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‘Tis the season: Colorado theatre listings for December
Buntport Theater is bringing back ‘…and this is my significant bother,’ based on the stories of James Thurber, for three performances only.
Holiday tidings are not quite all there is to offer on Colorado stages this month
A Christmas Carol may be taking this solstice off at the Denver Center, but you can still see variations on the Dickens classic both serious and silly at no less than seven Colorado theatres from Boulder to Breckenridge. This month will be filled with traditional holiday fare on Colorado stages, as well as more irreverent endeavors. Like, say, Christopher Willard performing his zany, one-man adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” There also will be lots of Christmas cabaret concerts, including Tony Award nominee Beth Malone performing two New Year’s Eve fundraising shows for Thunder River Theatre Company in Carbondale before heading back to New York for the coming off-Broadway debut of the Denver Center-born The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Steven J. Burge will be singing holiday songs and reading David Sedaris stories for his cabaret, Homo for the Holidays. Another offering of note: The long-running sketch-comedy favorite Santa’s Big Red Sack did not go down with the closing of the Avenue Theater after all. Instead, Dave Shirley and company are bringing the show seen by more than 21,000 over the past dozen years to The People’s Building in Aurora for one week only. All of the holiday offerings are spelled out below, with links to further information, so we will focus our monthly “intriguing titles” feature on those rare stagings without a holiday theme.
Lynne Hastings, left, plays Marcus Brutus and Amy Brooks is Julius Caesar for the Springs Ensemble Theatre.
1. Springs Ensemble Theatre’s Julius Caesar. This gender-reversed adaptation will explore what feminine power looks like in the presence of unspeakable violence and in the absence of testosterone. Shakespeare’s tragedy tells of the conspiracy against the Roman dictator and his assassination, but the true protagonist of this psychological drama is is Marcus Brutus, who struggles between the conflicting demands of honor, patriotism and friendship. The power vacuum created by Caesar’s demise is a larger threat to Rome than its senators bargained for. December 5-22 at 1903 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, 719-357-3080 or springsensembletheatre.org
2. The Fine Arts Center Theatre Company’s The Sound of Music. This 60th anniversary production of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical tells the story of young Maria, who leaves her convent in 1930s Austria to serve as governess to the seven mischievous children of a stern Navy captain and helps them narrowly escape the Nazi invasion. Directed by Nathan Halvorson. Starring Lauren Lukacek as Maria and Trevor Martin as Captain von Trapp. December 12 through January 12 at 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or fac.coloradocollege.edu
3. TheatreWorks’ Around the World in 80 Days. One of the greatest adventures ever told follows fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg, who bets he can circumnavigate the world in only 80 days, only to find the task to be far more challenging than he ever imagined. Danger, romance and comic surprises abound in this adaptation of the Jules Verne novel by Cherry Creek High School graduate Laura Eason. Directed by Lavina Jadhwani. Starring Tyler Esselman as Phileas Fogg and Regina Fernandez as Von Darius. December 5-22 at the Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org
4. The Lulubird Project’s Writes of Winter: Hidden Worlds & Strange Negotiations. This evening of off-beat short plays by seven local writers examines the curious connections of love, loyalty and desire in an uncertain world. One reality spills into the next as you encounter literary lovers, a cricket, longing, secrets, otherworldly sensations – and a gnome. The featured playwrights are Jessica Austgen, Tami Canaday, Lisa Wagner Erickson, Ellen K. Graham, Dakota C. Hill, Rebecca Gorman O’Neill and Edith Weiss. Directed by Veronica Straight-Lingo. December 5-21 at Theater 29, 5138 W. 29th Ave., theater29denver.com
5. Buntport Theater’s …and this is my significant bother. Denver’s most enduring collaborative creative ensemble brings back its enigmatic series of vignettes about the trials and tribulations of married life, each based on short stories by James Thurber. Featuring live music by The Hoagies, an acoustic swing band. There will be a food-and-drink reception after every performance. December 13-15 at 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
Colorado theatre 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.
Photo from the Denver-bound ‘Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville.’ Photo by Matthew Murphy.
