Just when you think you know someone, proves there’s usually more to the story.
Take Paula Herzmark, for example.
The executive director of the was the subject of this year’s “Denver Stories,” a fundraiser that involves the one-night run of a written-for-the-occasion play filled with fascinating, often comical, vignettes that can shed a whole different light on a well-known member of the community.
Let producing artistic director Chip Walton explain:
“With ‘The Life of the Party, A Paula Herzmark Play’ we knew we had to balance the public and professional aspects of Paula’s life with interesting morsels from her lesser-known life. While paying homage to her work in Gov. Dick Lamm’s cabinet, the Jewish Community Center, and the Denver Health Foundation, we also brought her lesser-known personal stories to the forefront, such as how she didn’t learn that she was Jewish until well into adulthood — which is ironic given that she also used to own a Christmas store called Seasons Greetings in Cherry Creek!”
The production written by Josh Hartwell and directed by Jim Hunt also highlighted Herzmark’s childhood dream of becoming a country singer. “We’d like to think we helped her fulfill that dream, in some small way, by bringing her onstage to sing her personal favorite, ‘Stand By Your Man,’ at the end of the show.”
“The Life of the Party” took the audience on a journey from Hawaii, where Herzmark spent her early childhood, to El Paso, Texas, where she spent much of her youth, to Denver, where she also worked with Common Cause, owned a private cable company, became a member of the Denver Water Commission and serves on the board of trustees of .
Sharon Magness Blake, founding chair of the Denver Health Foundation’s signature fundraiser, NightShine, and president Tim Schultz made cameo appearances, Schultz playing himself as a member of the Rio Grand County Commission
during the Lamm administration. The role of Herzmark was played by Curious’ co-founder, Dee Covington.
Jeremy Shamos, president of the Curious Theatre Company board, chaired Denver Stories with former Denver City Councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt; Elaine Gantz Berman, a member of the ; David McReynolds, a past chair of the Denver Health Foundation board; and Chuck Morris, president of .
The evening began with a country-Western luau in a tent decorated by and set up on the theater grounds. As guests arrived, they were given Hawaiian leis and cowboy hats to wear while sipping “Paula-coladas” and enjoying foods typical of Hawaii and Texas in a buffet furnished by .
This was the ninth time Denver Stories has been presented, and Walton reports that it raised $144,000, thanks to the support of folks like former Colorado first lady Jeannie Ritter; attorney Steve Farber; Kent Rice, executive director of ; philanthropists Hal and Ann Logan; founder Laura Merage; Sam and Nancy Gary of the ; Abby Perlmutter and Jonny Miller; Ann Corrigan; Sharon and Bonfils-Stanton Foundation chair Lanny Martin; BJ Dyer; and Judi Wolf.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314, jdavidson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joannedavidson
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