and plants evidence pointing at him. To avoid prison, Edwin must use his murder-mystery skills to figure out whodunit. Is it the pretentious, over-the-hill leading man who can’t be bothered to learn his lines? The play’s leading lady, who’s also Edwin’s bitter ex-wife? The obnoxiously artsy producer-director? Or the uncontrollably ambitious young stage manager?

TCL’s Artistic Director, Madge Montgomery, who was the guiding force behind TCL’s 2006 Ovation-winning Frankenstein Experiment festival of plays and this past February’s hugely successful Separated at Birth: The Lincoln/Darwin Plays, steps in as director for Red Herring. She says that audiences who like mystery, comedy, and “backstage” plays will all be delighted with Red Herring. “It’s a great piece because it’s high energy and very funny. It’s the kind of play that people like to see in the summertime.”

Red Herring was inspired by a series of real events that plagued Fried’s first stage production. “The production had so many mishaps I figured I’d either have to kill someone or write a play about it,” says Fried. “Writing was clearly the more socially acceptable alternative.”

Red Herring is the seventh of Fried’s plays produced in the past 14 months. His recently completed historical comedy, Shakespeare Incorporated, won first place in the 2009 Rocky Mountain Theatre Association Festival Playwriting competition and is scheduled for production in London this November. And his latest play, Postville, inspired by true events in a small Midwestern town where a group of Hasidic Jews from Brooklyn open a kosher meatpacking plant, was recently named as one of the selections for the 2009 Playwright’s Showcase of the Western Region.

See Calendar for details.

Celebrationworks Responds To Lawsuit Result

"Celebrationworks tried a new model for sharing net profits with those who make a show come alive in the production of HUMBUG. We want to thank everyone who stood with us, and behind us, in this trial. You know who you are. We believed then, and we believe now, that we did the right thing, and we are grateful to the court for reducing the amount Ms. McGovern sought in her lawsuit against us. We wish her well, and are happy to have this matter settled and behind us. Celebrationworks is moving forward, adding new projects almost weekly (www.celebrationworks.org ), and enlarging our core playwrighting group with the help of Write Angle Productions." Carol Roper, playwright/producer Celebrationworks

Celebrationworks Seeks New Plays

CELEBRATIONWORKS Theatre Ensemble currently seeks production ready 10-15 minute unique plays in the following genres: comedy, ghost stories, paranormal, supernatural, sci/fi, (UFOs, aliens), inspirational, metaphysical, social awareness, family and holiday-theme, with off-beat storylines and provocative, multi-cultural, multi-racial, varied age characters for consideration for upcoming 2009, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Holiday productions. Deadline is: July 1, 2009. Please submit no more then 2 plays. Email to celebrationworks@gmail.com with brief bio, (50 words), play's awards and production history, if any. www.celebrationworks.org

A Bronx Tale features Chazz Palminteri

DENVER – Academy Award®-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri will visit Denver’s Ellie Caulkins Opera House June 9-21 to perform his critically-lauded one-man show A BRONX TALE. Single tickets go on sale Sunday, May 3 at www.denvercenter.org or by phone and walk-up Monday, May 4 at 10am.

A BRONX TALE, the funny and touching memoir written by and starring Chazz Palminteri, launched its national tour in September 2008 to rave reviews. Paul Hodgins of the Orange County Register said it is "Masterful!...It occupies 100 minutes but it feels like five...it's been almost 20 years since Palminteri's one-man show, in which he plays 18 characters, first catapulted him to fame, but after two decades with this wonderful material, Palminteri's story still seems as fresh and insightful as ever."

Chazz Palminteri’s remarkable performance is fresh from a successful run on Broadway, where the show was praised by the critics and adored by the public. In A BRONX TALE, the celebrated play on which he based the legendary movie, Palminteri vividly depicts a young boy's rough childhood in the 1960s-era Bronx and the unforgettable people he encountered. A classic coming-of-age story about reaching ones true potential and trusting one’s heart, A BRONX TALE is directed by four-time Tony Award®-winner Jerry Zaks.

A BRONX TALE is produced by GO Productions. Set design is by James Noone, lighting design is by Paul Gallo and original music and sound design by John Gromada. Mr. Palminteri's wardrobe is supplied by Italian menswear designer ISAIA.

A BRONX TALE was first mounted off Broadway in 1989 and helped establish Palminteri as a writer and actor with a distinct voice. In A BRONX TALE, Palminteri brings 18 characters to vivid life, depicting a rough childhood on Bronx streets populated by a cast of friends and enemies. This production of A BRONX TALE, directed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks, opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre and quickly became one of the few bona fide hits of the 2007-2008 Broadway season.

