Pipedream Productions’ ‘#BESTYOU’ will be a kind of interactive game show that comments on our modern dependence on technology.

Last chance to see summer repertory theatre in the mountains while things are just warming up at a very busy Denver Center

In Colorado theatre, August is your last chance to head for the hills before summer repertory seasons finish up in Boulder, Grand Lake, Creede, Trinidad, Greeley, Aspen and Pagosa Springs. Back in Denver, the month has barely begun and yet the DCPA already is only a few weeks away from opening its 40th Theatre Company season with Vietgone. The big Broadway offering this month will be Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s On Your Feet!, opening Aug. 8 in the Buell Theatre. Off-Center’s Mixed Taste continues with its fun tag-team lectures on unrelated topis on Wednesday nights in the Seawell Ballroom. Closing this weekend are the national touring production of  Les Misérables in the Buell Theatre; Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man in the Garner Galleria Theatre; and Phamaly Theatre Company’s stunning production of Into the Woods in the Space Theatre. (Sorry, the rest of the run is sold out.) What follows is our monthly curated list of five intriguing titles to watch throughout the state in August, followed by a complete rundown of every production that is opening or continuing on any Colorado stage. Submit any additions or corrections to the DCPA NewsCenter at jmoore@dcpa.org.

1. Boulder International Fringe Festival. Aug. 15-26. The 14th annual multidisciplinary freakout moves back to August in multiple venues throughout downtown Boulder.  With the festival’s founders back at the helm, the 2018 slate is packed with everything from live theatre to dance to circus art to to spoken word to site-specific performances to live music to film to educational workshops to late-night talk shows in spaces ranging from conventional theaters to coffee shops, churches, rooftops, bars and even taxis. The lineup includes hundreds of artists and 22 companies from around the world, with about 70 percent of all performers hailing from Colorado.  The home base for the fest is the Pine Street Church at 1237 Pine St. Tickets range from free to $15, depending on the show. Go to  BoulderFringe.com for details. Want one can’t-miss recommendation? How about Band of Toughs’ Nirvamlet, mixing ’90s grunge and Shakespeare’s Hamlet ? The audience is part of the action, traveling with the fated rock stars through corridors and vinyl graveyards — all with local beer and live music. Aug. 17-31 at Galvanize Boulder, 1023 Walnut St. Go to bandoftoughs.org for information.

2. El Corrido del Barrio. Aug. 4-5. Su Teatro is sending its youth company, El Teatro VolARTE, to participate in the prestigious American High School Theater Festival at the 2018 Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland — the largest arts festival in the world. To help the students reach their fundraising goal, Su Teatro is remounting El Corrido del Barrio for three performances only. El Corrido del Barrio, written by Artistic Director Anthony J. Garcia, is a classic Su Teatro piece that tells the story of the neighborhood that was displaced in order for the Auraria Higher Education Center to be built. “If we want the next generation to create the better world we envision for them it is our responsibility to prepare them,” said Garcia. “Together we must show them the power of their history, language and cultural heritage. Together we must give them our time and attention. Help us get them to Scotland!” Performances 6:30 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 4) and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 5) at the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org

3. The Underpants and Mr. Joy. Lake Dillon Theatre Company presents two new and disparate offerings this month at its crown jewel, the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center. The Underpants (Aug. 3-Sept. 2) is Steve Martin’s turn-of-the-century farce about a conservative couple whose existence is shattered when the wife’s bloomers fall down in public. Though set more than 100 years ago, the story sheds comic light on our ongoing propensity for celebrity gossip, scandal and 15 minutes of fame. Familiar Denver names in the cast include Aaron Vega (DCPA Cabaret’s First Date), Jenna Moll Reyes (Off-Center’s The Wild Party), Sharon Kay White and newly named two-time Henry Award-winner Bob Moore. In Daniel Beaty’s Mr. Joy (Aug. 17-Sept. 2), Jasmine Eileen Coles plays nine characters to tell the story of what happens to a Harlem community when a beloved Chinese shoe-repair shop owner becomes the victim of a sudden and violent attack.  460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

