Jessica Robblee and Abner Genece in the Arvada Center’s magical realism play ‘The Electric Baby. Matt Gale Photography 2018.

R-E-S-P-E-CT, Colorado theatre: You have provided 82 theatregoing options in the shortest month of the year

By John Moore
Senior Arts Journalist

Hamilton.

OK, there is a lot more than that going on in local theatre in February. At the Denver Center alone (in addition to that eagerly awaited national touring production) there will be three consecutive world-premiere plays: Zoey’s Perfect Wedding, American Mariachi and The Great Leap that will be the cornerstone of the upcoming Colorado New Play Summit that was just named among the top 20 theatre festivals in the world. Also: STOMP‘s eighth Denver visit, and the musical comedy First Date continues at the Galleria Theatre. (Go to denvercenter.org for info on all of them.)

And then there is … the rest of the state. Now try to keep up … but we warn you, it won’t be easy — because the shortest month of the year may be presenting the most theatre offerings of any month … ever. We’re talking 34 openings and a whopping 83 theatregoing options overall, counting a huge number of special events. In 28 days.

Here are just a few highlights outside the Denver Performing Arts Complex, followed by a comprehensive list of all your Colorado theatregoing options for February:

Ten intriguing titles for February:

Oklahoma! All eyes will be on Colorado Springs this month for the opening of the jaw-dropping $60 million Ent Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The new home of the venerable TheatreWorks and several other performing groups is a 92,000-square-foot building with multiple performance and gallery spaces. It officially launches with TheatreWorks’ presentation of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in a sparkling new theatre with a familiar name to TheatreWorks audiences: The Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater. Feb. 15-March 11 at 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org.

Respect: A Musical Journey of Women. Cherry Creek Theatre’s musical tribute to women is being billed as the company’s show of support for the #MeToo Movement. It’s an all-female production: Directors, cast, crew and playwright. That’s Dorothy Marcic, who will be in attendance for both the evening performance on Saturday, Feb. 3, and the matinee on Sunday, Feb. 4. The show is co-directed and choreographed by longtime Denver Center favorite Shannan Steele with a cast that includes big-shots Sharon Kay White, Rachel Turner, Sarah Rex, Anna High and co-director Traci Kern. The Top-40 score includes “I Will Survive,” “These Boots are Made for Walking,” “What’s Love Got to Do with it” and many more. NOTE: No Friday performances — and evening shows start at 7 p.m. Feb. 1-25 at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-800-6578 or cherrycreektheatre.org

Intimate Apparel. The newly merged Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College brings revered playwright Lynn Nottage‘s breakout work to southern Colorado for the first time. Nottage, who later won Pulitzer Prizes for Ruined and Sweat, here tells an intensely personal story that weaves the joys and sorrows of an African-American seamstress in 1905 New York City. Feb. 8-25 at 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

Crying Wolf: Stories of the Lupus Warriors. Rhonda Jackson’s new  play, presented by The Source Theatre Company (which has grown up in the shadow of the former Shadow Theatre Company) is an attempt to document what it’s like to live with a chronic autoimmune disease such as  lupus. For mature audiences. Feb. 8-17 at Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 720-238-1323 or thesourcedenver.org

The Electric Baby. The Arvada Center’s second full repertory season kicks into full gear with Stefanie Zadravec‘s adult folktale about six strangers whose lives collide after a tragic car accident, forcing them to confront their secrets, hopes and fears. At the play’s center is a mysterious baby who glows like the moon. The play, directed by Rick Barbour of the University of Denver, combines magic, myth and humor to explore devastating loss and hopeful healing. Running Feb. 9-May 4 and in repertory with Sense and Sensibility and All My Sons (opening March 2) at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

Waiting for the Parade. Playwright John Murrell‘s 1977 fact-based drama introduces five very different women who find a way to survive by working together and accepting one another’s differences during the depths of World War II in 1940s Calgary. It’s based on interviews with wartime survivors. Co-directed by Ami Dayan and Lou Ann Wright. Feb. 3-March 4 at the Bas Bleu Theatre, 401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org (Photo by William A. Cotton)

