The characters include a 12-year-old Chinese-American girl, a former all-pro NFL player and a trilingual grandfather, but on stage they are played by the same woman.
that explores her personal spiritual path through serious and satirical stories about family, history, cooking, Asian culture, dance and more.
The play is coming to Evergreen’s Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Friday through Sunday courtesy of a partnership between Evergreen Players and Cheng’s Aurora-based company, Theatre Esprit Asia.
Kathleen Davis, who is vice president of Evergreen Players’ Board of Directors and a founding member, said Evergreen Players has been looking for more outside productions, especially in January between Evergreen Players’ winter and spring productions.
“We believe that is kind of part of our commitment to the community,” she said.
The partnership was formed when John Davis, Kathleen’s husband and also on the Players’ board of directors, saw Cheng’s performance at the Colorado Theatre Festival last summer, where it won the People’s Choice Award, among others. John Davis asked Cheng for the opportunity to bring her production — which has been staged all over the world throughout the 10 years Cheng has been performing it — to Evergreen.
“It’s the quality and it’s also the unique cultural experience, which we haven’t done anything like that here in my recent memory,” Kathleen Davis said.
Partnerships between local community theater companies, however, are becoming less unique.
The lower-maintenance nature of “Spirit and Sworded Treks” — being a prepackaged one-woman show — made it easier to bring it in for a one-weekend run.
“I think that’s happening more and more among theaters in the Colorado-wide theater community,” said Kathleen Davis. “We see it happening with friends in different theaters.”
Evergreen Players’ production manager Jennee Hancock said “Spirit and Sworded Treks” is part of , which in the spring will present “Reality Check,” a series of four short plays with “a twisted version of reality.” One of the plays is by local Evergreen playwright Scott Gibson.
“We have a lot of variety to offer people,” she said. Other scheduled events include a performance by the company’s improvisational comedy group, Epic; a high-profile summer musical that contractually can be announced only later in the year; and a high-tech production of the thriller “The 39 Steps.”
and is hosting training sessions Jan. 19 and 26 for anyone interested in getting involved in any level of back-of-house operations, from light board operation to props management.
For “Spirit and Sworded Treks,” Cheng said the Evergreen community should come to laugh and to explore their own spiritual quest. They should also come prepared to get a strong whiff of garlic-heavy stir fry, which she cooks during the performance as part of her five spiritual paths.
“The thing about spirituality is it’s cyclical — you practice everyday whatever is your path,” she said. “So cooking is just part of that.”
Josie Klemaier: 303-954-2465, jklemaier@denverpost.com
“spirit and sworded treks”
When:7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen
Tickets:$20 general admission, $16 for students and seniors, $50 for a family four-pack. Appropriate for ages 15 and older.
More information: evergreen players.org
