By John Moore Sept. 21, 2012 Except for perhaps opening nights, nothing made Kent Thompson’s face light up like watching his son play football. Check that: Nothing made Kent Thompson’s face light up like watching his son play football. The Denver Center Theatre Company artistic director and proud papa loved talking about Alex Thompson’s… Continue reading Neck injury ends Thompson’s son’s football career at Drake
Category: News
Photos: Curious Theatre vs. Buntport at “Smackdown-A-Mania”
By John Moore Sept. 20, 2012 “Wrestlers” from the Curious and Buntport theater companies joined local comedians on Wednesday for “Smackdown-A-Mania,” a ridiculous night of silliness filled with spandex, swerves and several incidents of … self-flagellation. The night was part of Curious Theatre’s “urban adventures” series, designed not only to promote current programming but to… Continue reading Photos: Curious Theatre vs. Buntport at “Smackdown-A-Mania”
Brain injuries: The Agent Orange of the Iraq War
By John Moore Sept. 19, 2012 The Vietnam War had Agent Orange, a lethal herbicidal toxin that exposed up to 5 million Vietnamese people and at least 70,000 soldiers on both sides to cancer as well as nerve, digestive, skin and respiratory disorders. The signature injury of the Iraq War is TBI: Traumatic Brain… Continue reading Brain injuries: The Agent Orange of the Iraq War
KDVR apologizes for borrowed photo flap
By John Moore Sept. 17, 2012 It’s hard out there for a journalist in the internet age, when anyone can steal your work in a second using cut-and-paste, a screen-grab, a right-click or even an iPhone (see above). If you are a freelance photographer, forget being adequately paid for your work. Most would settle… Continue reading KDVR apologizes for borrowed photo flap
George Hamilton out of Denver run of “La Cage Aux Folles”
By John Moore Sept. 14, 2012 George Hamilton, the 73-year-old star of the national touring production of “La Cage Aux Folles,” will not perform in any remaining performances of the run in Denver, which closes at the Buell Theatre on Sept. 16. The Denver Center released only the following statement: “Due to unforeseen circumstances,… Continue reading George Hamilton out of Denver run of “La Cage Aux Folles”
Audience: “A Happy End,” a sobering lesson we need to learn
By John Moore Sept. 12, 2012 Talkbacks following performances of Iddo Netanyahu’s family drama “A Happy End” have brought spirited response from audience members like Ralph Stern of Denver, to whom the sobering message of play is clear: “I think it’s important for this play to be presented over and over and over again,”… Continue reading Audience: “A Happy End,” a sobering lesson we need to learn
Video: “Bloody Bloody” announces new opening date: Sept. 27
By John Moore Sept. 11, 2012 “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” producer and star Ben Dicke, injured in a serious fall just before the opening performance was to begin on Sept. 7, has announced that the regional premiere of the emo-rock political history lesson will now open at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, in the studio… Continue reading Video: “Bloody Bloody” announces new opening date: Sept. 27
Robert Garner given Lifetime Achievement Award at memorial
CultureWest.Org video from the Garner ceremony: Click here By John Moore Sept. 8, 2012 Longtime Denver theater producer Robert Garner was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Broadway League of New York at a celebration Saturday honoring Garner, who died July 19. The award was presented via videotape by Nick Scandalios, chairman of… Continue reading Robert Garner given Lifetime Achievement Award at memorial
“Bloody Bloody” star released from Aurora hospital
By John Moore Sept. 9, 2012 Ben Dicke, the producer, director and star of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” whose fall down a trap door at the Aurora Fox Theatre forced a cancellation of the opening performance less than two hours before it was to begin, was released this morning from the University of Colorado… Continue reading “Bloody Bloody” star released from Aurora hospital
Denver Post: Colorado’s Melissa Benoist joins “Glee”
Today, I am back in the pages of The Denver Post for a day, contributing a story on Colorado’s Melissa Benoist joining the cast of “Glee.” Benoist’s life has changed forever: The Littleton native has been cast on “Glee” — and she already has been Slushied. That’s when a bully throws a Slurpee-like frozen… Continue reading Denver Post: Colorado’s Melissa Benoist joins “Glee”
Injury cancels “Bloody Bloody” opening night at Aurora Fox
By John Moore Sept. 7, 2012 Friday night’s opening performance of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” at the Aurora Fox was canceled because of a backstage accident that sent director, producer and star Benjamin Dicke to the nearby University of Colorado Hospital. Dicke fell about 8 feet down an open trap door at about 5… Continue reading Injury cancels “Bloody Bloody” opening night at Aurora Fox
Video: Actor Christopher Sieber on Broadway’s support for bullied Colorado teen
