A new company joins a crowded field this week when the Gaslight Theatre opens Friday with “The Curious Savage” in Westminster.
Jane Schoenradt Allard and husband Ed Schoenradt are opening a 90-seat salon in a renovated vehicle-repair shop at 7280 Lowell Blvd.
And while we already have 96 theater companies in the state, Gaslight will fill a north-metro void, becoming just the second troupe based in Westminster, Northglenn or Thornton.
It’s also unique in that the founders have spent less than $3,000 on the new facility.
“We thought about renaming it the Craig’s List Theatre,” said Allard, the executive director and daughter of Arvada Councilman Don Allard.
Seats were donated from the Rialto Theatre in Loveland. The city of Westminster built the elevated stage and risers. And get this: In an effort to spur development of the area as an arts district, the Gaslight gets to perform there rent- and utility-free for the first full year. The only major expenses for the Schoenradts were lighting and curtains.
“The hope is that we will help revitalize the area and bring in more people,” she said. “Hopefully that will bring more opportunities for other artists.”
It would make for a great story if the Gaslight had been named in honor of the formerly named Victorian Playhouse, but Allard only learned of the connection after the fact.
“Funny thing is, we were originally calling ourselves the Gasoline Alley Players, until someone at the city accidentally called us Gaslight,” she said. “We kind of liked that.”
But the name reflects the modest artistic goals: solid, family-oriented, old-fashioned community theater. Upcoming titles include Neil Simon‘s “God’s Favorite,” Woody Allen‘s “Don’t Drink the Water” and a radio adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“We want to do older-style shows,” Allard said. “Nothing controversial or avant-garde.”
For information, call 720-232-7285 or go to .
Disney opportunity
David Ayers and his fiancee, Angela Gaylor, moved to Colorado after being injured in separate Broadway stagings and now teach classes at the Dairy Center in Boulder. On April 5-6 and 12-13, the pair will audition potentially hundreds of local actors for the opportunity to show off for Disney Theatrical’s head of New York casting, Jennifer Rudin.
The 80 who make the initial cut will be invited to Rudin’s master class at the Dairy on May 3-4. Rudin will be specifically scouting for ages 8-28 and 40-plus for possible roles in Disney’s “Mary Poppins,” “The Little Mermaid,” “High School Musical on Tour” and “The Lion King.”
This is a never-before-offered opportunity for Colorado performers, but it’ll cost. The initial audition is free, but those who make it to Rudin’s class will be charged $100. They’re not calling that an audition fee, rather the cost to cover the day-long workshop’s expenses. Registration deadline is April 3. Instructions can be found at .
“High School Musical”
We told you back in September that the national touring production of “High School Musical” would be coming to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in July, and now we know it will be July 22-27. Tickets will go on sale in mid-May. . . .
The Arvada Center will bring theater back to the outdoors this summer with a fully licensed staging of “High School Musical” that will culminate its summer drama camp for kids 12-19. Auditions are June 6-7; camp tuition is $950 (includes tickets to both the Arvada and national tour productions); call 720-898-7200.
Briefly …
A valiant effort to spur filming in Colorado died quietly last week when the House Finance Committee voted to kill HB 1355, which would have offered tax credits to production companies that shoot in Colorado. The vote was 6-5, and among those voting against the measure was state Rep. Douglas Bruce . . .
Following his recent sold-out run in Boulder, Jonathan Bender moves his “In the Belly of the Whale” to the Mizel Center for a run Saturday through April 13. It’s one man’s exploration of what it means to be a Jew (303-316-6360) . . .
Town Hall’s 2008-09 season: “The Full Monty”; “Beauty and the Beast”; “My Way, A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra”; “Gypsy”; “Bat Boy, the Musical”; and “Oklahoma!” (303-794-2787) . . .
