Applause -- MJ, April 10-28, 2024

APPLAUSE

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SIGHTLINE

BY JOHN EKEBERG

TThis is one of my favorite times of the year — when we announce a whole new series of titles in our upcoming season that kicks off this September. Elsewhere in the pages of this Applause magazine, you will find information on the exciting shows coming to Denver as part of our 2024/25 Broadway season.

I am thrilled that our next season will be full of incredible new shows straight from Broadway as well as several returning favorites. I am particularly excited to kick off the season with the national tour launch of the 2023 Tony Award winner for Best New Musical, KIMBERLY AKIMBO. And that’s just the beginning — Funny Girl, Back to the Future: The Musical, and THE WIZ are three more of the fantastic shows that will grace the stage of the Buell Theatre in the next year.

But before we get to next season, there is so much to look forward to in the months ahead. Perhaps you will join us at the upcoming engagements of Stephen Sondheim’s Company, Disney’s Frozen, or Denver’s seventh engagement of Wicked ? All of these shows promise to deliver the magic and excitement of Broadway.

If you are one of our loyal season subscribers — thank you so much for your support, and I hope that you’re enjoying all of the benefits that come with your subscription. If you are not currently a subscriber, I encourage you to take a look to see if perhaps a ticket subscription is right for you. Either way, I appreciate you joining us here at the Buell to experience the magic of live theatre.

Vladimir Script

See you at the theatre,

John Ekeberg

John Ekeberg Executive Director, DCPA Broadway & Cabaret

HONORING OUR ELDERS

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts honors and acknowledges that it resides on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary Indigenous Tribes and Nations who have historically called Colorado home.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Hassan Salem, Chair

Ruth Krebs, Vice Chair

David Jacques Farahi, Secretary/Treasurer

Nicole Ament

Dr. Patricia Baca

Brisa Carleton

Jerome Davis

Kevin Kilstrom

Susan Fox Pinkowitz

Manny Rodriguez

Alan Salazar

Richard M. Sapkin

Martin Semple

William Dean Singleton

Robert Slosky

Tina Walls

Dr. Reginald L. Washington

Judi Wolf

Sylvia Young

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Navin Dimond

Margot Gilbert Frank

Jeannie Fuller

Robert C. Newman

Daniel L. Ritchie

Cleo Parker Robinson

HELEN G. BONFILS

FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Martin Semple, President

William Dean Singleton, Vice President

Dr. Reginald L. Washington, Secretary/Treasurer

Nicole Ament

Kevin Kilstrom

Ruth Krebs

Susan Fox Pinkowitz

Hassan Salem

Robert Slosky

Judi Wolf

EXECUTIVE

Jamie

HAIRSPRAY : A BIG -HEARTED MUSICAL

TThat wunderkind offspring of John Waters’ 1988 subversive film, Hairspray, with its tale of a plump East Baltimore girl who achieves her dream of dancing on a local television show, is about as improbable a subject for a hit musical as you’re likely to come across.

Think about it. Tracy Turnblad is the girl in question, an overweight teenager born of an even heavier mom — famously played by Divine (original 1988 movie), Harvey Fierstein (first Broadway production and subsequent live TV film) and John Travolta (musical film). Tracy rockets from obscurity to stardom under the most unlikely of scenarios.

Set in 1962, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star when she gets the chance to dance on the popular “Corny Collins Show.” But she must use her newfound power to vanquish the reigning teen queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin and integrate a TV network, all without denting her “do.”

No small feat (not to mention no small hair).

So what is it that has made this giddy show about big women, big laughs and big, blind ambition such an unprecedented hit? A big, loving heart at its core, of course. There’s a sweet and funky tenderness at the center of this musical with a sign on the door that reads, “All outsiders welcome!”

Welcome, accepted, enabled. While not a “message” musical extravaganza, the underlying theme is one of welcoming the differences that make us human. Good direction, a knowing book and irresistible music bring the story home. Composer Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman delivered a sly and splendid score while book writers Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan made this a hip, modern fairy-tale. Director Jack O’Brien provided the canny staging, both in this new North American tour as well as the show’s original Broadway debut in 2002, which won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. And O’Brien reunites with Choreographer Jerry Mitchell who infuses the show with exuberant dance numbers and a showstopping performance.

But above all, to quote The Guardian, “It becomes unstoppably joyous, placing its politics (on conventional femininity and on size, as well as race and protest) alongside its joy.”

“Hairspray is even more relevant than 20 years ago when it first burst onto the scene,” said O’Brien. “I always call the piece ‘sweetly subversive.’ It’s overwhelmingly joyful. The timelessness of it is because it doesn’t really belong to any period. It’s the unimaginable triumph of the heart.

“The fact that no matter how bad it gets, there’s a way out. That’s a message we need to hear again…and This piece is based on information available at a variety of public sources.

Hairspray is even more relevant than 20 years ago when it first burst onto the scene.…

The fact that no matter how bad it gets, there’s a way out. That’s a message we need to hear again…and loud

— JACK O’BRIEN, DIRECTOR

MAR 5 – 10

ASL, Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: Mar 9 at 2pm

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SUPPORT THEATRE IN STYLE

LUNCHEON HATTITUDE

MAY 2, 2024

A whimsical celebration benefiting the DCPA’s Women’s Voices Fund

TICKETS

dcpa.today/hattitude

SATURDAY NIGHT ALIVE

JUNE 8, 2024

Denver's most glamorous night of the year

Featuring a one-night-only performance from Tony® and Emmy® Award-winning actress, singer, and producer LaChanze

TICKETS

dcpa.today/sna

YOUR HOME FOR

BROADWAY

& TOUR LAUNCHES & CABARET & TONY AWARD WINNERS & SHOWTUNES & SO MUCH MORE

The Denver Center is your home for Broadway’s hottest shows — and so much more. For the 2024/25 season, we’re bringing you eight electrifying productions, ranging from jazz-age musicals to whimsical adaptations of your favorite films. Get your season subscription today and prepare for more singalong, jam-out, laugh-out-loud, dance-in-your-seat experiences at your home for live theatre!

Subscribers unlock a full season of perks, including:

• Savings on additional tickets*

• Concierge ticketing services (including free exchanges*)

• Easy auto-renew options so you can keep your favorite seats year after year

• Early access to award-winning added attractions

TBY EMMA HOLST

The annual Middle School & High School Playwriting Competition is a highpoint of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Education programming. Grounded in workshops hosted by DCPA Education Teaching Artists, this competition draws hundreds of student submissions each year.

The in-school workshops introduce students to the fundamentals of playwriting, bolster creative writing skills and encourage them to discover their dramatic voices. In advance of this year’s competition, 106 workshops were led across metro Denver and 12 counties throughout the state, from Arapahoe, to Routt, to Montezuma.

This year, the DCPA received 142 middle school and 107 high school submissions — nearly 100 more than last year. From those submissions, six winners have been selected for the eleventh annual Playwriting Competition, three in each age group.

The three high school winners are Sophie Brown, junior at Northfield High School; Patton Coughlin, junior at The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School, and Casey Eidson, junior at Denver School of the Arts.

DCPA Education also honors an additional seven high school finalists. These included Madalynn Tharp, Animus High School; Victoria Schnell, Cherry Creek High School; Sunny Wiggins, The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School; Charlie Quinn, Denver School of the Arts; Riley Dean, Denver School of the Arts; Esther Weiss, Cherry Creek High School, and Hannah Harr, Jefferson County Open School.

The three middle school winners are Wilson Walker, eighth grader at North Routt Community Charter School; Sofia Foster and Sienna Weihe, sixth graders at William “Bill” Roberts K-8 School, and Jude Pockross, seventh grader at Morey Middle School.

The top three plays by each age group will be included in the 2024 Playwriting Anthology. The three high school plays also received public staged readings as a part of the 2024 Colorado New Play Summit on February 24 and 25. Then, the staged readings traveled to the playwrights’ local high schools, to share with their peer community the work and creativity of the selected playwrights.

A DREAM GIG FOR DANCERS

AAsk anyone born before the year 2000 and they probably have a distinct memory of Michael Jackson’s music. I can remember family road trips from Atlanta to Chicago where we plugged a boombox into our minivan’s cigarette lighter and played Jackson 5 cassette tapes, singing at the top of our lungs all the way through Kentucky. My mind drifts to summers spent watching the Bad Tour video. I even danced at a night club the night Jackson died, belting “Rock with You” on a dimly lit dance floor.

All these memories come flooding back during MJ the musical. With a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, major events in Jackson’s life are underscored by the songs that made him famous. In MJ, Jackson is at a pivotal moment in his life and career as pressure mounts around his next tour. He puts all his eggs in the basket of the “Dangerous” world tour and has an MTV film crew following him around to document the process. With the camera always on, Jackson takes them back to his humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana where he began singing with his older brothers.

Throughout the show, these early memories are interspersed with real-time dance rehearsals and increasing costs to fund this mega tour, which in real life did become one of the biggest-selling tours of all time. However, all proceeds were donated to various nonprofit organizations, including the star’s Heal the World Foundation.

BY KELUNDRA SMITH

The musical includes early songs with his brothers, such as “ABC,” “Stop,” and “Blame it on the Boogie,” as well as solo hits like “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror,” “Billie Jean,” and “Thriller.” The show first burst onto Broadway in December 2021, and has been running ever since. The musical garnered four Tony Awards in 2022, including best choreography for Christopher Wheeldon, who is best known for his work with the Royal Ballet in England.

