The Arvada Center will open its 2008-09 season in September with the first locally mounted professional production of “Les Miserables” in the region — and possibly the first in the country, The Denver Post has learned.
High schools have been allowed to do a student variation of “Les Mis” since 2002, but regional theater companies have been waiting for years for professional rights to become available.
Arvada Center spokeswoman Cynthia DeLarber says producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh personally approved the short list of U.S. regional companies that will be allowed to mount the mammoth musical. And the Arvada Center isn’t going to waste the opportunity.
“This will be the largest locally produced show we have ever done by far,” DeLarber said. Artistic director Rod Lansberry said he’s ecstatic.
The Arvada Center won’t announce its season until the week of April 21, but no way would news this big last that long.
“We always prefer to be first to let our subscribers know what’s going to be on our season, but we understand this kind of information is hard to keep quiet,” DeLarber said.
Mackintosh has said all regional productions must use a 24-member cast, the same size as the Broadway revival that closed in January. As with most Arvada Center shows, expect to see a mix of local actors and New York imports.
“Les Mis,” based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, is the story of paroled convict Jean Valjean and the police inspector obsessed with finding him. It has now played for 22 years in London’s West End. The first Broadway production ran for 16 years, closing in 2003. It’s best known for songs like “Do You Hear the People Sing?” and “On My Own.”
For info, call 720-898-7272.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following week, we reported this additional, related note:
Sir Cameron Mackintosh sent along a note this week after we broke the
news he’s personally selected the Arvada Center as one of only a
select few regional theaters in America authorized to produce “Les
Ѿé.”
“I am delighted that the Arvada Center will be mounting their own
production,” he wrote. “Ever since I started releasing an edited
edition for schools in 1992, the material has proven to be not only
a fantastic theatrical challenge but also invariably a huge
artistic sellout success. There is something indestructible about
the material that seems to bring the best out of everyone involved.
Already there have been over 125,000 productions in schools across
America.
“It gives me great pleasure to see a show I love very much done
well by so many people disproving the detractors of the British
musical who say that it all depends on the scenery. Imagination is
free, and ‘Les Misérables’ can be done by anyone with passion,
integrity and enthusiasm. I am sure the Arvada Center will have a
great success.”
Two new Steinberg awards
Denver Center for the Performing Arts trustee Jim Steinberg of Steamboat Springs is already known as the single largest supporter of new-play development in America. He’s personally committed $300,000 to the Denver Center Theatre Company over the past three years, and his Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust administers the annual American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award. Last month, that went to Moises Kaufman‘s “33 Variations.” The $25,000 prize is the largest national playwriting award.
Not for long.
The trust has announced two major new biennial awards for American playwrights: The Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award is earmarked for a leading, mid-career playwright and will have a cash prize of $200,000 — by far the largest playwriting award ever. And the Steinberg Emerging Playwrights Award will honor two emerging playwrights with awards of $50,000 each.
“It is our desire to honor both the achievement and potential of these playwrights, and provide them with the financial freedom to devote their best efforts to writing for the theater,” Steinberg said in a statement. “We are thrilled to celebrate them.”
World Fest goes biennial
The 5-year-old Colorado Festival of World Theatre is transitioning to a biennial celebration, with 2008 being an “interim” year. It will still offer a 2008 season Sept. 4-14, but, according to a statement, “it will cost less to produce and allow us to spend more of our time and resources planning the festival for the following year.”
This year’s off-year activities will include a tribute to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II starring Shirley Jones; her son, Patrick Cassidy; “Spamalot” star Marin Mazzie and husband Jason Danieley. Also: British actor Michael Pennington (Moff Jerjerrod in “Return of the Jedi”) will perform the play “Sweet William,” and a Q&A will be held with Allison Janney (“Juno”). This year’s slogan: “Great cities have great theater.” Tickets on sale June 16.
Briefly …
The Aurora Fox’s intimate new studio theater opens Friday with the Next Stage Theatre’s staging of “Falsettos.” It’s a 75-seat space the city-run company has managed to put together for just $35,000 (303-364-9998). . .
