shows - Creede Repertory Theatre

CREEDE REPERTORY THEATRE
2016 / our 51st season
eclectic repertory / creederep.org
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eclectic repertory
contents
The (curious case of the)
WATSON INTELLIGENCE
by Madeleine George
World Premiere!
KIND
OF RED
by John DiAntonio
table of contents
Show Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Season at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Book by Jeffrey Lane | Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek
Based on the film written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
World Premiere!
The (curious case of the)
Watson Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Kind of Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
The History Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Private Lives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
The
Boomtown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
HISTORY
ROOM
Reading! And Other Superpowers . . . . 27
Education Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Headwaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
by Charlie Thurston
Board of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Supporting CRT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37-51
PRIVATE
LIVES
The Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55-82
by Noël Coward
BOOMTOWN
Explosive Improv Comedy
r
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READING! AND OTHER SUPERPOWERS
Book and Lyrics by John DiAntonio | Music by Richard Rischar
creederep.org
719/658-2540
Creede Repertory Theatre, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization
with a 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Code.
All donations are tax deductible.
Production photos by John Gary Brown.
Program design by RoShamBo: Marketing + Creative.
our 51st season | 3
4 | creederep.org
diverse repertory
mission
Kind of Red - Farce
Scoundrels - Musical
HEADWATERS:
Private Lives - Classic
History Room - New Works
Watson - Drama
Reading! - TYA
Boomtown - Improv
le
Ec
ctic Friends
CREEEDE 2R0E1P6
the late great Carl Helf in
and Christy Brandt, 1 9 7 7 .
headwaters!
new plays of the west.
r
y
lectri eperto
cR
New Plays of the We
Mission
As a cultural home for artists,
residents, and visitors of the West,
Creede Repertory Theatre will create
a diverse repertory season of plays,
new works, and dynamic
education programs.
toured to
58 communities
in 2015!
5 | creederep.org
20,245
n
childre
ools
in 83 sch
ere
home is wh
.
the art is
CREEDE REPERTORY THEATRE
PS
saturday
14
1:30pm Reading! opens*
sunday
tuesday
15
mondays are dark
MAY
29
7:30pm Watson*
friday
20
21
27
28
10:30amReading!*
1:30pm Reading!*
22
thursday
19
wednesday
18
17
26
25
24
6:30pm Poster Unveiling* 1:30pm Reading!*
7:30pm Watson Opens*
4pm
nat’l small print
show opens
7pm
Watson talk*
7:30pm Watson*
taste of creede
31
2
1
3
4
1:30pm Reading!*
4-6pm meet the company
7:30pm Red opens
block party
7:30pm Red
local discount
taste of creede
7
JUNE
1:30pm Red
12
19
mondays are dark
5
1pm
Watson talk*
1:30pm Watson*
local discount
14
15
1:30pm Watson*
7:30pm Red
21
1:30pm Reading!*
7:30
Red
16
22
23
29
30
party
3
*
4
4th of
july see
below
5
1pm
History talk*
1:30pm History*
7:30pm Scoundrels
1:30pm Red
7:30pm Watson*
17
6pm
2016 gala
1:30pm Scoundrels
7pm
Watson talk*
7:30pm Watson*
24
7:30pm Scoundrels
dessert after
7
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31
*
chat back after
JULY 4 / Reading!* / 11:30am & 1:30pm
2
Red
History talk*
History*
playwright chat
back after
9
11am mainstage tour
1:30pm Red
7:30pm Scoundrels
15
1:30pm Reading!*
7:30pm Scoundrels
10:30pm Boomtown *
16
11am kid show*
1:30pm Red
7:30pm Scoundrels
22
23
11am mainstage tour
1:30pm Red
7:30pm History*
chat back after
boomtown jr.
28
27
1pm
Watson talk*
1:30pm Watson*
7:30pm Scoundrels
creative mojo adult day camp
1:30pm Red
7:30pm Watson*
7:30pm Watson*
JAZZ after
26
JAZZ after
8
11am kid show*
1:30pm Scoundrels
7:30pm Watson*
10:30pm Boomtown *
21
20
boomtown jr.
14
11am kid show opens*
1:30pm Red
7:30pm Scoundrels
1:30pm History*
7:30pm Red
1:30pm
7pm
7:30pm
superheroes day camp
13
19
7:30pm Red
1:30pm Reading!*
2:30pmsuperhero
7:30pm Scoundrels
summit*
1:30pm Red
7pm
History talk*
7:30pm History*
7:30pm Scoundrels
25
11am mainstage tour
1:30pm Scoundrels
Local Discount
7:30pm Scoundrels
1
7:30pm Red
10:30pm Boomtown opens*
12
mondays are dark
JULY
1pm
Watson talk*
1:30pm Watson*
7:30pm Red
24
18
ultimate stage combat camp
6
superheroes day camp
10
1pm
Watson talk*
1:30pm Watson*
ultimate stage combat camp
1:30pm Scoundrels
7:30pm Watson*
17
7:30pm History opens*
1:30pm Scoundrels
7:30pm Scoundrels
11
1:30pm Watson*
7:30pm Red
5:30pm opening night
celebration
7:30pm Scoundrels
OPENS
poetry, stories
and song*
7:30pm Scoundrels
10
1:30pm Reading!*
7:30pm Watson*
chat back after
1:30pm Red
7:30pm mining through
28
26
1:30pm Red
6pm
lake city friends
9
8
7:30pm Scoundrels
dessert after
1:30pm Reading!*
7:30pm Red
10:30pm Boomtown *
29
30
11am mainstage tour
1pm
History talk*
1:30pm History*
7:30pm Scoundrels
creative mojo adult day camp
* Denotes all shows and events at the Ruth.
“DARK” is theatre speak for closed.
2016 schedule our 51st season
tuesday
2
sunday
7
14
AUGUST
1:30pm Watson closes*
1:30pm History*
7:30pm Red
21
dessert after
9
7:30pm Red
mondays are dark
1:30pm Scoundrels
7pm
Watson TALK*
7:30pm Watson*
3
1:30pm History*
7:30pm Red
7:30pm Scoundrels
wednesday
1pm
History TALK*
1:30pm History*
7:30pm Scoundrels
16
11
1:30pm Reading! closes*
7:30pm Red
JAZZ after
18
17
23
Private Lives
chat back after
7:30pm Private Lives
opens
25
24
1:30pm History*
7:30pm Red
7:30pm Red
7pm
Private Lives TALK
7:30pm Private Lives
12
13
11am mainstage tour
1:30pm Scoundrels
closes
7:30pm Watson*
19
headwaters new
play festival*
7:30pm History*
10:30pmBoomtown*
6:30pm Private Lives TALK 7pm
the Big river
7pm
Private Lives
band*
6
1:30pm Red
7:30pm Scoundrels
20
1pm
Private Lives TALK
1:30pm Private Lives
7:30pm Private Lives
10:30pmBoomtown*
26
11am
1
31
1pm
Private Lives
6:30pm History TALK*
7pm
History*
1:30pm Red
7:30pm Scoundrels
10:30pmBoomtown*
saturday
5
1:30pm Reading!*
7:30pm Scoundrels
10:30pmBoomtown*
7:30pm Red Hot Patriot*
7:30pm History*
7pm
10
friday
4
7pm
Watson TALK*
7:30pm Watson*
30
28
1:30pm Red closes
7:30pm History*
thursday
shows
2
27
10am
headwaters new
play festival*
1pm
7pm
10pm
Private Lives
History*
Boomtown*
1:30pm Private Lives
7:30pm Red
3
SEPTEMBER
12:30pmHistory TALK*
1pm
History*
local discount
1pm
Private Lives
4
11
mondays are dark
fall curtain times
6
7pm
10 minute play
festival*
7
1pm
History*
6:30pm Private Lives TALK
7pm
Private Lives
13
7pm
History closes*
chat back after
9
7pm
10pm
History*
Boomtown*
6:30pm
7pm
10pm
Private Lives TALK
Private Lives
Boomtown*
15
10
12:30pmPrivate Lives TALK
1pm
Private Lives
7pm
History*
chat back after
16
closes
17
1pm
Private Lives
closes
local discount
On the Mainstage
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Kind of Red
Private Lives
719/658-2540 / creederep.org
In the Ruth*
Orchestra BalconyStudent Child
$33-38
-
(11-22)(4-10)
Reg. Performances
Reading! $35-40
$16
Boomtown
The KID Show
$10 $10$10$10
FREE
-
FREE
FREE
And Other Superpowers
Private Lives
14
1pm
Private Lives
6:30pm History TALK*
7pm
History*
TICKETS
8
7pm
$20
$16
$11
$8
Ask for our senior discount! As a Blue Star Theatre, CRT offers discounts
to active military, their immediate family, and veterans!
The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence
The History Room
Reading! And Other Superpowers
Boomtown
The KID Show
Bringing the Whole Family?
All ages are welcome at Reading! And Other Superpowers
and The KID Show. Children four and over are welcome to
all our season shows, though some are intended for adult
audiences. See our Box Office staff for recommendations.
our 51st season | 7
the plays
See schedule for dates and times
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Book by Jeffrey Lane
Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek
Based on the film written by Dale Launer
and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
Rated PG / June 24 – Aug 13
Lying, cheating, double-dealing, and utterly hilarious! Based
on the popular 1988 film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a con-man
comedy set on the French Riviera. There’s Lawrence Jameson,
a stylish swindler portraying a foreign prince to get his hands
on ladies’ jewels; and Freddy Benson, a scruffy fraudster, who
collects donations towards his “grandmother’s” hip-replacement.
The tiny French town isn’t big enough for the both of them, so
the first to swindle $50,000 from the beautiful heiress, Christine
Colgate, can stay, while the other must ship out. This battle of
cons will keep audiences laughing on the edge of their seats
while humming David Yazbek’s delightfully jazzy score.
Kind of Red
World Premiere
by John DiAntonio
Rated PG / June 3 – Aug 28
Creede Rep’s favorite redhead stars in this laugh-out-loud farce.
When Rick, a professional jazz trumpet player, has hit rock
bottom—he’s off the wagon, every note he plays sounds wrong,
and his former fiancée is marrying a neurosurgeon—he sends
a desperate prayer to Saint Lucia for guidance. The universe
sends him another memorable redhead to transform his life
into a chaotic, hilarious, 1950s sitcom. Kind of Red explores the
desire for fame, the passion of performance, and the longing for
connection.
The History Room
World Premiere
by Charlie Thurston
Rated PG-13 / July 1 – Sept 15
We should always keep our promises, right? In this dark,
fantastical comedy, Steve made a promise to kill his best friend
Helen if she descends into dementia like her mother. Now, 20
years later, he must choose - navigating the many faces of Helen’s
illness, her stubborn caregiver husband, her estranged daughter,
and the ghost of his own son who is hell-bent on Steve doing the
bloody deed. With breathtaking moments of magical realism,
The History Room explores honor, loss, the integrity of memory,
and who should decide how it ends.
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The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence
by Madeleine George
Rated R / May 27 – Aug 14
What
do
Sherlock
Holmes, Alexander
Graham
Bell, and “Jeopardy!” all have in common? Watson. Spanning
the years 1876 to 2011, this provocative three-actor tour
de force finds the answers to life’s mysteries in different
likenesses of Watson— Sherlock’s steady sidekick, Bell’s trusty
engineer, IBM’s supercomputer that triumphed over the two
reigning “Jeopardy!” champs, and a deceptively ordinary tech
support grunt. One actor embodies them all in this brilliant,
boldly-theatrical, time-traveling, techno-drama. The (curious case
of the) Watson Intelligence will leave you pondering the complex
connections that join man to machine and human to human.
Private Lives
by Noël Coward
Rated PG / Aug 19 – Sept 17
Glitz, glamour, and laughter abound in Noël Coward’s timeless
masterpiece, Private Lives. The sophisticated, charming, and
impulsive Elyot and Amanda are honeymooning in the South
of France, but there’s a catch: the couple divorced five years ago,
and this time they’re honeymooning with their new spouses.
A shared balcony, new emotions, old arguments, and lots of
champagne overflow in this classic, witty comedy. CRT will
emphasize the power of rep by having the four leads trade roles
in alternating performances.
Reading! And Other Superpowers
Book and Lyrics by John DiAntonio
Music by Richard Rischar
Rated G / May 14 – Aug 11
Reading! And Other Superpowers tells of the adventures of
Nicolás, a young superhero in training. He is taught and assisted
by a collection of colorful and larger-than-life characters. Will
Nicolás hone his superpower in time to defeat his nemesis, the
dreaded Captain Cliffnote? This family-friendly, action-packed
musical emphasizes literacy and vocabulary, and will get all
superheroes cheering on their feet!
Boomtown
Explosive Improv Comedy
Rated PG-13 / July 8 - Sept 16
This year marks Boomtown’s 10th season! Like a fine wine, CRT’s
improv-comedy show gets more robust every year. This decade
promises the kind of tasteful, full-bodied laughs that improv has
to offer. But as with all 10 year-olds, don’t be surprised by the
occasional nose picking, temper tantrums, and food fights.
behind the curtain
See schedule for dates and times
Company for Dinner
Make your night out extra special when CRT company
members join you and your friends for a meal before the
play. Call now to set your date!
Dessert Club
$15 / Mainstage Lobby
Share drinks and dessert with the cast and technicians
after select performances of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Jazz Club $15 / Mainstage Lobby
Our lobby will transform into Birdland at 9,000 feet after
select performances of Kind of Red. Mingle with the cast
while sipping specialty cocktails as the CRT Band plays
your favorite jazz standards.
at a glance
Backstage Tour $2
It’s a whole other world back there! CRT company
members reveal the tricks of the trade, the colorful history
of CRT’s Mainstage, and much more!
Pre-show Talks
FREE!
Join us for juicy insights into the show you are about
to see. Arrive 35 minutes before show time at select
performances.
Chat backs
FREE!
Stick around after select performances as the actors and
technicians answer your burning questions and share
fascinating stories.