By John Moore In 2008, Adrian Ulm made national news when it was learned that the 14-year-old middle-schooler from Centennial, Colo., was being beaten up for, among other reasons, taking part in theater. He endured taunts including “Nazi,” “Jew” and “gay” for two years until an inevitable confrontation left him with a broken collarbone and… Continue reading Video: Actor Christopher Sieber on Broadway’s support for bullied Colorado teen
Public invited to celebrate theater producer Bob Garner on Saturday
By John Moore for CultureWest Friends of legendary Denver theater producer Robert Garner know the last thing the tireless bon vivant would probably want is a memorial party on his behalf to be held in a classy ballroom, but … I’m guessing, that will be just the start of a party to celebrate a… Continue reading Public invited to celebrate theater producer Bob Garner on Saturday
Fall 2012, No. 1: Curious Theatre’s “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”
By John Moore When: Sept. 1-Oct. 13 at Curious Theatre in Denver (previews Aug. 30-31); Oct. 19-Nov. 11 at TheatreWorks in Colorado Springs Written by: Kristoffer Diaz The story: This rare intersection of sports and theater centers on a frustrated Puerto Rican professional wrestler. It seems his lot in life is being the guy… Continue reading Fall 2012, No. 1: Curious Theatre’s “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”
Fall 2012, No. 2: Ben Dicke Presents’ “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No. 3: Abster Productions’ “August: Osage County”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No. 4: Midtown Arts Center’s “In the Heights”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No. 5: Denver Center Theatre Company’s “The Giver”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No. 6: Local Theater Company’s “Elijah: An Adventure”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No. 7: Vintage Theatre’s “The Cider House Rules”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No. 8: Miners Alley Playhouse’s “The Three Penny Opera”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No. 9: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center’s “Make Sure It’s Me”
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Fall 2012, No 10: Creede Rep’s “Is He Dead?” at the Arvada Center
CultureWest counts down the “11 most intriguing titles” of the upcoming fall theater season in Colorado.
Iddo Netanyahu: Is there “A Happy End” for our troubled world?
The brother of Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Denver to stage the American premiere of his new play, “A Happy End.” It explores our historic human tendency to ignore warning signs — often to our own peril.
Photos: Theater at Rock Ledge Ranch
By John Moore One of the quintessential Colorado summertime experiences is attending TheatreWorks’ annual Shakespeare offering at the historic and picturesque Rock Ledge Ranch, located at the entrance to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Here are a few photos I’ve snapped over the past two summers at the ranch. The “Love’s Labor’s… Continue reading Photos: Theater at Rock Ledge Ranch
Could “The Book of Mormon” determine your next president?
By John Moore Pundits are already calling this the most negative presidential election in history. And pollsters are calling it one of the closest. At a time when any slip of the tongue could move the polls ever so slightly in either direction (Joe Biden), the question bears asking … Could “The Book of Mormon”… Continue reading Could “The Book of Mormon” determine your next president?
Broadway review: “The Book of Mormon’s” place in history set in stone tablets
Josh Gad, Nikki M. James and Andrew Rannells of the Broadway “Mormon” cast. The New York Times. By John Moore Yes, the cheerful new Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon” is that funny. And outrageous. And profane. It is also a razor-sharp satire. But mostly it is a heartfelt testament to anyone who… Continue reading Broadway review: “The Book of Mormon’s” place in history set in stone tablets
Denver cinema closed Tuesday after Aurora copycat threat
By John Moore www.CultureWest.org Denver police are on the lookout for a man whose threatening call to the Esquire Theatre prompted the sudden closure of the cinema Tuesday night. “This is an open and active investigation, and we’re looking into it,” Denver Police Department spokesman Sonny Jackson told www.CultureWest.org. The Esquire was closed as a… Continue reading Denver cinema closed Tuesday after Aurora copycat threat
Broadway’s Rory O’Malley: On “Book of Mormon,” Turning it Off and Shutting the Closet Door
Rory O’Malley of “The Book of Mormon” Broadway cast By John Moore Note: The following Q&A comes from an interview I conducted for The Denver Post in May 2011, for a front-page story on Colorado’s kings of pop-culture subversion, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. That was just before “The Book of Mormon” won nine… Continue reading Broadway’s Rory O’Malley: On “Book of Mormon,” Turning it Off and Shutting the Closet Door
Video podcast: Creede Rep Says Goodbye to Maurice LaMee
The Creede Repertory Theatre said goodbye to Maurice LaMee on July 29, 2012, after 12 years as executive and artistic director. Video by John Moore. Interviews include Trary Maddalone, Christy Brandt, Steven Cole Hughes, Jeff Carey, Adam Bartley, Cat Auger, Tosin Morohunfola, B.J. Myers, Brian Kusic and John Gary Brown.