Chazz Palminteri’s tour de force performance has been heralded by critics and audiences. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times called the show "a rejuvenating act of faith in the powers of acting and storytelling.” The Associated Press described A BRONX TALE as "enormously entertaining…A vibrant, warmhearted saga…Palminteri conjures up a parade of appealing characters with humor, great affection and more than a little heartbreak."

During the original off-Broadway and subsequent Los Angeles engagements of A BRONX TALE, Palminteri caught the attention of studios, producers and directors – all of whom wanted to make the film version without him. Palminteri turned down a million dollar offer for the film rights, despite having $200 in his bank account at the time. Then, Robert DeNiro came to see the show, and brought the story and star Palminteri to the screen in 1993, making his directorial debut in the process.

About Chazz Palminteri and Jerry Zaks and GO Productions Chazz Palminteri has over 50 movies to his credit including The Usual Suspects, Bullets over Broadway, Analyze This, Hurly Burly, Mulholland Falls and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. He has also directed the HBO series Oz (episode, Unnatural Disasters), Showtime’s Women vs. Men, and the feature film Noel, starring Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Robin Williams and Paul Walker. He was also seen on the New York stage in the play The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui starring with Al Pacino, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and Billy Crudup.

Jerry Zaks is a four time Tony® Award winner and has directed over 30 New York productions. Most recently, he directed Encores!’ acclaimed Stairway to Paradise. Other credits include, Broadway: The House of Blue Leaves (Tony Award), The Front Page, Anything Goes (Tony nomination), Lend Me a Tenor (Tony Award), Six Degrees of Separation (Tony Award), Guys and Dolls (Tony Award), Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Tony nomination, Olivier nomination), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Tony nomination), The Man Who Came to Dinner, 45 Seconds From Broadway, Little Shop of Horrors, La Cage aux Folles (Tony Award, Best Revival), The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial; Off-Broadway: Sister Mary Ignatius, Beyond Therapy, Baby With the Bathwater, The Foreigner (Obie Award), The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Obie Award), Wenceslas Square, Assassins, A Bad Friend. Film: Marvin’s Room. TV: “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “Frasier.” He is a graduate of Dartmouth with an MFA from Smith and since 1990 has been proudly affiliated with Jujamcyn Theaters.

Go Productions is an independently financed film, television and theatre company formed in early 2007 in Las Vegas by casino operator John Gaughan, film industry executive Trent Othick and Las Vegas businessman Matt Othick. GO recently wrapped production of the independent feature film Yonkers Joe directed by Sundance veteran Robert Celestino, starring Chazz Palminteri, Academy Award winner Christine Lahti, Academy Award nominee Michael Lerner, Golden Globe nominee Linus Roache and Tom Guiry, as well as Michael Rispoli, Frank John Hughes, Roma Maffia and Arthur Nascarella. A Bronx Tale marked GO Productions’ Broadway producing debut.

Single tickets for A BRONX TALE start at just $20, and go on sale Sunday, May 3 at www.denvercenter.org and Monday, May 4 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 www.denvercenter.org

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

For more information on A BRONX TALE, please visit www.ABronxTaleTour.com

Stories on Stage ends successful ’08-’09 season with phamaly COLLABORATION

DENVER, April 27, 2009 – This summer, two of Denver’s favorite theater companies, Stories On Stage and PHAMALY (the Physically Handicapped Actors & Musical Artists League), unite for their first collaboration.

We Are PHAMALy will be performed on Sunday, June 7 in the Stage Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Show times are 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Single tickets are $22, tickets for groups of 10 or more are $18 per person and LoDough (scholarship) tickets are also available. Tickets can be ordered online at www.storiesonstage.org or by phone at 303-494-0523.

Stories On Stage is an award-winning performing arts organization that presents great actors reading great stories and PHAMALY is an award-winning theater company of great actors performing terrific musical and dramatic works. The result, We Are PHAMALy, is bound to leave audiences wondering why it took so long for these groups to come together. It’s a match that Norma Moore, Stories On Stage artistic director, thinks may lead to future partnerships.

PHAMALY’s Artistic Director, Steve Wilson, leads a stellar cast of company members that include Sean McGee, Stephen Hahn, Regan Linton and Lucy Roucis reading “Eternal Love” by Karen Bender and Leonard Barrett, Tara Cowan and Don Mauck reading “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver. Selections from last fall’s studio workshop series, Vox PHAMALIA: Tales from the Crips, will showcase the actors’ musical and comedic ability and will include musical parodies “Pity Me” and “Don’t Cry for Me, Jerry Lewis” with original lyrics by Regan Linton; adapted from two famous Andrew Lloyd Weber/Tim Rice songs; and a new twist on a game show favorite, “PHAMALY Jeopardy.”

We Are PHAMALy provides an introduction to both organizations’ regular audiences. PHAMALY patrons may not be familiar with Stories On Stage’s “adult story time” concept where actors read short works of literature, drawing listeners into the story with their voices rather than with elaborate sets and costumes. Similarly, this may be the first exposure some Stories On Stage subscribers have to PHAMALY’s unique performances, though long-time attendees will recognize one of the program’s stories.

“We performed ‘Eternal Love’ about five years ago,” Moore says. “We always include a talk-back session at the end of each program, and we received some very thought-provoking feedback about that particular show. Some audience members questioned the interpretation provided by the non-disabled actor who read the story. I’m excited to see how this performance differs in delivery, and I’m looking forward to hearing audience feedback.”

We Are PHAMALy is the final Stories On Stage program for the ’08-’09 season. BKD LLP and the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) sponsorships made this collaboration possible.

Now celebrating its 20th season, PHAMALY is a nationally recognized, award winning Colorado Theatre Company comprised entirely of performers with a wide variety of physical challenges. PHAMALY’s core 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.

PHAMALY presents “Man of La Mancha” July 25 – August 16 in the Space Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. More information at www.phamaly.org or 303-575-0005.

EVITA Ticket Demand High - Show Extends

ARVADA, CO - Due to unprecedented advance ticket sales, the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is extending the run of EVITA through May 24, 2009. Tickets for the extension go on sale Friday, April 24, 2009.

To date, ticket sales for EVITA have topped the $465,596 mark, setting a new record on total revenue for a show in this time-slot of the season. EVITA marks the second show this theater season to extend--"Les Misérables" was extended last fall. "Mame" was the only other show in the history of the Arvada Center to extend, back in December, 1995.

"With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, many are simply preparing to stay near home and planning local adventures with friends and family. Why not escape to Argentina for a few hours, without leaving Arvada?" states Gene Sobczak, Executive Director of the Arvada Center.

Ticket prices will not be increased for the extension and the extension week schedule will remain the same as the previous weeks--Tuesday through Saturday evening performances at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday matinees at 1:00 p.m.

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is one of the nation's largest cultural attractions, devoted to all aspects of the arts and generously supported by the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). For more information, call the Arvada Center box office at (720)898-7200 or visit arvadacenter.org.

Paragon Announces Summer Youth Program

An intensive five-week professional ensemble theatre prep program that will be held each summer, PYE is designed to empower a select group of teenagers, ages 14 to 18, to mount a full-length play on their own while working in a collaborative, ensemble-based environment. Students will leave PYE with a full understanding of the many facets of theatre production, both on-stage and off, and how theatre must be approached as a collaborative art form to succeed. PYE will excite, challenge and encourage students with a passion for theatre to work together to create a production they can call their own.

Students will work directly with Paragon's co-founder and award-winning artistic director, Warren Sherrill, while also learning from select professionals working in various capacities within the performing arts. By the end of the five-week intensive, students will have conceptualized, designed, built and rehearsed a full- length production and give two public performances at The Crossroads Theatre in Denver.

When & Where
PYE students will meet Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from June 8 through July 11, 2009 at The Crossroads Theatre, located at 27th and Welton. Performances will be held on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. at The Crossroads Theatre.
Tuition is $300 and includes a PYE T-shirt, a photo CD of the performance and two complimentary tickets to the final performance.
Class-Size is Limited! Apply for Enrollment Now!
The application deadline is May 22, 2009. . For more details about the program and to request an application form, please email Warren Sherrill at wsherrill@paragontheatre.org or call him at 303.300.2210.

Paragon Theatre Ensemble
Through the preservation of the classics and the development of new works, Paragon Theatre's dedicated ensemble of artists seeks to illuminate the human experience with unflinching courage and truth. Paragon Theatre exists to serve the story and the greater Denver community, tackling every project with passion, humility and diverse insight--an approach that results in a rare collaborative experience. Please visit our website for more information.

Nonesuch Theatre Tackles Shakespeare-- Abridged

The Nonesuch Theater, located in the heart of Fort Collin's historic Old Town, is pleased to announce the first show of our 5th Season, London's longest running comedy, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield playing now through June 13, 2009.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is a whirlwind roller coaster tribute to the immortal bard. Three actors take on the daunting task of performing 37 plays and 154 sonnets in under two hours, illuminating the world of Shakespeare through the use of football, swordplay and hip-hop music. Irreverent and hilarious, this comedy sensation delights audiences and critics alike with a refreshing blend of madcap humor that includes everything from puns and pratfalls to elaborate sight gags.