And finally, the Denver Center told us they weren’t keen on a tour stop for 2007’s best musical, “Spring Awakening,” and unfortunately, they’re true to their word. The first national tour is set through September 2009, and Denver’s nowhere in sight.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s openings
Monday: National touring production of “I Love a Piano” (Ellie Caulkins Opera House, one night only)
Wednesday through April 6: National touring production of “My Fair Lady” (Buell Theatre)
Thursday-April 19: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” (Stage Theatre)
Thursday-April 20: New Denver Civic’s “Defending the Caveman”
Friday-April 27: Backstage’s “Reefer Madness” Breckenridge
Friday-April 20: Vintage Theatre’s “Dinner With Friends”
Friday-April 12: Festival Playhouse’s “Luau for King Lear” Arvada
Friday-April 19: Gaslight Theatre’s “Curious Savage” Westminster
Saturday-May 4: Bas Bleu’s “Wings” Fort Collins
Saturday-April 13: Jonathan Bender’s “In the Belly of the Whale” (at the Mizel Center)
This week’s closings
Today: Cabaret Dinner Theatre’s “The Goodbye Girl” Grand Junction
Today: Arvada Center’s “Nunsensations: The Nunsense Vegas Revue”
Today: Star Bar Players’ “Murder in Green Meadows” Colorado Springs
Today: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s “Godspell” Longmont
Saturday: Su Teatro’s “Ollin”
Saturday: Hunger Artists’ “The Shape of Things”
Saturday: Grand Theatre’s “Romantic Fools” Winter Park
March 30: Town Hall Arts Center’s “Fiddler on the Roof” Littleton
March 30: Lake Dillon’s “I Love You Because”
March 30: New Denver Civic’s “Office Broadway”
March 30: Aurora Fox’s “Moby Dick! The Musical”
This week, Denver Post theater critic John Moore speaks with , who is appearing in the national touring production of “My Fair Lady” through April 6. (He’s also the brother of KCUV 102.3 FM DJ G. Brown).
To access the podcast, click on . You”ll be taken to a miniplayer. Once there, click its triangular “play” button, and the podcast will begin, with no downloading necessary. Or right-click on the download option to keep your own copy.
Latest theater openings
“Fuddy Meers” Pulitzer-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (“Rabbit Hole”) is best known for this darkly comic, bizarre comedy. The main character’s memory is erased whenever she goes to sleep. A limping, lisping, half-blind, half-deaf man in a ski mask pops out from under her bed and claims to be her brother. Zaniness ensues. Through April 6. Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5583 or
“Gee’s Bend” Stories of the impoverished women who create the renowned Gee’s Bend quilts. Story, Page 1D. Denver Center Theatre Company, Space Theatre,Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or .
“I Love a Piano” This Irving Berlin revue was birthed by Denver Center Attractions in 2002, and returns for one night only at 8 p.m. Monday, March 24. Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-893-4100 or .
“My Fair Lady” National touring production of the Lerner & Loewe 50th anniversary revival, starring Christopher Cazenove and Lisa O’Hare. Through April 6. Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-893-4100 or .
“9 Parts of Desire” Karen Slack brings nine disparate Iraqi women to life in a heartbreaking and eye-opening attempt to explore the resilience, ambitions, warmth, humor and history of women who have struggled for self-identity and liberation since long before the U.S. ever found Iraq on a map. Through April 5, in repertory with “Dar al-Harb.” TheatreWorks, 3955 Cragwood Drive, Colorado Springs, 719-262-3232 or
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“Oleanna” David Mamet’s intense, engaging drama of nasty gender politics pits a college professor against a student who has accused him of sexual misconduct. Starring Dan O’Neill and Elgin Kelley. Through April 19. The Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or .
“Present Future” This new comedy by Niwot’s Don Fried is in the tradition of British farce. It’s the story of a couple expecting a visit from Aunt Judy, who has given them a present — a clock in the shape of a slot machine — they don’t want displayed in their home. Through April 19. California Actors Theatre, 1250 Hover Drive, in the Twin Peaks Mall, Longmont, 303-774-1842 or .
“A Tribute to Miss Peggy Lee” Alex Ryer and Lannie Garrett, two of our most formidable chanteuses, come together for a cabaret tribute. Ryer created an indelible portrait of Edith Piaf, while Garrett’s alter ego is the popular Patsy DeCline. Featuring Garrett’s in-house orchestra quintet. Through May 3. Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret, 16th and Arapahoe streets, 303-293-0075 or .
Complete theater listings Go to our complete list of every currently running production in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page.
