Category: Denver Actors Fund

‘Without this assistance from The Denver Actors Fund, I simply would not have been able to get the work done.’ Aid recipient: Neal Dunfee has been a professional musician and teacher in the metro area for more than 30 years. He is the resident Music Director at BDT Stage and teaches piano at his studio… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Neal Dunfee

Actor discovers there’s no such thing as a cheap dental emergency Aid recipient: Lakewood native and True West Award-winning actor Jake Mendes recently starred in the Arvada Center’s “Bright Star” and in DCPA Education’s “Corduroy.” He won the 2018 Henry Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his performance in the Aurora Fox’s “Hedwig… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Jake Mendes

  Actor doesn’t let chronic knee injury sideline her Aid recipient: Longtime local actor Mary McGroary, who recently played Fraulein Kost in “Cabaret” and Mona Kent in “Dames at Sea” for the Town Hall Arts Center, is currently appearing in “Holiday Inn” through January 19 at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in Johnstown. Mary also has… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Mary McGroary

Unique DAF partnership helps another Colorado theatre artist return to dental health Aid recipient: Hannah Marie Harmon is a Colorado Springs actor who performed in “My Fair Lady” at the Midtown Arts Center in March. (She was described as “As delightful as ever,” by reviewer Tom Jones.) Before that, she sang as Sarah Brown in… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Hannah Marie Harmon

  New partnership could save Colorado theatre artists unnecessary, expensive trips to Urgent Care or emergency rooms The Denver Actors Fund today announced an important new health-care benefit for qualified members of the Colorado theatre community. The grassroots nonprofit is partnering with Hippo Health to provide on-demand, free access to emergency medical evaluations via video… Continue reading DAF announces free virtual urgent-care benefit for Colorado theatre artists

‘Within only a few hours, we had our tremendous burden lifted from us’ Aid recipients: Lisa and Michael “Big Mike” Young of Parker are longtime married performers in the local theatre community. Lisa is an actor who has recently appeared in Theatre Artibus’ “Recipe,” the Aurora Fox’s “Caroline, Or Change,” and Bitsy Stage’s “The Necromancer’s… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Lisa and Mike Young

‘I found myself faced with bills I thought would be covered by my insurance but weren’t’ Aid recipient: Littleton native Joanie Brosseau-Rubald has been performing regularly at BDT Stage for 23 years, most recently appearing in “A Christmas Story,” “Disenchanted,” “Motones vs. Jerseys” and “Mamma Mia.” Seminal roles have included playing Eva Peron in “Evita,”… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Joanie Brosseau-Rubald

‘My dad was a hard-working, loving and vibrant man who will be missed every day.’ Qualifying artist: Mark Duran of Denver was the Stage Vice President of IATSE Local 7. He worked dozens of Denver Center shows at the Buell Theatre, including having had a large hand in Denver’s pre-Broadway run of Disney’s “Frozen.” He… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Mark Duran

  ‘Not knowing what is wrong with your body is scary. Not being able to get answers is even worse.’ Aid recipient: Actor, dancer, costumer and choreographer Cole Emarine is a Fort Collins native who has worked on more than 150 productions across the Front Range, and in a variety of capacities. Most recently, he… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Cole Emarine

  ‘When I was diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, I was sad, but I wasn’t going to let it bring me down.’ Aid recipient: Longmont actor Danielle Hermon Wood was nominated for a Henry Award for her performance as The Lady of the Lake in Inspire Theatre Company’s 2016 production of “Spamalot” at the PACE Center… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Danielle Hermon Wood

‘Dr. Kelly listened to my tale, heard my fear, and responded in the gentlest voice possible: ‘Let’s get you a smile you can share.’ “ Aid recipient: Properties Director Beki Pineda, who was given the Colorado Theatre Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Henry Awards, has been an active member of the Colorado theatre… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Beki Pineda

  ‘I am beyond grateful for this. Truly, I cannot thank all of you enough.’ Aid recipient: Denver native Cipriano Ortega is an actor, artist, musician and educator who in the past five years has performed in two productions at Su Teatro (“Dona Rosita’s Japapeno Kitchen” and “Christmas in Colorado”), and in Curious Theatre’s 2017… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Cipriano Ortega

