The Crossroads Theatre at Five Points is gearing up for a ribbon-cutting on May 22 that will officially launch its new era as a city-run, community performing-arts facility.
The celebration will be held in association with the 5 Points Jazz Festival. But even before that, Reyna Von Vett of local burlesque fame will be launching her newly renamed company, BurlyCute, at Crossroads on May 12. That’s the start of a “A Naughty Vaudeville,” which will play every Wednesday at 2590 Washington St.
While the Crossroads already offers a variety of programming including live radio, dance and slam poetry, Denver Theatres and Arenas director Jack Finlaw says that by midsummer, the city will launch “Live at Crossroads,” a subscription commitment to the community ensuring some form of programming will be offered there every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, in perpetuity.
It might be live music, theater, dance or more. “Normally we rent our venues on a first-come basis, but with Crossroads, we are being mindful of the diversity of the community, and so we are proactively seeking a mix of programming,” Finlaw said.
Crossroads is already home to Slam Nuba — live poetry the first and last Monday of every month; donnie l. betts‘ “Destination Freedom” radio series; and Mambo Steps, a local Latin/jazz dance extravaganza Fridays through May 21.
BurlyCute is hosted by Von Vett’s alter ego, “Cora Vette,” a sassy tart seldom seen without her signature sparkly vinyl costumes. Her cohorts include burlesque icon Vivienne VaVoom. “A Naughty Vaudeville” will feature retro tributes and vintage burlesque numbers.
On June 3, Von Vett also opens “Reefer Mania: Denver Has Gone to Pot!” — a “vaudevillesque pot opera” with musical arrangements by the Arvada Center’s David Nehls.
For information, call 303-832-0929 or go to .
Su Teatro busy at Civic Theatre
It’s also looking good for Colorado’s only Chicano theater company. In its first 10 weeks since buying the Denver Civic Theatre at 721 Santa Fe Drive, Su Teatro has hosted 50 events, artistic director Tony Garcia said, ranging from theater to a film festival to live music to private events.
Garcia attended opening night of the Latin-themed “In the Heights” at the Buell Theatre on Wednesday, and he saw a lot of theatergoers he recognized from his own audience base. He believes the Denver Center’s commitment to Latino works — including the current hit play “Mariela in the Desert,” is only whetting cultural appetites. “I think great shows like this one only leave them wanting more,” said Garcia. But while “In the Heights” will be gone in two weeks, he said, “we’re here to stay.”
Stories on Stage founder Norma Moore resigns
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Norma Moore, founder and artistic director of Stories on Stage, will retire after 10 years, effective May 16.
Stories on Stage puts professional actors on a stage to read contemporary and classic short fiction to a live adult audience. Since June 2000, it has drawn about 50,000.
“I hope Stories on Stage has awkened people to the effect that stories have on people’s sense of belonging — to each other, and to people they don’t know,” Moore said.
Moore hopes to introduce her successor at the May 16 program, “No Holds Barred,” at the Denver Center’s Stage Theatre (303-494-0523).
To read more about Moore, .
Shadow opening delayed again
For the second time, Shadow Theatre delayed the opening of its anticipated production of “Simply Simone, The Music of Nina Simone,” citing facility issues. The musical was scheduled to have opened Friday night. It will now open on May 7 and run through June 5.
The musical, which was first slated to open April 16 before an initial two-week postponement, brings to life child prodigy, jazz superstar, civil rights activist, and political exile Nina Simone. In an unusual departure for bio-musicals, “Simply Simone” uses four female singer/actors to represent various stages of Simone’s life. Songs include “I Love You Porgy,” “The Look of Love” and “I Put a Spell on You.”
Shadow Theatre has been struggling to regroup after a tumultuous year since the departure and then sudden death of founder Jeffrey Nickelson. Recently a new season was announced, with a renewed commitment to weather the transition to a new era in the theatre’s history.
Shadow Theater is located at 1468 Dayton St. in Aurora. Call 720-857-8000 or
Nikola Tesla: Unwired, unchained
A century late, Nikola Tesla is blowing up. Last year, visiting performing artist Thaddeus Phillips came to Denver and premiered his one-man play based on the man who invented the radio and first alternating-current power system. Then Buntport Theater won a commission from the Denver Center Theatre Company to develop its own multimedia production that will explore Tesla’s life and inventions.
Last week, Colorado Springs’ TheatreWorks announced that not only will it bring Phillips back in October to present his Tesla play — renamed from “Microworld(s), Part I” to “Capsule 33” — but it also will bow its own creation, “I Am Nikola Tesla,” to launch its new season on Sept. 16.
In 1899, Tesla came to Colorado Springs to conduct an eventful series of experiments in wireless energy. “I Am Nikola Tesla,” to be written as an ensemble creation piece, “explores this extraordinary and mysterious character, a real genius and perhaps a real fraud, and his momentous stay in our hometown,” artistic director Murray Ross said. Call 719-262-3232. To read more about TheatreWorks’ season announcement, .