Directed by Nick Turner, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) features three of Nonesuch's favorite actors: Jay Benedict Brown (Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings), Mark Johnson (Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings), Scott Shaffer (Urinetown, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Greater Tuna, Forever Plaid, Plaid Tidings).

All sixteen comedies are condensed into one story containing a shipwreck, an influential duke, and his three sets of identical twins. The tragedies become the Shakespeare Football League, subtitled "Who's Got the Crown?" For Othello, they turn to rap; Titus Andronicus is reduced to a cooking show; and Hamlet, despite protestations by the cast that there are "too many words," is done not only forwards, but backwards as well!

Written in 1987 by the original founders of the Reduced Shakespeare Company, Daniel Singer, Jess Winfield and Adam Long, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) underwent many years of metamorphosis before its formal publishing in the United State in 1996. A smash hit Off-Broadway as well as the longest running comedy in London, Shakespeare (Abridged) is "Very funny! Impossible to resist!" - New York Times.

World Premier For Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company

Rebecca Remaly directs the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s world premier of local playwright’s Morisot Reclining.

Edouard Manet captured the faces of many women on canvass. One of them captured his soul. In BETC's first World Premiere, award-winning local playwright William C. Kovacsik brings us the story of renowned Impressionist painters Berthe Morisot and Edouard Manet. Featuring many of the most beautiful images of the Impressionist movement, Morisot Reclining traces their personal and professional relationship, bringing one of the greatest love stories ever put on canvass to vibrant life on stage. Narrated by fellow Impressionists Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt, Morisot Reclining presents a rare glimpse into the art and hearts of four famed painters.

See Calendar for dates and times

Denver Center Theatre Company Concludes Season With Quilters

DENVER – The Denver Center Theatre Company concludes the season by opening a new production of the inspiring pioneer musical Quilters by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek, music and lyrics by Barbara Damashek – one of the most honored and best loved world premieres in the company’s 30 season history.

After the Denver Premiere, Quilters toured and became a record-setting regional theater success before opening on Broadway with six 1984 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.

Quilters was inspired by the real life diaries and letters of pioneer women in the American West, written as they braved the dangers and hardships of life on the frontier – a loving patchwork stitched together with music, moments of vibrant and passionate drama, joy, laughter and tears. Newsweek called Quilters “…a tender and moving theatre work, a human patchwork rippling in the breeze of memory.”

Directing this new production is Penny Metropulos (The Trip to Bountiful, You Can’t Take it With You). The Musical Director is Sterling Tinsley (Denver Center debut) and the Associate Music Director and Conductor is Deborah Schmidt-Lobis (White Christmas, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum). Inspired by early photographs of the stark Western prairie and wide, empty horizon, the design team includes Scenic Designer William Bloodgood (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Dusty and the Big Bad World, You Can’t Take It With You), Costume Designer Constanza Romero (Denver Center debut), Lighting Designer Don Darnutzer (Richard III, The Trip to Bountiful, Plainsong) and Sound Designer Craig Breitenbach (A Prayer for Owen Meany, A Christmas Carol, Noises Off). Dramaturgy for Quilters is by Douglas Langworthy (Sunsets and Margaritas, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Inana).

Leading the cast is original Quilters touring company member, Kathleen M. Brady (A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III, The Trip to Bountiful) as Sarah. The acting ensemble includes company member Christine Rowan (White Christmas, You Can’t Take It With You, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum) and, appearing on Denver Center stages for the first time, Victoria Adams-Zischke (Rabbit Hole at Repertory Theatre of St Louis), Susannah Flood (The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter at New York Theater Workshop), Kara Lindsay (Little House on the Prairie at The Guthrie Theater and the upcoming national tour), Linda Mugleston (Young Frankenstein on Broadway, the Summit reading of The Unsinkable Molly Brown) and Jeff Skowron (Broadway’s The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast)

.Special Lobby Event “Community of Quilts”
In celebration of the Quilters homecoming, a special exhibit of quilts will be on display in the main lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. The exhibit, collected through a nationwide search for “quilts with a story” by The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, will include the original quilt from the world premiere production of Quilters and more than 30 others.

Among the quilts on display will be panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt – the largest ongoing community arts project in the world – commemorating the lives of more than 40,000 individuals.

Brenda Ohlschwager, Executive Director of the museum said, "It is an honor to celebrate the legacy of quilters and to be a part of the Quilters homecoming."

