The Arvada Center had hit its sweet spot. Then “Les Miserables” star Randal Keith hit a wet spot.
The company was riding out its greatest creative and commercial success, but it all came crashing down in a second. That’s when Keith, playing Jean Valjean, slipped on water from a fog machine while running off stage, breaking his foot in three places.
That Sept. 27 matinee was canceled just 10 minutes in, but game understudy Drew Frady was in place by that night. Still, three weeks of nearly sold-out performances remained, with the possibility of a second extension.
What to do? Many were shelling out up to $70 because of Keith, a Broadway veteran who was so badly injured that the surgery to insert eight pins and a metal plate in his foot has been delayed until next week. Didn’t those with tickets in the final three weeks deserve the same quality as those who came in the first three?
Director Rod Lansberry had a choice: Take the easy way out, or do right by his customers.
Lansberry is doing right by his customers. He’s bringing in emergency replacement Dennis St. Pierre, who just received sensational notices, specifically for his high tenor vocal, playing Valjean for the Maine State Theatre.
“Drew has done an incredible job, but understudies are not cast or hired as replacements. They are hired to take care of a worst-case scenario,” Lansberry said. “This is such an epic production for us, and I wanted to make sure that it stays an epic event for our remaining audiences.”
St. Pierre was recommended by Todd Alan Johnson, who starred in the Arvada Center’s “Jekyll & Hyde” in 2004. St. Pierre flew here Wednesday and was expected to be performing by Saturday.
And, yes, the run has been extended again, through Oct. 25. Call 720-898-7200.
Accident or negligence?
Keith’s horrific injury poses the difficult question of whether it could have been avoided. Keith, running in darkness, hit a patch of condensation from a fog machine.
“That’s what fog machines do,” Lansberry said. But the amount of water that pools varies from show to show because temperature variations affect condensation.
“I consulted with a representative from (the actors union), and his comment to me was, ‘That’s why they are called accidents,’ because that’s exactly what this was.
“There are always going to be hazards, and that’s why we hire professionals. It’s part of the business. There is an inherent risk in what we do.”
“Love Changes Everything”
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Natalie Jensen‘s benefit concert, “Love Changes Everything,” raised more than $6,500 on Monday to be split between the Susan G. Komen breast- cancer foundation and the Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers’ Memorial. Jared Jensen, her husband, was a Colorado Springs police officer killed in duty at age 30.
The actor gathered an astonishing 36-person ensemble, a who’s-who of the Colorado theater community, at the First United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs for what turned out to be essentially a retrospective of great area performances over the past several years.
The casts of the Country Dinner Playhouse’s “Evita” and the Colorado Springs Arts Center’s “Into the Woods” were well-represented. They all sang the “Les Miserables” finale, with many from the Arvada Center’s production leading the way.
The benefit was especially meaningful to police in attendance.
“It’s uplifting to see how Natalie has taken a really tough situation and turned it into a positive thing,” said Westminster police officer Charlie Villarreal, a friend of Jared’s and husband of performer Michelle Sergeeff. “She’s working really hard for the officers who are still out there.”
Villarreal’s brother-in-law is actor Christopher Sergeeff, who was performing in “Beauty and the Beast” at the Country Dinner Playhouse when Jared Jensen was shot.
“The first thing I thought about was my sister, because her husband is also a police officer,” he said, “and it just smacked me across the face like a ton of bricks.”
Colorado Springs police Lt. David Whitlock said the benefit, and the memorial it will help build, “means everything to all of us.
“It’s going to take a lot of dollars, but dollars also mean hearts,” he said. “If you believe in police officers and law enforcement, and if you believe a lot of heroes have given their lives to keep our communities safe, then this memorial is just the kind of thing that you need to support.”
Jensen’s message to the crowd of about 500: “Do something to help others, and do it today. Because there are no guarantees. It’s all about here and now. It’s families and relationships. That’s what (Jared) taught me. . . . So go out there and do something that is uniquely you.”
