Summertime in Colorado: A time for play … and plays

Summer theatre
Creede is one of Colorado’s many hidden mountain gems that offers both recreational activities and some of the best live theatre in the region. Photo courtesy Creede Repertory Theatre.

By Avery Anderson
For the DCPA NewsCenter

Colorado offers a plethora of summer activities such as hiking, camping, white-water rafting and iconic nights at landmarks such as Red Rocks or Coors Field. But there are also a surprising number of live theatregoing opportunities across the state.

Summer is when summer repertory companies open from GraBenjamin Cowhick 2 nd Lake to Dillon to Creede to Breckenridge to Boulder to Greeley to Pagosa Springs and beyond. The statewide lineup holds an array of offerings from BDT Stage’s re-envisioning of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat to lesser-known contemporary musicals such as [title of show] in Trinidad. But the most popular title of the summer is the musical S ister Act, which is being staged in Greeley, Dillon and Pagosa Springs.

A busy upcoming summer at the Denver Center includes a new weekly collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art called Mixed Taste; the original drag-meets-Comic Con party DragOn; and, of course, the pre-Broadway run of Frozen

But here we focus on 10 intriguing titles for summer from throughout the state, in order of opening, followed by every Colorado theatre company’s current schedule. (To update or correct your company’s schedule, email jmoore@dcpa.org).

As you travel the state this summer, remember to combine theatre with your tourism experience.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: As the summer progresses, we’re deleting our featured choices below that have already closed.)

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NUMBER 1Divorcées, Evangelists & Vegetarians
Su Teatro
NOW CLOSED!

Kicking off our summer recommendations is Divorcées, Evangelists & Vegetarians. Denver’s only company dedicated to plays for the Chicano community tells the story of three single women – a divorcee, an evangelist and a vegetarian – who discover that before they can be liberated, they must clash with male expectations.

721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or su teatro’s home page

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NUMBER 2Colorado Shakespeare Festival
Boulder
Through Aug. 13

Summer theatre 800 5The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is celebrating its 60th season with The Taming of the Shrew, Julius Caesar, Hamlet and Henry VI Part 3. The nation’s second-oldest Shakespeare festival will continue its recent deep-dive into gender fluidity by casting a female Hamlet, and she’s an actor familiar to DCPA Theatre Company audiences. Lenne Kingaman, who played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and two roles in Appoggiatura, will be mulling the meaning of her existence on the University of Colorado’s intimate indoor stage. (Read our full interview.) 
At the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre and University Mainstage, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or colorado shakes’ home page

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NUMBER 3The Play Crawl
And Toto Too Theatre Company

NOW PASSED!

Summer theatre For one night only, And Toto Too Theatre Company will hold its annual play crawl. For this unique fundraiser, audiences are treated to 11 short, original playlets written by local women writers as they roam Tennyson Street between 38th and 44th Avenues. Plays are staged in gardens, bars, galleries and even the Denver Cat Company coffee shop. It all culminates with a party at the Oriental Theatre. And Toto Too is dedicated exclusively to producing works by female playwrights.
At 44th Avenue and Tennyson Street, 720-583-3975 or andtototoo.org

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NUMBER 4Disney’s Newsies
Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre

Through Aug. 24

The venerable Rocky Mountain Rep celebrates its 50th anniversary season in Grand Lake with Disney’s hit stage production that follows the 1899 Newsboy Strike from the eyes of fictional paperboy Jack Kelly. Based on the 1992 movie, this musical stage adaptation features music by Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast) and a book by Harvey Fierstein. The original production was nominated for eight Tony Awards, and won two.
800 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com

NUMBER 5Ring of Fire
Vintage Theatre

Through Aug. 6

What’s better than country music on a summer day? How about an entire musical filled with country music? Ring of Fire features the music of Johnny Cash, including such as “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line” This tribute to “The Man in Black” is directed by Kelly Van Oosbree.
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintage’s home page

Summer theatre 800 3

NUMBER 6Ghost
Lake Dillon Theatre Company

July 1- Aug. 24

Lake Dillon Theatre Company moves into its new $9 million, 16,000 square-foot Silverthorne Performing Arts Center with the musical stage adaptation of the popular ’90s movie. Just as in the movie, a woman struggling to accept the death of her lover enlist the help of  a psychic to help the two communicate. SPAC will include multiple theaters and an arts education lab. READ OUR COVERAGE OF THE OPENING
460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne,  970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

NUMBER 7Sex With Strangers
Theatre Aspen

July 6-Aug. 12

Robblee, JessicaIn this provocative contemporary romance written by Cherry Creek High School alumna Laura Eason, two people are forced together in a secluded B&B with no TV or Internet. Denver actor Jessica Robblee (DCPA Theatre Company’s Frankenstein) stars alongside New York actor Patrick Ball. The Director is Christy-Montour Larson (DCPA’s Two Degrees).
The Hurst Theatre  470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org

