Brian Shea, whose roots with the Denver Center go back to 1997, is both a DCPA Teaching Artist and the Male Understudy in ‘Anna Karenina.’ Photo by Brian Landis Folkins.

‘We are talking about people who are well-trained, multi-faceted and contribute to the community in a lot of different ways,’ says the director

When the creative team cast the Denver Center Theatre Company’s current production of Anna Karenina, they went to the head of the class. Literally, if not intentionally.

DCPA Teaching Artists Gareth Saxe and Diana Dresser in ‘Anna Karenina.’ Photo by Adams VisCom.

It turns out seven of the 18 adult actors who were ultimately chosen to perform in the epic adaptation of Tolstoy’s masterpiece are not only highly trained actors, they also happen to be employed as Teaching Artists by DCPA Education, a division of the Denver Center that serves more than 140,000 students of all ages every year. The list includes a Broadway veteran who played Scar in Disney’s The Lion King, DCPA Education’s Head of Acting and three graduates of the Denver Center’s former National Theatre Conservatory master’s program:

• Diana Dresser
• Kate Gleason
• Timothy McCracken
• Chloe McLeod
• Leigh Nichols Miller
• Brian Gregory Shea
• Gareth Saxe (The Lion King)

It happened by complete coincidence. Only there are no coincidences, really, says Director (and Artistic Director) Chris Coleman. It was not intentional. Nor was it a goal. But Coleman said the fact that those particular actors and educators rose to the top of the highly competitive audition process makes perfect sense. Because DCPA Education, he said bluntly, only hires the best.

“I think that shows what great resources and artistic depth we have in this Denver community,” said Coleman, whose staging of Anna Karenina continues through February 24. “We are talking about people who are well-trained, multi-faceted and contribute to the community in a lot of different ways.”

DCPA Education Executive Director Allison Watrous, herself a graduate of the National Theatre Conservatory, finds this unexpected casting outcome to be confirming – but unsurprising.

“We are committed to hiring a faculty of educators and artists of the highest level because it is inspirational to study the craft of acting with working professionals,” Watrous said. “These incredible artists are the best of the best, and they truly embody what it means to be a Teaching Artist – the passion of the art and the passion in the classroom.”

But casting so many working educators did have one down side, Coleman said.

“It made it a pain in the butt to schedule Saturday morning rehearsals,” he said with a laugh.

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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.

‘Anna Karenina’ Casting by Harriet Bass, CSA and Grady Soapes, CSA

Spotlighting some DCPA Teaching Artists in Anna Karenina:

‘Anna Karenina’ Teaching Artists, clockwise from top left: Diana Dresser, Kate Gleason, Timothy McCracken, Chloe McLeod, Leigh Nichols Miller, Brian Gregory Shea and Gareth Saxe.

Teaching Artists Diana Dresser and Kate Gleason on the first day of rehearsal for ‘Anna Karenina.’ Photo by John Moore

Kate Gleason (Mother Scherbatsky)

• Hometown: Johnstown, Pennsylvania
• Home now: Denver
• College: Boston College
• When did you move to Colorado? Around six years ago
• Your role with DCPA Education: I am a Teaching Artist and private acting coach who works with teens and adults. I work with our Teen Intensive in the summers, and during the year I teach a variety of classes for adults including Intro to Acting, Scene Study and master classes.
• Your history with the Denver Center Theatre Company: While I was living in New York, I was cast in three shows here: Don Quixote, The Last Night of Ballyhoo and Loves Labor’s Lost. I always loved Denver and knew one day I would be back. Since moving to Colorado I have performed in the Colorado New Play Summit, Heartbreak House, Death of a Salesman and now Anna Karenina.
• What does it mean to you that so many local actors, including DCPA Teaching Artists, are part of the Anna Karenina ensemble? Denver has such a rich and diverse group of talented actors and artists. It’s such a joy to work with my fellow Teaching Artists and so many brilliant actors I have seen perform in the area but have never worked with. I’m so thrilled that Chris Coleman has welcomed so many new faces to the Denver Center and cannot wait to see how the community informs our upcoming seasons.
• What does the casting of Anna Karenina say about the Denver Center’s commitment to the local performing community? The Denver Center has long been a beacon of great performance and storytelling. It attracts the best designers and directors. It’s fantastic to have an Artistic Director and Casting Director (Grady Soapes) who appreciate all that Denver performers have to offer. I’m excited to see what is in store for the future.
• What excites you most about Anna Karenina? I’m excited for our audience to see this stunningly beautiful story brought to life so vibrantly and passionately by so many amazing and talented artists. From direction to design, this is a magnificent and beautifully created piece of storytelling. Here’s to many more.

