Applause -- Pretty Woman, August 2-14, 2022 by The Publishing House

APPLAUSE VOLUME XXXIII NUMBER 1 AUG – OCT 2022

HUGE SELECTION OF BRANDS LIKE LEXINGTON, BERNHARDT, CENTURY AND SO MUCH MORE! White + Black (C-40%, M-50%, Y-50%, K-100%)

Non metallic Pantone 4515 + Black (C-40%, M-50%, Y-50%, K-100%)

COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN SERVICE Make an appointment with one of our talented and qualified designers. 303.296.9514 | info@theshowroom.com

MOUNTAIN CONCIERGE Mountain Project? We can Help! Interior design services from inception to realization. | 303.566.8635 mountain.concierge@theshowroom.com

DENVER’S ULTIMATE HOME SHOPPING EXPERIENCE. 5445 North Bannock Street (Near I-25 & 58th), Denver, CO • TheShowroom.com

APPLAUSE

SIGHTLINE

BY JANICE SINDEN

VO LU M E X X X I I I • N U M B E R 1 • AU G - O C T 2 0 2 2

EDITOR: Suzanne Yoe DESIGN DIRECTOR: Kyle Malone DESIGNER THIS ISSUE: Brenda Elliott CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS: Paul Koob, Lucas Kreitler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Gil Asakawa, Linnea Covington, Dr. Nicole Garneau, Brittany Gutierrez, Emma Hunt, John Moore Applause is published seven times a year by Denver Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with The Publishing House, Westminster, CO. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Call 303.893.4000 regarding editorial content.

Last fall, we enthusiastically announced “we are back,” but not without a bit of trepidation. Will audiences return? Will we cancel? Will we stay resilient amid uncertainty? You did come back, and we are so grateful. June 30 marked the end of our fiscal year, and we hit 96% of our revenue goal. Despite 56 cancelled performances, more than 569,000 tickets were sold to 23 productions. While we have not returned to pre-COVID attendance levels, our sales remain above the national average. Additionally, you enabled us to complete our $17 million capital campaign and exceed our fundraising goals so that we can return to previous engagement levels. And we are eager to do that. McKinsey & Company, a national management consulting firm, predicts that it could take more than five years for the performing arts to return to 2019-levels. They must not know our region. More than 35 years ago, citizens wanted to ensure that the arts and culture sectors remained accessible. They passed the SCFD, a one-tenth of 1% sales tax that generates $60 million to benefit more than 300 organizations in our seven-county. Essential in a good year. Critical in a pandemic. All of this support allows us to look forward. Our Theatre Company’s 2022/23 season kicks off with The Chinese Lady. Our next Broadway season will be announced during Hadestown. Off-Center is launching its most ambitious project to date — Theater of the Mind. And Theatre for Young Audiences returns in late October after a year-long hiatus with a reimagined LITTLE RED, a new musical for PreK-third grade. Your presence, gifts and loyalty are an inspiration to us. We’re so glad you’re here. Warm regards,

Janice Sinden President & CEO, Denver Center for the Performing Arts

IN THIS ISSUE Pretty Woman: The Musical ....pg 6 The Chinese Lady.......................pg 10 Hadestown ................................... pg 14 Theater of the Mind.................. pg 22

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF UPCOMING SHOWS:

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

Applause magazine is funded in part by

Angie Flachman, Publisher For advertising 303.428.9529 or sales@pub-house.com coloradoartspubs.com PRIMARY LOGO + VARIATIONS

Primary Logo

Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit organization that engages and inspires through the transformative power of live theatre. One Color Reversed Logo

One Color Logo

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Hassan Salem, Chairman Martin Semple, Immediate Past Chairman Ruth Krebs, Vice Chairman Robert C. Newman, Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Patricia Baca Brisa Carleton Fred Churbuck Navin Dimond David Farahi Kevin Kilstrom Susan Fox Pinkowitz Manny Rodriguez Alan Salazar Richard M. Sapkin William Dean Singleton Robert Slosky June Travis Ken Tuchman Tina Walls Dr. Reginald L. Washington Judi Wolf Sylvia Young

Ruth Krebs David Miller Robert C. Newman Hassan Salem Robert Slosky June Travis Judi Wolf

Gradient Reversed Logo - Web Use Only

Logo w/ Division

Minimum Size Requirements

Minumum Width 2”

HONORARY TRUSTEES Margot Gilbert Frank Jeannie Fuller Daniel L. Ritchie Cleo Parker Robinson HELEN G. BONFILS FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES William Dean Singleton, President Martin Semple, Vice President Dr. Reginald Washington, Secretary/Treasurer

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Janice Sinden, President & CEO Jamie Clements, Vice President, Development Chris Coleman, Artistic Director, Theatre Company John Ekeberg, Executive Director, Broadway & Cabaret Lydia Garcia, Executive Director, Equity & Organization Culture Gretchen Hollrah, Chief Operating Officer Charlie Miller, Executive Director & Curator, Off-Center Lisa Roebuck, Vice President, Information Technology Charles Varin, Managing Director, Theatre Company Allison Watrous, Executive Director, Education & Community Engagement Jane Williams, Chief Financial Officer Minumum Width .75” Maximum Width 2”

Aspen 970.925.8579

Crested Butte 970.349.5023

Denver 303.399.4564

Steamboat Springs 970.879.9222

Telluride 970.728.3359

Vail 970.949.5500

interior landscapes that delight the senses

thurstonkitchenandbath.com

HOW A

PRETTY WOMAN

RESCUES THE PRINCE

(L to R) Adam Pascal and Olivia Valli. Credit: Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade

BY EMMA HUNT

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022

If you’re a movie fanatic, you’ve likely confessed to a friend that Pretty Woman is a “guilty pleasure.” But why be ashamed to admit it? The attitude in our society toward romantic comedies, a genre typically associated with women, implies they shouldn’t be taken seriously. The implication is that only superficial women would waste their time on such frivolity; smart, mature women watch documentaries and Tarantino films. What you might not know is Pretty Woman helped pioneer a new era of film: the “romcom.” The genre was inspired by comedies from the 1930s and 40s in which movie stars such as Katharine Hepburn and Joan Crawford shined as spunky, driven heroines. With a nod to its predecessors, Pretty Woman centered around a feisty female character, which showcased her wit and independence. The film established the “modern-day fairytale,” which set the foundation for decades of romcoms to come. In 1990, Pretty Woman subverted all cultural norms by becoming the year’s second most popular movie (behind Ghost, another romantic film). It was highly unusual for female-centric movies to top the charts at the time. In fact, Pretty Woman is still one of the highest grossing romantic comedy films of all time. Even more unusual was that the film’s star, Julia Roberts, was not yet a household name – though her role in Pretty Woman earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. And to this day, Pretty Woman is an incredibly recognizable film. Think of Richard Gere closing the jewelry box on Julia Roberts’ fingers and her infectious laughter. Your mind can conjure the image immediately, whether you saw the movie ten years ago or last week. Pretty Woman is the sort of movie that feels ingrained in our DNA. It isn’t just a movie; it’s a cultural touchstone for the 80’s and 90’s, for cinema, and for an entire film genre. As time has passed, critics have examined the film through a more modern lens, and that’s where Broadway stepped in. Pretty Woman: The Musical rose to the occasion and brought a fresh, “musicalized” version of this fairytale to the stage. Largely based on the film, the musical’s development was spearheaded by the film’s director, Garry Marshall. The creative team had the freedom to develop the story in a more contemporary light. Paula Wagner, the musical’s lead producer, said one of the greatest developments was through music. “There is something very intimate about when you sing a song, and it stops time. It allows the characters to express themselves more deeply and communicate to an audience their inner lives.” The music in Pretty Woman: The Musical, written by Grammy® winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, allows audiences to dig deeper into Vivian’s inner thoughts and wants. “She sings a song called ‘I Can’t Go Back,’ and there’s a line where she says, ‘it’s me who’s in control,’” explained Wagner. “Vivian knows who she is, what she deserves, and she won’t settle for less.” The romantic plot remains traditional, but Vivian is no pushover. She is quick to speak up, she dictates how she wants to be treated, and she is openly defiant of social convention. Vivian offers audiences a glimpse into personal and romantic fulfillment, which she achieves through her own ambition. “She embodies the strength that we all love to see in a woman,” said Wagner.

Amma Osei and The Company of Pretty Woman: The Musical. Credit: Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

COMING UP FROM BROADWAY

Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations “GET READY” BECAUSE THE TEMPTATIONS ARE ON THE WAY Denver audiences will celebrate the Grammy-winning score and Tony-winning moves of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations when it comes to town Oct 25 – Nov 6. From the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Motown vocal group rose to the top with an incredible 42 Top Ten Hits. Ain’t Too Proud tells the story of brotherhood and betrayal as the group’s personal and political conflicts threatened to tear them apart during a decade of civil unrest in America. Nominated for 12 Tony® Awards and the winner of the 2019 Tony Award for Best Choreography, this unforgettable musical features some of The Temptations’ biggest hits, including “My Girl,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and so many more. Ain’t Too Proud was written by threetime Obie Award winner Dominique Morisseau, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys), and features the Tony®-winning choreography of Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, On Your Feet!). Whether you’re new to Motown or grew up listening to The Temptations, this musical will have you tapping your toes from its first song. The New York Times wrote, “Pretty close to perfection.”

We need women’s voices. They are strong, they are reflective of our culture, and they should be heard.

While it’s easy to watch the production and be captivated by Vivian, it’s important to recognize the changes audiences can also see in Edward, her love interest. Edward changes Vivian’s situation, but it’s Vivian’s spark that drew him to her in the first place and changes him for the better. Edward has money, success, and confidence, but he’s trapped in a prison of his own making. “He is not in control of his life; he is a puppet controlled by his money and greed,” said Wagner. The transactional “romance” between himself and Vivian suits him fine. It isn’t until Vivian’s charm breaks down his walls that they learn and grow together. “Both of these people take a journey in which they find their own authentic selves,” explained Wagner. “And in finding their own authenticity, they find each other. They find true love.” Although there have been some changes and developments to the production, audiences will still see the iconic movie moments. “You walk a fine line, bringing such a famous film to the stage,” said Wagner. “All of the things that the audience wants and expects are there, but we needed to go further, to deepen and broaden it. If you love the film, you’ll love the musical.” Theatregoers will be thrilled to hear the famous one-liners, to see the memorable costumes, and be swept up in the romantic scenes. From its romcom roots through its contemporary development, there is no question that this production deserves to be taken seriously. “This story has a depth to it, even though it’s a story meant to bring people joy,” expressed Wagner. “We all want to sit and watch a show that will make us happy. We all want to ride off into the sunset.” Pretty Woman: The Musical is a powerhouse, female-centric production; a tale of redemption, hope, and aspiration. “We need women’s voices. They are strong, they are reflective of our culture, and they should be heard,” said Wagner. “I like the idea that we can make them heard through beautiful, uplifting fairytales like Pretty Woman: The Musical.”

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL AUG 2 – 14 • BUELL THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: Aug 14 at 2pm

— PAULA WAGNER, LEAD PRODUCER

Darron Hayes, Brandon G. Stalling, and Alex Michell in Choir Boy. Photo by Adams VisCom.

Nothing beats the magic of opening night at the theatre. Months, even years, of relentless work by the playwright, director, actors, and crew culminates in one glorious moment. The anticipation is tangible, electric — and then — a burst of applause as the plays begins. Directors Society events are your opportunity to take a look behind the curtain and see for yourself how the Denver Center produces our Theatre Company shows. Members gather on Friday evenings for opening night festivities with the play’s director and creative team, attend a pre-show dinner in our elegant Directors Room, and get the best seats in the house for every play in our 2022/23 lineup. We invite you to join (or re-join) Directors Society for a season ﬁlled with literary masterpieces, raucous comedies, and breakthrough hits from the NYC circuit. See you at the theatre! Membership is $2,000 per person, which includes a generous donation to the DCPA’s local theatre and education programs.

