NEW LOCAL DOC DRAWS DIRECT LINE FROM MEDIA’S DEMISE TO CAPITOL SIEGE Brian Malone’s ‘News Matters’ addresses crisis of misinformation Tuesday and Thursday on Rocky Mountain PBS By John Moore Senior Arts Journalist Brian Malone‘s documentary “News Matters” is not so much a love letter to journalism as an elegy. It begins pretty much… Continue reading New film: Does it matter that ‘News Matters’?
Author: John Moore
Award-winning arts journalist John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the United States by American Theatre Magazine during has 12 years at The Denver Post. Hen then created a groundbreaking new media outlet covering Colorado arts an culture as an in-house, multimedia journalist for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. He also founded The Denver Actors Fund, a nonprofit that has raised more than $600,000 for theatre artists in medical need. He is now a journalist for hire as the founder of Moore Media Colorado. You can find samples of his work at MooreJohn.Com. Contact him at culturewestjohn@gmail.com
Denver Actors Fund in Action, Glenn Grassi: $4,549
DAF has back of local Scenic Designer and set builder after double whammy About Glenn Grassi: Glenn is a Scenic Designer and set builder whose recent credits include designing the set for Emancipation Theatre’s “Honorable Discharge,” and working as a scenic painter on the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s “The Realistic Joneses.” He has been a… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action, Glenn Grassi: $4,549
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sheryl Renee
Acclaimed performer gets her smile back from dentist Brian Kelly About Sheryl Renee: Actor, Vocalist, Producer and Entrepreneur Sheryl Renee has done it all on Colorado entertainment stages, but her stage work has included performances for (to mention but a few), the Lone Tree Arts Center, Town Hall Arts Center, Starkey Productions, Walden Family Playhouse,… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sheryl Renee
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Bernie Cardell
Only a brain aneurysm (and a pandemic) could slow down Bernie Cardell About Bernie Cardell: Over the past 20 years, True West Award-winning actor and director Bernie Cardell has been in all likelihood the single busiest person in Colorado theatre, having once booked 11 shows in one calendar year. He was directing a shortened run… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Bernie Cardell
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Rose Metcalf
Shipwreck rescuer gets some help in return from dentist Brian Kelly About Rose Metcalf: Rose Metcalf was born in Dorchester, England, and started dancing as soon as she could walk. Career highlights include performing on London’s West End and touring the U.K. as Sheila in “A Chorus Line.” Rose was performing as a dancer on… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Rose Metcalf
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Kelcee Covert, $1,519
When Teaching Artist was burned, The Denver Actors Fund was there to salve her wounds About Kelcee Covert: Kelcee is an actor and Teaching Artist who has worked both for DCPA Education and as part of Kaiser Permanente’s educational theatre program. Since 2019, has been an actor, stage manager and teaching artist on KP’s traveling… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Kelcee Covert, $1,519
Denver Actors Fund in Action, Stewart Tucker Lundy: $2,309
Partnering Dentist Brian Kelly comes to the rescue again About Stewart Tucker Lundy: Stewart Tucker Lundy, an actor with a visible disability, played the only sitting U.S. president with a visible disability when he portrayed FDR in Phamaly Theatre Company’s 2017 production of “Annie.” A month later, he was elected onto the Board of Directors… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action, Stewart Tucker Lundy: $2,309
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sharon Kay White, $4,000
Denver Actors Fund helps veteran shoulder her surgical burden Aid recipient Sharon Kay White: The powerhouse native of Gilroy, Calif., has become one of the most familiar and funny faces on Colorado stages, with credits spanning Lake Dillon Theatre to the Arvada Center, where she has been featured in 19 productions. Highlights have included labor… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sharon Kay White, $4,000
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Jeff Butler
NEW PACEMAKER REALLY GETS ACTOR’S BLOOD PUMPING Aid recipient: Jeff Butler has long appeared on local stages, most frequently participating in the annual Magic Moments musical revue. He also played the Governor in Performance Now’s “Man of La Mancha” in 2017 and is the lead singer in his jazz band, Jeff Butler and the… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Jeff Butler
Introducing the DAF’s new Kindness Fund
