The Curious Theatre Company has enjoyed plenty of coups in its nine years, landing regional premieres like “Proof” and “The Goat,” and snaring Denver Center royalty such as Jamie Horton and John Hutton as guest actors and directors.
Last week’s hiring of Lisa Rigsby Peterson as managing director is bigger. Audiences may not process the significance immediately, but her hiring should have a more lasting impact on the company.
Rigsby Peterson comes from the Denver Center Theatre Company, where she hadserved as director of administration since 2001. Rigsby Peterson has 18 years experience as a performing-arts administrator, mostly in the Denver area. She’ll bring expertise to fundraising, sales, marketing and all business aspects of running the theater, which has skyrocketed under founder Chip Walton to become a company of national repute.
“I’m looking forward to working with Curious at this time of such strong artistic and strategic growth,” Rigsby Peterson said. “Curious is a company of tremendously talented and committed artists that has been fully embraced by this community, and it’s going to be a privilege to work with Curious as it continues to make its mark here and nationally.”
The news caps a huge week for Curious, tempered by the resignations of Mare Trevathan as marketing director and Jana Curtis as general manager. Trevathan is the new executive director of the burgeoning Stories on Stage; Curtis took a management position in Philadelphia.
Curious also this week launched a massive national theatrical initiative. “365 Days/365 Plays” ultimately will involve 600 theater companies, colleges and other arts organizations – 52 in Colorado alone.
Starting in November 2002, Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks wrote one short play daily for 365 days. Curious associate artistic director Bonnie Metzgar suggested simultaneous world premieres of the cycle across the country from Nov. 13, 2006, to Nov. 12, 2007.
There will be one spearheading company in each state. Here that’s Curious, which is soliciting groups to each commit to presenting one week (seven plays) of the cycle. They will be done in forums ranging from theaters to classrooms to parks to sidewalks.
And all this weekend, Curious has hosted 18 member companies of the National New Play Network, culminating with a free public reading of its own commission of Eric Coble’s “For Better …” at 7 p.m. Sunday.
The NNPN is an organization that bands together behind promising writers and titles and uses its funding clout to encourage multiple national stagings of its chosen plays. That extends the development process and bolsters a new play’s chances for ultimate success. That’s how Dan Dietz’s “tempOdyssey” and Thomas Gibbons’ “A House With No Walls” landed on Curious’ 2006-07 season.
Henry Awards a success
The Colorado Theatre Guild’s inaugural Henry Awards were not only a great party with a solid entertainment lineup, they somehow did what they set out to do – produce a credible list of winners.
As expected, the Denver Center ruled the evening, winning 40 percent of the trophies. But by snaring the two major acting trophies, Curious proved the “littler” guys could compete with the big boys. And what’s an awards night without an underdog shocker? How about the overjoyed Next Stage taking home the trophy for best musical (“Assassins”)?
But the voting system needs an overhaul, which became evident when the night’s one truly dubious winner was announced, the DCTC’s “After Ashley” for best play. The five voters were asked to name four favorites in each category, ranked one to four. But a canvass of the five voters showed that only two placed “Ashley” anywhere on their ballots.
How could this happen? Because it was a heck of a year, and so at least 14 plays were nominated in the category. So all it took were seven weighted points for “Ashley” to emerge victorious. Had the judges been asked to vote a second time, this time only considering the four final nominees (as they do for the Tonys and Oscars), a different title reflecting more of a consensus among voters surely would have emerged.
One of many heartening sights was seeing a strong, 15-member DCTC contingent – though only two of its seven individual winners attended.
The first Henrys was a fun, hot evening that, despite some fixable flaws, bodes well as a future staple on the theater calendar.
Briefly …
Scott Weldin, a Denver Post Ovation Award-winning set designer (for the DCTC’s “A Flea in Her Ear”), died of brain cancer in April in Seattle. “Scott was a very special person of the theater – an inspired designer who was always upbeat, enthusiastic and inventive,” said “Flea” director Kent Thompson …
Buntport’s “Magnets on the Fridge Wedding” drew more than 240 people on June 17, triple an average Buntport house. The silly live sit-com finale included lots of surprise guest appearances, a “My Sharona” wedding march and not one but five illegal weddings – two involving couples from the audience.
Theater critic John Moore can be reached at 303-820-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com.
