It can be perilous to meaningfully compare Denver Center Theatre Company attendance from year to year, but you can bet company officials are a whole lot happier to be reporting a 28.4 percent increase for the just-completed 2010-11 season than the 20.3 percent freefall of the year before.
The surge to a four-year high of 183,043 can be attributed mostly to offering one additional show, and to the nearly 40,000 who attended “Traces.” That visiting production was also included on the “Best of Broadway” touring subscription — meaning subscribers to either series attended, but the theater company gets to count them.
Still, last year’s subscriber crossover, “Mama Hated Diesels,” drew only 26,000.
“These numbers are pretty remarkably healthy,” said artistic director Kent Thompson, who is most pleased that the all-important “percentage of capacity” figure, which measures butts in available seats, was up from 69 percent to 75 percent.
“That was my entire focus for the year,” said Thompson, who attributes the improved numbers to both smarter programming and marketing.
” ‘Traces’ did help us, but we offered more popular titles like ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (20,133) and ‘Dracula’ (19,329), and we had a runaway success in ‘The 39 Steps,’ ” he said.
That clever Alfred Hitchcock spoof was the first DCTC staging to be extended by ticket demand since 2002, and ultimately drew 18,427 to the company’s smallest theater — the 250-seat Ricketson. That outdrew all four titles that were presented in the 550-seat Space Theatre.
The company’s world premieres of “The Catch” (10,608) and “Map of Heaven” (7,155) fared slightly better than their previous-year new-play counterparts. The second English presentation of “The House of the Spirits,” by far the riskiest offering of the season, drew 10,662, ranking seventh out of 11 titles.
“For new plays to be drawing that kind of audience is terrific,” Thompson said.
Perennial offering “A Christmas Carol” was down 3 percent, to 25,758. The “Midsummer” crowd count was up 27 percent over the previous mainstage Shakespeare offering, “Richard III.”
A play-by-play and year-by-year comparison
2010-2011 season (with attendance and theater):
“Traces,” 39,923, Stage Theatre
“A Christmas Carol,” 25,758, Stage Theatre
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” 20,133, Stage Theatre
“Dracula,” 19,329, Stage Theatre
“The 39 Steps,” 18,427, Ricketson Theatre
“Reckless,” 11,842, Space Theatre
“House of the Spirits,” 10,662, Space Theatre
“The Catch,” 10,608, Space Theatre
“Superior Donuts,” 9,932, Space Theatre
“Ruined,” 9,274, Ricketson Theatre
“Map of Heaven,” 7,155, Ricketson Theatre
Total 183,043
2009-2010 season (with attendance, total performances and theater):
“A Christmas Carol,” 26,670, 43, Stage Theatre
“Mama Hated Diesels, 26,390, 56, Stage Theatre
“Othello,” 15,589, 43, Space Theatre
“A Raisin in the Sun,” 14,963, 35, Stage Theatre
“Eventide,” 14,737, 31, Stage Theatre
“Absurd Person Singular,” 10,566, 37, Space Theatre
“When Tang Met Laika,” 9,901, 39, Space Theatre
“The Voysey Inheritance, 9,850, 41, Space Theatre
“Mariela in the Desert, 7,192, 47, Ricketson Theatre
“Well,” 6,748 45, Ricketson Theatre
Totals 142,606, 417
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2008-2009 season (with attendance, total performances and theater):
“Quilters,” 29,564, 56 Stage
“A Christmas Carol,” 26,616, 41 Stage
“Noises Off,” 15,804, 34 Stage
“Richard III,” 14,759, 39 Stage
“The Miracle Worker,” 14,326, 42 Space
“A Prayer for Owen Meany,” 14,090, 33 Stage
“Radio Golf,” 12,163, 42 Space
“The Trip to Bountiful,” 11,488, 42 Space
“Glengarry Glen Ross,” 10,531, 46 Ricketson
“Sunsets and Margaritas,” 10,127, 48 Ricketson
“Dusty and the Big Bad World,” 10,001, 39 Space
“Inana,” 9,414, 46 Ricketson
Totals 178,883, 508 –>
Last 10 seasons:
2010-11: 183,043
2009-10: 142,606
2008-09: 178,883
2007-08: 193,636
2006-07: 182,200
2005-06: 176,750
2004-05: 152,576
2003-04: 194,200
2002-03: 182,134
2001-02: 209,101
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2000-01: 145,465–>
Big-shot “Barbershop”
Broadway big-shot Ken Prymus returns to Denver this week for a “concert reading” of the musical “Uncle Jed’s Barbershop,” which the local writing team of Ken Grimes and David Wohl is preparing for a national tour.
“Barbershop,” presented by Shadow Theatre at the Aurora Fox, tells the story of the only black barber in 1928 Monroe County, Ark., through the eyes of his great-niece.
