ALONE TOGETHER

Square Product Theater brings new staging of ‘Celebration, Florida’ to Dairy Arts Center

BY TONI TRESCA

The journey from Celebration, Florida to Boulder, Colorado, began across the pond. Emily K. Harrison, producing artistic director for the local Square Product Theater, stumbled upon a Soho Theatre production of Greg Wohead’s strange and cerebral play while teaching at Brunel University London in 2018. She had been researching shows to attend with her visiting partner, and this one stuck out.

“It sounded like something different and right up my alley,” Harrison says. “I didn’t know the playwright before seeing the show but approached him in the bar after the performance. I told him that I ran this theater company in Colorado and that I was very interested in doing this show.”

Harrison and Wohead stayed in touch following their introduction, collaborating the following year on the first Colorado production of the piece at Denver’s Buntport Theater and the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder. This staging was the first time Wohead wasn’t involved in running the play’s intricate technical components live from the booth himself.

Those technical concerns are essential to Celebration, Florida, a surrealist show that asks two unrehearsed actors who have never met to perform together. They know nothing other than where to start the performance before donning headsets that allow Wohead to feed individualized instructions to each actor through pre-recorded audio tracks.

“It’s a play about isolation and loneliness, but also connection,” Harrison says. “There is isolation because of the headsets, but they have all these cool moments of engagement. It danc- es around these ideas of what’s real as the performers serve as surrogates for Greg to explore authenticity.”

‘A LIFE OF ITS OWN’

The play was inspired by Wohead’s experience of living two different lives while traveling back and forth between the United States and England.

plays, since it’s one of the few shows that can happen without him in the room.

“I love the idea that it is now off and doing its own thing,” Wohead says. “Emily has a good idea of how it works from a production she did a few years ago, so I’m looking forward to Colorado audiences and performers experiencing the show’s vulnerability and openness.”

Celebration, Florida fits with Square Product Theatre’s mission to produce radical plays that leave audiences with just as many questions as answers. Along with allowing the company to experiment with different modes of performance, it also provides them with the unique opportunity to build

GerRee Hinshaw and Elle Hong on March 16, Matthew Austin Combs and Nina Rolle on March 17, Dia Kline and Haley Johnson at the matinée on March 18 and James Brunt and Heather Kelley at the final performance that evening.

“What I do in dance is very improvisational, so I’m curious to see how this plays out,” Hong says. “Emily told me not to rehearse the play [with] the person I am paired with; I’ll just work my normal nine-to-five and then go make a show happen.”

Similarly to Hong, Combs, a newcomer to Colorado, said yes to the show because of his curiosity about the project.

“I don’t know anything about it other than the casting requirements,” Combs says. “Maybe it has something to do with a town; it’s like Almost Maine, but instead it’s Celebration, Florida? I’m not entirely certain, but I am trying this thing where I say yes to different opportunities the universe presents me, to meet new people and get connected to the Colorado theater community.”

Even though there is no rehearsal process, Harrison has been busy before the show’s opening finalizing the cast, promoting the play and ensuring the technical elements are up to speed. But however the final performances shake out, she hopes the show will bring the Boulder community into a deeper dialogue through experimental stagecraft.

“No matter where I was, I felt as though I was always missing out on something,” Wohead says. “I was going through life trying to grab onto things to fill the feeling of missing people or places. I had seen a few other shows use headsets, and I was interested in using this device to create an autobiographical show that I wouldn’t have to perform.”

Although the show is very personal to Wohead, Celebration, Florida, has since taken on a life of its own. That’s a welcome development for the playwright, who performs in most of his community among a diverse group of artists who have never met.

A Deeper Dialogue

Finding performers who didn’t know each other proved more challenging for Harrison than it was when she first staged the piece in 2019. However, through a community-wide casting call, she was able to find a mix of Colorado theater legends and newcomers alike.

The show’s five rotating cast members include rita maria aires and Alexander Watson on March 15,

“It brings these two humans together for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s funny and touching,” Harrison says. “During the last run, people were very moved. And I think bringing people together for unique experiences in a room is what live theater is all about.”

ON STAGE: Celebration, Florida by Greg Wohead. 8 p.m. through March 18 (3 p.m. matinée on final day), Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $27

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MAZURI AOA NATIONAL ALPACA SHOW

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri-Sat, March 17-18 and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, March 19, National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., Denver. Free

A selfie booth, yoga classes and a costume contest are just some of what’s in store at the National Western Complex this weekend. Now add the word “alpaca” to the front of each of those events. That’s right: Due to popular demand, the Alpaca Owners Association is returning to Denver for the 2023 National Alpaca Show. Hordes of the four-legged cult favorite will draw a plethora of alpaca enthusiasts, farmers and vendors from across the country.

UHL’S BREWING COMPANY 3RD ANNIVERSARY

Noon-9 p.m. Saturday, March 18, Uhl’s Brewing Company, 5460 Conestoga Ct., Boulder. Free

Since their founding a few years ago, Aaron Uhl and Uhl’s Brewing Company have staked claim as a staple in the Boulder brewing scene. On Saturday, they’ll be celebrating three years the best way a brewery can — with beer. Live music, food trucks and a release of both popular and limited edition pours will be in the mix.

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A Day Of Remembrance

5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, eTown Hall, 1535 Spruce St., Boulder. Free (advance registration required)

March 22 marks two years since a mass shooting claimed the lives of 10 people at the Table Mesa King Soopers in South Boulder. A number of local partners, including the City of Boulder, will be holding a remembrance event, available in-person or virtually via livestream, “to remember those who are no longer with us.”

