Candlelight Dinner Playhouse has just opened the Colorado premiere of 'Newsies' in Johnstown, located about 45 miles north of Denver. Garland Photography.

Follow us ‘Into the Woods’ for all of your July theatregoing options

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse has just opened the Colorado premiere of 'Newsies' in Johnstown, located about 45 miles north of Denver. Garland Photography. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse has just opened the Colorado premiere of ‘Newsies’ in Johnstown, located about 45 miles north of Denver. Garland Photography. 


Up north: Newsies. In Denver: Phamaly, Mixed Taste, Les MisérablesSex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man


You say theatre slows down in the summertime? Pshaw. Across Colorado, you have a whopping 80 theatregoing options — and only 31 days to see them in. Don’t even bother with the math. You can’t see them all. But we’re here to help with this curated list of 10 intriguing titles to watch, followed by a complete list of every production that is opening or continuing this month on any Colorado stage. Submit any additions or corrections to the DCPA NewsCenter at jmoore@dcpa.org.

Into the Woods. Phamaly Theatre Company, which exists to create performance opportunities for actors with disabilities, returns to the Denver Center’s Space Theatre for its annual Broadway blowout — this summer, Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical that imagines what might have happened after all those fairy tales ended. This production is directed by Christy Montour-Larson (DCPA Theatre Company’s Two Degrees) and features Jenna Bainbridge as Cinderella and Artistic Director Regan Linton making her return to the Phamaly stage as The Baker’s Wife. In December, Linton was named the True West Awards’ 2017 Colorado Theatre Person of the Year. (Pictured above: Montour-Larson and Linton at the Denver Center’s ‘Hattitude’ fundraiser for DCPA Education.) July 12 through Aug. 5 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Newsies. Based on the 1993 Disney film of the same name, Newsies follows a group of young paper hawkers who took on Joseph Pulitzer — and won. The story is inspired by the real-life New York newsboys strike of 1899. The story was made into a Broadway musical in 2012 with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman and a book by Harvey Fierstein. It centers on a dreamer named Jack who falls in love with a young reporter who may not be all she appears to be. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s regional premiere is directed by Pat Payne and choreographed by Matthew D. Peters. Jack is played by Logan Traver, a junior at the University of Northern Colorado, and Harmony Livingston plays Katherine. Now through Aug. 26 at 4747 Marketplace Drive in Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com.

Topdog/Underdog. Anyone with a brother knows that sibling rivalry and revelry can make you best friends one moment, sworn enemies the next. The downtrodden brothers in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer-winning tragicomedy share a bond forged in a shared anger for the parents who long ago abandoned them. Now the brothers, fatefully named Lincoln and Booth, are interdependent street hustlers trapped in poverty and awash in whiskey. They must learn how to make it together or they will take each other down. It’s a story rooted in the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, and it has been compared to Sam Shepard’s True West. Directed for the Lake Dillon Theatre Company by Kenney M. Green and featuring Rod Singleton and Shabazz Green. Recommended for ages 16 and older. July 13-29 at the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

Mixed Taste. For the second straight summer, 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. Leading off the lineup of eclectic speakers on July 11 are Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers and Ken Theobald, General Manager of the local wine importer Classic Wines. Their topic: Rattlesnake Kate and Rosé. (Rattlesnake Kate was a Greeley legend who reportedly fought off 140 rattlesnakes to save her 3-year-old son in 1925.) Wednesdays July 11-Aug. 22 at the Seawell Ballroom, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. Off-Broadway’s longest-running comedy returns to the Denver Center’s Garner-Galleria Theatre with an all-new interactive, upbeat production. The play is set at a local university where the English department holds a monthly “meet the author” event. This month’s featured author is Dan Anderson, who leads the audience in an interactive sex-tip seminar. It’s a wild ride where no topic is taboo and the insider advice comes straight from the source: A gay man. July 12-Aug. 5 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards. The 13th annual, magnetically controversial annual celebration of achievements by Colorado Theatre Guild member companies moves to the Lone Tree Arts Center. First-time directors Robert Michael Sanders and Betty Hart promise that despite the large field of 175 nominees, the show, featuring performances and planned surprises, will come in at around two hours. The Arvada Center leads the field with a record 29 nominations. READ MORE July 23 at 10075 Commons St. Call 720-509-1000 or go to lonetreeartscenter.org

