The Heritage Square Music Hall changes its ways once in a harvest moon.
A strict adherence to old-time melodrama eased when T.J. Mullin reopened the famed Music Hall in 1988. The repertoire embraced frothy pop-music revues in 1998 with the debut of its popular “Loud” series.
But never before has Heritage Square done, you know, plays and musicals like you see them done by other theater companies.
That will change next year when the Music Hall stages “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” on Wednesday and Sunday nights from April 13 to June 22. That’ll be buffered Thursdays through Sundays with the more Heritage-like tale of “Buffalo Bill & Annie Oakley.”
Next summer, the Music Hall takes another leap with an original family show tentatively titled, “Tall Tales to Live By.” It’s stories and songs as a family gathers for their grandparents’ 65th anniversary party.
“We’re trying something new,” said manager Connie Helsley. We’ll see what happens. ‘Loud’ worked out pretty well for us” (303-279-7800).
Oliveras laments loss of NTC
The Denver Center’s prestigious National Theatre Conservatory is still slated to close in May 2012, but the wounds from the cost-cutting decision are still fresh. It hit 2007 graduate Maria-Christina Oliveras as she prepared to make her Broadway debut last month as an understudy in “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.”
“I know there is nothing to be done at this point, short of a mint forming to generate money solely for its resurrection, but I am compelled to iterate how proud I am to be in the company of NTC alums,” said Oliveras, citing recent and continuing Big Apple plays featuring fellow grads January LaVoy, John Behlmann, Danielle Slavick, Christian Haines and more.
“The NTC was really starting to gain momentum as a force to be reckoned with here, and it is such a shame that the legacy will end with the upcoming class.”
The NTC, begun in 1984, will shutter next year, a move that is expected to save $1.2 million a year.
Colorado Shakes announces 2011 season
Late Saturday, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival announced its titles for a shortened 2011 summer season. To read our report,
Briefly…
Denver’s Elizabeth Welch, who joined the national touring company of “The Phantom of the Opera” in February 2009, has been promoted. She’ll soon make her Broadway debut in the ensemble, and as an understudy for Christine. . . .
The Carousel Dinner Theatre was expected to open its new digs Friday — the new two-theater Midtown Arts Complex at 3750 S. Mason St. in Fort Collins. “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” plays through Jan. 1 (970-225-2555). . . .
The annual Magic Moments music revue, a spectacle incorporating more than 200 able-bodied and disabled performers, has a new home for 2011, and it’s by far its best to date. It’ll happen at the Anschutz Family Theatre, located on the campus of the Kent Denver School, 4000 E. Quincy Ave. It’s a 500-seat, state-of-the-art new theater, and the first for Magic Moments that’s actually fully ADA compliant. The 29th annual revue plays March 24-27 (303-607-7555). . . .
And finally, a shout-out to Kendra Jacobs, who began a week of constant chemo Monday in an effort to knock out her newly diagnosed AML leukemia in one swoop. The 27-year- old, who often acts with Performance Now, has adopted a warrior spirit. Her Facebook profile picture shows her karate-kicking cancer. Jacobs had her signature, long orange locks cut off and sent to Georgia to be made into her very own chemo extensions.
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s theater openings
Opening Friday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 19: Aurora Fox’s “Red Ranger Came Calling, a Guaranteed True Christmas Story”
Opening Friday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 19: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Opening Friday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 26: Rattlebrain’s “Santa’s Big Red Sack,” at the Avenue Theater
Opening Friday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 12: Arvada Festival Playhouse’s “P.S. Merry Christmas”
Opening Friday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 26: Dangerous Theatre’s “Who Killed Santa?”
