Photo Gallery: My night backstage with “Maple and Vine”

Stuart Sanks lightens the mood backstage on opening night. Photo by John Moore.

By John Moore
Jan. 17, 2010

Here are some images from my night visiting the cast of the Curious Theatre’s 1950s parallel-universe comedy “Maple and Vine,” just before their opening-night performance on Jan. 12. Starring Josh Robinson, C. Kelly Leo, Karen Slack, Dale Li and Stuart Sanks. Through Feb. 23 at 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or www.CuriousTheatre.Org. Photo by John Moore of www.CultureWest.Org. Thanks: Kate Marie Roselle and Chip Walton.

To see the our full photo series, “It’s Opening Night in Colorado Theatre,” featuring one intimate, iconic snapshot from 27 Colorado opening nights (and counting), click here.

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Curious Theatre company members Jada Roberts, Brian Landis Folkins, Josh Hartwell and Jim Hunt meets hours before the opening performance to prepare food for the eventual afterparty. Photo by John Moore.
Curious Theatre company members Jada Roberts, Brian Landis Folkins, Josh Hartwell and Jim Hunt meet hours before the opening performance to prepare food for the eventual afterparty. Photo by John Moore.

Once you see “Maple and Vine,” you’ll know why Mad Housewife wine was such an appropriate opening-night gift from actor C. Kelly Leo, left, to castmate Karen Slack. Photo by John Moore.
Once you see “Maple and Vine,” you’ll know why Mad Housewife wine was such an appropriate opening-night gift from actor C. Kelly Leo, left, to castmate Karen Slack. Photo by John Moore.

A note from costumer Kevin Brainerd taped to a backstage mirror advises actor Stuart Sanks on possible hairstyles. Photo by John Moore.
A note from costumer Kevin Brainerd taped to a backstage mirror advises actor Stuart Sanks on possible hairstyles. Photo by John Moore.

Stuart Sanks lightens the mood backstage on opening night. Photo by John Moore.
Stuart Sanks lightens the mood backstage on opening night. Photo by John Moore.

Actor C. Kelly Leo goes through physical and vocal exercises on the stage long before the theater is opened to audience members. Photo by John Moore.
Actor C. Kelly Leo goes through physical and vocal exercises on the stage long before the audience is allowed to enter. Photo by John Moore.

Josh Robinson and Stuart Sanks warm up together before the opening-night performance. Photo by John Moore.
Josh Robinson and Stuart Sanks help each other warm up for the opening-night performance. Photo by John Moore.

The cast and crew are treated my treats, in this case chocolate chip cookies from actor C. Kelly Leo. Photo by John Moore.
The cast and crew are enjoy treats, in this case chocolate chip cookies from actor C. Kelly Leo. Photo by John Moore.

The view from the balcony as the cast continues its onstage warmups. Photo by John Moore.
The view from the balcony as the cast continues its onstage warmups. Photo by John Moore.

Actors Stuart Sanks and Dale Li are decidedly stress-free backstage before the show. Photo by John Moore.
Actors Dale Li and Stuart Sanks are decidedly stress-free backstage before the show. Photo by John Moore.

Mitch Dickman, husband of actor Karen Slack, and Curious Theatre company member Michael Morgan gather with friends in the upstairs Sanctuary Bar before the show. Photo by John Moore.
Mitch Dickman, husband of actor Karen Slack, and Curious Theatre company member Michael Morgan gather with friends in the upstairs Sanctuary Bar before the show. Photo by John Moore.

Curious Theatre founder Chip Walton playfully responds to being reminded of the Broncos' overtime playoff loss. Photo by John Moore.
Curious Theatre founder Chip Walton playfully responds to being reminded of the Broncos’ overtime playoff loss. Photo by John Moore.

Curious Theatre company members Kate Marie and Brian Landis Folkins, who are marrying in less than two weeks, join the opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.
Curious Theatre company members Kate Marie Roselle and Brian Landis Folkins, who will be wed in less than two weeks, join the opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.

Christopher Leo greets his wife, actor C. Kelly Leo, after the show. Photo by John Moore.
Christopher Leo greets his wife, actor C. Kelly Leo, after the show. Photo by John Moore.

The young crew restores the stage for the next performance as the opening-night afterparty takes place behind the theater. Photo by John Moore.
The young crew restores the stage for the next performance of “Maple and Vine” while the opening-night afterparty takes place behind the theater. Photo by John Moore.

The audience is invited to stay for a 1950s-themed opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.
The audience is invited to stay for a 1950s-themed opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.

The audience is invited to stay for a 1950s-themed opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.
The audience is invited to stay for a 1950s-themed opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.

The audience is invited to stay for a 1950s-themed opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.
The audience is invited to stay for a 1950s-themed opening-night afterparty. Photo by John Moore.

 

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