It’s not often a theater artisan gets mixed up in a gruesome federal death-penalty case. But Aurora Fox producer Charles Packard believes he is furthering democracy and his own artistic boundaries by helping the defense of Rudy Sablan.
Sablan, 47, is charged with first-degree murder for helping his cousin eviscerate a third man in the 7-by-14- foot cell the three shared in the high-security U.S. Penitentiary in Florence.
Packard, one of the busiest set designers in Colorado theater, was hired to meticulously re-create Cell 124, which will be assembled in U.S. District Court.
“There is some moral dilemma, but I don’t really care whether the person being defended is a good guy or a bad guy,” Packard said. “I am proud to be part of giving him a rigorous defense.”
Prosecutors say Rudy Sablan strangled cellmate Joey Estrella with a headphone cord in 1999. And that he and cousin William Sablan cut Estrella’s neck with a prison-issued razor, then sliced open his stomach and strung his organs about the cell.
The key piece of evidence is a grisly, 20-minute video shot by jailers through a window as they awaited a special team before entering the cell. The video, shown to jurors in William Sablan’s 2007 trial, shows William shouting obscenities and bragging about the killing. In opening arguments against Rudy Sablan on Wednesday, prosecutors claim Rudy also “holds an organ up to his mouth and pretends to take a bite, saying, ‘Do you want some of this? I can get the heart for you.’ ”
By re-creating the jail cell, defense attorneys hope to highlight the claustrophobic conditions in the cell, and raise questions about the video.
“Sightlines are important,” said Packard, who spent 300 hours building the replica. “It’s not a barred cell. Exactly what could be seen through that window and what couldn’t is pretty important to the defense.”
So Packard had to get the size and shape of the window exact in his replica. But he’s also attempting to get minute details right that go beyond the visual, such as acoustics.
“It’s really become an interesting artistic exercise,” said Packard, who will testify during the trial. “A lot of American theater is focused on realism, but this is beyond realism. This is really as close to Stanislavsky’s naturalism that I have ever gotten to do.”
William Sablan was spared the death penalty by one holdout juror. If convicted, Rudy Sablan could become the first person sentenced to death in Colorado’s federal courts since Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.
Mackintosh lauds Arvada Center.
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 Miserables.”
“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 Miserables’ can be done by anyone with passion, integrity and enthusiasm. I am sure the Arvada Center will have a great success.”
Briefly….
Shadow Theatre Company completes the dream Thursday when it opens “Dinah Was” at its new theater space at 1468 Dayton St. in Aurora (866-388-4849) . . .
The Denver Center Theatre Company honored late actor Tony Church on Saturday with remarks from artistic director Kent Thompson before closing performances of “Gee’s Bend” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” . . .
Tuesday and Wednesday mark the end of the second season of Buntport’s biweekly spaceship serial, “Starship Troy.” The intergalactic silliness will return Sept. 22-23 for the first of eight final episodes. Buntport will retire its signature mid-week serial-comedy format on New Year’s Eve. That will mark 100 combined episodes of “Troy” and its cult-hit predecessor, “Magnets on the Fridge.” In the meantime, a remount of the 1940s detective spoof, “McGuinn and Murry” bows May 3 (720-946-1388). . .
And finally, after a four-year catnap, Fort Collins’ Carousel Dinner Theatre brings back “Cats,” the biggest hit in its history, opening Thursday and running through June 29 (970-225-2555).
This week’s openings
Opening Tuesday, April 22, through June 8: Arvada Center’s “Altar Boyz”
Opening Thursday, April 24, through May 24: Shadow’s “Dinah Was” Aurora
Opening Thursday, April 24, through May 3: El Centro Su Teatro’s “Little Hands Hold the Wind”
Opening Thursday, April 24, through May 3: Wildfire Theatre Company’s “Proof” Berthoud
Opening Friday, April 25, through June 29: Carousel’s “Cats” Fort Collins
Opening Thursday, April 24, through June 1: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “Sherlock Holmes … The Final Adventure” Golden
Opening Thursday, April 24, through May 17: Longmont Theatre Company’s “Fiddler on the Roof”
This week’s closings
Today: Vintage Theatre’s “Dinner With Friends”
Today: New Denver Civic’s “Defending the Caveman”
Today: Theatre 13’s “Wrong Turn at Lungfish” Boulder
Today: Shakespeare Oratorio Society’s “Richard III” (Macky Auditorium) Boulder
Wednesday: Season 2 of Buntport’s biweekly serial, “Starship Troy”
Saturday: E-Project’s “Once on This Island” Lakewood
Saturday: Adams Mystery Playhouse’s “Welcome . . . to Murder Mortuary”
Saturday: National Theatre Conservatory’s “The Laramie Project” and “Harvey” (Tramway Theatre)
April 27: Backstage’s “Reefer Madness” Breckenridge
April 27: Coal Creek Community Theatre’s “Sylvia” Louisville
Weekly podcast
Running Lines with … Cameron Stevens. This week, John Moore speaks with the Horizon High School and University of Northern Colorado graduate who was featured in the 2003 national touring production of “Saturday Night Fever” and is now home to star in Next Stage’s “Falsettos.” . 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. Run time: 16 minutes.
Most recent theater openings
“Crimes of the Heart” Beth Henley’s ubiquitous weeper is set in Hazlehurst, Miss., where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, a grandfather living out his last hours in the local hospital. Their grave and yet somehow comic travails tell the story of how people can escape the past to seize the future. Through May 17. Victorian Playhouse, 4201 Hooker St., 303-433-4343 or
“Falsettos” This musical, winner of two 1992 Tony Awards, christens the Aurora Fox’s new 75-seat studio theater. It’s the tale of Marvin, who leaves his wife and young son to live with a man. His ex-wife marries his psychiatrist, and Marvin ends up alone. Two years later, Marvin is reunited with his lover on the eve of his son’s bar mitzvah, just as AIDS is beginning its insidious spread. And, believe it or not, it’s funny. Really funny. Through May 10. Next Stage Theatre Company at the Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., 303-364-9998 or
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” This musical stage adaptation of the 1967 Julie Andrews film swept the 2002 Tony Awards on the pure charm of an unflappable flapper from Kansas determined to make it on her own in New York City. But ultimately, what’s so modern about Millie? Not much. She’s dead-set on marrying a man of means, and love will not interfere with her plan. Though set in 1922, this musical sets out to reject every saccharine musical cliche — and then, regrettably, repudiates itself in every way. Through May 4. Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, 303-987-7845 7845 or
“Rabbit Hole” David Lindsay-Abaire’s drama was last year’s surprise Pulitzer Prize winner (it was chosen even though it wasn’t even among the finalists). It’s about a married couple whose world is torn apart after a life-shattering accident. It’s a bittersweet search for comfort in the darkest of places. Through May 4. Lon Chaney Theatre, 221 E. Kiowa Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-573-7411 or
“Sylvia” A.R. Gurney’s melancholy canine comedy about a financial trader nearing retirement who brings a stray dog home from the park — and this “other woman” becomes a major bone of contention with his wife. A new spin on relationships that’s alternately funny and sad. Through April 27. Coal Creek Community Theatre at the Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., Louisville, 303-665-0955 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
Upcoming events
Sunday. Speaker series. The Bas Bleu Theatre’s ongoing speaker series will feature Denver Post theater critic John Moore at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20, at 401 Pine St., Fort Collins. Moore will be interviewed by Dr. Morris Burns for 40 minutes, followed by 40 minutes of questions and answers. Wine and cheese provided. $10-$15. 970-498-8949 or
Wednesday.Comedy theater. “Plays Well With Others” is a monthly, completely improvised long-form comedy show that pushes the limits of its actors and audiences. No two shows are ever the same. 7:30 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of every month at The Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave. $10; $5 to anyone currently enrolled in an improv class in the metro area. (303-321-5925).