4. #BESTYOU. Aug. 9-Sept. 1: Pipedream Productions, the upstart ensemble of recent college grads who last year took on a massive, award-winning undertaking of White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, is back with perhaps the first-ever play to include a hashtag in the title. It’s a play, and it is play —  as in, it’s a kind of a live, interactive game show. #BESTYOU features three social-media celebrities competing “to become their best selves,” and the audience will make decisions that directly impact the results. Its creators say “#BESTYOU tackles our dependence on technology in the 21st century — think social media, data breaches and catfishing. Most internet moguls only show us the highlight reel, the best of their best, and we idolize them for it. But is that who they truly are? What dark secrets hide behind their screens? Let’s find out.” At JMac Studios, 1903 E. Iliff Ave., hashtagbestyou.com

5. The Sunshine Boys. Aug. 3-Sept. 9. Roger L. Simon and Joey Wishnia, two of Denver’s most veteran actors, team up for Neil Simon’s classic comedy at the Vintage Theatre in Aurora. The two play elderly vaudevillians who were top-billed for more than 40 years but now are estranged — and CBS wants to bring them back together for a TV special. Directed by Bernie Cardell and also featuring Marcus Turner, Ghandia Johnson, David Cervera and Kristine Bachicha. 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Christie Prades as Gloria Estefan with Adriel Flete and the company of ‘On Your Feet!’ opening in Denver on Aug. 8. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

NOTE: At the start of each month, the DCPA NewsCenter offers an updated list of upcoming theatre openings, spotlighting work being presented on stages statewide. Companies are encouraged to submit listings and production photos at least two weeks in advance to the DCPA NewsCenter at jmoore@dcpa.org

Single tickets to many Denver Center shows go on sale Aug. 3

THIS MONTH’S THEATRE OPENINGS IN COLORADO:

Aug. 2-12: CenterStage’s Working, the Musical
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant Ave., Louisville, https://workingcenterstage.bpt.me

Aug. 2-25: TheatreWorks’ The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
At Rock Ledge Ranch, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

Aug. 3-Sept 2: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s The Underpants
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

Aug. 3-Sept. 9: Vintage Theatre’s The Sunshine Boys
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Aug. 3-25: Millibo Art Theatre’s CocoBanana: Circus of the Night
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org

Aug. 4-5: Su Teatro’s El Corrido del Barrio
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 orsuteatro.org

Aug. 8-19, 2018: National touring production of On Your Feet!
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org
Read more: Our exclusive conversation with Emilio Estefan

Aug. 8-26: Lakewood Cultural Center WaistWatchers The Musical!
470 S. Allison Parkway, 303-987-7845 or www.Lakewood.org/LCCPresents

Aug. 9-Sept. 1: Pipedream Productions’ #BESTYOU
JMac Studios 1903 E Iliff Ave., hashtagbestyou.com

Aug. 16-26: Upstart Crow’s The Lion in Winter
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-442-1415 or theupstartcrow.org

Aug. 17-26: Germinal Stage Denver’s Woyzeck
At the John Hand Theater Ballroom on the Colorado Free University Campus at Lowry, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-455-7108 or www.germinalstage.com

Aug. 17-Sept. 2: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Mr. Joy
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

Aug. 17-Sept. 14: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Guadalupe in the Guest Room
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Aug. 23-25: Coal Creek Community Theatre’s An Evening of Colorado-Grown One Acts
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., 303-665-0955 or www.cctlouisville.org

Rehearsal photo by John Moore.

Aug. 24-Sept. 30: DCPA Theatre Company’s Vietgone
Ricketson Theatre,  Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org
Read more: Cast and creative team for Vietgone announced

Aug. 24-Sept. 2:Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Annie
At 121 S. Ridge St., 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

Aug. 24-25: Evergreen Players’ Epic Summer (improv)
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

Aug. 31-Sept. 29: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s Pump Boys and Dinettes
At 800 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com

Read more: Our complete summer mountain theatre preview

CONTINUING PRODUCTIONS:

Through Aug. 4: Fearless Theatre Company’s Hair
At the Studio at Mainstreet, 19604 Main St., Parker, 303-790-0875 or facebook.com

Through Aug. 4: Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental’s Inflatable Space
At Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport’s home page

Through Aug. 4: Funky Little Theater Company’s Third annual Spectrum LGBTQIA Festival
367 Pecan St., Colorado Springs, 719-425-9509 or funkylittletheater.org

Through Aug 5: National touring production of Les Misérables
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org
Read more: Colorado actor Richard Barth dreamed a dream, and it came true

Through Aug. 5: Phamaly Theatre Company’s Into The Woods
At The Space Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-575-0005 or 303-893-4100; denvercenter.org or phamaly.org
Read more: Jeff Parker finds his way out of the woods 

Through Aug. 5: National touring production of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man
Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Through Aug. 5: Vintage Theatre’s The Bridges of Madison County
1468 Dayton St., 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Through Aug. 5: Evergreen Players’ 9 to 5
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

Through Aug. 5: Springs Ensemble Theatre’s Tigers Be Still
1903 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, 719-357-3080 or springsensembletheatre.org

Through Aug. 5: Inspire Creative’s Sister Act
At the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, 303-805-6800 or inspirecreative.org

Through Aug. 8: Theatre Aspen’s Godspell
At The Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

Through Aug. 9: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Barefoot in the Park
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through Aug. 11: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Cyrano de Bergerac
At the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

Through Aug. 11: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Richard III
At University Mainstage, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org
Read more: Lizcano leads 2018 Colorado Shakes lineup as Richard III

Through Aug. 11: Iron Springs Chateau’s A Precious Bit of the West…or…She Was Simply a Delight!
444 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104 or ironspringschateau.com

Through Aug. 12: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Love’s Labour’s Lost
At the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

From left: Leslie O’Carroll, Lindsay Ryan and Sam Gregory for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Photo by Jennifer Koskinen.

Through Aug. 12: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s You Can’t Take It With You
At University Mainstage, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org
Read more: Q&A with Sam Gregory, our Scrooge and Colorado Shakes’ go-to ghost

Photo by Michael Ascher.

Through Aug. 12: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Lend Me A Tenor
At 121 S. Ridge St., 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

Through Aug. 13: Longmont Theatre Company’s The Tempest
513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200 or longmonttheatre.org

Through Aug. 17: Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre’s Evita
At the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765 or scrtheatre.com
Read more: Our interview with new Artistic Director Eli Carpenter

Through Aug. 18: Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre’s God of Carnage
At the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765 or scrtheatre.com
Read more: Our interview with new Artistic Director Eli Carpenter

Through Aug. 18: Equinox Theatre Company’s Cry-Baby: The Musical
At the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinoxtheatredenver.com

Through Aug. 18: Lost and Found Productions’ War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast
At the John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, lostandfoundproductions.net

Through Aug. 18: Miners Alley Children’s Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

Through Aug. 19: Miners Alley Playhouse’s Lend Me a Tenor
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

Through Aug. 19: Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre’s Fly by Night
At the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765 or scrtheatre.com
Read more: Our interview with new Artistic Director Eli Carpenter

Through Aug. 22: Off-Center’s Mixed Taste: Tag team lectures (Wednesdays), at Seawell Ballroom, 14th and Curtis streets
303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Through Aug. 23: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
At 800 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com

Through Aug. 24: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s Annie
At 800 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com

Through Aug. 25: Adams Mystery Playhouse’s Murder at the Tiki Bar
2406 Federal Blvd., 80211, 303-455-1848 or adamsmysteryplayhouse.com

Through Aug. 25: Midtown Arts Center’s Grease
3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, 970-225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com

Through Aug. 25: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s The Full Monty
At 800 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com