Hours of the exhibit are 5pm to 8pm Monday – Saturday (May 22 – June 20) and Tuesday – Sunday (June 23 – July 12).

For Performance details, see Calendar

Town Hall Arts Center announces Destination Dinosaurs and Dinosaur Day

The interactive science fiction fantasy Destination Dinosaurs is the star attraction of Dinosaur Day on Saturday, May 2nd at Town Hall Children's Theatre, 2450 West Main Street in Littleton. Shows are at 10:00 am and Noon. The festivities will be rounded out with dino face painting, Diney Dinosaur and her dinosaur balloon animals, dino coloring sheets, and hands on dinosaur exhibit donated by The Museum of Science and Nature. Tickets are $6.50 for children and $7.50 for adults.

World-renowned paleontologist, Professor Henrietta Higglemeyer, has got to prove that her theory that dinosaurs were warm blooded is true or she will lose her job at the University. Luckily she and her crazy sidekick, Igor, have invented a time machine, which will take them, and all of their audience assistants, back in time in the quest of bringing back a dinosaur egg for their important research.

Winner of the Marlowe award and nominated for a 2006 Ovation award for "Best Children's Production", Destination Dinosaurs mesmerizes as well as educates. Audience members of all ages will be enthralled as everyone boards our futuristic time machine to learn about science and history, with a fun filled hour of dinosaurs, excitement and laughter.

For reservations and more information, please call Town Hall Arts Center box office at 303-794-2787 ext. 5 or order tickets on line at www.townhallartscenter.com.

Central City Opera and Denver Film Society Partner For Screening of Ingmar Bergman’s Smiles of a Summer Night

Denver, Colo. — On May 7, Central City Opera and the Denver Film Society will present a screening of Ingmar Bergman’s 1955 classic comedy, Smiles of a Summer Night, followed by a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception and a preview with live musical selections from Central City Opera’s upcoming Festival production of A Little Night Music. The evening will offer audiences the opportunity to gain new perspective about an important theatrical work through the dynamic medium of film. Howie Movshovitz, Colorado Public Radio film critic, and Deborah Morrow, Central City Opera’s education and community programs director, will offer insights and entertain questions and discussion about the film and musical.

The Bergman film gained renewed attention in the 1970’s by inspiring Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award® winning musical, A Little Night Music. This collaboration between the two companies also celebrates the launch of the Denver Film Society’s Opera in Cinema Series, starting in May. “This collaboration is a wonderful opportunity to explore the relationship of great film to great theatre,” commented Central City Opera’s Marketing Director Deb Hruby. “We look forward to the Denver Film Society’s Opera in Cinema Series as an exciting vehicle to share the art form with our Colorado community.”

After almost a decade of directing films to mostly local and regional acclaim, Smiles of a Summer Night launched Ingmar Bergman’s international career in 1956 when it was nominated for the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or Award. Set at a midsummer country house party in Sweden in the early 20th century, this witty and ironic romantic comedy follows a group of mismatched lovers as they attempt to win the game of love, exposing their pretensions and insecurities along the way. The film inspired the 1973 Broadway hit, A Little Night Music, by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler. Sondheim’s brilliant lyrics and music are a late 20th century homage to turn-of-the-century operetta style, and the perfect compliment to Bergman’s richly realized characters and relationships.

The Denver Film Society and Emerging Pictures will be launching its Opera in Cinema Series in the month of May. As the exclusive presenter for the City of Denver, the Series will feature high-definition digital screenings of some of the most eye-catching and stunning operas recorded live at La Scala and other renowned European opera houses and festival venues. The first two feature presentations in this series will be Verdi’s tale of the cursed Rigoletto on May 13 and 17 and Berlioz’s rarely performed tale of the Florentine sculptor Benvenuto Cellini on May 27 and May 31. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.denverfilm.org or call 303-595-3456, ext. 250.

The Denver Film Society is a membership-based nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to cultivating community and transforming lives through film. Founded in 1978, the Denver Film Society produces film events throughout the year, including the award winning Starz Denver Film Festival. The Denver Film Society's home theatre and cinematic education center, the Starz FilmCenter, presents film programs daily and is Denver's first and only year-round cinematheque, operated in partnership with the University of Colorado at Denver's College of Arts & Media, and with support from Starz Entertainment and the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Denver Film Society members support one-of-a-kind programs reaching more that 200,000 film lovers and film lovers-in-training each year.

For the 2009 Summer Festival June 27 to August 2, Central City Opera will feature three new productions. The Festival includes Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, the popular Italian bel canto style opera about feuding families in Scotland and young Lucia’s forbidden love; Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, the Tony Award® winning musical that portrays the romantic lives of couples in Swedish society; George Frideric Handel’s Italian opera Rinaldo, a heroic story of battle and love set in the time of the First Crusade. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.centralcityopera.org or call 303-292-6700.

