The economic news is either gory or glory at theaters around the state. While the Denver Center and Colorado Shakespeare Festival are making precautionary cutbacks in anticipation of an ugly upcoming year, the Arvada Center is downright flush heading into the storm.
This time a year ago, the Arvada Center was a mess. But in 2008, box-office revenue for its six-show subscription season was up a staggering 53 percent, from $1.9 million to $2.9 million — even though it offered one fewer show. Attendance was up 32.5 percent, to 77,999.
That’s not only thanks to the fall juggernaut “Les Miserables,” but also to strong performances by “The Buddy Holly Story,” “Hollywood Arms” and “A Wonderful Life” outpacing tepid-performing ’07 equivalents.
Even the already thriving children’s theater division had a gangbuster year — attendance for “A Year With Frog and Toad” and “Seussical” was 68,850, up 55 percent over the two ’07 offerings.
This is a story of smart programming leading to economic windfall. The Arvada Center decided to move toward big, family-friendly musicals after audiences snubbed straight plays like “Defiance” and “Moonlight and Marigolds.” The Arvada Center identified its strengths and built a season around them.
Of course, the economic fallout has yet to hit, making the most important figure the one that shows how the Arvada Center has positioned itself for the future. Year-to-date, subscriptions for ’09 are up 29.8 percent, from 5,371 to 6,969. More than 35 percent of them are new subscribers.
“The way you address the storm is by growing your base of support, and we’ve done that,” said executive director Gene Sobczak, who is approaching ’09 with a confidence others will envy. Now the goal is to manage the momentum.
“I believe we are the best-prepared to weather any storms that may come our way in this new economic climate,” he said. “But given the year we just had, it would be inappropriate for us to cut back.”
Snapshots from around the state
• We’ve previously reported that the Denver Center for the Performing Arts has cut $1 million from its current budget and that Boulder’s 52-year-old Colorado Shakespeare Festival is slashing its ’09 season from nine weeks to six, axing $350,000 from what will now be a $1.3 million budget.
• In Grand Lake, spring groundbreaking on a $5.5 million, 300-seat arts complex for the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre has been delayed until another $1.4 million can be raised. The Rep raised $2.2 million before it even launched its capital campaign July 11. But since, private donations have slowed, and foundation support has nearly dried up.
“Our steering committee projected $1 million from various foundations,” said managing director Chad Scott. Actual amount: $15,000.
“One Denver foundation has reorganized its giving structure, delaying its award until we have reached 70 percent of our goal. In the past, that figure was 30 percent. Two other foundations have placed holds on all grants.”
Over the past four summer seasons, Rocky Mountain rep has averaged turning away 80 customers per show. That will only increase next summer as county officials have decreased the capacity of its present home in downtown Grand Lake by 20 seats. That translates into a $40,000 loss in revenue.
Scott is not deterred. “It’s definitely tough times for our dream of a new theater, but we’ve had so many angels come through for us already, we can only continue on our path and hope that a few more are out there,” he said.
• Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center reported record revenue for its 2007-08 season ($690,000), but sales for its first two offerings of ’08-09 (“The Full Monty” and “Beauty and the Beast”) were down 4 percent from ’07. The current “My Way” has made up for most of that shortfall.
• The fledgling Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in Johnstown has scratched what was to be a lavish production of “Singin’ in the Rain.” In its place, opening March 6: The much less expensive “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.”
“We expected a holiday revenue surge (from “Swing”) to be able to mount “Singin’,” said producer Nick Turner. “But we saw 30 percent fewer patrons than we expected over the holidays. All our groups — all of them — had their budgets frozen, and they weren’t doing anything for the holidays.”
Briefly . . .
Su Teatro is among the recipients of the mayor’s latest awards for excellence in the arts (full story posted at ). . . . And the national touring production of “August: Osage County” that launches in Denver on July 24 will be headlined by Oscar-winning 81-year- old Estelle Parsons as the most acidic matriarch in recent matriarchal history. She’s currently playing the role on Broadway.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s openings
Opening Thursday, through Feb. 28: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Dusty and the Big Bad World,” Space Theatre
Thursday, through Feb. 7: Dragonfly Arts Center’s “Handler” Boulder
Thursday, through Feb. 15: TheatreWorks’ “Wit” Colorado Springs
Friday-Feb. 22: Heritage Square Music Hall’s “Retro Loud” Golden
Saturday-March 8: Bas Bleu’s “Lobby Hero” Fort Collins
This week’s closings
Saturday: PHAMALy’s “Steel Magnolias” (at the Aurora Fox)
Saturday: OpenStage’s “Doubt” Fort Collins
Saturday: Evergreen Players’ “Dearly Departed”
Saturday: “An Evening of Six Short Plays by Kurt Lewis”
Saturday: Adams Mystery Playhouse’s “Molly Brown and the Mysterious Murder”
Feb. 1: Manitou Art Theatre’s “Cups” Colorado Springs
Complete theater listings
Go to our complete list of in Colorado, including summaries, run dates, addresses, phones and links to every company’s home page. Or check out our listings
or
Recap: The rest of this week’s theater coverage in The Denver Post
NEWS: Su Teatro is among the recipients of Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts.
NEWS: Rev. Dennis E. Dwyer, founder of The Original Scene, dies at 67.
FEATURE: They called it “Bustergate.” A PBS children’s series was nearly shut down after showing a girl with two mommiesNow the incident has inspired a new play by the Denver Center Theatre Company, “Dusty and the Big Bad World.”
REVIEW: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Inana” ***
REVIEW: Manitou Art Theatre’s “Cups” ***
REVIEW: Firehouse’s “Mother Hicks” **1/2
REVIEW: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “Shining City” **
AUDITIONS: Complete list, updated up to three times a week.
This week’s video podcast:
Running Lines at the final performance of “Starship Troy”
This week, Denver Post theater critic John Moore brings you excerpts from the 100th and final installment of Buntport Theater’s acclaimed bi-weekly staple. The last episode of “Starship Troy” took place Dec. 31, 2008. Performers include: Erin Rollman, Erik Edborg, Hannah Duggan, Brian Colonna, Evan Weissman and SaManTha Schmitz. Recorded Dec. 31, 2008. Run time: 9 minutes.
