Five Guys Named Moe

Vintage Theatre: August 13-29

 

The cast of Five Guys Named Moe (Photo credit: RDG Photography)

RUN TO GET TICKETS FOR “FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE,” AND  LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!

 

Vintage Theatre’s exhilarating production of “Five Guys Named Moe,” is the perfect antidote for the depression brought on by the five o’clock news, the pandemic and the political state of the world. 

    This revue showcases the work of American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer, Louis Jordan.  In the 1940s and early 50s, Jordan’s Rhythm and Blues classics paved the way for what would soon be known as rock n’ roll.

      Known as “the King of the Jukebox,” just a few of the twenty some Louis Jordan songs you'll fall in love with in this astonishing ‘juke box musical’ are: “Let the Good Times Roll,” “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie,”  “Caldonia,” and “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens.” By the time this talented ensemble gets to “Is You Is, Or is You Ain’t My Baby?,” your bones will be movin’ around in your seat so much, you may just be tempted to get up and start boogeyin’ in the aisles.

 

AS the story goes our hero Nomax (Micah Lawrence), is up drinking and trying unsuccessfully to reach his paramour by phone in the wee hours of the morning. Nomax falls deeper into depression until suddenly out of his radio appear: Big Moe (Michael Batemen), Eat Moe(Josiah Peters), Little Moe(Ronald McQueen), Four-Eyed Moe(Jalen Gregory) and No Moe(Kenyan James Bernard.) They all have ideas for what will make him succeed better with his girlfriend…and with life in general. Every one of these actors is a brilliant singer/dancer!!! 

    Christopher Page-Sanders unleashes a dazzling display of choreography the likes of which we have not seen in ages! Page-Sanders also co-directs the show with Denver favorite Lee Ann Scherlong! How does it get any better than that?

      A tip of the hat to Dr. Michael Williams, who is not only responsible for the excellent music direction but produces some virtuosic tickling of the keys as well. 

     Five Guys Named Moe won Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Choreographer in 1991 and was nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical the following year.

 

Vintage Theatre presents 

“Five Guys Named Moe”

A musical featuring the works of jazz legend Louis Jordan.

August 13 – Aug 29

$20 - $38

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

Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010

Running time 2 hours with intermission.

Recommended for all ages.

 

 

                                                      RIGOLETTO

L-R: ALISA JORDHEIM  and  ALEKSEY BOGDONAV ( Photo credit: Amanda Tipton)

CENTRAL CITY OPERA 

at Hudson Gardens

(Playing in repertoire with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL now through August 1)

 

     Central City Opera’s production of RIGOLETTO is an engrossing, ear-pleasing evening of Grand Opera!

     ALEKSEY BOGDANOV’s astonishingly powerful baritone gives us a RIGOLETTO  that’s astounding!!!

      As the Duke of Mantua, GALEANO SALAS’s sensational rendition of “La Donna e mobile” will resound in your head for days.

     Soprano ALISA JORDHEIM delivers GILDA’s arias in such a way as to intoxicate us with auditory champagne.

      JOHN PAUL HUCKLE’s performance in the role of the assassin, SPARFUCILE, chills us to the bone.

 

 

RIGOLETTO, Verdi’s three-act opera, debuted in Venice in 1851. The libretto is by Francesco Maria Piave, and  based on Victor Hugo’s “Le Roi s”Amuse.” Rigoletto is significant in that it is the opera in the composer’s ‘middle period,’ that proves a turning point in Italian opera history.  In this finest music-drama since the days of Monteverdi, the title role is considered by many to be the most demanding ever penned for a baritone. Breaking through the operatic conventions of its time, RIGOLETTO was an immediate success.

     Set in 16^th century Mantua, the hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto makes fun of the rage of the old Count Monterone, whose daughter has been seduced by the devious Duke.

     Monterone curses Rigoletto, and the courtiers who hate Rigoletto, discover that he has a young lady who’s hidden in his home.

     Not realizing that Gilda is the court jester’s daughter, they abduct her, and the duke, posing as a poor student, seduces her. When Rigoletto hires the assassin Sparfucile, to get his revenge, Gilda, who is in love with the duke, maneuvers herself into a place in which she is killed in his stead.

