Just two weeks before her opening performance in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in November, actor Kendra Jacobs got the incomprehensible diagnosis: Acute myeloid leukemia, or AML. At age 27.
So instead of taking to the stage as “Wife 6,” Jacobs was undergoing a 24-7, week-long round of intensive chemotherapy to combat a form of cancer that’s characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells.
Soon, Jacobs’ long, signature orange hair, her defining physical characteristic, was shorn off and sent off to a company that converts cancer patients’ real hair to extensions.
She’s spent no time pouting about it. Jacobs named her cancer — “Lulu,” short for leukemia. “And then I evicted it,” she said. “It’s not welcome here.”
Jacobs has adopted a martial-arts mentality for her fight, and her aunt had T-shirts made that proclaim Jacobs a “Certified Leukemia Butt-Kicker.”
“She’s my hero,” said her mother, Rhonda Jacobs.
As of Thursday, she was considered halfway through her treatment process.
And last Sunday, Jacobs took to the stage at the Union Colony Dinner Theatre in Greeley and joined her castmates in the show’s “Megamix” curtain call. That’s an extended curtain call in which the cast reprises all of the show’s high-energy dances.
“She brought the freaking house down,” said Union Colony’s Joel Adam Chavez. Health permitting, Jacobs will do it again at the end of today’s 1:45 p.m. closing performance (Jan. 23).
Jacobs wanted to perform the routine with no wig — just her bald head, decorated with sparkles. “I thought I’d make a bigger statement that way,” she said, “that I’m not going to let cancer control my life.”
Jacobs has often appeared with Performance Now of Lakewood and starred as Sandy in Union Colony’s “Grease.” If her treatment is successful, she hopes to be performing, and back teaching dance classes for the city of Thornton, in three months.
But she’ll soon be staring down another adversary: Even with health insurance, Jacobs will be facing $250,000 in uncovered medical bills. The Union Colony “Joseph” cast has raised $2,000 through specialty-drink sales and a raffle of the show’s dreamcoat.
But Jacobs is still looking at the cost of buying a house. Only without the house.
To help, checks may be sent in her name to Denver Post Theater, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202.
Emotional demolition for McHale
 |
Bill McHale visited the continuing demolition of the Country Dinner Playhouse on Wednesday, but he couldn’t stay for long. “It was too difficult, so we had to leave,” said McHale, a 20-year producer at the state’s second-largest theater until his retirement in 2000.
The playhouse is being torn down to make room for a Restaurant Depot. The demolition is expected to be completed by Friday. All last week, a steady stream of former employees and patrons stopped by to take it all in and say goodbye.
As McHale considered the gaping hole left in the south end of the playhouse by a single excavator with its huge, biting jaw, he wondered what will remain of his legacy after all the rubble is hauled away.
“Maybe it’s romantic, but I’ve always thought any theater has a soul,” McHale said.
So what will happen to this one?
“I hope it resides in the actors who performed there and loved that theater,” he said, “and in all those who attended there.”
Photo of Bill McHale courtesy Brian Smith.
The scene as of Saturday, Jan. 22, after the main structure has come down. For more photos and video coverage, scroll down below.
Briefly …
Shadow Theatre’s move to the Aurora Fox was short-lived. A few days after being evicted from its own home two blocks away, the company launched a planned reprise of “An Evening With Nina,” in the Fox’s studio theater. It opened Jan. 6 and was slated to run through Jan. 31, but the plug was pulled after the Jan. 15 performance. . . .
Buntport Theatre’s anticipated reprisal of the fanciful bio “Kafka on Ice” launches Friday on a synthetic surface that again will allow cast members to simulate skating. Actor Josh Hartwell has assumed the role of Kafka from originator Gary Culig, who now lives in New York. . . .
Curious Theatre founder Chip Walton is among 100 theater-types chosen from around the country to attend Arena Stage’s four-day American Voices New Play Institute this week in Washington, D.C. Invitees include Denver Center playwrights Octavio Solis (“Lydia”) and Karen Zacarías (“Mariela in the Desert”), and director Wendy Goldberg (“Third”).
