Beauty and the Beast

Vintage Theatre Company: 11/25 – 1/8

                          Angela Mendez as Belle

Vintage Theatre Company’s 100^th production, "Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST," is a charming delight.

       Angela Mendez enchants as Belle. Preston Britton is hilarious as Lumiere!

     Director Clay White has directed this beloved musical with great pacing. It features Denver favorites James Francis(Beast), Suzanne Connors Nepi (Mrs. Potts), Ben Hilzer(a deliciously funny LeFou), Caitlin Conklin(Babette),Dave Gordon(Gaston),Jeff Jesmer(Cogsworth) and Craig Ross(Maurice.) New to this reviewer, Sullivan McConnell is adorable as Chip.

     Kelley Von Oosbree’s vibrant choreography will bring a smile to your face. The dancing of “Human Again,” “Be Our Guest” and the waltz to the title song, are all beautifully realized.

     This “tale as old as time” will make you feel as though you’ve been transported once upon a time all over again.

     

Vintage Theatre presents

"Disney's Beauty and the Beast"

Nov. 25 - Jan 15

The classic story tells of young Belle and the Beast that only she can change.

Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2:30 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

$28 - $31

303-856-7830 or online at www.vintagetheatre.org

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010

Marlowe's Musings 

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Town Hall Arts Center: 11/11 – 12/30

L-R: Keegan Flaugh and Kaden Hinkle
     Nick Sugar has done it again. He’s taken an extra sweet story that many people love and has in past made this critic cringe, and turned it- in this critic’s not so humble opinion - from dross to gold. It doesn’t get much better than seeing any musical directed and choreographed by Nick Sugar.     Here this artist is ably assisted by the also estimable choreographer, Kelly Kates.

     Kaden Hinkle is a real winner as Ralphie. It is no small achievement to be able to carry a show of this magnitude. Bravo!

     Keegan Flaugh has become one of Colorado’s premiere talents. As The Old Man in this show his vocals are ear-pleasing in that confident, crisp and clear Broadway sounding way. His singing of “The Genius of Cleveland Street” is outstanding!

Mary McGroary and ensemble of "A Christmas Story,the Musical"

     Mary McGroary stuns as Miss Shields,a spinster school marm Ralphie fantasizes about saving with his beebee gun,(“Ralphie to the Rescue!”) who later appears as a show-stopping red hot mama who will belt and tap her way right into the very best of your Christmas memories.

     Eryn Carman acts and sings Mother in such a way as to make us hope we see her onstage LOTS more!

     Present as narrator, and grinning throughout, Scott McLean portrays the author, Jean Shepherd.

     The excellent music tracks done by maestra Donna Kolpan Debreceni thrill!

     Seth Alison’s lighting design is visually delicious and Douglas Clarke’s set is very nice work indeed.

     It is to be noted that one of the things director Sugar can pull off masterfully that most can’t is having a great dog and lots of cute kids onstage that enhance and endear rather than allowing them to distract, cloy and annoy. It’s a gift!

       Margie Lamb, Gabriel Morales, Sydney Fairbairn and John Mackey(Santa Claus) add spice to the ensemble of this delightful Christmas present from Town Hall!

For tickets call 303.794.2787 or go online at townhallartscenter.orgMarlowe's Musings

Hand to God

Curious Theater Company: through December 17

  L-R: John Hauser and Tyrone

Curious Theatre Company is presenting the regional premiere of Robert Askins’ dark comedy “Hand to God” now through December 17.

     After the death of her husband, Margery (Tara Falk) and her son, Jason (John Hauser), are given the use of a church basement to help them get their minds off the recent death of the head of the household.

     Pastor Greg has given Margery the task of preparing the students for a religious presentation in which they all use sock puppets. When Jason’s puppet, Tyrone, starts taking on a foul-mouthed, demonic life of its own, his (Jason’s) pent-up rage escalates into a hysterically funny, if violently horrifying, church basement Hell.

     John Hauser succeeds brilliantly as the timid young man who also personifies Tyrone. Tara Falk’s superb acting as Margery makes us wish to see her onstage much more often. John Jurcheck is outstanding as Timothy, the outspoken rebel in the class with a huge crush on teacher. The show also features Jenna Moll Reyes as Jessica, Jason’s love interest.

     Pastor Greg, whose compassion for Margery is rooted in a play for her affections, is portrayed with an unsettling calm demeanor by Denver favorite Michael McNeill.

     Dee Covington does a ‘Hell’ of a job with the direction!

     Jason Ducat’s sound design and Katie Gruenhagen’s lighting design conspire to create breathtaking mood swings.

     Cory Gilstrap’s puppet design and construction is Amazing!

     This production is extremely provocative and may cause the viewer to realize that personal responsibility for our words and actions can never be brushed off by saying “the devil made me do it.”

     This show is not for children.

For tickets call 303-623-0524 or go online at curioustheatre.orgMarlowe's Musings