The building boom in our mountain theater communities includes the Conifer area, where the Stagedoor Theatre has just opened a $400,000, 125-seat theater in Aspen Park. Don’t let the name fool you — Aspen Park is only 32 miles southwest of Denver.
“We’ve moved just a few feet away from our old location but light years away in quality,” said executive director DJ Himstedt, whose company moved into its new digs while it was still under construction, but is fully christening them with its run of “Oliver!” through Saturday.
“Designed from the ground up for us, it has full backstage facilities, a small orchestra pit, tech booth, rehearsal spaces and finely appointed lobby,” Himstedt said. Funds were raised through a capital campaign, individual donors, grants and the SCFD.
The new address is 27357 Conifer Road. Call 303-886-2819, or go to
We’ve previously reported new facilities are underway for Rocky Mountain Rep in Grand Lake, Theatre Aspen and the Creede Repertory Theatre.
Colorado Springs shocker: Osburn resigns
In a major surprise, Alan Osburn has announced his resignation as the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s artistic director. Since 2007, Osburn has continued the FAC’s rise as one of the state’s leading presenters of musicals, perhaps second only to the Arvada Center. No reason was given, and the FAC will enter its 2010-11 season next month under an interim director yet to be named. Osburn is also a Broadway-seasoned actor who starred in and directed the FAC’s “Sweeney Todd” earlier this year.
Newly announced titles
The upstart Afterthought Theatre Company is going where no theater in Denver has gone since the old Avenue Theater more than 15 years ago: It’s staging Ntozake Shange’s landmark 1975 “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf” Sept. 9-20 at the Shadow Theatre in Aurora.
The “choreo-poem” utilizes dance, intimate poetry and prose to celebrate the triumph of the inner-city black woman over sorrow and despair.
Afterthought is the brainchild of Reynelda Snell, who starred in Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s seminal “Ragtime” in 2007 (720-365-7754). . . .
Fort Collins’ Bas Bleu Theatre is presenting a special performance of “The Guys,” starring Wendy Ishii and Peter DeAnello Sept. 3-4. It’s the true story of a journalist who was hired to help a New York City fire captain faced with delivering dozens of eulogies in the days after the 9/11 attacks (970-498-8949).
Case of ‘Senior’-itis
Lafayette playwright Don Fried, whose “Senior Moments” sold out its entire premiere run at Theatre Company of Lafayette in January, had a reading of the play last week at Questors Theater in London — the largest community theater in Europe.
“We’re in discussions about them adding it as a permanent play in their community outreach repertoire to perform at retirement homes in the U.K.,” said Fried. His five short, slightly raunchy playlets about aging also will have six showings Thursday through Aug. 28 at the Boulder International Fringe Festival (303-652-4932).
Another “Spring” fling
Lake Dillon Theatre Company has been very, very good to “Spring Awakening.” The first national tour starred Taylor Trensch as the suicidal Moritz, who just weeks before joining up was a busy member of the Lake Dillon ensemble. Now comes word that Christopher Wood will be starting as Melchior for the newly announced second national tour of “Spring Awakening.”
Wood summered with the Lake Dillon ensemble in 2007, playing Frank-n-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Musical,” Frankie in “Forever Plaid” and an ensemble member in “Chicago.” No doubt several members of Lake Dillon’s current four-star production of “Hair” (running through Aug. 27) could soon be following in his footsteps.
No word yet on possible Colorado tour stops.
“Love List” moving to Avenue Theater
For the Town Hall Arts Center, the comedy “The Love List” is a rare foray into adult subject matter. It’s about two men who concoct a list of their ideal woman, who then shows up in the flesh. After the Littleton run closes Aug. 22, the play transfers intact to the Avenue Theater from Sept. 17 to Oct. 30. It stars Robert Michael Sanders, Michael Ingram and Missy Moore. Call 303-794-2787 (for Town Hall) and 303-321-5925 (for the Avenue).
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s theater openings
Opening Wednesday, Aug. 18, through Aug. 29: Boulder International Fringe Festival
Opening Wednesday, Aug. 18, through Aug. 29: Hudson Reed Ensemble’s “Richard III” Aspen
Opening Friday, Aug. 20, through Sept. 19: Vintage Theatre’s “On Golden Pond”
Opening Friday, Aug. 20, through Sept. 25: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite”
Friday, Aug. 20: Coal Creek Community Theatre’s Front Range Playwrights’ Showcase Louisville
This week’s theater closings
Today, Aug. 15: PHAMALy’s “Beauty and the Beast” (at the Denver Center)
Today, Aug. 15: Backstage’s “The Storyman Presents Peter Pan” Breckenridge
Today, Aug. 15: Longmont Theatre Company’s “Cymbeline”
Today, Aug. 15: Arvada Festival Playhouse’s “In Search of the Wizard of Oz”
Tuesday. Aug. 17: 73rd Avenue Theatre’s “Monologues by Dario Fo” (Tuesdays only, free) Westminster
Thursday, Aug. 19: Backstage Theatre’s “Tuesdays With Morrie” Breckenridge
Friday, Aug. 20: Lake Dillon Theatre’s “Rapunzel” (Fridays only at the New Pavilion) Keystone
Friday, Aug. 20: Theatre Aspen’s “Same Time, Next Year”
Saturday, Aug. 21: Theatre Aspen’s “The Marvelous Wonderettes”
Saturday, Aug. 21: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
Saturday, Aug. 21: Shadow Youth Ensemble’s “Year of the Women” Aurora
Saturday, Aug. 21: StageDoor’s “Oliver” Conifer
Sunday, Aug. 22: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Johnstown
Sunday, Aug. 22: Backstage’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Breckenridge
Sunday, Aug. 22: Carousel Dinner Theatre’s “Defending the Caveman” Fort Collins
Sunday, Aug. 22: Town Hall Arts Center’s “The Love List” Littleton
Sunday, Aug. 22: Gravity Defied’s “The Wild Party,” at the Aurora Fox
Sunday, Aug. 22: Theatre ‘D Art’s “Theatregasm 4ever” Colorado Springs
Most recent theater openings
“Boot Flask Follies” This speakeasy burlesque show stars Miss Coco Lectric, who was named Texas Burlesque performer of the year 2010. Through today, Sunday, Aug. 15. Presented by BurlyCute at the Crossroads Theatre, 2590 Washington St., 303-295-1883 or
“Limited Engagement” As the drinks start to flow at a fancy engagement party, old friends and flames stir up trouble until someone eventually dies. Was it an accident or murder? This interactive mystery dinner presentation features seven pop songs such as “Like a Virgin” and Put a Ring On it.” Select Saturdays through Nov. 13. Broker Restaurant, 821 17th St. 303-292-5065 or
“Theatregasm 4ever” This year’s local playwright showcase features two minimusicals: “Dogs, The Musical,” by Ariel Baty, the story of the lapdogs’ struggle against the oppressive German Shepards; and “Dungeon Darvon: The Olde World Musical,” by Hossein Forouzandeh, a bizarre operetta about a serial killer on the loose in a medieval town. Through Aug. 22. Presented by Theatre ‘D Art in the Osborne Studio Theater in the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs’ University Hall, 719-357-8321.
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:
