July in Colorado theatre: No matter how mixed your taste, there’s something for everyone

Noah Weisberg as Willy Wonka and company in the Denver-bound ‘Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ Photo by Joan Marcus.

From Fairfield to Building the Wall: Racial issues will be brought to light in both comic and incendiary contexts

Some people think theatre in Colorado slows down in July as our summer attention shifts to the outdoors, but 2019 again proves that to be (dramatically) untrue. Among the 30-plus shows about to open this month are two (count ’em) The Wedding Singers and two stagings of Into the Woods. At the Denver Center, Off-Center’s escape-room adventure The Last Defender has been extended into September just as Mixed Taste, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the latest offering from The Second City prepare to bow. Here is our monthly list of  intriguing theatregoing options throughout the state for July, followed by a complete list of all openings and ongoing productions:

1. Fairfield. One of the most anticipated offerings of the summer is Eric Coble’s biting comedy set in a progressive, integrated elementary school where Black History Month goes horribly, horribly wrong with just one bad role-playing exercise by an over-eager first-grade teacher. Coble is known in Colorado for The Giver at the Denver Center, The Dead Guy and Bright Ideas at Curious Theatre, and The Velocity of Autumn at Lake Dillon. The Miners Alley Playhouse’s staging of Fairfield is directed by Jada Suzanne Dixon and features Sheryl McCallum (DCPA Theatre Company’s Oklahoma! and Xanadu), Adeline Mann, Sinjin Jones, MacKenzie Beyer and DCPA Teaching Artists Brian Landis Folkins and Kristina Fountaine. July 12 through August 18 at 1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com.

2. Mixed Taste. For the third straight summer, anachronism is art when the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver and Off-Center partner up to present Mixed Taste: Tag Team Lectures on Unrelated Topics on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. Mixed Taste, conceived by MCA Denver’s departing creative guru Adam Lerner, pairs two speakers addressing completely unrelated subjects, followed by questions from the audience. How unrelated? Season-opening speakers Steve Young (“Bathtubs Over Broadway,” see video above) and University of Denver Associate Professor Erin K. Willer will discuss the relativity of Industrial Musicals and Empathy. July 10 through August 31 at the Seawell Ballroom in Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org. All events begin at 7 p.m. READ MORE

‘It’s Not You, It’s Me – The Second City.’ Photo by Tim Schmidt.

3. Happy Place. Loosely based off of his acclaimed memoir “Tragedy Plus Time,” this new one-man theatre piece from Denver comedian Adam Cayton-Holland deals with mental illness, death, stand-up comedy … and clubbed figure skater Nancy Kerrigan. Never shying away from the tough subject matter of depression and suicide, Happy Place is a darkly funny exploration of going through the unimaginable, and learning to find your sense of humor again. Tuesday, July 9, at the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or thedairy.org

4. King Charles III. The trippy part of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s 61st season is about to launch with this “future history play” not written by The Bard but rather Mike Bartlett, who uses Shakespearean verse to envision an impending society where personal privacy, public betrayals and a threat to free press collide in the days following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This regional premiere was a Tony Award nominee for Best New Play. July 19-August 1 in the indoor theatre on the CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org (Also: Romeo and Juliet opens July 7 for a run in the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre.)

5. South Pacific. Theatre Aspen and the Aspen Music Festival and School are teaming up for the first time to co-present a one-night-only concert version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic 1949 musical with a cast made up of Broadway stars and a 55-member orchestra. South Pacific, with a score including “Some Enchanted Evening” and “There is Nothing Like a Dame,” tells parallel love stories, both navigating the dangers of prejudice and war. The cast includes Nathan Gunn as Emile de Becque, Christy Altomare as Nellie Forbush, Leanne Cabrera as Liat, Ann Harada as Bloody Mary, Ryan McCartan as Joseph Cable and Brian Ray Norris as Luther Billis. Broadway’s Andy Einhorn (Carousel; Hello, Dolly!) will conduct this special event alongside Tony Award-nominated Director Lonny Price and a chorus of Aspen Opera Center singers. Monday, July 22, in the Benedict Music Tent, 960 North 3rd St., Aspen, 970-925-3254 or aspenmusicfestival.com

