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Mar 08 2014

Paper Fashion Show – A M A Z I N G

It was an Ooh, La, La visual wonderland. The 10th Annual ADCD ( Art Directors Club of Denver) Paper Fashion Show happened last night at the Seawell Grand Ballroom. And, it was a WOW. I had attended a luncheon in the Seawell Ballroom on Wednesday but last night the room shared no resemblance whatsoever. It was transformed into a vision of feminine colors, whimsical fashion illustrations, frills and outrageous dresses made out of P A P E R. The designs were absolutely amazing. I took photos for you …. see for yourself.

Tagged Art Directors Club, DCPA, Denver, Fashion show, Paper Fashion Show

Jan 23 2014

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****Review

Legends made in Denver: Drag Queens, too

It’s common knowledge, Denver is a first class theatre city. I heard a friend brag we are second to New York City. While I can’t give you the bonafide stats on my friend’s statement, it’s not far from the truth.

Join me while I raise a glass of bubbly to the Denver Center Theatre Company’s new play program, because, due to their professional and ceaseless drive for quality literary plays, Denver has officially been named one of the top five theater companies in the country. The success comes via the annual development of new plays and musicals. The innovative program named the New Play Development Fund enables Denver to commission the most talented playwrights and host the Colorado New Play Summit every year. It is through this landmark program that playwrights have a chance to read and perform their work to an audience of professionals from New York to Los Angeles.

A few plays (born in Denver) you may have seen since 2008, are Plainsong, Eventide, Grace, or the Art of Climbing, The Whale, Two Things You Don’t Talk About at Dinner, Black Odyssey and the latest The Legend of Georgia McBride – the 2013 New Play Summit runaway hit.

Georgia McBride premiered last week to a devoted audience. The stage setting was decidedly apropos. Produced on a smaller stage the performers appeared about ten feet tall. Elvis swallowed up the stage as he opened the show in his white sequined jumpsuit. The story unfolds to an Elvis impersonator who is bumped to accommodate the bar’s new theme – drag night.

The audience quickly becomes enchanted with kitschy karaoke and drag queen antics. Hilariously enhanced by talented actors with the unimaginable storyline of a straight, married drag queen. What follows is uproarious theatre by four (4), only four (the audience is completely blindsided by this) highly professional actors. It is enchanting and clever theater brought to life by the young and distinctly talented New York playwright Matthew Lopez. Kudos to Denver for choosing this spectacular mix of inventive dialogue peppered with high camp in glitzy costumes. DON’T Miss The Legend of Georgia McBride.

FYI: Denver has remarkable Drag Queens, i.e., Daniella DeCoteau (the audience was thrilled with her performance at the cast party / opening night celebration), Nuclia Waste, Shirley Delta Blow, Izzedead MotherEffer and Minor Misdemeanor to name a few. You can see one of the best drag shows monthly at Hamburger Mary’s on 17th Avenue. Trust me, it is as good as any show I’ve seen. Yep, better than the infamous Lady Chablis from Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil, by John Berendt. On a recent trip to Savannah we caught a once a month performance of her popular show. Regrets to Miss Champagne. Hamburger Mary’s drag queens (and show) are hands down superior to the most famous Drag Queen of the 20th Century.

FYI (2) : February 7-9, is the 2014 Colorado New Play Summit featuring five readings by playwrights such as Eric Schmiedle, reading his Benediction by Kent Haruf. Other readings include Appoggiatura by James Still, The Comparables, by Laura Schellhardt,

Tagged DCPA, Drag Queens, Georgie McBride, New Play Summit, Nuclia Waste

Jan 27 2013

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****Review, Theatre

Space Theatre: Grace, or The Art of Climbing

Plays through February 17, 2013.

SPACE THEATRE, DCPA COMPLEX

Denver was the proud host for the premiere of Lauren Feldman‘s “Grace, or The Art of Climbing.”