JANE/EYRE. Denver, meet the Grapefruit Lab, a new performance company that debuts with a queer adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel with live original music by Teacup Gorilla and Dameon Merkl (of the Denver band Bad Luck City). Adapted by author, musician and True West Award winner Miriam Suzanne, along with former LIDA Project director Julie Rada. Their  hybrid play/concert takes a dark and often humorous look at early feminism — bringing a contemporary, queer perspective to Jane’s story. Feb. 23-March 3 at The Bakery, 2132 Market St., eventbrite.com

Wisdom from Everything. The latest provocative offering from Boulder’s Local Theater Company asks: What you would sacrifice to escape a war? Chicago playwright Mia McCullough‘s story presents a 19-year-old Syrian who finds herself educating girls in the largest refugee camp in the world — until an older Jordanian doctor offers her an education in exchange for marriage. The primo cast includes  Amy Carle (known for her work on “Chicago MED” and for the Goodman and Steppenwolf theatres) and Mehry Eslaminia, who performed in the DCPA Theatre Company’s world-premiere play Appoggiatura. Feb. 28-March 26 at The Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-379-4470 or localtheatercompany.org

Fun Home is finding a home on stages all over Colorado

The Book Handlers. Buntport Theater’s newest original creation in its 17th season of original creations is a world-premiere comedy about a handy service that will make your books look read, even though they haven’t been. Because, you know … who reads anymore? This fun satire is inspired by a short story written by Brian O’Nolan. Feb. 23-March 17 at 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

A Kid Like Jake. Benchmark Theatre moves into its permanent new home at the former Edge Theatre with Daniel Pearle’s 2013 play that explores the conflict that grows between a married couple when it becomes plain their 4-year-old prefers Cinderella to GI Joe. Directed by Warren Sherrill. The Lakewood theatre has been renamed The Bench at 40W. Feb. 16-March 25 at 1560 Teller St., benchmarktheatre.com

Photo of ‘American Mariachi’ by Adams Viscom.

 

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.

THIS MONTH’S THEATRE OPENINGS IN COLORADO:

Feb. 1-25: Cherry Creek Theatre’s Respect: A Musical Journey of Women
At the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-800-6578 or cherrycreektheatre.org

Feb. 1-4: UpstART’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch
604 Clinton St., Ridgway, 81432, 970-325-3501or http://www.upstartmoves.org

Feb. 2-25: DCPA Theatre Company’s American Mariachi
Stage Theatre, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Feb. 2-March 11: Vintage Theatre’s Sleuth (with Lowry’s Spotlight Theatre)
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Feb. 2-17: Longmont Theatre Company’s Steel Magnolias
513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200 or longmonttheatre.org

Feb. 2-May 25: Arvada Center Children’s Theatre’s Seussical
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

(Pictured at right: Ben Griffin and Melissa Morris. Matt Gale Photography 2018)

Feb. 3-March 4: Bas Bleu Theatre’s Waiting for the Parade
401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org

Feb. 3-March 3: Miners Alley Children’s Theatre’s The Pied Piper of Hamelin
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

Feb. 8-25: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s Intimate Apparel
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

Feb. 8-17: The Source Theatre Company’s Crying Wolf: Stories of the Lupus Warriors
At Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 720-238-1323 or thesourcedenver.org

Feb. 8-18: Millibo Art Theatre’s Cake
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org

Feb. 9-March 18: DCPA Theatre Company’s The Great Leap
Ricketson Theatre, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Feb. 9-May 4: Arvada Center’s The Electric Baby
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

Feb. 9-25: 5280 Artists Co-op’s Colorism
At the Aurora Cultural Arts District Building, 1400 Dallas St., Aurora, 720-432-9162 or 5280ArtistCoop.com

Feb. 9-11: National touring production of Shen Yun
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 888-316-4234 or shenyunperformingarts.org

Feb. 9-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

Feb. 13-18: National touring production of STOMP
Buell Theatre, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Feb. 15-March 4, 2018: Springs Ensemble Theatre’s The Totalitarians
1903 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, 80909, 719-357-3080 or springsensembletheatre.org

Feb. 15-March 11: Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ Oklahoma
At the Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

Feb. 16-March 25: Benchmark Theatre’s A Kid Like Jake
1560 Teller St., Lakewood, benchmarktheatre.com