DCPA Head of Acting Timothy McCracken teaches a group of young professionals in a class on Public Speaking in the Randy Weeks Conservatory Theatre. Photo by John Moore.

Timothy McCracken (Stiva)

• Hometown: Helena, California
• Home now: Denver
• College: Whitman College
• Master’s: National Theatre Conservatory
• When did you move to Colorado? I lived here from 1991-1994 for graduate school and returned in 2010 after living in New York for 16 years.
• Your role with DCPA Education: I am the Head of Acting for the Adult Acting Program. I coordinate the hiring of instructors, create curriculum, teach up to three classes per quarterly session and direct several Master Class Projects throughout the year. I also privately coach for acting and public speaking.
• Your history with the Denver Center Theatre Company: I have been fortunate to play a variety of roles over the years. In the past two seasons, I played Brian in Smart People, understudied Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and am now playing Stiva in Anna Karenina.
• What does it mean to you that so many local actors, including DCPA Teaching Artists, are part of the Anna Karenina ensemble? I think it is terrific. Having an opportunity to work as an actor alongside artists I’ve seen on stage, or have worked alongside teaching, is a gift.
• What does the casting of Anna Karenina say about the Denver Center’s commitment to the local performing community? There is no question that Chris Coleman, (Associate Artistic Director) Charlie Miller, Grady Soapes and the entire team involved in casting has opened more doors and created more opportunities for both union and non-union local actors. I think there is a great deal of local talent in Colorado, and it’s wonderful to see it utilized.
• What excites you most about Anna Karenina? I love the theatricality of the play. It uses a beautifully created space supported by all of the other wonderful design elements to take the audience on the journey. I also love the ensemble in this play. Every single cast member is a vital part of the storytelling.

Teaching Artist Chloe McLeod in the classroom and performing in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as part of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Photos by John Moore for the DCPA NewsCenter

Chloe McLeod (Female Understudy)

• Hometown: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Home now: Denver
• College: American Musical and Dramatic Academy
• Master’s: National Theatre Conservatory,
• When did you move to Colorado? 2012
• Your role with DCPA Education: I am part of the Shakespeare in the Parking Lot school tour, which travels to high schools and middle schools all over Colorado. I am also a Teaching Artist working with students ranging from Pre-K to high school.
• Your history with the Denver Center Theatre Company: I have been the Female Understudy for A Christmas Carol for the past three years. Last year, I also got the chance to play Selena in Off-Center’s production of This is Modern Art.
• What does it mean to you that so many local actors, including DCPA Teaching Artists, are part of the Anna Karenina ensemble? It shows the value of a Teaching Artist. Continuing to both perform and teach makes us better in both worlds.
• What does the casting of Anna Karenina say about the Denver Center’s commitment to the local performing community? It shows a dedication to highlighting local talent and shows other cities that Denver has a lot to offer. There seems to be this perception that New York actors are more talented simply because they’re from New York. Of course there are thousands of talented actors in New York, but there are also millions of talented actors based in cities across the country as well. It’s exciting to showcase actors from cities both big and small.
• What excites you most about Anna Karenina? As an understudy, I have an interesting perspective because I’m able to watch the audience in addition to the actors throughout the whole process. I can’t wait to see how different audiences respond to this stunning and at times heartbreaking journey.