It’s the story of a young twenty-five old woman who finds herself back home in South Florida living with her father. She is depressed, tired, frustrated and irritated with herself and her life thus far. As a child, Emm and her Dad practiced rock climbing in the garage as an indoor athletic endeavor – no natural rock climbing in Miami. Dad thought wisely that learning to grip, hold and breathe onto the side of a rock would teach life lessons in tenacity, courage and strength. Well, as Emm mopes and whines and sleeps at home, Dad gets her butt out of bed and into the garage for old times sake.

The play is about creating a life and picking yourself up by your belay and getting to the next ledge. Never let go and always know where you are going are two rules of climbing. Emm struggles with ambition to do anything and to find will power along her path. She wants to become a person who knows where she is going and can work to eventually reach that goal. Even if whining and discouragement are a part of the growth.

A play of metaphors for life. The flashbacks take the audience into Emm’s former life, her lovers, loses and friendships. Feldman’s dialogue creatively combines Dane Laffrey‘s incredible metaphorical rock climbing sets with one person’s self-doubt. This person discovers the stepping stones to self-confidence. There is no intermission. It couldn’t happen. The flow and emotion of the show must continually advance from start to finish uninterrupted. Otherwise, the grace of climbing would be lost.

I thought Climbing had the most beautiful ending. When Emm finds her graceful rhythm for rock climbing and the realization of where she is going. John Hutton plays her dad. He is always superb. Alejandro Rodriquez debuts as Sims, her climbing coach and Emm, played by Julie Jesneck, form a harmonic ensemble. Their acting mastery strengthens a well constructed storyline. The set was simple and perfect.

TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED BY CALLING 303-893-4100, OR VISITING www.denvercenter.org.

Tagged DCPA, Lauren Feldman, Space Theatre

Oct 11 2012

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Theatre

The Play “8”

Oct 15, 2012-Oct 15, 2012

The Stage Theatre

One Night Only!
Oct 15, 2012
Tickets: $20
by Dustin Lance Black5:30pm Reception
7pm Reading
8:30pm Talkback

One Night Only!

5:30pm Reception | 7pm Reading | 8:30pm TalkbackJoin the Denver Center Theatre Company on Oct 15 for an exclusive staged reading of the new documentary play 8. Written by Dustin Lance Black (of Milk and J.Edgar fame) 8 documents the trial of Perry vs. Schwarzenegger, the federal case which ultimately overturned Proposition 8 and granted marriage equality to the people of California. Based on courtroom transcripts, first-hand observations and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families, 8 is a glimpse into this historic 2010 trial.Proceeds from this one-night-only event will benefit ONE Colorado Education Fund, American Foundation for Equal Rights, as well as Denver Center Theatre Company. Following the performance, guests are invited to participate in a panel discussion with local politicians led by Brad Clark, Executive Director ONE Colorado to learn more about the fight for equality in Colorado.

Individual Tickets & VIP Tickets

Buy tickets at www.denvercenter.org

Tagged DCPA, Denver Theatre, Stage Theatre

Aug 31 2012

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Theatre

FENCES: a powerful work by August Wilson at the Denver Theatre Company

PLAYS THE SPACE THEATRE SEPTEMBER 14 – OCTOBER 14

The Denver Center Theatre Company (DCTC) presents FENCES by August Wilson, playing The Space Theatre September 14 – October 14, 2012. Tickets may be purchased now, by calling 303.893.4100 or visitingwww.denvercenter.org.

Troy Maxson, a star baseball player whose career was blunted by the racism prevalent in pre-Jackie Robinson America, now supports his family as a sanitation worker. Feeling his world rapidly changing, Troy builds a fence to protect what is familiar and hold off what threatens. Both muscular and lyrical, this August Wilson blockbuster, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and two Tony Awards, shows what can happen when a strong man is robbed of his dreams.