With a catalog spanning 40 years and a range of disco, R&B, and pop ballads, Jackson certainly earned his title as the King of Pop. Bringing this musical to the stage of course requires incredibly talented dancers, like Roman Banks, who plays middle Michael in the tour. Banks, who grew up in metro Atlanta, was cast to play MJ in the first national tour in 2022, two years after he first auditioned for the role. At the time Banks auditioned, he was in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and looking for his next move. He’d been pining for MJ, but when he was initially offered the gig, he’d just booked High School Musical: The Musical: The Movie

“My mom would play the ‘Ultimate Jackson 5 Collection’ around the house; that was our thing,” Banks recalls. “What draws people to the music is the energy of it and the movement it has. It’s infectious and universal. You don’t have to know English to enjoy the music.”

Roman Banks as ‘MJ’ and the cast of the MJ First National Tour.

Photo by Matthew Murphy, MurphyMade.

After filming High School Musical in Los Angeles, Banks heard about the MJ tour and flew back to the East Coast for auditions. He isn’t a formally trained dancer, but hours in the mirror trying to learn the “Thriller” choreography came back to him at that moment. When he got the role, that’s when the real work began.

“I spent hours in studios in LA and New York getting [Jackson’s] movements into my body,” Banks says. “His silhouettes are famous. People know his movement, they know what it’s supposed to look like. It was a big challenge, and I wanted to rise to it. I wanted to pick up where Myles [Frost, who originated the role on Broadway] left off, and reach higher.”

That love of Jackson’s dance style came as a little girl for JoJo Carmichael, who is the assistant dance captain and a swing on the MJ tour. Carmichael, who grew up in Dothan, Alabama, says that she grew up knowing who Jackson was, but didn’t grasp the magnitude of his influence on the dance world until after his death in 2009. At that time, she found his dance videos online and the obsession began. She asked her parents for the “This Is It” album for her 10th birthday and watched the documentary on repeat.

I spent hours in studios in LA and New York getting [Jackson’s] movements into my body. His silhouettes are famous. People know his movement, they know what it’s supposed to look like.

— ROMAN BANKS, ACTOR

“I remember watching him dance and being like ‘oh my God!’ This guy could do everything,” she says.

After graduating from Pace University in New York, Carmichael booked a gig with the Rockettes at Radio City Musical Hall before being cast in the MJ tour in January 2023. As assistant dance captain, her job is to make sure that Jackson’s silky-smooth moves look easy as air to the audience. During the rehearsal process for the show, she trained with Wheeldon as well as Rich and Tone Talauega, Jackson’s choreographers and walking dance bibles.

“I think being a swing, especially for this show, because there are so many details, has changed my perspective on performing for the better,” Carmichael says. “As far as me doing the moves, it just comes with rehearsal-rehearsal-rehearsal. Practice makes progress.”

As a classically-trained dancer with a background in ballet, tap and jazz, Carmichael says musical theatre has taught her how to let go of perfectionism. The show must go on from city to city, no matter what happens onstage.

“You can’t let a mistake that the crowd probably wouldn’t notice distract you from the show,” Carmichael says. “As a human being, being on tour has allowed me to grow into myself so much. I have a new sense of confidence and a new sense of self.”

MJ

APR 10 – 28

• BUELL THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: April 21 at 2pm

COMING UP FROM BROADWAY COMPANY

The iconic Company, a musical comedy by George Furth and Stephen Sondheim, is given a new life with a revelatory new production. Bobby, the original protagonist and an impudent bachelor, has transformed into Bobbie, a woman turning 35 and “still” single. Bobbie’s surprise birthday party, thrown by her married and engaged friends, turns into a series of vignettes of friendship, regret, and love.

In this groundbreaking concept musical, the deeply insightful story pulls no punches as it explores turbulent relationships. Company earned six Tony Awards after a recordsetting 17 nominations in 1971. The 2021 revival won an additional five Tony Awards, called “sophisticated, intimate and in-tune with the currents of modern life — brilliantly conceived and funny as hell.” (Variety). Now on tour, Company will come knocking at the Buell Theatre May 22 – June 2.

Directed by three-time Tony Awardwinning Marianne Elliott (War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America) and featuring award-winning songs by Sondheim, including “You Could Drive A Person Crazy,” “The Ladies Who Lunch” and “Being Alive,” you’ll fall in love with Company when it comes to Denver. Let’s all drink to that.

Britney Coleman as Bobbie (center) and the North American Tour of COMPANY Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

THE 2023/24 SEASON FINALE

We’re wrapping up the Denver Center Theatre Company season with a trio of shows that are guaranteed to leave you buzzing. We’re giving you epic feats of storytelling and experimental works that push the limits of theatre. And you won’t want to miss a single second! THIS

APR 5 – MAY 5 | WOLF

APR 19 – JUN 2 | SINGLETON

MAY 3 – JUN 2 | KILSTROM

A FAIRY TALE FOR A NEW GENERATION

BY SUZANNE YOE

IIf you were born before 1990, your bedtime stories were likely straight out of the Grimm Fairy Tales. First published in 1812, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm put forth 200 tales over their literary career including Snow White, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel. But Shrek was nowhere among them.

Fast forward 180 years and along comes an ogre, donkey and cat…in boots. Shrek! was the brainchild of writer and cartoonist William Steig.

Born in 1907, Steig was clearly influenced by those Brothers Grimm. After a prolific career as an illustrator at The New Yorker where he created more than 1,600 drawings and 117 covers, he retired and took his sharpened colored pencils and even sharper wit with him. He pivoted to his second career in children’s literature at the ripe young age of 61.

He quickly began accumulating literary awards including the Caldecott Medal, Christopher Award, and Newbery Honor among others. The key to his success? His work reaches beyond a child audience.

“[He] has the unusual childlike capacity to present incidents of wonder and marvel as if they are but everyday occurrences,” said James E. Higgens in Children’s Literature in Education. “He writes not out of a remembrance of childhood, but out of the essence of childhood which no adult can afford to give up or to deny.”

Which is exactly why Shrek!, which Steig published in 1990 at age 83, resonates not only with children but also with adults (parent or not).

It quickly caught the attention of the film industry, originally being optioned by Steven Spielberg and later acquired by DreamWorks. After opening in 2001 and grossing $42 million in its first weekend, Shrek the movie went on to win the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Sequels were inevitable with three subsequent movies, several spinoffs, theme park rides, video games, memes and, ultimately, a Broadway musical, which opened in 2008.

While Steig passed away in 2003 before the Broadway adaptation of his book came to the stage, he did say of the movie: “It’s vulgar, it’s disgusting and I loved it.”

And what’s not to love? Whether you’re a kid appreciating it at face value or an adult who peels back the layers (“orges are like onions,” after all), Shrek, according to Gina Cherelus in The New York Times, “captures the essence of unlikely friendships and unsuperficial romance, making its happily-ever-after ending feel triumphant.”

It’s vulgar, it’s disgusting and I loved it.

—

WILLIAM STEIG, AUTHOR ON MOVIE ADAPTATION

SHREK THE MUSICAL

MAR 14 – 17 • BUELL THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: Mar 16 at 1pm

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SEASON SPONSOR

LIA VOLLACK JOHN BRANCA JOHN MCCLAIN

SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT ROY FURMAN CUE TO CUE PRODUCTIONS

JAMES L. NEDERLANDER KUMIKO YOSHII NAOYA KINOSHITA LATITUDE LINK STEPHEN C. BYRD

CANDY SPELLING JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION PETER W. MAY SANDY ROBERTSON ED WALSON

ALBERT NOCCIOLINO KEN SCHUR WILLETTE & MANNY KLAUSNER DAVID SHAFER MARTIN BANDIER and DOUG MORRIS

Executive Producer: MICHAEL DAVID

By Special Arrangement with the Estate of Michael Jackson

PRESENT

BOOK BY LYNN NOTTAGE

STARRING

ROMAN BANKS

JAMAAL FIELDS-GREEN

FEATURING

JOSIAH BENSON BANE GRIFFITH BRANDON LEE HARRIS JORDAN MARKUS

DEVIN BOWLES J. DAUGHTRY JOSH A. DAWSON BRYCE A. HOLMES

MATT LOEHR DA’VON T. MOODY MARY KATE MOORE ANASTASIA TALLEY

JOJO CARMICHAEL CROIX DIIENNO KELLIE DROBNICK KYLE DUPREE ZURI NOELLE FORD JAHIR L. HIPPS

SKYE JACKSON-WILLIAMS JACOBI KAI RAJANÉ KATURAH MATTEO MARRETTA JAY MCKENZIE

KENDRICK MITCHELL CHELSEA MITCHELL-BONSU ZION MIKHAIL PRADIER AYLA STACKHOUSE

BRION MARQUIS WATSON CHAR LES P. WAY MALCOLM MILES YOUNG

SCENIC DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN SOUND DESIGN PROJECTION DESIGN