Feb. 16-24: Theatrix USA’s Call Me Mrs. Evers
At the Lakewood Cultural/Heritage Center, theatrixdenver.com

Feb. 17-25: DCPA Theatre Company’s Colorado New Play Summit
Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Feb. 17-March 17: Firehouse Theatre’s Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-562-3232 or firehousetheatercompany.com  

Feb. 22-March 4: Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ Trouble in Tahiti
At the Ent Center for the Arts, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

Feb. 22-March 10: Thunder River Theatre Company’s The Price
67 Promenade, Carbondale, 970-963-8200 or thunderrivertheatre.com

Feb. 22-April 8: The BiTSY Stage’s Jotunheim: A Legend of Thor and His Hammer
1137 S. Huron St., 720-328-5294 or bitsystage.com

Feb. 23-March 17: Buntport Theater’s The Book Handlers
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

Feb. 23-March 25: Town Hall Arts Center’s Something’s Afoot
2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org

Feb. 23-March 18: Aurora Fox’s Real Women Have Curves
9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org

Feb. 23-April 15: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Kiss Me Kate
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com

Feb. 23-March 10: Coal Creek Theater of Louisville’s Becky Shaw
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., 303-665-0955 or cctlouisville.org

Feb. 23-March 3: Grapefruit Lab’s JANE/EYRE
The Bakery, 2132 Market St., eventbrite.com

Feb. 23-March 11: Evergreen Chorale’s Company
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4002 or evergreenchorale.org

Feb. 27-April 1: National touring production of Hamilton
Buell Theatre, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Feb. 28-March 26: Local Theater Company’s Wisdom from Everything
At The Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-379-4470 or localtheatercompany.org

CONTINUING CURRENT PRODUCTIONS:

Through Feb. 3: Lowry’s Spotlight Theatre’s Rumors
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. First Place, 720-880-8727 or thisisspotlight.com

Through Feb. 3: Funky Little Theatre Company’s The Bigot
2109 Templeton Gap Road, Colorado Springs, 719-425-9509 or funkylittletheater.org

Through Feb. 4: Town Hall Arts Center’s Peter and the Starcatcher
2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.org

Through Feb. 4: Theatrix USA’s Kiss
At Dobrin Studios, 931 Santa Fe Drive, theatrixdenver.com

Through Feb. 10: Aurora Fox’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch
9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org

Through Feb 11: Inspire Creative’s The Little Mermaid
At the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, 303-805-6800 or inspirecreative.org

Through Feb. 11: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Building the Wall
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne,  970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

Through Feb. 11: StageDoor Theatre’s The 39 Steps
27357 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-886-2819, 800-838-3006 or stagedoortheatre.org

Through Feb. 14: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Beauty and the Beast
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com

Through Feb. 17: OpenStage Theatre Company’s The Crucible
Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-484-5237 or openstagetheatre.org

Through Feb. 17: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits
At  121 S. Ridge St. 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

Through Feb. 17: Equinox Theatre Company’s Evil Dead: The Musical
At the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinox’s home page

Through Feb. 18: Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Guards at the Taj
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org

Through Feb. 18: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com READ MORE

Through Feb. 18: BDT Stage’s Motones vs. Jerseys
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com (Sundays only)

Through Feb. 24: Curious Theatre’s Detroit 67
1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org READ MORE

Through Feb. 24: BDT Stage’s Annie
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com

Through Feb. 24: Avenue Theater’s Comedy Sportz
417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or avenuetheater.com READ MORE

Through Feb. 25: DCPA Theatre Company’s Zoey’s Perfect Wedding
Space Theatre, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Through March 4: Miners Alley Playhouse’s Fun Home
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com READ MORE

(Pictured: Susannah McLeod, Sophie Dotson and Abigail Kochevar. Photo by Sarah Roshan.)

Through March 17: Midtown Arts Center’s Fun Home
3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, (970) 225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com
READ MORE

Through March 25: Midtown Arts Center’s Always … Patsy Cline
3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, 970-225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com

Through April 22: DCPA Cabaret’s First Date
Garner Galleria Theatre, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Through May 6: Arvada Center’s Sense and Sensibility
Studio Theatre, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

ONGOING, MONTHLY or ONE-TIME PROGRAMMING:

ADAMS MYSTERY PLAYHOUSE

Ongoing productions
2406 Federal Blvd., Denver, 303-455-1848 or adamsmysteryplayhouse.com

AURORA FOX ARTS CENTER

• Feb. 16 and 18: True West Award-winning performer Sharon Kay White is the featured artist this month in the Aurora Fox’s ongoing cabaret series in its studio theatre. In the shadow of Valentine’s Day, White weaves tales and music through a journey of love, loss, joy, heartbreak, relationships, realities and absurdities.

