A Change is Gonna Come

Even an infrequent patron of the theatre can’t help but notice that, in recent years, the array of options available has undergone a noticeable shift.  The classics are still there – stories that reflect the white (mostly male) experience, some which we have seen repeatedly. The stories spring from the minds of (mostly) white, CIS, […]

A Hot Wing History

The evolution of hot wings in the United States happened more recently than you might think. In 1965, Buffalo wings were a local delicacy in (you guessed it) Buffalo, New York. Their inception is debated, with the widely recognized origin story taking place at Anchor Bar in 1964. While the specifics aren’t clear, it’s believed […]

Trailblazing Black Women Musicians in Colorado

From the archives: this article was originally published on March 9, 2023 THE WIZ strikes a chord with Colorado’s musical roots. Fun fact: Denver once served as a mecca for Jazz musicians and singers, including Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday. Other trailblazing Black women performed in the Mile High City. Here’s a brief overview of […]

Katori Hall: A Playwright for Authentic America

Katori Hall, the playwright behind the Denver Center Theatre Company’s The Hot Wing King, has a celebrated and extensive history with groundbreaking material. Denver audiences might be familiar with the fact that The Hot Wing King received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2021. However, a lesser-known fact is that Hall is one of the […]

Worthy of the Crown: The Hot Wing King Pits Family Against Fame

Royalty comes in many forms. A proud and gleaming crown. A leader, whether head of the household, a proud parent, or the coach of a team. Or even the playful banter between lovers, endearments of “Queen!” that make another person feel warm and shining from the inside out, worthy of love and devotion. This potent […]

A Brief History of Alan Menken

Alan Menken is perhaps best known for his work in musical film scoring, including but certainly not limited to The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Newsies, and Tangled. Theatre enthusiasts might recognize Menken’s stage productions, many of which are adaptations of his work in film and […]

Blood and Power: The Seductive Hungers in Little Shop of Horrors

From the moment we are born until the instant that we die, we hunger. This is our healthy natural instinct as living creatures. We hunger for what will sustain us — physically, emotionally, and in our souls. If our needs are even modestly met, our hungers will retain their modest proportions. But if our needs […]

Contrasting Doo-wop and Death in Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop of Horrors, the 80s musical about a lowly flower shop clerk who makes a Faustian bargain with his man-eating plant, was an unexpected success that has now won the adoration of generations. The show has sci-fi roots in an early short story by H.G. Wells. “The Flowering of the Strange Orchid” about a […]

Cast and Creative Announced for Denver Center Theatre Company’s The Hot Wing King

The Denver Center Theatre Company is excited to announce the full cast and creative team for the Pulitzer Prize-Winning play by Katori Hall, The Hot Wing King, with direction by Timothy Douglas. The Hot Wing King will begin performances in the Kilstrom Theatre on April 25. “Concluding the 2024/25 Theatre Company season is the 2021 […]

Shaping the Future of the American Theatre

Called the “Super Bowl of Theatre” by OnStage Colorado, the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Colorado New Play Summit rests at the pinnacle of new play development in America. And this year’s 19th annual event on March 1 and 2 was no exception. More than 1,500 tickets were distributed to theatre enthusiasts who gathered for readings […]