DEREK McLANE NATASHA KATZ PAUL TAZEWELL GARETH OWEN PETER NIGRINI

RACHEL HOFFMAN, CSA LINDSAY LEVINE, CSA

Roman Banks Jamaal Fields-Green Josiah Benson Bane Griffith Brandon Lee Harris

Jordan Markus Devin Bowles J. Daughtry

Josh A. Dawson

Bryce A. Holmes

Matt Loehr Da'Von T. Moody

Mary Kate Moore

Anastasia Talley

JoJo Carmichael Croix DiIenno Kellie Drobnick

Kyle DuPree

Zuri Noelle Ford

Jahir L. Hipps

Skye Jackson-Williams Jacobi Kai Rajané Katurah Matteo Marretta Jay McKenzie Kendrick Mitchell

Chelsea Mitchell-Bonsu Zion Mikhail Pradier Ayla Stackhouse Brion Marquis Watson

Charles P. Way Malcolm Miles Young

CAST

MJ ROMAN BANKS

MJ (Alternate) JAMAAL FIELDS-GREEN

Rob, Joseph Jackson DEVIN BOWLES

Rachel MARY KATE MOORE

Michael BRANDON LEE HARRIS

Little Michael JOSIAH BENSON, BANE GRIFFITH

Little Marlon BRYCE A. HOLMES

Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones JOSH A. DAWSON

Kate, Katherine Jackson ............................................................................................................ ANASTASIA TALLEY

Alejandro DA’VON T. MOODY

Nick, Berry Gordy, Don Cornelius, Doctor J. DAUGHTRY

Dave MATT LOEHR

Tour Dancer, Randy Jackson, Jackie Wilson (dancer) MALCOLM MILES YOUNG

Tour Singer, Jackie Jackson, James Brown (vocal) JAY MCKENZIE

Tour Dancer, Soul Train Dancer KELLIE DROBNICK

Tour Dancer, Suzanne de Passe, Isley Brother (dancer) ........................................... ZURI NOELLE FORD

Tour Dancer, Isley Brother (dancer), Nicholas Brother CHELSEA MITCHELL-BONSU

Tour Dancer, Fred Astaire MATTEO MARRETTA

Tour Dancer, Bob Fosse, Newscaster CROIX DIIENNO

Keith, Jermaine Jackson, Isley Brother (vocal) JACOBI KAI

Tour Dancer, Marlon Jackson, James Brown (dancer),

Nicholas Brother BRION MARQUIS WATSON

Swings JOJO CARMICHAEL, KYLE DUPREE, JAHIR L. HIPPS, SKYE JACKSON-WILLIAMS, RAJANÉ KATURAH, KENDRICK MITCHELL, ZION MIKHAIL PRADIER, AYLA STACKHOUSE, CHARLES P. WAY

UNDERSTUDIES

Understudies never substitute for the listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance.

For MJ—JORDAN MARKUS; for Rob, Joseph Jackson J. DAUGHTRY, JOSH A. DAWSON, KENDRICK MITCHELL; for Rachel— RAJANÉ KATURAH, AYLA STACKHOUSE; for Michael—

JACOBI KAI, JORDAN MARKUS, CHARLES P. WAY; for Little Michael—BRYCE A. HOLMES; for Little Marlon—JOSIAH BENSON, BANE GRIFFITH, BRION MARQUIS WATSON; for Kate, Katherine Jackson—RAJANÉ KATURAH, AYLA STACKHOUSE; for Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones—JAHIR L. HIPPS, JAY MCKENZIE, KENDRICK MITCHELL; for Alejandro—JAHIR L. HIPPS, MATTEO MARRETTA; for Nick, Berry Gordy—JAHIR L. HIPPS, JAY MCKENZIE, KENDRICK MITCHELL; for Dave—JAHIR L. HIPPS, KENDRICK MITCHELL

DANCE AND FIGHT CAPTAIN: KYLE DUPREE

ASSISTANT DANCE CAPTAIN: JOJO CARMICHAEL

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO SEE THE CAST AT THIS PERFORMANCE

WHEN: 1992

WHERE: A Rehearsal Studio, Los Angeles

MUSICAL NUMBERS

(in alphabetical order)

2

Bad

ABC

Another Part of Me

Bad Beat It

Billie Jean

Black or White

Blame It on the Boogie Can You Feel It

Climb Ev’ry Mountain

Dancing Machine

Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough Earth Song

Ease on Down the Road

For the Love of Money

Higher and Higher

Human Nature

I Can’t Help It

I’ll Be There

I Want You Back

Jam

Keep the Faith

LA LA Means I Love You

The Love You Save Man in the Mirror

Money

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag

Price of Fame

Rock With You

She’s Out of My Life

Shout

Smooth Criminal Stranger in Moscow

Tabloid Junkie

Soul Train Theme Song

The Way You Make Me Feel

They Don’t Care About Us

Thriller

Wanna Be Startin’ Somthin’

You Can’t Win

Cast album available on Sony Music Entertainment

The writing on the Act II curtain is copied from Michael Jackson’s notes.

ORCHESTRA

Music Director/Conductor/Keys: VICTOR SIMONSON

Associate Music Director/Keys: NATHANAEL WILKERSON

Drummer: JIMMY BONAPARTE-COGGINS

Percussion: MESIA AUSTIN

Bass: JOHN DAVID BRATTON II

Guitar: LILY GUARNEROS MAASE

Electronic Music

Design: BILLY JAY STEIN and HIRO IIDA for STRANGE CRANIUM

Music Coordinator: JOHN MILLER

LOCAL ORCHESTRA

Trumpet 1: JAKE BOLDMAN

Reed 1: ART BOUTON

Guitar 2: DAVE DEVINE

Reed 2: ADAM GANG

Trumpet 2: DAWN KRAMER

Trombone: ROB OLDS

Keyboard Sub: BOKO SUZUKI

Music Contractor: JIM HARVEY

The Estate of Michael Jackson wants to thank all of the individuals who contributed to Michael’s career and his development as an artist including Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones and the Jackson family and want to specifically acknowledge all of the choreographers who worked with Michael on his short films, concerts and live performances throughout his career. In particular, Michael Peters (co-choreographer on “Thriller” and “Beat It”), Gregg Burge (co-choreographer on “Bad”) and Vincent Paterson (co-choreographer on “Smooth Criminal”) whose original work with Michael was an inspiration for those production numbers in this show.

MICHAEL JACKSON

is one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all time. His electrifying live performances and groundbreaking use of video and fashion continue to inspire today’s performers. To date, Michael has sold more than 1 billion records worldwide and is one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His album Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time, and his Thriller short film is the only music video to be listed on National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized him as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time. New generations of fans continue to discover his artistry making him the #1 streaming catalog artist in the global marketplace. As a compassionate and prolific humanitarian, Michael set a new standard of generosity for other entertainers.

WHO’S WHO

ROMAN BANKS (MJ ) made his historic Broadway debut as the first BIPOC actor to play Evan in Dear Evan Hansen TV: High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (Disney+). Regional/Digital: Songs For a New World (Papermill Playhouse); For You, Paige (TikTok). He gives thanks to God, Family, Friends, CAA, & Select Management. @romanwbanks

JAMAAL FIELDS-GREEN (MJ –Alternate). An actor/singer/director/writer from New York. Graduate from the Hartt School. National Tour: Hamilton (Laurens/Philip). Film: Freeform’s That Thing About Harry. TV: “Chicago PD.” Much love and thanks to my family and friends, especially my grandparents and mother. If you have a dream, make it happen. IG: j_hasan22

JOSIAH BENSON (Little Michael, u/s Little Marlon) is excited to be performing on his first national tour. Josiah’s previous professional credits include The Little Mermaid Jr., Madagascar Jr., and Les Misérables in which he played Sebastian, The Captain, and Gavroche in Alabama. IG: @Josiah.Benson11

BANE GRIFFITH (Little Michael, u/s Little Marlon) is an eleven-year-old triple threat from Houston, Texas. Broadway: MJ. TV: “Abbott Elementary.” Thank you, God, for making this possible. A huge token of appreciation to my parents who continue to support me on this journey! IG: @banegriffith

BRANDON LEE HARRIS (Michael ) is so grateful to be continuing his journey with MJ on the road! He would like to thank God, his family and friends, Berklee, CGF, and MJ for welcoming him to the family! “Make Something Grow.” IG: @brandonharrisofficial

JORDAN MARKUS (u/s MJ, u/s Michael ). Singer, songwriter, actor, and dancer, Jordan Markus, is so excited to be making his Broadway Tour debut with MJ ! He would like to thank his family and friends for all their love and support! IG: jordanmarkus_

DEVIN BOWLES (Rob, Joseph Jackson) is beyond grateful to be making his National Tour debut in MJ. Actor/Singer/Dancer from Tennessee, he would love to give glory to God, thank his family and friends, and agents. Let’s keep getting better and create magic!

J. DAUGHTRY (Nick, Berry Gordy, u/s Rob, Joseph Jackson). Broadway: The Color Purple, Beautiful, Ain’t Too Proud. 1st Nat. Tours: Miss Saigon (John), The Color Purple (Harpo), Motown: The Musical. Two-time Grammy Nominee and multiple Stellar and Dove Award Winner with AJB and group therAPy. @j.daughtry

JOSH A. DAWSON (Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones, u/s Rob, Joseph Jackson). Broadway/Tour: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Tour: Hamilton. TV/Film: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Harry Belafonte) Education: CCM and the University of Michigan. KMR/Robyn Bluestone Management. @mrjoshdawsonmusic

BRYCE A. HOLMES (Little Marlon, u/s Little Michael ) is an 11-yearold entertainer from Colleyville, Texas. TV: “Lawmen: Bass Reeves” (Paramount+). National Commercials: Chuck E. Cheese, Nickelodeon, and Casey’s General Store. Bryce is elated to be joining the amazing cast and crew of MJ. IG: @bryceaholmes

MATT LOEHR (Dave) recently toured in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Broadway: The Book of Mormon; The Producers; Movin’ Out; Mary Poppins; Evita; Promises, Promises; Elf; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Fosse. Living my dream and forever grateful.