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FREEWHEEL LIMITED ROLLER SKATING

11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri-Sat, March 17-18. Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Rd., Longmont. $10

Freewheel Limited has one goal in mind: to bring the joy of rollerskating back to Longmont. And there’s no better place to get rolling than the Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building, a space perfect for putting wheels to the ground. This weekend, come out for “tot skate” with the little ones on Friday morning, all ages from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and a Saturday night adult skate to cap off the best weekend on wheels.

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ASCENT: BOULDER SOUNDWALK PREMIERE

10 a.m. Saturday, March 18, Scott Carpenter Park, 1505 30th St., Boulder. Free

Composer Divya Maus has worked to turn Boulder’s Scott Carpenter Park into a fullbodied sound installation, and starting this Saturday, you can be among the first to experience the self-guided soundwalk with an “immersive nature concert” that flows with the park in question.

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EAST WINDOW PRESENTS: ARTIST TALK WITH KALI SPITZER

7-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, East Window, 4550 Broadway Suite C-3B2, Boulder. Free

Celebrate Month of Photography 2023 with Kali Spitzer, an Indigenous, femme, queer photographer, who is Kaska Dena from Daylu (Lower Post, British Columbia) on her father’s side and Jewish from Transylvania, Romania on her mother’s side. Join Spitzer in person at East Window for a night of stories and representation for BIPOC, queer and trans people, all through the lens of a camera.

ON THE BILL: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong sounds more like a skit than a band, but make no mistake, the Baltimore psych-funk group is a force to be reckoned with. These jammers have played as many as 200 shows in a calendar year, and on Friday and Saturday, they’ll post two to their 2023 tally at the Boulder Theater, alongside local staple Tenth Mountain Division See listings for details.

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

DAVE ABEAR 6 p.m. Wibby Brewing, 209 Emery St., Longmont. $10

BATTERHEAD 6 p.m. BOCO Cider, 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 14, Boulder. Free

GEORGE NELSON 7 p.m. R Gallery + Wine Bar, 2027 Broadway, Boulder. Free

SONGWRITER SERIES: CLAY ROSE WITH BONNIE SIMS 7 p.m. Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A, Boulder. $25

CITY AND COLOUR WITH MMEADOWS 7 p.m. eTown Hall, 1534 Spruce St., Boulder. $60

NESSA BARRETT 8 p.m. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $48

MATT FLAHERTY DUO 9:30 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

WEYES BLOOD WITH VAGABOND 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $28

SIPPY WITH BWRZ, PLANET BLOOP 9 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $18

PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG WITH TENTH MOUNTAIN DIVISION (NIGHT 1). 8 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $40

FOXFEATHER Muse

Performance Space, 200 E. South Boulder Road., Lafayette. $15

FAIM RECORD RELEASE SHOW. 6 p.m. Seventh Circle Music Collective, 2935 W. Seventh Ave., Denver. Story on pg. 17.

THE ELEGANT PLUMS WITH DIREVILLE: ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARTY 9 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $12

THAT 1 GUY WITH HYZENBORG 8 p.m. Aggie Theatre, 204 S College Ave., Fort Collins. $22

TRIVECTA WITH MIDNIGHT KIDS AND TSU NAMI 9 p.m. Ogden Theater, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $87

BIG GIGANTIC WITH COLORADO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 7:30 p.m. Boettcher Hall, 1000 14th St., Denver. $130

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

THE STEWS WITH BAREFOOT IN THE BATHROOM AND BLEAK MYSTIQUE.

9 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $25

PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG WITH TENTH MOUNTAIN DIVISION (NIGHT 2) 8 p.m. Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $40

SIDEPIECE WITH WESTEND, CLOVERDALE AND TARUHH.

9 p.m. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $48

UNWRITTEN LAW WITH AUTHORITY ZERO AND MERCY MUSIC 8 p.m. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $36

KIMBRA WITH TEI SHI 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $36

BONNIE & TAYLOR SIMS BAND WITH JAKE LEG 9 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $14

HA$H 7 p.m. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St., Denver. $20

Live Music

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

DJ MATTY SCHELLING. 7 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

PLYWOOD CLYDE. 4 p.m. BOCO Cider, 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 14, Boulder. Free

CRADLE OF FILTH WITH DEVILDRIVER. 6 p.m. Summit, 1902 Blake St., Denver. $35

MONDAY, MARCH 20

THOMPSON LATIN JAZZ ENSEMBLE 7:30 p.m. Grusin Music Hall (C112)CU Boulder, 1020 18th Street. Free

NNAMDÏ. 7 p.m. Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St., Denver. $16

TUESDAY, MARCH 21

THE CHURCH 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $48

EMOTIONAL ORANGES WITH AAYANNA 8 p.m. Ogden Theater, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $25

THE RESIDENTS 8 p.m. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $48

WEDNESDAY, MARCH

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RAYLAND BAXTER WITH LIZ COOPER, FRIKO 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $36

WYLIE 9 p.m. Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. Free

POWERWOLF 8 p.m. Ogden Theater, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. $85

JUPITER ENSEMBLE WITH LEA DESANDRE 7:30 p.m. Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St., CU Boulder. $18-$82. Story on pg. 16.

Want more Boulder County events? Check out the complete listings online by scanning this QR code.