OnStage Colorado podcast

Later in the episode is an interview Alex did with freelancesound designer Elisabeth Weidner, who talks about her standout work on the Denver Center Theatre Company production of Little Shop of Horrors and what it’s like to focusentirely on the audio component of a theatrical production.

Also this week, our roundup of the Top 10 Colorado Headliners— shows to be on the lookout for. This week’s list, in no particular order:  

Remember Me, Aurora, The People’s Building, May 1-11

Ride the Cyclone, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, May 2-June 8

Pericles: An Adaptive Show for People with CognitiveDisabilities, Touring show with stops in Aurora, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, May 7-24

The Sala Project: Echoes of Curtis Park, Theatre Artibus in The Savoy Denver, May 8-18

Space Cowboy, Wonderbound, Denver, May 8-18
Romeo and Juliet – A Circus Adaptation, Lightbulb Theatre Company at Woodland Park Library, May 3-11

Romeo & Juliet, Upstart Crow Theatre Company, Boulder Dairy Center May 1-18
Cruise to Nowhere, Steel City Theatre Company, Pueblo, May 2-10
The Cottage, Platte Valley Theatre Arts, Armory, Brighton, May 9-17
First Date: A Musical Comedy, Coal Creek Theatre of Louisville,May 2-17

Later in the episode, Alex chats with Meagan Holdeman, founder of Greener Theatre Colorado. The organization looks to help state theatres reduce their waste, recycle things like set pieces, props and more and to mobilize and organize theperforming arts community toward climate-positive practices.

And as uzh (yoozh?), we run down our Top 10 ColoradoHeadliners — upcoming shows to keep an eye out for on Colorado stages. This week’s list:

•  Annie, Jesters Dinner Theater, Longmont, April 4-June 15
• The Wiz, Denver Center, April 8-20
• Collecting Myself, And Toto too Theatre Company, Roaming Gnome, Aurora, April 10-19
• Doubt: A Parable, Springs Ensemble Theatre, Colorado Springs, April 10-27
• Live: An Evening of Dance with 3rd Law, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, April 11-13
• Bright Star, Candlelight, Johnstown, April 10-June 8
• Ballet Masterworks, Colorado Ballet, Denver Center, April 11-20
• Little Shop of Horrors, Denver Center, previews begin April 11; it officially opens on April 18-May 25
• Little Shop of Horrors, Steele City Theatre Co., Pueblo, April 11-27
• The White Chip, BETC, Boulder, April 10-May 4

The Clean House at Bas Bleu in Fort Collins, April4-6:A reader's theatre production about a career-oriented doctor who hires a Brazilian maid too depressed to clean because she dreams of being a comedian.

Perfect Arrangement at Firehouse Theater Company (April 4-May 9): Set in the 1950s, this play follows two gay State Department employees who've married each other's partnersas cover while being tasked with identifying "sexual deviants" in their ranks.

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at Lone Tree Arts Center (April 3-13): Directed by Matt Zambrano and featuring Gareth Saxe as Holmes and Cameron Davis as Watson.

Above My Pay Grade at What If Theater, Lakewood (Fridays and Saturdays in April): A comedy about workplace dynamics and the people who get you through the workday.

Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival in Durango (April 3-6): Four days of concerts, silent movies, seminars and jam sessions at the Durango Art Center and Historic Strater Hotel.

Swan Lakeat Parker PACE Center (April 2): Featuring dancers from the Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Theater.

Motus Playback Theater at Boulder Dairy Center (April 5): An improv theater experience where audience members share stories that are enacted on the spot.

Boulder Ballet Red Ball Annual Benefit at Corrida in Boulder (April 3): Includes rooftop  dance performances and culinary delights.

Stories on Stage: Maybe You Should Stop Talking at Su Teatro, Denver (April 6): Featuring Jessica Robblee, Kristina Fountaine and Geoffrey Kent.

Stoned Twelfth Night, Bowls with the Bard: 12th Night atThe Coffee Joint in Denver (April 3-14): A queer take on Shakespeare's classic that allows audience members to partake in cannabis consumption alongside the performers.

•  The Minutes, OpenStage Theatre & Company, Fort Collins, March 22-April 19
• National Bohemians, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, Golden, March 28-April 20
• Once, Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, March 28-April 27
• A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Arvada Center, March 28-May 11
• Defying Gravity: Bewitching Broadway, Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver, March 29
• Turn of the Screw, Ent Center, Colorado Springs, ends April 6
• The Kitchen Witches, Longmont Theatre Company, ends March 30
• Ruby & Price Start a Cult, Rattlebrain Productions,People’s Building, Aurora, ends April 6
• Grand Horizons, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, ends April 27
• Burlesque - The House of Shimmy Shake, Telluride Theatre, ends March 29

• To the Bone, Three Leaches Theater, Lakewood, March 12-22
• Every Brilliant Thing, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre, March 12-29
• Zyanya Always & Forever, Su Teatro, Denver, March 13-30 
• Downstate, Curious Theatre Company, Denver, previews March13-14; runs March 15-April 13
• STRANGE CREATURES: A Bizarre Mythos for All Ages,Boulder Public Library Canyon Theater, March 15
• You Can’t Take It With You, Magic Circle Players, Montrose, March 14-29
• The Lost Years, Millibo Art Theatre, Colorado Springs, March 13-23
• The Ever and After, Miscreant Theatre Collective at Roaming Gnome Theatre, Aurora, March 13-30
• Celtic Awakening, Denver Brass, Denver Newman Center, March 15-16
• Life of Pi, Denver Center Buell Theatre, March 18-30

In the main segment this week, we turn to theatre tourism and, more specifically, heading to New York. Mark is a frequent visitor to the city to see shows and dispenses some great advice for anyone looking to do the same. BETC is also sponsoring a group trip May 12-18 to NYC, and he gives us the skinny on that.

