The demise of the Cabaret Dinner Theatre in Grand Junction is just the latest bleak indicator for the dinner-theater industry, but one that’s tempered by the initial success of the new in Johnstown.
The Cabaret, which closed June 27 with a debt load approaching $1 million, drew nearly 37,000 in 2007, generating $1.3 million in revenues. Combined with the demise of the Country Dinner Playhouse a year ago, that makes for an annual hit of $5.2 million and 150,000 tickets to the Colorado theater community.
Those still standing are a bit wobbly. Well-reviewed shows at (“The Will Rogers Follies”) and (“Retro Loud”) are struggling to find audiences during these summer doldrums.
But on the bright side, the month- old Candlelight, 40 miles north of Denver, is drawing from 80 to 270 for each of five weekly performances of
The key for any dinner theater to survive these days, says CEO Nick Turner, is to not run the business like a dinner theater.
“I just don’t see us as a dinner theater, because that’s too restrictive of what we do,” Turner said. “I see us as an entertainment that also happens to provide a very high-quality dinner service. I think we really have to redefine or reimagine what ‘dinner theater’ is as an industry or, yeah, we’re all in trouble.”
Casting news
The already has landed a huge name for its 2009 summer season: Denver Center Theatre Company stalwart Sam Gregory will play Atticus Finch in
Gregory is twice-nominated for best actor at Monday’s Henry Awards (for the DCTC’s “Doubt” and Paragon’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”). Colorado Shakes showcased fellow DCTC vet Randy Moore in ’07, “and I’m going to try to do a lot more of that,” producing artistic director Philip Sneed said . . .
The most anticipated cast list in years is the upcoming opening Sept. 16, and it’s a doozy: who has played Jean Valjean in more performances than any other actor, headlines the Arvada staging. Boulder’s Dinner Theatre vet Wayne Kennedy and Beth Flynn will play Thenardier and his wife. Stephen Day (Arvada Center’s “La Cage Aux Folles”) returns as Javert. Amy Board is Eponine. Valerie Hill is Fantine. Markus Warren is Enjolras. Elizabeth Welch is Cosette. Ensemble members include Paul Dwyer, Shannan Steele, Megan Van De Hey and many more big local names. Go to for the complete rundown . . .
Meanwhile, the Arvada Center went through some tumult when Eddie Clendening was fired from the title role just a few days before the first preview performance of “Buddy. . . The Buddy Holly Story.” Now donning the horn-rimmed glasses is Bennett Dunn, who’s played the role several times before. Tuesday: That’ll be the day (it opens); call 720-898-7200.
Briefly…
It’s been a bit touch-and-go for the
but a special upcoming fundraiser bodes well for another season. Jamie Horton, now a professor at Dartmouth after 23 years acting with the DCTC, will be joined by company favorites Kathy Brady,John Hutton and Randy Moore as they revisit favorite roles. “An Evening with Jamie Horton and Friends” begins at 7:30 p.m. July 31 at the King Center on the Auraria Campus. $35 (303-780-7836 or ) . . .
Grand Lake’s burgeoning which needs a new theater after performing to 98 percent capacity (that’s not a misprint) in 2007, is hosting a huge block party on Friday to announce its new $5.4 million capital campaign (970-627-3421 or ) . . .
makes its big move from the Phoenix Theatre to the studio theater with Friday’s opening of “Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly” (303-777-3292 or ) . . .
To order tickets for Monday’s Henry Awards at the Littleton call 303-794-2787.
And finally…
So how badly did Rene Marie miscalculate with her self-described “switcheroonie,” when she sang an alternative to the national anthem at the mayor’s state of the city address? Even Jeffrey Nickelson, who typically owns a second home in the middle of controversies like these, was distancing himself last week. Marie was referenced in news reports as being an actor with Nickelson’s Shadow Theatre, even though she performed there only once, in April’s “Dinah Was.” “Rene Marie has performed at Shadow Theatre in the past,” Nickelson wrote in a statement. “She is not an employee. Her decisions are hers alone and in no way represent the position of Shadow Theatre.”