The cast of FENCES includes several debuting actors: David Alan Anderson as Troy Maxson, Marcus Naylor as Jim Bono, James T. Alfred as Lyons, Jerome Preston Bates as Gabriel and Calvin Dutton as Cory. Also debuting and alternating the role of Raynell are Nadja-Monet Brown and Emmi Grace Sullivan. DCTC favoriteKim Staunton returns in the role of Rose.

Debuting at DCTC is Lou Bellamy who will direct FENCES. Bellamy is founder and Artistic Director of Penumbra Theatre located in Minnesota, which has produced 35 world premieres, including August Wilson’s first professional production and more of Wilson’s plays than any theater in the world. Set design is by Vicki Smith (25 seasons/Heartbreak House, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Dracula) while costume design is by David Kay Mickelsen (54 productions/18 consecutive seasons/13 premieres, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Liar, Ruined). Lighting design is by Don Darnutzer (Heartbreak House, Dracula, Mariela in the Desert) and sound design is by Jason Ducat (Heartbreak House, World Premiere Two Things You Don’t Talk About At Dinner, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer). Fight direction is by Gregory Hoffman (The Taming of the Shrew) while dialect and vocal coaching is by Kathryn G. Maes, Ph. D (Heartbreak House, World Premiere Great Wall Story, The Taming of the Shrew).

AUGUST WILSON, 1945-2005

I remember seeing “King Hedley II,” at the Denver Theatre Company as one of the most powerful performances ever seen in Denver. The austere emotions, strength of the actors, and caustic dialogue left the audience feeling they had lived, eaten and slept with this imposing figure.

Single tickets for FENCES, on sale now, start at $35 (non-SCFD) and also are available for $10 (SCFD 10 for $10 program) and are on sale now. To purchase, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. For groups of 10 or more, please call 303.446.4829. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Tickets also may be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby. Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org. Student rush $10 tickets are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability. Senior and military rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability. No children under six will be admitted to any theatre.

Tagged August Wilson, DCPA, Denver Theatre

Aug 07 2012

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Theatre

Just in from DCPA….Book of Mormon tickets

“THE BEST MUSICAL OF THIS CENTURY.

Heaven on Broadway! A celebration of the privilege

of living inside that improbable paradise called a musical comedy.”

Ben Brantley, THE NEW YORK TIMES

ANNOUNCES LOTTERY TICKET POLICY

PREVIEWS BEGIN AUGUST 14

OPENING NIGHT AUGUST 19 AT THE ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE

www.dcpa.org

Tagged Book of Mormon, Broadway shows, DCPA

Jul 03 2012

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Five Star Review on recent Film, Theatre, Books, Music

Jersey Boys Returns

Jersey Boys is one of the most fabulous Broadway shows I’ve ever seen. Some theatre goers love Les Miserables or Phantom of the Opera. This show is strictly for the toe tapping, lover of musicals. You know the kind that make you smile and wish you were on the stage with the actors. It’s the show of shows. Trust me. You’ll love every song. The storyline moves fast and there is not a dull moment in the two plus hours of sheer entertainment. We are fortunate the show has returned. Take my word, you do not want to miss this again. If you saw it four years ago, well, you better get your tickets again. It is way too good to miss this summer.

Nearly 90,000 theatergoers cheered when Jersey Boys made its sell-out premiere in Denver in 2008. Worldwide, more than 12 million people have seen Jersey Boys. And now, the show that made critics and audiences cheer is “Working Its Way Back” to Denver!

Jersey Boys is the Tony®, Grammy® and Olivier Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were 30! Jersey Boys features their hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” “It will run for centuries!” proclaims Time.

www.dcpa.org

Tagged Buell Theatre, DCPA, Denver Theatre

Jul 03 2012

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Artist to Watch

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change extended through Summer

Due to popular demand, Denver Center Attractions announces an additional extension of I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE to feature a new summer schedule and prices. For performances July 3 – September 1 all tickets to the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday matinee performances are $24. The summer performance schedule begins July 17. Tickets are now on sale through October 14 at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303.893.4100.