DECEMBER THEATRE OPENINGS IN COLORADO:
December 3-8: National touring production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org
December 5-24: Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s A Christmas Carol, adapted by Rebecca Remaly Weitz
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org
December 5-22: Springs Ensemble Theatre’s Julius Caesar
1903 E. Cache La Poudre St., Colorado Springs, 719-357-3080 or springsensembletheatre.org
December 5-22: Su Teatro’s Christmas En Colorado
At the Su Teatro Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org
December 5-7: DCPA Education Master Class Project’s Dead Man’s Cell Phone
At the DCPA’s Newman Building, 1101 13th St. Free but advance reservations required at 303-446-4892 or by emailing education@dcpa.org
December 5-21: The Lulubird Project’s Writes of Winter: Hidden Worlds & Strange Negotiations, an evening of short plays by local writers
At Theater29, 5138 W. 29th Ave., theater29denver.com
December 5-22: TheatreWorks’ Around the World in 80 Days
At the Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org
December 5-21: Thunder River Theatre Company’s The Doyle and Debbie Show
67 Promenade, Carbondale, 970-963-8200 or thunderrivertheatre.com
December 5-29: Breckenridge Backstage Theatre’s A Christmas Carol
121 S. Ridge St. 970-453-0199 or backstagetheatre.org
December 6-28: Bug Theatre’s Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
3654 Navajo St., 303-477-9984 or bugtheatre.info
December 6-21: Funky Little Theare Company’s A Doublewide Texas Christmas
1367 Pecan Street, Colorado Springs, 719-471-4462 or funkylittletheater.org
December 6-29: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s Scrooge, Bah Humbug
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com
December 6-14: Fountain Community Theater’s The ReGifters
326 West Alabama Ave., Fountain, 719-233-5192, fountaintheater.org
December 7-22: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum
At the Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre, 119 Park Avenue West, 303-295-1759 or cleoparkerdance.org
December 7-22: Millibo Art Theatre’s Dances With Trolls (for children)
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org
December 7: Millibo Art Theatre’s RiP Improv
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org
December 8 and 15: Dirtyfish Theatre’s Merry Fascist Christmas
At The Walnut Room, 131 Walnut Street, eventbrite.com
December 8: Millibo Art Theatre’s Healing Out Loud
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org
December 9: BDT Stage presents Face (vocal band, sold out)
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
John Leguizamo in ‘Latin History for Morons.’ Photo by Matthew Murphy.
December 10: National touring production of Latin History for Morons
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
December 12-13: DU Prison Arts’ A Christmas Carol, performed by incarcerated women from the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (sold out)
At the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, University of Denver, 2344 E Iliff Ave., newmancenterpresents.com READ MORE
December 12-14: DCPA Education Master Class Project’s Buried Child
At the DCPA’s Newman Building, 1101 13th St. Free but advance reservations required at 303-446-4892 or by emailing education@dcpa.org
December 12-January 12: Fine Arts Center Theatre Company at Colorado College’s The Sound of Music
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or fac.coloradocollege.edu
December 12-21: StageDoor Theatre’s The Little Mermaid
25797 Conifer Road, Conifer, 303-838-0809 or stagedoortheatre.org
December 12-22: Millibo Art Theatre’s Yule Be Naughty Two (Annual Winter Circus Cabaret)
1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321, themat.org
December 12: Evergreen Players’ Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (reading)
At Evergreen Library, 5000 County Highway 73, Evergreen, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org
December 13-15: Buntport Theater’s … and this is my significant bother
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
December 13-24: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s A Very Perry Christmas: A Seasonal Songbook
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org
December 13-22: Northglenn Players’ A Tuna Christmas
DL Parsons Theatre, 11801 Community Center Drive, Northglenn, 303-450-8800 or northglennarts.org
December 14: Alliance Stage’s This Wonderful Life (one-man version performed by Christopher Willard)
At the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 970-404-1288
December 14-15: National touring production of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org
December 14: Stories On Stage’s Making Merry, featuring Jamie Horton, GerRee Hinshaw and Karen Slack
Nomad Playhouse, 1410 Quince Ave. Boulder, 303-494-0523 or storiesonstage.org
December 15: Stories On Stage’s Making Merry, featuring Jamie Horton, GerRee Hinshaw and Karen Slack
At the King Center on the Auraria campus, 855 Lawrence Way, 303-494-0523 or storiesonstage.org
December 15-19: Theatre Aspen Cabaret Series
Performances by Nikki Boxer, Jonathan Gomolka, Sheryl McCallum and Sally Swallow at various locations, 844-706-7387 or theatreaspen.org
December 16: A Piano And Me Holiday Edition: An Evening of Songs by David Nehls
D&F Clock Tower, 16th and Arapahoe streets, 303-293-0075 or clocktowercabaret.com
December 16: Buntport Theater’s We Still Like You
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
December 17: Buntport Theater’s The Great Debate
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
December 17-22: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Holiday Follies
460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org
December 18-22: Lone Tree Arts Center’s Home for the Holidays 2019
10075 Commons St., just west of Interstate 25 and Lincoln Avenue, 720-509-1000 or lonetreeartscenter.org
Jane Shirley in ‘Santa’s Big Red Sack.’
