Bumper Crop: Boulder / Denver Theatre Fall Preview
Boulder / Denver Theatre Fall Roundup, by Mare Trevathan
After our wet, verdant summer here in Colorado, it was a rude awakening to find a backyard full of yellow and orange leaves this morning.
Not. Ready!
But with the turn of the season, we residents of the Rocky Mountain Empire can start to focus more on indoor pursuits. The crisp and cold months are excellent for juicy and delicious theater. Here, a selection (by chronological order of opening date) from Scen3 members’ coming harvest!
● Vintage Theatre’s Harold and Maude
Harold and Maude at Vintage Theatre
In this Colin Higgins stage adaption of his cult classic film, a privileged but suicidal 19 year old boy is transformed by meeting an oddball octogenarian. It’s hard to imagine a more apt director than the wacky/compassionate hybrid of Pam Clifton. Starring Jose Zuniga and Deborah Persoff.
October 3 – November 9, 2014, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:30pm at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton Street Aurora, CO 80010.
Tickets are $21 when purchased in advance at vintagetheatre.com; or call 303-856-7830 for more options.
● Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC)’s Ambition Facing West
Inspired by his own family’s journey from the Balkans through the 20th century, playwright Anthony Clarvoe follows three
Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC)
generations as they migrate ever westward– from Croatia to Wyoming to Japan. Directed by CultureWest’s “2012 Theater Person of the Year” Stephen Weitz, and featuring actor Chris Kendall, widely celebrated for his performance last season in BETC’s “Annapurna”.
If you enjoy really digging in to a play, check out BETC’s Script Club: a book club, but- you know- for plays.
October 9 – November 2, 2014, Wednesdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 4pm at The Dairy Center for the Arts East Theatre, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302.
Tickets are $16 – $27 at boulderensembletheatre.org or 303-351-2382. Appropriate for most audiences.
● Town Hall Arts Center’s RFK
RFK at Littleton Town Hall with James O’Hagan Murphy
Actually a transfer of the wildly successful Vintage Theatre production, this solo show stars James O’Hagan Murphy portraying Robert F. Kennedy. Jack Holmes’ historical drama focuses on the tumultuous period between his brother’s assassination in ‘63, and his own in ‘68. “Sophisticated, spellbinding work,” says Variety.
October 17 – 26, 2014, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 West Main Street, Littleton, CO 80120.
Tickets are $25 at townhallartscenter.org or 303-794-2787 ext. 5.
● Stories on Stage’s To the Lighthouse
Stories on Stage goes locavore with this show featuring works from the Colorado gem Lighthouse Writers Workshop. Expect writers Michael J. Henry, BK Loren and Erika Krouse to be in the audience as their short stories are
Candy Brown, Stories on Stage
performed by acclaimed Denver actors Jessica Austgen, Gabriella Cavallero and Geoffrey Kent.
Sunday, November 15, 1:30pm and 7:30pm at Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204.
Tickets are $28, with “scholarships” are available to those in financial need at storiesonstage.org or 303-494-0523.
● Northglenn Players’ Inspecting Carol
Northglenn Players
Just two years old, this community-based theatre has been in high enough demand (by both audiences and participants) that they added a holiday show this year. Daniel Sullivan’s modern classic Christmas farce is about a novice actor auditioning for “A Christmas Carol” who is mistaken as an informer for the NEA. Hilarity ensues.
To get in on the act, schedule an audition appointment for October 19 by calling 303-450-8785. More info: northglenn.org/auditions
December 19 – 28, 2014, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm at the D.L. Parsons Theatre, 1801 Community Center Drive, Northglenn, CO 80233.
Tickets are $10 – $12 at 303-450-8800. (Tickets are not available online.) Due to some strong language, parental discretion is advised.
● Buntport’s Tommy Lee Jones Goes to Opera Alone
Essentially a “one puppet show,” this oddball comedy got rave reviews when originally produced two years ago. A nearly- life-size
Tommy Lee Jones Goes to Opera Alone
Tommy Lee Jones puppet takes three people to operate and a fourth to voice. Obsessed with Turandot, TLJ begins to find parallels between Puccini’s opera and the lives of his puppeteers. Named “Best New Play” by Westword, CultureWest, and the Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards.
January 9 -31, 2015, Thursdays-Sundays at 8:00pm, Sundays at 3:00pm at Buntport, 717 Lipan Street, Denver, CO 80204.
Tickets are $13-$20, with pay-what-you-can shows on January 15 and 26, at buntport.com or 720-946-1388.
● Phamaly’s The Fantasticks
The world’s longest running musical is an allegorical romance full of moonlight, magic, and winning songs (“Try to Remember,” for instance). Phamaly is nationally-renowned for inventive staging using the diverse disabilities of their casts to compelling theatrical advantage. Wheelchair tango, anyone?
Following the run, the cast travels to Osaka, Japan to perform at the International Communication Center for Persons with Disabilities, and lead the community in a 4-day theater workshop.
Phamaly
January 29 – February 15, 2015, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm at the Aurora Fox, 9900 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora, CO 80010.
Also February 27 – March 1, 2015, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:00pm at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003.
Tickets are $14-36 at phamaly.org or 303-739-1970 (Aurora Fox) / 720-898-7200 (Arvada Center). For information on audio description, ASL interpretation, or sensory-friendly performances, visit phamaly.org.
