For 10 days, the DCPA NewsCenter has offered not just 10 intriguing titles to watch on theatre stages throughout Colorado. This year we expanded our preview by featuring 10 musicals AND 10 plays. Today is Day 10.

PLAY OF THE DAY: Local Theater Company’s The Rape of the Sabine Women, by Grace B. Matthias

Featured actor in the video above: Mare Trevathan, who says of ‘The Rape of the Sabine Women, by Grace B. Matthias‘: ‘The play explores consent and campus assault and rape culture, particularly as it relates to football. And yet it is very funny – until it’s not.’

• Oct. 27-Nov. 19
• Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
• 303-440-7826, or go to localtheaterco.org
•
Playwright: Michael Yates Crowley
• Director: Christy Montour-Larson

• The story: Jeff and Bobby are stars of the gridiron, ready to lead the Springfield High Romans to Homecoming victory. But standing in front of the end zone is Grace B. Matthias, who has accused the two football heroes of rape. A story about truth and deception using the myths of the Roman Empire to explore what it means to love — and turn your back on — someone.

• But what is it about? This fast-paced comedy (until it isn’t) examines rape culture and sexual assault in America. Perhaps there is no better time to address these issues in Boulder, particularly with new allegations that a former assistant football coach at the University of Colorado abused a woman, and his boss did nothing about it. Theater is an opportunity to address of-the-moment issues and can be a catalyst for action, and for change. (Provided by Local Theater Company.)

• Note: As part of this production, Local Theater Company will be hosting a series of conversations with community experts around rape culture and sexual assault.

Cast list:

• Peter Henry Bussian
• Erik Fellenstein
• Cajardo Lindsey
• Rodney Lizcano
• Adeline Mann
• Matt Schneck
• Mare Trevathan
• Brynn Tucker

Clockwise from lower left: Adeline Mann (twice), Erik Fellenstein and Cajardo Lindsey. Photos by George Lange.    

MUSICAL OF THE DAY: Thin Air Theatre Company’s The Toxic Avenger Musical

Featured actor in the video above: Kevin Pierce. Will you like ‘The Toxic Avenger Musical’? Pierce says to ask yourself: ‘Do you like love stories? Do you like scrawny superheroes? Do you like stories about toxic waste?’

• Sept. 29-Oct. 28
• Butte Theatre, 139 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek
• Call 719-689-3247 or go to thinairtheatre.com
• Written by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change) and David Bryan (keyboardist for Bon Jovi)
• Director: Chris Armbrister
• Music Director: James Mablin

• The story: The Toxic Avenger Musical takes place in the recent past in Tromaville, N.J., a toxic-waste dump just off the Jersey Turnpike. When a well-meaning geek named Melvin Ferd III is dropped into a barrel of toxic waste by the town bullies, he vows to get his revenge  – and the girl – by cleaning up the town. Melvin is out to save N.J., end global warming and woo the prettiest blind librarian in town. Five actors play a multitude of characters in this PG-13 rock-musical comedy based on the 1985 cult classic film. (Provided by the Thin Air Theatre Company.)

• What’s the big deal? The Toxic Avenger became the talk of the 2017 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards when a production by the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre pulled a coup by winning both the Outstanding Actress (Colby Dunn) and Supporting Actress (Megan Van De Hey) awards. While this is a completely independent staging, the summer accolades left a lot of Henry Award wondering what all the mountain buzz was about. Thin Air Theatre Company’s upcoming production provides audiences another opportunity to see the musical for themselves.  

Cast list:
• Melvin Ferd III: Kevin Pierce
• Mayor” Sarah Brittany Ambler
• Babs Belgoody and Ma Ferd: Kelly Hackett
• White Dude: Nick Madson
• Black Dude: Vincent Hooper

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

2017 Colorado Fall Theatre Preview:

• Day 1: Curious Theatre’s Appropriate and BDT Stage’s Rock of Ages
• Day 2: The Catamounts’ You on the Moors Now and Rocky Mountain Rep’s Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver
• Day 3: Creede Repertory Theatre’s General Store and Town Hall Arts Center’s In the Heights
• Day 4: Avenue Theater’s My Brilliant Divorce and the Arvada Center’s A Chorus Line
• Day 5: Bas Bleu’s Elephant’s Graveyard and Evergreen Chorale’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Day 6: Firehouse Theatre’s The Mystery of Love and Sex and the Aurora Fox’s ‘Company’
• Day 7: Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s The Revolutionists and Off-Center’s The Wild Party
• Day 8: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Pretty Fire and the Aurora Fox’s Hi-Hat Hattie
• Day 9: Edge Theatre Company’s A Delicate Balance and Midtown Arts Center’s Once.

This 2017 Colorado fall preview was compiled by Denver Center for the Performing Arts Senior Arts Journalist John Moore as a service to the Colorado theatre community. Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011 and is the founder of The Denver Actors Fund.