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s theater openings
Opening Thursday, through Feb. 26: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The Catch,” at the Space Theatre
Opening Friday, Jan. 28, through Feb. 19: Buntport Theatre’s “Kafka On Ice”
Opening Friday, Jan. 28, through Feb. 20: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “The Producers”
Opening Friday, Jan. 28, through Feb. 19: Byers-Evans House’s “Love”
Opening Friday, Jan. 28, through Feb. 26: The Avenue’s “The Good Body”
Opening Friday, Jan. 28, through Feb 27: Heritage Square Music Hall’s “Loud: This Is It” Golden
Opening Saturday, Jan. 29, through Feb. 26: Paragon Theatre’s “Reasons to Be Pretty”
Opening Saturday, Jan. 29, through March 6: Bas Bleu’s “Looking for Normal” Fort Collins
Opening Saturday, Jan. 29, through Feb. 12: Longmont Theatre Company’s “Lucky Stiff”
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 29-30: ARCH’s “Medal of Honor Rag,” at Denver Civic Theatre at Su Teatro
Saturday, Jan. 29, only: Stories on Stage and Modern Muse’s “Cuentame un Cuentito (“Tell Me a Story”) at Denver Civic Theatre at Su Teatro
This week’s theater closings
Today, Jan. 23: Union Colony Dinner Theatre’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Greeley
Today, Jan. 23: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s “A Grand Night for Singing” Longmont
Sunday, Jan. 30: Town Hall Arts Center’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Littleton
Sunday, Jan. 30: PHAMALy’s “The Diviners,” at the Aurora Fox
Sunday, Jan. 30: Evergreen Players’ “Story Theatre”
Video podcast: Country Dinner Playhouse demolition
We take you to the scene at the first day of the demolition of the Country Dinner Playhouse, which began on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Video by John Moore, The Denver Post.
demolition photos
SlideShowPro({
attributes: {
id: “album-184016”,
width: 600,
height: 430
},
mobile: {
auto: false
},
params: {
bgcolor: “#000000”,
allowfullscreen: true
},
flashvars: {
xmlFilePath: “http://reverb.slideshowpro.com/images.php?album=184016”
}
});
Photos of the demolition of the Country Dinner Playhouse that began on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011. This slideshow will be updated with additional photos as the demolition continues. Photos by John Moore, The Denver Post.
Most recent theater openings
“The 39 Steps” In this quirky British sendup of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 spy thriller, four actors play more than 50 roles, retooling the classic thriller into a hilarious comedy that still manages to be faithful to the movie. Through Feb. 20. Lake Dillon Theatre, 176 Lake Dillon Drive, 970-513-9386 or
“Boeing Boeing” In this popular French farce set in the 1960s, Bernard is a Parisian architect with three stewardess fiancees, each convinced she’s the only one. It all works perfectly, until an old school friend arrives. By Marc Camoletti. Through Feb. 13. Presented by TheatreWorksat the Bon Vivant Theater, 3955 Cragwood Drive, Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or
“Bye, Bye Birdie” This musical satire of 1958 American middle-class society was inspired by the phenomenon of Elvis Presley’s induction into the Army. In it, Elvis knockoff Conrad Birdie comes to Sweet Apple, Ohio, to kiss a random girl goodbye before reporting to duty. Songs include “Kids” and “Got a Lot of Living.” Through March 20. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Market Place Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747, 1-877-240-4242 or
“Circle Mirror Transformation” Touching story of a community theater drama class in New England that finds a misplaced entourage of outsiders in the hands of their teacher, Marty. As they experiment with theater games and group exercises, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won. A tender human fragility underscores this witty story of transformation, both subtle and monumental, in an unsuspecting group of strangers. By Annie Baker. Directed by Christopher Leo. Through Feb. 26. 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or and here’s
“Extremities” In the aftermath of an attempted rape, a woman turns the tables on her attacker. This is the debut staging by the Edge, previously known as the E-Project. Through Feb. 20. 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-232-0363 or
“Map of Heaven” In this world premiere drama by the Denver Center Theatre Company, Lena’s painting career is on the rise. Her maps of places real and imaginary are poised to take New York by storm. But when her radiologist husband makes a mistake, Lena’s life is upended. Michele Lowe’s contemporary relationship story explores the consequences of a single lapse in ethical judgment. Through Feb. 26. Ricketson Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or and 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
The Running Lines blog
Catch up on John Moore’s roundup of theater news and dialogue.
Video podcast: Afterthought Theatre at Kent Denver School
In preparation for Martin Luther King Day, Afterthought Theatre came to the Kent Denver School to present “The Meeting,” which imagines a meeting between Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Video by John Moore, The Denver Post.
