A children’s theater outing couldn’t be less grim. And yet, everywhere you turn this winter, it’s Grimm. As in the Brothers Grimm, those German purveyors of creepy-crawler bedtime tales.
This season, “Snow White,” “Hansel and Gretel” and “The Golden Goose” are being necessarily squeakified for modern young audiences.
Here’s a roundup of current and upcoming offerings by the area’s most significant children’s theaters (meaning performances by professional adult actors for primarily young audiences):
BUNTPORT THEATER’S “TRUNKS”
Buntport’s ongoing, biweekly Saturday serial follows three young superheroes — The Germ, The Volt and The Cute — and their parrot, who are cleaning up the streets of Dendiggityopolis. New, original episodes every other Saturday, based on audience suggestions, through April 4. Recommended for ages 4 and up.
Next episodes 1 and 3 p.m. March 21. $4-$6. 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or
DENVER PUPPET THEATER’S “JACK AND THE BEANSTALK”
For 12 years, puppeteer Annie Zook has operated up to four simultaneous marionettes in telling gentle, family-friendly stories for young audiences. Children are allowed to come 30 minutes before each show and linger afterward to make their own arts-and-crafts puppets or to peruse the largest puppet store in Colorado, which stocks styles from all over the world. “Jack and the Beanstalk,” the tale of the English lad who climbs his way into big trouble, runs through Sunday. Then, through May 17, it’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes.”
10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 1 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays. Recommended for children ages 3 and older. $6. 3156 W. 38th Ave., 303-458-6446 or
ARVADA CENTER’S “JUST SO”
No one does children’s theater like the Arvada Center, which throws nearly the same bevy of resources at its semiannual children’s musicals as their mainstage offerings. Now playing is this collection of tales inspired by the stories of Rudyard Kipling. Set in a fanciful land of trunkless elephants, thin-skinned rhinos and spotless leopards, “Just So” sets out to explain life’s little mysteries. Borrowing from “How the Elephant Got His Trunk,” “How the Leopard Got His Spots” and more, “Just So” is a clever musical about courage, individuality and friendship. A mind-expanding adventure directed by Edith Weiss. Recommended for ages 4 and older.
10 a.m. and noon most weekdays, and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. most Saturdays through May 9. $8-$10. 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or
HERITAGE SQUARE MUSIC HALL’S “HANSEL AND GRETEL”
The Music Hall’s popular series of original children’s plays based on favorite fairy tales presents a cheerful twist on one of the Grimms’ most twisted tales. (Kids abandoned by their mother in the woods only to be fattened up and eaten by a witch, seriously?) This ensemble turns every performance into a fun and interactive experience, with all children being called onto the stage to help out. Recommended for ages 4 and older. $5-$6.
1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. select Saturdays through March 28. $5-$6. 18301 W. Colfax Ave., Golden, 303-279-7800 or
DENVER CHILDREN’S THEATRE’S “THE GOLDEN GOOSE”
While many kids troupes play down to the lowest presumed attention span, the DCT’s popular annual offering never underestimates the intelligence or emotional capacity of its audiences. This is Charles Way’s adaptation of the Grimms’ tale of a young man named Dummling, who is judged unworthy because of his name. But after inadvertently doing a good deed for the king and queen, he’s given a magic golden goose and asked to save the fairy forest from destruction. In this form, it offers lessons in acceptance, diversity, environment, coming of age and triumph over injustice. Directed by Billie McBride. Recommended for kindergarten through sixth grade.
Public performances 1 p.m. most Sundays, through May 3. Weekday shows reserved for school groups. $8-$9. Mizel Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-316-6360 or
BOULDER’S DINNER THEATRE’S “SNOW WHITE AND THE DWARVES OF DWEEDLEBURY”
BDT’s acclaimed Kids Kabaret series returns March 25 with the famous tale of the princess who is pursued by a jealous queen, fed a poison apple and awakened by Prince Charming with a kiss. But you have never encountered dwarves the likes of the Dwarves of Dweedlebury, who have a message to the other little people in the audience: “Don’t judge a book by its cover . . . or, in this case, a dwarf by his manners.” Recommended for ages 3-10.
10 a.m. most Wednesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m. most Saturdays March 25-May 15. $6-$7. 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303-449-6000 or
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s video podcast:
Running Lines at . . . “Sixteen Wounded”
This week, Denver Post theater critic John Moore talks with playwright Eliam Kraiem and captures highlights from the opening night talkback with Evergreen Players director Len Matheo along with cast members including Richard Beall, Wadi Muhaisen and David Blumenstock. Run time: 9 minutes. Recorded Match 6, 2009.
This week’s best bet
“Leadville or Bust” and “The Black Box Burlesque”
For the first time since the 1930s, a dedicated burlesque theater is opening in Denver. Reyna Von Vett presents “Leadville or Bust” early evenings at the New Denver Civic’s cabaret theater, before turning things over (most nights) to Burlesque As It Was, the iconic company established in Denver a decade ago by Vivienne VaVoom (Michelle Baldwin). “Leadville” is a playful revue of genuine 1880s burlesque tunes like “Ragtime Cowboy Joe,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” and “Seeing Denver.” The night of double-entendre and can-can dancing is hosted by “Cora Vette,” who takes us back to a time when sex and scandal were all about corsets, tights and bawdy songs. The all-new late-night show, “The Black Box Burlesque,” taps into the 1930-60 classic era of burlesque, when the art form was much more tease than strip. The show features classic samples of the fan dance, screen dance and the balloon-pop number. It promises to be a sparkling extravaganza. “Leadville” plays 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays; “Burlesque” plays at 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays only through May 31 at 721 Santa Fe Drive. $15-$25 each (discount for both). 303-309-3773, King Soopers stores, , or , or .
This week’s other theater openings
“Beauty, Brains and Personality”
In this Emmett Loverde comedy, three girlfriends who meet for a monthly dinner party learn to define themselves beyond any one-dimensional view. Through March 23. Arvada Festival Playhouse, 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., 303-422-4090 or
“Nunsense” and “Nunsense A-Men”
Can you believe those five zany nuns from Hoboken are still trying to raise money to bury their felled fellow sisters, done in by tainted soup? Women perform the musical on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Starting next week, men (of the “A-Men” title) will perform the exact same musical on Wednesdays and Fridays. Through May 23. Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or
“Steel Magnolias”
Robert Harling’s ubiquitous Southern weeper about small-town Southern women who come to Truvy’s Beauty Salon to chat, counsel, criticize and comfort one another. Through April 4. E-Project, 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-232-0363 or
“This Just In”
Magic Moments’ annual pop-music revue integrates disabled and able-bodied cast members of all ages and experience. This year’s show is set in a Baltimore TV station, and the 250-member cast takes on songs like “It’s Raining Men” and “Rock This Town.” Through Sunday. Littleton High School, 199 E. Littleton Blvd. 303-607-7555 or
Compiled by John Moore
Complete theater listings
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