Jeffrey Nickelson — the great orator, actor, singer and storyteller — deserved a better ending to his own story.
Leaving the Shadow Theatre Company he had founded 12 years before took a physical toll on him that was evident in our final interview July 30. He had just been released from the emergency room with chest pains and anxiety attacks. His shocking resignation had left him tired, unsettled and unsure of his future.
“Of course, it’s all connected,” he said. “Our bodies retain stuff. As well as our minds think we are, we are all physically holding in things.
“But I’m fine — not to worry,” he said by way of reassurance.
Nickelson was a kid from the mean streets of Philadelphia, a 10-year Air Force veteran who found his home in Denver. He was a burly presence in the theater community, with a big smile and a hearty laugh that still reverberates after his death Sept. 5.
For years, he carried Shadow on his back, from cleaning the carpets to managing the bills to seeking donors to starring in shows.
But he bore the weight of that burden more heavily than was healthy for him. He felt things more acutely. He was a sensitive soul who often reacted with wild passion. It’s what made him the artist he was.
Yes, this one was personal. For a white kid from Arvada, knowing Nickelson had become a continuing education in race relations and the history of the black experience in America. Life with Jeffrey was one ongoing, lively dialogue.
He called me brother. He called everyone brother.
In 2007, I was asked to write a short story for a special edition of “Stories on Stage. I called my short story “A Hard Place,” about a father who becomes so desperate when his 18-year-old son willingly enlists in the U.S. Marines to fight in Iraq, that he kidnaps the young man to keep him from reporting for duty. They asked Nickelson to read it, and he made it special. To listen to Jeffrey reading my story,
.
Mostly, I’ll miss the quotes. He could pull out pearls like a preacher. Like: “African-American history is everyone’s history.”
News of his sudden death was a body blow, coming on the same day as those of fellow actors Doug Rosen and Paula Sperry (her memorial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the University of Denver’s Little Theatre).
Sept. 5 was the saddest of days.
After his death, I first did my job. Then I tried to process the loss. I went through everything I had of his voice on tape. In his final, agonized interview, he implored supporters to continue to back Shadow under new boss Keith L. Hatten.
And he spoke of forgiveness.
“I have to be able to forgive,” he said, “for it is by forgiving that one is forgiven. I’ve got to accept people where they are, not where I want them to be. And if I am going to be a mentor to the young African-American people, I can’t be a hater. I have to be a lover of people, even when they have harmed me.
“That is my truth as a man, and that is what I have lived my life by.”
The journalist didn’t give way to the human being within until I got to the end of that tape. I had forgotten how we had left things. Knowing it might be a while until I had professional occasion to interview him again, a goodbye felt in order.
I told him: “I learned from you. I appreciate you, and I think I’m a better person for having known you.”
I’m grateful I had that chance.
Briefly. . .
The Aurora Fox celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala performance of “The Big Bang” on Saturday night. . . . Olivia Hill, star of Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s just-closed “Annie,” will be walking the pink carpet at the Boulder Theatre on Monday when her movie, “Olivia Rox!” is screened as a benefit for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. The 10-year-old stars in a family-friendly mystery about a kid snoop who solves the mystery of puppies missing from the local animal shelter (6:30 p.m., $10-$18, ). . . .
Mare Trevathan reprises her starring role in Eve Ensler‘s one-woman “The Good Body,” Friday through Oct. 11 at the Aurora Fox (303-739-1970). …
The Denver Center’s ongoing hit “Girls Only,” kind of a diary-reading slumber party for women, celebrates its one-year anniversary at the Galleria Theatre on Friday (303-893-4100) . . .
And finally, actor Natalie Jensen’s second annual fundraiser for the Pikes Peak Region Peace Officers’ Memorial and the Colorado Springs Komen Race for the Cure drew dozens of top actors Aug. 31 for a concert that raised $5,000. Jensen is the widow of slain Colorado Springs police officer Jared Jensen. A highlight: Michelle Sergeeff singing from “Swing” to the accompaniment of trumpeter Charlie Villarreal, her husband – and a police officer.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
Jeffrey Nickelson memorial celebration: View the slideshow
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To see our brief slideshow of pictures from Saturday’s memorial,
Audio extras: Jeffrey Nickelson
In honor of the passing of Shadow Theatre founder Jeffrey Nickelson, we have reposted his 2006 Running Lines podcast interview with John Moore. He was speaking about the company’s production of “The Spirit of Frederick Douglas” with The Spirituals Project. To listen, just
Also: Listen to Jeffrey Nickelson read John Moore’s short story, “A Hard Place,” which he wrote In 2007 for Stories On Stage. Run time: 15 minutes. .
Ted Lange on Nickelson: ‘Denver is really going to miss his presence’
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Ted Lange (Isaac from “The Love Boat”) is also a playwright who has had several of his comedies (including “Four Queens, No Trump”) staged at the Shadow Theatre under Jeffrey Nickelson. We spoke to him last week about the death of the company’s founder. For excerpts,
2009 Bonfils Theatre reunion in pictures
More than 200 people showed up for a Labor Day weekend reunion of Bonfils Theatre actors, crew and friends Sept. 5-6, 2009. The theater was Denver’s crown jewel from 1953 to 1986. Check out our photo gallery:
More than 200 people showed up for a Labor Day weekend reunion of Bonfils Theatre actors, crew and friends Sept. 5-6, 2009. The theater was Denver’s crown jewel from 1953 to 1986. Photos by David Bellucci, Sarah Lytle and Katie Rouzee. Courtesy Becky Manley.
This week’s theater openings
Opening Tuesday, Sept. 15, through Oct. 11: Arvada Center’s Miss Saigon”
Thursday, Sept. 17, through Sept. 18 only: Adams Mystery Playhouse’s “The Mariachi Murder”
Friday, Sept. 18, through Oct. 18: Town Hall Arts Center’s “Grease” Littleton
Friday, Sept. 18, through Oct. 11: Aurora Fox’s “The Good Body”
Friday, Sept. 18, through Sept. 27: Backstage’s “Parallel Lives” Breckenridge
Friday, Sept. 18, through Oct. 3: Longmont Theatre Company’s “Brigadoon”
Friday, Sept. 18, through Sept. 27: Arvada Festival Playhouse’s “Sex Please, We’re Sixty”
Saturday, Sept. 19, through Oct. 25: Bas Bleu’s “Collected Stories” Fort Collins
This week’s closings
Today, Sept. 13: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “Enchanted April” Golden
Thursday, Sept. 17: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “Kimberly Akimbo”
Friday: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “Swiss Family Robinson”
Saturday: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “The Imaginary Invalid”
Saturday: Modern Muse’s “Speed-The-Plow” (at the Bug Theatre)
Sept. 20: Vintage Theatre’s “Dial ‘M’ For Murder”
Sept. 20: Lake Dillon Theatre’s “Respect, The Musical”
Sept. 20: OpenStage’s “SceneWorks” Fort Collins
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