More scheduling news
Last week, we reported the Arvada Center’s new season will include “Sunset Boulevard” and “Hairspray,” and resent works by visiting companies PHAMALy and the Creede Repertory Theatre. …
The Denver Center has announced four add-ons to its current season: “Mark Twain Tonight” (June 5), “Tap Dogs” (Sept. 21-26); “Grease” (Oct. 12-17); and “Mamma Mia! (Nov. 2-7). Call 303-893-4100. To read more about it, …. .
And finally …
Buckle your seat belts, theater fans: At a time of year when local theater typically enters into a brief lull, 15 new productions (16 counting the Shadow postponement) open up this Friday or Saturday night.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s theater openings
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 23: Evolution’s “tick . . . tick . . . Boom!” at the Dairy Center Boulder
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 29: The Avenue’s “The Bootyguard”
Opening Friday, May 7, through June 6: Town Hall Arts Center’s “The Secret Garden” Littleton
Opening Friday, May 7, through June 13: Germinal Stage-Denver’s “Amphitryon 38”
Opening Friday, May 7, through June 5, 2010: Shadow Theatre’s “Simply Simone, The Music of Nina Simone”
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 22: Longmont Theatre Company’s “The Diviners”
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 30: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “Crazy for You”
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 22: Upstart Crow’s “Ring ‘Round the Moon” Boulder
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 30: openstage etc.’s “Shining City” Fort Collins
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 30: Lake Dillon’s “The Little Dog Laughed”
Opening Friday, May 7, through June 20: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “Dietrich & Chevalier” Golden
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 15: Curtains Up’s “The Wizard of Oz”
Opening Friday, May 7, through May 9: “The Mommy Rants” Boulder
Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8 only: Adams Mystery Playhouse’s “The Mariachi Murder”
Opening Saturday, May 8, through June 5: Paragon’s “The Sound of a Voice”
Opening Saturday, May 8, through June 26: Victorian Playhouse’s “True West”
This week’s theater closings
Today. May 2: Union Colony’s “Funny Money” Greeley
Saturday, May 8: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “Mama Hated Diesels,” at the Stage Theatre
Saturday, May 8: Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s “Chicago”
Saturday, May 8: Firehouse’s “Oleanna”
Saturday, May 8: Coal Creek Community Theatre’s “Angel Street” Louisville
Saturday, May 8: Square Product’s “One Woman Show,” at the Wesley Chapel Boulder
Sunday, May 9: Denver Center Attractions’ “In the Heights,” at the Buell Theatre
Sunday, May 9: Aurora Fox’s “The Rainmaker”
Sunday, May 9: 73rd Avenue Theatre’s “The Imaginary Invalid”
Sunday, May 9: Bas Bleu’s “She Stoops to Conquer” Fort Collins
Sunday, May 9: Jester’s Dinner Theatre’s “Godspell” Longmont
Sunday, May 9: Performance Now’s “Oklahoma!” Lakewood
Sunday, May 9: Gravity Defied’s “Totally Electric,” at the Aurora Fox studio theater
Most recent theater openings
“High School Musical 2” The first sequel to the Disney Channel’s hit musical comes to the stage with Troy, Gabriella and the rest of the Wildcats gang finishing junior year and starting summer break. Friendships are tested, summer romances go haywire, and the meaning of success is redefined. Performing on Wednesdays and Thursdays only. Through May 27. Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or
“In the Heights” ***1/2 The 2008 Tony Award winner for best musical integrates beat poetry, hip-hop and spoken word into the traditional musical-theater form to tell the story of a gentrifying Upper Manhattan barrio. Through May 9. Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or and here’s and here’s
“Mission to Planet Zolbott” In this sci-fi space parody about disco, shopping, sex and TV, the bumbling crew of the Alliance Space Association spaceship Conundrum is on a secret mission to Planet Zolbott. Through June 12. Dangerous Theatre, 2620 W. Second Ave., Unit 1, 720-233-4703 or
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“Simply Simone: The Music of Nina Simone” Shadow Theatre opens their final production planned by late founder Jeffrey Nickelson. It’s the life story of the child prodigy, jazz superstar, civil rights activist and political exile. Four singer-actresses portray various stages of Nina Simone’s life and artistic legacy. Songs include “I Love You Porgy,” “The Look of Love” and “I Put a Spell on You.” Directed by Hugo Jon Sayles. Through June 5. Shadow Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 720-857-8000 or –>
“Talking With” Eleven monologues introduce us to 11 characters, including a young woman who tests her Christian faith by handling poisonous snakes, a baton twirler who sees the face of Jesus 30 feet in the air, and a destitute woman who wants to live in a McDonald’s, where the sick are cured by Big Macs and no one ever dies. Written in 1982 by Jane Marti. Through May 29. California Actors Theatre, 1250 Hover Drive, Twin Peaks Mall, Longmont, 303-774-1842 or
“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”In the play that launched Edward Albee as a major American playwright, the profanity-laced and drunken conversation between two married couples turns into a commentary on the corruption of American values, the nature of illusion and the destitution of marriage. Through May 16. Star Bar Players, 310 Tia Juana St., Colorado Springs, 719-390-0255 or
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
The Running Lines blog
Catch up on John Moore’s roundup of theater news and dialogue:
