The city of Denver’s unprecedented foray into managing the little Crossroads Theatre as an affordable resource for small performing-arts groups metrowide has not yet taken off.
But chief marketing officer Erik Dyce promises it will.
“It’s been a slow-growth process,” he said, “but I’m ready to go the distance with Crossroads Theatre.”
Last year, the city entered into an innovative, three-year deal to rent the 100-seat salon theater in the Five Points neighborhood from a nonprofit service organization called Hope Communities. It costs the city about $6,000 a month to run it.
The city promised that by midsummer there would be live performances at 2590 Washington St. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, in perpetuity.
That’s not happening. In fact, just five dates have been booked for all of September.
“We’re not getting the traction that we had hoped,” said Dyce, who has run into problems he could — and could not — see coming. Artists book and cancel at the last minute. A city requirement that tenants be fully insured has scared off some groups, though the city offers insurance for only about $30 a night, Dyce said. Most surprisingly, the city still hasn’t been able to secure a liquor license from . . . the city . . . and probably won’t before the end of the year.
“It has been very frustrating,” Dyce said. “But we want to make this terrific venue available to the community, and it is our charge and our passion to make it a success.”
The city is even willing to pay companies to give it a try.
As an introductory offer, the city will actually give companies the venue — and $100, in exchange for 30 percent of their box office. The more traditional rate structure has the city charging groups $200 a night plus 15 percent of the box office. There are also substantial discounts for companies that book multiple weekends.
At any rate, that comes out to a financial loss for the city, and Dyce said that’s OK — for now.
Still, bookings have been slim so far, and mostly bands. The most substantial tenant to date has been the BurlyCute burlesque troupe, but no long-term theater productions have been booked since the city took over.
“We in Denver are blessed with an enormous culture. We have 800 bands and 200 dance companies,” said Dyce — not to mention more than 60 metro theater companies.
“The problem is just getting the word out,” he said. “But it’s just a matter of months before it’s going to be solid.”
For more information, call Amber Fochi-Little at the city, 720-865-4228.
Read our report from the January public meeting
details what was said in January 2010 about he city’s plan to run the Crossroads Theatre in Five Points.
Civic sale to Su Teatro complete
The Su Teatro theater company has announced it will complete the $790,000 purchase of its new home at the Denver Civic Theatre by the end of the month. So the company will mark its true “grand opening” at 721 Santa Fe Drive with the opening of its first full season there on Oct. 16. And it will be a full season of all-new, company-created work, said spokeswoman Mica Garcia de Benavidez. First up: “The Lamented Last Dance at the Rainbow Ballroom,” a musical by artistic director Anthony J.Garcia and longtime collaborator Daniel Valdez, based on the poetry of Jose Montoya (303-296-0219).
Briefly…
One of the big-buzz fall TV series is “$#*! My Dad Says,” starring William Shatner. And one of its directors, the Emmy-winning Rob Schiller, is directing “Greater Tuna” for Boulder’s Dinner Theatre, starring Wayne Kennedy and Scott Beyette. It plays Mondays and Tuesdays through Nov. 9. Schiller also has directed episodes of “The King of Queens” and “Two and a Half Men” (303-449-6000). . .
Denver School of the Arts is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a gala performance of “Thoroughly Modern Millie” at 7 p.m. Friday at 7111 Montview Blvd. The school is hoping to raise $300,000 this school year for capital improvements, to create outreach programs and increase diversity. Tickets $75. Call 720-383-2246. . . .
The Shwayder Theatre at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center will undergo a major renovation with a personal gift of more than $1 million from local philanthropist Elaine Wolf. Read our full report at .
