The 2005 summer theater season will be populated with prominent festivals and a picnic basketful of Shakespeare.
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, of course, qualifies as both. For its 49th season, the CSF will present two shows indoors (“Othello” and “Unexpected Shaxpere!”) and two outdoors (“Twelfth Night” and “The Winter’s Tale”), opening July 1 (303-492-0554).
Those farther to the south may want to check out the return of Gene Gillette to Colorado in the title role of TheatreWorks’ “Macbeth,” opening Aug. 19 in Colorado Springs (719-262-3232). Elsewhere, the Longmont Theatre Company will present “The Tempest” in various locations from Boulder to Greeley through June 26 (303-772-5200); the Aspen Institute hosts the Washington, D.C.-based Shakespeare Theatre Company’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” July 6-10 (970-920-5770); and starting June 17, Golden’s Miner’s Alley Playhouse presents “The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr Abridged” (303-935-3044).
The three big festivals will be the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition’s annual competition involving 11 local troupes June 15-18 in Fort Morgan (970-704-1271), the rapidly expanding Colorado Festival of World Theatre throughout Colorado Springs July 16-31, and the second Playwrights Showcase of the Western Region at the Arvada Center Aug. 12-14.
Elsewhere, Denver Center Theatre Company veterans are again dispersing throughout the mountain region for the summer. “Lobby Hero” star Rick Stear returns to headline “The Colorado Catechism” for Theatre Aspen opening July 14, and Bill Christ stars in Steve Martin’s “The Underpants,” opening Aug. 4 (970-925-9313).
The one-woman apartheid saga “The Syringa Tree” gets a double dose, with the DCTC’s Stephanie Cozart starring at Telluride’s Lizard Head from July 21-30 (970-728-3133), and Karen Slack headlining the Town Hall Arts Center’s season opener in Littleton Aug. 18-21 (303-794-2787).
In Greeley, the Little Theatre of the Rockies offers a baseball double play: the Little League dad dramedy “Rounding Third” and “Bleacher Bums” (June 23-July 23 at the University of Northern Colorado, 970-351-2200).
Here are the 10 shows to watch this summer (listed by opening date):
“Top Dog/Underdog,” through July 2: Shadow Theatre landed the regional premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks’ Pulitzer winner, a compelling exploration of the drama and deception between two brothers (1420 Ogden St., 303-837-9355).
“The Mercy Seat,” through July 2 : In another scathing contemporary drama from Neil LaBute, this one set Sept. 12, 2001, two narcissistic and decidedly un-heroic New York lovers look at the World Trade Center tragedy as an exhilarating opportunity to leave their lives behind with no worry, debt or guilt (Paragon Theatre Company, 1124 Santa Fe Drive, 303-300-2210).
“The Sound of Music,” Thursday through Sept. 4: The survival of the swank new Pinnacle Dinner Theatre, which has failed to draw in its first four productions, probably rests on whether southwest suburban residents come out to see this 1960 classic starring Kristin Hathaway and David Zambrano (9136 W. Bowles Ave., Jefferson County, 720-214-5630).
“The Humble Boy,” Friday through July 16: Firehouse, in association with the Everyman Theatre Company, presents the regional premiere of British playwright Charlotte Jones’ 2001 freewheeling adaptation of “Hamlet,” in which a Cambridge astrophysicist returns home to his beekeeping father’s funeral, only to discover his domineering mother in the arms of another man. Stars Deborah Persoff, Kendra Crain McGovern and Step Pearce (John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. First Place, 303-562-3232).
“The Full Monty,” June 28-July 31: The Arvada Center’s highly anticipated musical adaptation of the hit 1997 British sleeper film will be the first locally mounted production of what many consider to have been the best Broadway production to tour through here in the past three years. A deep roster includes local stalwarts Billie McBride, Heather Fortin Rubald, Scott McLean, Gayle Holsman, Anita Boland, Wendelin Harston, Mike Muniz, Alan Osburn, Kennedy Pugh, Sarah Rex and Travis Risner (6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200).
“Othello,” July 8-Aug. 12: Renowned director Jane Page sets her Colorado Shakespeare Festival production during the first world war, when war raged between the Ottoman Empire of Turkey and Italy. Starring John Cothran, Elgin Kelley and Karen Slack (University of Colorado’s mainstage theater, 303-492-0554).
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” July 15-31: The Physically Handicapped Amateur Musical Actor’s League is known for its magical performances, and the deck is stacked this year with the returns of top-notch stars Jeremy Palmer (“Once Upon a Mattress”) and Leonard Barrett (“Guys and Dolls”) in the lead roles (Space Theater, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-575-0005).
“Seussical the Musical,” July 20-Sept. 2: Grand Junction’s Cabaret Dinner Theatre stages the first professional Colorado production of this quirky contemporary reimagining of Dr. Seuss, which weaves together many of his most famous stories and characters in the Jungle of Nool, including the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant and Gertrude McFuzz (701 Main St., 877-255-0999).
Playwrights Showcase of the Western Region, Aug. 12-14: Nearly 30 playwrights from 18 states will have their 10-minute, one-act and full-length plays read by dozens of Colorado’s top professional directors and actors. Comments follow each reading from a panel of experts, including playwrights Steven Dietz, Edith Weiss, Jessica Goldberg and Aoise Stratford; Denver Center director of publications Sylvia Drake; and literary manager Joel Kraemer (Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200).
Colorado Festival of World Theatre, July 16-31: Organizer Linda Purl (“Happy Days”) has expanded her fest in its third year from four days to two weeks, featuring diverse works from Italy, England, Ireland, South Africa and America. Highlights include the world’s foremost famous Harlequin, Ferruccio Soleri; Ireland’s first lady of theater, Anna Manahan, starring in the American premiere of “Sisters”; and Boulder’s Dario Fo in his first local production of “A Tale of a Tiger” since taking it off-Broadway last year. The keynote speaker is Fay Lecoq, who will discuss the influence of commedia dell’arte on her revered husband, Jacques Lecoq (various locations in Colorado Springs, 719-520-7469).
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-820-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
