Outtakes: My day at Magic Moments’ ‘Spirit & Soul’

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By John Moore, March 24, 2013

Opening No. 49, Magic Moments’ “Spirit & Soul”: That’s 193 people — count ’em! — at the curtain call for Magic Moments’ 30th annual pop-music revue at Kent Denver High School. Magic Moments integrates disabled and able-bodied cast members of all abilities, ages and experience levels for a show that has now raised more than $200,000 for organizations that provide services for people with special needs. “Spirit and Soul” is set within the context of a traveling revival show where a betrayal from within the ranks tests the faith of all involved. Songs from musicals “Spring Awakening,” “Jesus Christ, Superstar” and rock icons The Who, Queen, Kenny Loggins, Bare Naked Ladies, Lyle Lovett. There is even a number by recent Grammy darlings fun., as well as evangelical tunes like Matthew West’s “Forgiveness.” Something for everyone. Directed by K.Q. Starring Keegan Flaugh, Keith Hershman and … everyone else, including familiar local actors such as Amy Board, Sarah Rex and many others. Remaining showtime: 2 p.m. today, Sunday, March 24, at the Anschutz Family Theatre, 4000 E. Quincy Ave., Englewood, 303-607-7555. Thanks to Duncan R. Northern, Ted Kuenz, cast and crew.

Read more about Magic Moments in my earlier story here.

This photo gallery is part of my ongoing, 2013 labor-of-love photo series called “It’s Opening Night in Colorado Theatre,” bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes all over Colorado theater. All photos by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org. To see the actual, official photo series featuring one intimate, iconic snapshot from 49 Colorado opening nights (and counting), click here.

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It’s Amy Board with the plague … Tell me you don’t want a piece of that!

 

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They call TJ Board the “special needs coordinator,” but something has clearly gone wrong in his interaction skills here. Something about whether Coke is better than Pepsi.

 

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For some reason, the director known only as K.Q. never seems to go anywhere without his teddy bear.

 

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A very prominent piece of advice posted throughout the backstage area.

 

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Friday’s overnight snowstorm threatened to wreak havoc on Saturday’s two scheduled performances. But Magic Moments cast and crew are used to conquering far greater obstacles than snow.

 

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It takes a whole lot of volunteers to get stage makeup applied to all 193 cast members.

 

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Molly Nash isn’t shy about her excitement over having a solo in the 2013 show — singing, “I’m Shy,” from “Once Upon a Mattress.”

 

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These are just some of the dozens of vocal body mics the actors wear during the show.

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Director K.Q. and the actors who play roadies in the show gather to talk over some on-stage logistics.

 

(Please click below to go to the next page of our photos from Magic Moments’ “Spirit & Soul.”)

By 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