Want to organize a special Behind the Curtain opportunity for your group? Contact John DiAntonio at 719-658-2540x229 or [email protected].
special events
Season Art Poster Unveiling
May 27 / 6:30 pm / Free
Buy your 2016 Season Art Poster early! Join CRT for the
unveiling of the stunning 2016 Poster before the opening of The
(curious case of the) Watson Intelligence.
16th Annual National Small Print Show
May 28 – June 27 / Reception May 28 / 4 pm
Mainstage Lobby / FREE
This juried exhibition contains over 100 small prints from fine
artists across the country. Whether you collect or just appreciate,
come celebrate this miniature medium.
Mining through Poetry, Stories, & Song
June 21 / 7:30 pm / The Ruth
Join the Creede Historical Society for their 7th annual celebration
of mining through poetry, stories, and song. All proceeds
benefit the Creede Historical Society.
Opening Night Celebration
& Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
June 24 / 5:30 pm / $80
Place your bets at Creede Rep’s opening night Roulette on the
Riviera soiree. Don your favorite frock, nibble appetizers, drink
and mingle amongst conmen and crooks in Creede’s Historic
Train Depot before the opening of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Superhero Summit
July 8 / 2:30 pm / The Ruth / FREE (with a ticket to Reading!
And Other Superpowers)
Calling all superheroes! Join us as we plan how to save the planet.
Kids should wear their favorite costume, as they test their super
strength, and mingle with all their favorite Superheroes. All ages
are invited to attend the most super performance of the entire
summer!
Catching Air
our annualgala!
2016 CRT Gala / Old School Gym / July 17 / 6pm / $150
Join us for our major fundraiser of 2016. Expect thrilling performances
inspired by the iconic and unforgettable rituals of growing up, silent
and live auctions, and dinner provided by Arp’s Restaurant. All ticket
purchases and donations are tax deductible and support Creede Rep’s
mission to create excellent theatre for all ages.
Red Hot Patriot
August 17 / 7:30pm / The Ruth
Award-winning actress Rhonda Brown sizzles as Molly Ivins,
the brassy Texan reporter whose sharp-tongued humor and
unabashed liberal journalism skyrocketed her to the national
stage.
5th Annual Headwaters New Play Festival
August 26 / 11 am - 4 pm & August 27 / 10 am - 12:30 pm
The Ruth / $25
Every new play has a journey. You can be a part of it. Attend
readings of two new plays, as they aim for the CRT stage. Plus,
see our original Young Audience Outreach Tour before it hits
the road. Lunch included Friday.
The Big River Band Concert
September 2 / 7 pm / The Ruth / $25
Our favorite local band, The Big River Band, will play a benefit
concert to raise money for new CRT sound equipment. Led
by Courtney La Zier and featuring CRT guest singers, The Big
River Band is going to rock the Ruth!
10-Minute Play Festival
September 6 / 7 pm / The Ruth / FREE
Now in its third year, the company-generated 10 Minute Play
Festival is one of the most exciting nights of the season. Six
original plays inspired by a common theme starring our talented
company like you’ve never seen them before.
our 51st season | 9
10 | creederep.org
very important!
2016 pre-show checklist
checklist
Before the start of the show, please review these very important items.
Spend your pre-show moments with purpose:
Cell Phone: silenced?
Director’s Note: perused?
Cough Drops: unwrapped?
Meaning of Life: solved?
Glass of Wine: savored?
Take Action: how?
…Simple: Art Requires Heart.
9
PO BO X 26
Preshow Talk: attended?
CREEDE REPERT
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CR EE DE ,
CO LO RA DO
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ORY THEATRE
Fill me out
and hand me off
to the nearest
CRT Box Office
Employee.
A rt y
require S
HEART
Invest your heart. We’ll do the rest.
enjoy the show
our 51st season | 11
A Unique New Neighborhood In Creede
World Headquarters
114 North Main St.
Creede, CO
719.658.0223
www.creedeamerica.com
12 | creederep.org
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C 2016gala
A ir
EATRE
Y TH
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old school gym / 308 lagarita avenue
lagarita and 3rd street in creede
cocktail attire
$150 donation per person
dinner provided by arp’s restaurant
exciting live performances,
silent and live auctions, cash bar
Join us
sunday, july 17
6pm – 9pm
Reserve yourspot:
719/658-2540 or creederep.org
All ticket purchases and donations
to the event are tax deductible and support
Creede Repertory Theatre’s mission to create
excellent theatre for audiences of all ages.
The (curious case of the)
WATSON INTELLIGENCE
by Madeleine George
director’s note
“What a very attractive woman!” I exclaimed, turning to my companion.
He had his pipe lit again, and was leaning back with drooping eyelids. “Is she?” he said, languidly; “I did not observe.”
“ You really are an automaton – a calculating machine,” I cried. “There is something positively inhuman in you at times.”
Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Sign of Four”
time
Simultaneously
Watson was the name of Sherlock Holmes’ fictional assistant
and Alexander Graham Bell’s real one, as well as the IBM
supercomputer that beat the human champions of the Jeopardy!
TV show. Playwright Madeleine George has built an entire
comedy on this coincidence. A finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer
Prize, her play mixes the idea of “Watsons”—the integral though
mostly overlooked partners in famous twosome teams—with the
way technology affects our relationships with each other.
Inspired by Tom Stoppard, The (curious case of the) Watson
Intelligence is a linear story that goes up and down in time.
George examines the fear of depending on another person and
the allure of using machines to meet emotional needs. As it
jumps around in time, it poses questions as least as old as when
the telephone was invented in 1876.
Think for a minute—what if your partner could foresee
your every desire, sometimes before you, yourself, register its
existence? Would you be content to allow him or her to monitor
sponsors
14 | creederep.org
March 1876
The date of the first
voice communication
by wire.
your moods or would such transparency render you vulnerable
beyond the limits of your tolerance? Would machines make
better companions, because they are more consistent, than
human beings? On balance, has technology helped human
beings connect, or has it driven us apart?
To me, The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence is part love
story, part break up story. Technology speeds forward, improving
itself minute by minute, while human beings remain the same
faulty, needy, lonely creatures, baffled as ever by the push and pull
of love. Said George, “People wish they could be in love, but it
turns out it’s really hard and painful.”
I think it is right that this thoughtful, witty play kicks off
Creede Repertory’s 51st season as it also nods to the past,
reflects on the present and marvels at the future.
It is an honor to give this play to you.
March 1891
Shortly after
Watson’s return
to Baker Street.
Christy Montour-Larson
March 1931
Watson’s interview
at Bell Labs.
February-April 2011
The week of Watson’s
Jeopardy! tourney,
and after.
Bob and Kay
Carel
playwright’s perspective
Madeleine George on
The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence
“We’re living through a sea change in our relationship with objects.
