Denver Center Attractions has had a “Spring Awakening.” The 2007 Tony-winning best musical is coming to Denver after all, in fall 2009.
A year ago, Denver Center president Randy Weeks wasn’t so sure whether the unusual Duncan Sheik musical would find its audience as a road show in middle America. But over time, it’s become clear that nothing has more galvanized older teens and young adults since “Rent.”
“It does speak to a younger generation, and those people are very important to us if we are going to develop new audiences,” Weeks said.
“Spring Awakening,” written in response to the Columbine massacre, adapts Frank Wedekind‘s banned 1891 tale of German teens discovering their sexual awakenings in the complete absence of adult information. And it’s set to a modern rock score that gives voice to roiling teenage angst in an innovative way.
Expect the official announcement of the 2009 season this September. Another logical candidate is “Legally Blonde,” which debuts its first national tour in September.
Fun with film
Denver director Mitch Dickman wrapped filming Sunday on “A Test of Wills,” a screenplay written by and starring multiple-award-winning actor William Hahn (Listen Productions’ “Macbeth”). It’s the story of a frustrated playwright turned construction worker who is beckoned back to writing by an accidental porn clip on his computer. It also stars Karen Slack (TheatreWorks’ “9 Parts of Desire,” Heidi Morrow-Hahn (former Country Dinner Playhouse), Melinda Smart (Town Hall’s “Cabaret”) and Chris Kendall (Denver Center’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”) . . .
Young Joel Stangle, who learned theater as a teen backstage at the Denver Civic and studied film at the University of Denver, will screen his new “Hermann Hermann,” at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Neighborhood Flix. The Hitchcockian noir film, shot with $700, stars Nils Kiehn (Victorian’s “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol”). On his last day before retiring, a detective recognizes the name of the victim from a case he handled on his first day 25 years before. Now he must know the truth about what happened to Hermann.
Emergencies!
Because of a family emergency, Buntport will delay its upcoming original adaptation of “The Three Musketeers” to August, and instead will dust off “McGuinn and Murray,” its homage to 1940s, Raymond Chandler-style film noir. It opens May 8 . . .
Germinal Stage Denver postponed last Friday’s opening of Harold Pinter‘s “The Birthday Party” because David Fennerty, who plays McCann, was in a car accident and must now have his hip replaced. Steven Kramer takes his place, and the play now opens Friday.
Briefly …
Just one day after the Humana Festival closed in Louisville, Ky., it was announced that The Civilians’ “This Beautiful City,” a musical about the evangelization of Colorado Springs and featured in The Denver Post last week, will be presented at Off-Broadway’s Vineyard Theater in early 2009. The widely praised musical will be honed first at the Studio Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles …
Curious Theatre has completed purchase of its home at the Acoma Center. A major renovation begins after “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” closes April 19, including new seats and a new upstairs bar . . .
The Denver Center’s National Theatre Conservatory highlights its eight- member graduating class with repertory performances of “Harvey” and “The Laramie Project” Wednesday through April 26 at the Tramway Theatre. It’s a great chance to see some of Denver’s most talented but sequestered young actors before they hit the big-time (303-893-4100) …
Denver Center alum Bill Christ (“Cyrano”) is playing Ilya Shamrayev in the new hit off-Broadway revival of Anton Chekhov‘s “The Seagull,” starring Dianne Wiest and Alan Cumming . . .
2004 Metro State grad Bobby Lefebre, who just played Moctezuma in Su Teatro’s “Ollin,” has won the 2008 Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Leadership Award. Lefebre is co-founder of Cafe Cultura . . .
Funnyman Christopher Todd Grundy (Rattlebrain Comedy Theatre) has begun his second season as host of “Cool Tools” on the cable DIY Network. It offers an insider’s look at innovations in home improvement. It airs at 7 and 7:30 p.m. Thursdays . . .
And finally, save the date: The Colorado Theatre Guild’s third annual Henry Awards will be July 7 at Littleton’s Town Hall.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s openings
Today only, April 6: Stories on Stage’s “Out in the Wild” (Stage Theatre, 2 and 7 p.m.)