     Director Jose Maria Condemi has done a great job in casting and pacing this production of Verdi’s opera for the most part. However…one might wish that he had cast an actor who appeared to be much older than Phillip Lopez in the role of Count Monterone, the man who curses Rigoletto.

 

What to expect: Powerful vocals, superb conducting by Maestro JOHN BARIL of the outstanding Central City Opera Orchestra, and minimalism on the technical end of things. There is a contemporary costume design by EDINA HISER, a minimalist set design by Steven C. Kemp suggestive of a present-day country club, and mostly ambient lighting due to the show being presented in an outdoor setting. (One can’t wait to once again experience Master Lighting Designer David Martin Jacques’ exquisite Art ‘inside’ next year when the Central City Opera House opens its doors once again.)

      Run to get tickets!!!

Call 303-292-6700 or go online at centralcityopera.org

 

 

 The 2021 Central City Opera Summer Festival

Make History and discover unforgettable performances with Central City Opera in the Gardens!

 

The 2021 Central City Opera Summer Festival is happening this year at Hudson Gardens.

     In a recent phone call, Pat Pearce, Central City Opera’s General/Artistic Director, spoke about the wonderful opportunity we have in getting to see and hear the 2021 Central City Opera Summer Festival at the Hudson Gardens on South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton.

       Most people are aware that Hudson Gardens will usually seat 3200 people.  At present only 500 will be allowed inside the Gardens for the operas due to Covid. Hopefully, as restrictions ease, more seats might become available.

     The shows run 90 to 110 minutes with no intermission to make sure that people do not gather in large groups.

    Pearce said that “National Jewish Hospital is helping with instructing the management at the Gardens in how best to keep everyone safe. There will be social distancing and masking.”

    Pearce went on to say, “the orchestra will be situated behind the stage, socially distanced and behind plexiglass.

     From staging to seating this outdoor production, we had to rethink everything about how to safely present the show. Everyone onstage will be vaccinated.

     They’re setting up chairs for Section A.  Sections B and C will be basically on lawn with blanket or patrons will have brought their own lawn chairs.

      They have been doing everything possible to keep musicians, singers and audience safe with regard to transmission via aerosol.  A whole protocol has been put into place. There will be “a moat” between the audience and the stage.”

     The instruments and singers will be amplified this year. That is to say they will be ‘miked’ due to being outside.

      Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” will be sung in Italian, with surtitles embedded above the actors/singers, atop the physicality of the set.

     “Rigoletto” is chock full of mistaken identity, revenge, and signature arias, such as ‘La donna e mobile.’ 

    Pearce gave high praise to the actors and directors who will be involved in this history-making summer festival.

     In speaking of baritone Alexey Bogdanov, who will portray Rigoletto, Pearce said, “Over the years I’ve gotten to hear a lot of people sing the role. It’s been a tour de force for the great baritones ever since Verdi wrote it, a century and a half ago. It really allows them to show off. I heard Alexey sing for me in New York at an audition and he was spectacular. He has the kind of instrument that has a lot of color and bite. That’s the kind of thing a singer needs to have in his arsenal for singing Verdi. He also has the look and the swagger.

     Alisa Jordheim is Gilda. She’s a wonderful soprano who was in the training program at Central City and also played the sister of the young boy in “The Turn of the Screw.” Petite and beautiful, she’s very talented vocally and a very good actor into the bargain.” 

     Galeano Salas gets to unleash his great tenor on those spectacular arias Verdi wrote for the Duke of Mantua. John Paul Huckle will portray the assassin, Sparafucile.

     It looks like “Rigoletto”’s going to be old home week since the Duke, Gilda and Sparafucile are all past apprentices.

     John Baril is the music director/conductor for Rigoletto.

       “Rigoletto”’s stage director will be Jose Maria Condemi, who directed Emily Pulley the last time she was here in “Carmen,” as well as directing “Florencia en el Amazonas” for Opera Colorado.  Jose spends a good deal of time at San Francisco Opera Conservatory.

     Ken Cazan will direct Carousel. Ken loves this period. He was a great success directing Oklahoma, A Little Night Music and West Side Story. Cazan’s direction of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd in 2019 was enormously successful due to his being able to tell the story with a sort of deep clarity.

     Anna Christy is Julie Jordan in Carousel. She’s a really great actor as well as singer. Having debuted as Titania in the 2002 production of Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream, she played Emily in “Our Town.” She also starred in the most recent production of “The Ballad of Baby Doe.” 

