The Lake Dillon Theatre Company has snagged the greatest coup in its 10-year history – the rights to mount the first homegrown production in Colorado of “Urinetown,” perhaps the best and most original new musical in a decade.
And to think it was the company’s second choice.
Lake Dillon, 68 miles west of Denver, had announced a February run of the tired “Little Shop of Horrors,” but the rights were rescinded because of a national tour stopping in Denver beginning Dec. 20.
Artistic director Christopher Alleman went looking for a replacement, and he may have benefited from some confusion on the Web page of licenser Music Theatre International, which still lists “Urinetown” as “currently restricted.” So you can’t apply for the rights through the MTI website.
“But I noticed that a number of theaters will be doing it across the country between now and December,” Alleman said. “So I simply e-mailed our MTI representative directly.”
A few phone calls later, Alleman had the OK to stage Greg Kotis’ irreverent cautionary tale set in a Gotham-like city where a water shortage has led to a government ban on public toilets. It’s pure silliness inspired by a backpacking trip through Europe when Kotis didn’t have change for a public toilet.
This will be a big season for Lake Dillon, which already had secured the regional premiere to Paula Vogel’s “The Oldest Profession,” bowing Sept. 9 (970-513-9386).
A “Wicked” conspiracy?
Why is the biggest Broadway blockbuster in years only stopping in Denver for 2 1/2 weeks when Denver audiences have proven capable of sustaining shows like “The Lion King” for more than 10? It doesn’t take Oliver Stone to suspect a “Wicked” conspiracy theory.
DCA has a tad more than 15,000 season-ticket holders; each was allowed to buy up to eight tickets to “Wicked.” That might have accounted for more than 122,000 seats. But because “Wicked” plays only 21 performances, beginning Sept. 15, the capacity at the Buell for the entire run is only 60,480.
So was the limited stay just a power play to force people to buy season tickets, guaranteeing them seats to “Wicked”?
Yes and no.
“Wicked” is playing longer in Chicago and San Francisco, but the Denver stay is in line with most stops on the tour. But the limited run certainly has helped season-ticket sales in a year when everything but “Wicked” is a very tough sell.
While season-ticket holders snagged all the best seats, they ultimately claimed only about 44,800, or 74 percent of all available seats. Single seats went on sale July 17 and, as of Thursday, the run was 93 percent sold, with only scattered seats left.
“Buying additional tickets before the public can is just one of the benefits of subscribing,” said DCA spokeswoman Jenny Schiavone. “And with such a short run, it really made a difference here.”
Single seats already are being hawked on eBay for up to $450. None of which changes the fact that “Wicked” is a lousy show.
Briefly …
The Denver Center’s walk-up box office has closed at 14th and Curtis streets and reopens Monday inside the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Hours remain the same. No service charges when buying there …
The Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual gala Aug. 22 has morphed into a season-preview celebration. Excerpts from upcoming productions will include Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s “Forever Plaid,” Carousel’s “Blood Brothers,” Next Stage’s “Assassins,” Miners Alley Playhouse’s “Dead White Males,” Modern Muse’s “Inherit the Wind” and the Arvada Festival Playhouse’s “Children’s Letters to God.” Entertainment begins at 7 p.m at the Pinnacle Dinner Theatre, 9136 W. Bowles Ave. Tickets $15-$20 (303-778-7724) …
Denver native Martin Moran’s “The Tricky Part” closed Saturday at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre. It reopens Tuesday at the Shakespeare and Company in Lenox, Mass., runs through Sept. 4, then plays at the San Jose Rep from Oct. 13-Nov. 13 …
Denver native Steven Dietz, a panelist at the Playwrights Showcase of the Western Region ending today at the Arvada Center, moves straight on to Chicago for Tuesday’s first rehearsal of his “Last of the Boys,” which opens the Steppenwolf season Sept. 25 …
Suzan-Lori Parks, a contributing writer on Curious’ upcoming “The War Anthology,” was selected last week to write the script for a Broadway staging about the life of Ray Charles …
“Nat King Cole and Me,” which had its world premiere at the Denver Center in May 2004, was just staged at Houston’s Ensemble Theatre. “It’s a very special little gem of a piece, and it was very well received,” said producing artistic director Marsha Jackson-Randolph.
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-820-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
