The tanking economy has the Denver Center for the Performing Arts taking precautionary steps that will cumulatively cut $1 million in spending this fiscal year.
The goal is to create a cushion to protect against further market volatility that might soon affect everything from foundation support to possible audience downturns.
But chairman Daniel L. Ritchie said no cuts will come from production costs. “We are not going to cut back on the quality of our shows one bit,” he said.
Instead, the reductions will come mostly from energy-efficiency initiatives and cuts in infrastructure and advertising.
The Denver Center relies on the market-driven Bonfils Foundation for about $2 million of its annual revenue, which is only about 4 percent of its budget. The foundation makes a one-time annual payment, so the market free-fall is not yet hurting the Center.
Nationwide, cultural groups fear the bad economy will dry up donor funds for arts organizations, a problem exacerbated by presidential- race contributions sucking away large chunks of individual cash. And here in Denver, anyone with money to give was hit up by the National Performing Arts and Democratic National conventions.
But the Denver Center, even to Ritchie’s surprise, is “holding steady.” DCPA vice president Dorothy Denny said the Center is on target to meet or exceed its goal of $4.2 million in individual, corporate and foundation support this year.
“If there is trouble, that would surface next year, if organizations we depend on merge or go away completely,” said Denny. That possibility hit close to home when Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy. Denver Center Theatre Company season sponsor Aurora Loan Services is a Lehman subsidiary but is open and operating as usual.
As for audience reaction to the crisis, the jury is still out. The national tour of “Avenue Q” was a runaway hit, the upcoming “Jersey Boys” is almost sold out, and the locally produced “Girls Only” is packing the Galleria Theatre. But Ritchie expects the DCTC’s first three offerings of the season to draw slightly less than last year’s. More below.
Do politics and theater mix?
This week, Variety made the case for polarizing political films finding hungry audiences during heated campaign seasons, citing Bill Maher‘s new “Religulous” and Oliver Stone‘s forthcoming “W.” In the weeks leading up to the 2004 election, Michael Moore‘s “Fahrenheit 9/11” became the highest-grossing documentary of all time.
But that kind of interest in film does not necessarily translate to live theater, as Mitch Dickman has learned with “DNC Mediamockracy,” his provocative, multimedia exploration of the media through the lens of the recent convention. Despite our proximity to that historic event, Dickman has struggled to find an audience.
“There may be something inherently alienating about political theater as opposed to political films,” said Dickman, whose play continues through Oct. 26 at the Buntport Theater (720-290-1104).
“We are offering people who have been bombarded by one-way messages the opportunity to engage in a two-way dialogue with people in their own community about very important issues.”
That audience is out there. They just might not be traditional theater audiences. Howard Zinn nearly packed the 2,000-seat Macky Auditorium on Wednesday for “Voices of a People’s History of the United States,” his collection of political speeches and songs.
DCTC artistic director Kent Thompson is intentionally staying far afield of the campaign this fall with “The Trip to Bountiful,” “Noises Off” and “Glengarry Glen Ross.”
“I have lived through many a presidential election, and it is tough getting audiences in for shows,” Thompson said when announcing his season in February. Instead, he banked on audiences yearning for an escape. That the numbers are down so far could be for any number of reasons. Audience familiarity with his three titles might be working both for and against him.
The Avenue Theater is banking on people not being so turned off by the campaign that they can’t laugh at it. It’s offering the direct-from-Broadway Colorado debut of “November,” David Mamet‘s snickering parody of the Bush presidency (303-321-5925). It opens Friday, but against stiff competition. More than 20 shows are opening in a 10-day span.
And finally …
Colorado theaters are missing a great opportunity on Thursday. More than 600 companies in 100 cities will offer free performances that night. But not a single Colorado company is participating in the Theatre Communications Group’s fourth annual event.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s audio podcast
Running Lines with . . . Georgia Engel. This week, listen to some of Denver Post theater critic John Moore’s interview excerpts with one of the stars of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” who is coming to Denver next week in the national touring production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” To listen,
You’ll be taken to a miniplayer. Once there, click on the triangular “play” button and the podcast will begin playing without your having to download. Or, simply right-click on the “download MP3” option to save a copy to your own desktop. Recorded Oct. 7, 2008. Run time: 15 minutes.