2022/23 DIRECTORS SOCIETY The Chinese Lady Sep 16, 2022

Hotter Than Egypt Feb 17, 2023

Directed by Seema Sueko

Directed by Chris Coleman

Much Ado About Nothing Oct 7, 2022

The Color Purple Apr 7, 2023

Directed by Chris Coleman

Directed by Timothy Douglas

Laughs in Spanish Feb 3, 2023

The 39 Steps Apr 21, 2023

Directed by Lisa Portes

Directed by Meredith McDonough

To join Directors Society, please contact Marc Ravenhill mravenhill@dcpa.org | 303.572.4594

2021/22 MEMBERSHIP Jim & Kristin Bender Mary & Barry Berlin Donald Cameron & Marie Harrison Brent & Christine Case Jennifer Caskey Isabelle Clark Les Crispelle Ken & Caryl Field Larry & Joanne Fisher Adrienne Ruston Fitzbiggons John Carlen & Jean Gleason C. Howard Johnson Deborah Kelly Kevin & Dorota Kilstrom Diana & Mike Kinsey Rick & Molly Klau Cassandra Perlmutter Diane MacRossie Al & Carol Meny Ralph & Trish Nagel Paul & Nancy Oberman Ronna N. Phelps Ted Pinkowitz & Susan Fox Pinkowitz Daniel L. Ritchie Robert & Judi Newman Family Foundation Martin & Jo Semple Janice Sinden Dean Singleton Bob & Carole Slosky Alan & Gayle Talesnick Jerry & Debi Tepper June Travis Tina Walls Rosalind Ward Judi Wolf

MAKE MEMORIES THAT LAST FOREVER

EXPERIENCE ADVENTURE AND TOGETHERNESS AT YMCA OF THE ROCKIES — WHERE LASTING MEMORIES ARE MADE.

Cabins, lodges, family-friendly activities, wildlife and miles of colorful trails for any size family and all budgets.

Estes Park Center & Snow Mountain Ranch CABINS / LODGES / YURTS* / CAMPSITES* * SNOW MOUNTAIN RANCH ONLY

YMCARockies.org 888-613-9622

A CONVERSATION WITH

SEEMA SUEKO, DIRECTOR OF

THE CHINESE LADY Illustration by Kyle Malone

B Y G I L A S A K AWA

The story of immigrants to the United States is often hazy in history. We learn about Columbus and later, the pilgrims, but not so much about other arrivals to our shores (or the African slaves, or the Indigenous Peoples who were already here). Immigration from China to America began in earnest in 1849, when gold was discovered in San Francisco, and waves of Chinese sailed to California with dreams of the riches they’d ﬁnd in “Gold Mountain,” their name for the country. Alas, their dreams went mostly unrealized as they faced racial animosity. But 15 years before the gold rush in 1834, one young Chinese woman came to America not to make money for herself or her family, but for the two white men who brought her. Afong Moy, who was just 14 at the time, was put on display as “The Chinese Lady” with supposedly Chinese props and costumes and “performed” several times a day for paying audiences. She was apparently from a wealthy family because her feet were broken by binding, a sign of high social status. She was the ﬁrst Chinese woman anyone in America had ever seen in person, a curiosity like in a carnival sideshow. Her appearances were accompanied by Atung, an English-speaking Chinese man who served as interpreter for the audience. Afong Moy’s story was mostly forgotten, until playwright Lloyd Suh premiered his play, The Chinese Lady, in 2018. Now, theatre audiences in Denver can learn about Afong Moy through Suh’s two-person script, featuring Afong Moy and Atung.

Although newspaper articles and advertisements for Afong Moy ceased in 1850, Suh added to her story by having her speak to audiences as if she were on exhibit into her old age, noting that many anti-Chinese attacks were committed against immigrants who came after her. She notes the October 31, 1880 racist riot that burned down Denver’s thriving Chinatown in what is today LoDo. But that local reference was not in the original script. Seema Sueko, director of The Chinese Lady, worked with Suh to add the reference to the Denver anti-Chinese riot. She feels part of the play’s mission is to make sure such incidents — like Afong Moy herself — aren’t forgotten and covered over by the mists of time. “Lloyd’s real goal was that he wants people to add Afong Moy to their understanding of America,” Sueko says. “At the end of the day, if people walk out knowing this name Afong Moy, knowing she was here, and that Asian Americans have been here, you know, for centuries, that is his goal. But as he acknowledges, there’s very little in the historical record of any perspective that she held (about her situation). So he readily acknowledges in the script, ‘this is not my voice. This is not my clothes.’ This is not any of that. He hopes that she felt she was a cultural ambassador of some sort.” Sueko, who is half-Japanese and half-Pakistani and was raised in Hawaii, is familiar with Denver and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. She directed the 2018 DCPA Theatre Company production of Vietgone,

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

a powerful story about the Vietnamese refugee experience in the U.S. after the Viet Nam War. She lives in the Washington, DC area, and acknowledges that history is incomplete everywhere. She notes that although the area around northern Virginia and D.C. have many historical markers about the Civil War, there isn’t any memorial to the Asians who fought on both side of the conflict. Sueko has been learning more about Afong Moy to prepare for directing the play. She cites a book she’s currently reading, The Chinese Lady: Afong Moy in Early America by Nancy E. Davis, which she recommends for its thoroughness. “This came out in 2019, right around when Lloyd’s play first came out. She has done incredible research in piecing together the historical record, based on newspaper clippings of the time, based on diaries of what people who gazed upon her wrote, based on what else was going on.” The book, like the play, puts Afong Moy in the context of her times. The play’s audiences won’t just get a profile of a young woman put into an unthinkable situation; they’ll get an introduction to the experiences and spirit of all Asian Americans.

Lloyd [Suh]’s real goal was that he wants people to add Afong Moy to their understanding of America. At the end of the day, if people walk out knowing…she was here, and that Asian Americans have been here, you know, for centuries, that is his goal. — SEEMA SUEKO, DIRECTOR

Sueko ﬁrst heard of Suh’s play when a woman she directed in Vietgone was cast as Afong Moy. Early this year, the DCPA reached out to her and asked if she’d be interested in directing The Chinese Lady in Denver. “Of course, you know, the answer was ‘yes.’ Right away,” she says. The challenge of directing The Chinese Lady, she adds, is that because it’s a two-person play, she had to ﬁnd actors who were able to carry the dramatic and comedic elements of the script and have a strong relationship. Atung, the intrepeter/caretaker/servant has a complex relationship with Afong Moy. And since Afong Moy tells her story and the larger story of Chinese in America into the 20th century, it’s an epic story. Sueko says she’s inspired by that epic story, and Suh’s telling of it. “Maybe what I like to hold on to is her resilience,” Sueko says, “and also this hope, even though it gets reframed, even as her awareness of things grows. She still hopes for building bridges. In the end, she still thinks of herself as an ambassador.” Gil Asakawa lives in Denver and is a nationally known journalist, editor, author, speaker, and blogger focusing on Japanese and Asian American issues.

THE CHINESE LADY

SEP 9 – OCT 16 • SINGLETON THEATRE ASL Interpreted and Audio Described performance: Oct 2 at 1:30pm.

HONORING OUR ELDERS We invite our audiences to join the DCPA as we honor our Elders for the care of the land on which we perform with an oﬃcial land acknowledgement. These words are shared at company meetings, ﬁrst rehearsals, public forums and in the pages of Applause to recognize and respect Indigenous Peoples, their traditional territories and the care they have shown to all who reside here. 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. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future, and to all those who have stewarded the land and water for generations. May this acknowledgment express the DCPA’s commitment to grow and deepen its relationships with the vibrant Indigenous communities who continue to thrive and uphold their sacred relation to this land.

Learn more about land acknowledgements.

TIMELESS TALES & FRESH PERSPECTIVES This season, we’re giving the people what they want: timeless classics, laugh-out-loud comedies, and the industry’s hottest plays direct from New York City.

SHOWS:

ADDED ATTRACTIONS:

THE CHINESE LADY

THEATER OF THE MIND

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

LITTLE RED – A NEW MUSICAL!

SEP 9 – OCT 16, 2022

SEP 30 – NOV 6, 2022

AUG 31 – DEC 18, 2022

LAUGHS IN SPANISH

OCT 28 – DEC 18, 2022

HOTTER THAN EGYPT

NOV 17 – DEC 24, 2022

THE COLOR PURPLE

NOV 18 – DEC 24, 2022

JAN 27 – MAR 12, 2023 FEB 10 – MAR 12, 2023 MAR 31 – MAY 7, 2023

THE 39 STEPS

APR 14 – JUN 18, 2023

CAMP CHRISTMAS A CHRISTMAS CAROL COLORADO NEW PLAY SUMMIT FEB 24 – 25, 2023

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE! denvercenter.org/theatrecompany

303.893.6030

SEASON SPONSOR

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

Sydney Cole Alexander and Matthew Hancock in In The Upper Room • Photo by Adams VisCom

YOUR 2022/23 THEATRE COMPANY SEASON

Summer: Spring: Adventure, Explore, New Life, New Energy and Great Performances! and Great Performances! Thank you DCPA. Thank you DCPA.

Proudly representing Denver’s Family Law needs for over 28 years. Child Custody, Divorce, and Estate Planning

The Harris Law Firm is here for you!

303.622.3716 Denver, Boulder, Englewood, & Colorado Springs

www.harrisfamilylaw.com

Hadestown North American Tour. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

Could Hadestown writer and composer, Anaïs Mitchell have subconsciously predicted key elements of the world’s most devastating global crisis? The show’s world is one of suﬀering. Power and wealth reign supreme; the poor go hungry; seasons are unstable, and love is lost. In the real world, COVID-19 wreaks havoc, systematic racism forces persistent protest, border security fuels contentious debate, unemployment skyrockets, and climate change happens in real time. These challenges engulf our world beyond the theater as much as they do the musical’s dark side, sparking the show’s revolutionary score. The fact that Hadestown feels so relevant may seem surprising, considering that its composition started more than a decade ago. Mitchell conceived “Wait for Me,” a ﬁery declaration song at the center of the score, several years before Hadestown saw a Broadway stage, early in her singer-songwriter career. “I was driving from one tip gig to another when the melody of ‘Wait for Me’ dropped out of the sky,” says Mitchell, who wrote Hadestown’s book, music, and lyrics. “It came with some long-lost lyrics that seemed to describe the Orpheus & Eurydice myth, which had been a favorite of mine as a kid.” Like his Classical predecessor, Mitchell’s Orpheus can change the world through music. Viral videos of hopeful Italians singing from their balconies during COVID-19 quarantine show that Orpheus’s ethos thrives throughout

the globe. “I think what inspired me most about retelling that story was the idea of pitting young, creative, optimistic Orpheus against an underworld where ‘the rules are the rules,’” Mitchell says. “At first it was the idea of Orpheus, who believes if he could just write something beautiful enough, he could move the heart of stone. He could change the way the world is.” Embracing music’s ability to trigger a spectrum of emotions, Mitchell wrote Hadestown to encompass healing powers, inviting audiences on a sacred pilgrimage to Hell and back. The musical’s more distinct lines, like “To the world we dream about, and the one we live in now,” and “If no one takes too much, there will always be enough,” offer hope to many in the present moment. “To me, those first lines are a reminder that even in hard times, there’s beauty and bravery and cause for celebration. There’s beauty in the struggle for a better world even if we can’t yet see the result,” Mitchell explains. “Orpheus is a hero not because he succeeds—but because he tries!” Orpheus offers a glimpse at humanity’s fullest power by following through on his conviction for goodness and beauty. “Orpheus was by far the hardest character for me to write, in part because he’s more ‘pure’ than any other character,” Mitchell explains. “Hades, Persephone, and even Hermes and Eurydice have a sort of jaded quality, a world-weariness that is much easier to grasp and to

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

At first it was the idea of Orpheus, who believes if he could just write something beautiful enough, he could move the heart of stone. He could change the way the world is.

write for. Orpheus is a dreamer, a genuine optimist, and that has been a challenge to discover and to express in writing. It’s hard to take an optimist seriously! For a long time, his optimism came across as overconfidence, which wasn’t in keeping with his sensitive soul.” Orpheus is the blueprint for optimism accelerating healing. His character urges audiences to look a little deeper for the good in the world, even if that search appears foolhardy. As its characters quite literally travel the road to Hell, Hadestown encourages audiences to experience that which feels harsh and might seem inevitable but cautions against letting such a harrowing journey breed fear or despair. “Why We Build the Wall,” the show’s bombastic Act 1 finale sung by a domineering Hades, for example, highlights the exclusionary powers of borders. “I wrote that song in 2006, and it’s one of the few songs that I wrote very quickly, all in one sitting, almost before I understood what it meant,” says Mitchell. “I was imagining a climate in crisis, a world in which many places had become uninhabitable and there were large populations of migrants knocking at the gates of the places of relative wealth and security. And the thought that popped into my head was, ‘When that happens, who among us is not going to want to be behind some kind of wall?’ Leaders (like Hades in Hadestown) have found it effective to use the language of the wall because it speaks loudly to a scared citizenry. The next thought that crossed my mind was the way walling others out has the equal and unintended effect of walling ourselves in.” Mitchell’s concern has proven prescient. When the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, leaders around the globe ordered citizens to remain locked within the walls of their homes while also shutting down borders to immigration and travel. During mandated stay-at-home orders, the world watched in horror for 8 minutes and 46 seconds the murder of George Floyd, another un-armed Black killed at the hands of police. Floyd’s unjustified death by those paid to protect and serve, sparked a universal outcry of “Black Lives Matter,” and “Enough is Enough.” Hadestown offers dogged hope in the face of seemingly endless gloom. As the pandemic rages and citizens of the world remain “walled in,” we have the same opportunity as Orpheus to focus on making the world a better place. He reminds us not to use material goods as the only source of satisfaction and happiness, but to look deeper for the music striking cords of love, humanity, equality, peace, and spirituality. This article reprinted courtesy of Hadestown.

TOP: Kimberly Marable and company. in the Hadestown North American Tour. BOTTOM: Kevyn Morrow and Morgan Siobhan Green in the Hadestown North American Tour. Photos by T Charles Erickson.

— ANAÏS MITCHELL, WRITER AND COMPOSER

HADESTOWN

AUG 30 – SEP 11, 2022 BUELL THEATRE ASL Interpreted, Audio Described and Open Captioned performance: Sep 11 at 1:30pm

GO BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE BROADWAY COMPANY

Our upcoming Broadway and Cabaret shows cater to the die-hard musical fans, drama aﬁcionados, and practical jokers in every family. Buy tickets for your must-see shows today to lock in the best possible seats and performance dates.

AUG 30 - SEP 11, 2022

SEP 7 - 25, 2022

NOV 2 - 20, 2022

DEC 20, 2022 - JAN 1, 2023

JAN 24 - FEB 5, 2023

OCT 25 - NOV 6, 2022

DEC 7, 2022-JAN 1, 2023

DEC 10 & 11, 2022

FEB 21 - 26, 2023

MAY 31 - JUN 4, 2023

SEASON SPONSOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

APPLAUSE • MAR – MAY 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

GET TICKETS AT denvercenter.org

PRESENTS

CLASSES & SHOWS AGES 3 - 18, + ADULT CLASSES

FALL SHOWS 2022!

SPRING SHOWS 2023!

SING • ACT • DANCE

R EG Ipaacolorado.org S TER SOON!

THE

best collection

I S Y O U R S.

elegance MODERN

Combining style and quality into a beautiful wardrobe that’s uniquely yours.

New arrivals on Instagram

Sept. 15 - Nov. 6, 2022 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

BOX OFFICE

(970) 744-3747

@barbaraandcompany

DENVER • 303.751.2618 • 1067 SOUTH GAYLORD BOULDER • 303.443.2565 • 1505 PEARL STREET

barbaraandcompany.net

Mon~Sat 10-6 Sunday 11-5 By appointment

ColoradoCandlelight.com

4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, CO 80534

Trusted Planning for Life

TCIWEALTH.COM

CUE THE LIGHTS We are proud to support the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and its mission to engage and inspire through the transformative power of live theatre. Cheers to an entertaining and successful 2022 season! Chris Balch, Chair 303.295.8000 555 17th Street, Suite 3200 Denver, Colorado 80202 hollandhart.com

Proud Supporter of the Arts

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

SEASON SPONSOR

Paula Wagner Nice Productions LPO New Regency Productions Hunter Arnold Caiola Productions & Co. James L. Nederlander Kilimanjaro Theatricals/Joshua Andrews Roy Furman Ambassador Theatre Group Productions Gavin Kalin Productions deRoy Kierstead John Gore Organization EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Wendy Orshan AND Jeffrey M. Wilson

BOOK BY

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY

Garry Marshall & J. F. Lawton

Bryan Adams & Jim Vallance

Based on the Touchstone Pictures motion picture written by J. F. Lawton

Olivia Valli

STARRING AND

Adam Pascal

WITH

Jessica Crouch Kyle Taylor Parker Matthew Stocke Natalie Bourgeois Anju Cloud Nella Cole Michael Dalke Carissa Gaughran Em Hadick Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson Graham Keen Keyonna Knight Chris Manuel Devon McCleskey Kaylee Olson Hillary Porter Alice Reys Jonathan Ritter Brett Stoelker Jonathan Young AND

Christian Brailsford SCENIC DESIGN

David Rockwell

Amma Osei

Trent Soyster

COSTUME DESIGN

LIGHTING DESIGN

SOUND DESIGN

Gregg Barnes

Kenneth Posner & Philip S. Rosenberg

John Shivers

MAKEUP DESIGN

MUSIC DIRECTOR

MUSIC COORDINATOR

Josh Marquette

Fiona Mifsud

Daniel Klintworth

Michael Keller & Michael Aarons

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER

DB Bonds

Rusty Mowery

J. Allen Suddeth

TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

COMPANY MANAGER

Full Stage Productions

Thomas Recktenwald

RL Campbell

Michael Anthony Gremo

HAIR DESIGN

FIGHT DIRECTOR

CASTING

The Telsey Office Craig Burns, C.S.A.

TOUR MARKETING AND PRESS

TOUR BOOKING AGENCY

SOCIAL MEDIA

GENERAL MANAGER

Allied Global Marketing

The Booking Group Meredith Blair, Kara Gebhart

Marathon Digital

101 Productions, Ltd.

MUSIC SUPERVISION, ARRANGEMENTS AND ORCHESTRATIONS BY

Will Van Dyke DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY

Jerry Mitchell Original cast recording available on Atlantic Records.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

CAST Vivian Ward......................................................................................................................................................OLIVIA VALLI Edward Lewis.............................................................................................................................................. ADAM PASCAL Kit De Luca............................................................................................................................................. JESSICA CROUCH Happy Man.................................................................................................................................... KYLE TAYLOR PARKER Philip Stuckey..................................................................................................................................... MATTHEW STOCKE Landlord....................................................................................................................................................... CHRIS MANUEL Susan.................................................................................................................................................CARISSA GAUGHRAN Rachel................................................................................................................................................NATALIE BOURGEOIS Giulio............................................................................................................................................................TRENT SOYSTER Hotel Staff.................................................................MICHAEL DALKE, JOSHUA KENNETH ALLEN JOHNSON, BRETT STOELKER, JONATHAN YOUNG Amanda............................................................................................................................................................ ANJU CLOUD Erica...................................................................................................................................................CARISSA GAUGHRAN David Morse.............................................................................................................................CHRISTIAN BRAILSFORD Scarlett.............................................................................................................................................................. ANJU CLOUD Fred........................................................................................................................................................JONATHAN YOUNG Senator Adams............................................................................................. JOSHUA KENNETH ALLEN JOHNSON Alfredo..................................................................................................................................................JONATHAN YOUNG Violetta..................................................................................................................................................................AMMA OSEI Ensemble.................................................... NATALIE BOURGEOIS, CHRISTIAN BRAILSFORD, ANJU CLOUD, NELLA COLE, MICHAEL DALKE, CARISSA GAUGHRAN, JOSHUA KENNETH ALLEN JOHNSON, CHRIS MANUEL, KAYLEE OLSON, AMMA OSEI, ALICE REYS, JONATHAN RITTER, TRENT SOYSTER, BRETT STOELKER, JONATHAN YOUNG UNDERSTUDIES Understudies never substitute for the listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance. For Vivian Ward—NATALIE BOURGEOIS, NELLA COLE, CARISSA GAUGHRAN for Edward Lewis—CHRIS MANUEL, BRETT STOELKER, JONATHAN YOUNG for Happy Man—CHRISTIAN BRAILSFORD, MICHAEL DALKE, JONATHAN RITTER for Kit De Luca—NELLA COLE, KEYONNA KNIGHT, AMMA OSEI for Philip Stuckey—CHRIS MANUEL, BRETT STOELKER, JONATHAN YOUNG DANCE CAPTAIN JOSHUA KENNETH ALLEN JOHNSON ASSISTANT DANCE CAPTAIN EM HADICK FIGHT CAPTAIN JOSHUA KENNETH ALLEN JOHNSON SWINGS EM HADICK, GRAHAM KEEN, KEYONNA KNIGHT, DEVON McCLESKEY, HILLARY PORTER

OLIVIA VALLI

ADAM PASCAL

JESSICA CROUCH

KYLE TAYLOR PARKER

MATTHEW STOCKE

NATALIE BOURGEOIS

CHRISTIAN BRAILSFORD

ANJU CLOUD

NELLA COLE

MICHAEL DALKE

CARISSA GAUGHRAN

JOSHUA KENNETH ALLEN JOHNSON

CHRIS MANUEL

KAYLEE OLSON

AMMA OSEI

ALICE REYS

JONATHAN RITTER

TRENT SOYSTER

BRETT STOELKER

JONATHAN YOUNG

EM HADICK

GRAHAM KEEN

KEYONNA KNIGHT

DEVON McCLESKEY

HILLARY PORTER

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

CAST CAST

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I “Welcome to Hollywood”............................................................ Happy Man, Kit, Company “Anywhere but Here”............................................................................................................Vivian “Something About Her” (preamble)............................................................................Edward “Welcome to Hollywood” (reprise)...................................................................... Happy Man “Something About Her”...................................................................................................Edward “I Could Get Used to This”..................................................................................................Vivian “Luckiest Girl in the World”.......................................................................... Vivian, Kit, Giulio “Rodeo Drive”........................................................................................................... Kit, Company “Anywhere but Here” (reprise).........................................................................................Vivian “On a Night Like Tonight”...................................................................Happy Man, Company “Don’t Forget to Dance”....................................................Happy Man, Scarlett, Company “Freedom”..............................................................................................................................Edward “You’re Beautiful”............................................................................Edward, Vivian, Company ACT II “Entr’acte/Opening Act II”...................................................................................... Happy Man “This Is My Life”......................................................................................................................Vivian “Never Give Up on a Dream”..................................................... Happy Man, Kit, Company “You and I”....................................................................Edward, Alfredo, Violetta, Company “I Can’t Go Back”....................................................................................................................Vivian “Freedom” (reprise)...........................................................................................................Edward “Long Way Home”............................................................................................... Vivian, Edward “Together Forever”........................................Edward, Vivian, Happy Man, Kit, Company SETTING: Hollywood—Once Upon a Time in the 1980s THERE WILL BE ONE 20-MINUTE INTERMISSION. ORCHESTRA Conductor/Keyboard 1—DANIEL KLINTWORTH Associate Conductor/Keyboard 2—SHANE PARUS Guitar 1—OSCAR BAUTISTA Guitar 2—CLAUDIO RAINÓ Bass—MAGDA KRESS Drums—KEVIN McNAUGHTON Music Coordinators—MICHAEL KELLER & MICHAEL AARONS Ableton Programmer/Electronic Drum Programmer—SAMMY MERENDINO Keyboard Programmer—RANDY COHEN Associate Keyboard Programmer—SAM STAROBIN Music Preparation—EMILY GRISHMAN MUSIC PREPARATION “OH, PRETTY WOMAN” Written by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees. Published by Roys Boys LLC (BMI) and Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music (BMI). All rights reserved. Used by permission. The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cellular phones, beepers and watches.

OLIVIA VALLI (Vivian Ward ) is overjoyed to be playing the iconic role of Vivian Ward. Her previous credits include Wicked 2nd Nat’l Tour (Ensemble, u/s Elphaba) and Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado). Thanks to The Telsey Office, Talent House, Jerry Mitchell, and the Pretty Woman team for this opportunity. She also thanks her loved ones for their endless support. Instagram: @oliviafvalli. ADAM PASCAL (Edward Lewis) starred as the original Roger Davis in the Off-Broadway, Broadway and London Productions of Rent (Tony Award nomination). Originated the role of Radames in Broadway’s Aida. Other Broadway credits include the final Emcee in the Roundabout’s Cabaret, Huey Calhoun in Memphis, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Chad in Disaster, William Shakespeare in Something Rotten! and, most recently, Edward Lewis in Broadway’s Pretty Woman. JESSICA CROUCH (Kit De Luca). Broadway: Pretty Woman (Swing, u/s Kit). National Tour: We Will Rock You (u/s Killer Queen, Oz). After this past year, getting to perform on a stage again, in front of you tonight, feels pretty darn special. Endless gratitude to Jerry, the Pretty Woman team, Todd and The Telsey Office. All my love to my family. @jessgoober. KYLE TAYLOR PARKER (Happy Man) made his debut on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning Kinky Boots, earning raves as “Lola” on tour and on Broadway. Additional credits: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Smokey Joe’s Café, Finnian’s Rainbow and NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE.” Albums include Broadway Soul Vol. 1 & 2. @ktpway. MATTHEW STOCKE (Philip Stuckey). Broadway: Pretty Woman, Sting’s The Last Ship, Rock of Ages, The Wedding Singer, The Boy from Oz w/ Hugh Jackman, The Full Monty, Titanic. L.A.: Wicked. NY Public: Sondheim’s Road Show, LaChiusa’s Giant. TV: Cops/Lawyers/Perps, etc. Every day remembering the Nice Lady~. NATALIE BOURGEOIS (Ensemble, u/s Vivian Ward, u/s Violetta). National tour debut! Credits: A Chorus Line at New York City Center (Lois). Boston

Conservatory grad. Thank you to Telsey, Jerry and my agents at HAA. Much love to Austin, my family and friends. @natalie_bourgeois. CHRISTIAN BRAILSFORD (David Morse, Ensemble, u/s Alfredo, u/s Happy Man) making his national tour debut! Off-Broadway: Oratorio for Living Things, Cleopatra, Songs of a Serpent. International: Scar in Hong Kong Disney’s The Lion King. He thanks his family and friends for their unwavering love and support. ANJU CLOUD (Ensemble). National tour debut! Fav credits: Romy and Michele The Musical (workshop), Footloose, West Side Story and The Wild Party. B.F.A. Syracuse 2020. HUGE love and thanks to her parents, friends, teachers and DGRW fam! @anjucloud. NELLA COLE (Ensemble, u/s Vivian Ward, u/s Kit De Luca). Broadway: The Illusionists. Television: “The Last OG” (TBS). Theater: Becoming Nancy, This Ain’t No Disco, Cruel Intentions. Nella is a pop recording artist with music available on all download and streaming platforms! IG/TikTok: @thatgurlnella. MICHAEL DALKE (Ensemble, u/s Happy Man) is ecstatic to make his Broadway tour debut! Favorite roles include The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), The Last Five Years (Jamie), Little Shop… (Dentist). Much love to About Artists, the Porches, Weddles, Dalkes and friends! @dalkekong. CARISSA GAUGHRAN (Ensemble, u/s Vivian Ward ). National tour debut! Regional: Fulton Theatre: Sophisticated Ladies, 42nd Street; Maine State: Jersey Boys, Beauty and the Beast. Many thanks to Jerry, Telsey Casting and The Mine Agency. Love to Connor and my family @carissagaughran. EM HADICK (Swing, u/s Violetta, Assistant Dance Captain). National tour debut! Favorite regional: The Spitfire Grill (Percy), Into the Woods (Cinderella), and A Chorus Line (Maggie). Endless love and thanks to family, friends and The Price Group Talent Agency. @emhadick.

JOSHUA KENNETH ALLEN JOHNSON (Ensemble, u/s David Morse, u/s Giulio, Dance Captain, Fight Captain) is excited to make his national tour debut! Credits: Cinderella (The Muny), On the Town (Capital City Theatre). Eternal gratitude to his Village, Avalon Artist Group, CCM, Mom, Dad, Joi, David. Follow @Joshua.ka.johnson. GRAHAM KEEN (Swing). National tours: White Christmas, Young Frankenstein. Regional: TUTS, The MUNY, Sac Music Circus, Goodspeed, Ogunquit, Maltz Jupiter, Music Theatre West. TV: “Modern Love.” Love to Greg, Raina, family, Hybrid Agency! @grahamcrackerrrr. KEYONNA KNIGHT (Swing, u/s Kit De Luca, u/s Violetta). Favorite credits: Barbara Woodruff in No Strings (OffBroadway revival), Swing in Hairspray (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Jovie in Elf (The Arvada Center). Love to my Mimi, Papa, Mom, Dad, and Brewer. @keyonnaknight. CHRIS MANUEL (Ensemble, u/s Edward Lewis, u/s Philip Stuckey). Tour debut! Select credits include RFK (Bobby Kennedy), Ragtime (Houdini) and Carousel (Billy Bigelow). Special thanks to Bret Adams agency, the entire company and creative team, and all who support in this journey! Instagram: @imchrismanuel. DEVON McCLESKEY (Swing) is thrilled to be on this adventure! Thanks to Dave, Jerry, and Telsey for this opportunity. Endless gratitude to Linda, Ann, and the friends who make life worth living. University of Michigan, GO BLUE! @devon.devoff. KAYLEE OLSON (Ensemble) is atingle to be struttin,’ sangin’ and kick-ballchangin’ in Pretty Woman! THANKS to fam, friends, Tigers, Wing Night and Innovative Dance. Fav credits: Crazy for You and touring with Anything Goes and Bullets over Broadway. AMMA OSEI (Violetta, Ensemble, u/s Kit De Luca). Broadway/OffB roa dway/to ur : R ock of Age s (Justice). Tours: Dreamgirls (Effie), Fame (Ms. Sherman). Select regional: Kennedy Center ’s Little Shop… (Ronette), Gypsy (Mazeppa), Tommy (Gypsy), Rent (Mrs. J/Joanne), A Night…Joplin (Joplinairre). Thanks

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

WHO’S WHO

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

Whole Artist, Daniel Hoff, friends and family. @AmmaOseiNYC. HILLARY PORTER (Swing). Broadway/ NYC: A Bronx Tale, Thoroughly Modern Millie Reunion Concert. National tours: Hello, Dolly!, Cats, Elf. Regional: Once (Girl, Pioneer Theatre), A Chorus Line (Diana Morales, Cape Playhouse), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (Rosalia, The Muny). HillaryPorter.com and @HillaryPorter_. ALICE REYS (Ensemble). National tour debut! Toured in homeland Brazil with Hairspray (Swing, Dynamite u/s). Regional favorites: In the Heights and Evita. Beyond Grateful to BlocNY and the support of her amazing family and friends. JONATHAN RIT TER (Ensemble, u/s Happy Man). Broadway: Finding Neverland (Albert), Wicked, Sweet Charity. Tours: Wicked, The Addams Family. Regional: Michael Boyd’s Here to Recruit You (Harvey Milk), West Side Story (A-rab). EP: Lovers in a Different Life, available on Spotify/ Apple Music. jonathanritter.com @fairygodritter. TRENT SOYSTER (Giulio, Ensemble) is thrilled to be dancing across the country on another national tour! Tours: Escape to Margaritaville (Dance Captain). Regional: Pittsburgh CLO, The Rev Theatre Co. B.F.A., Pace University. Endless love to my support system, and to the best agents ever at MSA Agency. trentsoyster.com. BRETT STOELKER (Ensemble, u/s Edward Lewis, u/s Philip Stuckey) National Tour: Les Misérables (u/s Enjolras), Rock of Ages - Las Vegas (Stacee Jaxx), Joseph...Dreamcoat; Select Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Next to Normal (Gabe); Love to Jillian, The Family, & DGRW Agency; @brettstoelker. J O N AT H A N YO U N G ( A l f r e d o, Ensemble, u/s Edward Lewis, u/s Philip Stuckey). Tour debut! Favorite credits include An American in Paris (Henri), Austen’s Pride (Wickham), Grey Gardens (Joe Kennedy/Jerry), Assassins (Balladeer.) Graduate of Baldwin Wallace Conservatory. Thanks to Jerry, Telsey, HAA, WVD, and amazing friends and family. @_jonathanyoung. BRYAN ADAMS (Music & Lyrics) has been recording and touring the

world as a musician for four decades. The Grammy Award-winning singer/ songwriter has recorded 14 studio albums and his latest album, Shine A Light, was released in 2019. Pretty Woman is the first musical he has written, alongside Jim Vallance. Over the years, his music has achieved number one status in over forty countries. He has three Academy Awards and five Golden Globe nominations, not to mention he is also a Companion of the Order of Canada. Adams performs over one hundred concerts a year playing to audiences on six continents. JIM VALLANCE (Music & Lyrics) has been active in the music industry since 1970. He initially worked as a studio musician, producer and arranger before turning his attention to songwriting. He has collaborated with a wide variety of artists, including Bryan Adams, Aerosmith, Heart, Rick Springfield, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Cocker, Tina Turner and Michael Bublé, to name a few. He’s been awarded numerous ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN awards for international radio airplay and dozens of Gold and Platinum album awards. He’s a recipient of the Order of Canada, that country’s highest civilian honor. GARRY MARSHALL (Book) producer, director and writer of film, television and theater, made audiences laugh for five decades. Pretty Woman was the most successful of the 18 films he directed. It was his passion to make it a Broadway musical because he loved live theater. He was thrilled to work with J.F. Lawton again on this title. Before Garry passed away in 2016 he knew the wonderful creative team in place would make Pretty Woman the Musical a joyous reality. He dedicates this show to Barbara Sue Wells, his wife of 53 years. Garry’s family keeps his legacy alive at the theater he built in Burbank, CA. @garrymarshalltheatre. garrymarshalltheatre.org. J. F. LAWTON (Book) has written screenplays for every major Hollywood studio in genres from comedy and romance to action and drama. His feature credits include Pretty Woman, Under Siege, Blankman, The Hunted, Chain Reaction and DOA: Dead or Alive. For Broadway, Lawton co-wrote the book for Pretty Woman: The Musical. His published works include the sci-fi novel Cosmic Ray’s Celestial Revival

and his latest work is The Last Writer. J. F. would like to thank his amazing wife and business partner, Paola Gambino Lawton, for rescuing him. J E R R Y M I T C H E L L ( D i r e c t o r/ Choreographer) received the Tony Award for Best Choreography twice— initially for the revival of La Cage aux Folles and thereafter for the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Kinky Boots, for which he was also nominated as Director. Jerry was most recently represented on Broadway as Director/Choreographer of Pretty Woman, currently playing in Hamburg and London. In the 40 or so preceding years, Jerry has been involved with more than 50 Broadway, West End and touring productions, including choreographing You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Full Monty; The Rocky Horror Show; Hairspray; Gypsy; Never Gonna Dance; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; La Cage aux Folles; Legally Blonde, which he also directed on Broadway and in London; Catch Me If You Can; and On Your Feet! WILL VAN DYKE (Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations) is a songwriter, music supervisor and 2020 Grammy Award nominee for his work on the revival of Little Shop of Horrors. Will has orchestrated and arranged shows on Broadway and off (including Pretty Woman), and is a frequent collaborator with many of NYC’s finest talents. Will is an award-winning songwriter and has released multiple albums, available wherever digital music is sold. He writes musicals with Jeff Talbott and has a band. For more visit willvandyke.com. @wvdmusic. DAVID ROCKWELL (Scenic Design). Broadway: Tootsie; Kiss Me, Kate; Lobby Hero; She Loves Me (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle awards); On the Twentieth Century (Tony nomination); You Can’t Take It with You (Tony nomination); Kinky Boots (Tony nomination); Lucky Guy (Tony nomination); Hairspray (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations). Off-Broadway: The Seven Deadly Sins, Soundtrack of America, the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park. Television: the 81st, 82nd, 93rd Oscars (2010 Emmy Award). Founder and president of Rockwell Group, an architecture and design firm.

KENNETH POSNER & PHILIP S. ROSENBERG (Lighting Design) are delighted to be co-designing Pretty Woman. Great friends and colleagues for over 20 years, Mr. Posner and Mr. Rosenberg have collaborated on productions spanning regional, Broadway and international theater. They are both thrilled to be reuniting with Jerry Mitchell, with whom they worked on Hairspray and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and they are grateful for the opportunity to bring this story to the stage. JOHN SHIVERS (Sound Design). Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Pretty Woman, Cirque du Soleil’s Paramour, Kink y Boots (2013 Tony Award recipient), Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway, Bonnie & Clyde, Sister Act, 9 to 5, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays. International: Spirit of Life, The Secret, Das Wunder Von Bern, The Lion King. Regional: Becoming Nancy, 42nd St., The Heart of Rock and Roll, Moonshine, Harmony, Emma, etc. Other credits: Savion Glover, Dionne Warwick, Burt Bacharach and Gregory Hines. JOSH MARQUETTE (Hair Design). N Y/London: The P rom, P ret t y Woman, Mean Girls, Present Laughter, Dreamgirls, Paramour, Tuck Everlasting, School of Rock, Something Rotten!, Aladdin, Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon, Trip of Love, First Date, Elf, Dogfight, The Best Man, Vanities, Look Back in Anger, The Drowsy Chaperone, Pig Farm, The…Trailer Park Musical, Altar Boyz, Show Boat @ Carnegie Hall, Mamma Mia!. Encores!: Call Me Madam, The Most Happy Fella and Follies. Television: “The Slap”, “30 Rock”, “SNL.” Instagram: @josh_marquette.

FIONA MIFSUD (Makeup Design). G u i l d Aw a r d n o m i n e e , N YC based. Theater works include the M etro p olita n O p e ra , asso ciate designer for Broadway’s Paramour and The King and I. TV/film: “The Plot Against America,” “Prodigal Son,” Clerks III. DA N I E L K L I N T WO R T H (M u s i c Director). Welcome to Hollywood! Previous tours: The Book of Mormon, Billy Elliot. Other: “One Million Musicals” podcast. “Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your constant love & support! Jess…thank you for your unwavering honesty and wisdom. I owe you everything.” MICHAE L KE LLE R & MICHAE L A ARONS (Music Coordinators). Broadway: Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Moulin Rouge!, Jagged Little Pill, Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon. Upcoming: Diana, Flying Over Sunset. Tours: Frozen, Hamilton (all U.S. productions), Dear Evan Hansen, Lion King, Wicked. m2music.nyc. R A N DY COHEN (Keyboard Programmer). Over 80 Broadway shows, including Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Book of Mormon, Ain’t Too Proud and Jagged Little Pill. TV credits include keyboardist for HBO/PBS’s “Sesame Street.” DB BONDS (Associate Director) was the associate director of Pretty Woman on Broadway, London and Hamburg. He served as the worldwide associate director of Kinky Boots, and directed the U.S. regional premiere at the MUNY in St. Louis. DB toured North America as an actor in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Legally Blonde. RUST Y M OWE RY ( A s sociate Choreographer). Thrilled to be working for Jerry Mitchell again! Associate Choreographer: Kinky Boots (Broadway, U.S. tour, London, Toronto, Seoul, Tokyo, Australia, Germany), Pretty Woman (London). Production Dance Super visor : Hair spray (Broadway/national tour, Toronto), Legally Blonde (London). Dancer on Broadway: Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Seussical, Ragtime, and Cats. SDC member. THE TELSEY OFFICE (Casting). With offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theater, film, television and commercials. The Telsey Office

is dedicated to creating safe, equitable and anti-racist spaces through collaboration, artistry, heart, accountability and advocacy. FULL STAGE PRODUCTIONS LLC (Technical Supervisor). Patrick Shea and Chris Smith (Smitty): West Side Story, Pretty Woman (Broadway, national tour, Germany, London), Roman Holiday (pre-Broadway), Indecent, On Your Feet! (Broadway), Kinky Boots (Broadway, international tour, Korea, Toronto, Japan, Australia, London, Germany), Holler If Ya Hear Me, Chaplin, Elf (Broadway), August: Osage County (Broadway, national tour), Brooklyn (Broadway, national tour). THOMAS RECKTENWALD (Production Supervisor) is proud to continue his journey with Pretty Woman. “Thank you to Jerry for his generosity and friendship. To Kyle, thank you for your ending love and support. Rex and Charlotte, Pops loves you very much.” K ATHY FABIAN/PROPSTAR LLC (Production Props). Broadway credits include A Christmas Carol, American Son, Indecent, Sunday in the Park with George, Falsettos, Fiddler on the Roof, On Your Feet!, The King and I, An American in Paris and Kinky Boots. Recent TV creations for “Fosse Verdon” and “Samantha Bee.” RL CAMPBELL (Production Stage Manager). Broadway and tours: Bring It On, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Regional: Ahmanson Theatre, Alliance Theatre, The Wallis, Horizon Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Utah Festival Opera, Freddie Hendricks. Thank you Ancestors. J U LIAN N E M E NASSIAN (Stage Manager). Tours: Once on This Island, Love Never Dies, Finding Neverland, Cabaret. Select credits: York Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Goodspeed Musicals, Signature Theatre, Alley Theatre, Cleveland Play House, Studio Theatre, Riverside Theatre. LESLIE S. ALLEN (Assistant Stage Manager). Regional: Philadelphia Theatre Company, Dallas Theater Center, Casa Manana, Dallas Children’s Theater, The Walnut Street Theatre. Tours: Barney: Let’s Go Live!; Kelly Clarkson’s Addicted; George Strait, 2007. Thank you to my family and friends for all their love and support.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

GREGG BARNES (Costume Design). Broadway: Pretty Woman, Mean Girls (Tony nom.), Tuck Everlasting (Tony nom.), Something Rotten! (Tony nom.), Aladdin, Kinky Boots (Tony nom., Olivier Award), Follies (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award), Elf, Legally Blonde (Tony nom.), The Drowsy Chaperone (Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Award, Olivier nom.), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Flower Drum Song (Tony nom.), Side Show. Other: Dreamgirls West End (Olivier nom.), Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Pageant (Olivier nom.), The Kathy and Mo Show. TDF Young Master Award.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

ALLIED GLOBAL MARKETING (Tour Marketing & Press) is an integrated marketing agency working with the world’s largest entertainment, sports, consumer, and lifestyle brands, including 75+ Broadway shows over two decades. Current tours: Ain’t Too Proud, Hadestown, Mean Girls, Pretty Woman, Tootsie. Upcoming tours: Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Elf The Musical, The Hip Hop Nutcracker.

Wilson have managed more than 101 stage productions. General Managers: Chris Morey, Jeff Klein, Ron Gubin. Associate General Managers: Ed Nelson, Bobby Driggers. Current Broadway: Tony Award-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen (Broadway, tour, London), Plaza Suite. Recent Broadway: Betrayal, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Burn This, Pretty Woman: The Musical.

THE BOOKING GROUP (Tour Booking Agency). Current tours include Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, The Book of Mormon, To Kill a Mockingbird, Hadestown, Mean Girls, My Fair Lady, Tootsie, Anastasia, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, Rent and Waitress.

NICE PRODUCTIONS (Producer) was established by Garry Marshall in 1988. Since his passing in 2016, Nice is helmed by Barbara Marshall, Kathleen Marshall, Heather Hall and Cathy Berry. Credits include Happy Days: A New Musical (Samuel French) book by Garry Marshall, music/lyrics by Paul Williams, produced with Ronny Hallin, Robert Boyett Theatricals and McCoy Rigby Entertainment. Billy & Ray by Mike Bencivenga (Falcon Theatre 2013, Vineyard Theatre 2014). In 2017, Barbara Marshall, Garry’s wife of 53 years, renamed Garry’s Falcon Theatre in Burbank, CA to the Garry Marshall Theatre and helped launched it as a new nonprofit dedicated to cultivating the live arts. garrymarshalltheatre.org.

MARATHON DIGITAL (Social Media) is a team of community cultivators and content creators decreasing the distance between brands and their fans. Clients include Hamilton, H a d e s to w n, A i n’ t To o P r o u d, Diana The Musical, Freestyle Love Supreme and more. Run with us: MarathonDGTL.com. PAULA WAGNER (Producer) has worked in the top ranks of the entertainment industry. Broadway producing credits include Pretty Woman: The Musical, The Heiress starring Jessica Chastain, Grace starring Paul Rudd and Michael Shannon, and Terrence McNally’s Tony-nominated play Mothers and Sons. She is a co-founder of Cruise/ Wagner Productions, where she produced notable films such as Mission: Impossible I, II, III; The Last Samurai; Vanilla Sky; The Others; and Shattered Glass, amongst others, and executive produced Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds. She served as CEO of United Artists from 2006 to 2008, and earlier in her career was a prominent talent agent at Creative Artists Agency. Recently, she produced the acclaimed movie Marshall, starring Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad and Kate Hudson, through her company, Chestnut Ridge Productions. Wagner is a member of the Broadway League, AMPAS and Producers Guild, and is a Carnegie Mellon alumna and trustee. Thank you to Rick Nicita. 101 PRODUCTIONS, LTD (Executive Producer/General Manager). Since 1994, Wendy Orshan and Jeffrey M.

NEW REGENCY PRODUCTIONS (Producer). Founded by Arnon Milchan, producer of the beloved original Pretty Woman movie, New Regency has produced numerous celebrated projects that have received multiple Oscars, including 12 Years a Slave, The Revenant, Birdman and Bohemian Rhapsody. Upcoming films include Deep Water and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, based on the hit musical. H U NTE R A R N O LD (P ro d uc e r). Select credits: Hadestown (Tony), The Inheritance (Olivier), Once on This Island (Tony), Dear Evan Hansen (Tony), Kinky Boots (Tony and Olivier), Anastasia. Upcoming: Chicken & Biscuits; Mrs. Doubtfire; Back to the Future; Plaza Suite; Caroline, or Change; Diana; Company. @huntercarnold. CAIOL A PRODUCTIONS & CO. (Producer) is the Tony Award-winning partnership of brother and sister Luigi and Rose Caiola: Jagged Little Pill, The Inheritance, Tina, Dear Evan Hansen, All the Way, The Color Purple, …Virginia Woolf. “& Co.” includes Douglas Denoff, Salman Al-Rashid, Catherine Schreiber and John Slotkin.

JAMES L. NEDERLANDER (Producer). President of Nederlander Organization. Credits: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jagged Little Pill, The Band’s Visit, On Your Feet!, Mean Girls, The Humans, My Fair Lady, The Elephant Man, Next to Normal, Movin’ Out and many others. K I L I M A N JA R O T H E AT R I C A L S/ JOSHUA ANDREWS (Producer). Production company of Josh and Stuart Galbraith. U.S.: Hadestown, Mrs. Doubtfire. U.K.: Pretty Woman, Cluedo, What’s New Pussycat?, 9 to 5. Kili produces Ed Sheeran and Thriller Live. Josh’s other credits include An American in Paris, Fat Friends The Musical, Streetcar…, The Girl on the Train. ROY FURMAN (Producer). Current Broadway: Moulin Rouge!, MJ, Dear Evan Hansen (Tony Award), The Book of Mormon (Tony Award) and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Off-Broadway: Trevor, Little Shop of Horrors. Shows he has co-produced have won 15 Best Musical or Best Play Tony Awards. AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP PRODUCTIONS (Producer). Broadway productions include Plaza Suite; Lehman Trilogy; Caroline, or Change; David Byrne’s American Utopia; Harold Pinter’s Betrayal; Sea Wall/A Life; Burn This; Pretty Woman The Musical; A Doll’s House, Part 2; Dear Evan Hansen; and Sunday in the Park with George. G AV I N K A L I N P R O D U C T I O N S (Producer). Select Broadway credits: Betrayal, The Ferryman, Sea Wall/A Life, Hadestown. Select West End credits: Pretty Woman, Cyrano, Betrayal, King Lear, The Ferryman, Come From Away, The Lehman Trilogy. For more: gavinkalinproductions.com. DEROY KIERSTEAD (Producer). Jamie deRoy: Seven Tony Awards. Currently: The Lehman Trilogy, Tina, Ain’t Too Proud, Company, To Kill a Mockingbird, Thoughts of a Colored Man. Jim Kierstead: Emmy, Olivier and threetime Tony winning producer. Credits include Hadestown, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Lehman Trilogy, Company, The Inheritance. J O H N G O R E O R G A N I Z AT I O N (Producer) family of companies includes BroadwayAcross-America. com and Broadway.com, under the supervision of 14-time Tony-winning producer John Gore (Chairman &

PRETTY WOMAN TOUR STAFF Broadway Opening Night: August 16, 2018 Nederlander Theatre Tour Opening Night: October 12, 2021 Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI

CHESTNUT RIDGE PRODUCTIONS Paula Wagner Assistant to the Producer...................Suzy Yaako NICE PRODUCTIONS Barbara Marshall Kathleen Marshall LaGambina Heather Hall Cathy Berry LPO Paola Gambino Lawton GENERAL MANAGEMENT 101 PRODUCTIONS, LTD. Wendy Orshan Jeffrey M. Wilson Ron Gubin Chris Morey Jeff Klein Ed Nelson Bobby Driggers Christopher Taggart Beth Blitzer Kathy Kim Hilary Hamilton Katie Andrew DeAnn Boise Lizz Cone Coleman Ray Clark Frank Deming II Adam First Michael Gremo Rob Gallo Michael Leibring Robert Nolan Jenny Peek Laura Quintela Rachel Roberson Christine Stump Steve Supeck Nicole Suazo Ryan Sweeney Michael Leon Thomas COMPANY MANAGER Michael Anthony Gremo Assistant Company Manager........ Frank Deming II TOUR MARKETING & PRESS ALLIED GLOBAL MARKETING Andrew Damer Jennifer Gallagher Scott Praefke Hayden Anderson Adina Hsu Amenkha Sembenu TOUR BOOKING AGENCY THE BOOKING GROUP Meredith Blair Kara Gebhart Stephanie Ditman Laura Kolarik thebookinggroup.com CASTING THE TELSEY OFFICE Craig Burns, CSA Rashad Naylor Associate General Manager.......... Bobby Driggers Assistant General Manager................... Kathy Kim Production Supervisor......... Thomas Recktenwald Production Stage Manager................RL Campbell Stage Manager............................ Julianne Menassian Assistant Stage Manager...................... Leslie S. Allen Engagement Management......................Ron Gubin Ticketing & Analytics.......... Tanna, Inc/Gregg Arst Tour Management Support............ Hilary Hamilton Associate Scenic Designers.................Dick Jaris, T.J. Greenway Associate Costume Designer...............Mark Koss Associate Lighting Designer.............Kirk Fitzgerald Assistant Lighting Designer............... Paige Seber Costume Assistant.................... Heather Freedman Costume Intern.................................... MJ Stone Copyist........................................Emily Grishman Assistant to the Technical Supervisor.....Adam First

Production Assistant.......Brandon Allmon-Jackson, Adam Dooley Music Assistant......................... Terence Odonkor Director/Choreographer Apprentice............................. Deborah Wilson NY Covid Safety Manager.........Flora Stamatiades Touring Covid Safety Manager............. Ally Gursky EDI Facilitator...................................... ReadySet TOURING CREW Head Carpenter............................... Alden Corey Assistant Carpenter................... Casandra Maher Flyman.......................................... Dylan Dineen Production Electricians................James Fedigan/ Patrick Johnston Moving Light Programmer...................Alex Fogel Head Electrician...............................Adam Grant Deck Electrician......................... Maxfield Bishop Follow Spot.................................Dirk Van Pernis Ableton Programmer..............Sammy Merendino Associate Keyboard Programmer.... Sam Starobin Assistant Sound Designer.............David Patridge Advance Sound Engineer................Steven Zeller Production Sound.........................Kevin Kennedy Head Sound Engineer.........................Matt Davis Assistant Sound Engineer............. Maddy Herwig Props Supervisor............. Kathy Fabian/Propstar Associate Props Supervisor...............John Estep Head Props............................. David A. Summey Assistant Props..............................Sean Jenkins Crew Swing................................... Tiffany White Wardrobe Supervisor...................... Élisè Packee Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor.Soon Vander Velde Star Dresser...........................Charlynn Knighton Hair Supervisor................................. Debra Parr Assistant Hair Supervisor...................Megan Holl Company Management Apprentice.Frank Wright II Accountant................ Withum Smith + Brown,PC Robert Fried, CPA; Karen Kowgios, CPA; Anthony W. Moore, CPA Controller.................Galbraith & Co./Jill Johnson Tour Marketing & Press... Allied Global Marketing/ Andrew Damer, Jennifer Gallagher, Jessica Cary Social Media.............................Marathon Digital/ Mike Karns, Melanie Pateiro, Ava Koploff Human Resources Consultant.......K+K Reset LLC, Kiah Jones and Karen Robinson Banking................................. City National Bank/ Anne McSweeney, Erik Piecuch Insurance.......................DeWitt Stern Group, Inc. Legal...................................... Loeb & Loeb LLP/ Stefan Schick, Rachel Kiwi, Brittany Berckes Housing................... Road Concierge/Lisa Morris Travel...............................................Tzell Travel Production Photographer........... Matthew Murphy Payroll Services....................Checks + Balances Physical Therapy.Neurosport Physical Therapy, Inc Merchandise.... Creative Goods Merchandise LLC Trucking...................................... Clark Transfer Mascots.......................... Ralphie, Butler, Harper CREDITS Scenery and scenic effects built, painted and electrified by Show Motion, Inc, Milford CT. Lighting equipment from PRG. Sound equipment from Masque Sound. Props Artisans: John Ruegsegger, Jon Knust, Emily Baldassara, Kate Lundell, and Mary Wilson. Custom upholstery by J. Jammal Upholstery & Décor. Flame treatment by Turning Star Inc. Specialty props by Tom Carroll Scenery Inc. Special thanks to Bren Bri Properties. Costumes constructed by Arel Studios, Lynne Baccus, By Barak and Cygnet Studios. Custom tailoring by Giliberto Designs. Custom millinery by Ann Claire Millinery NYC, Lynne Mackey Studio.

Custom beading by Polly Kinney. Custom painting by Jeff Fender Studios. Custom printing by SKY NYC. Undergarments provided by Bra Tenders. Custom shoes by LaDuca, T.O. DEY. Custom Jewelry by Chris Crouch. Props by Kathy Fabian. SPECIAL THANKS The team at Atlantic Records, Pete Ganbarg, Mikey Parker, Kellie Gentry. The Pretty Woman Chicago Team, the Pretty Woman London team, the Pretty Woman Stage Hamburg team, and Jamal Davis at Magic Bootcamp. With love and appreciation to Seth Gelblum. Andrew Basile. Makeup Provided By M·A·C With grateful acknowledgement to the State of Rhode Island and Steven Feinberg, the Rhode Island Film & Television Office. To learn more about the production, please visit prettywomanthemusical.com Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @PrettyWoman This production was rehearsed at the 52nd Street Project. The use of cell phones during the performance is prohibited by law. 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 Press Agents and Company Managers employed in this production are represented by the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers. Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E.). The musicians employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians.

The Director and Choreographer are members of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union. United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

CEO). Productions include Ain’t Too Proud, Dear Evan Hansen, Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge!, Tina and To Kill a Mockingbird.

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL

DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT IN ITS 2022/23 BROADWAY SEASON

BROADWAY IS IN FULL BLOOM 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.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO BECOME A SUBSCRIBER!

• BRAILLE PROGRAMS are available with 2 weeks’ notice to amcmullen@dcpa.org or 303.446.4836. THE BUELL THEATRE is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, Arts and Venues. CITY & COUNTY OF DENVER Michael Hancock, Mayor ARTS AND VENUES Ginger White-Brunetti, Executive Director For information call: 720.865.4220

Members of Denver Theatrical Wardrobe, Wigs, Hair and Make-up, Union 719 Linda Ackerschott Robin Appleton Julie Bassignani Carrie Breidenbach Vonnie Clough Craig Cory Cyndie Cory Laura Cotugno Steve Davies Anne Davis Amber Donner Carolyn Dore Deborah Guess AnnSue Gunter Judy Holabird Amoreena Knabb

Leslie Lambert Taylor Malott Anthony Mattivi Sharon Millikan-Hale Callie Morrow Tim Nelson Lisa Parson Laura Payne Yolanda Pollock Dave Poole Alen Richardson Liz Spadi Amy Tepel Marybeth Tscherpel Eliza Vlasova Barb Wilson

DPAC House Crew Mark Anthony Perry Elliot James R. Gralian Allen Olmstead

EJ Posselius Albert Sainz, Sr Derek Tovar David A. Wilson

STARTS AT 4 PAYMENTS OF $60.75 SEASON SPONSORS

DENVERCENTER.ORG

THREE SIDE-SPLITTING PARODIES ARE COMING SOON TO THE DENVER CENTER!

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

SEASON SPONSORS

DENVERCENTER.ORG

AUG 30 – SEP 11

BUELL THEATRE

SEASON SPONSORS

DENVERCENTER.ORG

BLUE HOPE BASH DENVER: Changing the Odds Saturday, October 1, 2022

Saturday and Sunday August 27 & 28, 2022 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

THE SEAWELL BALLROOM AT THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

ccalliance.org/bhbdenver

1 in 24 people will get colorectal cancer. On October 1, you can help change the odds.

56th annual

Please join the Colorectal Cancer Alliance at the Blue Hope Bash Denver.

Buchanan Rec Center Fields

32003 Ellingwood Trail Evergreen, CO 80439 www.evergreenfineartsfestival.com

FINE ART

Food, Live Music, Fun for the whole family

Screen, Care, and Cure are the three pillars guiding the Alliance’s work and are instrumental in Changing the Odds to help put an end to colorectal cancer in our lifetime. The Blue Hope Bash will feature cocktails, dinner, guest speakers, music, an auction, and interactive games of chance to support Changing the Odds for good. Event sponsorships and tickets are currently available. ccalliance.org/bhbdenver

incredible outdoor spaces for your home or business Creating unique outdoor living is our mission. Helping you realize your dreams …. Is our passion! Contact us today for your free consultation

303.750.6060 PhaseOneLandscapes.com email@phaseonelandscapes.com

SPECTACULAR EVENTS. SIMPLIFIED. DCPA Event Services The DCPA Event Services team is here to partner with you for every aspect of your next big event! Create an experience for the record books with immaculate catering, dramatic lighting design, our theatre-quality A/V system, professional staffing — the works — all coordinated by one team under one roof.

LEARN MORE DENVERCENTER.ORG/VENUE-RENTALS

A NEW IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

THEATER OF THE MIND

Created by Academy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning artist DAVID BYRNE (American Utopia ) & writer MALA GAONKAR AUG 31 - DEC 18 | YORK STREET YARDS | TICKETS ON SALE NOW Caution: the brain may wander. Side eﬀects may include a distrust of your own senses, a disorientation of self, and a mild to severely good time. You may not be who you think you are. But we’re all in it together.

LEARN MORE

Off-Center Off-Cent

LEARN MORE

EROM NRAEL

Theater of the Mind is supported in part by Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation. This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Colorado Tourism Oﬃce. Additional support from Scientiﬁc and Cultural Facilities District.

LEARN MORE

�� (J/f/ p ap 9/J' � ']he;

111

EAT. EAT. DRINK. DRINK. SFIOP. SHOP.

40 SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND ENTERJAl�MENT YENUES 40 SHOPS, RESTAURANTS DENVERPAVILIONS.COM AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES DENVERPAVILIONS.COM

Gala STAR SPANGLED

oin us for an evening celebrating our Veterans at the Denver Downtown Aquarium’s newly redone Nautilus Ballroom! Enjoy a VIP visit and photo opportunity with the Aquarium’s Animal Ambassadors, and tour the beautiful Aquarium exhibits! Appetizers in the fabulous Dive Lounge, full-course wine pairing dinner in the Nautilus ballroom, Amazing Silent Auction offerings, and enjoy the fun of our famous dessert auction!

or go to www.HealingWarriorsProgram.org

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2022, 4:30 - 9:00 PM DENVER DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM BALLROOM 700 Water St., Denver, CO 80221

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS FUN EVENING GO TOWARDS SUPPORTING THE HEALING WARRIORS PROGRAM CLINICS IN FORT COLLINS, DENVER, COLORADO SPRINGS AND LONGMONT. Healing Warriors Program is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Charitable Organization. Tax ID: 45-5093751 Registered VA vendor and Platinum Guidestar Charity. CCC# 1401 | CFC# 14114 www.HealingWarriorsProgram.org | 970-776-VETS (8387)

THEATER OF THEasks: MIND

If you are made of your

MEMORIES,

and those memories are

MALLEABLE, then who are

YOU?

BY DR. NICOLE GARNEAU

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

This is the question that multimedia artist, David Byrne (American Utopia, Talking Heads, Reasons to Be Cheerful, A History of the World in Dingbats) posed to me. Byrne has been asking this question for decades. In his early 20s he found himself fascinated with the work of neurophysiologist Warren McCulloch and thus began a journey that led him, 40 years later, to cowriter Mala Gaonkar, and their creation, Theater of the Mind. Theater of the Mind is the newest, and arguably most ambitious, production of DCPA Off-Center. It doesn’t just explore the human brain; it allows YOU to explore YOUR brain through story and science. As a scientist who loves storytelling, it is like nothing I have ever seen or experienced. Andrew Scoville, the show’s director, feels the same way. He grinned when I shared this, and in excitement told me “I am a storyteller who loves science!” Scoville, in addition to loving science, loves a challenge. As the architect of the process that gives Theater of the Mind its framework, he knew it was going to be “a challenge in the most positive way.” In effect, Scoville and the team set out to create a world of lived experiences, memories and self-reflection, in which the rest of us are then invited to play. It is immersive art on a most massive scale. It has inner technological workings that are beyond belief. If that weren’t courageous enough, the experience is built upon the fallacy of human perception. It is designed to unlock the cage of the mind. No small potatoes here. Theater of the Mind aims to play big. To do so, the creative team tackled three aspects unique only to this type of production. The first was the casting of unicorns, 14 of them to be exact. Not only are the actors in the production exceptional at their trade, but as Scoville relayed to me, “We didn’t just need actors, we needed conversationalists! People who could tell a story and confidently put you at ease.” But that wasn’t all Scoville was looking for, he also needed them to facilitate actual experiments and navigate each group of 16 from beginning to end. No small task, but they did it. Next up, the team needed to set the stage, figuratively and immediately, for the show’s entry point. Guests would need to be in the right frame of mind in order to get the most of the experience. This is because audience members become part of the narrative. I don’t want to give too much away, so all I can say is that the creative team has clever ways of centering audience members in the story and challenging their sense of identity. Neuroscience supports this move. Here’s why: your memories are malleable, and greatly influenced by emotion and sensory perception. Both are key parts of your nervous system, sending clues to your brain about what is going on around you and how you should feel about it. But you can’t take in everything, you simply don’t have the short-term memory space. Your brain needs to be selective. All that incoming data is filtered to capture only what is essential in that moment. The result?

A very malleable and often unreliable memory. In fact, layers upon layers of these memories, tied to emotions, tied to your senses. All dictating your every move, your views, thoughts and your very identity. This is how your mind creates the stories of you. This is perception. Back to Theater of the Mind’s starting point, you find that all those perceptions and preconceived notions are shed when see yourself differently. It is quite liberating really. Think about it, when else are you given permission, in fact encouraged, to let your fixed identity go and see the world anew? This is how you begin your journey, which leads me to the final aspect. The team needs your complete buy-in. You meet your Guide, a shade of sorts, who weaves you into the very center of their story. You will experience their memories as seen through the eyes of their death, as they attempt to square up truth in order to understand who they truly are. For this to work, you need a space that shakes up your pattern recognition, a key feature of perception. Pattern recognition is the experience of similar events, over and over, such that your brain recognizes and reacts with increasing speed, creating an automatic behavior. Quick action in the face of a threat leads to survival in the traditional sense. Pattern recognition in the face of true danger is imperative. But I wonder how these automatic habits play out in your everyday life. Might you have some automatic behaviors that are rooted in fear, or shame, maybe guilt or conditioning? Theater of the Mind aims to quiet these automatic brain patterns. It creates a space where you are asked to free yourself from filtering pattern recognition through your personal lens. It offers playful and mind-blowing experiments in which to test this out, and in the end, it seeks to engage you with a new way of thinking. It allows you to explore what it means to experience yourself in the world without the same fixed perspective. This brings us back to Byrne’s original question, “If you are made of your memories, and those memories are malleable, then who are you?” In my interview with Off-Center’s Executive Director & Curator, Charlie Miller, he put it another way, “If memory and identity are malleable, meaning nothing is fixed, what else is possible?” A curious question I look forward to exploring. Dr. Nicole Garneau is a geneticist and neuroscientist who speaks, consults and writes about the human experience in order to shatter the shame of mental health. Connect with Dr. Nicole Garneau at www.drnicolegarneau.com and @DocGarneau.

THEATER OF THE MIND AUG 31 – DEC 18 YORK STREET YARDS

Accessible services available. Please check denvercenter.org/accessible for full details.

PROUD SPONSOR OF DCPA OFF-CENTER’S THEATER OF THE MIND

Located just north of downtown Denver in the River North Art District, or RiNo, The Ramble Hotel is locally owned and operated. As the first hotel to open in RiNo — a neighborhood that is home to a remarkable concentration of creative businesses such as art galleries, furniture makers, illustrators, painters, photographers, sculptors and more — the connection between the hotel and the art community is intrinsic, but also thoughtfully fostered by the hotel. The Ramble’s efforts to create a timeless structure that evoked both the nostalgia and permanence of the past with a modern interpretation were rewarded upon its opening in 2018 when it was named one of the world’s “Top 18 New Hotels” by Architectural Digest. Featuring a high level of masonry not often seen in new-build projects, local artists were commissioned to build furniture, create artwork showcased throughout and — most notably — design and build the grand, three-arched, mirrored bar that is the gemstone of the hotel’s lobby and operated by Death & Co, one of the most significant and influential bars to emerge from the current craft cocktail revival. Since its opening, The Ramble continues to support the art community — commissioning muralists to paint exterior walls, partnering with the RiNo Art District to host traveling artists, repurposing a shipping container into a free, pop-up artist residency that allows them to create and sell their work and hosting the Invisible City Series each winter which features out-of-the box acts and artistic endeavors that allow guests to engage with some of the city’s most interesting creative communities. As such, our support of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts is both natural and sincere: Performance art continues to grow within our city and we are very keen to support it. Currently, The Ramble is collaborating with local theater company OddKnock, with guestroom packages that include access to their inaugural Denver immersive theater work, From on High, and later this year The Ramble will be a sponsor of Theater of the Mind, another immersive theater experience created by world-renowned musician David Byrne. The Ramble Hotel will offer guests a one-of-a-kind, in-room experience as well as mind-bending food and drink journeys created in partnership with the show, local neuroscientists and Death & Co Denver.

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

Shutters, Shades, Blinds, & Drapery

Denver’s Window Coverings Experts

Competitive Prices Cleaning & Repairs Large Fabric Selection

Heritance® Hardwood Shutters

The Blind Spot

303-973-1235 TheBlindSpot.biz

Next to Big 5 Sporting Goods, near Kipling and C470

Serving the Denver Front Range since 1994

10027 West Remington Avenue, Unit 200A, Littleton, CO 80127

In Good Taste Join us before the show! • $7 VALIDATED VALET AFTER 3PM •

Over 250 Dishes Made Fresh. Every Day. 16th Street Mall, Denver, CO 80202. Located on the first floor. 303-595-0333

2 BLOCKS FROM DCPA NEW MENUS COCKTAILS | WINE | CRAFT BEER 1400 Stout St. Denver 80202 | 720.214.9100

PROUD SEASON SPONSOR OF DCPA BROADWAY

DANCE FOR YOUR HEALTH

BY LINNEA COVINGTON

While dance is something we can both do and watch for pleasure, the movement goes beyond entertainment. It’s actually good for your body and mind. “Dancing is excellent for your health, and it’s a wonderful example of an activity where art and sport meet,” said Dr. Joshua A. Metzl, MD, the head orthopedic physician for the Colorado Ballet, as well as an assistant team physician for the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and Colorado Rapids. “Dance is a total body workout, including the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, as well as the brain.” Best part? You can dance just about anywhere. And for free-ﬂowing movement, no instruction is required. Why Dancing is So Good

Hadestown North American Tour. Photo by T Charles Erickson.

Like with any exercise, dancing gets the blood and oxygen moving through the body, which can improve the condition of the heart and lungs. Building strength adds muscle tone, that in turn supports the bones, while giving the body more endurance and better range of motion. Stronger bones mean less risk of osteoporosis. And overall, dancing will improve coordination, agility and flexibility. Let’s not skip the mental benefits. Exercise has long been associated with increasing serotonin, that hormone that makes us feel happy. The Colorado Ballet and the Parkinson Association of the Rockies with support from the University of Colorado School of Medicine Physical Therapy Program, Rhythm and Grace: Dance for PD, uses dance to address such Parkinson’s-specific concerns as balance, flexibility, coordination, isolation and depression. “Overall, the health benefits are tremendous,” said Dr. Metzl. While dancing is good for you and fun, it can cause injury. But don’t fear it, just prepare. “Most dance related injuries that present to my practice involve situations where a dancer has increased their volume too quickly without appropriate strength training or is simply dancing too frequently for what their body can tolerate,” advises Dr. Metzl, who also works for UCHealth Steadman Hawkins Clinic Denver. “My best advice would be to consistently and regularly maintain core strength and to decrease dance volume or seek medical advice if discomfort persists.” And stretching, lots of stretching. You don’t have to be a professional ballerina or have studied dance since childhood in order to reap the benefits of movement. Dancers come in all ages and sizes, the main point is to enjoy it and get your body moving. “Dance is an art form that is beneficial from a very young age, to a professional level and even for senior citizens,” said Dr. Metzl. “I would strongly encourage anyone that enjoys watching dance to participate.” You don’t need a studio or class to start. Just throw on that track that makes your body want to move and start dancing.

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

CAMARADERIE THE BOBBY GS OVER COMPETITION IN

Sara Sachs summed up the Bobby G Awards on May 26 when she accepted the Outstanding Scenic Design Award for Overland’s Sister Act. “The real Bobby G Award is the friends you make along the way,” Sachs said to a crowd of 2,000 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The Bobby G Awards, which celebrate achievements in high school musical theatre, are essentially the Colorado state championships for thespians. John Ekeberg, Executive Director of DCPA Broadway, remarked on how energizing it was to resume the inperson awards: “We are in a world where we can use as much joy as possible.” And there was about as much joy as could ﬁt in the room that night.

The Bobby Gs emphasize camaraderie over competition. All ﬁve Outstanding Musical nominees were invited to perform songs from their productions. While Aurora’s Overland High School took the top prize with Sister Act, the nominees were Chaparral (9 to 5, the Musical), Lakewood (Anastasia), Littleton (Into the Woods), and Palmer Ridge (Once Upon a Mattress). Each year, the 10 nominated Outstanding Actors and Actresses prepare an original medley to perform at the ceremony before the winners are announced. This year’s honorees were Thomas Beeker (Harold Hill in The Music Man, Frederick High School) and Madison Manning (Deloris Van Cartier in Overland’s Sister Act).

Winners were determined by a team of local adjudicators who considered musical productions from 41 Colorado high schools in 18 counties, most of which also took part in workshops facilitated by DCPA Teaching Artists. In all, about 3,500 students participated in this year’s program, and with nearly 32,000 participants since 2013. At the end of the night, Talia Liccardello, who won for her direction of Littleton’s Into the Woods summed it up: “It feels good. I want people to know theatre is hard work, but it is so worth it.”

Photos by McLeod9Creative and John Moore.

BY JOHN MOORE

A GRAND FINALE TO

Wolf Theatre. Photo by Armin Guenther at Cumming Group

A GRANDER OPENING

Thank you to our Grander Opening capital campaign donors!

James & Lorraine Adams Heidi Aggeler Emilie Ailts Staible Richard Akeroyd Geovanny Alfaro Cheryl & Darryl Annett Anonymous (5) The Anschutz Foundation Gloria Aplin Lori Arfsten Willis Ashby & Karen Burch Patricia Baca Holly Bachmeyer Bailey Stanford Foundation Felicia Baldelli Diane & Thomas J Barrett, Jr. Dianne Bartlett Leslie Beltrami Jim & Kristin Bender The Joan and Phill Berger Charitable Fund Gail & Martin M. Berliner The Paula and William Bernstein Family Foundation Patricia D Billinger Andy & Murri Bishop Boettcher Foundation Dan Bowles Janet M. & Andre M. Branum Barbara Bridges Arleen Brown Marilyn Brown Brittany Burghart & Gregg Sullivan Kay Drees Burke Family Trust Joy S. Burns Nora Caley Michell Cameron Jennifer Caskey Michael Cheroutes The Chotin Foundation Keri Christiansen Isabelle Clark Jamie Clements Kathy Clifton Michelle Clock Melissa Cochran Karen & Kyle Collins Ann Connelly Michelle Cowgill

Les Crispelle Laurie Cullum The Curtis Hotel Karen Curtis Julie & Peter Cushman Robin & Tracy Darby Jay & Kristina Davidson Merry Davis Evan & Jennifer Dechtman Jeanne Desautels Russell Dewitt Dillard’s Dimond Family Foundation Jill DiPasquale Jill & Larry DiPasquale Downtown Denver Partnership Kevin Durban & Kristy Rowe Helene Eckstein Dianne Eddolls Stephen Edmonds & Daniel Kopnisky Karen & Curt Eggebraten Samantha Egle John Ekeberg & Jen Schwem El Pomar Foundation Matthew & Lisa Emerson David Farahi Howard L. & Leslie Farkas Kathie & Keith Finger Peggy Finley Joanne & Larry Fisher Adrienne Ruston Fitzbiggons Estate of Joan Foster Victoria Frank Pat Frederiksen Jamie Froyd Virginia Fuller Gregory & Ann Fulton Barbara Garlinghouse Nancy Gary Alan & Sally* Gass Gates Family Foundation Ted & Sharon Gelt Genesee Mountain Foundation Margot Gilbert Frank Ingrid Glancy Golden Hands Fund Amanda Gomez & Anthony V. Berkley

Sarah Gosh Graf Engineering, LLC Thomas Graham & Judith Pettibone Taylor & Katie Grassby Emma Green Marilou Griego Patrick Hamill Dr. Dorit Hammerling Jan Hammond Raymond & Nichole Han Martin J. & Julie S. Harrington Cari Harris Albert Hattem Jennifer Havercroft-Miller & Greg Miller HealthONE Helen G. Bonﬁls Foundation Jon Seay & Robin Heppler Kristin Hinds Susie Hinkle Robert & Diane Hochstadt The Honorable Michael R. Homyak Mark & Katharine Honnen Amber Human & Luke Deavers L. Roger & Meredith Hutson/HRM Resources, LLC Michael & Patty Imhoﬀ Daniyal Inamullah Roger Jensen C. Howard & Dorsey* Johnson Gail Johnson Janet Johnson Rosemary Jonassen Frank & Marti Judson Lark Katchur Mark Kawakami Martha Kelce Deborah Kelly Joe Kelso Key Bank Colorado Betsy Kiley & Steve Knox Kevin & Dorota Kilstrom Melly Kinnard Diana & Mike Kinsey Joanne & John Kirby Estate of Elizabeth T. Kirkpatrick

Rick & Molly Klau Monica Knowles Mike & Gloria Komppa Ruth Krebs & Peter Mannetti KSL Capital Partners, LLC John & Julie Kucera Kathleen Kurtz Rebecca Kuusinen William LaBahn Kaitlin LaFlamme Terre Lantzy Larimer Associates Ashley Levesque Paul LoNigro Estate of Ellyn E. Lyman Susan & Bruce Madison Sharon Maﬀei Ernie Blake & Sharon Magness Blake Gerald & Carole Makela Evan & Evi Makovsky William Mandell Paul Manoogian Mariel Morton & Edie Marks Kristen Martin Barbara Mautino Ann McBournie Beth McCann Timothy McCracken MDC/Richmond American Homes Foundation Julianne Miles Charlie Miller David Miller & Lisa Farber Miller James & Claudia Miller Leslie Mitchell Joe Moenich & Gary Chappel Patrick Mooney Mr. Kyle Moore Lorna & Bill Moore Morgridge Family Foundation Lynnette Morrison Philip & Marcie Munishor Mieko Nakamura Jane & Gordon Netzorg Robert and Judi Newman Family Foundation Nancy & Paul Oberman Rene O’Connell

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

Bill & Beth Oligmueller Elizabeth A. Orr Gordon & Pam Parker Estate of Susan S. Parkhurst Dr. C. Lee Parmley Julie Parsons & Frank Nowell Mark & Julie Pawlak Rick Pederson Federico & Cindy Pena Essie Perlmutter Cason & Rachel Pierce Susan Fox Pinkowitz & Ted Pinkowitz Pam & Don Piro Pam Pittock JJP Family Foundation Caroline Rapalyea William & Beth Reid Blair & Kristin Richardson Linda Rieger Greg Rindone & Kendy Cusick-Rindone Daniel L. Ritchie Nigel Robbins Dick Robinson Manny Rodriguez & Carolina Lyon Rollie R. Kelley Family Foundation Lynde Rosario Mary Ross Eric Roth Audrey Rothenberg Nicole & Peter Rueth Marisa Rybar The Salah Foundation Lorraine Salazar Hassan & Sheila Salem Rick & Shelly Sapkin/ Edgemark LLC Gerard & Dottie Scarsella Christina Schneider David & Eva Schoonmaker Julie Schumaker Miranda Schwarck Sammy Scoma Julie & Jamie Scott Fern Seltzer Jo & Martin Semple Stan & Sarah Sena Mark Sexton & The Sexton Family Foundation

Christopher Sigit-Sidharta Artis Silverman & Stephen Carmel Janice Sinden Dean Singleton Bob & Carole Slosky Grady Soapes George Sparks & Dr. Shandra Wilson Melanie Spatola Bernadette Spillane Christopher Stewart Megan Stewart Stonebridge Companies Jim & Jenene Stookesberry Jeﬀ Suntken Mr. and Mrs. Buzz Sweat Dick & Sonnie Talley Kathy Tedrick The Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation Mr. Ron Thorne June Travis Ken & Debra Tuchman U.S. Bank Patricia Villegas Julie Voorhees Tina Walls Hon. Wellington Webb & Wilma Webb Susan Weeks Bonnie West Marsha Wheeler-Miller & York Miller Tim & Stephanie White Families Chris Wiedenmayer Jody & Kemper Will Williams Companies Jane Williams Judi & Marvin* Wolf David & Lynn Wong Joe & Pam Woods Earl Wright The Nancy S. and Earl L. Wright Foundation Christine & Ronald Yaros Suzanne M. Yoe David Young, MD & Sylvia Young Joseph Zell & Christine Ekman

(TOP) Bonﬁls lobby. Photo by Adams VisCom. (BOTTOM) Saturday Night Alive. Photo by Amanda Tipton Photography.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is grateful for the generous support of our community. More than 350 individuals, companies and foundations contributed $17 million to create a world-class home for our world-class productions. Additionally, the residents of Denver invested $19 million through the Elevate Denver bond fund to ensure the future of theatre in our community.

TRUST COIT. YOU’LL REST EASY.

Clean as new, that’s the Coit commitment to you.

SATIFACTION

• Tile & Grout • Air Ducts • Window Treatments • Concrete

• Wood Flooring • Natural Stone • Carpet & Rugs • Upholstery

100% GUARANTEE

303-922-9212 2022 SEASON

A prepaid funeral plan protects your family. Planning your life celebration now will give you and your family valuable peace of mind. Our guaranteed, prepaid funeral plans protect everyone from hard financial and emotional decisions at a time of loss. Speak with us today and we’ll help you take care of every detail, including affordable payment plans. FREE planning guide:

DignityMemorial.com

9 LOCAL PROVIDERS TO SERVE YOU, INCLUDING:

OLINGER MORTUARIES & CEMETERIES

303-233-4611

LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL GRAND LAKE

•

FOR TICKETS: Box Office · (970) 627-3421 · RockyMountainRep.com Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery

PROUDLY FUNDED IN PART BY:

PROUD SPONSOR OF SATURDAY NIGHT ALIVE AND CAMP CHRISTMAS

The arts create opportunities for education, expression, dialogue and shared experiences that lift people up and bring them together.

BEING INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITIES KEEPS XCEL ENERGY CONNECTED.

Xcel Energy understands that arts and cultural programing plays a pivotal role in shaping our communities. The arts create opportunities for education, expression, dialogue and shared experiences that lift people up and bring them together. That is why Xcel Energy donates thousands of dollars every year to organizations like the Denver Center for the Performing Arts that foster cultural expression and inclusion and build community strength and vitality. Xcel Energy is also committed to delivering safe, reliable, low-cost, clean energy and is advancing the clean energy transition, with a vision of serving our customers net-zero energy by 2050. That’s across all the ways you use energy: heating, electricity, and transportation. From switching to energy-eﬃcient LED bulbs to making energy-saving decisions together, it’s the people in Colorado that’ll help advance this change. You. Us. Together. Learn more at https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/community.

— XCEL ENERGY

Xcel Energy employee volunteers in partnership with 40 West Arts painted a ground mural in Lakewood, Colorado. The mural increased connectivity to a park and the local neighborhood.

APPLAUSE • AUG – OCT 2022 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

Photos by Giorgio Ausenda

A CELEBRATION OF

COMMUNITY & CULTURE

B Y B R I T TA N Y G U T I E R R E Z

The community came together on June 9, under the glass rooftop of downtown’s Arts Complex to celebrate the Hispanic and Latiné community. The free ¡Comunidad, Cultura y Fiesta! kicked oﬀ a performance of DCPA Theatre Company’s Quixote Nuevo and brought nearly 400 attendees throughout the evening to experience delicious food, incredible dancing and engaging music. The Fiesta was a partnership between the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Colorado Symphony and Denver Arts & Venues. The partnership also brought together fellow Denver Latiné community organizations — the Mexican Cultural Center and Museo de las Americas providing art displays and Colectiva curating the talent. “I am thrilled that the DCPA has formed a beautiful collaboration with our community partners to provide a space to come together and celebrate,” said DCPA Director of Community Engagement Jesús Quintana Martínez. “I believe in the saying, ‘La unión hace la fuerza’ or ‘strength through unity,’ and this event is a living example of what we can do when we come together. ¡Comunidad, Cultura y Fiesta! would not be possible without our vibrant Colorado community!” The evening started with four local businesses providing food for the evening ranging from tacos to mangonada by Cabron Carbon, La Machaca, DGO Mexican Grill and La Bonita Neveria y Paleteria with DJing by Soldevila Music Project. The event did not stop there with multi-instrumentalist Miguel Soldevila performing for the audience to get the party started. Following Soldevila, ArtistiCO took to the stage to VIEW MORE perform beautiful folklorico dancing. ArtistiCO ended the Fiesta with a bang when they invited attendees to get on their feet and learn some salsa dancing. With the Fiesta energy high, attendees moved to the Wolf Theatre and stepped into the fantastical world of Quixote Nuevo where the crowd was joined by playwright Octavio Solis making it a night to remember.

SERIOUS TRAINING

SERIOUS FUN Sharpen your skills with guidance from theatre professionals! DCPA EDUCATION ADULT | TEEN | CHILD ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME

ENROLL TODAY

Education & Community Engagement

DENVERCENTER.ORG