It was depressing to watch as the notices kept coming in last week from plays that will not make it to their scheduled closing dates: Pinnacle Dinner Theatre’s “The Rocky Horror Show,” Denver Rep’s “Starters,” Arcos Azules’ “Blue Vagabond,” Eddie Kirsch’s “Passport Playbill.”
But Nick Sugar has an intriguing message for “Rocky” fans. “It’s not done yet,” the show’s Frank-N-Furter says.
Pinnacle closed “Rocky” five weeks early, after abysmal reviews spanked it for playing it safe. But a midnight performance April 30 intended to be the show’s last may have been its resurrection.
Producer David Pritchard removed the handcuffs, in effect trashing Ann Nieman’s original direction. The cast took to the aisles, the soundman cranked up the audio, the audience got into the act and everyone left happy, yet wondering what might have been.
We may soon find out. Sugar, former artistic director of Theatre Group before a bitter split in January, has created his own production company and is now being courted by several producers to bring the show – the real show – downtown, in all its raunchy glory. Pritchard has given his blessing, and is even providing all costumes and props for free (though Sugar may want to leave his Liza Minnelli wig behind).
“The cast is so committed to this show, and after the ‘midnight spectacular,’ there is a real potential that it will go on,” Pritchard said.
Sugar and Pritchard did not reveal possible suitors, but all one has to do is scan the schedule to see that the former
Rattlebrain Theatre is vacant. So is the Buntport, after May 22. The best bet might be the Avenue, which is booked through June 12. Of course, a late-night “Rocky” there could start immediately.
Pritchard was so buoyed by the midnight show he tentatively plans to bring “Rocky” back to the Pinnacle for two performances only – Saturday at 8 p.m. and midnight – with Donna Debrecini leading the band (call 720-214-5630).
Further stirring the pot last week was an announcement by TG executive director Steven Tangedal that includes a planned “Rocky Horror” production there in September 2006. Announcing that 17 months in advance, and during the same week Sugar’s show closed, could be taken as a swipe at Tangedal’s former artistic director. TG typically announces its productions only a few weeks before opening.
Also on tap for TG at its primary Theatre on Broadway home: “Naked Boys Singing,” the nonmusical version of “Kiss of the Spiderwoman,” the long-promised “Dirty Blonde” and “Hair.” Late-night programming returns in October with “Golden Gurls Live” followed by “Southern Baptist Sissies.”
TG also rents out the Phoenix Theatre, but it plans to mount “My Boyfriend the Stripper” there opening July 6, and “The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife” next year.
DCTC does New York
On Monday, the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Randal Myler (“Fire on the Mountain”) is directing a high-stakes benefit in New York for the American National Theatre, a project spearheaded by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
The ANT would be a one-of-a-kind cultural institution that would identify the best new American plays and musicals by regional theaters, and present them in New York with their original companies and creative teams intact.
Kathleen M. Brady, star of the DCTC’s Pulitzer-worthy “Bernice/Butterfly,” will perform an excerpt from Nagle Jackson’s 2003 play, and Jacqueline Antaramian, currently starring on Broadway in “Julius Caesar,” will sing from the DCTC’s “The Immigrant.”
The evening, hosted by James Naughton, also includes appearances by August Wilson and Phylicia Rashad. Other excerpts to be performed include Denver native Steven Dietz’s “The Last of the Boys,” Wayne Lemon’s DCTC-bound “Jesus Hates Me” and Regina Taylor’s “The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove,” which was debuted by incoming DCTC artistic director Kent Thompson at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
Forget the Tonys. Many are calling this the most important night of the year in American theater. “It’s high time there was a formal program established that invited the best theaters we have in our country to its artistic capital,” said renowned director Harold Prince.
Helde, Hatten depart
We knew the hiring of Thompson meant some longtime DCTC favorites would not be retained. Last week, Annette Helde and Keith L. Hatten were told there are no roles for them for the 2005-06 season. More are sure to follow.
Horton, Powell to Curious
Meantime, look for DCTC actors and directors to spread out into the local theater community more than ever before. In a gigantic coup, the Curious Theatre Company has signed DCTC veteran Jamie Horton to direct “Fiction,” starring company mate John Hutton, Also, DCTC director Anthony Powell will direct “Frozen” there, starring Christopher Leo.
Briefly …
“Almost Heaven: Songs and Stories of John Denver” completed its first production outside of Denver on Saturday. It was performed by the Summerfest Musical Theatre in Birmingham, Ala., and starred Denver’s Denver – Jim Newman, also an alum of that company …
Denver Center Attractions has added the drag comedy “Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance!” to its 2005-06 season Jan. 17-29 to replace the canceled “Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life.” “Edna,” starring Australian actor, author, painter, composer and race-car driver Barry Humphries, was intended to open the 2006-07 season. Dame Edna last appeared in Denver in 2001. The new show is her own version of a “reality show,” featuring “The Gorgeous Ednaettes.” …
For the fifth straight year, El Centro Su Teatro artistic director Tony Garcia has been named to the faculty of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Leadership Institute, which offers training in arts administration as it relates to Latinos July 10-17 in San Antonio.
And finally …
The Country Dinner Playhouse has announced a safe but eclectic 2005-06 lineup of “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Pump Boys and Dinettes” and “Swing.”
To this day, the best “La Mancha” I ever saw starred siblings Paul and Annie Dwyer when they were just teenagers. The CDP could do a lot worse than finally bringing two of Denver’s most popular musical theater performers onto the same stage for the first time as professionals.
Paul is the CDP’s producer and will play Pseudolus in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” opening Wednesday. Annie is director and star of Heritage Square’s “Summer Lovin’,” opening Thursday.
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-820-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