Later in the episode, Alex catches up with Birgitta DePree from Millibo Art Theatre in Colorado Springs. The MAT is doing a COVID-themed theatre festival this month called “The Lost Years,” where playwrights and performing artists from around the state take stock of the upheaval and its aftermath.

And as usual we run down our Top 10 Colorado Headliners — upcoming shows or events worth noting around the state. Here they are, in no particular order:

• Telluride Fringe Festival, The Palm Theatre, Telluride, March 4-9
• ALICE (in wonderland), Colorado Ballet, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver, March 7-16
• BETC’s Plays with Fire, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, March 7-30
• The Book Club Play, Theatre SilCo, Silverthrone, March 8-23
• The Menagerist, Buntport Theater, Denver, March 9-
• Dog Man: The Musical, Newman Center, Denver, March 8-9
• Hansel & Gretel, Parker Pace Center, March 8
• School of Rock, The Arts Hub, Lafayette, March 7-16
• Rex’s Exes, Historic Rialto Theatre, Florence, produced by Fremont Civic Theatre, March 13-16
• Turn of the Screw, ENT Center, Colorado Springs, March 13-April 6

 Mean Girls, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Feb. 25-March 2

Ride the Cyclone, Colorado Mesa University, Asteria Theatre, Grand Junction, Feb. 27-March 8

Agent Romeo, Wonderbound, Denver, Feb. 27-March 9

Chess, The People’s Building, Aurora, Feb. 28-9

Here to Pee, Junkyard Social Club, Boulder, March 1

The Tin Woman, Impossible Players, Pueblo, Feb. 29-March 14

Becky’s New Car, Coal Creek Theater of Lousville, Feb. 28-March 15

Colorado New Play Summit, Denver Center, March 1-2

• Bogfriends by Jose Sebastian Alberdi
• If God Were Blue by Carey Perloff
• Rust on Bone by Bianca Sams
• How to Conquer America: A Mostly True History of Yogurt by David Myers

Later in the podcast, Alex catches up with DCPA TheatreCompany Artistic Director Chris Coleman for a preview of this year’s Colorado New Play Summit. The annual event showcases new works from four playwrights, and Chris goes over the scripts, the authors and the event itself.

And as always we go over our Top 10 Colorado Headliners —upcoming shows that caught our eye. In no particular order, here’s this week’s list:

• Love Stories: 2 One-ActRomantic Comedies, Butte Theater, Cripple Creek, Feb. 14-23
• Chasing Breadcrumbs, Dairy Arts Center,Boulder, Feb. 20-March 9
• It's My Head!, The Bug Theatre, Denver,Feb. 21
• La bohème, Ellie Caulkins OperaHouse, Denver, Feb. 22-March 2
• Mean Ghouls, Live, Laugh,Lovecraft, Chaos Bloom Theater, Denver, Feb 23
• Le Patin Libre, Newman Center, Denver,Feb. 22
• In Her Bones, Colorado Springs FineArts Center, Feb. 13-March 2
• The Play That Goes Wrong, Steel City Theatre,Pueblo, Feb. 21-March 9
• The Servant of Two Masters, Fort Lewis College, Feb.21-March 1
• Naked Mole Rat GetsDressed, The Rock Experience, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center,Feb. 28-March 30

• The Suffragette’s Murder, DCPA, Denver, PreviewFeb. 7-13; runs Feb. 14-March 9
• Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Feb. 13-23
• Guys and Dolls, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, Feb. 14-March 23
• Clybourne Park, Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities, Feb. 14-March 30 
• The Nasty Show, Comedy Works Downtown (Denver) and South (Greenwood Village), Feb. 16-March 12
• Baskerville, Main Street Live, Trinidad, Feb. 14-24
• Humble Boy, Springboard Productions at Three Leaches Theater, Lakewood
• On Clover Road, Springs Ensemble Theatre, Feb. 13-March 2
• Tiny Beautiful Things, Thunder River Theatre Company, Carbondale, Feb. 14-March 2
• If It’s Monday, It Must Be Murder,Longmont Theatre Company, Feb. 7-16

