OpenStage & Co.’s production of “A Bright Room Called Day” takes place in a 1932 Berlin apartment where a circle of rebel artists comes to comprehend the incomprehensible: that in Germany’s factionalized democracy, no one would be capable of stopping the rise of the fascists. Through gay parties and political rallies, no one imagined the Nazis were on the verge of launching a widespread, state-sponsored campaign of human extermination.
Legendary Colorado theater producer Henry Lowenstein all but grew up in the apartment depicted in Tony Kushner’s 1985 script, playing through Feb. 4 in Fort Collins. His mother was an artist and his father a doctor at a time when a physician was required to be present at every public theatrical performance. Politics were discussed daily in the Lowenstein home, and Kurt Weil, the leading German composer of the day, often played piano at family parties.
Lowenstein’s father, a Jewish social democrat, was sent into forced labor. His mother survived in Berlin with great difficulty. She was not Jewish, a fact that saved his father’s life on several occasions. His sister became secretary to the German prime minister, who had at one time lived in the family’s apartment building. She risked her life passing key information to the Allies. Young Henry saw the street fighting between communists and Nazis, and the infighting among all the ineffectual other parties.
“The communists weren’t very popular, but they were the only ones opposing what the Nazis were doing,” he said.
By 1939, 13-year-old Henry was among 10,000 kids who fled Germany to the safety of England as part of a rescue mission called kindertransport.
The play draws blatant parallels to the Reagan and Bush administrations, and on that point, Lowenstein is an easy sell.
“I have been talking to fellow survivors, and there is a strong fear that what’s going on now reminds us painfully of those years,” said Lowenstein, citing the Iraq war, the Patriot Act and the erosion of privacy.
“All the sensible people were in the middle, but they were helpless to stop what their government was doing,” he said.
For “Bright Room” information, call 970-221-6730.
DCTC attendance rises
Denver Center Theatre Company attendance is up 5.7 percent through new artistic director Kent Thompson’s first four productions, from 68,281 to 72,177. That’s largely attributable to the 28,390 who attended a new version of “A Christmas Carol,” an increase of 2,717 from 2004, and 95 percent of capacity. “A Flea in Her Ear” drew 16,748 (69 percent), “All My Sons” 14,456 (81 percent) and “September Shoes” 12,583 (85 percent).
First Brooks memorial
Germinal Stage Denver will host a modest memorial for Changing Scene founder Al Brooks at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at 2450 W. 44th Ave., during which Ed Baierlein will lead a series of brief remembrances (303-455-7108). The Colorado Theatre Guild is also planning an informal performance party in Brooks’ honor sometime in March at the Bovine Metropolis.
Briefly …
For the first time in nine years and more than 50 productions, Country Dinner Playhouse is seeking a new permanent musical director. Wendell L. Vaughn, half of the playhouse’s venerable two-man band, departs after the current production of “Beauty and the Beast” to join the Las Vegas production of “Mamma Mia.” But CDP got its stage manager back last week: Matthew Campbell returned after 10 weeks of recovering from a harrowing 20-foot fall from a lighting grid, breaking his wrist and fibula and later developing pneumonia. …
Red-hot CDP alum Amy Adams shared the 2005 Broadcast Film Critics Award for best supporting actress (for “The Junebug”) with Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain”), leaving the likes of Maria Bello, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand and Rachel Weisz in her dust. It’s safe to say Adams’ barnstorming days are behind her. The Castle Rock native has now done 17 films since 1999. … Erica Walters also has served her last CDP turtle sundae. She competes on the season-opening episode of “American Idol,” airing at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Fox. …
Write Angle Productions was left homeless for its 11th annual “Colorado Quickies” after the sale of the Playwright Theatre. Now the 10 locally written short plays will be performed Feb. 10-March 18 at the John Hand Theater. The director is Christy Montour-Larson, who will include two teen writers from Curious Theatre’s 2005 New Voices Project, Annie Woodward and Michael Thompson (303-562-3232). …
Grand Lake’s seasonal Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre reports the most successful summer in its 37-year history, selling to 97 percent of capacity for its four shows. …
Direct from starring in “Wicked” on Broadway, Ben Vereen brings his one-man show to Fort Collins’ Lincoln Center on Wednesday through Saturday. Tickets $37-$39 (970-221-6730) …
And finally, it’s final: The closing date of the New Denver Civic’s 20-month hit “Menopause the Musical” is Feb. 12 (303-309-3773). Can’t say just yet what will take its place – but once the new show starts, breaking up may be hard to do.
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-820-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