NUMBER 8Annie
Phamaly Theatre Company

July 15-Aug. 3

You may know the story of Annie, but you have not seen America’s favorite orphan through the lens of Phamaly, Denver’s acclaimed theatre company that makes performance opportunities available to actors with disabilities. Phamaly’s approach to this well-worn story will be more raw and humanistic, says Phamaly Artistic Director Regan Linton. “These are hardened orphans who have faced a lot of adversity in their lives, just like the actual young actors in our cast who are going to be playing these roles,” Linton said. READ MORE
At the Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-575-0005 or phamaly’s home page

NUMBER 9Much Ado About Nothing
July 27-Aug. 19

Colorado Springs TheatreWorks
At Rock Ledge Ranch

Summer theatreThe Colorado Shakespeare Festival is not the only company tackling the Bard this summer. Audiences can once again experience the Bard at the stunning outdoor Rock Ledge Ranch at the base of the Garden of the Gods with a new staging of Much Ado About Nothing. This Colorado Springs tradition was started by Colorado Springs TheatreWorks founder Murray Ross, who died in January. The company has dedicated the upcoming season to him.
3105 Gateway Road, Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

NUMBER 10General Store
Creede Repertory Theatre

Aug. 18-Sept. 16

In this world premiere, the owner of the local general store is determined not to let anything stop him from holding onto his small piece of the America Dream. This big-buzz new play, which actually kicks off the fall sesaon, is written by Colorado native Brian Watkins and will star Logan Ernstthal (Miners Alley Playhouse’s A Skull in Connemara) and be directed by Christy Montour-Larson. Summer titles include She Loves Me, The Syringa Tree and Arsenic and Old Lace.
124 Main St., 719-658-2540 or creederep.org


COLORADO SUMMER THEATRE SCHEDULES

(The following listings are through September 2017. Send updates or additions to jmoore@dcpa.org.)

5th WALL PRODUCTIONS
At The Bakery 2132 Market St., ticketleap.com
July 13-28: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

ADAMS MYSTERY PLAYHOUSE
Presented by Marne Interactive Productions, 2406 Federal Blvd., 303-455-1848 or adams’ home page
Ongoing events and rotating shows

AND TOTO TOO
44th and Tennyson Street, 720-583-3975 or andtototoo.org
No summer events scheduled

ARVADA CENTER
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org
Sept. 12-Oct. 1: A Chorus Line

AURORA FOX ARTS CENTER
9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org
Season 33 to be announced July 10

THE AVENUE THEATER
417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or the avenue’s home page
No summer events scheduled

BAS BLEU THEATRE
401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org
July 27-30: Theatre Esprit Asia’s Coming to America: Boat Person & Antecedent

BENCHMARK THEATRE
benchmarktheatre.com
No summer events scheduled

BiTSY STAGE
720-328-5294 bitsystage.com
No summer events scheduled

BOULDER ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., 303-440-7826 or betc’s home page
Sept. 14-Oct. 8: The Revolutionists

Jack BartonBDT STAGE
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdt’s home page
Through Aug. 19: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat READ MORE
Aug. 25-Nov. 11: Rock of Ages

BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
boulderfringe.com
Aug. 18-27 at venues around Boulder

BRECKENRIDGE BACKSTAGE THEATRE
121 S. Ridge St., 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org
Through Aug. 6: The Producers
July 7-Aug. 12: Buyer and Cella
Aug. 25-Sept. 4: Billy Elliot (at the Riverwalk Amphitheatre)

BUNTPORT THEATER
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport’s home page Buntport.com
No new productions scheduledcheck web site for monthly offerings

CANDLELIGHT DINNER PLAYHOUSE
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970) 744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com
Through Aug. 27: The Slipper and the Rose
Sept. 7-Nov. 5: The Music Man

THE CATAMOUNTS
At the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or thecatamounts.org
Sept. 8-30: You On the Moors Now

CENTERSTAGE THEATER COMPANY

Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, or tickets.thedairy.org
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., Louisville (see below)

July 15-24, 2017: In the Heights (Youth performers) (At Dairy Center, Boulder)
303-444-7328 or thedairy.org

July 27-Aug. 6, 2017: Godspell (Youth performers) (At Louisville Center for the Arts) ticket info

CENTRAL CITY OPERA
124 Eureka St., 303-292-6700 or centralcityopera.org
July 8-Aug. 6: Carmen
July 15-Aug. 6: Così fan tutte
July 26-Aug. 6: The Burning Fiery Furnace
July 26-Aug. 6: Cabildo
July 26 through Aug. 6: Gallantry