• LOVESEAT with Mouse Couch, RISE Comedy, Denver, Feb. 7 (and every first Friday of the month)
• If It’s Monday, It Must Be Murder, Longmont Theatre Company, Feb. 7-16
• Swing State, Merely Players Underground, Durango, Feb. 7-16
• I and You, Windsor Community Playhouse, Feb. 7-23
• The Tragedy of Medusa, The People’s Building, Aurora, Feb. 8-22
• Curtains, Porchlight Players, Brush Creek Pavilion, Eagle, Feb. 14-22
• A Brush with Murder, Iron Springs Chateau, Manitou Springs, Feb. 14-16
• Love Letters, Funky Little Theater Co., Palmer Lake Town Hall Feb. 14-16
• Love Stories, Butte Theatre, Cripple Creek, Feb. 14-23
• Maytag Virgin, BETC, Dairy Center, Boulder, Feb. 12

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

02:42 - Recent Theater Experiences

05:45 - Theatrical Innovations and Performances

08:42 - Arts Funding and Political Challenges

11:44 - Honoring Black History Through Arts

14:48 - Community Engagement and Local Events

23:37 - Celebrating Black Culture Through Events

29:14 - Exploring Black History Exhibits

31:12 - Theater and Arts in Black History Month

39:13 - Colorado Headliners - Upcoming Shows and Performances

01:03:29 - Interview with Zachary Chiaro from Merely Players

 Oklahoma!, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Johnstown, Jan. 23-March 30

Morning After Grace, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, Golden, Jan. 24-March 2

Rainbow Cult Presents: Wizard of Oz, Meow Wolf, Denver, Jan. 28

The Mariposa Collective Presents Momentum, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Jan. 31-Feb. 2

Casanova, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver, Jan. 31-Feb. 9

The Heart Sellers, ENT Center Colorado Springs, Jan. 30-Feb. 16

We’re Still Here, Empathy Jam at Boulder Dairy Center, Jan. 24-Feb. 9

Gee’s Bend, Aurora Fox, Jan. 31-Feb. 23

Hope and Gravity, BETC, Jan. 23-Feb. 6 at Savoy Denver; Feb 21-23 at Nomad Playhouse in Boulder

Monthly Women’s Open Mic, Junkyard Social, Boulder, Feb. 2

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Recent Shows

06:37 Exploring 'The Reservoir' by Jake Brash

13:43 A Unique Take on 'Jane Eyre'

20:47 Theater Events in Vail and Community Engagement

26:40 Discussion on 'A Case for the Existence of God'

28:37 Main Topic: Adaptations Between Stage and Screen

29:00 Back to the Future: A Musical Disappointment

30:46 The Nature of Adaptations in Theater

33:44 Successful Stage-to-Screen Adaptations

36:06 The Flops: Failed Adaptations

38:28 Screen-to-Stage Adaptations: The Good and the Bad

43:34 Back to the Future: A Deeper Dive

45:02 Lessons from Adaptations: What Works and What Doesn't

56:50 Interview with Chuck Wilt

1:06 Interview with Oskar Eustis

  See the full list here.

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcasts, Alex Miller and Toni Tresca are joined by special guest host John Moore. A longtime theatre writer in Colorado and senior arts reporter at the Denver Gazette, John is also the creator of the annual True West Awards honoring local theatre folks. He’s also the founder of the Denver Actors Fund, which to date has raised and donated over $1.5 million to theatre folks (and in some cases, their pets).

Also in this episode, Alex interviews The Reservoir playwright Jake Brasch. The Denver native has their first professionally produced work in a world premiere at the Denver Center, opening in previews Jan. 17.

And we’re back with our Top 10 Colorado Headliners, which this week include:  

The 39 Steps, Jan. 11-Feb. 8, Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre, Fort Collins

The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Jan. 16-26, The People’s Building, Aurora

A Case for the Existence of God, Preview Jan. 16-17, runs Jan. 18-Feb. 16, Curious Theatre Company, Denver

Jane/Eyre from Grapefruit Lab with live music by Teacup Gorillat at Buntport Theatre in Denver Jan. 17-Feb. 1

She Kills Monsters, Jan. 17-Feb. 23, Vintage Theatre, Denver

Mary Poppins, Parker PACE Center, Jan. 17-Feb. 9

Kid Detective, A Bildungsroman from Shifted Lens Theatre Company at Roaming Gnome in Aurora, Jan. 11-26

Ghost Quartet, The Catamounts at the Boulder Dairy Center, Jan. 18-Feb. 8

The Time is Always Right from BETC at the Dairy Center in Boulder, Jan. 19 at 2 and 7

Still We Rise from Motus Theater, Jan. 20 at the Dairy Center in Boulder

LuneAseas presents The 5 Points Nutcracker: A Jazz Experience, Dec. 20-22, The Savoy Denver

HoliSLAY, Dec. 20-22, Meow Wolf Denver

The Second City: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly Sweater, Dec. 21, Northglenn Arts, Dec. 22, Lone Tree Arts Center

A Roast of 2024: The 5th Annual Year-End Comedy Roast, Dec. 28, Bug Theatre, Denver

A 1940’s New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder

Rocky Mountain Revels presents: The Ghosts of Hilbert’s Hotel, Dec. 20-22, Boulder

• A Christmas Carol Participation Play, Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, ends Dec. 21
• The Nutcracker Ballet, Colorado West Performing Arts Company, Grand Junction, Dec. 19-23
• Home for Christmas, Colorado Brass, King Center, Denver, Dec. 21-22 (free)
• Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Denver, through Dec. 22

Christmas en Colorado, Su Teatro, Denver, Dec. 5-22

Yule Be Naughty, Millibo Art Theatre, Colorado Springs, Dec. 12-21

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane & Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol (in rep), Merely Players, Durango, Dec. 5-22

Idiot Theatre, Chaos Bloom Theatre, Denver, Dec. 13

2 Guys 1 Mic: Noman Hosni and Zach Mama, The Bug Theatre, Denver, Dec. 16

Amahl and the Night Visitors, Lone Tree Arts Center, Dec. 14

The Adventures of Pinnochio, Dec. 14-15, Boulder Opera, eTown

A Christmas Story, Steel City Theatre Company, Pueblo, Dec. 6-22

Funny Girl, Denver Center, Dec. 10-22

Who’s Holiday, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, Dec. 2-31

Airness, Bas Bleu Theatre, Nov. 29-Dec. 22

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Merely Players, Durango, Dec. 5-21

Saturday Night Standup, Denver Comedy Lounge, Dec. 7 (also happens pretty much every Saturday)

Free Improv Jam & BYOT, Chaos Bloom Theater, Denver, Dec. 7

Little Women, BETC, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Dec. 5-29

alone: un/tethered, HOLDTIGHT, Newman Center, Denver Dec. 5-7

Ski Bum: The Musical, Telluride Theatre, Sheridan Opera House, Dec. 13-22

Sense and Sensibility, ENT Center, Colorado Springs, Nov. 29-Dec. 22

The Lifespan of a Fact, Three Leaches Theater, Dec. 4-14

Eva Noblezada holiday concert, Lone Tree Arts Center, Dec. 20

Also, cuing off a piece in the New York Times, we get into the ever-popular topic of standing ovations. Are they being overused? Do you have to stand even if you weren’t utterly wowed by the show? And is clapping while you head for the doors a dick move?

And of course we review our Top 10 Colorado Headliners for the week:

•   Once Upon a Mattress, Arvada Center, Previews Nov. 20-21, Nov. 22-Dec. 29
• Queen50, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Nov. 22-24
• Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical, Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, Nov. 22-Dec. 29
• Little Women, Firehouse Theatre Company, Denver. Nov. 23-Dec. 23      Scrooge – The Musical, Candlelight, Johnstown, Nov. 21-Jan. 12
• The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, OpenStage, Lakewood Cultural Center, Nov. 22-Dec. 28
• A Christmas Carol, DCPA Theatre Company, Denver, Previews. Nov. 22-27, Nov. 29-Dec. 29
• The Little Mermaid, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Nov. 21-Dec. 29
• GloWING, Theatre Artibus at Denver Savoy, Nov. 21-Dec. 8
• Moms Unhinged, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Nov. 23

• Behind Me is Silence, Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, Durango, Nov. 14-16
• Civic Love Stories With Undocumented Coloradans, Boulder Public Library, Nov. 15
• The Old Man and The Old Moon, The People’s Building, Aurora, Nov. 15-26
• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Spark, Boulder, Nov. 15-22
• 2024 Wild & Scenic Film Festival Denver, The Bug Theatre, Denver, Nov. 19
• Clownsgiving, Junkyard Social, Boulder, Nov. 16
• Abby Apple Boes - ‘She’s Here all Evening,’ Aurora Fox, Nov. 15-16
• 24-Hour Theatre, Durango Arts Center, Nov. 16
• Raised on Ronstadt, Local Theater, eTown, Boulder, Nov. 17
• Jolly Moxie, Wonderbound, Boulder, Dec. 12-22

Later in the episode, Alex catches up with Abby Apple Boes, a well-known theatre artist in Colorado who sings, acts and directs. Abby has a couple of one-woman cabaret performances coming up at the Aurora Fox Nov. 15 and 16 and also will be in the director’s chair for a few shows upcoming.

And as usual we work through our Top 10 list of Colorado Headliners — upcoming shows of note. Here they are:

Into the Woods, CSU University Theatre, Fort Collins, Nov. 1-10

The People’s Cadillac, Atomic Theatre, Wheat Ridge Grange Hall, Nov. 8-16

Antigone, University Theatre Building, Boulder, Nov. 8-17

Mixed Company, Stories on Stage, Su Teatro, Denver, Nov. 10

Denver Immersive Invitational, Denver Immersive, El Jebel, Denver, Nov. 10 

The Man Who Came to Dinner, Viva Theatre, Boulder, Nov. 8-10

INTERZONE, 3rd Law Dance Theater, Boulder, Nov. 8-17

Daughter of the Regiment, Opera Colorado, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver, Nov. 9-17

The Thanksgiving Play, Springs Ensemble Theatre, Nov. 7-24

Confederates, Curious Theatre, Denver, Nov. 7-Dec. 8

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Election Day Context

01:00 - Bootlegging vs. Film Theater: An Overview

02:21 - Weekly Roundup: Recent Shows and Festivals

06:47 -Denver Film Festival Highlights

10:54 - Reefer Madness: A Unique Production

13:02 - Theater News and Announcements

16:09 - Main Topic: Digital Theater and Bootlegging

22:21 - The Debate on Bootlegs and Accessibility

26:01 - Comparing Concerts and Theater: Recording Practices

29:51 - The Evolution of Theater in the Digital Age

31:11 -The Impact of Hamilton on Theater Accessibility

34:05 - Creative Solutions for Regional Theaters

36:03 - The Role of Trailers in Promoting Theater

37:02 - Upcoming Colorado Theater Highlights

52:00 – Conversation with Abby Apple Boes

01:11:08 - Looking Ahead: Future Conversations and Themes

As You Like It, The Coffee Joint, Denver, Oct. 31-Nov. 9

Stop Kiss, Louisville Center for the Arts, Nov. 1-16

Gutenberg! The Musical, Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver, Nov. 2, 2025-May 5, 2025

Reefer Madness: The Musical, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, Nov. 2-30

Denver Film Festival, Nov. 1-10

The City Dog and the Prairie Dog, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Nov. 2-24

Elephant & Piggie's "We Are in a Play!", Denver Center, through Dec. 22

The Squirrels, Westcliffe Community Players, Nov. 1-3

Eyes Up, Mouth Agape, Buntport, Denver, Nov. 1-23

Disney Descendants - The Musical, Steel City Theatre, Pueblo, Oct. 18-Nov. 3

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert, Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex, Oct. 25-26

Mindgame, Wheat Ridge Theatre Company, Oct. 25-Nov. 10

A Twilight Zone Parody: Serling Centennial, Oct. 25-Nov. 10

Matt & Ben, UnLeashed Theatre Company, Oct. 25-Nov. 30

Cannibal the Musical, Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, Oct. 25-Nov. 3

Monopoly Lifesized Travel Edition, DCPA Off Center, Broadway Park Denver, Oct. 22-Jan. 5

Nunsense, Parker Arts Pace Center, Oct. 25-Nov. 7

Hadestown, Fort Collins Lincoln Center, Oct. 25-27

Ghostlight, Thunder River Theatre Company, Carbondale, Oct. 25-31

Why Theatre Matters Today with David Hyde Pierce, Mizel Center, Denver, Oct. 26 at 4

Links: John Moore’s story about David Hyde Pierce in the Denver Gazette

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Upcoming Shows

02:05 - Diving into Hamilton: A Cultural Phenomenon

05:53 - Exploring Dance: Wonderbound's Devil's Crush

09:56 - Frankenstein: An Immersive Experience

14:11 - Million Dollar Quartet: A Musical Journey

18:05 - Political Satire: The Ballet of Paula Aguilar

22:05 - Ghost Stories and Haunted Tours in Colorado

25:54 - The Evolution of Scary Stories

29:55 - Monsters Through the Ages: Vampires and Revenants

33:55 - Gothic Literature and Its Impact on Horror

34:52 - Native American Folklore and Horror

37:15 - The Evolution of Horror Films

40:30 - Iconic Horror Films and Their Impact

46:38 - The Rise of Slasher Films

49:25 - Modern Classics featuring Gregg Hale, producer of ‘The Blair Witch Project’

53:01- Social Commentary in Contemporary Horror

56:43 - Upcoming Horror Events and Cultural Reflections

1:19:30 - Interview with Blaine Krauss from ‘Hamilton’ Broadway touring production

Also in this episode, we have an interview with Deb Persoff — a veteran performer who can be seen in two shows right now at Vintage Theatre in Aurora: Murder on the Orient Express and Eleanor. She speaks about her life as a performer and the challenge of doing two shows at once.

We also go over our weekly Colorado Headliners — a Top 10 list of interesting shows coming up in the next week or so. This week’s Headliners:

Victorian Horrors, Molly Brown House, Denver, Oct. 10-26

Denver Sketch Comedy Festival, RISE Comedy, Denver, Oct. 17-19

Devil’s Crush, Wonderbound, Denver, Oct. 17-27

The Ballot of Paola Aguilar, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Oct. 17-Nov. 3

A Better Trip with Shane Mauss, The Perplexiplex, Meow Wolf Denver, Oct. 20

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Littleton United Methodist Chur, Oct. 18-20

Talk About a Murder, Moon Theatre Company, Berthoud, through Oct. 19

Spirit Level, Evergreen Players, Oct. 18-Nov. 20

Blithe Spirit, Main Street Live, Trinidad, Oct. 18-27

Improv Thunderdome, Rattlebrain Productions, Parker, Oct. 19 Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:46 Theatrical Performance Insights

04:44 Theater Education and Young Audiences

08:45 Recent Shows and Performances

11:46 Dialect Coaching and Accent Challenges

17:37 The Role of Accents in Theater

21:47 Fantasy Accents and Cultural Perceptions

24:14 Exploring the Catamounts' Latest Production

28:39 A Review of 'Funny as a Crutch'

30:31 Diving into 'A Vase' and Cultural Narratives

31:47 The Feminist Twist in 'Dracula'

34:42 The Impact of Family Theater on the Community

38:41 The Importance of Theater Education

49:40 Student Perspectives on Theater and Industry

52:58 Building Teaching Skills in Performance

56:22 Talent vs. Technique in Acting

01:00:28 The Importance of Theater Education

01:01:04 Upcoming Shows and Events in Colorado

01:11:00 Interview with Deb Persoff

Later in the pod at around the 1:00 minute mark is Alex's interview with Kelly Van Oosbree. Currently the artistic director of the Platte Valley Players in Brighton, Van Oosbree is a familiar face in Colorado theatre, having directed and choreographed for a variety of theatre companies. Her latest show is a banger production of Cabaret (read our review), and she talks about her path to where she is today, where she’s going and how she does what she does.

And as usual we go through our weekly Colorado Headliners, a Top 10 list of upcoming shows we think are worth a look. This week’s Headliners include:

Phamaly Theatre in Rep at The People’s Building in Aurora — Funny As a Crutch, Oct. 11-20; The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls, Oct. 17-20

Frankenstein, Nomadic (Odell’s Brewing-Oct. 11-12, Fiction Beer Company-Oct. 18-19, Hudson Gardens & Event Center-Oct. 20 and Fiction Beer Company (Parker)-October 25, 26, & 31)

Let the Right One In, Loft Theatre, University of Colorado Boulder Theatre Building, Oct. 11-20

The Fall of the House of Usher, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, Oct. 11-26

Hamilton, Buell Theatre, Oct. 16-Nov. 24

Stormy Daniels, Denver Improv Oct. 10, 11

Fringe Reprise, Oct. 19-20, Denver Savoy

Iolanthe, Loveland Opera Theatre at the Rialto Theater, Oct. 12-19

Haunting of Breck Theatre, Breckenridge Backstage Theatre, Oct. 10-26

The Last Night of Red Barker, The Catamounts at Westminster Grange Hall, Oct. 10-Nov. 2

Links referenced:

Go Fund Me for Westcliffe Performing Arts Center new projector: https://gofund.me/b77d814b

*Note: As of Oct. 8, they’ve surpassed their goal! 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Weekend Recap

02:09 Theater Highlights: Cabaret and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and others

12:49 Exploring Denver's Theatres: Top Five List

41:05 Weekly Headliners and Upcoming Shows

1:00: Interview with Kelly Van Oosbree

Carrie the Musical, The Spark, Oct. 4-20

Avaaz, DCPA Theatre Company, previews Oct. 4-9 and runs Oct. 10-Nov. 17

Spamalot, Butte Theater, Oct. 5-Nov. 2

Around the World in 80 Days, Aurora Fox Arts Center, Oct. 5-27

The Talking Dead: A Haunted Pub Crawl, The Golden Mil, Oct. 5-26

The All American Haunting, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, Oct. 4,5

Cabaret from Platte Valley Players, Armory Performing Arts Center, Brighton, Oct. 4-19

Beer for Breakfast, Windsor Community Playhouse, Oct. 4-20

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear, Miners Alley, Golden, Oct. 4-Nov. 10

The Girl on the Train, Firehouse Theater at the John Hand Theater, Denver, Oct. 5-Nov. 3

Chapters

00:00: Theatrical Reviews and Performances

07:01: Top 10 Most Produced Plays and Playwrights

22:06: Trends in American Theater

26:58: Upcoming Shows and Events

46:40: Interview with Aisha Ahmad-Post

Later in the episode, Alex catches up with University of Colorado-Colorado Springs theatre professor Max Shulman. Max adapted and is directing the Theatreworks production of Shakespeare’s Henry – a mashup of Henry IV, Parts 1&2 and Henry V.

And as usual we run through our Top 10 Colorado Headliners, which this week include:

Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Sept. 25-Nov. 3

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Kilstrom Theatre, Denver Center, Oct. 4-Nov. 3

Stockade, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Previews Sept. 26-27, Sept. 28-Oct. 13. 

October Surprise, OpenStage, Fort Collins, Sept. 28-Oct. 12

It's A Beautiful Day in This Neighborhood, Bug Theatre, Denver, Sept. 28

-The Book of Will, Merely Players, Durango, Sept. 27-Oct. 6

-What the Constitution Means to Me, Thunder River, Carbondale, Sept. 12-29

-Everybody, CSU Studio Theatre, Fort Collins, Sept. 27-Oct. 6

-Stealing Starlight, Cypherbird Projects at Trident Books, Boulder, Sept. 29

Chapters:

01:42-The Rocky Horror Show Opening Weekend

02:33-Recent Theater Productions Reviewed

06:51-The Impact of The Rocky Horror Show

17:33-Exploring the Cultural Significance of Rocky Horror

22:58-The Role of Audience Participation in Theater

30:14-The Queer Representation in Rocky Horror

34:01-Personal Connections to Rocky Horror

37:40-Upcoming Colorado Headliners

46:24-Interview with Professor Max Shulman

Always … Patsy Cline, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Johnstown, Sept. 17-Nov. 10. 