73rd Avenue Playhouse Presents Ibsen’s A Doll’s House

The 73rd. Ave. Theatre Company presents Heinrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” May 8 to June 14. In A Doll’s House Nora Helmer and her banker husband Torvald adore each other and anticipate a beautiful future together. Nora once secretly borrowed a large sum of money, by forging her father’s name, so that her husband could recuperate from a serious illness. When Torvald is appointed bank director, his first act is to fire a man who was once disgraced for having forged his signature on a document. This man, Nils Krogstad, is the person from whom Nora has borrowed her money. He threatens to reveal Nora's crime, disgracing her and her husband, unless Nora can convince her husband not to fire him. In the space of a few short days, Nora's eyes are opened to a side of her husband and her marriage that horrifies her. As she begins to suffocate inside the constrictions of her role as "doll wife," a new spirit begins to call out within her.

The cast, under the direction of Phil Luna, features Magally Rizo Antuna, Jose Aguila, Mari Casas, Nelson Goforth, Kiso Kyle, Craig Osterberg and Hope Weiss.

For performance details, see Calendar.

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse Announces 2009-2010 Season

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Northern Colorado's largest professional dinner theater, is pleased to announce our second season of great musicals.

THE WIZARD OF OZ June 5, 2009 through August 23, 2009
There truly is no place like home as Dorothy, Toto and friends travel down the Yellow Brick Road and Over The Rainbow in one of the greatest family musicals of all time.

PHANTOM August 28 through November 8, 2009
The Tony Award-winning authors of Broadway's Titanic and Grand Hotel have transformed Gaston Leroux's story into a melodic and thrilling international musical sensation.

CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT November 13 through January 3, 2010
The Christmas spirit burns brightly this season at the Candlelight with this delightful original production filled with holiday songs and Christmas cheer, warm wishes and even a few surprises!

CLUE! THE MUSICAL January 8 through March 7, 2010
Based on the popular board game, this rousing fun-filled musical brings the world's best-known mystery suspects to life on stage, and invites the audience to play along!

MY FAIR LADY March 12 through May 20, 2010
This show is the standard by which all others are measured. With unforgettable songs this delightful American classic has captivated audiences for more than 50 years.

Ticket Information
Individual ticket prices for dinner and show range from $36 to $59 based on day of week and seating preference. Show only tickets are just $25 (some seat restrictions apply).
Dinner and Show Season Ticket packages start at just $35 per show and are available in a 3, 4 or 5 show flex pass. Our new Show Only Season Ticket package is just $25 per show.
All shows and season ticket packages are now on sale through the box office at 970-744-3747 or online anytime at www.ColoradoCandlelight.com.

Theater Information
The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is a 6 million dollar facility located just south of Johnson's Corner on I-25, within comfortable driving distance of Denver, Greeley, Loveland, Fort Collins, Cheyenne and their surrounding communities.
The 380-seat Candlelight Dinner Playhouse is in the vibrant and growing Northern Colorado Corridor situated only minutes away from upscale shopping, hotels and the gateway to the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Special amenities include an elegant lobby book cased by two large fireplaces and a 50-seat private balcony, which includes VIP rooms; separate dining areas and mezzanine theater seating.

Naropa University Appoints Stuart C. Lord Fifth President

BOULDER, Colo. (April 9, 2009)—Naropa University announced the appointment of Stuart C. Lord as the 5th president of Naropa University starting in July 2009.

The search process began after Naropa’s current President Thomas B. Coburn announced that he would step down at the end of his six-year term. The university created a presidential search committee, comprised of trustee, faculty, student and staff representatives that worked closely with the search consultancy Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates to guide the search process.

In December 2008, the search committee interviewed select applicants and in mid-January 2009, the top two candidates were invited to campus to make formal presentations and engage with Naropa’s faculty, staff, students and the Boulder community. Following these sessions and after a review of the input received, the search committee recommended the appointment of Dr. Lord as Naropa’s next leader to the board of trustees on March 1, 2009. The board then confirmed the search committee’s recommendation.

Board of Trustees Chair Martin Janowitz announced the appointment to Naropa students, staff, faculty, and alumni on Wednesday, April 8, 2009. “Naropa University is delighted to have selected a new president who is superbly matched and equipped to serve both the university's current and future needs,” says Janowitz. “The enthusiasm expressed from all quarters at today’s event indicates the positive spirit across our university community about the appointment of Dr. Stuart C. Lord.”