Today, April 6, through April 20: Shakespeare Oratorio Society’s “Richard III” (Mackey Auditorium) Boulder
Tuesday, April 8, through May 11: Arvada Center’s “House of Blue Leaves”
Wednesday, April 9, through April 26: National Theatre Conservatory’s “The Laramie Project” and “Harvey” (repertory, Tramway Theatre)
Thursday, April 10, through May 17: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Doubt” (Ricketson Theatre)
Friday, April 11, through May 4: Germinal Stage Denver’s “The Birthday Party”
Friday, April 11, through May 11: Town Hall Arts Center’s “Swingtime Canteen” Littleton
Friday, April 11, through May 11: Aurora Fox’s “The Emperor Jones”
Friday, April 11, through May 10: Thin Air Players’ “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Cripple Creek
Friday, April 11, through May 18: Dangerous Theatre’s “A Time to Go Walking”
Saturday, April 12, through May 17: Firehouse’s “Arcadia” (John Hand Theatre)
This week’s closings
Today, April 6: National touring production of “My Fair Lady” (Buell Theatre)
Today, April 6: Fine Arts Center’s “Fuddy Meers” Colorado Springs
Today, April 6: TheatreWorks’ “Dar Al-Harb” Colorado Springs
Today, April 6: Evergreen Players’ “I Hate Hamlet”
Saturday, April 12: Festival Playhouse’s “Luau for King Lear” Arvada
April 13: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “Beau Jest” Golden
April 13: Jonathan Bender’s “In the Belly of the Whale” (Mizel Center)
Mosr recent openings
“Bee-Luther-Hatchee” An African-American editor’s search for the reclusive 72-year-old woman whose autobiography she published leads to a surprising discovery. Starring Mark Rubald and Jada Roberts. By Thomas Gibbons (“A House With No Walls”). Through May 4. Modern Muse Theatre Company, at the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 303-780-7836 or
“The Birthday Party” Harold Pinter’s first full-length play, which bowed in 1958, is a mesmerizing puzzle about a haunted pianist and the two bizarre visitors who invade his world. Featuring Erica Sarzin-Borrillo, Terry Burnsed and Ed Baierlein. Through May 4. Germinal Stage Denver, 2450 W. 44th Ave., 303-455-7108 or
Note: The opening of this production has been postponed until April 11.
“The Cripple of Inishmaan” It’s 1934, and Hollywood director Robert Flaherty has come to the craggy coast of Ireland to film his historic documentary “Man of Aran.” And cripple Billy (Jason Short), an unloved boy whose chief occupation is cow watching, is intent on auditioning. By Martin McDonagh (“The Lieutenant of Inishmore”). Through May 3. OpenStage & Company, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-221-6730 or
“Once on this Island” Based on the novel “My Love, My Love,” by Rosa Guy, this a musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” set in the Caribbean Sea. Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty (“Ragtime”). Through April 26. E-Project, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-232-0363 or
“Welcome to Murder Mortuary” A mystery that starts and continues through dinner and beyond. Through April 26. Adams Mystery Playhouse, 2406 Federal Blvd, 303-455-1848 or
“The Wizard of Oz” The classic family musical in which Dorothy is whisked to the land of Oz and . . . wait, do we really need to be explaining this one? Through May 25. Cabaret Dinner Theatre, 701 Main St., Grand Junction, 877-255-0999 or
“Wrong Turn at Lungfish” Garry Marshall (TV’s “Happy Days”) and Lowell Ganz penned this comedy about a blind and bitter college professor and his encounter with a saucy, streetwise young woman who volunteers to read to him in the hospital. Through April 20. Theatre 13, Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-443-2122 or .
– Compiled by John Moore
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of all current productions in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page
Weekly podcast
Running Lines with … Mark Rubald. John Moore speaks with the star of Modern Muse’s “Bee-Luther- Hatchee about who has the right to tell another person’s story. Rubald, also a former member of the Denver Center Theatre Company, pays tribute to late actor Tony Church. April 4, 2008. Running time: 17 minutes. . You will be taken to a miniplayer, where you have two options: Click on the small triangular “play” button, and the podcast will begin playing without your having to download. Or right-click on the “download MP3” option to save a copy to your own desktop .