9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurora fox.org

BUG THEATRE

• Feb. 15: The Emerging Filmmakers Project, showcasing Denver’s indie film scene on the third Thursday of every month. This month’s program will honor local actress Stacy Farrar, who was murdered along with her son by her husband last May.
• Feb. 26: Freak Train: Open-mic variety show hosted by GerRee Hinshaw on the final Monday of every month

3654 Navajo St., 303-477-9984 or bugtheatre.info

BUNTPORT THEATRE

• Wednesday, Feb. 7: Magnets on the Fridge
• Saturday, Feb. 10:Siren Song: A Pirate Odyssey (Monthly theatre for young audiences at 1 and 3 p.m.)
• Tuesday, Feb. 20: The Great Debate
  
• Wednesday, Feb. 21: The Narrators

THE CATAMOUNTS

• Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 10-11: FEED: Love (an theatrical examination of the journey from our youthful ideals of love, to the more hard-won truths of adulthood — served with a four-course meal and live music by Wes Watkins, formerly of Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. 7 p.m.

At VOCO Studios, 3700 Franklin St., Denver. feedlove.brownpapertickets.com

COLORADO COLLEGE

• Feb. 22-24: Leonard Bernstein at 100, a three-day symposium examining the  composer, conductor and performer as one of the most celebrated figures of the 20th century. Includes and interview with oldest daughter Jamie Bernstein and keynote address by a Bernstein scholar. Registration is limited to 450 attendees and is required by Feb. 15 to attend any events on the conference program.

At Colorado College’s Cornerstone Arts Center, 825 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs

DAIRY ARTS CENTER

• Thursday, Feb. 8: Every discipline of the arts will be represented in a single evening at this fundraiser for the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder. With food stations, craft beverages, a live DJ and surprises. Performers include Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance with Spinphony, The work of Stacey Steers, Maya and Goddess Here Productions and comedian John “Hippieman” Novosad. 6 p.m.

2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or thedairy.org

DENVER ACTORS FUND

• Sunday, Feb. 18: Screening of the film Dumb and Dumber starring with live entertainment from Backstage Breckenridge Theatre’s upcoming original party musical Totally Awesome ’80s Ski Town USA. Entertainment 6:30 p.m.; film at 7

At Alamo Drafthouse Sloan’s Lake, 4255 W. Colfax Ave., drafthouse.com

EVERGREEN PLAYERS

• Feb. 2 and 10: The Big B.M. (A one-man bio-comedy featuring Bruce Montgomery, pictured at right)

At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

MILLIBO ART THEATRE

• Feb. 3-4: The Dinosaur Show (for kids)

1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, www.themat.org

THEATRE MADE IN BOULDER FESTIVAL

PARKER ARTS

• Saturday, Feb. 17: Comedy & Cocktails: Nancy Norton, an evening of stand-up comedy that marks the re-opening of the newly remodeled Schoolhouse Theater. 8 p.m.

Schoolhouse Theater, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave.,, Parker, 303-805-6800 or parkerarts.org

THE SOURCE THEATRE COMPANY

• Every third Monday: Monday! Monday! Monday! Cabaret

At Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 720-238-1323 or thesourcedenver.org

STORIES ON STAGE

• Sunday, Feb. 11: Love & Marriage, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.

At Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 
303-494-0523 or storiesonstage.org

Stories on Stage has renowned actors bring stories to life by combining literature with theater. This month: “The Big Cat,” by Louise Erdrich, read by Timothy McCracken; “Madame Lazarus,” by Maile Meloy, read by Randy Moore; and “This is the Story of a Happy Marriage,” by Anne Patchett; read by Mare Trevathan

VINTAGE THEATRE

• Feb. 14: Same Time, Next Year (reading featuring Andrew and Kelly Uhlenhopp)

1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com