Contributions are still being accepted. See below for details.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s video podcast: “Love Changes Everything”
This week, our podcast goes video: John Moore and videographer Ray Bailey bring you excerpts and interviews from a benefit performance hosted Monday by Natalie Jensen that raised more than $6,500 for the Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers’ Memorial and Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Colorado Springs. Speakers, performers and interviewees include Jensen, Amy Board, Joanie Brousseau-Beyette, Paul Dwyer, Brantley Haines, Kitty Skillman-Hilsabeck, Robert Hoppe, Sally Hybl, Karla Kruse, Nick Madson, Scott Rathbun, Christopher Sergeeff, Michelle Sergeeff, Jeremy Sortore, Randy St. Pierre, Shannan Steele, Halee Towne, Shannon Wallnutt, Sharon Kay White, Markus Warren, Tracy Warren, and police officers in attendance from Westminster and Colorado Springs. Recorded Sept. 29, 2008. Run time: 11 minutes.
How to donate to the cause(s)
The video above lists a phone number to call to donate to the two causes this concert benefited. But the preferred method of donating is directly through either organization’s web site. To donate to Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers’ Memorial, To donate to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Colorado Springs,
Read our interview with Natalie Jensen
The actor and widow of Colorado Springs police officer Jared Jensen speaks publicly for the first time about why it was important for her to create her benefit concert, “Love Changes Everything.”
This week’s theater openings
Opening Thursday, through Nov. 1: Shadow’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”
Friday-Nov. 1: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Noises Off” (at the Stage Theatre)
Friday-Oct. 26: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “Biloxi Blues”
Friday-Oct. 26: openstage etc’s “The Oldest Profession” Fort Collins
Friday-Nov. 8: Victorian Playhouse’s “Tales of the Night” (“Sorry, Wrong Number,” “The Hitch-Hiker” and “The War of the Worlds”)
Friday-Oct. 25: Theatre Company of Lafayette’s “The Jollies”
Friday-Nov. 2: Hunger Artists’ “Haunted” (at Byers-Evans House)
Friday-Nov. 8: Firehouse’s “Sleuth”
Friday-Oct. 19: Performance Now’s “Pump Boys and Dinettes” Lakewood
Friday-Oct. 18: Stage Left’s “Wit” Salida
This week’s theater closings
Closing Saturday, Aug. 11: Thunder River’s “Quilters” Carbondale
Oct 12: Union Colony Dinner Theatre’s “Jekyll & Hyde” Greeley
Oct. 12: Germinal Stage-Denver’s “Tiny Alice”
Oct. 12: Aurora Fox’s “Escanaba In Love”
Most recent theater openings
“Blithe Spirit” Noel Coward’s spooky society comedy about a novelist whose dead wife is summoned from beyond. Through Oct. 31. Gaslight Theatre, 7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, 720-232-7285 or
“Frankenstein of Cripple Creek” Thin Air Theatre’s Cripple Creek retelling of Mary Shelley’s classic horror story. Through Nov. 1. 139 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek, 719-235-8944 or
“Magdalene, Woman of Light” One of the great mysteries of the Bible concerns the true relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Now comes the premiere of a new Colorado-grown musical, “Magdalene, Woman of Light,” that weaves the story of Mary’s life from her birth in Egypt and early training as a high priestess, to Jesus’ elevation of her as the first of his apostles, the subsequent conflict with the apostle Peter. Stars Marika Reisberg as Magdalene, Natalie Oliver-Atherton, above, (Broadway’s “Once On This Island”) as Mother Wisdom and Steven J. Burge (“Dog Sees God”) as Peter. Through Oct. 19. New Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Dr., 303-309-3773, , TicketsWest or King Soopers stores.
“Mr. Marmalade” It’s tough to be a 4-year-old in these difficult times. Lucy’s imaginary friend, Mr. Marmalade, doesn’t have much time for her. Not to mention, he beats up his personal assistant, has a cocaine addiction and a penchant for pornography. Presented by Next Stage at the Aurora Fox Studio Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., 303-364-9998 or
“Murderers” In Jeffrey Hatcher’s dark comedy, Gerald, Lucy and Minka are all murderers — and they’re residents of the Riddle Key Retirement Community. A surprisingly upbeat tale with macabre twists and ironic turns. Through Nov. 2. Vintage Theatre, 2119 E. 17th Ave., 303-839-1361 or
“Welcome . . . to Murder Mortuary” Colorado’s only mystery dinner theater cordially invites you to Dr. Orlock’s “Welcome Home” masquerade party. Costumes are encouraged. Through Nov. 1. Adams Mystery Playhouse, 2406 Federal Blvd., 303-455-1848 or
– Compiled by John Moore
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.