Through Aug. 25: Creede Repertory Theatre’s 9 to 5
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through Aug. 25: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Pinkalicious the Musical
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 81147, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through Aug. 26: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Newsies
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com
Read more: In the Spotlife: Harmony Livingstone of Disney’s Newsies

Through Aug. 26: Creede Repertory Theatre’s The Wizard of Oz
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through Aug. 26: TheatreWorks’ Macbeth
At Rock Ledge Ranch, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

Through Aug. 29: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Little Shop of Horrors
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 81147, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through Aug. 29: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s West Side Story
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 81147, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through Aug. 30: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Thoroughly Modern Millie
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 81147, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through Aug. 31: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Legally Blonde The Musical
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 81147, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through Sept. 8: BDT Stage’s The Little Mermaid
5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com

Through Sept. 8: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Boomtown (improv comedy)
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through Sept. 15: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Miss Holmes
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through Sept. 30: Jester’s Dinner Theatre’s The Producers
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or sjesterstheatre.com

Through Oct. 13: Iron Springs Chateau’s Disturbance at the Delta, Or…Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy
444 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104 or ironspringschateau.com

ONGOING, MONTHLY or ONE-TIME PROGRAMMING:

Avenue Theater
Denver Magic Show (every first Monday)
417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or avenuetheater.com

Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Danny 
Saturday, Aug. 11: Reading of new play by Jennifer Barclay set in a hair salon adjacent to Chicago’s notorious Cabrini-Green housing project, spanning three decades in one room. Featuring Kristen Adele, Ilasiea Gray and Lisa Young, with post-show conversation. 2 p.m. at Canyon Theater in the Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org

Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Edward III (sold out)
Saturday, Aug. 11: The festival’s “Original Practices” tradition continues with a history play that has been mired in mystery for hundreds of years. England’s king is out to capture the crown of France and the heart of a married countess. The cost of his lust? Personal humiliation and 150 years of English battle and bloodshed. This one-night-only performance is presented using stage practices of Shakespeare’s own time, meaning actors are given only “cue scripts” and have limited rehearsals.  6:30 p.m. at the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College presents An Evening with Paul Reiser
Friday, Aug. 17: Comedian, actor, television writer, author, and musician Paul Reiser (Stranger Things) on his 30 years acting in Oscar and Emmy award-winning movies and TV shows. He was voted one of Comedy Central’s “Top 100 Comedians of All Time.” 7:30 p.m.  at 30 W. Dale St., 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

Denver Actors Fund Presents … A West Side Story Singalong
Monday, Aug. 20: Powerhouse hosts Traci Kern and Ryan Belinak will lead the Alamo Drafthouse crowd in full-throated singing throughout the film, so get ready to vocal rumble! This special event will include full subtitles to make it even easier to sing along. But hurry: As of Aug. 2, only 18 seats remained.  The film starts at 7 p.m. The Alamo is located near Sloan’s Lake at 4255 W. Colfax Ave. drafthouse.com

Off-Center’s Mixed Taste
Every Wednesday through Aug. 22: The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and the DCPA’s adventurous Off-Center wing are partnering up to present Mixed Taste: Tag Team Lectures on Unrelated Topics on Wednesday nights at the Denver Center’s Seawell Ballroom. Anachronism is art when paired speakers elucidate audiences on wide-ranging topics. At the Seawell Ballroom, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Theatre Aspen Apprentice Class of 2018’s I Wish
Sunday, Aug. 12: Devised showcase of student talents by 17 apprentice artists selected from more than 600 college students and recent graduates.  7 p.m. 970-300-4474 or by TheatreAspen.org

Visionbox’s The Othello Project
Friday, Aug. 3: Adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic, intercutting the original text with contemporary interviews with perpetrators and victims of domestic violence, including a focus on PTSD in the military. Directed by Jennifer McCray Rincon. 7 p.m. at the McNichols Civic Center. Info: 720-810-1641 or info@visionbox.org

John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist.

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter