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In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca began by discussing our Colorado theatre experiences since the last episode. Alex reviewed & Juliet at the Denver Center, describing it as surprisingly enjoyable despite disliking the pop music soundtrack. He also attended the 24 Hour Plays fundraiser at Curious Theatre, featuring six playwrights creating original works in 24 hours, with notable performances from Denver theater veterans.

Toni covered several productions including Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song (which we discussed in detail on a bonus episode), the interactive art installation Oracle at Union Hall, Comedy Works’ New Faces competition (25th year, 168 local comics competing), Little Miss Sunshine at Aurora Fox (which he found problematic as an adaptation), and The Tempest at Colorado Shakespeare Festival, which he praised for its visual magic and strong performances.

Denver Fringe Festival Recap

Time: 24:30 - 33:30

We both attended the sixth annual Denver Fringe Festival, which kicked off with a showcase at Cleo Parker Robinson Theater hosted by Juice the Clown. Alex saw three shows including a cabaret performance and Plant the Musical (a confusing two-person show where both actors played the same character). Toni saw eight shows and published seven reviews, with Ben Franklin Sex Party at Rise Comedy being his favorite — an immersive comedy involving the audience in founding a new country called “Birdlandia” that ended with a group orgy scene and syphilis outbreak.

Tony Awards Discussion

Time: 33:30 - 42:45

We discussed the relevance of the Tony Awards for Colorado theatergoers, noting that while the shows are only in New York initially, Tony wins can help shows tour nationally. Major winners included Maybe Happy Ending (Best Musical) and Purpose (Best Play). Toni watched clips of the ceremony, praising host Cynthia Erivo’s opening and noting that the Hamilton reunion performance was the evening’s highlight, though it overshadowed other nominees.

Colorado Theater News

Time: 42:45 - 49:45

Theater Funding Crisis: As reported by the Denver Gazette’s John Moore, two northern Colorado theatres - Bas Bleu (33 years old) and OpenStage (50 years old) – are both facing financial shortfalls due to reduced public arts funding, needing emergency fundraising of $40,000 and $15,000 respectively. This contrasts with Denver metro theaters that benefit from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

Other News:

• Colorado Renaissance Fair opens June 14th for its 48th season, though elephants may be banned due to legal challenges
• Denver native Annaleigh Ashford returns for DCPA’s Saturday Night Alive gala on June 14th
• Breaking news: We announced the 19th Annual Henry Award nominees, with the ceremony scheduled for July 28th at Lone Tree Arts Center. Notably, this is the first year without gendered performance categories.

Interview: Sasha Cucciniello, Telluride Theater

Time: 49:45 - 1:15:15

We interviewed Artistic Director Sasha Cucciniello about her journey from avant-garde theater in New York (Performance Space 122) to founding Telluride Theater 18 years ago with just $68. The theater has grown to three full-time employees including new Operations Manager Kevin Douglas and Executive Director Ryan Heidenreich.

Key Topics We Covered:

• Unique Programming: Combines traditional theater with burlesque performances through their troupe “House of Shimmie Shake,” which sells out annually
• Original Works: Cucciniello has written over 20 plays, mostly devised collaboratively with ensemble casts
• Recent Success: Ski Bum the Musical by local ski bum Li

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Bonus episode: Toni and Alex review the latest show at Denver’s Garner Galleria — plus, an interview with performers at UpStart Theatre’s upcoming production of ‘Hold Onto Your Butts’ in Ouray

In this bonus episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Toni Tresca and Alex Miller comment on the new show at Denver’s Garner Galleria: Forbidden Broadway – Merrily We Roll Along. 

The latest iteration of the long-running franchise features some newer musicals to spoof (& Juliet, The Outsiders, etc.) as well as beloved classics from Gypsy to The Lion King and plenty of Sondheim.

Also featured in this episode is an interview Alex did with Kate Kissingford at the UpStART Theater in Ouray. They are presenting Hold Onto Your Butts — a spoof of the Jurassic Park films — June 6-8 at the Wright Opera House. They’re joined by three of the performers, who will also present the show in Denver at the Clocktower Cabaret June 6.

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A deep dive into Denver Fringe featuring an interview with Ann Sabbah, plus our weekly Top 10 Colorado Headliners

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts Alex Miller and Toni Tresca go big on Denver Fringe Festival — coming up June 4-6. We take a look at 20 of the dozens of shows coming up and chat with Denver Fringe founder and director Ann Sabbah along with performers Soleil Kohl, True Smith and Megan Dille.

Later in the episode, we run down our Top 10 Colorado Headliners — upcoming shows around the state that might be of interest.

Chapter Breakdown

Opening & Recent Theater Experiences (00:00 - 12:00)

•Welcome and catch-up after previous week’s hiatus

•Discussion of John Moore’s guest appearance on previous episode

•Alex’s experience at The Narrators at Buntport Theater - monthly storytelling event celebrating its 15th anniversary

•Toni’s coverage of The Narrators for Westword

•TV/Film discussion: Mission Impossible Final Reckoning and Netflix’s The Four Seasons

Recent Productions & Reviews (12:00 - 19:00)

•Toni’s review of Exhibit at Curious Theatre - one-woman show by Regina Taylor

•Discussion of Hundreds of Beavers film screening at Sie Film Center with actress Olivia Graves in attendance

•Preview of Oracle immersive art installation at Union Hall

Theatre News & Industry Updates (19:00 - 26:00)

•Bobby G Awards coverage (Denver Center’s high school theatre competition)

•Sundance Film Festival’s $34 million incentive package to move to Boulder

•OpenStage Theater’s cancellation of Agnes of God production mid-run

•Discussion of funding challenges for local arts organizations

Denver Fringe Festival Main Coverage (26:00 - 39:00)

•Overview of the sixth annual Denver Fringe Festival (June 4-8)

•Festival statistics: 200+ performances, 75 shows, 20 venues

•Ticket pricing and artist revenue sharing (70% to performers)

•Toni’s curated show selections across three days

•Alex’s anticipated picks including family-friendly and experimental works

Featured Show Highlights Include:

•Nuptial Nightmare (horror comedy)

•Mouse City Podcast (mice starting a podcast)

•Arkham Ass-Sylum (Batman villain burlesque)

•Rocky Mountain Puppet Slam

•Dichotomize Me (immersive absurdist play)

•Various experimental, comedy, and performance art pieces

Colorado Theatre Headliners (40:00 - 53:00)

Top 10 Upcoming Shows:

•On Your Feet, Town Hall Arts Center, Littleton, May 23-June 22

•Xanadu, Creede Repertory Theatre, Creede, May 24-Sept. 7

•Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song, DCPA, Denver, May 28-June 29

•Torch Song, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, May 30-June 29

•[title of show], Little Theatre of the Rockies, Greeley, June 5-15

•Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Miners Alley, Golden, through June 28

•A Tuna Christmas, Bailey Theatre Company, Glen Isle Resort in Bailey through June 8

•Something Rotten!, Thingamajig Theatre Company at Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts, through Aug. 30

•Another Medea, Bas Bleu, Fort Collins, Through June 15

•Ripcord, Firehouse Theatre Company at John Hand Theatre, Denver, through June 29

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Decimation of NEA hits state theatre companies

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado podcast, host AlexMiller is joined by special guest host John Moore — arts writer for the Denver Gazette. They dig into the harm being done by the Trump Administration’s cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts and its impacts on Colorado theatre organizations.

Later in the podcast they review the Colorado Headliners— upcoming shows that might be worth checking out.

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We were at the opening night of The Hot Wing King onMay2. It’s the final show of the 2024-2025 season for the Denver Center TheatreCompany, and they went out with a bang. Here’s our wrapup review.

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A rundown of best practices and alternatives for theatremarketing. Plus, Colorado theatre news, an interview with ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ sound designer Elisabeth Weidner and our Top 10 Colorado Headliners.

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts ToniTresca and Alex Miller get in the weeds of social media and how theatres can use it (or not). Everyone may be hating on Facebook for its annoying-as-hell algorithms and it’s sketchy political stances these days, but it still has relevance. It’s important to diversify how theatres are reaching audiences, and the two give plenty of examples about how to reach beyond simple social posts to drive real engagement and authenticity.

Later in the episode is an interview Alex did with freelancesound designer Elisabeth Weidner, who talks about her standout work on the Denver Center Theatre Company production of Little Shop of Horrors and what it’s like to focusentirely on the audio component of a theatrical production.

Also this week, our roundup of the Top 10 Colorado Headliners— shows to be on the lookout for. This week’s list, in no particular order:  

Remember Me, Aurora, The People’s Building, May 1-11

Ride the Cyclone, Vintage Theatre, Aurora, May 2-June 8

Pericles: An Adaptive Show for People with CognitiveDisabilities, Touring show with stops in Aurora, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, May 7-24

The Sala Project: Echoes of Curtis Park, Theatre Artibus in The Savoy Denver, May 8-18

Space Cowboy, Wonderbound, Denver, May 8-18
Romeo and Juliet – A Circus Adaptation, Lightbulb Theatre Company at Woodland Park Library, May 3-11

Romeo & Juliet, Upstart Crow Theatre Company, Boulder Dairy Center May 1-18
Cruise to Nowhere, Steel City Theatre Company, Pueblo, May 2-10
The Cottage, Platte Valley Theatre Arts, Armory, Brighton, May 9-17
First Date: A Musical Comedy, Coal Creek Theatre of Louisville,May 2-17

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Sci-fi musical classic soars in a meticulously craftedproduction helmed by Chris Coleman.

In this bonus edition of the OSC podcast, hosts ToniTresca and Alex Miller switch things up from the usual weekly podcast. They'll do that one, with guest hosts, interviews, Top 10 Colorado Headliners and all that every other week. In between, they’ll be serving up some alternative fare.

This week, since both were at opening night for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, they did a joint review of the show. Spoiler alert - they both loved it. Enjoy.

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The Colorado Theatre Guild president joins the guys to talk about the year ahead and more. Plus, our Top 10 Colorado Headliners.

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, Toni Tresca and Alex Miller welcome guest host Betty Hart. As the president of the Colorado Theatre Guild, Co-Artistic Director at Boulder’s Local Theater and avid show-goer, Hart has a unique perspective on — and deep knowledge of —theatre in the state.

Later in the show, we review our weekly lists of Top 10 Colorado Headliners — upcoming shows to keep an eye out for. This week’s list:

• Pippin, Fort Lewis College, Durango, April 11-19
• Seams, The Agenda Theatre, Buntport Theater, Denver, April 11-26
• New Faces Rd. 1, Comedy Works Downtown, Denver, April 16-May 28
• Denver’s Got Talent, RISE Comedy, Denver, April 19
• Raw Groove Presents: Life of the Party, Manos Sagrados, Aurora, April 19
• Happily Ever After, Windsor Community Playhouse, April 11-27
• Little Women, Main Street Live, Trinidad, April 18-27
• Field Trip!, Control Group Productions, Denver - Colfax area
• The Hot Wing King, Denver Center, April 25-May 25
• These Shining Lives, Thunder River Theatre Company, Carbondale, May 2-18

OnStage Colorado Podcast - April 15th Episode Outline

Introduction (00:01 - 02:20)

•Hosts Alex Miller and Tony Tresca introduce special guest Betty Hart

•Betty's roles: President of Colorado Theater Guild, Co-Artistic Director at Local Theater Company

Recently Seen Shows (02:21 - 15:46)

•Betty discusses nine shows she recently saw (02:55 - 06:37)

•Discussion of "The Wiz" at the Buell Theatre (06:38 - 12:00)

•Alex discusses "The White Chip" from Boulder Ensemble Theater Company (12:01 - 15:46)

Discussion About Theatre Criticism (15:47 - 19:34)

•Betty questions reviewers about their criteria for excellence

•Conversation about what constitutes a "new" theatrical experience

More Recently Seen Shows (19:35 - 22:06)

•Alex mentions finishing "The White Lotus" TV series

•Discussion about weekly vs. binge-watching TV shows

Tony's Recent Show Experiences (23:51 - 29:08)

•"Inheritance Kitchen" immersive theater experience (23:51 - 26:00)

•Chinese mystery game Jubensha in Louisville (26:01 - 29:08)

•"Bright Star" at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (29:09 - 33:15)

Theatre News (33:16 - 36:37)

•Leadership changes at Colorado Springs theaters (33:16 - 34:41)

•Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center season announcement (34:42 - 36:37)

Media Recommendations & Theater Discourse (36:38 - 44:14)

•Freakonomics podcast series on theater (36:38 - 37:37)

•Discussion about giving feedback to friends after seeing their shows (37:38 - 44:14)

Colorado Theater Guild Updates (44:15 - 52:48)

•Unified Auditions on May 4-5 at Aurora Fox Arts Center (44:15 - 48:31)

•State of Colorado theater post-pandemic (48:32 - 54:42)

•New CTG initiatives regarding theater safety (54:43 - 57:48)

Local Theater Company's Local Lab (57:49 - 1:06:01)

•Overview of the 14th annual Local Lab festival (57:49 - 59:56)

•Discussion of featured plays:

o"Batshit" by Stephen Burge (59:57 - 1:01:35)

o"A Bedtime Story for Black Boys on the Moon" by Kori Alston (1:01:36 - 1:03:00)

o"Bloodsucking Leech" by Amy Tofte (1:03:01 - 1:06:01)

Colorado Headliners - Upcoming Shows (1:09:10 - 1:20:27)

Wrap-Up and Announcements (1:19:34 - 1:22:08)

•Upcoming website content (1:19:34 - 1:20:27)

•Podcast scheduling changes - moving to bi-weekly format (1:20:28 - 1:22:08)

•Information about the next episode on social media in theater (1:20:28 - 1:21:27)

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The DU theatre professor joins to talk about the value oftheatre training, plus Greener Theatre Colorado with Megan Holdeman and our Top 10 Colorado Headliners

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, Alex andToni are joined by special guest host Anne Penner. The well-known actor, director and professor of theatre at the University of Denver weighs in on the many benefits of theatre education — whatever career you may end up in.

Later in the episode, Alex chats with Meagan Holdeman, founder of Greener Theatre Colorado. The organization looks to help state theatres reduce their waste, recycle things like set pieces, props and more and to mobilize and organize theperforming arts community toward climate-positive practices.

And as uzh (yoozh?), we run down our Top 10 ColoradoHeadliners — upcoming shows to keep an eye out for on Colorado stages. This week’s list:

•  Annie, Jesters Dinner Theater, Longmont, April 4-June 15
• The Wiz, Denver Center, April 8-20
• Collecting Myself, And Toto too Theatre Company, Roaming Gnome, Aurora, April 10-19
• Doubt: A Parable, Springs Ensemble Theatre, Colorado Springs, April 10-27
• Live: An Evening of Dance with 3rd Law, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder, April 11-13
• Bright Star, Candlelight, Johnstown, April 10-June 8
• Ballet Masterworks, Colorado Ballet, Denver Center, April 11-20
• Little Shop of Horrors, Denver Center, previews begin April 11; it officially opens on April 18-May 25
• Little Shop of Horrors, Steele City Theatre Co., Pueblo, April 11-27
• The White Chip, BETC, Boulder, April 10-May 4

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Leadership changes, season announcements and more – plus an interview with National Bohemians playwright Luke Sorge and Miners Alley’s Len Matheo

In this episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast, hosts AlexMiller and Toni Tresca take a look at some of the big A&E news in Colorado — starting with the move of the Sundance Film Festival from Utah to Boulder (sorry Cincinnati!). We also track some leadership changes in Colorado Springs at the Fine Arts Center and Theatreworks and Aurora’s Vintage Theatre.

Also in the news, a new season announcement from Denver’Curious Theatre, which will include:

Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector (September)
Job by Max Wolf Friedlich (November) - Regional premiere
Bad Books by Sharon Rothstein (January-February) - Rolling world premiere
Another Kind of Silence by LM Feldman - Bilingual in English and American Sign Language
Furlough's Paradise by A.K. Payne - Regional premiere

We also have a lineup announcement for this year’s Local Lab new play festival in Boulder, which will feature Stephen J. Burge's autobiographical solo piece Bat Shit, Kori Alston's Bedtime Story for Black Boys on the Moon and Amy Toftes' dark comedy BloodSuckingLeech.

Later in the episode, Alex talks with Luke Sorge, whose new play National Bohemians is now up at Miners Alley Performing Arts Center in Golden. Joining in the conversation is MAP Artistic Director Len Matheo, who plays Thom in the darkcomedy. Len also announced some of MAP’s upcoming season:

Ring of Fire- An eight-week summer run
Stephen Sondheim's Assassins with music direction by David Nehls
The regional premiere of Jeff Daniels' Diva Royale

A new, yet-to-be-named production in repertory with It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play around the holidays.

We also run down our usual Top 10 list of ColoradoHeadliners — shows you may want to keep an eye out for. Here are our picks for shows to watch for in the coming weeks, in no particular order:

The Clean House at Bas Bleu in Fort Collins, April4-6:A reader's theatre production about a career-oriented doctor who hires a Brazilian maid too depressed to clean because she dreams of being a comedian.

Perfect Arrangement at Firehouse Theater Company (April 4-May 9): Set in the 1950s, this play follows two gay State Department employees who've married each other's partnersas cover while being tasked with identifying "sexual deviants" in their ranks.

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery at Lone Tree Arts Center (April 3-13): Directed by Matt Zambrano and featuring Gareth Saxe as Holmes and Cameron Davis as Watson.

Above My Pay Grade at What If Theater, Lakewood (Fridays and Saturdays in April): A comedy about workplace dynamics and the people who get you through the workday.

Ragtime and Early Jazz Festival in Durango (April 3-6): Four days of concerts, silent movies, seminars and jam sessions at the Durango Art Center and Historic Strater Hotel.

Swan Lakeat Parker PACE Center (April 2): Featuring dancers from the Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Theater.

Motus Playback Theater at Boulder Dairy Center (April 5): An improv theater experie