OnStage Colorado podcast

A look at top shows for the season, plus Top 10 in Colorado for the week and a chat with Aisha Ahmad-Post from the DU Newman Center

In this week’s episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, Toni Tresca and I take a look at the annual list from American Theatre that details the most-performed shows and playwrights for the 2024-2025 season. It’s an interesting journey into what plays get the most play and the playwrights theatres just can’t seem to get enough of.

Also in this episode, I sat down with Newman Center Executive Director Aisha Ahmad-Post to hear about her journey and what’s on tap for Newman Center Presents as its new season starts.

And as always we talk through shows we’ve seen, shows we’re going to see or have reviews of on the website

Carrie the Musical, The Spark, Oct. 4-20

Avaaz, DCPA Theatre Company, previews Oct. 4-9 and runs Oct. 10-Nov. 17

Spamalot, Butte Theater, Oct. 5-Nov. 2

Around the World in 80 Days, Aurora Fox Arts Center, Oct. 5-27

The Talking Dead: A Haunted Pub Crawl, The Golden Mil, Oct. 5-26

The All American Haunting, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, Oct. 4,5

Cabaret from Platte Valley Players, Armory Performing Arts Center, Brighton, Oct. 4-19

Beer for Breakfast, Windsor Community Playhouse, Oct. 4-20

Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear, Miners Alley, Golden, Oct. 4-Nov. 10

The Girl on the Train, Firehouse Theater at the John Hand Theater, Denver, Oct. 5-Nov. 3

Chapters

00:00: Theatrical Reviews and Performances

07:01: Top 10 Most Produced Plays and Playwrights

22:06: Trends in American Theater

26:58: Upcoming Shows and Events

46:40: Interview with Aisha Ahmad-Post

Guest host Kevin Douglas joins to talk ‘Rocky,’ talking ‘Henry’ with Max Shulman plus weekly Top 10 Colorado Headliners

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex

Later in the episode, Alex catches up with University of

And as usual we run through our Top 10 Colorado Headliners, which this week include:

Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Sept. 25-Nov. 3

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, Kilstrom Theatre, Denver Center, Oct. 4-Nov. 3

Stockade, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Previews Sept. 26-27, Sept. 28-Oct. 13. 

October Surprise, OpenStage, Fort Collins, Sept. 28-Oct. 12

It's A Beautiful Day in This Neighborhood, Bug Theatre, Denver, Sept. 28

-The Book of Will, Merely Players, Durango, Sept. 27-Oct. 6

-What the Constitution Means to Me, Thunder River, Carbondale, Sept. 12-29

-Everybody, CSU Studio Theatre, Fort Collins, Sept. 27-Oct. 6

-Stealing Starlight, Cypherbird Projects at Trident Books, Boulder, Sept. 29

Chapters:

01:42-The Rocky Horror Show Opening Weekend

02:33-Recent Theater Productions Reviewed

06:51-The Impact of The Rocky Horror Show

17:33-Exploring the Cultural Significance of Rocky Horror

22:58-The Role of Audience Participation in Theater

30:14-The Queer Representation in Rocky Horror

34:01-Personal Connections to Rocky Horror

37:40-Upcoming Colorado Headliners

46:24-Interview with Professor Max Shulman

Plus, a chat with Jenn Zuko at Blue Dime Cabaret and our weekly Colorado Headliners

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca get immersed in the immersive theater scene in the state. Touching on two Westword stories Toni wrote this week, we get into what makes an immersive production immersive, the companies creating it in the state and what the future looks like for this growing art form.

Later in the episode, Toni catches up with Jenn Zuko from Blue Dime Cabaret. The popup cabaret was performing at DV8 in Boulder, but with the venue recently closing they’ll be at Liquor Pie in Westminster in the coming months. Blue Dime Cabaret serves up a mix of burlesque, vaudeville, comedy and more.

And as usual we’ll walk through this week’s Colorado Headliners, our Top 10 list of cool stuff to check out onstage in Colorado.

This week’s Headliners:

Always … Patsy Cline, Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, Johnstown, Sept. 17-Nov. 10. 