Cry-Baby. It’s been a decade since Broadway turned John Waters’ 1990 cult-classic film starring Johnny Depp into a musical, but Equinox Theatre is the first to stage it in Denver. It’s 1954 Baltimore, and when “Cry-Baby” Walker hooks up with a square named Allison, it creates upheaval and turmoil in their little town. It’s been called “Romeo and Juliet meets High School Hellcats.” Starring Chris Arneson and Holly Dalton. Directed by Deb Flomberg-Rollins. July 27-Aug. 18 at the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinoxtheatredenver.com 

Catch Me if You Can. This popular Broadway adaptation of the hit film by Leonardo DiCaprio tells the true story of the remarkable troubled teen who runs away from home and uses his ambition and boyish charm to fleece his marks of millions of dollars — all with an obsessed FBI agent on his tail. Now in its 84th summer repertory season, Little Theatre of the Rockies is by far the oldest theatre company in Colorado, and the oldest professional summer-stock theatre company west of the Mississippi River. Also presenting Xanadu; Angel Street; and I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti throughout the summer. July 26-29 at the Langworthy Theatre, University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com

Evita. The new-look Southern Repertory Theatre Company will take a new approach to the story of Argentina’s rags-to-riches first lady by setting Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beloved musical inside a tango bar in the heart of Buenos Aires on the night of Eva Peron’s death. Driven by ambition and blessed with charisma, Eva was destined to leave a lasting and unique 20th century political legacy. Directed by Jimmy Bruenger and featuring Jacquie Jo Billings as Evita. July 8 through Aug. 1 at the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765 or scrtheatre.com

Lend Me a Tenor. Ken Ludwig’s enduring farce about an international  opera star who becomes incapacitated by sleeping pills in Cleveland, of all places, remains one of the most-performed plays of the past 30 years. Case in point: We have two local companies presenting it at the same time. July 13-Aug. 19 at the Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com; and July 26-Aug. 12 at Breckenridge Backstage Theatre, 121 S. Ridge St., 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

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:

June 27-July 3: Theatre Aspen’s Ragtime
At The Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

June 28-Aug. 26: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Newsies
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com

June 28-July 1: Little Theatre of the Rockies’ I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti
On the University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com

Read more: Our complete summer mountain theatre preview

June 29-Aug. 25: Creede Repertory Theatre’s 9 to 5
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

June 29-July 21: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind
30 W. Dale St., 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

June 29-Aug. 25: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s The Full Monty
At 800 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com

July 5-14: Su Teatro’s El Corrido del Barrio
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 orsuteatro.org

July 6-Aug. 11: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Cyrano de Bergerac 
At the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

July 6-7: Dave Shirley’s Oddville
At the Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or avenuetheater.com

July 6-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

July 7-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

July 8-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

July 11-15: West Side Story (performers grades 6-12)
Elaine Wolf Theatre at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-316-6360 or maccjcc.org

July 11-Aug. 22: Off-Center’s Mixed Taste: Tag team lectures (Wednesdays), at Seawell Ballroom, 14th and Curtis streets
303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

July 12-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

July 12-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  

July 12-14: Creede Repertory Theatre’s The KID Show (for children)
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

July 13-29: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Topdog/Underdog
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

July 13-Aug. 19: Miners Alley Playhouse’s Lend Me a Tenor
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

July 13-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

July 13-Aug. 5: Evergreen Players’ 9 to 5
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

July 13-29: StageDoor Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 
27357 Conifer Road, 303-886-2819, 800-838-3006 or stagedoortheatre.org

July 13-Aug. 4: Funky Little Theater Company’s Third annual Spectrum LGBTQIA Festival
367 Pecan St., Colorado Springs, 719-425-9509 or funkylittletheater.org

July 13-Sept. 30: Jester’s Dinner Theatre’s The Producers
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

July 14-Aug. 8: Theatre Aspen’s Godspell
At The Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

July 19-Aug. 5: Springs Ensemble Theatre’s  Tigers Be Still  
1903 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, 719-357-3080 or springsensembletheatre.org

(Pictured at right: Dalianti Moncada and Hannah Alden McCullough in ‘Tigers Be Still,’ by Matt Radcliffe.)

