DREAM GIRLS

LONETREE ARTS CENTER: OCT. 19 – 29

 

L-R: Heidi Carann Snider, Fairin Moon Hightower and Cha'Rel Ji'Cole Wright (photo credit: Moon Night Photography for the Lone Tree Arts Center)

 

DREAMGIRLS opened on Broadway in 1981 with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. It follows the journey of a black female singing trio from Chicago called the Dreams, which closely resembles that of The Supremes. Nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, it won six. Jennifer Holliday received the Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.

     The current production now on view at Lonetree Arts Center, is directed by Kenny Moten, who also directs the smash FIDDLER ON THE ROOF currently on view at BDT Stage. 

     It’s choreographed by nationally acclaimed choreographer Christopher Page-Sanders, who helmed last season’s magnificent production of "Sophisticated Ladies" at Vintage Theatre in Aurora. The show features Denver favorites, Trent Hines as Music Director and Mary Louise Lee as Vocal Coach.

 

     Shena Renee is an explosion of passionate talent in the role of Effie White. Her singing of “And I am Telling You I’m Not Going” blows the roof right off the theatre! This performance alone is worth the price of the ticket!!! Astounding!

 

    Brian Boyd is superb as ambitious Curtis Tayor, Jr.   Mr. Boyd is at his best “Steppin’ to the Bad Side” as well as with his smooth vocals, “Only the Beginning” and “When I First Saw You.” 

     Lawrence Flowers is a turbo-charged Jimmy! His singing of “Fake Your Way to the Top” thrills. Upon exiting the theatre I found myself wishing to get to see this fine actor perform the role of Jefferson in HAMILTON.  Magnificent!

  Amazing singing “One Night Only,” Fairin Moon Hightower is a sparkler as Deena Jones.

    The ensemble includes such up-and-coming stars as Kong Vang (Miners Alley’s “HAIR”) and Jalen Gregory(Vintage Theatre’s “Sophisticated Ladies.”) 

The minimal scenic design by Kevin Nelson Illuminated by Jonathan Dunkel’s mood-altering lighting design amazes!

     Max Silverman’s sound design delivers the ear-pleasing goods to perfection.

   Emily Valley’s costume design provides so much sparkling glitz it’s nearly blinding!

 

                 Run to get a ticket!

 

 

For tickets go online at lonetreeartscenter.org

 

 

 SWAN LAKE

COLORADO BALLET: OCTOBER 6 – 26

Jennifer Grace and Mario Labrador (photo credit: Amanda Tipton)

Colorado Ballet’s SWAN LAKE is visually magnificent!

 

     Jennifer Grace stuns with the exquisite delicacy of her Odette/Odile. Her performance is magnificent!

     Accomplished in his technique, as well as strong and confident in his seemingly effortless lifts, Mario Labrador excels as Prince Siegfried.

     Gregory K. Gonzalez is superb as the winged sorcerer Rothbart, striking terror into the hearts of the swan corps de ballet.

     

     Composed in 1876, Tchaikovsky’s SWAN LAKE is based on a Russian fairy tale. It’s the story of Princess Odette who is transformed into a swan when she is cursed by the evil sorcerer Rothbart. Thought to have been loosely based on a story called “The Stolen Veil,” it has also been presumed that Tchaikovsky’s fascination with Ludwig II, the Swan King of Bavaria, may have been his inspiration for the character of Prince Siegfried.

     Tchaikovsky loved Adolphe Adam’s Giselle and the leitmotif idea he used to associate certain themes with his characters.  He used this technique not only in Swan Lake, but also later in The Sleeping Beauty.

     In the story, Odette, who is now a swan by day and a beautiful woman by night, captures the heart of Siegfried on his birthday. Rothbart’s spell can only be broken by one who had never loved, pledging his undying love for Odette. 

     Not wishing to lose Odette, Rothbart tricks Siegfried with the spellbinding Odile, a doppelganger for Odette all in black.

     Siegfried mistakes Odile for Odette, and offers his heart to the black swan, thus precipitating the culminating tragedy.

     The choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov is danced to perfection by the corps de ballet.

    Under the baton of conductor Adam Flatt, the Colorado Ballet Orchestra delivers Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score to ear-pleasing perfection.

     The awe-inspiring set gives us the illusion of a moody silvan glade for the opening acts as well as a massive regal throne room for the latter. The eye-popping costumes dazzle. Especially the ones for the sorcerer and the Queen!

Mario Labrador, Jennifer Grace and Gregory K. Gonzales (photo credit: Amanda Tipton)

 Both set and costumes are by Peter Farmer and courtesy of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.  

     The superb lighting design is by Todd Elmer.

      

                     NOT TO BE MISSED!

 

For tickets call  303-837-8888 or go online to coloradoballet.org