This week’s openings
Opening Tuesday, through Oct. 26: National touring production of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Buell Theatre
Thursday-Nov. 22: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Glengarry Glen Ross,” Ricketson Theatre
Friday-Nov. 14: The Avenue’s “November”
Friday-Nov. 9: Evergreen Players’ “Night Watch”
Friday-Nov. 1: Backstage’s “The Mystery of Irma Vep” Breckenridge
Friday-Nov. 8: Spotlight’s “Funny Money”
Friday-Nov 8: Theater Company of Lafayette’s “Sherlock Holmes and the Doom of Devilsmoor”
Friday-Nov. 2: Festival Playhouse’s “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night” Arvada
Friday-Nov. 8: E-Project’s “Mooncalf and Silverheels” Lakewood
Saturday-Nov 15: Paragon’s “The Glass Menagerie,” Crossroads Theatre
This week’s closings
Today, Oct. 12: Union Colony Dinner Theatre’s “Jekyll & Hyde” Greeley
Today, Oct. 12, Oct. 12: Germinal Stage-Denver’s “Tiny Alice”
Today: Aurora Fox’s “Escanaba In Love”
Saturday, Oct. 18: Curious Theatre’s “Curse of the Starving Class”
Saturday, Oct. 18: El Centro Su Teatro’s “Braided Sorrow”
Saturday, Oct. 18: Stage Left’s “Wit” Salida
Oct. 19: Performance Now’s “Pump Boys and Dinettes” Lakewood
Oct. 19: Bas Bleu’s “Pure Piaf: The Life and Music of Edith Piaf” Fort Collins
Oct. 19: TheatreWorks’ “The Grapes of Wrath” Colorado Springs
Oct. 19: Denver Civic Theatre’s “Magdalene, Woman of Light”
Most recent theater openings
“Biloxi Blues.” Neil Simon’s acclaimed autobiographical comedy about an Army recruit in World War II. Fifteen percent discount for military personnel. Through Oct. 26. Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5583 or
“The Drowsy Chaperone.” National touring production about a theater lover whose favorite 1928 musical comes to life in his bedroom. Tuesday through Oct. 26. Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-893-4100 or
“Haunted” An original look at Colorado’s most notoriously haunted locations. It’s a Halloween-themed exploration of the paranormal in Colorado. Through Nov. 2. Hunger Artists, at the Byers-Evans House, 1310 Bannock St., 303-893-5438 or .
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” August Wilson’s 1911 story looks at boarders in a Pittsburgh lodging house, when the children of recently freed slaves journeyed to the booming industrial North in search of prosperity and their own new identities. Through Nov. 1. Shadow Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 720-857-8000 or .
“Noises Off.” Uproarious farce follows the stage antics — on and off — of an inept acting troupe as it stumbles from bumbling dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night. Through Nov. 1. Denver Center Theatre Company at the Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-893-4100 or .
“The Oldest Profession.” Paula Vogel’s comedy about aging prostitutes who reminisce about their early days in the profession. Through Oct. 26. openstage etc., Armstrong Hotel, 259 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, 970-221-6730 or .
“Pump Boys and Dinettes.” Countrified musical tribute to life by the roadside gas station. Through Oct. 19. Performance Now at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, 303-987-7845 or .
“Sleuth.” Anthony Shaffer’s popular mystery about an innocuous round of cocktails that develops into a multilayered thriller. Through Nov. 8. Presented by the Firehouse Theatre Company at the John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. First Place, 303-562-3232 or .
“Tales of the Night” Three classic horror stories, just in time for Halloween: “Sorry, Wrong Number,” “The Hitch-Hiker” and “The War of the Worlds.” Through Nov. 8. Victorian Playhouse, 4201 Hooker St., 303-433-4343 or .
“Wit” Margaret Edson’s Pulitzer-winning play about the physical and emotional journey a scholarly woman takes when she is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Through Oct. 18. Stage Left, 300 W. Sackett St., Salida, 719-539-8539 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.