An experienced educational leader, Dr. Lord brings to Naropa a commitment to multicultural diversity, civic responsibility and ethical leadership. Dr. Lord is an active member at the Karme Choling Shambhala Meditation Center in Barnet, Vermont. Dr. Lord was raised in New Rochelle, New York. After graduating from Texas Christian University in 1982, Dr. Lord attended Princeton Theological Seminary where he earned the degrees of Master of Divinity (1986) and Master of Theology (1987). In 1993, Dr. Lord received the Doctor of Ministry degree with a specialization in multicultural education from Union Theological Seminary. In 2002, Dr. Lord was the recipient of the Texas Christian University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Dr. Lord, 49, has helped foster the growth and advancement of many communities as both educator and humanitarian. He has served as an administrator and managed civic education, community service, and religious and spiritual life programs at both Dartmouth College and DePauw University. In these positions, Dr. Lord has developed programs that aid under-resourced domestic communities, including New Hampshire’s Upper Valley, the Mississippi Delta and the areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. He has also perennially led international service trips to developing nations, including Bangladesh, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Sierra Leone. In addition, Dr. Lord served as executive director of the 1997 President’s Summit for America’s Future, working under General Colin Powell during the Clinton administration.

During his time at Dartmouth College, from July 2000 to present, Dr. Lord has served as associate provost (2000-present), interim vice president for institutional diversity (2006–07), and Virginia Rice Kelsey ‘61S Dean of the Tucker Foundation (2000–08). As associate provost, Dr. Lord has worked on initiatives for institutional planning within the Provost Division to enhance staff development, retention and recruitment in support of diversity. He was named co-chair of the Provost Diversity Council to foster greater collaboration. Dr. Lord has worked to establish stronger links between a number of programs on campus and the surrounding community, and has provided assistance to the provost on various planning projects. Dr. Lord also continues to oversee Project Bangladesh, a student-led initiative with the goal of building an orphanage in Charfassion, Bangladesh, that was established at the Tucker Foundation under his leadership.

As dean of the William Jewett Tucker Foundation, Dr. Lord helped the foundation emerge as one of the nation’s leading on-campus civic service and spiritual life centers with student body participation in the foundation’s programs growing from approximately 45 percent to more than 70 percent during his tenure. To foster and support this growth, Dr. Lord restructured the administrative backbone of the foundation, defined a new strategic direction, increased annual giving by more than 800 percent, and oversaw a near tripling of the endowment. These successes allowed for the expansion of program offerings and have stabilized the long-term outlook of the foundation. As the Dean Dr. Lord increased annual giving by over 800% and oversaw a near tripling of the endowment.

The Tucker Foundation now runs programs that combine resources from Dartmouth’s undergraduate and graduate schools to serve international communities and has significantly expanded the scope of its local and national service programs. Dr. Lord’s co-development of Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth Program (SEAD) with the chair of Dartmouth’s Department of Education has resulted in a program that brings students from under-resourced high schools in California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina to Dartmouth for intensive academics, service learning and college preparation over a period of two to three weeks in each of three consecutive summers. More than 80 percent of SEAD graduates are now attending college. Dr. Lord also initiated the Civic Internship Program, which provides students with a firsthand knowledge of the not-for-profit and philanthropy sectors of higher education.

Appointed as Dartmouth’s vice president for institutional diversity and equity on an interim basis for the 2007–08 academic year, Dr. Lord provided campus leadership on issues of equity, diversity and equality. In conjunction with school deans and department heads, he worked to establish diversity plans for each graduate school and department and for the provost’s division. In this position, Dr. Lord also advised the college’s president and Human Resources on diversity-related campus and personnel issues. In addition, Dr. Lord sponsored campus dialogues on issues of diversity and equity.

At Dr. Lord’s introduction to the Naropa University community he stated, “I am delighted and honored to have been elected by the board of trustees as Naropa's president. I very much appreciate the encouragement and support that I have received from so many members of this community. I take on this responsibility with great seriousness of purpose, with great enthusiasm and with great joy.

I believe in the values of transformation. We, the community of Naropa University, affirm both the idea and ideals of a contemplative education, of its transformative purpose of teaching, learning, discovery and research. The goal of a Naropa education is transformative work in the world&hellip. The value of contemplative education is measured in Naropa students’ ability to put their wisdom and insight into practice through creative, helpful and effective action.

My job as president will be to make sure that Naropa not only transforms students, but also transforms as an institution to be the best contemplative liberal arts university in the world.”

