Financial-aid recipient: Littleton actor, dancer and choreographer Asad Clinton was an ensemble member in Breckenridge Backstage Theatre‘s recent production of “Chicago.” He was called “commanding” by The Denver Post when he played a tagger named Graffiti Pete in Vintage Theatre Productions’ “In the Heights.” He appeared in both “Aida” and “The Wild Party” for Ignite Theatre… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Asad Clinton
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: Bailey Walton
Financial-aid recipient: Bailey Peyton Walton is part of the well-loved local theatre family that includes her brother, Burke Walton, and father, Kevin Walton. Bailey studied English at the University of Colorado-Denver and is a graduate of Cherry Creek High School. Recent roles have included Tracy in Hairspray with both the Evergreen Players and Candlelight… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Bailey Walton
Denver Actors Fund announces statewide expansion
In the video above, new parents Rebecca Joseph and Daniel Langhoff present Denver Actors Fund President Will Barnette with the Colorado Theatre Guild’s first Community Impact Award at the 2016 Henry Awards. The Denver Actors Fund, which in three years has directly distributed more than $55,000 to metro-area theatre artists in situational medical need,… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund announces statewide expansion
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Robert Larson
Financial-aid recipient: Robert Larson is a graduate of Cherry Creek High School and serves as the music director of Hope United Methodist Church. As an actor, he most recently appeared in “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at the PACE Center in Parker. He is also a singer with the Original Dickens… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Robert Larson
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Angela Mendez
Financial-aid recipient: Angela Mendez is a longtime local performer most recently seen in the New Works Festival at the Historic Elitch Theatre. She will be traveling with Director Christy Montour-Larson and her all-Colorado cast of the Armenian massacre musical “I Am Alive” for a special performance on Sept. 10 at the Alex Theatre in… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Angela Mendez
Denver Sonnets Project, No. 98: Maggy Stacy
By John Moore CultureWest.Org is endeavoring to make short films out of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, each featuring actors with Colorado connections. The artistic intent is primarily to further CultureWest’s mission to spotlight the local theatre community and their current or upcoming productions. It’s also an attempt to promote Shakespeare education in a fun… Continue reading Denver Sonnets Project, No. 98: Maggy Stacy
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Jihad Milhem
Financial-aid recipient: Jihad Milhem is a Denver actor who this summer played King Priam’s son, Paris, in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s “Troilus & Cressida.” Previous Denver roles include James St. James in K: The Rise and Fall of the New York Klub Kids for Denver’s Pandemic Theatre Collective; and Happiness is a Warm Gun for… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Jihad Milhem
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Joey Wishnia
‘Thank you so much for your invaluable help to me.’ Financial-aid recipient: Joey Wishnia, who won the Colorado Theatre Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, was educated at Rhodes University and received a teaching diploma in Speech and Drama from Trinity College in London. He came to the United States in 1993 and quickly established… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Joey Wishnia
Introducing the cast of ‘Waiting for Obama’
Director Brian Freeland has announced the cast of Denver arts journalist John Moore’s new play ‘Waiting for Obama,’ an official selection into the 2016 New York Fringe Festival. The play will presented by the new Wild Blindness Productions, in partnership with the Bas Bleu Theatre Company. ‘Waiting for Obama’ is the story of one… Continue reading Introducing the cast of ‘Waiting for Obama’
DAF: Footloose, All About Eve and 1st Annual All-Colorado Theatre Picnic
The Denver Actors Fund has a variety of exciting, family-friendly events planned for this summer, and we hope you will join us as we continue our mission to build community while building funds for our nonprofit, which provides financial and practical relief for members of the local theatre community facing situational medical need. MORE INFO… Continue reading DAF: Footloose, All About Eve and 1st Annual All-Colorado Theatre Picnic
Denver Actors Fund names Will Barnette Interim President