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s theater openings
Opening Monday, Sept. 20, through Nov. 9: Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s “Greater Tuna” (Mondays and Tuesdays only)
Opening Tuesday, Sept. 21, through Sept. 26: National touring production of “Tap Dogs”
Opening Thursday, Sept. 23, through Oct. 23: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The House of the Spirits,” Space Theatre
Opening Thursday, Sept. 23, through Oct. 10: Shadow Theatre’s “Innocent Thoughts” Aurora
Opening Thursday, Sept. 23, through Oct. 3: Crested Butte Mountain Theatre’s “Moon Over Buffalo”
Opening Friday, Sept. 24, through Oct. 23: LIDA Project’s “HOT+WAX: On Being Too Big to Fail”
Opening Friday, Sept. 24, through Oct. 16: E Project’s “Kimberly Akimbo” Lakewood
Opening Friday, Sept. 24, through Oct. 30: Denver Victorian Playhouse’s “Woman and Scarecrow”
Opening Friday, Sept. 24, through Oct. 3: Parker Arts Council’s “Dearly Departed”
This week’s theater closings
Today, Sept. 19: Afterthought’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf,” at Shadow Theatre Aurora
Today, Sept. 19: Vintage Theatre’s “On Golden Pond”
Today, Sept. 19: Union Colony Dinner Theatre’s “Bye, Bye, Birdie” Greeley
Friday, Sept. 24: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “This Day and Age”
Friday, Sept. 24: Rocky Mountain Rep’s “Always, Patsy Cline” Grand Lake
Saturday, Sept. 25: Buntport’s “Moby Dick Unread”
Saturday, Sept. 25: Spotlight’s “Showtune: Celebrating … Jerry Herman”
Saturday, Sept. 25: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “The 39 Steps” and “The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite”
Saturday, Sept. 25: Iron Springs Chateau’s “Yo Ho Ho and a Barrel of Fun” Manitou Springs
Saturday, Sept. 25: Upstart Crow’s “An Ideal Husband” Boulder
Saturday, Sept. 25: Arvada Festival Playhouse’s “Love, Laughter and Lucci”
Saturday, Sept. 25: Longmont Theatre Company’s “Arsenic and Old Lace”
Sunday, Sept. 26: Lake Dillon’s “8-Track”
Sunday, Sept. 26: Stapleton MCA’s “Happy Days, A New Musical,” at Founder’s Green Aurora
Check this out: “Happy Days, A New Musical”
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Forget Beckett. This “Happy Days” is a new musical based on the hit TV series that brings back Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli. Return to 1959 Milwaukee, where the beloved Arnold’s drive-in malt shop is in danger of demolition. The gang teams up to save their favorite hangout with a dance contest and a wrestling match. This family-friendly musical launches a new collaboration between Stapleton MCA and the Aurora Fox Theatre to bring free theater to the community in an outdoor setting. Yep — free. Through Sept. 26 at Founder’s Green, East 29th Avenue and Quebec Street. 303-739-1970 or
This weekend’s other theater openings
“The 39 Steps” Quirky British send-up of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 spy thriller, with four actors playing more than 50 roles. Through Nov. 14. Presented by the Denver Center Theatre Company at the Ricketson Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or And here’s
“Cherry Docs” A neo-Nazi skinhead is charged with murder, and Legal Aid has assigned him a Jewish lawyer who is forced to examine the limits of his own liberalism. Through Oct. 24. 401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or
“I Am Nikola Tesla” Murray Ross’ original play is set in contemporary Colorado Springs, where a lonely and obsessed Nikola Tesla aficionado attempts to re-create the magnifying transmitter Tesla invented there in 1899. Through Oct. 3. Presented by TheatreWorks at Bon Vivant Theater, 3955 Cragwood Drive, Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or
“The Love List” The recent Town Hall Arts Center production moves to the Avenue Theater. An adult comedy about two middle-age friends who create a list of the things they want in the perfect woman. But what happens when she materializes? Through Oct. 30. 417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or
“Rent” A musical about love, friendship and community in AIDS-era New York City. Mature subject and themes. Not recommended for under 13. Through Oct. 17. Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or
“The Second City’s 50th Anniversary”Chicago’s storied comedy troupe returns to Denver with a new show featuring songs and sketches written by famous alumni such as Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert. Through Oct. 10. Presented by Denver Center Attractions at the Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or . And here’s
“Sunset Boulevard” ***1/2 Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, based on the 1950 film of the same title, about silent-film star relic Norma Desmond, whose encounter with a disillusioned screenwriter provides a possible opportunity for a comeback. Through Oct. 10. Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or And here’s
“Tap Dogs” National touring production of the Australian dance sensation. Described as “a rough, tough, rocking theatrical entertainment.” Created by Olivier Award-winning choreographer Dein Perry, with a construction site set by designer/director Nigel Triffitt and a driving score by composer Andrew Wilkie. Opens Tuesday, Sept. 21, through Sept. 26. At the Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or . Here’s
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
This week’s video podcast
John Moore takes you to the Coors Field infield, where PHAMALy actor Regan Linton was given the 2010 Hal O’Leary Inspiration Award from the Colorado Rockies’ Charities. Filmed Sept. 1. Run time: 8 minutes.
The Running Lines blog
Catch up on John Moore’s roundup of theater news and dialogue. This week we tackle a reader’s question, “Are you too soft on the Shadow Theatre?”