Our most cherished objects no longer seem inert and dependent on us,
waiting breathlessly in an empty room for us to come and make them
useful. Increasingly, our objects seem to dictate the terms of their own
use, and we’re growing ever more dependent on them for our survival. The
(curious case of the) Watson Intelligence is my attempt to puzzle out the
problem of dependency – on devices, political institutions, and other
people. Dependency is, of course, an emotional paradox: we can’t be fulfilled
without making ourselves vulnerable to love and connection with others,
but we are bound at some point to hate the ones we love when they
inevitably frustrate us, abandon us, or die. In our current technological
moment, when nothing can’t be made faster, sleeker, and smarter, the
temptation can be overwhelming to try to solve this problem with
technology. After all, our devices are growing more person-like every day,
and it seems like a more and more self-evidently awesome idea to merge
the attentive, loving aspects of a human being with the intelligent, reliable
aspects of a machine to get a perfect companion. This has been a tempting
idea for as long as there have been machines; in The Watson Intelligence,
two characters, one contemporary and one Victorian, both find themselves
falling down the rabbit hole of this seduction.
Unfortunately
for
my
characters,
though,
inefficiency,
incomprehensibility, and risk are in fact the meaning of human
relationships, not their failings.”
shows
One 15-min. Intermission
Rated R
CREATIVE TEAM
Director
Christy Montour-Larson+
Scenic Designer
Amanda Embry
Costume Designer Anthony James Sirk
Lighting Designer Jacob Welch
Sound Designer
& Original Music Jake K. Harbour
Stage Manager
Devon Muko*
Asst. Stage Manager Domingo Mancuello
CAST
Merrick
Eliza
Watson
Joe Lehman*
Kate Berry*
Graham Ward
The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence
is presented by special arrangement with
SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
George, Madeleine. (2013, September) Interview on The (curious case of
the) Watson Intelligence. Retrieved from: playwrightshorizons.org/shows/
trailers/madeleine-george-curious-case-watson-intelligence/
a note on watson
On February 16, 2011, IBM’s naturallanguage-processing supercomputer,
Watson (designed by a team of over
twenty programmers and named after
Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM),
beat the two winningest champions in
Jeopardy! history.
On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham
Bell placed the first telephone call to
his assistant, Thomas A. Watson, in a
nearby room over roughly twenty feet
of cable. The famous words of this first
communication by wire: “Mr. Watson –
come here – I want to see you!”
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective
created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who
solved mysteries using his signature form
of rational deductive analysis and the help
of his friend and chronicler Dr. John H.
Watson in London from 1887 to 1914.
our 51st season | 15
World Premiere!
KIND
OF RED
by John DiAntonio
director’s note
I can’t express how delighted I am to have been asked to
helm the world premiere production of Kind of Red. Having
the opportunity last summer to direct Good on Paper for CRT
gave me a first-hand opportunity to experience the magical
relationship between the town of Creede and its resident theatre
company.
And so it is with great excitement that I return to Creede this
summer to help bring to life the work of one of CRT’s greatest
figures. For years, John DiAntonio has been part of the lifeblood
of CRT, as an actor, playwright, improviser extraordinaire, and
most recently, as its newly appointed Associate Artistic Director.
The opportunity to direct the latest play of someone I consider a
great friend and colleague is an incredible honor for me.
In Kind of Red, John has created a sidesplitting modern farce,
full of slamming doors, mistaken identities, wacky disguises, and
even a trip through an alternate reality. As one might expect, the
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play is full of hijinks and hilarity. But beyond the laughs, Kind
of Red also explores a question of great universal importance:
how can each of us move towards becoming the best, the truest
version of ourselves?
Our hero, Rick Amadono, faces just such a dilemma. How
will he choose between the life he longs for and the love he thinks
he wants? How will he combat his own fears and insecurities to
rise up and seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? In his heartof-hearts, is he an artist… or just a guy with a trumpet?
Lucky for Rick, he has an angel on his side. And this is no
ordinary wings-and-halo type angel, but a manifestation of a
cultural icon we all know and love. So strap yourself in for a
roller-coaster ride filled with hot jazz and steamy salsa, laughs
for the belly and love for the heart. And maybe just a little magic
to hold it all together…
Stephen Weitz
playwright’s perspective
John DiAntonio on
Kind of Red
I come from a family of engineers, accountants, and businessmen with
retirement benefits and two weeks of paid vacation from their 9 to 5s each
year. I pretend for a living. My wife (Caitlin Wise: the redhead) and I
often comment on the fact that we don’t have “real” jobs. That’s not to say
we don’t work hard, but our working day starts around noon and goes past
midnight as we pretend to be someone else, say words that aren’t our own,
and inhabit rooms that can be dismantled in an hour.
I have some artist friends who pretend 24/7, but in my late 20s the
little adult on my shoulder got louder and louder. It started as a whisper,
but before long a Gregory Peck-sounding voice bellowed in my ear, “Grow
up! What are you doing with your life, you unmarried, unemployed,
unaccomplished, uncertain, unsuccessful, unconfident loser?!” The pressure
built until I found myself at a crossroads. The 9 to 5 stable path called out
“law school.” Another path, the freelance artist path, was enticing, but
foggy, bumpy terrain.
As I looked deep inside myself, somewhere below the left kidney,
perpendicular to the pancreas, in a place even the greatest surgeons can’t
see, lived a soul yearning for an opportunity to work hard and consistently
as an artist, to embrace a community, and to start a family. Luckily for me
there was a path both stable and artistic. I joined the amazing CRT staff,
and in Robert Frost’s words, “It has made all the difference.”
I was standing at that crossroads when I wrote this play. I lived in a
dumpy 4th floor walk-up studio apartment in East Harlem. In fact, that
picture of Caitlin in the show’s logo was taken on the fire escape with my
phone. The rest of our “photo shoot” is below. See the red bricks behind
her? That’s St. Lucy’s church, where I attended mass each Sunday.
Part of the beauty of playwriting is the opportunity to put order and (if
you’re lucky) meaning to the chaos of life. In this play, I got to put chaos
to the chaos, and then hopefully throw in a dash of meaning. I hope you
enjoy the ride.
Peggy
Longwood Lamb
San Luis Valley
Federal Bank
shows
One 15-min. Intermission
Rated PG
CREATIVE TEAM
Director
Stephen Weitz
Scenic Designer
Patrick Rizzotti++
Costume Designer Anthony James Sirk
Lighting Designer Jacob Welch
Sound Designer
Becca Pearce
Stage Manager
Jean Egdorf*
Asst. Stage Manager Lucas Bareis-Golumb
Trumpet Solos
Joe Montelione
Choreographer
Ryan Hazelbaker
CAST
Rick
Frank
Esther
Saint Lucia
Rosalita
John DiAntonio*
Logan Ernstthal*
Anne F. Butler
Caitlin Wise*
Mehry Eslaminia
Kind of Red is a World Premiere production of
Creede Repertory Theatre’s Headwaters New
Play Program.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
++
2016 CRT
Board of Trustees
our 51st season | 17
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Book by Jeffrey Lane | Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek
Based on the film written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
the good con HAS 9 actS
1 the put-up 2 the play
3 the rope
Identify
your victim.
Befriend him
and gain his trust.
4 the tale
5 the convincer 6 the breakdown
Provide tangible proof
that the scheme is legit.
Create a minor setback,
in order to ascertain how far
your mark is willing to go.
7 the send
8 the touch
9 the blow-off
Tell him the secret
and how he’ll
personally benefit.
Get your victim
recommitted. Make
him invest more.
Make the persuasive pitch
at the heart of your con.
Take him
for all he has.
Make a
smooth exit.
David Maurer. The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man.
New York: Anchor Books, 1999.
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719-658-2240
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RGB: R-0 G-112 B-101
Web: 007065
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Chuck and
Kay Harbert
CMYK: C-37 M-78 Y-79 K-45
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Web: 5E362C
giving them
what they want
Insights from
The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It…Every Time
by Maria Konnikova
Why do we fall for cons?
“The real confidence game feeds on the desire for magic, exploiting
our endless taste for an existence that is more extraordinary and somehow
more meaningful. But when we’re falling for a con, we aren’t actively
seeking deception – or at least we don’t think we are. As long as the
desire for magic, for a reality that is somehow greater than our everyday
existence, remains, the confidence game will thrive.”
What is the typical victim profile?
“We think we know the typical victim profile. We think we know
what makes a mark. And we think absolutely wrong…when it comes to
predicting who will fall, personality generalities tend to go out the window.
Instead, one of the factors that emerges is circumstance: it’s not who you
are, but where you happen to be at this particular moment in your life. If
you’re feeling isolated or lonely, it turns out you’re particularly vulnerable.
Likewise if you’re going through a job loss, divorce, serious injury, or other
major life change, are experiencing a downturn in personal finances, or are
concerned with being in debt. People in debt, in fact, are also more likely
to fall for fraud that’s completely unrelated to finances, like weight-loss
products.”
Famous Conmen
Frank Abagnale, as portrayed in Catch Me If You Can is
a former check con artist, forger and imposter who, for
five years in the 1960s, passed bad checks worth more
than $2.5 million in 26 countries. He currently runs
Abagnale and Associates, a financial fraud consultancy
company and is a multi-millionaire.
Charles Ponzi realised that he could buy foreign coupons
at massively devalued prices (because of price fixing
after the war) and then resell them in the US for a 400%
profit. He began canvassing friends and acquaintances
for money – promising them a 50% return in 90 days.
Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith II was a con artist,
saloon and gambling house proprietor, gangster, and
crime boss of the 19th-century Old West. His most
famous scam, the prize package soap sell racket,
presented him with the sobriquet of “Soapy”, which
remained with him to his death.
shows
One 15-min. Intermission
Rated PG
CREATIVE TEAM
Director
Music Director
Asst. Music Director
Choreographer
Asst. Choreographer
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Stage Manager
Asst. Stage Manager
Asst. Stage Manager
Asst. Stage Manager
Dance Captain
THE BAND
Charlie Oates
Sarah Brett England
Evan Blair Whitfield
Ryan Hazelbaker
Bethany Eilean Talley
Mark Guirguis
Anthony James Sirk
Jacob Welch
Becca Pearce
Devon Muko*
Jean Egdorf*
Dana Stringer
Domingo Mancuello
Emily Van Fleet*
Pianist/Conductor
Drums
Bass
Trumpet
Evan Blair Whitfield
Anthony Fidyk
Alex Brynildsen
Matthew Rossmann
Lawrence Jameson
Freddy Benson
Christine Colgate
Andre Thibault
Muriel
Jolene, Sophia
& Others
Lenore, Nun
& Others
Renee, Maid
& Others
Croupier, Sailor
& Others
Maid, Cop
& Others
Hotel Manager,
Waiter & Others
Joe Lehman*
Justin Barron
Emily Van Fleet*
Logan Ernstthal*
Anne F. Butler
CAST
Mehry Eslaminia
Deanna Mazdra
Caitlin Wise*
John DiAntonio*
Bethany Eilean Talley
Chris Alexey Diaz
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is presented through
special arrangement with Music Theatre
International (MTI). All authorized
performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
MTIShows.com
The videotaping or other video or audio
recording of this production is strictly
prohibited.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
our 51st season | 19
World Premiere!
The
HISTORY
ROOM
by Charlie Thurston
director’s note
“Our memory is a more perfect world than the universe:
it gives back life to those who no longer exist.”
Guy de Maupassant
At bedtime our children ask for a story. A “real” story from
our lives. Not make-believe. They’re obsessed with hearing about
the first day they met Grandpa, the time our daughter puked
on me on an airplane, or the morning we discovered that our
toddler son woke up and “baked” a cake for us in the middle of
the night. For now, we are their memories’ keepers.
The History Room relies on a shared memory between friends.
Inspired by a real-life promise, Charlie Thurston’s new play
asks us to consider the quality of memory. Rather than a fixed
narrative, memories morph as they pass through the subjective
lens of the witness, then morph again as that witness puts them
through the filter of life experiences. Multiple witnesses mean
multiple versions of the same event. When we cease to exist,
either physically or emotionally, we rely on others to tell our
stories, but those stories tell as much about the storyteller as
they tell about us. We are all in this together.
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Bob and
Dixie Slater
Kahlil Gibran wrote that, “Friendship is a sweet responsibility
not an opportunity.” Whether you are a parent documenting the
early years for your children or a best friend holding onto a final
wish for a confidant, bearing witness to life comes with a great
responsibility. As a theater-maker, I embrace the fundamental
responsibility of an artist to connect people through others’
stories that somehow allow us to see through their lens or
recognize something about our own. I find it fascinating that
despite advances in technology, our most moving storytellers
are still our living relationships: our family and friends. And in
telling our stories, they become artists.
Charlie and I want to thank the friends and colleagues who
helped guide this new production to stage: CRT and Jessica
Jackson for her bravery and faith in new work, our extraordinary
cast, crew and designers for their pioneering spirit and you, our
audiences, for taking a risk on a new narrative about old friends.
Pesha Rudnick
Harrison,
Theodore and James
Augur
playwright’s perspective
Charlie Thurston on
The History Room
CRT Acting Company 2006-2009
I first stepped foot in Creede May 2006 as an asymmetrically haired,
painfully thin undergrad student, trying to figure out what it meant to be a
professional actor. Danny Durkin, a legendary carpenter and change-over
master at CRT, described me as “emo.” Two summers later, beloved acting
company member Christy Brandt said to actor Rebecca Gibel, when she
confessed amorous thoughts towards me, “Are you sure? He always seems
a little sad.” Well, Durkin and Christy, look at me now! This angsty,
slightly less skinny sad-sack wrote a play about Alzheimer’s and it’s funny! You didn’t see that coming did you? Oh, and an update on my romantic
life (since I know you are all worried): I’ve tricked Rebecca Gibel into
marrying me in Creede this summer. Boom (town—I was a founding
member)! I’m full of surprises. As is The History Room...
