Nothing against places like the or the . There’s just something very cool about seeing a play in the lobby of a hotel built in 1881.
The Barth Hotel, a stone’s throw from Union Station at 1514 17th St., doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the aforementioned performing-arts venues. Nor should it.
The Barth is one of 14 residences operated by and is home to 62 elderly and disabled adults. And while its lobby isn’t fancy — utilitarian best describes it — there’s plenty of room for the actors and audience taking part in an annual fundraiser for SHO.
The event is now in its sixth season, with this year’s production being the popular “Steel Magnolias.” It stars Billie McBride, Rachel Fowler, Patty Figel and Rhonda Brown and is directed by Ashlee Temple of the at the Denver Center for the Peforming Arts.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Aug. 24, and tickets can be purchased by calling 303-595-4464, ext. 10. Proceeds will be used to make SHO “tech savvy.”
The venue isn’t the only nontraditional thing about this venture. The opening- night gala wasn’t a black-tie soiree; it was a pizza party held at the nearby .
While income won’t be known until the run ends, SHO spokeswoman Jane Prancan notes that the 2012 production raised almost $50,000 “and enabled us to work with the Red Cross to purchase emergency preparedness kits for each of our residents. Each backpack includes things like a flashlight, batteries, emergency blankets, water, first aid supplies, a whistle and a rain poncho.”
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/getitwrite