Denver Actors Fund announces The KINDNESS Fund: An immediate source of relief for Colorado theatre artists – with a call to service $65,000 seed money includes record donation from Bonnie Cashin Foundation APPLY TO THE NEW KINDNESS FUND HERE DONATE TO THE NEW KINDNESS FUND HERE The Denver Actors Fund today announced an innovative new… Continue reading Introducing the DAF’s new Kindness Fund
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Caleb Reed
Young actor was getting a COVID test when doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his abdomen Aid recipient Caleb Reed: Caleb has been acting on various area stages since 2016, including twice playing Will in “American Idiot” (for Ignite Theatre and Town Hall Arts Center) and twice playing the lead role of Robbie Hart in… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Caleb Reed
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Alicia Meyers
COVID took away her employment. Then came a breast-cancer diagnosis. Here’s how the community is supporting BDT Stage favorite Alicia K. Meyers. Aid recipient Alicia K. Meyers: Alicia has been an actor, director and choreographer at BDT Stage since 1995, winning a 2019 True West Ward as co-director and co-choreographer of “Beauty and the Beast”… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Alicia Meyers
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Andy Anderson
THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO HEAR IN A PANDEMIC: ‘YOU NEED SURGERY’ Aid recipient Andy Anderson: “I grew up in a small town in Minnesota and went to college at the University of Minnesota. While acting off and on, I was employed in various fields, including News Director for a radio station, Traffic Director… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Andy Anderson
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Robert Michael Sanders
COVID19 brought on the perfect dental storm: An infection, no money, no dental insurance and closed offices. Dr. Kelly to the rescue. Aid recipient: Actor, Producer and Director Robert Michael Sanders may be the best friend The Denver Actors Fund ever had. He’s given hundreds of volunteer hours producing and presenting fun, high-quality events on… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Robert Michael Sanders
Denver Actors Fund makes affordable health care available to theatre artists
New collaboration will pair Maria Droste Counseling Center’s 60 independent practitioners with qualifying artists By John Moore The Denver Actors Fund today announced a major new collaboration to help Colorado theatre artists struggling with anxiety, depression and prolonged stress as the unprecedented COVID19 shutdown drags on. Beginning today, The DAF is working with the Maria… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund makes affordable health care available to theatre artists
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Dana Hart Wright
After a devastating miscarriage, a focus on healing Aid recipient: Evergreen actor Dana Hart Wright (formerly Lubeck) has performed throughout the metro area for years, most recently in Ovation West’s “Lend Me a Tenor”; a reading of Laurie Scalf Scoggins’ “Polished Pieces” for And Toto Too Theatre Company; and in Benchmark Theatre’s 2019 Fever Dream… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Dana Hart Wright
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Becca Greer
A baby, a pandemic and a frightening complication Aid recipient: Local actor, choreographer and Littleton native Becca Greer, a graduate of Heritage High School and Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota, moved back to Colorado five years ago and last appeared in Inspire Theater Company’s 2018 staging of “The Little Mermaid,” directed by Tanner Kelly.… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Becca Greer
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Peter Trinh
Actor runs out of medication, into expensive hospital stay Aid recipient: Peter Trinh is a longtime Denver-based actor, playwright and budding stand-up comedian who most recently appeared in Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ “Around the World in Eighty Days” and The Catamounts’ “Everybody.” Before that, he was the Assistant Artistic Director for Theatre Esprit Asia, where he… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Peter Trinh
Survey: Most Denver theatregoers aren’t coming back anytime soon
Audiences, and artists, express deep concerns over going on with the show By John Moore Senior Arts Journalist The spirit is ready and willing, but when it comes to returning to our local theatre stages during an ongoing pandemic, the flesh is weak. Local theatre companies are all wondering when they will be allowed to… Continue reading Survey: Most Denver theatregoers aren’t coming back anytime soon
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Tim Fishbaugh
‘Even with insurance, the bills were overwhelming‘ Denver Actors Fund aid recipient: Longtime local actor Tim Fishbaugh recently played bossman Mr. Hammerschmidt in Benchmark Theatre’s “Parfumerie.” OnStage Colorado‘s Lane Ware called Fishbaugh the anchor of the production, “deftly moving from the autocratic businessman at the start to a bewildered and broken-hearted man emerging from his… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Tim Fishbaugh
Costume Designer Kevin Brainerd was epitome of class and panache
Death at age 58 has theatre community’s heart on its linen sleeve By John Moore, Senior Arts Journalist The clothes may not make the man, but under his meticulous eye, Kevin Brainerd’s clothes made hundreds of fictional characters come to vivid life on stages from Broadway to Boulder. Brainerd, an acclaimed theatrical costume designer… Continue reading Costume Designer Kevin Brainerd was epitome of class and panache
Back to Africa: My 2002 review of ‘The Lion King’ in Denver
A journey to the heart of Julie Taymor’s imagination By John Moore Denver Post Theater Critic Originally published April 28, 2002 It turns out “The Lion King” doesn’t bring Broadway’s most highly sought national tour to Denver after all. Instead, it transports the people of Denver nearly 10,000 miles away to the magical splendor of… Continue reading Back to Africa: My 2002 review of ‘The Lion King’ in Denver
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Melissa Lucero McCarl
‘I am a part of a community that takes care of its own in a profound way’ Aid recipient: Melissa Lucero McCarl is a prominent Denver playwright, director and actor. She is perhaps best known for writing the Denver Post Ovation Award-winning “Painted Bread,” about the fractured life of Frida Kahlo; “Poignant Irritations,” about… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Melissa Lucero McCarl
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sean Cronan
Dr. Kelly comes to the aid of BDT Stage lighting designer Aid recipient: Sean Cronan of Lafayette (who also goes by Seann) recently served as the assistant lightning designer and light-board operator for BDT Stage’s production of “Mamma Mia.” Other credits include “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” He also lends his talents to BDT’s youth… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sean Cronan
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Ashley Campbell
From training to trauma center: Life changes in an instant Aid recipient: Ashley Campbell got into sound design as a theatre major at the University of Denver and was hooked. “I really enjoyed the process of creating sounds,” she says. “It was one of the most exciting classes I took throughout all of college.” So,… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Ashley Campbell
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Chris Casketta
‘My appearance and speech are as vital to my profession as my singing’ Aid recipient: Glenwood Springs actor and baritone Chris Cascketta appeared as the opera singer Rafael Bellini in “The Last Romance” for Thunder River Theatre Company in Carbondale. He is also Choir Director at Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church in Glenwood Springs. He is originally… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Chris Casketta
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Lindsay Fuller
For an actor who often plays princesses, a front tooth is an essential prop Aid recipient: Lindsay Fuller has appeared in many local productions including most recently as Cinderella in Town Hall Arts Center’s “Disenchanted” and in the Arvada Center’s children’s productions of “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “Ella Enchanted.” Other prominent roles in recent years… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Lindsay Fuller
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Laura Jo Trexler
When Medicaid would not help a local actor with Medicaid, we did Aid recipient: Laura Jo Trexler, who grew up in Littleton and graduated from Heritage High School, last year performed her one-woman Shakespearean musical “Play On! A Musical Romp Through Shakespeare’s Women” for And Toto too Theatre Company at the Denver Performing Arts Complex’s… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Laura Jo Trexler
Denver Actors Fund: Sarah Grover
A move, a wedding … and an expensive medical diagnosis Aid recipient: Sarah Grover of Johnstown is a busy local actor who most recently appeared in the ensemble of “Jekyll and Hyde” at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. Before that, she played Esmerelda there in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” “Sarah Grover is everything you could… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund: Sarah Grover
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Scott Hurst
Neither Jekyll, nor Hyde, nor the actors who played them were spared the flu Aid recipient: Windsor actor Scott Hurst recently shared the title roles in Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde,’ his eighth production as an actor at the Johnstown theatre. Other roles there have included Fred and Petruchio in ‘Kiss Me Kate’ and… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Scott Hurst