Finding Humor in Hardship
The History Room deals with some heavy subject matter: Alzheimer’s,
death, and grief. But... It’s funny! I promise! I believe infusing this story
with humor is essential for a couple of reasons. As a witness of multiple
generations of the illness in my family, I observed that, like all things in
life, the pain and confusion is accompanied by laughter and absurdity. The illness seems to make life for both the victim and the caretaker an
existence of extremes. The heartache is piercing and relentless, but the
moments of joy are equally bone deep. Secondly, I wanted to include
laughter in my drama because I believe that for us humans our emotions
are more tied together than we think. Accessing one emotion makes us
that much more likely to encounter another. Experiencing joy, specifically
the way our diaphragms are activated during laughter, wakes up our bodies
and makes us more open to our darker reactions-- sadness, anger, and
fear. I assure you I’m not a sadist. I want the audience to feel this full
spectrum of emotions because they are essential to empathy and catharsis. Alzheimer’s can make folks feel awfully alone. Hopefully, The History
Room has the opposite effect.
shows
One 15-min. Intermission
Rated PG-13
CREATIVE TEAM
Director
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Stage Manager
Asst. Stage Manager
Pesha Rudnick+
Kathryn Kawecki
Kathryn Kawecki
Jacob Welch
Jake K. Harbour
Jean Egdorf*
Lucas Bareis-Golumb
CAST
SteveTBA
Young Steve / Peter
Graham Ward
Young Helen / Jeanne
Kate Berry*
Ron Clark*
Robert
Christy Brandt*
Helen
The History Room is a World Premiere production
of Creede Repertory Theatre’s Headwaters New
Play Program.
Pink Moon
Written by Nick Drake
Published by BMG Platinum Songs (BMI)
o/b/o BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd. c/o
BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
(bottom left) Christy Brandt in developmental reading at
LOCAL Lab. (bottom right) Charlie Thurston & Jessica
Jackson at talk-back following developmental reading at
LOCAL Lab.
PRIVATE
LIVES
by Noël Coward
director’s note
Private Lives opened in London on September 24, 1930. The
comedies of Noël Coward, with Private Lives foremost among
them, involve delightfully unorthodox relationships. Coward’s
romantic pairings were unapologetic relationships among equals.
If you’ve experienced much theatre or cinema from this era,
you’ll know how unusual this is.
Various critics have tried to figure out why he wrote this way.
Maybe it was because Noël Coward was gay. Maybe because he
surrounded himself with fiercely powerful women like Gertrude
Lawrence. I think it was because he was a good writer who loved
a great fight. What fun is fighting with someone who can’t keep
up?
Private Lives is ultimately about the difficulty of sustaining
love among equals. All the gorgeous clothes and bubbling wit
are the sugarcoating that helps us swallow the bitter pill. Our
feisty divorcees, Amanda and Elyot, are equals. When combined,
they react like “two violent acids bubbling about in a nasty little
matrimonial bottle.” As Amanda puts it, “Selfishness, cruelty,
hatred, possessiveness, petty jealousy. All those qualities came
out in us just because we loved each other.”
Coward’s hilariously cynical alternative? Find your inferior
and marry that person. To continue the chemistry metaphor: a
peaceful marriage is an inert marriage. Elyot tries to convince
himself, while standing on the balcony with his new wife: “Love
is no use unless it’s wise, and kind, and undramatic. Something
steady and sweet, to smooth out your nerves when you’re tired.
Something tremendously cosy and unflurried by scenes and
jealousies. That’s what I want, what I’ve always wanted really. Oh
my dear, I do hope it’s not going to be dull for you.”
Luckily, Noël Coward can’t abide dull. In a dramatic
happenstance that only occurs in comedy, Elyot and Amanda
re-discover each other in adjoining terrace rooms, on separate
honeymoons, in the South of France. Spectacular chemical
reactions ensue!
sponsor
Jenna Ford
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Jessica Jackson
shows
One 15-min. Intermission
Rated PG
CREATIVE TEAM
Director
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Stage Manager
Asst. Stage Manager
Jessica Jackson
Matthew Schlief
Tatyana De Pavloff
Matthew Schlief
Becca Pearce
Devon Muko*
Lucas Bareis-Golumb
Amanda / Sybil
Amanda / Sybil
Elyot / Victor
Elyot / Victor
Louise
Emily Van Fleet*
Caitlin Wise*
John DiAntonio*
Rick D. Wasserman*
Christy Brandt*
CAST
Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence in Private Lives, 1930.
infamous chemistry
Private Lives is presented by special arrangement
with The Robert A. Freedman Dramatic Agency,
Inc.
Noël Coward wrote the roles of Amanda and Elyot in Private Lives
for Gertrude Lawrence and himself. Gertrude Lawrence was one of the
most famous actors of her day and Coward, already a famous playwright,
was also a very successful stage actor. So marvelous was their chemistry on
stage that immediately upon opening Private Lives in London (1930), the
two were known as “Noël & Gertie” for the rest of their lives.
Coward wrote the script in four days while recovering from influenza
on a trip to Shanghai. Upon finishing, he immediately cabled Gertie:
Telegram
NEW
YORK, NY
NOV 10, 1929
to:
GERTRUDE LAWRENCE
HAVE
WRITTEN
DELIGHTFUL
NEW
COMEDY STOP GOOD PART FOR YOU
STOP WONDERFUL ONE FOR ME STOP
KEEP YOURSELF FREE FOR AUTUMN
PRODUCTION STOP
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association,
the Union of Professional Actors and
Stage Managers in the United States.
Telegram
Telegram
CATHAY HOTEL, SHANGHAI
NEW YORK, NY
DEC 1, 1929
DEC 2, 1929
to:
to:
GERTRUDE LAWRENCE
HAVE READ NEW PLAY STOP NOTHING
WRONG THAT CANnoT BE FIXED STOP
THE
ONLY
GERTIE.
STOP NOeL.
NOeL COWARD
THING
THAT
WILL
NEED
TO BE FIXED IS YOUR PERFORMANCE
NOeL.
our 51st season | 23
BOOMTOWN
Explosive Improv Comedy
a(nottoo brief) history ofboomtownat crt
June 7, 1891
Nicholas Creede arrived at the
Jimtown Camp in the hopes
of starting an improv comedy
troupe. Much to his dismay,
he discovered the Holy Moses
Mine instead, the biggest silver
strike to date.
June 5, 1892
The night of the Great Fire! Boomtown Improv
was packing the house. Jacob Cunningsnatch,
a new addition to the Troupe, left the audience
rolling in the aisle that fateful night with his
infamous closing line: “Prospector? But I hardly
know her!” During the curtain call, nine-yearold Bobby Fingercrank couldn’t see above the
standing ovation. So he climbed one of the oil
lantern posts, promptly sending it to the ground
and Creede along with it.
May 9, 1892
Boomtown Improv is born. Word had spread that Soapy
Smith was starting a stand-up comedy night at his
Orleans Club. Nicholas Creede knew he had to strike
quick. Financed by Bob Ford, the first ever Boomtown
show took place at the Theatre Comique. Performing
for five prospectors and a mule, Boomtown’s original
improvisers – Nicholas Creede, Sammy “Toothless”
Paddycake, and Timberline Gertrude (billed as Casper
Needlestick for propriety) – pulled no punches. Word of
the show spread fast…
sponsors
San Luis Valley
Federal Bank
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August 7, 1927
It had been eight years since the last legal drink was
served at a Boomtown show. That didn’t keep Shanny
Coochierash from serving his famous Boomshine
liquor out of the bathtub that lived beneath the wooden
bleachers. Very little is remembered about this time;
though one reviewer’s words have survived: “This den of
debauchery has brought our town into bosom-proximity
with the devil. During one Boomtown show, from which
my soul shall never recover, one so-called improviser
pantomimed fornication with another pretending to be
a donkey. Or a monkey. It’s hard to explain. But it ain’t
right, that’s for sure.”
April 10, 1899
After the fire, Boomtown fell into a seven-year
dry spell. Alice “Funny Bone” Tuthersmith
had the radical idea of bringing it back, much
to the dismay of her husband, Icelandic
Prospector, Nofun Tuthersmith. Donning a
mustache and britches (so as not to besmirch
her hysterical gender or the Tuthersmith
family name), Alice took the stage with her
brother, Tubbs Cockletit, in what became
known as “The Rebirth of Boomtown.”
June 29, 1933
During the heart of the depression,
while most theaters closed their
doors, Boomtown flourished due to the
low production cost: invisible props,
sets and costumes, and, of course,
the performers were never paid (a
tradition that continues to this day.)
ShowDates
10:30 pm
fri 7/8
fri 7/15
fri 7/22
10:00 pm
sat 9/3
fri 9/9
May 8, 1945
One of the most famous nights
in Boomtown history. When
Sarah Brubbletin (the first
ever woman to “legally” grace
the Boomtown stage) asked
the audience for a suggestion,
Barnaby Hosselkus, the town
sheriff, ran in shouting, “The
War is over, the War is over!”
It wasn’t until after the hourlong, war-based Boomtown
set that the audience realized
WWII had indeed ended.
fri 7/29
fri 8/5
fri 8/12
sat 8/20
fri 8/26
70 min. show, 5 min. intermission
Rated PG-13
CAST
Kate Berry
John DiAntonio
Jessica JacksonNathan Jones
Bethany Talley
Emily Van Fleet
Graham Ward
Caitlin Wise
and more!
PRODUCTION CREW
Tech Improviser
Musical Improviser
Scenic Design
Lighting Design
fri 9/16
August 17, 1971
Mrs. Arthrite Ikhands, organist of the
Creede Community Church, joined
the troupe for the very first improvised
song: a fun little ditty by Jenny
Fullblow about a love triangle between
a parakeet, a tiger, and Spiro Agnew.
Sure enough, Mrs. Ikhands cut the
song short due to vulgar content.
August 2, 1966
During the first summer of Creede
Repertory Theatre, tensions were high
between the gruff miners, artsy-fartsy KU
actors, and well-established Boomtown
Improvisers. Steve Grossman recognized
the unstoppable force that was Boomtown
and allowed his actors to join the fun. We
all remember Lance Hewett’s side-splitting
t-rex fight scene and the subsequent townwide brawl that raged the rest of the night.
shows
November 16, 1983
John DiAntonio is
born.
September 29, 2006
Jessica Jackson held Mo LaMee
hostage in his office until he agreed
to formally sanction Boomtown as
a part of CRT’s season. 13 days, 9
hours, 23 minutes, 4 jars of urine,
and 3 swat teams later, Boomtown
was slated for its first “official”
season the following summer.
July 2, 2007
Armed with a team of Rep Actors,
Jessica Jackson leads the troupe
into comedic battle and wins! Alice
Tuthersmith and Sarah Brubbletin
chuckle from their lonely graves
up on the hill, basking in the sight
of all the panted women and not a
single fake mustache.
Jean Egdorf
Evan Blair Whitfield
Courtney La Zier
Elizabeth “Biz” Grim
Logan Foy
July 8, 2016
Boomtown opens its 10th
and funniest season yet.
August 1, 2013
Dustin Bronson creates Creede’s
favorite stripper with a heart of gold:
Crystal. One of the first characters
to make three appearances over the
course of a season. Who will ever
forget Crystal’s brilliant rhymes and
heartwarming stripteases?
our 51st season | 25
26 | creederep.org
r
e
a
d
i
n
g
l
e
y
e
n
d
o
READING! AND OTHER SUPERPOWERS
Book and Lyrics by John DiAntonio | Music by Richard Rischar
back by popular demand!
Last year’s Young Audience Outreach Tour was such a huge success
that we had to bring it back for another season!
playthe
superpower gamea
Which Superpower would you rather have?
Flight or invisibility?
Read an entire book in one minute or super strength?
Earthquake sneezes or telekinesis?
shows
60 min. show, no intermission
Rated G
CREATIVE TEAM
Director
Remount Director
Scenic Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
Stage Manager
Spanish Translation
Choreographer
Fight Director
CAST
Nicolàs
Papi, Victorioso,
Mrs. Glass, Brad,
Bookworm &
Captain Cliffnote
Children’s Book
Illustration
Children’s Book
Narrative Tosin Morohunfola
Johamy Morales
Emmy Weldon
Tamara Carruthers
Logan Foy
Becca Pearce
Dana Stringer
Veronica Hernandez
Bethany Eilean Talley
John DiAntonio
Justin Barron
Chris Alexey Diaz
Celine Sutter
John DiAntonio
Originally commissioned by Creede Repertory
Theatre for the 2015 Young Audience Outreach
Tour.
Talk to animals or speak every human language?
Live forever or be able to freeze time?
Be Wonder Woman or Supergirl?
Be Batman or Superman?
Be a Super Hero or Super Villain?
Have a sidekick dog or a sidekick shark?
“It is a fun and
thought-provoking program!”
Angie Pelton, Teacher
CRT’s 2016 Young Audience Outreach Tour is
supported in part by an award from the National
Endowment for the Arts. Art Works.
The children’s book that each audience member
receives after a Young Audience Outreach Tour
performance are made possible by The Krueger
Foundation. Thirst for knowledge, read for
success!
“Get ready for the best performance
of the year!”
David Holycross, Teacher
“This production was something
our kids will remember always.”
Lisa Kirkwood, Teacher
sponsor
our 51st season | 27
education programs
community outreach . CReaTe day camps . the KID show . young audience outreach tour
C
It takes a community to . . .
Nurture, Inspire,
Challenge, Empower,
CRT’s education department believes that EVERY student has unique gifts and talents.
Theatre is unparalleled in its ability to help individuals identify, explore,
and share those gifts - and learn to celebrate the unique gifts of others.
community outreach
Our Community Outreach Programs have provided
many schools and organizations with educational
theatre experiences through a variety of workshops or
programs. Each workshop is developed and geared
specifically towards the students in that community, exposing
them to theatre and developing their theatrical technique.
28 | creederep.org
2016 young audience outreach tour
Celebrating 33 years of bringing excellent theatre to schools
throughout the Southwest! This program brings professional
performing arts opportunities to rural and underserved
communities by keeping performance fees low, and connecting
to school curriculum. In addition, each student receives a free
education
children’s book inspired by the play after the show, in support of
our literacy endeavors.
Last year’s show Reading! And Other Superpowers reached
20,245 students!
This year crt presents:
human
anatom
y
Bodyguard!
protector of the anatomy
¡Guardaespaldas!
protector de la anatomía
Young Audience
Outreach Tour
August – November / 2016
Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona
Target Audience: K-6
Diego isn’t feeling well and no one believes him. Except
for Natalie. She’s willing to take a journey of microscopic
proportions through his anatomy to hunt for answers. She’ll
traverse the nervous system, swim through the bloodstream,
and bounce on the brain. Is she a match for crazy bacteria and
wild viruses? Can she diagnose the illness before it’s too late?
bilingual (Spanish) musical as it
explores anatomy, health, and science!
Find out in this action-packed
Play, lyrics, and book by John DiAntonio
Music by Alexander Tom
Book Illustrations by Mallory Logan
Artistic Team
Director Crystal Mercado
Choreographer
Bethany Eilean Talley
Stage/Tour Manager
Dylan Nicole Martin
Scenic Designer
Elinore Loomis
Costume Designer
Kate Mott
Music Director
Evan Blair Whitfield
Sound Designer
Becca Pearce
Spanish Translators Johamy Morales and
Veronica Hernandez
Actors
Deanna Mazdra and
Justin Barron
Supported by The National Endowment for the
Arts, The Krueger Foundation and The RLC
Foundation.
Developed under CRT’s Headwaters New Play
Program.
For more information visit www.creederep.org
or contact Education Director Johamy Morales
719/658-2540 x227 or [email protected].
our 51st season | 29
kidshow
FREE!
the
Come play &
The KID Show program provokes the
creative minds of local youth by placing
them in a professional environment and
encouraging them to play. All participants
have the opportunity to learn and
experience the process of a high quality
theatre production.
Rodeo and Juliet
Ages 12+ / FREE!
Rehearsals: June 28­- July 13
Tuesday­- Saturday / 10am­- 4pm
Performances open to all ages: July 14, 15 and 16
11am / Ruth Theatre
Now in its 14th season, The KID Show program will debut
an original piece co­-written and directed by Emily Van Fleet
and Nathan Jones. Take Romeo and Juliet, throw in bull
riders, clowns, and trapeze, and you get one imaginative
masterpiece. Join us for three weeks of poetic storytelling!
Artistic Team
Co-Directors
and Playwrights
Emily Van Fleet and
Nathan Jones
Stage Manager Dana Stringer
Choreographer Bethany Eilean Talley
Scenic Designer
Trevor Frederiksen
Costume Designer
Chelsea Sorensen
Lighting Designer
Logan Foy
Sound Designer
Becca Pearce
Supported by The Hitchcock Foundation.
Developed under CRT’s Headwater New Play
Program.
For more information visit www.creederep.org
or contact Education Director Johamy Morales
719/658-2540 x227 or [email protected].
30 | creederep.org
props for
the KID Show
Two year running-finalist for the National Arts and Humanities
Youth Program Award, supported by Michelle Obama and the
President’s Committee.
Last year, The KID Show was recognized by Animating Democracy,
a program of Americans for the Arts, for fostering social change
through the arts.
CReaTe!
education
inspiring day camps
Each summer we offer local students the opportunity to explore and develop their creative tools
through hands-on experience mentored by professional teaching artists.
This year we are offering 4 exciting Day Camps. For questions or more information about our Education Programs
visit creederep.org/shows/education-programs or contact Education Director, Johamy Morales
719/658-2540 or [email protected].
Ultimate
Stage Combat
Ages 8 ­- 12 / June 28­- July 2
10am­- 4pm / Class Tuition: $220
Left, right, perr y, en garde! Learn
the secrets of stage combat. Fight
Choreography is the safe way to create
action for the stage and you can learn the
tools. Sign up today! I challenge you!
big
FUN
for
31 | creederep.org
Super Heroes!
Boomtown Jr.
Find your inner superhero, and learn to
hone your superpower through acting!
Students will use their body, voice and
mind to create their very own colorful
super hero characters, which they will
unveil at the July 8th Superhero Summit!
Do you love improv comedy? Members
of Boomtown teach the fundamentals of
improv, and reveal the secrets of CRT’s
professional improv show. All students
will attend a Boomtown performance.
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity!
Ages 5 - ­7 / July 5­- July 8
10am - ­4pm / Class Tuition: $195
kids
TOO!
Ages 13+ / July 19 - ­July 22
10am - ­4pm / Class Tuition: $220
CReaTive Mojo
Ages 18+
July 26 - July 30 / 10am - 4pm
Class Tuition: $250
In the mood to create, thrive, and reconnect with your artistic
core? Then this is a class for you! Learn tools for creation and
expression through a variety of art forms: writing, movement,
collage work, and performance. It’s a boot camp for your creative
soul. All artists are welcome at this invigorating exploration!
HEADWATERS:
New Plays of the West
CREEDE REPERTORY THEATRE
headwaters
new play festival
CRT’s Headwaters program is the source of new plays of the
West. Over the last decade, one-third of all CRT productions have
been original plays, and, like the Rio Grande, they all started at
Headwaters. The two selected plays are developed over a weeklong
workshop with a team of professional theatre artists, receive a public
reading, and are considered for a full production in an upcoming CRT
season. Our 51st season features two Headwaters’ World Premieres:
Charlie Thurston’s The History Room and John DiAntonio’s Kind of
Red.
This year’s festival features two dynamic new works:
Lone Riders
By Carolyn Krause
2016 Headwaters New Play Festival
August 26 / 11am - 4pm
August 27 / 10am - 12:30pm
10-minute
play festival
September 6, 2016
Every year CRT company members and alumni are
invited to submit a “10 Minute Play” inspired by a common
theme. Six plays are selected, rehearsed, and fully staged.
Production is a crucial part of the new play development
process; CRT resident playwright Steven Cole Hughes
notes: “My plays have not been work-shopped to death at
CRT; they’ve been produced. Playwrights learn more from
that than anything else.” Now in it’s third year, the 10 Minute
Play Festival is always one of the most exciting nights of the
season.
32 | creederep.org
General Store
By Brian Watkins
Your ticket includes both staged readings, lunch on Friday, and
the opening performance of CRT’s bi-lingual Young Audience
Outreach Tour that will later travel around the southwest serving
over 22,000 students!
mission
education
To foster the development
of new plays for CRT’s stages
and beyond.
national winter
playwrights’ retreat
December 5, 2016 – February 18, 2017
In partnership with HBMG Foundation and The Human
Stage, Headwaters welcomes playwrights to Creede,
Colorado’s winter wonderland for weeklong retreats. This
winter, 30 playwrights from around the world came to
Creede to exchange ideas, network, share feedback and
encouragement, and, of course, write. Carolyn Krause,
one of this year’s Festival playwrights, participated in the
National Winter Playwrights’ Retreat.
tributaries
New Plays for Young Audiences
CRT’s belief in the power of theatre for young audiences
is a huge part of Headwaters. Our Education Department
commissions or develops an average of 2 new plays each
year: The KID Show is a program that allows young artists
to develop and produce a new play with professional
mentors. Our Young Audience Outreach Tour travels
7,000+ miles every fall to bring a new play to underserved
schools throughout the southwest. For more information,
turn to pages 29 & 30.
Headwaters programming is made possible through generous donations
by Jim and Irene Brown, and Pete and Lindsey Leavell, and The RLC Foundation.
For more information, visit creederep.org/shows/headwaters.
our 51st season | 33