The Colorado New Play Summit returns for two weekends in February with five new stories. Photo by Adams VisCom.

Colorado companies will be telling many previously untold stories

February has evolved into a traditional time on the Colorado theatre calendar for new plays to be seen and heard on local stages, most notably as the DCPA Theatre Company’s Colorado New Play Summit enters its 15th year as the Rocky Mountain region’s largest new-play festival. But as you can see below, stories that are new to Colorado audiences will be flourishing throughout the state this month. Including all five Summit titles, audiences will have an astounding 80-plus titles to choose from in February. (Good luck: You only have 29 days to see them all!) Here are 10 of the most intriguing openings this month, followed by a complete list of all February theatergoing options throughout Colorado:

1. Colorado New Play Summit. The DCPA Theatre Company’s 15th annual gathering of theatre fans and industry leaders will bring familiar and new storytellers to Denver. The festival, which will take place over two weekends February 15-16 and 21-23, will feature readings of new plays by Benjamin Benne, L M Feldman, Yussef El Guindi, Colorado native Jessica Kahkoska, and co-writers Suzan Shown Harjo and Mary Kathryn Nagle. Festival visitors also will attend previously announced, fully staged word-premiere productions by Bonnie Metzgar (You Lost Me) and Tony Meneses (twenty50). At the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Adam Cayton-Holland won a 2019 True West Award for ‘Happy Place.’ Photo by Evan Michael Woods.

2. Happy Place. Local comedian Adam Cayton-Holland performs the one-man stage adaptation of his unsentimental and heartbreaking memoir “Tragedy Plus Time,” a Colorado Book Award winner about growing up in Denver with two sisters, one of whom committed suicide. Happy Place is a deeply personal play about mental illness, death, rage and the unending quest to find some kind of a … happy place. Cayton-Holland is continuing to hone the work in anticipation of a performance later this year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. February 6 at Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com  READ MORE

3. Shockheaded Peter. The Catamounts’ next theatrical adventure is the regional premiere of this delightfully macabre, punk-rock adaptation of the 19th century German children’s book “Der Struwwelpeter.” The book recounts several varieties of misbehaving children and their dreadful ends. The immersive musical, which opened to raves in London in 1998, examines how terrifying parenting can be in this anxious age, especially when we let children be their strange, independent selves. Directed by Amanda Berg Wilson and Paul Fowler. Featuring Joan Bruemmer-Holden, James Brunt, Elias Christol, Tresha Farris, Luca Fowler, Paul Fowler, Kellie Fox, Lily Gruber, Lance Rasmussen, Maggie Tisdale, Ronan Viard, Todd Bilsbourough, Matt Powelson, Macaelle Vasquez and Eloise Wilson. February 15 through March 7 at the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826  or thecatamounts.org

4. Enrique’s Journey. Producer donnie l. betts’ boundary-breaking radio series “Black Radio Days Live” continues its 20th anniversary celebration with Parts 3 and 4 of Su Teatro’s landmark adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning story by Sonia Nazario. Enrique’s Journey recounts the gritty odyssey of a Honduran boy who braves unimaginable hardship and peril to reach his mother in the United States. It is an epic journey that last year resulted in the detentions of a record 76,020 immigrant children. Both parts, presented before a live audience, will be followed by musical guests and invited panelists. The program airs on kgnu.org. February 22 at the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org READ MORE

5. The Scottsboro Boys. Vintage Theatre presents the first local staging of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s powerful Broadway musical based on the landmark Supreme Court case that helped give rise to the civil-rights movement. The musical, from the writers of Cabaret and Chicago, explores the infamous trial in which nine young African-American men were falsely accused of raping two white women aboard a train near Scottsboro, Alabama, in 1931. The case sparked an international uproar, and Harper Lee reportedly drew from the story when she wrote her classic novel “To Kill A Mockingbird.” The Director is Betty Hart. The cast includes Preston Adams, Michael Bateman, Colette Brown, Dwayne Carrington, Randy Chalmers, Elisha Horne, Timothy Kennedy, Brandon Metoyer, Josiah Peters, Michael Peters, Christopher Razor, Jayvon Rollerson and Owen Zitek (who played one of the young Tommys in the DCPA Theatre Company’s The Who’s Tommy). February 7 through March 15 at 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

6. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Arvada Center continues the rollout of its fourth repertory season of plays with Shakespeare’s most endearing and enduring comedy, performed by just eight actors playing a troupe of thespians on a mission to bring beauty back into a desolate world that has forgotten the healing power of storytelling. This inventive version, directed by Emily Van Fleet, will be performed in the round and takes place on a forgotten school playground. The cast features Zachary Andrews, Jessica Austgen, Annie Barbour, Madeline Chilese, Anastasia Davidson, Kate Gleason, Geoffrey Kent and Jake Mendes. February 21 through May 16 at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org 

Brian Stokes Mitchell

7. Theatre Aspen presents Brian Stokes Mitchell. Theatre Aspen has announced that the headliner for its annual “Rockstar” gala will be two-time Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, best known on Broadway for Kiss Me, Kate, Man of La Mancha and Ragtime. February 22 at the Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

8. Bloomsday. Steven Dietz’s time-traveling story about love and heartache encourages audiences to make the most of the present before it becomes the past. Two people travel back in time to meet their younger selves and observe the unlikely yet inevitable events that once briefly brought them together. As time and memory are reshuffled and reassembled, the play explores a love affair that might have been while drawing out themes of regret, love, loneliness and seizing opportunity when it strikes. Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s production is directed by Jada Suzanne Dixon and features Kate Parkin, Justin Walvoord, Peter Bussian and Megan Van De Hey. February 6 through March 1 at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org

9. When We Were Young and Unafraid. This powerful play takes us inside an underground women’s shelter in the early 1970s, before Roe v. Wade, before the Violence Against Women Act and before women had places to turn in times of distress. Agnes has turned her quiet bed-and-breakfast into one of the few spots where a woman on the run can seek refuge. But to her dismay, her latest young runaway is having a profound influence on her own teenage daughter, forcing both girls to question their destinies. Written by Sarah Treem (TV’s “House of Cards”). Directed by Abby Apple Boes for the Firehouse Theatre Company. February 15 through March 14 at the John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place. Call 303-562-3232 or go to firehousetheatercompany.com

10. Airness. Chelsea Marcante’s new play has been described as “a comedy about competition, completion and finding the airness inside yourself … and Nancy Wilson” (guitarist for the iconic rock band Heart). When Nina enters her first air-guitar competition, she discovers everything we need to rock is already inside us. Directed by Marc Stith for Benchmark Theatre and featuring John Hauser, Erika Mori, Rakeem Lawrence, Damon Guerrasio, Ryan Omar Stack, MacKenzie Beyer and Ryan Goold. February 8 through 29 at 1560 Teller St., Lakewood, benchmarktheatre.com

Colorado theatre companies are encouraged to submit listings and production photos at least two weeks in advance to the DCPA NewsCenter at jmoore@dcpa.org.

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

Photo by Adams VisCom.

FEBRUARY THEATRE OPENINGS IN COLORADO:

January 30-February 16: TheatreWorks’ Small Mouth Sounds
Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

Scott Hurst in Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde.’ Garland Photography.

January 30-March 29: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Jekyll & Hyde
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com

January 31-March 1: DCPA Theatre Company’s twenty50 (opens February 7)
Space Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

January 31-May 17: Arvada Center’s Murder on the Orient Express
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

January 31-February 16: Stage Door Theatre’s A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
25797 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-838-0809 or stagedoortheatre.org

January 31: Dangerous Theatre’s Out: Coming Out Stories Across the Sexual Spectrum
2620 W. 2nd Ave, No. 1, Denver, 720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

January 31-March 13: Arvada Center’s The Velveteen Rabbit (for children)
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

January 31: UpstART Theatre’s Tiny Beautiful Things, staged reading
Sherbino Theatre, 604 Clinton St, Ridgway, 970-325-3501 or sherbino.yapsody.com

February 1: UpstART Theatre’s Tiny Beautiful Things, staged reading
Wright Opera House, 472 Main St., Ouray, 970-325-3501 or thewrightoperahouse.org

February 1-9: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s The Texas Homecoming Revolution of 1995
Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

February 1-April 19: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

February 1-29: Miners Alley Playhouse’s Hansel & Gretel (for children)
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

February 1-2: Millibo Art Theatre’s Animal Amigos (for children)
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org