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s openings
Opening Tuesday, July 8, through Aug. 3: Arvada Center’s “Buddy . . . The Buddy Holly Story”
Opening Tuesday, July 8 (open-ended): Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s “What … ‘s in the World?” (Mondays and Tuesdays only)
Opening Thursday, July 10, through July 26: Curious Theatre’s “End Days”
Opening Thursday, July 10, through Aug. 22: Theatre Aspen’s “Rounding Third”
Opening Thursday, July 10, through Aug. 3: Colorado Light Opera’s “A Little Night Music” Boulder
Opening Friday, July 11, through Aug. 15: Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s “Henry VIII” Boulder
Opening Friday, July 11, through Aug. 16: Theatre Group’s “Howard Crabtree’s When Pigs Fly” (at the New Denver Civic Theatre)
Opening Friday, July 11, through Aug. 16: Theatre Aspen’s “Seussical”
Opening Friday, July 11, through Aug. 16: Southern Colorado Rep’s “Lucky Stiff” Trinidad
Opening Friday, July 11, through Aug. 10: Evergreen Players’ “The Wizard of Oz”
Opening Friday, July 11, through July 20: Festival Playhouse’s “A Bad Year for Tomatoes” Arvada
Opening Saturday, July 12, through Aug. 2: Colorado Light Opera’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” Boulder
This week’s closings
Today, July 6: Germinal Stage Denver’s “Reverse Psychology”
Thursday, July 10: And Toto Too’s “The Glider” (at the Victorian Playhouse)
Saturday, July 12: Victorian Playhouse’s “Catch Me If You Can”
This week’s podcast
Running Lines with . . . Henry Award nominees. Denver Post theater critic John Moore chats with three multiple nominees at the upcoming Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards: Sam Gregory, Megan Van De Hey and Scott Beyette. The public gala is 6 p.m. Monday at the Town Hall Arts Center (303-778-7724). To listen, You will be taken to a miniplayer. Once there, 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: 20 minutes.
This week’s best bet: Henry Awards
Monday. The Colorado Theatre Guild’s third annual Henry Awards are a great chance for the public to mix and meet with their favorite local actors. Monday’s awards, named for retired producer Henry Lowenstein, honor the best in metro- area theater among the CTG’s 49 local member organizations. Nearly one-fourth of the 102 nominations went to the Denver Center Theatre Company, but the most honored play is the Paragon Theatre’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” with six nominations, and the top musical is the handicapped company PHAMALy’s “Urinetown,” with nine. The Henrys begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. at the Littleton Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St. Tickets are $20 now, $25 at the door. Call 303-778-7724. John Moore
Most recent theater openings
“Big: The Musical” Based on the 1987 film featuring Tom Hanks, “Big” tells the tale of 12-year-old Josh Baskin, who makes a wish and suddenly finds himself in an adult’s body. Through Aug. 16. Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, 1025 Grand Ave., Grand Lake, 970-627-3421 or .
“Doubt” In 1964 in the Bronx, an older Catholic nun suspects a young priest of sexually abusing a student. The nun, who favors discipline over compassion, brings her unproven allegations, even if they may destroy him. Through July 24. Little Theatre of the Rockies at the University of Northern Colorado, 10th Avenue and 18th Street, Greeley, 970-351-2200 or .
“Enchanted April” Based on a romantic novel about two cloistered, married 1920s English women who impulsively rent an Italian villa and embark upon a life-altering vacation without their spouses. Through July 12. A Theatre Group, 1219 Greene St., Silverton, 970-387-5337 or .
“Little Shop of Horrors” Popular musical about Audrey, Seymour . . . and a plant that threatens to eat the world. Thursdays only. Through Aug. 14. Presented by Lake Dillon Theatre Company at the Park Lane Pavilion in Keystone, 970-513-9386 or .
“Love’s Labour’s Lost” Four idle-rich young men have sworn an oath to give up girls for academics and contemplation for three years. Enter four beautiful temptresses. Director Gavin Cameron-Webb sets the story in 1917 in Newport R.I., with the specter of World War I coinciding with the play’s melancholy ending. Through Aug. 15. Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Mary Rippon outdoor theatre, CU-Boulder, 303-492-0554 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.