Denver Center Attractions has set a closing date of June 29 for “The Last Five Years” at the Galleria Theatre, with the locally produced phenom “Girls Only” set to open there Sept. 19 (303-893-4100) . . .
The Candlelight Dinner Theatre, opening June 6 in Johnstown, has announced that Marcus Waterman (Arvada Center’s “The House of Blue Leaves”) will direct its inaugural production of “The Music Man” (970-744-3747).
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s openings
Friday, through May 10: Next Stage’s “Falsettos” (at Aurora Fox)
Friday-May 24: Victorian Playhouse’s “Crimes of the Heart”
Friday-May 4: Performance Now’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie” Lakewood
Friday-May 4: Star Bar Players’ “Rabbit Hole” Colorado Springs
Saturday-April 27: Coal Creek Community Theatre’s “Sylvia” Louisville
This week’s closings
Today, April 13: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “Beau Jest” Golden
Today, April 13: Today: Jonathan Bender’s “In the Belly of the Whale” (at the Mizel Center)
Saturday, April 19: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
Saturday, April 19: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Gee’s Bend”
Saturday, April 19: Curious Theatre’s “The Lieutenant of Inishmore”
Saturday, April 19: Theatre Group’s “The Last Session”
Saturday, April 19: California Actors Theatre’s “Present Future” Longmont
Saturday: The Avenue Theater’s “Oleanna”
Saturday, April 19: Carousel Dinner Theatre’s Carousel” Fort Collins
Saturday: Gaslight Theatre’s “Curious Savage” Westminster
Saturday: Buntport’s “Trunks” (an all-ages superhero serial).
April 20: Vintage Theatre’s “Dinner With Friends”
April 20: New Denver Civic’s “Defending the Caveman”
April 20: Theatre 13’s “Wrong Turn at Lungfish”
April 20: Shakespeare Oratorio Society’s “Richard III” (Macky Auditorium) Boulder
Most recent openings
“Arcadia” Traveling back and forth between past and present, Tom Stoppard’s poignant and charming mystery-comedy intersects art, mathematics and history, all within the walls of an English estate in Sidley Park. Through May 17. Firehouse Theatre Company at the John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. First Place, 303-562-3232 or
“The Birthday Party” Harold Pinter’s 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
“Doubt” At a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, a nun becomes convinced that a popular priest has committed an inappropriate act with the school’s first black student. A Pulitzer-winning examination of pre-Vietnam moral certainty in America. Through May 17. Denver Center Theatre Company, Ricketson Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or .
“The Emperor Jones” Eugene O’Neill’s story of an African-American Pullman car porter who kills a man, goes to jail, kills a guard while on a chain gang and then escapes to an island in the West Indies where he grifts his way to power. Through May 11. Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., 303-739-1970 or .
“The Laramie Project” and “Harvey” Presented in repertory by the Denver Center’s National Theatre Conservatory class of 2008. “Laramie” is the docu-theatrical look at the murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. “Harvey” is about the imaginary rabbit, written by Denver’s Mary Chase. Through April 26. Tramway Theatre, 1101 13th St., 303-893-4100 or .
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Shakespeare’s fantastic comedy about finding love in the forest. Through May 10. Thin Air Players, 139 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, 719-235-8944 or .
“Swingtime Canteen” A high-energy song-and-dance show featuring music from the big band days of the 1940s. Through May 11. Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or .
“A Time to Go Walking”
Based on the novels of Irishman John B. Keane, Dicky Mick Dicky comes to believe his own demise is near. Rather than await the inevitable, he decides to walk out to meet his destiny, like the Celts of yore. Through May 18. Dangerous Theatre, At 2620 W. Second Ave., 720-233-4703 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 … Richard Thieriot and Ailish Riggs. This week, John Moore speaks with two members of the National Theatre Conservatory’s graduating class of 2008 now performing “Harvey” and “The Laramie Project.” . Then click on the miniplayer’s 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. April 11, 2008. Run time: 16 minutes.