Deeper dive: Take a closer look at Anna Karenina

Timothy McCracken, left, and Leigh Nichols Miller in ‘Anna Karenina.’ Photo by Adams VisCom

Leigh Nichols Miller (Ensemble)

• Hometown: Orinda, California
• Home now: Centennial
  

  Leigh Nichols Miller performing in Off-Center’s ‘Travelers of the Lost Dimension.’ Photo by Adams VisCom.

• College: Colorado College
• Master’s: National Theatre Conservatory
• When did you move to Colorado? First to attend Colorado College in 1996. I moved back to Colorado permanently in 2004.
• Your role with DCPA Education: I have taught Low-Flying Trapeze to adults and teens for two years.
• Your history with the Denver Center Theatre Company: I have worked on Denver Center stages since 2009, when I was a student at the National Theatre Conservatory. Credits include Frankenstein, Sweet & Lucky, Jackie and Me, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Richard III.
• What does it mean to you that so many local actors, including DCPA Teaching Artists, are part of the Anna Karenina ensemble? I am honored to be part of the Colorado arts community, and to see the Denver Center Theatre Company continue to welcome local artists to its stages is thrilling. I am very encouraged to see new Artistic Director Chris Coleman make such a clear showing of support for the Colorado theatre community. It means a lot to all of us.
• What does the casting of Anna Karenina say about the Denver Center’s commitment to the local performing community? I think the Denver Center Theatre Company has always made an effort to include the local performing community. With the recent arrival of Chris Coleman, it is additionally heartening to see tangible evidence of that ongoing commitment.
• What excites you most about Anna Karenina? The Doorman.

Brian Shea (Male Understudy)

• Hometown: Westport, Connecticut
• Home now: Denver
• College: New York University
• Master’s: National Theatre Conservatory
• When did you move to Colorado? First to attend the National Theatre Conservatory in 1997. I moved back here permanently in 2006.
• Your role with DCPA Education: I teach mostly On-Camera Acting, but in the summer I teach a variety of classes to youths and teens, including Stage Combat, Filmmaking, Scene Study and more.
• Your history with the Denver Center Theatre Company: My credits include Death of a Salesman, The Tempest, Gross Indecency, A Winter’s Tale and A Christmas Carol (three times!). I have had understudy roles in Taming of the Shrew, Grace or the Art of Climbing, Other Desert Cities and Frankenstein.
• What does it mean to you that so many local actors, including DCPA Teaching Artists, are part of the Anna Karenina ensemble? As an understudy on this show, I was thrilled to see that the cast was made up of so many local actors, colleagues and friends.
• What does the casting of Anna Karenina say about the Denver Center’s commitment to the local performing community? It’s a great testament to the kind of talent pool we have in this terrific theatre community.
• What excites you most about Anna Karenina? I’m excited for people to experience this beautiful, cohesive ensemble bring this 800-page novel to life in an engaging, poignant, funny, touching way.

Other local Anna Karenina actors:

• Heather Lacy (DCPA Cabaret’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; Doyle and Debbie)
• Luciann Lajoie (Off-Center’s DATE)
• Anastasia Davidson (Colorado New Play Summit 2018 and 2019)
• Alaina Beth Reel  (DCPA Education’s Sarah Ruhl’s Orlando, 2018 Colorado New Play Summit)
• Erik Fellenstein (Local Theatre Company’s The Rape of the Sabine Women)
• Cameron Varner (The Catamounts’ Rausch)

Child actors:

• Ronan Oisin Marvin and Brooks Garvey (both students at Colorado School of Acting)

Gallery: Anna Karenina production photos

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

Anna Karenina: Ticket information

• Written by: Kevin McKeon, adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy; original music by Randall Robert Tico
• Year: Original novel published in 1877; stage adaptation premiered in 2012
• Director: Chris Coleman
• Dates: Through February 24
• Where: Stage Theatre
• Genre: Adaptation of Tolstoy’s classic story of love and marriage in Imperial Russia
  
• Tickets: Start at $30 and can be purchased at denvercenter.org, 303-893-4100 or in person in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex at 14^th and Curtis streets.

Video bonus: Behind the scenes at Anna Karenina: