Here are some of the politically themed theatrical offerings being staged here specifically because of (or inspired by) the upcoming Democratic National Convention (listed by subjective order of significance):
“The Eyes of Babylon”: Honorably discharged Marine Jeff Key tells how he used the military’s ban on gays as a way out from a war in Iraq that he came to believe was morally corrupt. Written and performed by Key.
Aug. 21-Sept. 13. Theatre Group at the New Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 303-777-3292
“The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui”: Countdown to Zero stages Bertolt Brecht’s chilling parable about corruption and power, in which Hitler is reinvented as a ’30s Chicago gangster.
Aug. 26. The Bindery Space, 720 22nd St., 720-221-3821
“Red State”: San Francisco’s Tony Award-winning Mime Troupe comes to Denver to skewer the electoral process — in song and dance.
Aug. 27, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The Bindery Space, 720 22nd St., 720-221-3821.
“DNC Mediamockracy”: Listen Productions will be at the actual 2008 Democratic National Convention, and then turn its findings into a multimedia exploration of the relationship between our media and political system, and how it impacts the American people and our democracy.
Sept. 26-Oct. 25. Buntport Theater, 717 Lipan St. 720-290-1104
Boulder International Fringe Festival
A number of fest offerings will be political in nature, including the Samantha Giron Dance Project’s “Interrogations” (L.A.), and Once Upon a Mime’s “The President’s New Clothes” (Indiana). Go to for the complete lineup.
Aug. 14-25. Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., and other venues around Boulder, 720-563-9950
“Lysistrata”: Perhaps the oldest political comedy in history tells of the Greek women who withheld sex from their husbands until they stopped fighting a senseless war.
Aug. 15-30. Theatre Company of Lafayette, 300 E. Simpson St.; 720-209-2154
“The Will Rogers Follies”
Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s folksy musical about the humorist who was on call to advise kings and presidents but made his greatest impact on the common man. Each ever- changing performance integrates a Will Rogers of today commenting on that very day’s newspaper headlines.
Through Aug. 30. 5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000
“Iraq War, The Musical!”: Musical-comedy satire about the obstacles the Bush administration overcame to get its war in Iraq going — and keep it going. Wacky musical high jinks.
Through Aug. 31. Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 303-780-7836.
“The Capitol Steps”: Good-natured, bipartisan political satire by an established touring company.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 23. Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200
“Home Away From”: In this new satire of Hollywood Republicans, an aging screenwriter and an aspiring actress rent rooms in a Los Angeles house where the boundaries between race, politics, Hollywood and reality blur.
Aug. 22-Sept. 27. Brooks Center Arts, First Divine Science Church, 1400 Williams St.
“Politix: Showbiz on the Powerbiz”: All the hot campaign issues of 2008 play out in sketches and songs. Written and directed by Denver’s Janet DeRuvo.
July 25-Aug. 23. Victorian Playhouse, 4201 Hooker St., 303-433-4343
“Allied Witches’ Presidential Election Convention 2008”: The Mercury Cafe’s resident theatrical witches poke their broomsticks in the satirical belly of our democratic process. Characters include everyone from Eleanor Roosevelt to Dick Cheney to Michelle Obama.
Aug. 22, 23 and 29. 2199 California St. 303-294-9258
“Convention”: A series of lowbrow satirical sketches about running a presidential campaign by some fairly novice improvisational comedians. The audience votes between the three buffoons up for their party’s nomination.
Through Aug. 26 (Tuesdays only). The Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925
