Page 4 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
Summer in Berthoud
2022
Berthoud’s Moon Theatre is alive and well and coming to a stage near you By Sue Arnott The Surveyor
Through innovation, creative thinking and community support, Moon Theatre Co. has survived the pandemic and, after two years of virtual entertaining, is returning to live performances in Berthoud, its native home for the last thirteen years. Playgoers can look forward to three upcoming plays in three new Berthoud venues with the first production, a family-friendly event, scheduled for two nights in late June. “We are so excited for 2022,” said Kathleen Gruman, who, along with Pam Strahan — both founding and current board members of the theatre company — shared what they’ve been working on to keep the arts alive and well. “We’ve partnered with the Berthoud Historical Society (BHS) for the first time. So, in addition to using Berthoud Activity Hall, we now have two new BHS venues.” One is at the historic McCartyFickel Home, a turn of the (last) century gem at 645 Seventh St. Here, the group’s first summer performance, developed in collaboration with BHS, will feature local playwright Rick Padden (former Berthoud Weekly Surveyor editor) presenting a reading of his play, “Beets” set in Berthoud during World War II when German POWs imprisoned in Greeley were sent to work on a Berthoud beet farm. Board member Lesley Jones will direct this production scheduled Courtesy photo for Friday, June 24 Actors Ryan Potter as Dieter and Vicky and Saturday, June Seryduk as Anna in the last production 25 at 6 p.m. The of “Beets” four years ago. play, developed from an article written by Berthoud historian Mark French, incorporates Berthoud residents (now deceased) in its telling. “It’s romantic. It’s a love story,” said Gruman. The second summer production, “Tillie the Teller” will be performed at another BHS venue, the Sunnyside Stage (the courtyard) at The Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum at 244 Mountain Ave. Moon Theatre Co. chairperson and actor/ director Julie Marino will direct this play described as a fun melodrama about love and thievery. “Tillie the Teller” will also run for two nights from Friday, July 29 to Saturday, July 30 starting at 6 p.m. Actors are still needed for this production. Come fall, the popular Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre will unfold at a third venue, the Berthoud Activity Hall at 619 N. Fourth St. This adult-only show includes drinks, dinner and dessert. The play selection is currently in the discussion stage. Strahan, who is also Moon Theatre Co.’s secretary/treasurer, shares Gruman’s enthusiasm. “We are so excited to be back home. Berthoud is our home. Here we can be a true community theatre.” For while their roots are in Berthoud, she explained, they lacked a physical home. “Over the last ten years, we’ve
played at the Rialto [a Loveland venue]. It’s a great venue. It’s beautiful, but it’s huge. It seats nearly 500. That’s too big for us. We need 150 seats.” “Plus we needed places to rehearse,” said Gruman. “We were always seeking spots. We used private homes, Tim Hardy’s [a Berthoud trustee] printing business and local churches.” A theatre company without a venue poses many challenges, but as Gruman added, “It also saved us during COVID. With no overhead, we didn’t go under.” Community theater requires community participation. “We are open to people who want to participate in any way they want,” said Gruman. “We need writers, directors and actors. We need sound people, set designers, costume and lighting designers.” “We always love new blood!” added Strahan. Their excitement is palpable. “We’ve taken people who’ve never been on stage. We had a 70-year-old man,” said Gruman, “who hadn’t acted since high school. He was a star!” One last note for the good-to-know category: the local plays have always sold out. For more information on events, how to participate and ticket information, go to https://moon-theatre.com/