December 18-24: Dave Shirley Presents Santa’s Big Red Sack
The People’s Building, 9995 E Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-218-7315 or santasbigredsack.com
December 18: Vintage Theatre Cabaret Series’ Homo for the Holidays, an evening of holiday songs and David Sedaris stories from Steven J. Burge and Andrew Fisher
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com
December 18: Buntport Theater’s The Narrators
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
December 18: Alliance Stage’s This Wonderful Life (one-man version performed by Christopher Willard)
At the Parker Schoolhouse Theatre, 19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker, 303-805-6800 or parkerarts.org
December 20-January 12: Thingamajig Theatre Company’s A Grand Night For Singing
At the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, 2313 Eagle Drive, 970-731-7469 or pagosacenter.org
December 20-22: Evergreen Players’ Season’s Readings
At Center/Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org
December 20: The Black Actors Guild’s The Guildmas Gala
At the Savoy at Curtis Park, 2700 Arapahoe St., eventbrite.com
December 23-January 5: National touring production of Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org
Colorado native Beth Malone
December 30: The Bug’s Freak Train (every last Monday)
3654 Navajo St., 303-477-9984 or bugtheatre.info
December 31: Thunder River Theatre Company’s Diva Cabaret with Beth Malone
67 Promenade, Carbondale, 970-963-8200 or thunderrivertheatre.com
December 31: BDT Stage presents Face (vocal band)
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
CONTINUING THEATRE PRODUCTIONS IN COLORADO:
Through December 8: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Tiny Beautiful Things
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org
Through December 8: The Windsor Playhouse’s Every Christmas Story Ever Told
561 E. Garden Drive, 970-674-1790 or windsorplayhouse.org
Through December 14: Longmont Theatre Company’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200 or longmonttheatre.org
Through December 15: Vintage Theatre’s Looped
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com
Through December 15: Curious Theatre’s The Thanksgiving Play
1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org
Through December 21: BDT Stage’s Cinderella (for children)
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
Through December 21: Miners Alley Playhouse’s The Story of the Nutcracker (for children)
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com
Through December 21: Iron Springs Chateau’s Christmas Scheming…or…Sittin’ on the Dock of the EBay
444 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104 or ironspringschateau.com
Through December 22: DCPA Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night
Space Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
Kieran O’Brien as Tiny Tim and Aaron Vega as Bob Cratchit in the Arvada Center’s ‘A Christmas Carol.’ Matt Gale Photography
Through December 22: Arvada Center’s A Christmas Carol, The Musical
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org
Through December 22: Firehouse Theater Company’s Calendar Girls
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-562-3232 or firehousetheatercompany.com
Through December 22: Bas Bleu Theatre Company’s Last Train to Nibroc
401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org
Through December 22: Benchmark Theatre’s Parfumerie
1560 Teller St., Lakewood, benchmarktheatre.com
Through December 22: Aurora Fox’s The Second City’s Twist Your Dickens
9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org
Through December 23: Miners Alley Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or minersalley.com
Through December 29: Town Hall Arts Center’s Meet Me In St. Louis
2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or townhallartscenter.com
Through December 29: Arvada Center’s Ella Enchanted! (for children)
In the black-box studio theatre, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org
Through January 4: Cirque Dreams’ Holidaze
6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Boulevard, Aurora, gaylordrockies.com
Through January 4: The Glenwood Vaudeville Revue
915 Grand Ave., 915 Grand Ave., Glenwood Springs, 970-945-9699 or gvrshow.com
Through January 5: DCPA Off-Center’s Camp Christmas
At the Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St, Aurora, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE
Through January 5: Vintage Theatre’s Tuck Everlasting
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com
Through January 19: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com
Through February 16: 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
Through February 22: BDT Stage’s Mamma Mia!
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com
Through March 22: DCPA Cabaret’s The Improvised Shakespeare Company®
Garner Galleria 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.