Opening Friday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 31: Thin Air Theatre Company’s “Angel of the Christmas Mine” Cripple Creek
Opening Friday, Nov. 26, through Dec. 17: Nonesuch Theater’s “Mostlie Leftover Turkeys” Fort Collins
Opening Saturday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 26: Bas Bleu’s “Kosher Lutherans” Fort Collins
Opening Saturday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 18: Spotlight Theatre’s “Inspecting Carol”
Opening Saturday, Nov. 27, through Dec. 19: Broker Restaurant Mystery Dinner Theatre’s “Have a Holly, Jolly Murder” (Saturdays only)
This week’s theater closings
Today, Nov. 21: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The 39 Steps,” at the Ricketson Theatre
Today, Nov. 21: Afterthought Theatre’s “The Vagina Monologues,” at the Crossroads Theatre
Today, Nov. 21: Theatre Or’s “The Chosen,” at the Mizel Center
Saturday, Nov. 27: Upstart Crow’s “King John” Boulder
Sunday, Nov. 28: Denver Center Attractions’ “Shrek,” at the Buell Theatre
Sunday, Nov. 28: Manitou Art Theatre’s “Art Dog” Colorado Springs
Sunday, Nov. 28: Gravity Defied’s “[Title of Show],” at the Aurora Fox
Weekend best bet: “Reckless”
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Each winter, the Denver Center Theatre Company offers an antidote to its annual staging of “A Christmas Carol” (which begins, ready or not, on Dec. 2). This year’s paean to the pagan is “Reckless,” Craig Lucas’ frenetic and fractured black comedy that opens on a snowy Christmas Eve with a wife learning that her husband has hired a hit man to kill her. Thus sets Rachel off on a surreal, snowy escape that covers 50 states, during which she comes to think the modern world is a conspiracy designed to undermine her sanity. It’s now playing six days a week through Dec. 18 at the Space Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets. Tickets $18-$47 (303-893-4100 or ). Pictured are Jeffrey M. Bender and Julia Motyka. Photo by Terry Shapiro.
Most recent theater openings
“An Evening with Nina” On an overcast day a few days after the death of Nina Simone, a small traveling band is hired to play an old juke joint outside of Tryon, N.C. Enter a mysterious woman who seems to know all the singer’s stories and secrets. A new musical by Hugo Jon Sayles. Through Dec. 12. Shadow Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 720-857-8000 or
“Hello, Dolly!” This classic Broadway musical is a whirlwind race around New York at the turn of the 20th century, following the adventures of America’s most famous matchmaker. Songs include “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” and “Before the Parade Passes By.” Through Feb. 26. Boulders Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” Stage adaptation of the famous film about two Army veterans who follow beautiful singing sisters to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge. The score includes “Blue Skies” and “I Love a Piano.” Through Feb. 26. Presented by Carousel Dinner Theatre at the Midtown Arts Center, 3750 S. Mason St., Fort Collins, 970-225-2555 or
“Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” Charles Dickens’ holiday classic is told from the perspective of Scrooge’s curmudgeonly, deceased business partner. It’s performed as reader’s theater. Through Dec. 19. Presented by OpenStage & Company, at Art Lab : Gallery, 239 Linden St., Fort Collins, 970-221-6730 or
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s effervescent retelling of the Old Testament story of Jacob and his 12 sons. Through Jan. 23. Union Colony Dinner Theatre, 802 9th Ave., Greeley, or 970-352-2900.
“[“Title of Show”] This is a musical about two guys who are writing a musical about two guys who are writing a musical. It recounts on an underdog tuner that really did make it to Broadway. Through Dec. 19. Lake Dillon, 176 Lake Dillon Dr., 970-513-9386 or
“A Tuna Christmas” This holiday sequel to “Greater Tuna” takes us to Christmas in the third smallest town in Texas. Two actors, Seth Maisel and Christopher Willard, play all 20-odd characters. Through Dec. 30. Backstage Theatre, 121 S. Ridge St., Breckenridge, 970-453-0199 or
“You Can’t Take It With You” Classic comedy by George Kaufman and Moss Hart about the Sycamore family, who may seem mad — but if they are, the rest of the world is madder. Through Dec. 19. Vintage Theatre, 2119 E. 17th Ave., 303-839-1361 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.