February 1: Millibo Art Theatre’s The RIP (improv comedy)
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org

February 5: Buntport Theater’s Magnets on the Fridge (monthly)
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

February 6-22: Millibo Art Theatre’s Stealing Sugar
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org

February 6: A Happy Place, a one-man show by Adam Cayton-Holland
At Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

February 6-March 1: Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Bloomsday
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org

February 6-15: Fountain Community Theater’s Give ‘Em Hell Harry
326 West Alabama Ave., Fountain, 719-233-5192, fountaintheater.org

February 6-9: Evergreen Players’ Cinderella
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

February 7-March 15: Vintage Theatre’s The Scottsboro Boys
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

February 7: The Source Theatre Company’s The History of African American Music, Part 1
At Northglenn Arts, 11801 Community Center Dr., northglennarts.org

February 7-29: Lost and Found Productions’ Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic
The Evanston Center at 2122 S Lafayette St., lostandfoundproductions.net

February 7-March 28: Glenwood Vaudeville Review’s Into the Woods
915 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, 970-945-9699  or gvrshow.com

February 7-8: Evergreen Players’ Epic (improv comedy)
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

February 8-29: Benchmark Theatre’s Airness
1560 Teller St., Lakewood, benchmarktheatre.com

February 9: Stories On Stage’s The Tattered Cover Presents (stories about bookstores read by Gabriella Cavallero, Seth Dhonau and Ryen Hilton)
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-494-0523 or storiesonstage.org

February 9: Hollywood’s Big Night Viewing Party at Alamo Drafthouse
8905 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, drafthouse.com

February 10: Red Thread Playback Theatre’s Show No. 10
At Theatre O, 5311 Western Ave, Suite 120, Boulder, brownpapertickets.com

February 13-March 1: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s The Bridges of Madison County
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or fac.coloradocollege.edu

February 14-29: Theater Company of Lafayette’s Happy Birthday Wanda June
Mary Miller Theater, 300 E. Simpson, 720-209-2154 or tclstage.org

February 14-22: Harrington Arts Alliance’s American Idiot
575 N. Denver Ave., Loveland, 970-568-8370 or harringtonartsalliance.org

February 14: Iron Springs Chateau’s Death by Valentine: A Murder Mystery
444 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104 or ironspringschateau.com

February 14: The Source Theatre Company’s The History of African American Music, Part 2
At the Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Dr., coloradoblackartsfestival.com

February 15-23: DCPA Theatre Company’s Colorado New Play Summit
Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

February 15: National touring production of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Buell Theatre
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

February 15-March 14: Firehouse Theater Company’s When We Were Young and Unafraid
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-562-3232 or firehousetheatercompany.com

Kelly Uhlenhopp as Mammalia in ‘The Squirrels.’ Photo courtesy Aurora Fox.

February 16-March 7: The Catamounts’ Shockheaded Peter
At the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826, 720-468-0487 or thecatamounts.org

February 16: One Night Stand’s Seven Deadly Sins, an evening of short plays about pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-856-7830 or onenightstandtheater.org

February 17: Buntport Theater’s We Still Like You (monthly)
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

February 18: Buntport Theater’s The Great Debate (monthly)
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

February 19: Buntport Theater’s The Narrators
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

February 20-March 29: The BiTSY Stage presents The Merchant of Mumbai (adapted from The Merchant of Venice)
1137 S. Huron St., 720-328-5294 bitsystage.com (Admission is always free)

February 21-May 16: Arvada Center’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

February 21-March 22: Town Hall Arts Center’s Barefoot in the Park
2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.com

February 21-March 8: Ovation West’s Lend Me a Tenor
Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen, 303-674-4002 or ovationwest.org

February 21-March 15: Aurora Fox’s Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs
9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org

February 21: Lone Tree Arts Center’s Aureum: An Acrobatic Adventure Tale
10075 Commons St., just west of Interstate 25 and Lincoln Avenue, 720-509-1000 or lonetreeartscenter.org

February 22: No Credits Productions’ “Black Radio Days Live”: Enrique’s Journey, Parts 3 and 4
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org READ MORE

February 22: Theatre Aspen’s “Rockstar Gala,” featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell
Hotel Jerome, 330 E. Main St., 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