DA’VON T. MOODY (Alejandro). OffBroadway: Man of No Importance Regional: The Outsiders (Dallas Winston) La Jolla Playhouse, RENT (Benny) Signature Theatre, Gun & Powder, Ain’t Misbehavin’. Olney Theatre: A.D. 16 (Simeon). Ford’s Theatre: The Wiz. IG: @d_moo_d

MARY KATE MOORE (Rachel ) was recently seen on Broadway in Into the

Woods (u/s Baker’s Wife). National Tours: Les Misérables (Fantine), Into The Woods (2016 - standby). Cruise: CATS (Grizabella). TV: “The Other Two” (2021). Thanks to my family and DGRW! @mkathrynmoore

ANASTASIA TALLEY (Kate, Katherine Jackson). Broadway: MJ, Girl From The North Country. NYC: Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular. Education: MM (Indiana University’s JSOM), BME (University of Southern MS). Singer/ songwriter. Debut single “Hello” available everywhere. anastasiatalley.com Instagram: @anastasiatalley_

JOJO CARMICHAEL (Swing, Assistant Dance Captain). From Dothan, AL. BFA in Commercial Dance from PACE University. Credits include: Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Rockette), The Devil Wears Prada (James M. Nederlander Theatre). JoJo gives thanks to God, her family and friends!

CROIX DIIENNO (Tour Dancer, Bob Fosse, Newscaster) graduated with a BFA in Commercial Dance from PACE University. Credits include: Pittsburgh CLO’s Grease, Oklahoma!, and Peter Pan; as well as being a previous soloist with the world touring dance company, Parsons Dance.

KELLIE DROBNICK (Tour Dancer, Soul Train Dancer). Film: West Side Story. NYC: Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Rockette), Twyla Tharp. National Tour: Dirty Dancing. BFA: Juilliard. Love to my family! @kellie_drobnick

KYLE DUPREE (Swing, Dance and Fight Captain). New Jersey native, Yogi, BFA in Dance: University of the Arts. Broadway: MJ. National tours: Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast. Love to my family, The Price Group, and MJ creatives. @kyle_smile

ZURI NOELLE FORD (Tour Dancer, Suzanne dePasse, Isley Brother (dancer)) is excited to make her national tour debut with MJ ! Broadway: West Side Story. Film: In the Heights, Better Nate than Never. Regional: Songs for a New World, Other World, May We All

JAHIR L. HIPPS (Swing, u/s Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones, u/s Alejandro, u/s Nick, Berry Gordy). Tours: RENT Farewell. Regional: Something Rotten (FST), In The Heights (Stages St. Louis). TV: “Elsbeth” (CBS). Thanks to God, Mom, Grandma, Sam, BW, Avalon, and all my friends for their support! IG and TikTok: Jahir.hipps

SKYE JACKSON-WILLIAMS (Swing) is an artist born and raised in New York City. She made her Broadway debut with MJ and is excited to join the tour! IG: skyejacksonwilliams

JACOBI KAI (Keith, Jermaine Jackson, Isley Brother (vocal), u/s Michael ) can’t express how blessed he feels to be sharing Black excellence across the US in MJ. He would like to thank God and his beautiful family for keeping him grounded. YOU are light!

RAJANÉ KATURAH (Swing, u/s Rachel, u/s Kate, Katherine Jackson) is overjoyed to be on the 1st National Tour of MJ ! Broadway: MJ. Endless gratitude to God, my amazing family, The Mine, and my guardian angels! Matthew 17:20 @rajanekaturah | rajanekaturah.com

MATTEO MARRETTA (Tour Dancer, Fred Astaire, u/s Alejandro). Broadway National Tour debut! Credits: Mamma Mia! (RCCL), The Elf On The Shelf (Tour), Newsies (Regional), and many more. Matteo is off the wall excited, love to his family and friends. It’s all good! @matteomarretta

JAY McKENZIE (Tour Singer, Jackie Jackson, James Brown (vocal), u/s Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones, u/s Nick, Berry Gordy). Blessed to be sharing the MJ legacy! New England born and bred. Credits include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (B’way), Paradise Square (B’way), Rudy! (Tribeca Film Festival). Love to family & friends. Roster Proud. @mrjaymckenzie

KENDRICK MITCHELL (Swing, u/s Rob, Joseph Jackson, u/s Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones, u/s Nick, Berry Gordy, u/s Dave) is beyond thrilled to have joined the MJ family! Regional: The Wild Party, After Midnight, Almost a Full Moon, RENT Film/TV: “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Blacklist,” “Dr. Death.” Love to FSE, Jordan, Dad, and the greatest Mama in the world. @KendrickMitchellOfficial

CHELSEA MITCHELL-BONSU (Tour

Dancer, Isley Brother (dancer), Nicholas Brother) is ecstatic to tour with MJ! BFA: Point Park University. National Tour: CATS (Bombalurina), Mean Girls (Swing). Chelsea is grateful to God, her husband, family, and The Mine agency for their love and support. @chelseambonsu

ZION MIKHAIL PRADIER (Swing). National Tour Debut!: MJ. Complexions

Contemporary Ballet. Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

AYLA STACKHOUSE (Swing, u/s

Rachel, u/s Kate, Katherine Jackson). Broadway: The Book of Mormon (Swing/Nabalungi u/s). US Tours: Motown: The Musical (Edna/Swing), The Book of Mormon (Swing). International: The Book of Mormon (Nabalungi u/s). American Musical and Dramatic Academy. @aylastackhouse

BRION MARQUIS WATSON (Tour

Dancer, Marlon Jackson, James Brown (dancer), Nicholas Brother, u/s Little Marlon). Forever grateful! National Tours: Hamilton (And Peggy Tour), Wicked (Chistery). Regional: The Muny. TV/Film: “POSE” (FX). Training: University of Cincinnati (CCM), The Ailey School. Thanks to God, my family, friends, and CESD.

CHARLES P. WAY (Swing, u/s Michael ) is thrilled to join the first national tour of MJ ! Previously: Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical and iLuminate - Artist of Light tours. Way dedicates performances to his late Aunt Dana. @charlespway

MALCOLM MILES YOUNG (Tour

Dancer, Randy Jackson, Jackie Wilson (dancer)). An NJ native, Malcolm made his Broadway debut in 2022 in The Lion King. BFA from NYU in 2021. He celebrates his parents, brother, Nicole, and “village” for their undying support. Glory to God! John 15:16 @malcolmmyoung

LYNN NOTTAGE (Book). Intimate Apparel Opera (LCT/The Met), Clyde’s (Broadway, Second Stage, Tony nom.), The Secret Life of Bees (Atlantic, Almeida), Mlima’s Tale (Public, Kiln), Sweat (Pulitzer Prize, Obie, Lucille Lortel, Evening Standard Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize; Tony & Olivier Award noms.), Ruined (Pulitzer Prize, Obie, Lortel, NY Drama Critics’ Circle, AUDELCO, Drama Desk & OCC awards). PEN/Laura Pels Award, Doris Duke Artist Award, MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship. Member of the Dramatists Guild.

CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON (Director & Choreographer) trained at The Royal Ballet School, he joined New York City Ballet in 1993 and was named first resident choreographer. Christopher has created productions for The Royal Ballet and major ballet companies worldwide. In 2014, Christopher directed and choreographed the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical An American in Paris. He has choreographed for opera, film and television. Christopher thanks his husband, Ross Rayburn, for his love, support and

quiet guidance during the making of MJ

DAVID HOLCENBERG ( Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements). Drama Desk Award, Tony, Grammy and Outer Critics nominations for his work on MJ. Other Broadway: Groundhog Day, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, Rocky, Ghost, Bye Bye Birdie, The Story of My Life, Good Vibrations, Seussical, Titanic and Show Boat. Other credits include The Radio City Summer Spectacular, the U.S. premiere of Ragtime (LA Drama Critics Award), the world premieres of Come Fall in Love (The Old Globe), Newsies (Paper Mill) and Mamma Mia! at the Hollywood Bowl.

JASON MICHAEL WEBB (Orchestrations and Arrangements). Special Tony Award recipient, Drama Desk winner. Music director: Choir Boy (MTC; arranger); The Color Purple (Broadway revival). Arranger: Disney’s Aida (revival; music supervisor); “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (2013 Inauguration of President Barack Obama). Executive music producer: Respect (MGM; starring Jennifer Hudson). Director: The Last Five Years (2021 film). Composer: “The Ms. Pat Show” (BET+), “Beebo Saves Christmas” (CW), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare in the Park), Light It Up! (Cleveland Playhouse), Wildflower (National Black Theater/ Apollo Theater).

VICTOR SIMONSON (Music Direction). Tours: Hamilton (And Peggy); Lion King (Rafiki); Color Purple (1st National). Regional: West Side Story ; Wicked (Kennedy Center); Shout, Sister, Shout (Ford’s Theater). CD: “Victory, Introducing Victor Simonson.” Praise God for my wife, Ciara and two children, Victoria and Immanuel!

