DCPA NEWS CENTER
Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
October theatre in Colorado is hot on the grill
Local Theater’s ‘Flame Broiled’ was developed at the 2019 Local Lab. The cast still features Ilasiea Gray, left, in its upcoming world premiere in Boulder. Photo by John Moore.
Plenty of substantive theatre, along with Halloween-themed fare
There are many Halloween-themed theatrical offerings to satisfy your fright bones this month, but unlike recent Octobers, Colorado theatre companies are staging a surprising array of non-spooky fare as well. Here are 10 intriguing titles to watch, along with our complete monthly list of all Colorado openings and ongoing productions. (And while it is not a theatrical event, we can’t help but point out that cast members from TV’s “Schitt’s Creek” are coming to the Buell Theatre on October 18. Because … that’s cool.)
1. Local Theater’s Flame Broiled. or the ugly play. Rodney Hicks, a new Coloradan who was in the original Broadway casts of Rent and Come from Away, has written a fast-paced vignette play that looks at race in America through a series of 15 comic and unsettling snapshots. What’s revealed in the end, he says, “is the common denominator of humanity: A desire to know, understand and connect.” The cast consists of Ilasiea Gray, Emma Messenger, Gary Norman and Saxton Jay Walker. October 24-November 17 in the Carsen Theater at The Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-379-4470 or localtheatercompany.org
2. No Credit Productions’ Black Radio Days Live! Destination Freedom, donnie l. betts’ boundary-breaking radio series that tells the stories of African American heroes, celebrates 20 years on the air with a live taping on October 22 that will include betts’ short play “The Tale of The Bullet” (the story of America’s obsession of guns told from the bullet’s perspective), with musical guest Prince Po, formerly of the legendary hip-hop duo Organized Konfusion. Also featured: Award-winning vocalist Such and a community conversation with Rep. Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the Aurora theatre shooting. Hamilton Theatre at the Newman Center for Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., 303-871-7720 or nocredits.com
Kate Gleason and Gareth Saxe. Photo by Matt Gale.
3. Arvada Center’s Plaza Suite. The Arvada Center opens its fourth black-box repertory season with Neil Simon’s comedy that shows three separate relationships gone awry in the midst of forgotten anniversaries, a covert rendezvous and a bride who won’t come out of the bathroom. The cast includes Kate Gleason, Gareth Saxe, Devon James, Jihad Milhem and J.C. Williams. Directed by Lynne Collins. October 4-November 10 at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org.
4. DCPA Theatre for Young Audiences’ Goodnight Moon. Margaret Wise Brown’s classic book about a bedtime bunny who goes on a fantastic nocturnal adventure has been turned into a stage musical by former longtime Denver Center Literary Associate Chad Henry. The play is tailored for pre-kindergarten through second-grade audiences and is expected to be seen by 42,000. The cast includes Rakeem Lawrence, Mercedes Perez, Susannah McLeod, Maggie Tisdale, Marco Robinson and Sean Scrutchins. October 4, 2019-February 16, 2020, in the Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
5. Two theatrical takes on parenting. StageDoor Theatre’s Motherhood Out Loud is a play that explores the levity and poignancy of being a mom with contributions from 14 celebrated American playwrights including Beth Henley, Lisa Loomer and Theresa Rebeck. October 4-20 at 25797 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-838-0809 or stagedoortheatre.org. Meanwhile, 19K Productions’ In the Trenches is a new, locally produced musical that explores the unique joys, hilarity and craziness involved with parenting young children. Music and lyrics by Graham and Kristina Fuller. Directed by Robert Michael Sanders. October 19-20 in the Elaine Wolf Theatre in the Mizel Arts and Cultural Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. Info: jccdenver.org
6. Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s The Realistic Joneses. Will Eno’s quirky suburban comedy follows two couples who have more in common than their identical homes and shared last names. The play is an examination of the choices some face between idyllic fantasies and imperfect realities; between the truth and the stories we tell ourselves in order to live. The cast consists of Michael Morgan, Emily Paton Davies, Casey Andree and Kate Parkin. Directed by Stephen Weitz. October 24-November 17 at Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org