6. It’s Not You, It’s Me.The Second City. Chicago’s famed comedy franchise has been laughing at love and its infinite side effects for decades. This latest undertaking takes shots at heartbreak, missed connections and the mire of human relationships. Since 1959, The Second City has become the world’s premier comedy club with alums including Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and many more. Previous Denver Center visits have included How I Lost My Denverginity. July 31-August 25 in the Garner Galleria Theatre, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

7. Building the Wall. Robert Schenkkan (“All the Way”) wrote this dystopian play “in a white-hot fury” as an immediate and angry response to the 2016 election of Donald Trump. In it, he imagines America with a president whose policies have resulted in the mass roundup of millions of illegal aliens, with incarceration overflowing into private prisons and camps reminiscent of another century. Building the Wall, Schenkkan told the DCPA NewsCenter, “is a terrifying and gripping exploration of what happens if we let fear win.” Denver’s Curious Theatre first staged the play in 2017 and, with immigration still in the headlines, is now compelled to do so again. “It is extremely rare for Curious to bring back a show. We do new work. But we chose to do this again because we feel Denver needs this play right now,” said Jeannene Bragg, Curious’ Community Engagement Organizer. Directed by Chip Walton and featuring John Jurcheck and Celeste M. Cooper. July 5-27 at 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org

Seth Rudetsky.

8. Deconstructing Broadway with Seth Rudetsky. Sirius/XM Radio’s Broadway host Seth Rudetsky is bringing his one-man comedy show to Colorado Springs. Deconstructing Broadway has been described as a combination of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” the Tony Awards and “The Daily Show.” Rudetsky is known for breaking down brilliant performances from beloved Broadway divas such as Patti LuPone and Betty Buckley, and showing unexpected vault videos such as The Osmonds singing a medley from Fiddler On The Roof. Seriously. He also does an entire section on Barbra Streisand. Tuesday, July 16, at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.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.

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.

JULY THEATRE OPENINGS AND EVENTS IN COLORADO:

July 5-27: Curious Theatre Company’s Building the Wall
1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org

July 5-August 18: Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre’s Grounded
At the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765​ or scrtheatre.com

July 7-August 10: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Romeo and Juliet
At the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

July 9-28: Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
At the Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

July 10-August 31: Off-Center and Museum of Contemporary Art Denver’s Mixed Taste
At the Seawell Ballroom, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Springs Ensemble Theatre. Laramie Project - Hans Mueh, Matt Radcliffe, David Corder, Jenice Marshall, Kaitlyn Montalvo, Jackson Bailey, and Carmina Paner. PHOTO BY Emory John Collinson

From left: Springs Ensemble Theatre’s Hans Mueh, Matt Radcliffe, David Corder, Jenice Marshall, Kaitlyn Montalvo, Jackson Bailey, and Carmina Paner. Photo by Emory John Collinson.

July 11-28: Springs Ensemble Theatre’s The Laramie Project
1903 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, 719-357-3080 or springsensembletheatre.org

July 11-August 17: Theatre Aspen’s Little Shop of Horrors
The Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

July 11-13: The Midsummer Players’ Animosity & ​Vengeance
(An original sequel to A Midsummer Night’s Dream presented by Eaglecrest High School students and alumni)
At Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St., midsummerplayers.com

July 11: Rocky Mountain Puppet Slam: Summer Edition
At the Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St., Denver, katywilliamsdesign.com

July 12-August 18: Miners Alley Playhouse’s Fairfield
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

July 12-August 4: Evergreen Players’ The Wedding Singer
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

July 12-August 17: Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre’s The Last Five Years
At the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765​ or scrtheatre.com

July 12-August 18: Vintage Theatre’s Emma
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

July 12-28: StageDoor’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
27357 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-886-2819, 800-838-3006 or stagedoortheatre.org

July 12-September 29: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s Nunsense
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

July 13-August 4: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s You Can’t Take It with You (Saturdays and Sundays only)
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

July 13: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s Aria Da Capo (reading)
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

July 13: Miners Alley Playhouse’s A Celebration of Grandbear the Storyteller
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com

July 13-August 4: Millibo Art Theatre’s Ice Cream Theatre
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, www.themat.org

July 15: The Source Theatre’s Monday! Monday! Monday! Cabaret
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 720-238-1323 or thesourcedenver.org

July 16: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s Deconstructing Broadway with Seth Rudetsky
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

July 17-August 3: Theatre Aspen’s God of Carnage
The Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

July 17-August 11: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Into the Woods
121 S. Ridge St. 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