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, Sept. 20-Oct. 20 

Wicked Wanderings, Chautauqua Park, Boulder, Sept. 21-Oct. 27

The Rocky Horror Show, Two Cent Lion, The People’s Building, Aurora, Sept. 21-Oct. 3

Kimberly Akimbo, Buell Theatre, Denver Center, Sept. 22-Oct. 5

Murder at Haunted Blood Mansion, Adams Mystery Playhouse, Denver, thru Nov. 10

Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Sept. 19-Oct. 6

The Bluebird, Millibo Art Theatre, Colorado Springs, Sept. 19-22

Enemy of the People, BETC, Denver Savoy, Sept. 26-Oct. 13

Devil’s Crush, Wonderbound, Denver, Oct. 17-27

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Upcoming Shows
01:26 Reviews of Recent Theater Productions
05:12 Audience Engagement and Feedback
08:45 Theater Criticism and Community Response
15:18 Exploring Immersive Theater in Denver
26:47 The Evolution of Immersive Experiences
35:56 Upcoming Shows and Colorado Headliners
45:53 Interview with Jen Zuko of Blue Dime Cabaret

In this episode of the Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca are joined by Julia Tobey from Give 5 Productions. Responding to a story about theatres closing in the Denver Gazette by John Moore, Julia jumped onto a Facebook thread and wrote: “Theater companies need to stop putting gasoline in electric cars. It’s time to wake up and realize times have massively changed.”

So we go through some of the ways theatre is, indeed, changing and contemplate ways our local performing arts organizations can rise to the challenge.

Also in this episode, a walk-through interview at the Aurora Fox with Artistic Director Rich Crowden. The theatre is celebrating its 40th anniversary and just announced its new season. Also on tap are a lot of upgrades and improvements to the old building, including new seats to replace the ancient ones in there now.

We also go through our Colorado Headliners — shows of interest coming up in the next week. This week’s Headliners:

Wait Until Dark, Durango Arts Center - Sept. 13-29

Hamlet, Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company, preview begins Sept. 13, opens Sept. 20 through Oct. 6

Black Orpheus, Cleo Parker Robinson, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex - Sept. 14-15 

RUSH, Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, - Sept. 14-15

High Plains Comedy Festival, South Broadway, Denver - Sept. 19-21

The Pillowman - Miscreant Theatre Collective, Creeepatorium - Denver, Sept. 13-29 

The Critic, 10(23) Productions, Buntport Theatre - Denver - Sept. 12-22

Man of La Mancha, Ovation West at Evergreen Center Stage - Sept. 13-29

Reply All Improv, Theatre Silco - Silverthorne - Sept. 14

Stories on Stage: The Sporting News - Su Teatro, Denver - Sept. 15

 POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive - Curious Theatre Company, Denver, previews Sept. 5-6, opens Sept. 7 and runs through Oct. 13

Jersey Boys - Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, preview Sept. 5, opens Sept. 6, and runs through Oct. 6 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Performance Now at Lakewood Cultural Center, Sept. 6 through Sept. 22

Motus Music to Restore the Heart with violinist Anthony Salvo, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Sept. 7

FernGully Burlesque Parody - Junkyard Social Club, Boulder, Sept. 8

The Cat in the Hat - Vintage Theatre, Aurora - Sept. 7 and 14

Run for Your Wife - Sharkbox Theatre at Conifer’s StageDoor Theatre Sept. 6-21

All My Sons - Magic Circle Players, Montrose - Sept. 6-21

I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett - Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake - thru Sept. 28

Saturday Night Naughty Show - Denver Comedy Lounge, Saturdays at 10 p.m.

Later in the pod we caught up with Brad Moore and Brian Dowling with the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition, which has its annual festival Aug. 9-11 in Evergreen. It’s an interesting story about an organization that’s all about Colorado theatres sharing their art and knowledge while also going head to head in theatre competition pieces as part of the festival.

Check out the whole list of winners and nominees here.

Also in this episode, I caught up with Colleen and Janet Mylott with Band of Toughs. This is an immersive theatre company that’s done a number of interesting productions in the past, and they return this week after a three-year hiatus with Gin & Gothic: A Brontë Rock Tale taking place at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Center.

We also go over the Colorado Headliners – our Top 10 list of upcoming shows and events around the state to keep an eye out for. In no particular order, here are this week’s Headliners: 

• Grease, StageDoor Theatre in Conifer - through Aug. 3
• Beautiful – the Carol King Musical and Escape to Margaritaville - Thingamajig summer rep at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts through Aug. 31
• Much Ado About Nothing, at Littleton’s Clement park from Foothills Theatre company. Free - Aug. 2 &3 
• Opera in the Park at the Boulder Band shell - Boulder Opera - Aug. 3
• Gin & Gothic: a Brontë Rocktale - Band of Toughs at Ellie Caulkins Opera House - Aug. 2-24
• The Democracy Cycle: We the People (World Premiere). Aug. 1 in Gunnison, Curious Theatre Company, Denver, Aug. 3
• Last Train to Nibroc - Funky Little Theatre Company in Palmer Lake August 2-17
• After the End (World Premiere) – The Catamounts at Anythink Huron Street Library, Thornton, Aug. 5-Sept. 14
• Alice by Heart - At The Spark, Boulder, August 9-11. Also, Arts Hub in Lafayette will be doing this production Aug. 17-25. 
• Pretty in Punk: THE FINAL SHOW - Junkyard Social Club, Boulder, August 10

Later in the podcast we have Toni’s interview with April Alsup, a composer whose new show Banned is a modern-day musical that follows a group of gender misfits through the events leading up to their debut at a local performing arts festival. Banned will be presented at Aurora’s Vintage Theatre July 25-28 before it goes on to more dates at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.

As usual we also have our Colorado Headliners, our weekly Top 10 list of the shows or other events we think you should check out.

This week’s Colorado Headliners:

1. Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Give 5 productions at The Arch in RiNo Aug 1-17
2. Wicked – Denver Center Buell Theatre July 24-Aug. 25
3. We the People, Democracy Cycle, Local Theater + Gunnison Theatre Festival and Curious Theatre Company. July 27 at Boulder Library, Free. 
4. Rise Comedy Festival - July 26-Aug. 3 - Denver
5. A Manny for Us, Wheat Ridge Theatre Company - July 26-Aug. 11
6. Underground Music Showcase: July 26-28.
7. 4000 Miles - Insight Colab at Vintage Theatre, Aurora - July 25-Aug. 4
8. School of Rock - The Musical - Miners Alley Playhouse, Golden - July 26-Sept. 15
9. Mile High Dance Festival – Cleo Parker Robinson, Denver - July 27
10. Til Death Do Us Part ... You First! - Lakewood Cultural Center, Aug. 1–18

Favorite theatre venues discussed in this episode:

• Arts HUB in Lafayette 
• Arvada Center
• Aurora Fox
• Breckenridge Backstage Theatre
• Buntport
• Candlelight 
• Colorado’s historic opera houses
• Comedy Works South
• CU-Boulder Roe Green and Mary Rippon theatres
• Denver Center, particularly the Kilstrom Theatre and Ellie Caulkins Opera House
• Denver Savoy 
• ENT Center for the Arts in Colorado Springs
• Evergreen Players Black Box Theatre, Evergreen Center Stage
• Meow Wolf - The Perplexiplex
• SilCo Theatre
• Su Teatro
• Thunder River Theatre
• Vintage Theatre
• Wheat Ridge Theatre Company
• Wonderbound

 *Mentioned in the episode: John Moore’s story in the Denver Gazette about shuttered theatre spaces  

Later in the podcast, Alex interviews Jenna Pastuszek, who brings her Judy Garland show Get Happy! to Denver’s Four Mile Historic Park June 26.

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca talk about Toni’s recent story in the Boulder Weekly about Actors’ Equity. The union has about 400 members in Colorado and around 13 Equity theatres. Membership has its pluses and minuses, and we get into what those are and more.

We’ll also check out this week’s Colorado Headliners — our Top 10 (or 11) most interesting shows or programs coming up around the state. This week’s Headliners (in no particular order) are: 

1. Glenwood Vaudeville Revue

2. Waiting for Godot at Bas Bleu

3. Darkfield from Denver Center Off-Center

4. Something Rotten at Magic Circle Players

5. Impossible Things from The Catamounts

6. The Fever from Counterweight Theatre Lab

7. Fuenteovejuna at Wheat Ridge Theatre Company

8. In Celebration of Collaboration from Third Law Dance Theatre

9. Theatre Silco summer season

10.  Rocky Horror from Elusive Ingredient at The Arts HUB

11.  Rent at the Arts HUB

Later in the podcast, Alex catches up with Candace Joice and actor Josh Robinson. Candace is directing a production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Boston-based dramedy Good People and Robinson plays the role of Mike.

The play runs May 31-June 3 at UpstART Theatre in Ouray.

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca take a look at all of the live theatre happening around the state and what’s coming up in May. Toni also lays out some of the details of a story he co-wrote in the Boulder Weekly about how the City of Boulder appears to be changing the terms of how 2023’s voter-approve ballot measure will allocate funding for the arts in the state’s largest university town.

Plus, Alex gets the low-down on the world premiere of David Myers’ new play 237 Virginia Ave. being produced by Local Theatre Company. We hear from the two actors — Jacob Dresch and Lawrence Hecht — along with co-director Nick Chase about how the dark comedy came together. The play opens at the Denver Savoy May 2. Info & tix

Theatre companies and organizations mentioned in this episode:

• Audacious Theatre
• Benchmark Theatre
• BETC
• Candlelight
• Cherry Creek Theatre
• Coal Creek Theatre
• Colorado Springs ENT Center
• Control Group Productions
• Create Boulder
• CSU Theatre
• Denver Center
• Evergreen Players
• Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
• Jester’s Dinner Theater
• Lincoln Center
• Merely Players
• Mesa Experimental Theatre
• Millibo Art Theatre
• Miners Alley
• Opera Colorado
• Platte Valley Players
• Stories on Stage
• Town Hall Arts Center
• Upstart Crow
• Vintage Theatre
• Wonderbound