7. TheatreWorks’ Arcadia. Tom Stoppard ain’t for chickens. Only the supreme British wordsmith could combine love, landscape and the Second Law of Thermodynamics and turn out what The Times of London has described as “the perfect marriage of ideas and high comedy.” Moving between an uprooted garden in 1809 England and two scholars solving a mystery in the present day, Arcadia blurs the lines between past and present, order and chaos. The cast consists of Jessica Austgen, Bruce Carter, Harsh Gagoomal, Justin Jones, Michael Lee, Erika Mori, Rachel Moore, GJ Noel, Matt Radcliffe, Josh Robinson and Miriam Roth. Directed by Caitlin Lowans. October 10-27 at the Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org
8. Control Group Productions’ Cutting Room Floor: An immersive ghost tour of the Aurora Fox. Take a guided journey into the haunted depths of this historic theater. Through live dance, theatre, film and an escape-room-like design, the ghosts of the Fox come alive and are consumed by something scarier than any monster: Regret, and the remembrance of lost things. Recommended for ages 10 and older. October 17-30 at the Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., 303-739-1970 or aurorafoxartscenter.org
9. 5280 Artists Co-Op’s Waiting to Be Invited. In the summer of 1964, four middle-aged black women (co-workers from a doll factory), travel by city bus to a “whites only” eating establishment inside a downtown Atlanta department store to test their newly acquired civil rights handed down by the Supreme Court outlawing segregation in eating establishments. By S.M. Shephard-Massat. October 11-November 3 at the Aurora Cultural Arts District Building, 1400 Dallas St., 720-500-3352 or 5280ArtistCoop.com
10. Benchmark Theatre’s Fever Dream Festival. This third annual celebration of science fiction, fantasy, horror and all genres in between is a series of 14 readings of innovative plays with chimerical themes. (That means existing only as the product of unchecked imagination.) The ensemble includes Miguel Martimen, Chloe McLeod, Carla Kaiser Kotrc, Todd Sullivan, Dana Wright, Abid Hassan, Quinn Marchman, Jenna Moll Reyes and Woodzick. October 24-27 at 1560 Teller St., Lakewood, benchmarktheatre.com
Also: Many of the plays we featured in September’s “30 Plays in 30 Days” series are still in production (represented below). Click on the link to our Flickr gallery, where each photo will offer more background information on the plays, along with each featured actor’s personal thoughts on why you should go and see theirs.
30 PLAYS IN 30 DAYS: STILL PLAYING
Go directly to our complete ’30 Plays in 30 Days’ Flickr album
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.
OCTOBER THEATRE OPENINGS IN COLORADO:
October 3-27: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
121 S. Ridge St. 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org
October 3-November 23: The BiTSY Stage’s The Necromancer’s Stone
1137 S. Huron St., 720-328-5294 bitsystage.com (admission is always free)
October 4, 2019-February 16, 2020: DCPA Education’s Goodnight Moon
Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
October 4-November 10: Arvada Center’s Plaza Suite
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org
October 4-19: Public Domain Theater Company’s Wilde Tales: Two Fairy Tales by Oscar Wilde
At Mamie’s, the rehearsal space at Curious Theatre, 1080 Acoma St., 303-999-0496 or publicdomaintheater.org READ MORE
October 4-20: StageDoor Theatre’s Motherhood Out Loud
25797 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-838-0809 or stagedoortheatre.org
October 4-December 1: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s The Addams Family
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com
October 5, 2019-February 22, 2020: BDT Stage’s Mamma Mia!
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
October 10-27: Su Teatro’s Fire in the Streets
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org
October 10-27: TheatreWorks’ Arcadia
At the Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org
October 10-19: Pandemic Collective’s A(nother) Night of Grand Guignol
5138 W. 29th Ave., Theater29denver.com
October 11-November 3: 5280 Artists Co-Op’s Waiting to Be Invited
At the Aurora Cultural Arts District Building, 1400 Dallas St., 720-500-3352 or 5280ArtistCoop.com
October 11-December 29: Arvada Center’s Ella Enchanted!
In the black-box studio theatre, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org
October 11-November 9: Germinal Stage-Denver’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession
John Hand Theater on the Colorado Free University campus, 7653 E 1st Place, 303-455-7108 or germinalstage.com
October 11-26: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s Men On Boats
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 81147, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org
October 11-19: Millibo Art Theatre’s Cabaret Voltairea, a showcase of new work
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org
October 14-16: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse Concert Series’ The Return: Beatles Tribute Band
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com
‘The Improvised Shakespeare Company’ touring production features five performers in each performance from a traveling ensemble of seven.