COAL CREEK THEATRE OF LOUISVILLE
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., 303-665-0955 or cctlouisville.org
No summer events scheduled

COLORADO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
At the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre and University Mainstage, CU-Boulder campus, 303-492-0554 or colorado shakes’ home page
Through Aug. 13: The Taming of the Shrew, outdoors
Through Aug. 13: Hamlet, indoors
July 7-Aug. 12: Julius Caesar, outdoors
July 21-Aug. 13: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, indoors
Aug. 6-8: Henry VI, Part 3 (Original Practices), outdoors

COLORADO SPRINGS FINE ARTS CENTER
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or www.csfineartscenter.org
Sept. 8-Oct. 1: Parallel Lives
Sept. 16: An Evening with Jim Breuer

CREEDE REPERTORY THEATRE
124 Main St., 719-658-2540 or creederep.org
Through Aug. 11: Pants on Fire
Through Aug. 10: She Loves Me
Through Aug. 26: The Syringa Tree
Through Sept. 9: Boomtown
June 30-Aug 9: Arsenic and Old Lace
July 14-Sept. 15: Talley’s Folley
Aug. 18-Sept. 14: General Store

CURIOUS THEATRE
1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curious’ home page 
Sept. 2-Oct. 14: Appropriate

DAIRY ARTS CENTER

Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-444-7328 or tickets.thedairy.org
June 3-July 23: Tommy Koenig’s Baby Boomer Baby

Dixie Longate Photo by Bradford RogneDENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or the denver center’s home page
July 5-Aug 23: Mixed Taste, Seawell Ballroom
July 15-Aug. 6: Phamaly Theatre Company’s Annie, Stage Theatre
July 19-Aug. 6: Dixie’s Tupperware Party, Garner Galleria (Photo at right)
Aug. 9-27: Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Live!, Garner Galleria Theatre
Aug, 17-Oct. 1: Frozen, Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Sept. 21-Oct. 22: Girls Only – The Secret Comedy of Women, Garner Galleria

THE EDGE THEATER
1560 Teller St., Lakewood, 303-232-0363 or the edge’s home page
Through July 2: Mud Blue Sky
July 14-Aug. 6: Bad Jews
Aug. 25-Sept. 17: Dinner

EQUINOX THEATRE COMPANY
At the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinox’s home page
Through July 1: The Rocky Horror Show
July 28-Aug. 19, 2017: Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story

EVERGREEN PLAYERS
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreen players’ home page
July 15-Aug. 6: Monty Python’s Spamalot
Aug. 25-26: EPiC summer improv

FIREHOUSE THEATER COMPANY
At the John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-562-3232 or firehouse’s home page  Through July 15: Rock of Aging

FUNKY LITTLE THEATER COMPANY
2109 Templeton Gap Road, Colorado Springs, 719-425-9509 or funkylittletheater.org
No summer events scheduled

GERMINAL STAGE-DENVER
At Westminster High School, 69th Avenue and Raleigh Street
303-455-7108 or www.germinalstage.com
July 28-Aug. 20: Seascape
Sept. 22-Oct.15: The Master Builder

INSPIRE CREATIVE
At the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker, parkerarts.org
July 14-Aug. 6: Hairspray (with Parker Arts)

JESTERS DINNER THEATRE

224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com
Through July 2: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

LAKE DILLON THEATRE COMPANY
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org
Through Aug. 13, 2017: Sister Act
June 30-July 9: Buyer and Cellar
July 1-Aug. 24: Ghost
Aug. 11-20: Grounded
Sept. 1-17: Noises Off
Sept. 15-24: Pretty Fire
Nov. 24-Dec. 17: Murder for Two

LITTLE THEATRE OF THE ROCKIES
University of Northern Colorado campus, 970-351-4849 or littletheatrerockies.com
Through July 16: Baby
Through July 23: Simply Simone
June 29-July 21: Proof
July 27-July 30: Sister Act

LONE TREE ARTS CENTER
10075 Commons St., 720-509-1000, lone tree’s home page
June 10: An evening with Betty Buckley

LONGMONT THEATRE COMPANY
513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200 or longmont’s home page
July 15-Aug. 6: As You Like It (multiple locations)  

LOWRY SPOTLIGHT THEATER COMPANY
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. First Place, 720-880-8727 or thisisspotlight.com
Through July 30: It’s Only a Play (At Vintage Theatre)
July 29-Aug. 26: On Golden Pond

MIDTOWN ARTS CENTER
3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, (970) 225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com
Through Aug. 26: Hair

MILLIBO ART THEATRE
1626 S. Tejon St. Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org
July 21-Aug. 26, 2017: Circus of the Night