  ‘Thank you for helping me pay for the orthotics that allow me to live and walk and perform safely and comfortably.’ Aid recipient: Boulder actor Adam Russell Johnson next will appear in Phamaly Theatre Company’s August 2019 production of “Chicago” at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Most recently, he appeared in Phamaly’s 30th anniversary… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Adam Russell Johnson

Just after pregnant actor was ordered on bed rest, her daughter was diagnosed with cancer Aid recipient: Denver actor and soprano DaNia Mortimer is a longtime member of the local theatre community. Her credits include “Little Women,” “Annie” and “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Town Hall Arts Center and Performance Now’s “South Pacific” in 2013.… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: DaNia Mortimer

‘I’m now able to replenish funds that were lost while I was sick.’ Aid recipient: Actor Jacob Villarreal has been an active member of the Colorado theatre community since first moving here in 2012. You may have seen him around the state in “Forever Plaid,” “Hair,” “In the Heights,” “The Music Man,” “Smokey Joe’s Cafe”… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Jacob Villarreal

‘To have a resource like The Denver Actors Fund touches me so very deeply.’ Aid recipient: David Jensen just completed a run of “Our Town” at Miners Alley Playhouse playing the town drunk, Simon Stimson. David’s recent roles have included Henry and others in “Angels in America,” directed by Timothy McCracken; Dr. John Buchanan Sr.… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: David Jensen

  ‘Ask for the help. God knows we all need it at one time or another.’ Aid recipient: For all 30 years of the acclaimed Phamaly Theatre Company‘s existence, Denver actor Mark Dissette has been a member. Phamaly is one of the only companies in the world that exists to create performance opportunities for actors… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Mark Dissette

  ‘This is a huge comfort, and a weight off of my mind’ Aid recipient: Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry is a longtime local actor, director and sound director, mostly with Lowry’s Spotlight Theatre. He played Ed Carmichael, the chime-playing son-in-law, in Spotlight’s farewell production of “You Can’t Take It With You” last September. Before that, he was… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Luke Rahmsdorff-Terry

  ‘This means more to me than you could possibly know’ Aid recipient: Actor Regina Fernandez is a company member for the Arvada Center’s 2019 black-box season, meaning she is currently appearing in “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “The Moors” and “Sin Street Social Club” – all at the same time. In 2017, she appeared… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Regina Fernandez: $2,440

‘Thanks to The Denver Actors Fund, I will be able to hear my director, my fellow actors and the band’ Aid recipient: Kathleen Traylor of Littleton is one of the founding members of Phamaly Theatre Company, which she helped to create in 1989 when she and four other students from the Boettcher School in Denver… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Kathleen Traylor

‘Here I am. Breathing, because of you.’ Aid recipient: Katrina Niemisto of Denver is a stage manager in the local theatre community who has worked most recently at the Lone Tree Arts Center and for the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Colorado New Play Summit. Her medical story: Katrina recently underwent a complicated hip surgery necessitated… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Katrina Niemisto

  ‘I’m so thankful for this amazing program that has helped so many actors in town, now including myself’ Aid recipient: Boulder High School graduate Matthew D. Peters is a busy actor, director and choreographer who most recently directed ‘The Little Mermaid’ for BDT Stage (and played Jetsam), choreographed ‘Newsies’ for Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Matthew D. Peters

‘It’s powerful medicine to know there are great people out there in the world’ Aid recipient: Amy Arpan is an actor and circus choreographer who most recently appeared as Mrs. Soames in Miners Alley Playhouse’s production of “Our Town.” She is also the owner and principal performer at Amy Arpan’s Illusions And Confusions. She is… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Amy Arpan

A superhero in our midst injured in the service of others finds a community waiting to help him in his time of need Aid recipient: Denver native Matt Gnojek recently starred as Seymour in Equinox Theatre Company’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. The Aurora Sentinel’s Ramsey Scott called Gnojek “an amazing singer whose talent… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Matt Gnojek

‘Kenny Moten does everything with integrity. He’s a solid human being.’ If you think being a performer is hard, try being a performer and the owner of your own entertainment and consulting company. Kenny Moten makes the transition from actor to producer to businessman and back again in same manner that often describes his rich… Continue reading Kenny Moten joins Denver Actors Fund Board of Directors