     Phyllis Pancella will play Nettie Fowler in “Carousel.” Featured in the casts of “Our Town” and “Rinaldo,” she was also Nerone in Monteverdi’s “The Coronation of Poppea,” as well as the superb Lucretia in the CCO production of Britten’s “Rape of Lucretia.” 

      This will be Steve LaBrie’s Central City Opera debut as Billy Bigelow in “Carousel.” LaBrie is a young up-and-coming baritone, who also sings Verdi. He had been put on hold for something before Covid, so when this opportunity arose, he was cast.  

     Jennifer DeDominici portrays Carrie Pipperidge in “Carousel.” She has great presence and can really build a memorable character.

    David Jacques designed the set for “Carousel” as well as the lighting. His incredible lighting, which takes a front seat with us, is going to be a lot more challenging and “interesting” with daylight.

     In answer to a question about the look of the show, Pearce said,”We have created a unit set with several levels in order to have multiple playing spaces in which to present the shows.

     Rigoletto has basically moved in time. It could be contemporary or possibly the 1970s. Something along those lines. Carousel is non-time specific. Here the focus is on clear storytelling using Rodgers’ glorious music to enhance it.” 

     Don’t forget that “Dido and Aeneas” is being presented in the gardens outside the opera house in Central City this summer. So, everything is outside this year. 

     The opera company is currently in the process of creating how things will be if there is inclement weather. They’ll be handling things in much the same way as Red Rocks and other outdoor concert venues with regard to when it would be necessary to “call” the show.

     Next year will be Central City Opera’s 90^th Anniversary.  Pearce promises to let us know as soon as the board makes a solid decision on the operas they’ll be producing then.

     The suggested arrival time is at least thirty minutes before showtime so people will have plenty of time to select their seats. Doors will open one hour before the performance.

     Free parking is available on a first come, first serve basis, and is only a short walk to the performance area. Limited reserved parking can be purchased for five dollars (based on availability.) ADA parking is also available. Please contact the Box Office for more information.

     People will be allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages into the venue.

    And don’t forget that Hudson Gardens is located near lots of great restaurants for pre and post-show cocktails and meals.

     See you at the Opera!!!

 

 

 

 

 INTERMISSION IS OVER AT BDT STAGE!

 

BDT STAGE is slated to reopen on April 2, 2021. Michael J. Duran has declared that “intermission is over, and everybody may return to their seats.” It’s been a year since “Ragtime” opened and closed on the same evening due to COVID -19.

 

Since COVID numbers are looking good in Colorado and the vaccine is getting injected into people’s arms, the BDT Stage family is ready and raring to do what they do best. Entertain us!!!   

 

Duran says that, “Tickets can be purchased as a series or individually for tables up to 6. All tickets will be sold as general admission to allow parties to be seated together while maintaining social distancing from the stage and each other. Dinner selections are preordered at the time of ticket purchase.”

They’re starting out with a CABARET CONCERT SERIES!

 

THE BARTON BROTHERS will be the first of these, featuring two talented young men in “a good, old-fashioned dueling piano show.” April 2 and 3,2021, Tickets: $50.

 

FACE, Boulder’s own celebrity a cappella rock band, is the second of these, featuring five guys: four singers and a vocal drummer.

April 9 and 10,2021. Tickets: $70.

 

Next up A TRIBUTE TO JOHN DENVER starring singer-songwriter Chris Collins and musician Alex Mitchell on guitar, fiddle and mandolin. April 15,16 and 17, 2021, Tickets: $70.

 

The final Cabaret Concert is one this reviewer got to see last summer in the socially distanced parking lot at BDT Stage.

ANNA HIGH AND SHERYL RENEE: QUEENS OF SONG April 30 and May 1,2021. Tickets $55. Delivering pop, gospel and jazz, these two powerful divas will be accompanied by pianist Eric Weinstein. 

 

And on the MAIN STAGE AT BDT STAGE

Starting May 7, & running through June 27 is the ever popular “FOREVER PLAID!” Tickets are $65. 

The show stars BDT Stage favorites: Scott Severtson(Frankie), Jacob Villarreal(Smudge),Leo Battle(Sparky) and Brain Cronan as Jinx. Forever Plaid is directed by Matthew D. Peters, with music direction by Neal Dunfee. Some of the songs in this concert that never was are: Day-o, Sixteen Tons, Chain Gang, Three Coins in the Fountain, Perfidia, Cry, Catch a Falling Star, Gotta Be This or That, Matilda, Heart and Soul and many more!

