IN THE WINGS

Local Theater Company announces plans for upcoming 13th season

BY TONI TRESCA

Creative risk-taking has been a pillar of Local Theater Company’s mission since its inception more than a decade ago. And in keeping with the experimental ethos of the Boulder-based nonprofit, Local’s Season 13 rollout will be announced in phases over the coming weeks, culminating in a kickoff party on July 23 at The Savoy in Denver.

Complete details of the upcoming season won’t come into full view until then — but in the meantime, co-artistic directors Nick Chase and Betty Hart offered Boulder Weekly a taste of what’s in store. That includes Topher Payne’s You Enjoy Myself, running at the Dairy Arts Center from Sept. 23 to Oct. 15, and the return of the new-play festival Local Lab from March 14 to 17, 2024.

This initial announcement follows news that Local received three Henry Award nominations from the Colorado Theatre Guild. Categories include Director of a Musical (Dee Covington), Lead Actress in a Musical Tier 2 (GerRee Hinshaw) and Best New Play or Musical for Hinshaw’s breakout hit Raised on Ronstadt. It also comes after one of the company’s most ambitious seasons to date, which also featured Nick Chase and Roslyn Hart’s Pop the Holidays, Hadley KammingaPeck, Anne Penner and Mare Trevathan’s UNDONE: The Lady M Project and the aforementioned Local Lab.

“It was our season of women — not a comprehensive look at all feminist perspectives, but three distinct female experiences,” Chase says.

“We incorporated new staff members, including Kate Gipson [executive director] and Levi Franklin [associate producer], and Betty, Pesha and I were operating under a new shared leadership model. In our 12th season, we expanded internally and externally, and are eager to continue growing in our 13th season.”

A Peek Behind The Curtain

The first fully produced show in Local’s new season — You Enjoy Myself, directed by Hart — is a jam band-centered production that feels tailor-made for Boulder audiences. The relationship between Judith and Eileen, and their shared love of the band Phish, are at the heart of this multigenerational comedy written by the Atlanta-based Payne. After more than 30 years apart, they are reunited thanks to a stranger’s Instagram post, and while staying at a remote Vermont farmhouse, they explore what devotion is all about.

“Shortly after we presented the developmental workshop of the play in our 2022 Local Lab, we concluded as a team that we wanted to pursue a full production of that work,” Chase says. “We all agree that we wanted to support it, but we had just scheduled our 12th season, and it had a lovely theme that this play didn’t fit into, so we decided that it would be our Season 13 opener.”

The production is a continuation of the work Hart, Payne and the Local team put into the play during last year’s initial workshop. “I am thrilled to be directing an all-local cast of incredible people to help tell Topher’s beautifully written story,” Hart says. “This is my first opportunity to direct mainstage for Local, which is a huge honor. … You Enjoy Myself is such a beautiful exploration of love [and] life.”

When it comes to the return of Local Lab, next spring’s iteration of the new-work festival will see four creative teams, chosen by anonymous review, gather in Boulder for a week of workshops that will culminate in public readings. Local will accept submissions of previously unproduced work until August 31 of this year, and announce the four shows in January 2024.

“It is important for us to include Local Lab as a part of our season because new work requires time and resources to move to its next iteration,” Hart says. “So, as a the- ater company that values and treasures new work, we want to help support exciting original work by giving playwrights a week to get together with a cast, dramaturg, director, stage management and production team to find the next new voice in that play’s development.”

Subscriptions for the new season will go on sale following the complete announcement on July 23. While many details have yet to be announced, the Local team says audiences can expect to encounter works that encourage a true expression of who we are — alone, and together.

“One of the themes that emerged last season that we did not really promote but was internally significant for us was about what it looks like to live authentically,” Hart says. “That is still something we are interested in, so expect more projects in Season 13 that help artists and the community find their voices.”

ON STAGE: Local Theater Company Season Kickoff Party. 5:45 p.m. Sunday, July 23, The Savoy, 2700 Arapahoe St., Denver. $45 (on sale June 30)

‘THE DEADHEAD CYCLIST’ READING WITH STEWART SALLO

6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 29, Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St., Boulder. $5

Join Boulder Weekly owner Stewart Sallo for a reading of his book, The Deadhead Cyclist: Life Lessons on Two Wheels to the Tunes of the Grateful Dead — a memoir blending personal experiences with 50 years of iconic songs — tonight at Boulder Book Store.

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18TH ANNUAL BOULDER

JUGGLING FESTIVAL 2023

5-10 p.m. Friday, June 30, and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat-Sun, July 1-2, Boulder Circus Center, 4747 26th St., Boulder. $12

Learning how to juggle is hard. But this high-flying activity is as addictive as it is impressive, and no one does it quite like the folks at Boulder Circus Center. This weekend, they’re hosting the 18th annual celebration of all things juggling — a weekend for skill sharing, inspiration, workshops and a show to cap it all off.

LAFAYETTE CARS & COFFEE

7-10 a.m. Saturday, July 1, Flatirons Church, 355 W. South Boulder Road, Lafayette. Free

Classic and show cars are built to shine in the summer months, so there’s no better time to start a hot Saturday at Adams Polishes’ once-monthly hot-rod gathering than the middle of the season. Coffee and food will be available from on-site vendors

LONGMONT PRIDE FESTIVAL

4-8 p.m. Friday, June 30, Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont. Free

Out Boulder is closing out pride month with a bang — on the last day of June, they’re bringing the festivities to Longmont’s Roosevelt Park for the first time. Pride goodies, handmade jewelry and interactive games spell out fun for the family at this afternoon-long party.

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21ST ANNUAL BOULDER MARKET

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat-Sun, July 1-2, Great Lawn of Boulder High School, 1604 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder. Free

Boulder’s open-air market is back again, coinciding with this weekend’s “final” Dead & Company shows at Folsom Field. Check out rows of vendors to find handmade items, unique treasures, visual art, and conversations with the artists behind the work on sale, all to the tune of live music.

INDEPENDENCE DAY FUN & FIREWORKS - WANEKA LAKE

4-10 p.m. Saturday, July 1, Waneka Lake Park, 1600 Caria Drive, Lafayette. Free

Rain or shine, Waneka Lake will mirror a sky of colorful explosions on Saturday at their Independence Day event. Expect music, food from local favorites Abo’s Pizza, Ruby Ry’s Stem Ciders and more — and, of course, loads of fireworks.

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

PRETTY IN PUNK

8 p.m.-midnight. Saturday, July 1, Junkyard Social Club, 2525 Frontier Ave., Suite A, Boulder.

$15

Stop by Junkyard Social Club for a marriage of burlesque, drag and punk with fierce performances by Paisley Peach, Cosmic Allure, Luna Lazarus and more. Don’t forget to bring some cash to tip the artists! 2

RC MONSTER TRUCK RALLY

1-6 p.m. Sunday, July 2, Left Hand Brewing, 1264 Boston Ave., Longmont. Free

Start your engines (or controllers) — Left Hand Brewing transforms their garden into an RC track for a day of racing, featuring open and sport competitions, freestyle events and a head-spinning pro-mod race.

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BULLS, SKULLS AND BREWSKIS

3-5 p.m. Sunday, July 2, Sanitas Brewing Company, 3550 Frontier Ave., Suite A, Boulder.

$50

Texture brings a painting to life, and on Sunday, Sanitas Brewing Company hosts artist Sophi of Phia Vee for a class on how to use texture tools to create your own unique work. “It’s like wine and paint parties, but better,” the iconic local brewery says. “Because it’s good beer and plaster.” 4

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE & PANCAKE FESTIVAL

7 a.m.-noon. Tuesday, July 4, Superior Chamber of Commerce, 122 E William St., Superior. Free

The Fourth of July’s quintessential meal is burgers, dogs, potato salad, baked beans and a cold beer. But what about pancakes?

The town of Superior hosts this festival dedicated to America’s favorite buttermilk breakfast — plus kickball, live music, food trucks and a parade.

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BOULDER SYMPHONY’S JULY

4TH CONCERT CELEBRATION

7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, Boulder Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Blvd., Boulder. $15

Boulder Symphony pulls out all the stops at their Independence Day Concert. They’ll perform works by Copland, Bernstein and Tchaikovsky, along with cinematic classics like John Williams’ Star Wars and Indiana Jones compositions, all in the heart of Boulder.

THU. 6/29 - 7:00PM

REED FOEHL AND KATE FARMER

Starts at $30.00

FRI. 6/30 - 8:00PM

DAVID LAWRENCE AND THE SPOONFUL W/ THE CODY SISTERS

Starts at $15.00

SAT. 7/1 - 11:30PM

Dead and Company After Party

JOSLYN AND THE SWEET COMPRESSION

Starts at $20.00

SUN. 7/2 - 11:30PM

Dead and Company After Party

DAVE McMURRAY

Starts at $20.00

SAT. 7/8 - 7:30PM

A.J. FULLERTON with full band

Starts at $15.00

WED. 7/12 - 7:30PM

DEER FELLOW with STURTZ AND ROBIN LEWIS

Starts at $15.00

FRI. 7/14 - 8:00PM

JOHNNY & THE MONGRELS

Starts at $15.00

TUE. 7/18 - 7:00PM

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RYE IN JULY

6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 5, West End Tavern, 926 Pearl St., Boulder. $75

West End Tavern welcomes whiskey fans for a night of rye tasting, featuring pours by Sagamore Spirit Distillery, Laws Whiskey House and Minor Case. Pair five different rye whiskeys with food from Chef Ronnie, West End Tavern’s barbecue wizard, all taking place on the restaurant’s rooftop.

LIZ BARNEZ LIVE BROADCAST ON 88.5 KGNU

FRI. 7/21 - 8:00PM

DAVE TAMKIN & CO AND ANTONIO LOPEZ W/ SPECIAL GUEST CHRISTOPHER MORSE

Starts at $15.00

Purchase Tickets at RMPtix.com

RootsMusicProject.org

4747 Pearl Suite V3A