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, Sept. 20-Oct. 20 

Wicked Wanderings,

The Rocky Horror Show, Two Cent Lion, The People’s Building, Aurora, Sept. 21-Oct. 3

Kimberly Akimbo, Buell Theatre, Denver Center, Sept. 22-Oct. 5

Murder at Haunted Blood Mansion, Adams Mystery Playhouse, Denver, thru Nov. 10

Dial M for Murder, Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Sept. 19-Oct. 6

The Bluebird, Millibo Art Theatre, Colorado Springs, Sept. 19-22

Enemy of the People, BETC, Denver Savoy, Sept. 26-Oct. 13

Devil’s Crush, Wonderbound, Denver, Oct. 17-27

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Upcoming Shows
01:26 Reviews of Recent Theater Productions
05:12 Audience Engagement and Feedback
08:45 Theater Criticism and Community Response
15:18 Exploring Immersive Theater in Denver
26:47 The Evolution of Immersive Experiences
35:56 Upcoming Shows and Colorado Headliners
45:53 Interview with Jen Zuko of Blue Dime Cabaret

Julia Tobey joins the pod to talk about the future, plus catching up with Rich Crowden from the Aurora Fox and

In this episode of the Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca are joined by Julia Tobey from Give

Also in this episode, a walk-through interview at the Aurora Fox with Artistic Director Rich Crowden. The theatre is celebrating its 40th anniversary and just announced

We also go through our Colorado Headliners — shows of interest coming up in the next week. This week’s Headliners:

Wait Until Dark, Durango Arts Center - Sept. 13-29

Hamlet, Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company, preview begins Sept. 13, opens Sept. 20 through Oct. 6

Black Orpheus, Cleo Parker Robinson, Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Denver Performing Arts Complex - Sept. 14-15 

RUSH, Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, - Sept. 14-15

High Plains Comedy Festival,

The Pillowman - Miscreant Theatre Collective, Creeepatorium - Denver, Sept. 13-29 

The Critic, 10(23) Productions, Buntport Theatre - Denver - Sept. 12-22

Man of La Mancha, Ovation West at Evergreen Center Stage - Sept. 13-29

Reply All Improv, Theatre Silco - Silverthorne - Sept. 14

Stories on Stage: The Sporting News - Su Teatro, Denver - Sept. 15

It’s easier than you think, but it takes a little legwork

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca tackle the issue of theatre ticket prices. While many Colorado theatres have quite reasonable regular prices, many also offer discounts through subscriptions, discounts for special groups like seniors and students and packages that can significantly lower the cost of going to theatre.

We also get into this week’s Colorado Headliners — our Top 10 list of shows and other events you might want to think about checking out.

This week’s Headliners include:

 POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive - Curious Theatre Company, Denver, previews Sept. 5-6, opens Sept. 7 and runs through Oct. 13

Jersey Boys - Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, preview Sept. 5, opens Sept. 6, and runs through Oct. 6 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Performance Now at Lakewood Cultural Center, Sept. 6 through Sept. 22

Motus Music to Restore the Heart with violinist Anthony Salvo, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, Sept. 7

FernGully Burlesque Parody - Junkyard Social Club, Boulder, Sept. 8

The Cat in the Hat - Vintage Theatre, Aurora - Sept. 7 and 14

Run for Your Wife - Sharkbox Theatre at Conifer’s StageDoor Theatre Sept. 6-21

All My Sons - Magic Circle Players, Montrose - Sept. 6-21

I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett - Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake - thru Sept. 28

Saturday Night Naughty Show - Denver Comedy Lounge, Saturdays at 10 p.m.

>Plus, an interview with our very first guest in 2019: Missy Moore from Thunder River Theatre Company

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca celebrate the 100th episode of the pod. It all started back in May of 2019 with our first guest,

This episode also includes a deep dive into the world of alternative Shakespeare. From Merry Wives of Windsor done as a ’70s sitcom to versions of Hamlet written in Klingon, we take a look at some of the many curious ways in which the Bard’s work has been reinterpreted over the centuries.

And we also discuss this week’s Colorado Headliners, our Top 10 list of interesting shows and events upcoming.

A look at what’s coming up for September and October in

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex

Also in this episode, an interview with playwright Kirsten

A roundup of the growing list of comedy clubs and performances in the state, plus a look at the Historic Elitch Theatre and our weekly Colorado Headliners

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex

Also this week we catch up with Roberta Hamilton-Griggs to

 And as usual we go over the weekly Colorado Headliners — our Top 10 list of shows or events you may want to check out. This week’s list:

There’s a boom in performance space around the state – plus, a conversation with the folks at the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition and our weekly Colorado Headliners

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca take a look at the growing list of new or reimagined venues around the state. From new tenants at tiny 40 West in Lakewood to multi-million new spaces

We also take a look at this week’s Colorado Headliners

Later in the pod we caught up with Brad Moore and Brian Dowling with the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition, which has its annual festival Aug. 9-11 in Evergreen. It’s an interesting story about an organization that’s all about

A look back on all the winners, plus our Top 10 Colorado

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, Toni Tresca and Alex Miller take a deep, deep dive into this year’s Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards. The ceremony announcing all the winners was Monday night at Lone Tree Arts Center, and it was a true celebration of the Colorado theatre community and a well-organized event that clocked in at a little over two hours.

Check out the whole list of winners and nominees here.

Also in this episode, I caught up with Colleen and Janet

We also go over the Colorado Headliners – our Top 10 list of