July 19-21: Red Rocks Community College’s Pride and Prejudice
13300 W 6th Ave., Lakewood, 303-914-6458, tinurl.com/rrcctickets

July 20-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

July 20-28: Theatre Aspen’s Our Town
At The Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

July 20-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

July 20-Aug. 5: Inspire Creative’s Sister Act
At the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker, 303-805-6800 or inspirecreative.org

July 20-28: Avenue Theater’s Mean Gays  
Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or brownpapertickets.com

July 20-Aug. 4: Fearless Theatre Company’s Hair
At the Studio at Mainstreet, 19604 Main St., Parker, 303-790-0875 or facebook.com

July 20-29: Northglenn Players’ Little Shop of Horrors
DL Parsons Theatre, 11801 Community Center Drive, northglennarts.org, 303-450-8800

July 21-Aug. 13: Longmont Theatre Company’s The Tempest
513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200 or longmonttheatre.org

July 25-Aug 5: National touring production of Les Misérables
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

(Pictured at right: Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. Photo by Matthew Murphy.)

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

July 26-Aug. 12: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Lend Me A Tenor
At 121 S. Ridge St., 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

July 26-29: Little Theatre of the Rockies’ Catch Me If You Can
University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com

July 27-Aug. 18: Equinox Theatre Company’s Cry-Baby: The Musical
At the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinoxtheatredenver.com

July 27-Sept. 15: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Miss Holmes
At 124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

CONTINUING PRODUCTIONS:

Through July 1: Performance Now’s The Secret Garden
Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, 303-987-7845 orperformancenow.org

Through July 1: Si Teatro’s The Revolutionist
721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org

Through June 30: Openstage Theatre Company’s The Comedy of Errors
The Park at Columbine Health Systems, 947 Worthington Circle, 970-484-5237 orwww.openstagetheatre.org

Through June 30: Funky Little Theater Company’s Always a Bridesmaid
367 Pecan St., Colorado Springs, 719-425-9509 or funkylittletheater.org

Through June 30: Thunder River Theatre Company’s Bat Boy: The Musical
At 67 Promenade, Carbondale, 970-963-8200 or thunderrivertheatre.com

Through July 1: Off-Center’s Remote Denver
Starts at Lincoln Park, 13th Avenue and Mariposa Street WATCH THE VIDEO

Through July 1: Ars Nova’s Underground Railroad Game
At Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org

Through July 1: Bas Bleu Theatrte’s Equus
401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org

Through July 7: National touring production of The Book of Mormon
Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Through July 8: Vintage Theatre’s Agnes of God
1468 Dayton St., 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Through July 8: Jester’s Dinner Theatre’s Annie
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

Through July 14: Lost and Found Productions’ Elizabeth Rex
At The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., LostandFoundProductions.net

Through July 15: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Rock of Ages
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

Through July 19: Little Theatre of the Rockies’ Angel Street
On the University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com

Through July 20: Little Theatre of the Rockies’ Xanadu
On the University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com

Through July 21: Benchmark Theatre’s The Arsonists
1560 Teller St., benchmarktheatre.com READ MORE

Through July 21: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Monty Python’s Spamalot
At 121 S. Ridge St., 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

Through July 21: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Our Teacher’s A Troll (for children)
At 121 S. Ridge St., 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

Through July 22: Lowry’s Spotlight Theatre’s The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. First Place, 720-880-8727 or thisisspotlight.com

Pictured at right: Sam Gilstrap, Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry and Ben Hilzer of The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged. Photo by Meghan Ralph.) 

Through July 29: Millibo Art Theatre’s Summer Sundae-Fundays! (Theatre and ice cream)
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, www.themat.org  

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

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 Richard III 
At University Mainstage, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

(Pictured at right: Betty Hart as Queen Elizabeth in ‘Richard III.’ Photo by Jennifer M. Koskinen.)

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

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

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

Adams Mystery Playhouse’s ongoing dinner shows
2406 Federal Blvd., Denver, 303-455-1848 or adamsmysteryplayhouse.com

Starting July 2: Denver Magic Show (every first Monday)
Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or avenuetheater.com

July 17: Rough Draft Playwrights’ quarterly Theatrical Playground
The Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St., facebook.com or email roughdraughtplaywrights@gmail.com

July 20: Millibo Art Theatre’s An Evening with Bill Bowers
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org  

July 26-29: Fort Collins Fringe Festival
For info, fringefestivalfortcollins.com

July 27: Broadway’s Wicked Divas (Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker) with the Colorado Symphony
At the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.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 

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