Daniel Langhoff recently starred as Tateh in Performance Now’s ‘Ragtime,’ above. The company has unanimously voted to donate 2 percent of all net profits from every show in the 2017-18 season to the Denver Actors Fund in Langhoff’s name.

Performance Now issues an extraordinary challenge as others announce creative ways to support Langhoff family

By John Moore
Senior Arts Journalist

This week’s death of beloved local actor Daniel Langhoff has galvanized the Colorado theatre community and beyond, with targeted donations to Langhoff’s wife and two infant daughters through the Denver Actors Fund already reaching $23,578 in four days. READ MORE HERE

Perhaps most immediate and most remarkable: Performance Now Theatre Company has not only made a substantial donation of $1,000 to the Langhoff family, the company’s Board of Directors on Monday unanimously agreed to donate 2 percent of all net profits from every show in the 2017-18 season to the Denver Actors Fund to be used at its discretion.

“We challenge all Denver-area theatre companies to do the same,” Performance Now Executive Producer Ken Goodwin and Artistic Director Alisa Metcalf said in a joint statement. “Imagine how much more the DAF could help others if the companies themselves got involved and the DAF would not have to rely as heavily on individual donations.”

(Pictured above and right: Daniel Langhoff with second daughter Naomi, who was born Nov. 2, just 10 days before he died from cancer.)

Performance Now even made the initiative retroactive, sending a separate contribution of $386 for its recent production of The Marvelous Wonderettes. Coming up next: Into the Woods opening Jan. 5 at the Lakewood Cultural Center.

Langhoff has been a major player with Performance Now, having recently starred in both Ragtime and Man of La Mancha at the Lakewood Cultural Center. The challenge is all the more remarkable given that when Performance Now lost longtime Artistic Director Nancy Goodwin (Ken’s wife) to breast cancer in 2007, it established a scholarship fund in her name to aid and reward young college students who are working toward a degree in the performing arts.

“All performing-arts nonprofits face extraordinary funding challenges as a matter of course,” said Denver Actors Fund President Will Barnette. “When nonprofits with already stretched resources still find a way to support other nonprofits, that is kind of remarkable, when you think of it.” 

Donate to the Denver Actors Fund’s Langhoff collection

Barnette added that The Denver Actors Fund does have a modest, ongoing giving campaign in collaboration with area companies called the Tap Shoe Initiative, in which participating companies choose one night per run of a show to collect spare change for the DAF. To date, the initiative has raised about $20,000. Companies interested in participating are encouraged to email Debbie Weinstein Minter at sk8bug77@yahoo.com.

Elsewhere, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts has announced that it is dedicating the opening performance and the entire run of First Date, opening Friday, as well as the entire run of A Christmas Carol, to Langhoff.

Langhoff made his Denver Center debut in 2010 in the musical comedy Five Course Love at the Galleria Theatre, followed by a stint in a revival of the longest-running musical in Denver history, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. He also performed in the DCPA Theatre Company’s seasonal stagings of A Christmas Carol in 2014 and 2015.

“Daniel was a brilliant actor and comedian who loved to laugh almost as much as he loved to hear others laugh,” said First Date director Ray Roderick.

Through curtain speeches, information in the show programs and DCPA NewsCenter, the DCPA will be directing audiences to make targeted donations to the Langhoff family.

Immediate efforts to add to the Langhoff fund:

Many other individuals and theatre companies have responded with creative entrepreneurial efforts to add to the total over the coming days and months. Here is a roundup:

• The Aurora Fox‘s new monthly cabaret series this weekend (Nov. 17-18) features The Denver Dolls presenting their USO/Andrews Sisters tribute, performed in the style of The Manhattan Transfer. The Dolls, presented by YearRound Sound, are led by frequent DCPA performer and Langhoff castmate Heather Lacy, who will lead a collection as audiences leave the studio theatre at 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora. 303-739-1970 or BUY TICKETS
• BDT Stage opens its new production of Annie this weekend and will make an audience appeal for donations to the Langhoff fund at performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 17-19). 5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
• Local actor, choreographer and certified fitness instructor Adrianne Hampton is holding a benefit “Broadway Boot Camp” at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, with all proceeds and donations going to Langhoff’s family. What is a Broadway Boot Camp? Well, it’s a workout, with showtunes. “It’s a place where theatre people can come to hone their skills and support each other,” Hampton said. “Just come, bring your dancing shoes and have fun dancing. If you don’t want to be part of the class, you can come and watch or just come and make a donation.” $15. Littleton Ballet Academy 1169 W. Littleton Blvd.
  
• Vintage Theatre has announced that all proceeds from the industry-night performance of its new musical Honeymoon in Vegas on Monday, Nov. 27, will go to Langhoff’s family, including, remarkably, box office. The DAF’s Sue Leiser will lead a collection brigade. All tickets are $15 for this performance only. At 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or BUY TICKETS
• The Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company will also donate 100 percent of the proceeds from its official opening performance of Every Christmas Story Every Told on Dec. 13 to the DAF’s Langhoff Fund. Langhoff was a cast member of this very same show at this time last year. “Daniel Langhoff will be deeply missed by all the artists who had the opportunity to work with him…and there were so many,” said BETC Managing Director Rebecca Remaly Weitz. “He touched so many of us with his wit, optimism, persistence, kindness and humor. Our hearts go out to his family.” Additional donations will be accepted at the door on Dec. 13. At the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or BUY TICKETS

Details on a life celebration for Daniel Langhoff are expected to be announced soon.

Pictures above, from top: The Denver Dolls; James Thompson and the cast of A Daniel Vintage Theatre’s Honeymoon in Vegas (RDG Photograph and Daniel Langhoff in Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s Every Christmas Story Every Told (Michael Ensminger). 

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter