PHISHING FOR LOVE

Local Theater Company explores the connective power of jam bands

BY TONI TRESCA

It’s no secret that the love affair between Boulder and jam bands is central to the cultural landscape here. But with Topher Payne’s You Enjoy Myself, a new world premiere from Local Theater Company borrowing its title from the 1985 Phish classic, it’s now fodder for a theatrical stage.

“While it never became my music, Phish’s ability to create a welcoming space truly driven by acceptance and healthy curiosity about other people was very instructive,” says the playwright whose first husband introduced him to the band and its rabid fanbase. “I wanted to tell a love story in that world, or, actually, several love stories.”

To that end, You Enjoy Myself follows three couples: one in the glow of a budding relationship, one at the end of its life cycle, and another rekindling an old flame. Former partners Judith and Eileen, who met through their love of Phish, are reunited through an Instagram post, along with four other lost souls searching for meaning.

“We’re still retraining ourselves on how to connect with other human beings,” Payne says of our post-lockdown years amid the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. “I do not find it surprising that the first thing I wrote after coming back from that experience is something that is desperately trying to be a Bat-Signal to let people know that there is a safe place to empathically engage and be courageous enough to be vulnerable.”

The play’s exploration of personal growth and leaning into the unknown aligns with the theme of Local’s 13th season: “Lose yourself to find yourself.” According to Betty Hart, co-artistic director of the company and president of the Colorado Theatre Guild, she saw the optimism of that maxim on full display during her first Phish concert in Denver earlier this month.

“The fans were so welcoming and embraced me even though it was my first journey,” Hart says. “There was just so much joy, energy, passion and a real desire to be together in a time when our world feels so fractured. It was really powerful.”

‘DREAMS, PASSION AND SEX’

Payne, who is originally from a small Mississippi town, has been living in Atlanta since 1999 — more than a thousand miles from the rural Vermont farmhouse where his latest work is set. That’s where he met Hart, then a staff member with Kaiser Permanente’s educational theater program in Georgia, when Payne auditioned at a Southeastern Theater Conference.

“Topher immediately caught our eye, so we invited him for a callback, and he got the gig,” Hart recalls. “He literally told me in our first live meeting that, although he was here for acting, he was going to be a playwright whose plays would one day be performed all over the world.”

This meeting heralded the beginning of a partnership that has spanned years and produced a number of highly regarded theatrical works. Payne’s Hartdirected play about New York public school teachers, Evelyn in Purgatory, marked a turning point in his career. The work gained attention, subsequently leading to other productions, including the off-Broadway success of Perfect Arrangement in 2015, which received a rave review in The New York Times.

Payne’s career took another turn when he began writing for the Hallmark Channel in 2016, contributing to six films. Nevertheless, he remained dedicated to playwriting and started working on You Enjoy Myself at a workshop in Massachusetts. But COVID-19 would disrupt this creative journey a few short years later.

“I was one of those writers who didn’t find the pandemic to be a productive period,” Payne says. “While I respect people who used that to finish their novel, everything that I do is based on the conversions in the room; that’s where the play becomes the play. Since I didn’t have access to that, I took an extensive break from playwriting starting in 2020 and didn’t return to it until I got a call from Betty.”

The following year, Hart reached out to see if Payne had any plays he’d be interested in submitting to Local Lab, the company’s new play festival. The unique blend of humor, music and romance in You Enjoy Myself won over the Local staff, and it was chosen with Hart attached as director.

On top of those winning qualities that first endeared the work to the company, Eden Lane, a Colorado Public Radio arts reporter who played Judith in the original reading and is reprising her role in the current production at the Dairy, praises the play for its inclusion of older women in stories — a rarity in the theater world. “How often do we not see older women included in stories like this? [In] this show, we have two who have goals, dreams, passion and sex,” Lane says.

But despite hitting the marks on so many key points, You Enjoy Myself didn’t quite fit into what co-artistic director Nick Chase called its “season of women,” which was already in development to include titles like Raised on Ronstadt and UNDONE: The Lady M Project.

“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 told Boulder Weekly in June. “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 world premiere production builds on the work done by Hart, Payne and the actors — four of whom reprise their roles — during the play’s workshop in April 2022. And now, after years of development, You Enjoy Myself is about to make its debut, giving audiences the opportunity to rediscover the beauty of vulnerability.

ON STAGE: You Enjoy Myself Sept. 21–Oct. 14, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $35+

EVERY WEDNESDAY BOULDER BLUEGRASS JAM

THU. 9/21 - 9:00PM

TROUBADOURS W/ RAMAYA SOSKIN. FEATURING BETH PRESTON & JULIAN PETERSON

FRI. 9/22 - 9:00PM

AFRICAN ROOTS & RHYTHM: ZIVANAI MASANGO, KUTANDARA & MBIRA JAM

SAT. 9/23 - 8:00PM

MUSIC FOR MAUI: KGNU COMMUNITY RADIO BENEFIT

TUE. 9/26- 8:30PM

PAUL SODERMAN AND THE OGS W/DFK AND THE LAB RATS

WED. 9/27- 8:00PM

WAYNE GRAHAM

THU. 9/28 - 8:00PM

THE TONY FURTADO ACOUSTIC TRIO FEAT. MATT FLINNER

SUN. 9/30 - 7:00PM

SISTER WINDS-FUNDRAISING CONCERT W/ AKACIA ROSE, MYSTIC CHOIR AND MORE

TUE. 10/3 - 9:00PM

SONGCRAFT: SONGWRITER SHOWCASE WITH JORDAN YEWEY AND RAMAYA SOSKIN

WED. 10/4 - 8:00PM

SARAH & SHANNON W/ MAIA SHARP

FRI. 10/6 - 8:00PM

BIRDS OF PLAY

THU. 10/12 - 8:00PM

JEREMY GARRETT

FRI. 10/13 - 7:30PM

DELTA SONICS BLUES

DANCE PARTY

SAT. 10/14 - 9:00PM

MASQUERADE CARNIVALE GALA

WED. 10/18 - 8:30PM

BRENDAN ABERNATHY

Purchase Tickets at RMPtix.com RootsMusicProject.org

4747 Pearl Suite V3A

JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT

6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Free

For its ninth year, this international literary celebration returns to Boulder with readings and panels by authors from all over the world. Kick off the weekend-long event with hors d’oeuvres and a performance from musician Ambi Subramaniam, presented by the Colorado Fine Arts Association.

22

FROLIC INTO FALL DRAG SHOW

7-10 p.m. Friday Sept. 22, DV8 Distillery, 2480 49th St., Boulder. $15

Welcome fall at DV8 Distillery with a new season of drag and a new talented cast. Performer Mo Whoremoans will be your guide alongside Irishimo, Throbbin Hood and more. Everyone over the age of 18 is welcome, and students are offered 20% off with a valid ID.

23

2023 PLEIN AIR PAINTING FESTIVAL

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, Purple Park, 1310 S. Pitkin Ave., Superior. Free

Head to scenic Purple Park in Superior as more than a dozen artists paint the scene for the 2023 Plein Air Painting Festival. Join in on the art by making your own masterpiece, or just enjoy the live music, get your kid’s face painted, and grab grub from a food truck for your art walk around the lake.

22 – 24

DOWNTOWN BOULDER FALL FEST

5-9 p.m. Friday, 10-9 p.m. Saturday, and 10-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22-24, 1325 Pearl St. Free

Is that autumn in the air? Celebrate the coming season with a stroll through Pearl Street during this family friendly event featuring live music and the Firefly Handmade Market.

Fill your bags with unique fall crafts and goods during this fall festival complete with a beer, wine and margarita garden.

22 – 23

COMMUNITY REVIVAL

12-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23, VisionQuest Brewery, 2510 47th St., Suite A2 Boulder. Free

Support local artists, musicians and businesses at this two-day fundraiser to benefit victims of local wildfires. More than 60 artists and a lineup of musical acts will be on hand to help promote a new seltzer and beer release for the brewery at this dogand kid-friendly event.

23

LAUGH (LAFAYETTE ART UNDERGROUND HUSTLE):

FREAKING, FALLING AND ART CRAWLING

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, Downtown Historic Lafayette, 401 S. Public Road. Free

Experience the local art of Lafayette with a LAUGH passport and a curated map, collect stamps through Old Town and support local makers with purchases during this East County art walk sponsored by the Lafayette Cultural Arts Commission.

23

CONDOM COUTURE 2023

6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, Boulder Jewish Community Center, 6007 Oreg Ave. $145 (single) / $290 (couple)

Celebrate 50 years of Boulder Valley Health Center with the return of Condom Couture, a prophylacticthemed fashion show to raise funds and awareness for sexual and reproductive health. Dress in your grooviest ’70s attire for a night of themed cocktails and mingling with condominspired couture from local designers.

24

VINTAGE BASEBALL GAME AND AUTUMN HERITAGE DAY

12-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, Walker Ranch Homestead, 7701 Flagstaff Road, Boulder. Free

Transport to the 1800s at Walker Ranch Homestead during this vintage-themed baseball game following 19th century rules and regulations. Bring your lawn furniture and snacks, and get ready for an oldschool throwback the whole family will love.

27

TAROT 101

7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, Yellow Barn Farm, 9417 North Foothills Highway, Longmont. $22 facebook.com/theboulderweekly twitter.com/boulderweekly

The long history of Tarot can make it overwhelming for a beginner reader. That’s why the Healer’s Haven collective wants to guide you through this journey and hone your interpretation skills. This event hosted by Yellow Barn Farm hopes to spark self discovery. Bring your own Tarot deck and an open mind.

24

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: CU VS. STANFORD

11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, CU Events Center, 950 Regent Drive, Boulder. $5

Watch the Buffs take on tough opponent Stanford at the CU Events Center. Buffs have been on a roll this season, currently 6-2 and coming off a recent Invitational Title win earlier this month. The team hopes to crush a long time losing streak against the Cardinals this year.

26

RENT STABILIZATION AND RENTERS’ RIGHTS: PANEL AND DISCUSSION

5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Free

Over 40 years ago, Boulder residents fought for rent control on the ballot and lost, but that hasn’t stopped residents from advocating for affordable housing and renters’ rights. Join panelists Rep. Javier Mabrey, Chris Goodwin and Todd Ulrich with the advocacy group ThinkBoulder for brief presentations and a discussion on the topic.

BUFFS PRIME TIME COACHES SHOW

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, The Post Chicken and Beer, 2027 13th St., Boulder. $30 boulderweekly.com

“Hot chicken, cold beer and CU football play-by-play with Coach Prime”? Get in the huddle at The Post in downtown Boulder to grab stagefront seating for the Coaches Show, complete with lunch specials and a free beverage. Sko Buffs!