President James Wright, the sixteenth president of Dartmouth College, stated, “I was pleased to learn of Stuart Lord's selection as president of Naropa University. I congratulate him and I congratulate Naropa. He has been a good colleague at Dartmouth and we have been enriched by his leadership and vision. The students, faculty and staff of Naropa will greatly benefit from Stuart's passion for and commitment to learning in and out of the classroom."

search committee chair and member of the board of trustees Lynne S. Katzmann says, “Stuart Lord is an energetic, innovative thinker with leadership skills that will engage Naropa’s community to best meet its fundraising, enrollment and academic program goals.”

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.

Arvada Center Eliminates Ticketing Fees for Next Season

ARVADA, CO – As the Arvada Center closes the 2008/2009 season on a financial high note, and it's anticipating that the upcoming season will be even more impressive. "We recognize there are economic issues out there for our audiences," states Executive Director Gene Sobczak. "This is just another way for us to show our patrons that we appreciate them and want making the choice to come back an easy one." To keep the momentum, the Center is offering a spectacular lineup of quality theater, and giving subscribers a break by eliminating all ticketing fees. In addition, the Center is also implementing a 10-month installment payment plan for subscribers as well as discounted subscription/membership packages. The results—greater entertainment value that's affordable for everyone.

As we look to the next season, our goals are aggressive and our ambitions great. The 2009/2010 theater programming is robust, acknowledging the content and scope patrons want and expect," states Executive Director Gene Sobczak.

Saigon
A Musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil
Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Directed by Rod A. Lansberry
September 15 – October 11, 2009
Main Stage
From the creators of "Les Misérables," Miss Saigon is a Tony Award®-winning Broadway blockbuster and tells a wartime love story of an American G.I. and a Vietnamese bar girl during the fall of Saigon, and their heart-wrenching reunion.

The Second Tosca
Written by Tom Rowan
Directed by Christie Montour-Larson
October 20 – November 22, 2009
Black Box
A smart, sexy comedy following the backstage antics at an opera house, The Second Tosca is a witty story about love, ambition and rivalry. Authored by ex-Denverite Tom Rowan, the story features an aging diva clinging to her last chance for greatness and a rising diva waiting in the wings for her chance in the spotlight.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A Musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Directed by Stephen Bourneuf
November 24 – December 27, 2009
Main Stage
Joseph returns to the Arvada Center. This award-winning show is the 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.

A Man for all Seasons
Written by Robert Bolt
Directed by Anthony Powell
February 2 – March 7, 2010
Black Box
A classic Tony Award®-winning play about one man's struggle to stand by his beliefs, remain loyal to his King and the price he pays for his convictions. A Man for all Seasons is an engaging commentary on the treacherous interplay of church and state during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Nine
Book by Arthur Kopit
Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston
Directed by Rod A. Lansberry
Starring Randal Keith as Guido Contini
April 20 – May 16, 2010
Main Stage
Winner of five Tony Awards® and inspired by the Fellini film 8½,Nine, the musical, serves up the comic plight of Guido Contini, a famous Hollywood film director and aging Casanova. Hilarious and bizarre musical interchanges between his producer, his wife, his mistress and the actress he needs to woo for his next big film, makes Nine a "Ten" for all theater-goers.

"All Shook Up"
Book by Joe Dipietro
July 13 – August 8, 2010
Main Stage
A square little town becomes "all shook up" when a motorcycle-riding roustabout rolls into town with a song in his heart and an eye for the ladies. With over 25 of Elvis Presley's greatest hits, this musical is full of mishap and mischievous madness that is sure to rock the house. Winner of the 2005 Theatre World Award, "All Shook Up" is a great show for all ages.

Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities Welcomes New Member

ARVADA, CO - The Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities is pleased to announce Marilyn S. Chappell as the newest council member.

Marilyn Chappell is an attorney with the Denver law firm of Wells, Anderson and Race, LLC, which specializes in complex litigation, including products liability, aviation, insurance fraud, civil rights, employment, construction defect and business litigation. She is a second-generation Denver native and moved to Arvada in 2003. Chappell was appointed by the Colorado State Board of Education to its advisory committee on gifted and talented education issues, and served as Chair from 2005 to 2007. She is a passionate advocate in child development and has been involved with advocacy for the nationally recognized Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets. She believes "we should help kids achieve their potential."

Wicked Returns To Cast Its Spell

DENVER – After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in both 2005 and 2007, the smash-hit musical WICKED will return to Denver’s Buell Theatre October 7 – November 15. Tickets for the return engagement go on sale Sunday, April 19 at 10am.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award-winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is directed by 2003 and 2004 Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Assassins, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues, Glengarry Glen Ross) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…).

Based on the best-selli