AN ACT OF GOD

THE GARNER GALLERIA THEATRE: 10/20 – 3/12

L-R: Steven Cole Hughes, Wesley Taylor and Erik Sandvold
An Act of God is brimming with humor of the ‘divinely’ satiric variety.

     Television idol, Wesley Taylor is currently personifying and embodying the anthropomorphic version of God through March 12.  His delivery of some hilarious, if sometimes quite controversial material, is extremely smooth and deliciously funny.  

      On Broadway Mr. Taylor appeared in the musicals, “Rock of Ages” and “The Addams

Family.” He was also seen in the television series “SMASH.”

     Critically acclaimed and direct from Broadway, “An Act of God” was written by thirteen - time Emmy award winner David Javerbaum.

     The pacing by director Geoffrey Kent makes the evening fly by. Kent has directed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Tempest” for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival as well as “Metamorphoses” for Aurora Fox Arts.

     In this production God is ably assisted by two of Denver’s finest. Erik Sandvold as Gabriel, reads passages in the two previous Testaments with blithe good will. Steven Cole Hughes serves God as the microphone-fumbling, crowd-working Michael.

     The celestial scenic design by Lisa M. Orzolek is one of the most eye-pleasin’ this season. It’s flanked by screens on which the commandments morph to suit the Deity’s whim. 
     Charles R. Macleod’s lighting design is bright and sunny. Anson Nicholson’s sound design is crisp and clear.

      All done with tongue-in-cheek, it’s stand-up comedy by way of Theology 101.

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The Garner Galleria is located at 1101 13^th Street in Denver. For tickets call 303-893-4100.

WILLY WONKA

VINTAGE THEATRE: THROUGH OCTOBER 30

   Eddy Schumacher as Willy Wonka (Photo credit: Mel Aman of DenverMind Media)

     “Willy Wonka” is based upon the 1971 movie, starring Gene Wilder. The film was in turn based upon Roald Dahl’s novel, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald, the show has music and lyrics by Anthony Newly and Leslie Bricusse. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score and another for Best Actor for Gene Wilder.

     Two of the songs everyone will know in the show are: “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination.”

     The plot revolves around Charlie Bucket, a poor child  played by Ashlynne Bogema, an eighth grader from Thunder Ridge Middle School, who wins a gold ticket to visit the Willy Wonka chocolate factory with four other children. Eddy Schumacher is charming in the iconic role of Willy Wonka.

     Some of the faces theatregoers will recognize in the cast are those of: David Ballew (Grandpa George), Brian Walker Smith (Grandpa Joe) and John White (Phineas Trout.)

     Directed by Deb Flomberg, the show has music direction by Trent Hines.

      It’s a show that families will enjoy!

Vintage Theatre presents

"Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka"

Willy Wonka stages a contest where in one golden ticket holder wins a lifetime supply of candy.

Sept. 16 - Oct. 30

Fri/Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun. at 2:30 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $17 to $31

www.vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830Marlowe's Musings

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010

MID-LIFE 2

#What Did I Come In Here For?

BDT Stage: 9/9 - 11/12

 

Foreground:Scott Beyette

L-R above are: Barb Reeves, Wayne Kennedy, Brian Burron and Tracy Warren. Getting upstaged between Barb and Wayne is Bren Eyestone Burron being a good sport(photo credit: BDT Stage)

 “Mid-Life 2” is the sequel to “Mid-Life: The Crisis Musical,” which BDT Stage produced nine years ago.

     The book, music and lyrics for the show were created by Bob Walton and Jim Walton, who are also credited with the direction and choreography.

     The intimacy afforded by BDT Stage is perfect for this type of material and one imagines that this is the primary reason the Waltons decided to showcase its premiere at this venue.

     All the usual suspects are on board for the technical aspects. The scenic design is by Amy Campion and the lighting by Brett Maughan. The audio design is Wayne Kennedy’s work and Linda Morken did the costume design. Maestro Neal Dunfee conducts the fantastic live orchestra.

     Co-directors Bob and Jim Walton have cast some of the most beloved and seasoned actors of the BDT Stage family as well: Wayne Kennedy, Scott Beyette, Tracy Warren, Bren Burron, Brian Burron and Barb Reeves.

     A few of the crises you will encounter on this mid-life journey are those of senior discounts, forgetfulness, and low testosterone (“Classical Low T.”) The song in which we meet ourselves in the mirror the most is “Bucket List.”

     Barb Reeves has a touching moment in which we get a vision of the joy of being a new grandparent: “She called me Nana.”

     The last song before intermission is a frisky
 number entitled, “The Last Song Before Intermission.”

     Act Two opens with the intentionally  awkward humor of “Senior Moments.”   

     If this were “A Chorus Line” the cast line-up would be holding head shots and not the latest issue of the AARP magazine. Nevertheless … you’ll have fun nervously laughing at a number of hilarious vignettes about being over the hill.

     It’s a musical that will appeal to theatregoers who are middle aged and older. Kids? Not so much!

     In fact, if those new-fangled musicals in which today’s whipper-snappers are rapping make you cranky, let me just say this about that: “You can’t be too long in the tooth or short in the gum to like this one!”

     Reminiscing about the past and bracing for the future, theatregoers of a certain age will not fail to identify.  Light hearted and tuneful, the evening provides lots of laughter. You may be laughing so hard that you’re glad you dragged that oxygen tank … and ear trumpets are advised for anyone who says "EH?" really loud after every line!Marlowe's Musings

Boulder’s Dinner Theatre is located at 5501 Arapahoe Avenue in Boulder, Colorado

For tickets call 303-449-6000 or go online at bdtstage.com

God of Carnage

Miners Alley Playhouse: 9/9 – 10/16

L-R: Augustus Truhn, Lisa DeCaro,Mark Collins and Emily Paton-Davies( Photo credit: Sarah Roshan Photography)

In 2009 Yasmina Reza’s play, “God of Carnage” received The Olivier Award for Best Play in London. That same year it received three Tony Awards.

     After attending last evening’s performance of this play at Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden, it’s hard to imagine that either of those award-winning productions could have been better.

     It’s a phenomenally well written play and Len Matheo’s direction brings out all the hilarious wit and subtext with true professional artistry.

     Matheo has cast the play with four of Colorado’s most talented actors: Augustus Truhn, Lisa DeCaro, Emily Paton Davies and Mark Collins.

   As one enters the theatre the wash of color and texture created by Jonathan Scott McKean sets the scene for this upper middle class environment so beautifully.

     Two young couples meet to discuss a violent episode that occurred on the school playground involving their sons.

In short order one begins to see where the children’s behaviors originated.This is the perfect antidote to the election year blues.

     Deliciously written , masterfully directed and so well cast, the evening proves a complete delight.

Miners Alley Playhouse

Sept. 9 – Oct. 16

"God of Carnage"

What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behavior of their children?

Fri/Sat @ 7:30.p.m. Sun. @ 6 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 16 @ 2 p.m.

$27 Adult/$24 Senior/$16 Child 12/Under

Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401
303-935-3044 or online at minersalley.com.

Adult content, strong language.

 Marlowe's Musings