 

Tickets for all performances at BDT Stage will be on sale beginning March 17, 2021, at 10 AM. Call (303) 449-6000 or visit www.bdtstage.com for reservations. Due to capacity restrictions facing all indoor events, seating for press will be based upon availability. BDT Stage complies with Boulder County's 5-Star Certification program, and abides by all recommended safety and cleaning protocols. All employees, customers, and guests are required to follow Public Health Orders pertaining to COVID-19 while on the premises. 

BDT Stage has been recognized locally and nationally for commitment to theatrical excellence. Boulder's Daily Camera praises BDT’s “consistency in technical achievement, performance and overall production level as it sets a high standard for theatrical professionalism.” All programs mentioned in this release are made possible in-part by a grant from Colorado Creative Industries through the Colorado Arts Relief Fund. Welcome back! We can’t wait to see you again! 

 

 Cabaret De Profundis or 

How To Sing While Ugly Crying

Buntport Theater Company
    Hannah Duggan with Nathan Hall at the piano
 

(Now streaming on Vimeo.)

 

     

     Buntport Theater Company’s 49^th full-length original play, “Cabaret De Profundis or How To Sing While Ugly Crying,” was supposed to open last March in their space over at 8^th and Lipan. Like the other theaters in town, Buntport’s doors were closed at that time due to the pandemic.

     Lucky for us the award-winning troupe has filmed the stage production so we can all see this cabaret-style show streamed in the safety of our own living rooms.

     Comic genius Hannah Duggan plays Artemisia II, Queen of Caria. She’s that lady who commissioned the building of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, back in 350 BC. She’s also known to have mourned her “bruhsband,” (brother/husband) Mausolus’ death by drinking his ashes in her wine. 

     Identifying with the stages of grief outlined by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, the actor bemoans the fact that she has become “the Queen of Grief, the Madame of Misery, the Diva of Distress.” 

     Duggan is a brilliant actor, whose performance is as endearing as it is hilarious. Able to turn on a dime from hysterically grieving widow to zany little girl, her blissfully naughty grins will enchant you. 

     The show also features Nathan Hall, who, outfitted in a dashing white tux, accompanies Ms. Duggan on the gorgeous white grand piano with a mix of old standards and new compositions. The deadpan Nathan also serves as the butt of many of Ms. Duggan’s sly jokes.

      This monologue with musical numbers is being described as “a dark comedy with the emphasis on comedy.”

     The scenic design and its accompanying lighting design are eye-pleasing indeed.

     Ms. Duggan’s costumes dazzle us with their eye-popping sparkle and shimmer.

      True, the piece could be improved by a small trip to the editing room.

     Nevertheless … this is a welcome gift in this time of shuttered theatres and house-bound theatregoers. 

     Just FYI the production’s sound recording, and visuals are of the highest quality imaginable. Bravo! 

     The show will be released on Vimeo on January 15^th. 

     For tickets call Buntport Theater 720-946-1388

Or go online at buntport.com

 

 

THE MARLOWE AWARDS FOR 2020

 

Outstanding Production of a Play

Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

 

Outstanding Actress in a Play 

Diane Wziontka, Marvin’s Room, Vintage Theatre Productions

Kelly Uhlenhopp, The Squirrels, Aurora Fox Arts

Outstanding Actor in a Play

Denis Berkfeldt, Frost/Nixon, Vintage Theatre Productions

Kevin Rich, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play

Edith Weiss, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

Jessica Austgen, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play

Kevin Hart, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

Andrew Uhlenhopp, The Squirrels, Aurora Fox Arts Center

 

Outstanding Director of a Play

Geoffrey Kent, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

 Bernie Cardell, Marvin's Room, Vintage Theatre Productions

 

Outstanding Director of a Musical 

Betty Hart, Scottsboro Boys, Vintage Theatre Productions

Michael J. Duran, Ragtime, BDT Stage

Outstanding Production of a Musical

Scottsboro Boys, Vintage Theatre Productions

           Ragtime, BDT Stage

 

Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Tracy Warren, Ragtime, BDT Stage