In the video above, Will Barnette announces the $10,000 Brenda Billings Memorial Match. The Denver Actors Fund Board of Directors has voted unanimously to name Will Barnette Interim President through 2016, Executive Director John Moore announced today. Barnette, 30, succeeds his mother-in-law, Brenda Billings, who died of a brain aneurysm on April 13. Barnette,… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund names Will Barnette Interim President
Donor launches $10,000 Brenda Billings Match Campaign
Last night, The Denver Actors Fund announced a $10,000 gift from an anonymous donor in memory of the non-profit organization’s late president, Brenda Billings. It represents the largest gift in the nearly 3-year history of the organization, which provides financial and other relief to local theatre artists in situational medical need. The announcement was made… Continue reading Donor launches $10,000 Brenda Billings Match Campaign
Denver Actors Fund in Action: ShaShauna Staton
Financial-aid recipient: ShaShauna Staton is an actor, director, wife, mother and daughter of the beloved late founder of Shadow Theatre founder, Jeffrey Nickelson. Most recently, Staton appeared in Vintage Theatre’s “Ain’t Misbehavin” at the very same theatre her father opened in April 2008, about 16 months before his death at 53. Staton played Armelia alongside… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: ShaShauna Staton
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Kevin Lowry
Financial-aid recipient: Kevin Lowry is an actor, improviser, teacher and photographer whose recent credits include “12 Angry Men” for the Cherry Creek Theatre, “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo” for The Edge Theatre, “The 39 Steps” for the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre and “Juliet and Romeo” for the Betsy Stage. Other credits include the Arvada Center,… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Kevin Lowry
‘Legally Blonde’ director, screenwriters to join DAF screening
As Elle says in the 2001 cult classic film Legally Blonde: “Happy people don’t shoot their husbands. They just don’t.” We are so not shooting any husbands, because we are very happy people. The Alamo Drafthouse Denver has just announced that Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic and screenwriters Kirsten Smith and Karen McCullah will come… Continue reading ‘Legally Blonde’ director, screenwriters to join DAF screening
Evening of songs to honor Brenda Billings at Hard Rock Cafe
The Denver Actors Fund will present an evening of songs on Tuesday, May 10, in honor of its late President, Brenda Billings. Billings was the co-Artistic Director at Miners Alley Playhouse, President of the Denver Actors Fund and a longtime contributor to Colorado’s non-profit community. She died April 13 of complications from a sudden brain hemorrhage… Continue reading Evening of songs to honor Brenda Billings at Hard Rock Cafe
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Eric and Jenny Mather
Financial-aid recipients: Eric Mather is one of Denver’s most gifted comic actors, most recently having played Inspector Hans Kemp in Town Hall Arts Center’s “Young Frankenstein.” Denver Post Theater critic John Moore once wrote of Mather: “Here’s a guaranteed formula for staging a successful comedy: Cast Eric Mather, wind him up like a child’s toy,… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Eric and Jenny Mather
Penny Dwyer joins Denver Actors Fund Board of Directors
The Denver Actors Fund has appointed Penny Dwyer to its Board of Directors, President Brenda Billings announced today. “Penny Dwyer will bring wisdom, leadership and sensitivity to the job through her many years in the theatre community,” said Billings. “I have always been impressed by her groundedness, her sensibility and sensitivity. She has a great… Continue reading Penny Dwyer joins Denver Actors Fund Board of Directors
Denver Sonnets Project, No. 78: Erica Lee Johnson
By John Moore CultureWest.Org is endeavoring to make short films out of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, each featuring actors with Colorado connections. The artistic intent is primarily to further CultureWest’s mission to spotlight the local theatre community and their current or upcoming productions. It’s also an attempt to promote Shakespeare education in a fun… Continue reading Denver Sonnets Project, No. 78: Erica Lee Johnson
Brenda Billings named Denver Actors Fund President
Brenda Billings, Artistic Director at Miners Alley Playhouse and a longtime contributor to Colorado’s non-profit community, has been named President of The Denver Actors Fund, Executive Director John Moore announced today. “I am honored and very enthused to join the Denver Actors Fund,” Billings said. “The founding of this unique and vital organization is making… Continue reading Brenda Billings named Denver Actors Fund President