July 18-August 4: Little Theatre of the Rockies’ Into the Woods
Presented in repertory in the Norton Theatre on the University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com

July 18-August 3: Senior Housing Options’ Jerry’s Girls: The Broadway Musical Revue
At the Barth Hotel, 1514 17th St. eventbrite.com

July 19-August 11: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s King Charles III
At the University Theatre, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

July 19-August 4: Inspire Theatre Company and Parker Arts’ The Full Monty
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker, 303-805-6800 or parkerarts.org

July 19-August 17: Funky Little Theater Company’s Monty Python’s Spamalot
1367 Pecan Street, Colorado Springs, 719-471-4462 or funkylittletheater.org

July 19-28: Northglenn Players’ The Wedding Singer
DL Parsons Theatre, 11801 Community Center Drive, Northglenn, 303-450-8800 or northglennarts.org

July 22: Theatre Aspen and The Aspen Music Festival and School’s South Pacific (one-night-only concert production)
In the Benedict Music Tent, 960 North 3rd St., Aspen, 970) 925-3254 or aspenmusicfestival.com

July 26-September 14: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Pride and Prejudice
124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

July 26-August 16: Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre’s The 39 Steps
At the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765​ or scrtheatre.com

July 28-29: The Catamounts’ FEED: Dreams
At Lone Hawk Farm, 10790 N. 49th St., Longmont, 303-440-7826, 720-468-0487 or thecatamounts.org

July 31-August 25: DCPA Cabaret’s It’s Not You, It’s MeThe Second City
At the Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

In a city full of zanies and zealots, a corrupt official offers a young nun the chance to save her brother’s life in TheatreWorks’ ‘Measure for Measure.’ Photo courtesy Isaiah Downing.

CONTINUING THEATRE PRODUCTIONS IN COLORADO:

Through July 7: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s The Taming of the Shrew
121 S. Ridge St. 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org

Through July 7: Counterweight Theatre Lab’s Red
320 S. Weber St. Colorado Springs, 719-445-8302 or artxcolorado.org

Through July 7: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s The Wizard of Oz
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

Through July 20: Firehouse Theatre Company’s Well
At the John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-562-3232 or firehousetheatercompany.com

Through July 21: Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ Measure for Measure
Presented under a tent at Rock Ledge Ranch, 3105 Gateway Road, Colorado Springs,  719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

Through July 21: Su Teatro’s Northside
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org READ MORE

Through August 1: Iron Springs Chateau’s One Bad Apple, or As the Worm Turns
444 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104 or ironspringschateau.com

Through August 3: Band of Toughs’ Nirvamlet
Performances Thursdays in July and August 1-3 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, starting in the parking garage above the Limelight Supper Club, 1400 Curtis St., bandoftoughs.org

Through August 3: Midtown Arts Center’s Take to the Highway: A Celebration of James Taylor
3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, (970) 225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com READ MORE

Through August 4: Little Theatre of the Rockies’ First Date
Presented in repertory in the Norton Theatre on the University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com

Through August 4: Vintage Theatre Company’s Crowns
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Through August 8: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Ripcord
124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through August 10: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s As You Like It
At the University Mainstage, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

Amber Scales (Viola) and Rinde Eckert (Feste) in ‘Twelfth Night. Photo by Jennifer M Koskinen.

Through August 11: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Twelfth Night
At the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or coloradoshakes.org

Through August 11: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s MAMMA MIA!
460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

Through August 17: Theatre Aspen’s Guys & Dolls
The Hurst Theatre, 470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

Through August 23: Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
800 Grand Ave., Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com

Through August 24: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Peter and the Starcatcher
124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through August 25: Creede Repertory Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors
124 Main St., Creede, 81130, 719-658-2540 or creederep.org

Through August 25: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Disney’s Tarzan
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com

Through August 30: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Jekyll and Hyde, The Musical
2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through August 31: BDT Stage’s Beauty and the Beast
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com

Through August 31: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s The Who’s Tommy
2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through September 1: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Mamma Mia!
2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through September 8: Off-Center’s The Last Defender
Beneath the Patagonia retail store at 1510 Blake St., 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org OUR INTERVIEW WITH CREATOR NATHAN ALLEN

Through September 15: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Ring of Fire
2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org

Through November 18: The Source Theatre’s Monday! Monday! Monday! Cabaret (every third Monday)
At Su Teatro, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 720-238-1323 or thesourcedenver.org

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.