Prymus played Old Deuteronomy in “Cats” on Broadway, and visited Denver in touring productions of “The Wiz,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” and “Cinderella” (with Eartha Kitt).
Performances 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. May 29 at 9900 E. Colfax Ave. (303-739-1970).
Ponying up to park
For years, Town Hall Arts Center patrons have parked for free at the Reinke Brothers’ 135-space lot across Main Street, but the gravy train is over. The costume superstore will now charge $3 to park during business hours, and $5 after 6 p.m.
Offering free parking is an essential survival strategy for pretty much every local theater outside the Denver Center, but Town Hall executive director Nancy Stalf is taking a glass-half-full attitude.
“Since most of our performances are (at night and on weekends), when many local shops are closed, we expect that most of our patrons will be able to find free street parking within three blocks of the theater,” she said. “Or they can park for free evenings and weekends in the RTD light-rail parking lot on Prince and Alamo streets, 1½ blocks from the theater.”
Stalf doesn’t think those patrons who still prefer to park in the Reinke lot will be deterred. “Although not free,” she said, “it is still considerably less than other lots in the Denver metro area.”
But theater patrons don’t expect (or like) to pay to park at any theater outside the Denver Center. Having pricey lots surrounding the Denver Civic Theatre, for example, has been the biggest deterrent to attendance there for more than a decade.
And finally …
May 25 marks the 20th anniversary of the Heritage Square Music Hall’s children’s theater program, headed by Rory Pierce. “Billy the Kid,” the Music Hall’s 66th children’s show, plays at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays (303-279-7800).
John Moore: 303-954-1056 or jmoore@denverpost.com
This week’s theater openings
Opening Friday, May 27, through June 18: Buntport’s one-acts, “Cinderella” and “and . . . this is my significant bother”
Opening Friday, May 27, through Aug. 7: Creede Repertory Theatre’s “To Capture the Castle”
Opening Friday, May 27, through June 18: Equinox Theatre’s “The Little Shop of Horrors,” at the Bug Theatre
Opening Friday, May 27, through Sept 4: “Heritage Square Music Hall’s Excellent Musical Adventure” Golden
Opening Friday, May 27, through May 29: Shadow’s “Uncle Jed’s Barbershop,” concert reading at the Aurora Fox
Opening Saturday, May 30, through July 2: Spotlight’s “Run for Your Wife”
This week’s theater closings
Today, May 22: Arvada Center’s “The Lady With All the Answers”
Today, May 22: Spark Theatre’s “Dangerous Liaisons”
Today, May 22: Cherry Creek Theatre’s “Side by Side by Sondheim”
Today, May 22: Inspire Creative’s “Jekyll and Hyde,” at the Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre
Today, May 22: Heritage Square Music Hall’s “Buffalo Bill & Annie Oakley” Golden
Today, May 22: Front Range Theatre Company’s “The Female Odd Couple” Castle Rock
Friday, May 27: Evolution Theatre’s “Breach,” at the Avenue Theater
Saturday, May 28: The Avenue’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”
Saturday, May 28: Devil’s Thumb Productions’ “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” Boulder
Sunday, May 29: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s “The King and I” Johnstown
Sunday, May 29: Presteve Theatre’s “The Divine Sister,” at the McGlone Center
Sunday, May 29: Lake Dillon’s “Edward Albee’s Seascape”
Video podcast: Running Lines with Susie McMonagle of “Billy Elliot the Musical”
This week, we catch up with Heritage High School grad Susie McMonagle, who plays Mrs. Wilkinson in the national touring production of “Billy Elliot the Musical” in Denver through June 5. McMonagle and appeared in “Me and My Gal” at the Country Dinner Playhouse and on Broadway as Fantine in “Les Miserables.” Running time: 8 minutes.
This weekend’s theater openings
“Damn Yankees” Classic 1950s musical about a middle- aged baseball fanatic who trades his soul to the devil for a chance to lead his favorite team to victory in the pennant race against the dreaded New York Yankees. Through June 19. Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 or
“Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” What happens when the “Peanuts” gang grows up? That’s what Bert V. Royal’s semi-serious comedy explores. “CB’s” dog is dead, his sister has gone goth, and his ex-girlfriend has been institutionalized for setting a little redheaded girl’s hair on fire. This haunting, hopeful look into the teenage psyche explores love, friendship and the basic desire to belong. Recommended for ages 13 and older. Through May 28. Presented by Devil’s Thumb Productions at Theatre O, 5311 Western Ave., Boulder, 303-506- 5868 or
“Rope”This 1929 classic of the thriller genre features two bored upper-class intellectuals who kill an innocent friend for sport, then throw a dinner party with a guest list that includes the victim’s father, his aunt and a dashing young gentleman with an uncanny resemblance to the deceased. Through June 5. Presented by Theatre ‘D Art at Watch This Space, 128 N. Nevada St., Colorado Springs, 719-357-8321 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 the latest theater news:
