Emily Paton Davies and DCPA Head of Acting Tim McCracken will star in Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s ‘Outside Mullingar’ opening Sept. 17. (Photo by Michael Ensminger.)
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The Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company, co-founded by frequent DCPA Theatre guest artist Stephen Weitz, today was named one of 12 winners of $10,000 National Theatre Company Grants by the American Theatre Wing. To see the complete list of winners, click here.

Weitz, who has both directed and performed in several DCPA Theatre productions, will direct Tribes, opening Oct. 9, and his seventh annual seasonal holiday staging of The SantaLand Diaries, now a co-production with the DCPA’s Off-Center, opening Nov. 27.

Companies in continued existence for at least five years – but not longer than 15 – were eligible for the NTC grants, which may be used for general operating support. During their existence, these growing companies must have articulated a distinctive mission, cultivated an audience, and nurtured a community of artists in ways that strengthen the quality, diversity and dynamism of American theatre. 

BETC (colloquially known as “Betsy”) was founded in 2006 by Weitz and his wife, Rebecca Remaly. For the DCPA Theatre Company, Weitz has appeared in productions of Tom Sawyer, King Lear, Richard III, Othello, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He  also directed Jackie & Me. He was named “Colorado Theatre Person of the Year” for 2012 by CultureWest.Org. Remaly has directed 15 BETC productions and will helm the Season 10 opener, John Patrick Shanley’s Outside Mullingar, bowing Sept. 17. That staging will featuring a stellar cast of Emily Paton Davies, DCPA Head of Acting Tim McCracken, three-time 2015 Henry Award winner Billie McBride (DCPA’s Benediction) and Chris Kendall. 

In announcing BETC’s selection, the American Theatre Wing said of BETC: 

“BETC’s organizational structure includes a board of directors, six part-time staff members and the artistic ensemble. Ensemble members are professional, experienced local actors, directors, designers, and dramaturgs. Some are Actors’ Equity Association members, while others have terminal degrees and years of experience in their areas of expertise. Ensemble members’ voices help to shape the direction and vision of BETC’s artistic work through ongoing conversations around production quality and through the annual play selection process. These artists represent BETC within the larger metropolitan community, and are highly visible, positive advocates for our work.”

BOULDER ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY’S 2015-16 SEASON:
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or BETC’s home page

• Sept. 17-Oct. 11: Outside Mullingar
• Oct. 22-Nov. 15: The Few
• Nov. 27-Dec. 27: The SantaLand Diaries (at The Jones, DCPA)
• Winter 2016: Ideation
• Jan. 21-Feb. 7: Vera Rubin: Bringing the Dark to Light
• April 21-30, 2016: Cyrano (at the Lone Tree Arts Center)

STEPHEN WEITZ’S UPCOMING WORK AT THE DCPA:

• Tribes, the story of a fiercely intelligent and proudly politically incorrect family that includes a son deaf since birth, opens Oct. 9 in the Ricketson Theatre.
• The SantaLand Diaries, David Sedaris’ off-beat tales from his stint as a Macy’s elf in New York City, opens Nov. 27 in The Jones.