BILLY JAY STEIN (Electronic Music Design). Grammy Award-winning founder of Strange Cranium and Strike Audio. Broadway credits include Parade; Kimberly Akimbo; Shucked; One More Time; Paradise Square; Beautiful; Caroline, or Change; Tootsie; Mean Girls; The Band’s Visit ; Fun Home; Spider-Man; Amélie; Tuck Everlasting; Jekyll & Hyde.

DEREK McLANE (Scenic Design). Broadway: MJ, Moulin Rouge!, A Soldier’s Play, Beautiful, Follies, Anything Goes, Bengal Tiger, Ragtime, 33 Variations, How to Succeed, The Pajama Game, I Am My Own Wife, Ragtime. Designed Oscars 6 times, 4 television musicals. Winner of multiple Obie, Art Director’s Guild, Emmy Awards, Drama Desk Awards and Tony Awards.

NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Design). Recent Broadway: Sweeney Todd, Grey House, Springsteen; Some Like It Hot, The Prom, and Hello, Dolly!. She is a TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project mentor, inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, and an 8-time Tony Award winner.

PAUL TAZEWELL (Costume Design). Hamilton (Tony Award); In the Heights; The Color Purple; Caroline, or Change; many others. Revivals include Side Show and Jesus Christ Superstar. TV and films include “The Wiz!” (NBC, Emmy Award), “Jesus Christ Superstar” (NBC), and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story

GARETH OWEN (Sound Design). Back To The Future (Olivier-nom), MJ (Tony-win), & Juliet (Tony-nom), Bad Cinderella, Summer, Come From Away (Olivier-win), End Of The Rainbow (Tony-nom), Bat Out of Hell (Olivier nom), A Little Night Music (Tonynom), Memphis (Olivier-win), Top Hat (Olivier-nom), Merrily We Roll Along (Olivier-win).

PETER NIGRINI (Projection Design) is one of Broadway’s pioneering projection designers. His work includes Here Lies Love, Ain’t Too Proud, Beetlejuice, The SpongeBob Musical, Dear Evan Hansen, and Fela!. In other venues: the Grace Jones Hurricane tour, Deep Blue Sea (Bill T. Jones).

RICH + TONE TALAUEGA (Michael Jackson Movement). Legendary choreographers Rich + Tone have worked with pop music’s biggest names including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Usher and many others, but working with MJ, first as dancers from the mid 90s to choreographing many of MJ’s projects through today, has been the highlight of their career.

CHARLES G. LaPOINTE (Wig & Hair Designer). Numerous Broadway, touring, regional, West End, International productions including Hamilton (Make-up Artists/Hair Stylist Guild Award), Ain’t Too Proud, Beetlejuice, The Cher Show (Drama Desk Award), SpongeBob SquarePants (Drama Desk Award). Television: “The Wiz Live!,” “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.”

JOE DULUDE II (Makeup Design). Broadway and West End: Wicked, Beetlejuice, KPOP, MJ, SpongeBob SquarePants, Anastasia, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and more. Film: Hocus Pocus 2, Don’t Look Up, Godmothered, etc. TV: “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” (Emmy nomination), “Annie Live!,” “The Gilded Age,” “Julia,” etc. IG: @dulude2

THE TELSEY OFFICE (Casting). With

offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theatre, film, television and commercials. The Telsey Office is dedicated to creating safe, equitable and anti-racist spaces through collaboration, artistry, heart, accountability and advocacy.

JOHN MILLER (Music Coordinator).

Over 140 Broadway shows including: Shucked, A Beautiful Noise, Mrs. Doubtfire, Ain’t Too Proud, Tina, Beautiful. Studio musician (bass): Madonna, Eric Clapton, BB King, Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. johnmillerbass.com

KATE WILSON (Voice Coach).

Broadway: Camelot, Topdog/ Underdog, Piano Lesson, Leopoldstadt, Funny Girl, Moulin Rouge!, To Kill a Mockingbird. Film: Women Talking, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Lady Bird, Three Billboards…Missouri. Faculty: Juilliard.

SHAWN PENNINGTON (Production

Stage Manager). Broadway: Wicked, Next to Normal, Sondheim on Sondheim. First National Tours: Come From Away, Bright Star, Fun Home, If/ Then, Peter and the Starcatcher, Rock of Ages. Regional: Gypsy (The Muny), Up Here (La Jolla Playhouse). Proud AEA member. Love to Mom & Mark.

GEOFF MAUS (Stage Manager). First National Tours: Come From Away, Bright Star, Fun Home, Matilda

Other (selected): The Woodsman, Come From Away-Lincoln Memorial. Training: Juilliard, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Proud AEA member.

MAYA BHATNAGAR ( Assistant

Stage Manager). Broadway: Almost Famous, Dancin’, Prima Facie. NYC: Dear Evan Hansen National Tour. Regional: Grease (SSMT), Billy Elliot (Stage Right!). Sending love to family/friends/mentors and fellow stage managers for their support.

DONTEE KIEHN (Global Associate Director). An American in Paris (Broadway, London, Paris, Tokyo; Associate Director/Choreographer); Diana: The Musical (Broadway; Associate Director); The Addams Family (Broadway, International; Associate Director/ Choreographer); Next to Normal (Broadway, Kennedy Center, International; Associate Choreographer); Brigadoon and Oklahoma! (Pittsburgh CLO; Director); Seven Brides.. (The Muny, Directing Consultant). Broadway performance credits: 42nd Street, Gypsy, and The Addams Family.

MICHAEL BALDERRAMA (Global Associate Choreographer). Drama Desk. ACCA award. Part of almost a dozen Broadway shows, both on stage and the creative side. Favorites: In the Heights, Movin’ Out, Hamilton Choreographed/performed/worked with Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Andy Blankenbuehler, Christopher Wheeldon, Thomas Kail, Twyla Tharp, Julie Taymor, Lin-Manuel Miranda and more.

VICTORIA DAVIDJOHN ( Assistant Director) is thrilled to be part of the MJ team! Previously: Into the Woods, 2022 Revival (Broadway, National Tour, New York City Center | Associate Director). Proud Lilly Award recipient. @victoriadavidjohn

JUSTIN PRESCOTT ( Dance Supervisor). With a Broadway career of 10 shows, spanning over 12 years, Justin is excited to be sharing his professional knowledge and experiences as Dance Supervisor for the First National Tour of this fabulous production!

XAVIER KHAN ( Assistant Stage Manager).

Broadway: Hamilton

National Tours: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Hamilton (Philip and Angelica companies). NYC/Regional: many. @xavesk

JUSTIN T. SCHOLL (Company Manager). National Tours: Beetlejuice, The Band’s Visit, Miss Saigon, Gentleman’s Guide…, Cinderella, Elf International Tours: Beauty and the Beast, Shrek. Broadway: Lady Day… Board Certified Member of ATPAM.

BIANCA JEAN CHARLES (Assistant Company Manager). Broadway: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, Grey House. Out of Town PreBroadway: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, BOOP!. New York University, New York City graduate.

BESPOKE THEATRICALS (General Manager). Partners Amy Jacobs & Devin Keudell manage Broadway and touring productions. Currently: MJ, Back to the Future, A Beautiful Noise, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Tina (National Tour). General managers include Kate Egan, David Roth, and Danielle Saks.

JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS (Production Management) is a New York City based production management firm. Formed in 1998, JSP has managed more than 100 Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours and events. Currently running: & Juliet, Funny Girl, Grey House, Harry Potter, Here Lies Love, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: The Musical, Moulin Rouge, Parade, Shucked, Some Like It Hot, Tina juniperstreet.com.

NEUROTOUR (Physical Therapist) are global leaders in live entertainment and performing arts medicine and honored to be part of this amazing

touring company of MJ. Keeping performers happy, healthy & on stage.

THE BOOKING GROUP (Tour Booking Agency). Current tours include Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Come From Away, Hadestown, Six, Tina, To Kill A Mockingbird, Anastasia, Chicago, Hairspray. Future tours include Funny Girl; Mamma Mia! ; Mrs. Doubtfire; Some Like It Hot ; Sweeney Todd; Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Wiz

BOND THEATRICAL (Tour Marketing & Publicity Direction) is an independently-owned theatrical booking, marketing and publicity company representing award-winning Broadway shows and live entertainment properties. BOND connects artists and audiences by forming strategic, authentic and profitable partnerships between producers and presenters across North America. For a complete list of current projects, please visit BondTheatrical.com

LIA VOLLACK (Producer) began her career in the music industry and as a theatrical sound designer before transitioning to film. Over her two decades as president of worldwide music at Sony Pictures, Vollack created multi-platinum soundtracks with artists including Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys, Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, Pearl Jam and Adele. Vollack founded Sony’s Columbia Live Stage, where she produced the Olivier Award-winning musical Groundhog Day. Since forming her company in 2019, she has produced MJ and Almost Famous on Broadway.

JOHN BRANCA (Producer). As head of the music department at Ziffren Brittenham LLC, John has been advancing the careers of recording artists for more than four decades. His clients have included more than 30 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Michael Jackson, Branca’s client since 1980, hailed him as the “greatest lawyer of our times” for his innovative representation of artists’ interests. Branca is co-executor and co-manager of the Estate of Michael Jackson.