Mary Louise Lee, Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs, Aurora Fox Arts 

 

Outstanding Actor in a Musical 

Charles Ray King, Jr., Ragtime, BDT Stage

Christopher Razor, Scottsboro Boys, Vintage Theatre Productions

Jordan Leigh, Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs, Aurora Fox Arts 

 

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical

Alicia K. Meyers, Ragtime, BDT Stage

Anna Marie High, Disenchanted, BDT Stage

 

 

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical 

Dwayne Carrington, Scottsboro Boys, Vintage Theatre Productions

Scott Severtson, Ragtime, BDT Stage

 

Outstanding Lighting Design

Shannon McKinney, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

 

Seth Alison, Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs, Aurora Fox Arts 

Outstanding Sound Design

Jason Ducat, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

Cece Smith, Secrets of the Universe and Other Songs, Aurora Fox Arts 

 

Outstanding Scenic Design

Brian Mallgrave, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

Brandon Philip Case, The Squirrels, Aurora Fox Arts 

 

Outstanding Costume Design

Kevin Copenhaver, Murder on the Orient Express, Arvada Center

Nicole M. Harrison, The Squirrels,Aurora Fox Arts

Best New Director,

 Abby Apple Boes, When We Were Young and Unafraid, Firehouse Theater Company

 

                  Best New Play 

 

The Grasshoppers, Buntport Theater

Best Choreography

Christopher Page-Sanders, Scottsboro Boys, Vintage Theatre Productions

 

Best Music Direction

Lee Ann Scherlong, Scottsboro Boys, Vintage Theatre Productions

Neal Dunfee, Ragtime, BDT Stage

 

Best Pandemic Relief

BDT Stage’s socially distanced outdoor concerts.

                              

RAGTIME:THE MUSICAL

BDT STAGE: Streamed on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm August 6-29

L-R" Tracy Warren, Wayne Kennedy and Charles Ray King, Jr.

     With music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, as well as book for the musical by the late Terrence McNally, RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL is based upon the 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow.

     Nominated for twelve Tonys, it garnered four: Best Book of a musical (Terrence McNally), Best Original Score (Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens), Best Orchestrations(William David Brown) and Best Performance by a Featured Actress (Audra McDonald).

     Set in the early days of the 1900s, Ragtime follows three segments of American society:a group of African Americans represented by Coalhouse Walker, Jr., an upper class white suburban family in New Rochelle, represented by its matriarch (Mother), and a group of Eastern European immigrants, represented by Tateh, a Latvian Jew.

     A number of historical figures are interwoven into Terrence McNally's book for the musical. Among them are: Harry Houdini, Emma Goldman, Booker T. Washington and J. P. Morgan.

     Charles Ray King,Jr. delivers a tour de force as Coalhouse. From his bright and bouncy singing of "The Gettin' Ready Rag," to "The Wheels of a Dream" to "Make Them Hear You," Mr. King is a force to be reckoned with.

     Coalhouse's paramour, Sarah, is played by Camryn Torres, a new addition to the constellation of stars at BDT Stage. One hopes to see her onstage again soon.

     Tracy Warren's nuanced portrayal of Mother delivers a character of tenderness and strength. Her soaring soprano in the singing of "We Can Never Go Back to Before" will take your breath away.

     Wayne Kennedy's Tateh is a wonderfully tender, affectionate and protective father.

     Scott Beyette's performance as Father is appropriately stern and unyielding.

     Scott Severtson's portrayal of Younger Brother's ascent from adoring fan to social activist, shows him once again to be 'a natural' in the craft of acting.

     Alicia K. Meyers portrays social lightning rod, Emma Goldman, with spunk and backbone.

     Linda Morken's costumes are eye-popping as usual.

     Neal Dunfee's music direction of the beefed up BDT stage orchestra is outstanding. 

             Thanks to director Michael Duran for casting this show so impeccably, and allowing all the aspects of the show to come together in the imaginative 'melting pot' it is. 

            It would have been great to have seen the show live onstage. Unfortunately this virus has us all staying home. The show is one of this reviewer's favorite musicals, and aside from some issues with the sound  and learning how to access the show in a new way, it's a treat to get to see it!

            Duran promises that the technical issues of translating sound from stage to screen will be worked out soon.

            For tickets go online at www.bdtstage.com or call the box office at 303-449-6000