October 15, 2019-March 22, 2020: The Improvised Shakespeare Company®
Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
October 15-26: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s’ Playwrights Festival
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 81147, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org
October 15: Buntport Theater’s The Great Debate
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
October 16-December 21: BDT Stage’s Cinderella (children’s series)
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
October 16: Buntport Theater’s The Narrators
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
October 18: Comedy Works Presents Schitt’s Creek: Up Close & Personal
At the Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, axs.com
October 18-November 9: Theatre Company of Lafayette’s Pippin
Mary Miller Theater, 300 E. Simpson, 720-209-2154 or tclstage.org
October 18-November 2: Audacious Theatre Company’s Grimm’s Scary Tales
In the basement of Felt Billiards, 101 W. Floyd Ave., Englewood, audacioustheatre.com
October 18-November 10: Evergreen Players’ Laughing Stock
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org
October 18-26: Longmont Theatre Company’s Carrie The Musical
513 Main St., 303-772-5200 or longmonttheatre.org
October 19-20: 19K Productions’ In the Trenches: A Parenting Musical
In the Elaine Wolf Theatre in the Mizel Arts and Cultural Center, 350 South Dahlia St., jccdenver.org/JAAMM
October 19-20: Stories On Stage’s A Little Fright Music: A collaboration with the Colorado Chamber Players
*October 19 at the Nomad Playhouse, 1410 Quince Ave., Boulder
*October 20 at the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive
303-494-0523 or storiesonstage.org
October 19-30: Control Group Productions’ Cutting Room Floor: An immersive ghost tour of the Aurora Fox
At the Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., 303-739-1970 or aurorafoxartscenter.org
October 21: Source Theatre Company’s Monday! Monday! Monday! Cabaret
At Su Teatro, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 720-238-1323 or thesourcedenver.org
October 21: TheatreWorks’ Prologue series with featured guest Laurie Woolery
At the Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org
October 22-27: Blue Man Group: Speechless
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
October 22: No Credit Productions’ Black Radio Days Live!
Hamilton Theatre at the Newman Center for Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., 303-871-7720 or nocredits.com
October 22: Rough Draught Playwrights’ quarterly Theatrical Playground
The Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St., roughdraught.playwrights
October 23-26: Lone Tree Arts Center’s Motones vs. Jerseys
10075 Commons St., just west of Interstate 25 and Lincoln Avenue, 720-509-1000 or lonetreeartscenter.org
October 24-November 17: Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s The Realistic Joneses
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org
October 24-November 17: Flame Broiled. or the ugly play
Carsen Theater at The Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-379-4470 or localtheatercompany.org
October 24-27: Benchmark Theatre’s Fever Dream Festival
1560 Teller St., Lakewood, benchmarktheatre.com
October 25-26: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s Carrie the Musical: A Staged Concert
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org
October 25-November 9: Coal Creek Theater of Louisville’s The Importance of Being Earnest
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., 303-665-0955 or cctlouisville.org
October 25-November 2: Iron Springs Chateau’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show
444 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104 or ironspringschateau.com
October 25-November 2: StageDoor Theatre’s Into the Woods
25797 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-838-0809 or stagedoortheatre.org
October 26-27: Millibo Art Theatre’s The Spooky MilliBOO! (for children)
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org
October 28: BDT Stage’s The Barton Brothers (concert)
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
October 31-November 3: Shakuntala, an adaptation of the play by Kalidasa
At the Loft Theatre, University of Colorado Boulder, 303-492-8008 or cupresents.org
October 31-November 24: Cherry Creek Theatre’s Tuesdays with Morrie
At the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-800-6578 or cherrycreektheatre.org
November 1-10: Phamaly Theatre Company’s Come to Your Senses, a one-act play festival
At the RedLine Contemporary Art Center, 2350 Arapahoe St., 303-575-0005 or phamaly.org
November 1-December 15, 2019: Vintage Theatre’s Looped
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com
November 2-December 15: Curious Theatre’s The Thanksgiving Play
1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org
November 2-30: Curious Theatre Company’s The Full Monty
Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-484-5237 or openstagetheatre.org
CONTINUING THEATRE PRODUCTIONS IN COLORADO:
Through October 18: Miners Alley Playhouse’s Once
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com
Brian Colonna and Hannah Duggan.
Through October 19: Buntport Theater’s Universe 92
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
Through October 19: OpenStage Theatre & Company’s Every Brilliant Thing
At the Debut Theatre, 827 Riverside Ave., Fort Collins, 970-484-5237 or openstagetheatre.org
Through October 20: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org
Through October 26: Equinox Theatre Company’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
At the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinoxtheatredenver.com
Through October 27: Jester’s Dinner Theatre’s I Do, I Do
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com
Through October 27: Vintage Theatre’s The Addams Family
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com
Through November 17: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com
Through November 24: DCPA Theatre Company’s A Doll’s House and A Doll’s House, Part 2, in repertory
At the Ricketson Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
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.