February 24: The Bug’s Freak Train (every last Monday)
3654 Navajo St., 303-477-9984 or bugtheatre.info

February 26-March 1: BDT Stage Presents The Glenn Miller Orchestra
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com

February 27-March 29: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane
121 S. Ridge St. 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

February 27-March 28: Moss Performing Arts Center’s Fiddler on the Roof
1221 N. 12th St., Grand Junction, coloradomesa.edu

February 28-March 1: National touring production of RENT 20th Anniversary Tour, Buell Theatre
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

February 28-March 21: OpenStage Theatre & Company’s Constellations
At the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Court,  Fort Collins, 970-484-5237 or openstagetheatre.org

February 28-March 5: Vintage Theatre’s Marvin’s Room
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

February 28-March 7: Longmont Theatre Company’s Exit Laughing
513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200 or longmonttheatre.org

Brian Dowling and Elizabel Riggs in ‘The Runner Stumbles.’ Photo by Lynn Fleming.

February 28-March 14: Coal Creek Theatre of Louisville’s The Runner Stumbles
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., 303-665-0955 or cctlouisville.org

February 28: Katy Williams Design’s Spring Rocky Mountain Puppet Slam
Chambers Grant Salon at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, katywilliamsdesign.com

February 28: Dangerous Theatre’s Dangerous Talk: Sex, Drugs and Comedy
2620 W. 2nd Ave, No. 1, Denver, 720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

February 29: Millibo Art Theatre’s The RIP Improv Comedy
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org

CONTINUING THEATRE PRODUCTIONS IN COLORADO:

Through February 1: Invictus Theatre Company’s Othello
The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, eventbrite.com

Through February 8: Miscreant Theatre Collective’s MacBeth, A Very Serious Play
At the The Bakery Arts Warehouse, 2132 Market St., 720-771-8826 or ticketleap.com

Through February 8: Funky Little Theatre Company’s Lend Me a Tenor
1367 Pecan Street, Colorado Springs, 719-471-4462 or funkylittletheater.org

Through Feb 9: National touring production of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Through February 9: Aurora Fox’s The Squirrels
9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org

‘Disenchanted’ at the Town Hall Arts Center. RDG Photography.

Through February 9: Sasquatch Productions and Parker Arts’ Matilda The Musical
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker, 303-805-6800 or parkerarts.org‘

Through February 9: Vintage Theatre’s Frost/Nixon
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Through February 9: Town Hall Arts Center’s Disenchanted
2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.com

Through February 16: DCPA Education’s Goodnight Moon (for children)
Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Through February 15: OpenStage Theatre Company’s Men on Boats
Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-484-5237 or openstagetheatre.org

Through February 15: Equinox Theatre’s Bubble Boy
At the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinoxtheatredenver.com

Through February 16: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s The Great Gatsby
121 S. Ridge St. 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

Through February 22: BDT Stage’s Mamma Mia!
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com

Through February 22: Curious Theatre’s The Secretary
1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org READ MORE

Through February 23: DCPA Theatre Company’s You Lost Me
Ricketson Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Through February 23: Cherry Creek Theatre’s My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra
Pluss Theatre at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-800-6578 or cherrycreektheatre.org

Through Feb 23: Bas Bleu Theatre’s Best Brothers
401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org

Through March 1: Miners Alley Playhouse’s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

Through March 22: DCPA Cabaret’s The Improvised Shakespeare Company®
Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Ongoing:

Adams Mystery Playhouse (interactive murder mystery comedy dinner theatre), 2406 Federal Blvd., Denver, 303-455-1848 or adams’ home page

The Dinner Detective (interactive murder mystery comedy dinner theatre) held most Saturday evenings in Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, 866-496-0535 or thedinnerdetective.com:

• Embassy Suites Denver Downtown, 1420 Stout St.
• Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect Road
• Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Drive, Colorado Springs

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

Onstage Colorado: Your comprehensive online Colorado theatre calendar

Want to know what shows are performing on any specific date? We at the DCPA NewsCenter want to point you Alex Miller’s OnStage Colorado, which offers Colorado theatre news, reviews and a comprehensive, functional and searchable Colorado theatre calendar. You can look for shows by title, date or company. Continue to send your show listings to jmoore@dcpa.org and info@onstagecolorado.com.