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Amy Malmgren
Watch: Amy Malmgren is interviewed along with the rest of The Denver Actors Fund Board of Directors on a recent episode of “In Focus With Eden Lane.” Update: So there is a reason we have legal counsel! The Denver Actors Fund has a stipulation that was unanimously approved by its board of directors upon founding… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Amy Malmgren
BDT Stage raises $5,173 for Denver Actors Fund
Photo by Glenn Ross. BDT Stage’s special added performance of “Fiddler on the Roof” raised a total of $5,173.29 for the Denver Actors Fund, making it one of the two most successful evenings in the growing non-profit’s short history. Of that total, $1,660 comes directly from performers and musicians donating their show pay. Another… Continue reading BDT Stage raises $5,173 for Denver Actors Fund
Denver Sonnets Project, No. 11: Crystal Verdon Eisele
By John Moore CultureWest.Org is endeavoring to make short films out of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, each featuring actors with Colorado connections. The artistic intent is primarily to further CultureWest’s mission to spotlight the local theatre community and their current or upcoming productions. It’s also an attempt to promote Shakespeare education in a fun… Continue reading Denver Sonnets Project, No. 11: Crystal Verdon Eisele
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Joe Majestic
Note: At the Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the recipient chooses to have his or her story told. Financial-aid recipient: Littleton native Joe Majestic, a graduate of Arapahoe High School, appeared as Lewis in Ignite Theatre’s “Pippin,” and as Bobby in “Cabaret.” He also played a… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Joe Majestic
Denver Sonnets Project, No. 55: Cajardo Rameer Lindsey
By John Moore CultureWest.Org is endeavoring to make short films out of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, each featuring actors with Colorado connections. The artistic intent is primarily to further CultureWest’s mission to spotlight the local theatre community and their current or upcoming productions. It’s also an attempt to promote Shakespeare education in a fun… Continue reading Denver Sonnets Project, No. 55: Cajardo Rameer Lindsey
Video: DAF Night at ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ is coming Feb. 17
Wayne Kennedy, star of BDT Stage’s “Fiddler on the Roof,” introduces a special added performance of the hit musical on Tuesday, Feb. 17, to benefit the Denver Actors Fund. Kennedy talks about when his 1-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia and why “the introduction of the DAF is so important for people in my business.”… Continue reading Video: DAF Night at ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ is coming Feb. 17
‘BALLS!’ raises $5,250, inspires more to cap record-setting year for Denver Actors Fund
At the Denver Actors Fund, we’re feeling pretty close to a mile high. Earlier this year, we were told the Denver Actors Fund had been selected to be the sole charitable beneficiary at the 6th annual performances of “BALLS! A Holiday Spectacular” at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret. The numbers are in, and those performances directly raised… Continue reading ‘BALLS!’ raises $5,250, inspires more to cap record-setting year for Denver Actors Fund
Testimonial: GerRee Hinshaw on the Denver Actors Fund
A testimonial from GerRee Hinshaw, pictured above performing in the 2013 presentation of “BALLS!, A Holiday Spectacular.” This year’s “BALLS!” benefits the Denver Actors Fund: “One Sunday morning last April, my husband, Lee, called me from his parents’ Washington farm with the unimaginable news that his dad had just died in an accident. My son, Manny, and… Continue reading Testimonial: GerRee Hinshaw on the Denver Actors Fund
Young ‘Oz’ actor speaks up for Denver Actors Fund
On Saturday morning, young Theatre of Academy Arts actor Hannah Katz spoke to audiences at the Town Hall Arts Center in support of the Denver Actors Fund. “We are lucky to have so many gifted, talented, caring, dedicated actors in the professional theatre community who set great examples for us both onstage and off,”… Continue reading Young ‘Oz’ actor speaks up for Denver Actors Fund
Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sheila Ivy Traister
Sheila Ivy Traister, left, in “99 Histories” for Theatre Esprit Asia last year at the Vintage Theatre. Note: At the Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the recipient chooses to have his or her story told. Financial-aid recipient: Actor, director and playwright Sheila Ivy Traister… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sheila Ivy Traister