JOHN McCLAIN (Producer). As a music producer, musician and respected recording executive, John has for decades played a key role in the music industry by transforming young talent, hip-hop artists, gospel choirs, record labels, producers, R&B and pop singers into international stars. He is co-executor and co-manager of the Estate of Michael Jackson.

MICHAEL DAVID (Executive Producer). President of Dodger Properties (“the Dodgers”). Responsible for roughly

200 productions over 40 years in New York and internationally. Blessed with a host of awards from Tonys (56), London’s Oliviers and the like. Lead producer Broadway’s Matilda, Jersey Boys, Into the Woods, The Who’s Tommy, Titanic, The Gospel at Colonus, Urinetown, 42nd Street among others. Offices in Times Square and Covent Garden.

SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

(Co-Producer) is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture, television and digital content production, acquisition, and distribution; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html

SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (Co-Producer). For more than 40 years Sony Music, as one of the leading music companies globally, has proudly represented the recorded music of Michael Jackson and continues to work with his Estate to develop new and innovative ways of sharing this amazing music with the world.

ROY FURMAN (Co-Producer). 17 Tony award-winning musicals/plays. Currently on Broadway: Some Like It Hot, Funny Girl, Book of Mormon (Tony), Sweeney Todd, Moulin Rouge! (Tony). Vice Chairman Jefferies Group, Vice Chairman emeritus Lincoln Center.

CUE TO CUE PRODUCTIONS (CoProducer). Cue to Cue Productions is a theatre production company led by Jeff Vinik, the former hedge fund manager and owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Joshua Vinik, a stage manager.

JAMES L. NEDERLANDER (CoProducer). President of Nederlander Organization. Credits: Kimberly Akimbo; Some Like It Hot; Titanique; Mr. Saturday Night staring Billy Crystal; Tina: The Tina Turner Musical; The Lehman Trilogy; My Fair Lady; The Band’s Visit; On Your Feet!; The Elephant Man; Next to Normal; Movin’ Out and many others.

KUMIKO YOSHII (Co-Producer).

Credits include: Museum of Broadway, Be More Chill, Prince of Broadway, Pacific Overtures, The True (OffBroadway) and The Fantasticks (West End). Current/upcoming: The Karate Kid – The Musical and Working Girl

NAOYA KINOSHITA (Co-Producer) is president of Kinoshita Group. Current/ upcoming credits include Museum of Broadway, The Great Gatsby the

Immersive Show and The Karate KidThe Musical

LATITUDE LINK (Co-Producer).

Four-time Tony-winning co-producer of more than 25 Broadway, Off-Broadway, West End, touring and international shows including MJ, Come From Away, Fun Home, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Memphis & Jersey Boys. Latitudelink.com

STEPHEN C. BYRD (Co-Producer).

Producer: Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Streetcar Named Desire, Get Up Stand Up, Ain’t Too Proud, Iceman Cometh, Smokey Joe’s, Eclipsed, Romeo & Juliet, American Son, Mandela, Trip To Bountiful, MJ, Camelot.

CANDY SPELLING (Co-Producer).

Producing credits: Moulin Rouge! ; Tina The Tina Turner Musical; The Color Purple; Tootsie; The Iceman Cometh; Nice Work If You Can Get It ; How to Succeed in Business; Promises, Promises

JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION (Co-Producer) family of companies includes BroadwayAcrossAmerica. com and Broadway.com, under the supervision of 20-time Tony-winning producer John Gore (Chairman & CEO). Productions include: MJ, Moulin Rouge!, and Chicago

PETER W. MAY (Co-Producer). President of Trian Partners and an avid Broadway investor and producer. Winner of five Tony Awards, including Moulin Rouge! and The Inheritance. Producer and an investor in many more.

SANDY ROBERTSON (Co-Producer) is an investment manager from Dallas and San Francisco who has invested in or produced more than 25 Broadway plays, including several Tony winners. This one is a winner!

ED WALSON (Co-Producer ). Broadway: Relatively Speaking , Cinderella, Big Fish, Bullets Over Broadway, An American in Paris, Carousel, Pretty Woman, King Kong. Film: City Island, Blue Jasmine, Magic in the Moonlight, Irrational Man

ALBERT NOCCIOLINO (Co-Producer) presents touring Broadway in the Northeast and has been investing in and producing Broadway shows for over 35 years. Recent productions: Tina The Tina Turner Musical, and To Kill A Mockingbird.

KEN SCHUR (Co-Producer ).

Broadway productions: Waitress, Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations, Network, Burn This, Take Me Out Almost Famous and MJ West End: Waitress and Ruthless the Musical

WILLETTE & MANNY KLAUSNER (Co-Producer). Hadestown, Ain’t Too Proud, Grey House, Take Me Out, For Colored Girls, Ohio State Murders, American Buffalo, The Band’s Visit, Eclipsed, Trip to Bountiful. London-Get Up Stand Up, Mandela

DAVID SHAFER (Co-Producer) is a renowned plastic surgeon in NYC. Committed to innovation and patient satisfaction, he has earned recognition as a leading expert in the field.

MARTIN BANDIER (Co-Producer). Former CEO of Sony Music Publishing, member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, BMI Icon, lifetime achievement Grammy, and founder of the Bandier School for Music at Syracuse University.

DOUG MORRIS (Co-Producer) successfully ran all three major music companies – Warner, Universal, and Sony. He is an honoree of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He co-produced Motown: The Musical

STAFF FOR MJ

LIA VOLLACK PRODUCTIONS

Lia Vollack

Nick Durst November Christine

THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON

John Branca John McClain

Karen Langford

GENERAL MANAGEMENT BESPOKE THEATRICALS

Devin Keudell Amy Jacobs

David Roth

Danielle Saks

General Manager

Associate General Manager

COMPANY MANAGER

Justin T. Scholl

Kate Egan

Lisa Jaeger

Assistant Company Manager Bianca Jean Charles

TOUR BOOKING AGENCY

THE BOOKING GROUP thebookinggroup.com

Meredith Blair Kara Gebhart

Laura Kolarik

Stephanie Ditman Sophie Tiesler

TOUR MARKETING & PUBLICITY DIRECTION

BOND THEATRICAL bondtheatrical.com

DJ Martin Temah Higgins Mollie Mann

Marc Viscardi Wendy Roberts

Jenny Bates Scotland Newton

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS

Hillary Blanken Ana Rose Greene Sadie Alisa Sarah Penland

Guy Kwan Victoria Bullard Ross Leonard

Hannah Wilson Abby Filiaggi

Carolyn Bonaccorsi Christy Perez

CASTING

THE TELSEY OFFICE

Rachel Hoffman, CSA

Lindsay Levine, CSA

Rashad Naylor

Jimmy Larkin

Steven Gutierrez

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Managers

Moving Lights Programmer

Associate Sound Designer

Associate Projection Designer

Lead Animator

Miles Kight

Shawn Pennington

Geoff Maus

Maya Bhatnagar, Xavier Khan

Assistant Director Victoria Davidjohn

Justin Prescott

Alex Fogel

Russell Godwin

Kate Ducey

Andrew Bauer

Animators Zoey Crow, Robert Figueira, Dan Vatsky

Projection Programmer

Dan Scully

Associate Wig Designers Nicholas Parrish, Loren Skora

Associate Makeup Designer Suki Tsujimoto

Production Carpenter

Production Carpenter Associate

Head Carpenter

Assistant Carpenter/Flyman

Assistant Carpenter/Deck Automation

Fred Gallo

Patricia Masera

Jamie Kurtz

Christian Young

Jason Fehlen

Advance Carpenter/Crew Swing Bill Lambertson

Load Out Carpenter Geoff Keller

Production Electricians James Fedigan, Patrick Johnston

Head Electrician/Board Op Jeff Holtz

Assistant Electrician/Lead Spot Dirk Van Pernis

Assistant Electrician/Video Benjamin Abernathy

Production Sound Phil Lojo, Simon Matthews, Scott Kuker

Head Sound/A1 Anthony Cuozzo

Assistant Sound/A2 Maria Pinggera

Advance Electrician & Sound/Crew Swing Clark Boyan

Advance Electrician Erik Plath

Bass Synth Programming Chelton Grey

Guitar Programming Alex Nolan

Production Management PA Charlette San Juan

Interim Head Carpenters Mike Muery, Mike Norris

Production Video Asher Robinson, Kim Caldwell

Production Properties Buist Bickley

Assistant Production Properties Avara Hebert

Head Props Randy Paun

Assistant Props Tessa Spence

Production Assistants Alexis Nalbandian, Lauren Winston

Wardrobe Supervisor Chelsea Meredith

Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor Phylisha Nicole Phillips

Star Dresser Mary Capers

Hair and Make-up Supervisor Denise Farrell

Assistant Hair and Make-up Supervisor Paul Toni

Wardrobe/Hair Swing Vicky Martinez

Health & Safety Manager

Bespoke Associate General Managers

Kim Kefgen

Matty Cogliano, Michael Demniak, Lisa Jaeger

Bespoke Assistant General Managers Kiana Alexander, Taylor Courtney, Kerrick Dougherty, AJ Orth

Bespoke Special Projects Manager David van Zyll de Jong

General Management Office Manager Ashlee Reed

GM Interns David Newman,Liam Bierley

People & Culture Partner K+K Reset/ Kiah Jones, Karen Robinson

Music Clearances and Licensing Loudspeaker Music Group / Janet Billig Rich, Lisa Klein Moberly

Clips and Asset Clearance and Licensing

Loudspeaker Music Group With Amy Goodfriend

Children’s Teacher/Guardian On Location Education/ Dr. Erika Jennings-Wright

Assistant to John Miller Jennifer Coolbaugh

Physical Therapy Neuro Tour Physical Therapy Inc/ Carolyn Lawson

Physical Therapist Dr. Paulo MacMillen Sitagata, PT, DPT, FAFS

Accountant Withum Smith & Brown/Robert Fried, CPA, Karen Kowgios, CPA, Anthony W. Moore, CPA

Controller Galbraith & Co./Jill Johnson

Banking City National Bank/Michele Gibbons

Housing/Ground Transportation Road Rebel

Travel Agent Tzell Travel/The “A” Team/Andi Henig, Jeanne Lafond, Vickie Okolisan

Merchandising. Creative Goods

Production photos Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Tour Broll Footage HMS Media

Merchandise Manager Emily Valentin Vega

Rehearsed at New 42nd Street Studios

CREDITS

Painting: Jeff Fender Studio. Jackson 5 and Reporters: Jennifer Love Costumes. Menswear: Giliberto Designs. Victory Tour and Smooth Criminal by Barak. Fabric printing: Blue Star Silks. Dyer and masks: Julianne Kroboth. Shoes: LaDuca Shoes. Costume special thanks: Jennifer Love, Anthony Giliberto, Jeff Fender, Laurie Shaeffer, Katie Sue Nicklos.

MUSIC CREDITS

2 BAD Words and Music by Michael Jackson, Dallas Austin, Bruce Swedien, Rene Moore © Published by Mijac Music, EMI April Music Inc., Sony/ATV Songs, Rene Moore Music Inc. Bruce Swedien Publishing, Rosetta VM PKA

Dance Supervisor

Physical Movement Coordinator

Associate Scenic Designer

Assistant to the Scenic Designer

Associate Costume Designer

Assistant Costume Designers

Costume Office Coordinator

Associate Lighting Designer

Assistant Lighting Designer

Lorenzo Pisoni

Erica Hemminger

Rochele Mac

Christine Meyers

Justin Hall, Amy Price

Olivia Hern

Craig Stelzenmuller

Kirk Fitzgerald

Scenic items fabricated by PRG-Scenic Technologies, a division of PRG Broadway LLC, New Windsor, NY, Global Scenic Services, Inc, Bridgeport, CT, Great Lakes Scenic Studios, Enhance A Colour, Scenic Arts Studios, Rosebrand. Show control and scenic motion control featuring Stage Command Systems by PRG-Scenic Technologies, a division of Production Resource Group, LLC, New Windsor, NY. Prop fabrication and finishes by Bad Monkey Props, BrenBri Properties, Eric Hart, Prop & Paint Creative Studio, Rob McFayden, Paper Maché Monkey, Colin Davis Jones Studio, Tanya Seeman, R. Ramos Upholstery, Joseph Cairo, Jonathan Embroidery Hero Props and Stitch Studio NYC. Lighting equipment by PRG Lighting. Sound equipment by Sound Associates. Video equipment by 4Wall Entertainment. Trucking by Clark Transfer. Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball. The Grammy Award logos are registered trademarks of The Recording Academy and are used under license. “The Ed Sullivan Show” courtesy of SOFA Entertainment © All Rights Reserved. MJ Hats: Worth and Worth by Orlando Palacios. MJ’s Costumes: Eric Winterling Inc. MJ’s loafers: T.O. Dey Custom Made Shoes. Shirts: CEGO Custom Shirtmakers. Billie Jean jacket: Shana Albery. Gloves: Wing and Weft Gloves. Thriller: John Kristianson New York Inc.

THE ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS EMPLOYED IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE MEMBERS OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

The musicians employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians

All stage work performed by employees represented by IATSE

ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), represents the Press Agents, Company Managers and House Managers employed on this production.

The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

DRAMATISTS GUILD

The writer/s of this production are members of the national trade association of professional playwrights, composers, lyricists, and liberettists.

This production is produced by a member of The Broadway League in collaboration with our professional union-represented employees.

WARNING

The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside this theatre, without the written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for money damages.

PLEASE BE ADVISED

• LATECOMERS and those exiting the theatre are seated at predetermined breaks in designated areas.

• PHOTOS, RECORDING & CELL PHONE USE are prohibited.

• CHILDREN 6+ are welcome in our theatres and must be ticketed.

• DRINKS are allowed in provided containers.

• ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES, LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS & BOOSTER SEATS are available in most theatres. Ask an usher to direct you.

• BRAILLE PROGRAMS are available with 2 weeks’ notice to amcmullen@dcpa.org or 303.446.4836

Members of Denver Theatrical Wardrobe, Wigs, Hair and Make-up, IATSE Local 719

Robin Appleton

Julie Bassignani

Vonnie Clough

Craig Cory

Cyndie Cory

Steve Davies

Anne Davis

Amber Krimbel

Carolyn Dore

AnnSue Gunter

Judy Holabird

Will Holabird

Lauren LaCasse

Kelsey Lambert

Mark Anthony

Perry Elliott

Kiko Marra

Leslie Lambert

Sarah Lambert

Sharon Millikan-Hale

Callie Morrow

Tim Nelson

Lisa Parsons Wagner

Laura Payne

Dave Poole

Alan Richards

Elisa Spadi

Amy Tepel

Eliza Vlasova

Barbara Wilson

DPAC House Crew

Albert Sainz Sr.

Josh Thurman

Derek Tovar

David A. Wilson

Allen Olmstead

The Denver Performing Arts Complex is owned and operated by Denver Arts & Venues for the City and County of Denver.

City and County of Denver

Mike Johnston, Mayor

Denver Arts & Venues

Gretchen Hollrah, Executive Director

Tariana Navas-Nievas, Deputy Director

Denver Arts & Venues, Arts Complex Operations

Mark Heiser, Venue Director

Jody Grossman, Assistant Venue Director, Booking

Todd Medley, Facilities Superintendent

Kelly Graham, Safety, Security and

Garage Operations Manager

Carol Krueger, Patron Services Manager artscomplex.com | (720) 865-4220

For immediate assistance & security (720) 865-4200

2024/25 THEATRE COMPANY SEASON

THEATRE, UP CLOSE

JOIN US FOR MORE INTIMATE EXPERIENCES NEXT SEASON!

This is your chance to make time for more comedies, tragedies, and musicals. This is your opportunity to enjoy live theatre at its very best — UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

SEASON SUBSCRIPTION SHOWS

Vengeance, Up Close HAMLET

Sep 13 – Oct 6, 2024

Wolf Theatre

Teenage Years, Up Close

I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER

Sep 27 – Nov 3, 2024

Kilstrom Theatre

A Persian New Year, Up Close AVAAZ

Oct 4 – Nov 17, 2024

Singleton Theatre

Tough Love, Up Close WORLD PREMIERE THE RESERVOIR

Jan 17 – Mar 9, 2025

Singleton Theatre

A Whodunit, Up Close WORLD PREMIERE

THE

SUFFRAGETTE’S MURDER

Feb 7 – Mar 9, 2025

Kilstrom Theatre

A Man-Eating Plant, Up Close LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Apr 11 – May 18, 2025

Wolf Theatre

The Secret Sauce, Up Close THE HOT WING KING

Apr 25 – May 25, 2025

Kilstrom Theatre

PRIORITY ACCESS TO THESE & MORE!

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Nov 22 – Dec 29, 2024

Wolf Theatre

COLORADO NEW PLAY SUMMIT

Mar 1 & 2, 2025

Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE UP TO 20% DENVERCENTER.ORG/THEATRECOMPANY OFFICIAL PACKAGES: 303.893.4100

2024/25 THEATRE COMPANY SEASON SPONSORS

Jordan Barbour in The 12 . Photo by Jennifer M. Koskinen.

HPREPARE FOR A TRIP OUT OF THIS WORLD AT THE INFINITE

BY BRITTANY GUTIERREZ

Have you ever wanted to take a trip to space without having to train for years to be an astronaut and without spending millions of dollars? Now you can! Prepare to step into the beyond in the next DCPA Off-Center immersive experience, Space Explorers: THE INFINITE

To capture footage for Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, Felix & Paul Studios designed and built 360-degree cinematic cameras that would work inside the International Space Station (ISS) and in the extremes of space. The technology of the camera equipment allowed audiences for the first time ever to walk inside the ISS and watch the day-to-day lives of astronauts, from making repairs to giving a haircut to a fellow astronaut.

As groups of 30 enter every 15 minutes, they receive a VR headset and discover their new avatar identity that will guide them throughout the experience and learn how they can walk and engage with the ISS. PRO TIP: Going with a friend or family? You will be able to see your group as gold avatars as they take their own journey through the ISS. Blue avatars are fellow spacewalkers and green avatars are THE INFINITE attendants.

Each person is provided a headset where they can see and hear throughout the 45-minute experience. A guest’s journey through the ISS is divided into four chapters that include glowing spheres that a guest can touch to initiate

a video that will share the everyday experiences while on the ISS. Guests may encounter astronauts, observing their experiments or celebrations of new arrivals. Alternatively, they may enjoy a breathtaking view of the station against the backdrop of the void and the magnificent planet Earth.

Often, everyday people find that space feels so unobtainable, but this immersive experience puts audiences at the center. Although you cannot (fortunately!) float away in this version of space, the incredible work from the creative team made the visuals feel so real that you may find yourself hesitant to take steps into space. Do not worry; the ground is still there.

The finale has audiences seated in a theatre-like chair to sit back and view a spacewalk outside the station and above Earth. Every moment engaged in the headsets will make you feel disconnected from the outside world and truly feel like you were a member of the crew.

SPACE EXPLORERS: THE INFINITE

NOW – MAY 5 • AGES 8+

STANLEY MARKETPLACE IN AURORA

Accessible options are available.

Please inquire at the Box Office.

Space Explorers: THE INFINITE . Photo Courtesy of the THE INFINITE.

• Immediate Need or Pre-plan Services

• Available 24/7 Statewide

• On-Site Crematory

• Serving All Faiths

• Veteran’s Benefits

• Save by Pre-planning

Things are heating up this spring and summer!

Treat your sweetheart, family, and friends to an unforgettable live performance at Denver’s non-profit home for Broadway.

NOW – MAR 10

BUELL THEATRE

MAY 3 – 5

BUELL THEATRE

JUN 12 – 30

GARNER GALLERIA THEATRE

MAR 14 – 17

BUELL THEATRE

MAY 11 & 12

BUELL THEATRE

JUN 19 – JUL 3

BUELL THEATRE

APR 10 – 28

BUELL THEATRE

MAY 22 – JUN 2

BUELL THEATRE

JUL 24 – AUG 25

BUELL THEATRE

Directed by Marisa D. Hébert

Book and Music by Jonathan Larson | Lyrics by Jonathan Larson and Billy Aronson

ABRIDGED VERSIONS OF THE BARD'S MOST BELOVED PLAYS

Join us for free public performances of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot!

Every Saturday from April 6 – May 13, our troupe of actors will stage bite-sized versions of the Bard’s most beloved plays in and around our pickup truck “set.”

Performance locations throughout the Denver metro area TBA in late March. LEARN MORE

dcpa.today/community

OUR GUIDING VISION

Our vision is to create a more connected and inclusive community lifted up and drawn together by theatrical storytelling and shared experiences.

Learn more about what drives the DCPA, and where we’re going, at denvercenter.org/plan

Photo by McLeod9Creative

DenLib.org/App

Download the Solus Library App & Search "DENVER" as the location ID

Browse and request books, DVDs, CDs - 24/7 in the palm of our hand

Access audio and eBooks, music, movies, and more

Checkout materials at any of our 27 locations

Manage your family’s accounts all in one place

In addition to providing best-in-class entertainment, Ameristar takes pride in fulfilling an obligation to the community to make a positive impact.

— SEAN DEMEULE, GENERAL MANAGER OF AMERISTAR BLACK HAWK

AAmeristar Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk is proud to partner with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts again this year. The DCPA has been entertaining the Denver community for decades with its exceptional productions. Ameristar Black Hawk, also being in the entertainment business, finds the partnership very beneficial. Ameristar strives to create memorable, thrilling experiences for its guests and the partnership with the DCPA plays a large role in that.

“In addition to providing best-in-class entertainment,” said Sean Demeule, General Manager of Ameristar Black Hawk, “Ameristar takes pride in fulfilling an obligation to the community to make a positive impact. Our community outreach program, Ameristar Cares, enables team members to donate their time and make financial contributions. Our team members enjoy volunteering locally in Gilpin County as well as in the Denver metro area. Ameristar also has a Charitable Giving committee that provides donations to a multitude of charities throughout Colorado.”

For that reason Ameristar Black Hawk has continued to partner with the DCPA year after year. It’s about having a passion not only to entertain, but to also change lives. To foster a vibrant community of giving and to contribute to causes which seek to create a better tomorrow. When the curtain falls, Ameristar will be standing with the DCPA.

PROUD CORPORATE MEMBERS OF THE DCPA

PROUD MEMBER OF BEST OF BROADWAY SOCIETY

SETTING THE STAGE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

FFor nearly 20 years, CIBC Private Wealth has been a dedicated supporter of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and its ongoing e orts to enrich the Denver community. Throughout the years, they have seen firsthand the transformative power of arts education and its ability to nurture confidence, critical thinking and leadership skills in the next generation. With unwavering passion, the CIBC team is honored to contribute to the DCPA’s theatre and education programs, amplifying their impact on nearly 3.2 million students. Through these initiatives, CIBC is committed to helping these students realize their ambitions.

As a leading North American financial institution, CIBC is dedicated to ensuring the success of its clients. O ering a comprehensive range of wealth management, private banking and commercial banking solutions, their team is driven by a passion to be the leader in building strong client relationships. CIBC strives to understand each client’s story, financial needs and goals because the team is committed to helping make their clients’ ambitions a reality. Distinguishing factors of CIBC include:

• High touch client experience: Dedicated service and support from an experienced team in both wealth management and commercial banking

• Dynamic investment management: Investing proactively to drive outperformance in ever-changing markets

• Strategic approach to private banking: Banking solutions aligned to meet objectives and wealth plans.

• Comprehensive approach to commercial banking: O ering commercial lending, treasury management and access to capital markets to address complex business needs.

CIBC is proud to serve as a long-time sponsor of the DCPA and to further deepen its engagement with this worthy cause.

Learn more at wealth.us.cibc.com

Wanda G. Colburn

Kent Nossaman Managing Director Managing Director

(720) 221-5006 (720) 221-5044

wanda.colburn@cibc.com

kent.nossaman@cibc.com

Above: Wanda G. Colburn and Kent Nossaman, Managing Directors at CIBC Private Wealth

Below: The Denver-based CIBC Private Wealth team.

DENVER LANGUAGE SCHOOL

PROUD SPONSOR OF DCPA EDUCATION

DDenver Language School (DLS) is the only K-8 public school in Denver offering Spanish and Mandarin immersion. This distinctive characteristic not only sets the school apart, but also shows DLS’s commitment to providing students with a diverse and globally-oriented education.

Being the sole K-8 immersion public school in Spanish and Mandarin in Denver allows Denver Language School to offer students a truly immersive language experience from an early age. Research has consistently shown the cognitive and academic benefits of bilingualism, such as enhanced problem-solving skills, improved cognitive flexibility, and a deeper understanding of different cultures. Denver Language School’s emphasis on language immersion not only enriches the educational journey of its students, but also equips them with practical skills that are highly relevant in today’s modern society.

Beyond the academic benefits, the school’s focus on language immersion serves a larger societal purpose. In a world where understanding and appreciating different cultures is crucial, bilingual education fosters cultural empathy and open-mindedness. Students at Denver Language School not only become proficient in two languages, but also gain insights into the traditions, histories, and perspectives of the teaching staff who hail from a wide-array of Spanish and Mandarin speaking backgrounds.

The partnership between Denver Language School and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) adds another layer of enrichment to the educational experience. The performing arts play a vital role in fostering creativity, self-expression, and cultural awareness. By supporting DCPA, the school provides students with opportunities to engage in highquality cultural experiences, including theatrical performances and artistic expressions that complement their language education.

Denver Language School’s status as the only K-8 public immersion school in Spanish and Mandarin in Denver holds significance in promoting bilingualism, cultural understanding, and global awareness. Like language, theatre opens your eyes to the world. Supporting the Denver Center for the Performing Arts further enriches the educational journey by exposing students to the world of performing arts and opening their eyes to new perspectives through the arts, aligning with the school’s holistic approach to preparing students for a diverse and interconnected world.

MAKE SHOWTIME A NIGHT ON THE TOWN!

DRINK, DINE AND DELIGHT IN THE CULTURAL HUB OF DENVER.

Consider joining one of the DCPA’s premium membership societies for an exclusive experience before and after the curtain rises.

BEST OF BROADWAY SOCIETY

For unforgettable evenings all Broadway season long, treat yourself to first-class dining and seats. Enjoy the best seats in the house, pre-show cocktails, dinner in Kevin Taylor’s at the Opera House and private intermission in the fabulous Wolf Room.

Contact: Marc Ravenhill • mravenhill@dcpa.org • 303-572-4594

DIRECTORS SOCIETY

Want the premium subscription experience at all of Denver Center Theatre Company’s subscription shows for you or your clients? Enjoy our most exclusive seating, fine dining pre-show in the Seawell Ballroom, post-show parties with artists and creatives, behind-the-scenes discussions, and more.

Contact: Marc Ravenhill • mravenhill@dcpa.org • 303-572-4594

CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

DCPA Corporate Member nights help you enhance client relationships, make new connections, motivate employees, and improve your bottom line. In addition to insider ticketing and pre-show cocktails and dining for eight of our most popular shows each season, your company will receive brand recognition and exclusive perks for your employees.

Contact: Caroline Eppers • ceppers@dcpa.org • 303-446-4873

CELEBRATE THE COLORADO SYMPHONY’S CENTENNIAL WITH THESE CONCERTS AND MORE ALL SEASON LONG!

Photo: From the Hip Photography

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with Marin Alsop

FEB 23-25

Mozart Requiem with Peter Oundjian

MAR 22-24

Brahms Symphony No. 3

10-12

A Sea Symphony with the Colorado Symphony Chorus

18-19