MINERS ALLEY PLAYHOUSE
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or map’s home page
July 14-Aug. 20: Broadway Bound
Sept. 8-Oct. 15: Les Liasons Dangereuses

OPENSTAGE & COMPANY
Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-484-5237 or openstagetheatre.org
Through July 1: The Three Musketeers              
Sept. 21-Oct. 14, 2017: Ideation (At ArtLab, 239 Linden St., Fort Collins)

PACE CENTER
20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker, parkerarts.org
July 14-Aug. 6: Hairspray (with Inspire Creative)

PERFORMANCE NOW
Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, 303-987-7845 or performancenow.org

PHAMALY THEATRE COMPANY
At the Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-575-0005 or phamaly’s home page
July 13-Aug. 6: Annie 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REPERTORY THEATRE
800 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or rockymountainrep.com
Through Aug. 26: Mamma Mia
Through Aug. 24: Newsies
June 30-Aug. 25: West Side Story
Sept. 1: Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver

SENIOR HOUSING OPTIONS
The Barth Hotel, 1514 17th St. seniorhousingoptions.org
Stella and Lou (presented by Vintage Theatre)

SOUTHERN COLORADO REPERTORY THEATRE
At the Famous Performing Arts Center, 131 W Main St., Trinidad, 719-846-4765 or scrtheatre.com
Through Sept. 1: [title of show]
July 1-Sept. 2: Dames at Sea
July 21-Aug. 18: The Murder Room

SPRINGS ENSEMBLE THEATRE
1903 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, 719-357-3080 or springsensembletheatre.org
July 20-Aug. 6: Gidion’s Knot

SQUARE PRODUCT THEATER
At the ATLAS Black Box Theater on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, 1125 18th St., Boulder, squareproducttheatre.org
July 29-Aug. 12: House of Gold

STAGEDOOR THEATRE
27357 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-886-2819, 800-838-3006 or stagedoor’s home page
No summer events scheduled

STAR BAR PLAYERS
The Cottonwood Center for the Arts, 427 E. Colorado, Colorado Springs or starbarplayers.org
No summer events scheduled

STEAMPLANT THEATRE
220 W. Sackett Ave., Salida, 719-530-0933 or salidasteamplant.com
No summer events scheduled

SU TEATRO
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or su teatro’s home page
No summer events scheduled

THEATRE ASPEN
The Hurst Theatre  470 Rio Grande Place, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org
Through Aug. 19: Hairspray
July 6-Aug. 12: Sex With Strangers
July 13-Aug. 15: The World According to Snoopy

THEATRE COMPANY OF LAFAYETTE
Mary Miller Theater, 300 E. Simpson, 720-209-2154 or tclstage.org
July 15-Aug. 6: As You Like It (Various locations)

THEATRE ESPRIT ASIA
teatheatre.org
July 27-30: Coming to America: Boat Person and Antecedent (at Bas Bleu Theatre, Fort Collins)

THEATREWORKS
3955 Regent Circle, Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org
July 27-Aug. 19: Much Ado About Nothing, at Rock Ledge Ranch (3105 Gateway Road)
Sept. 7-24: Heisenberg, at the Bon Vivant Theatre

THIN AIR THEATRE COMPANY
Butte Theatre, 139 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, 719-689-3247 or thinairtheatre.com
June 2-July 28: A Cripple Creek Ragtime Revue
June 23-Aug. 24: After Dark
June 30-Aug. 26: Annie, Get Your Gun
Sept. 1-23: The Nerd

THINGAMAJIG THEATRE COMPANY
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org
Through Aug. 25: Aida
Through Aug. 26: Hairspray
July 8-Aug. 27: Big River
July 15-Aug. 26: Sister Act

THUNDER RIVER
67 Promenade, Carbondale, 970-963-8200 or thunderrivertheatre.com
Through July 1: The Memory of Water

TOWN HALL ARTS CENTER
2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or town hall’s home page
Sept. 8-Oct. 8: In the Heights

THE UPSTART CROW
Nomad Playhouse, 1410 Quince Ave., Boulder, 303-442-1415 or upstart’s home page
No summer events scheduled

VINTAGE THEATRE
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintage’s home page
Through July 23: It’s Only a Play (with Spotlight Theatre)
Through Aug. 6: Ring of Fire
July 13-23: Stella and Lou (with Senior Housing Options at the Barth Hotel)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Avery-Anderson Avery Anderson is interning with the DCPA NewsCenter for the summer. He is the General Manager and producer of Met TV at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He was won two Heartland Student Emmy Awards for his work on The Met Report. He has a passion for local arts and culture and enjoys covering theatres across the Denver area and the state. Follow him on Twitter and @a_anderson64.

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