Arvada Center actor: ‘George H.W. Bush groped me,’ too

Jordana Grolonick, second from left, made a benefit appearance for the Denver Actors Fund with her Arvada Center ‘A Chorus Line’ castmates at the Denver Alamo Drafthouse on Aug. 28. Photo by John Moore. The claim by Jordana Grolnick of Longmont has been confirmed by an official, and an apology has been issued Posted by… Continue reading Arvada Center actor: ‘George H.W. Bush groped me,’ too

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Tom Borrillo

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: Veteran Denver actor Tom Borrillo, a graduate of Mullen High School, has performed as the hot-tempered patriarch Chet in the 1950s family vignette Over the… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Tom Borrillo

8-year-old donates $100 to Denver Actors Fund

By John Moore We can conservatively say that hundreds of people in the local theatre community and beyond have now contributed to the new Denver Actors Fund through donations, volunteering or other in-kind support. But I think today we can say we have our new youngest supporter of the fund. Nate Patrick Siebert, an 8-year-old… Continue reading 8-year-old donates $100 to Denver Actors Fund

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Chad Afanador and John Arp

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 No. 5: Chad Afanador has amassed an impressive resume over his 11 seasons with the Creede Repertory Theatre, highlighted by his 2010 Denver Post… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Chad Afanador and John Arp

Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s ‘A Christmas Carol’

To see caption information on any photo above, or to see the gallery on a mobile phone, click here. (It will be on the lower-left corner.) Or just click “show info” on any photo. By John Moore Dec. 2, 2013 Welcome to my ongoing, 2013 labor-of-love photo series bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the… Continue reading Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s ‘A Christmas Carol’

Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s ‘Camelot’

To see caption information on any photo above, or to see the gallery on a mobile phone, click here. (It will be on the lower-left corner.) Or just click “show info” on any photo. If you prefer see this feature in its previous format (with each new photo stacked on top of the last), click… Continue reading Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s ‘Camelot’

Photos: My night at the 2013 Henry Awards

By John Moore July 27, 2013 My photos from the 2013 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards. To see caption information for any photo above, or to see the gallery if watching on a mobile phone, click here. (The information is posted on the lower-left corner of each photo.) Or just click the “show info” option… Continue reading Photos: My night at the 2013 Henry Awards

Newly eligible companies take emphatic bow at 2013 Henry Awards

By John Moore July 22, 2013 The Colorado Theatre Guild set out to put more Colorado in Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2013 Henry Awards, and tonight’s results certainly accomplished that goal. The question on many minds tomorrow, after the Guild had left so many of its own member companies out of the race for seven years,… Continue reading Newly eligible companies take emphatic bow at 2013 Henry Awards

Video: Shout-outs to 2013 Henry Award nominees

By John Moore July 18, 2013 Members of the local theater community give their shout-outs to this year’s field of 2013 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Award nominees. One comes all the way from Poland. The ceremony is July 22 at the Arvada Center. Video by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org. Running time: 7 minutes. Shouters and… Continue reading Video: Shout-outs to 2013 Henry Award nominees

Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s Dividing the Estate’

 “Dividing the Estate” cast members Ghandia Johnson (far left) and Kristen Adele (far right), are joined at the afterparty by Adrienne Martin-Fullwood, Sheila Traister, Lisa Young, Kathi Wood and Candy Brown.   By John Moore May 1, 2013 Welcome to my ongoing, 2013 labor-of-love photo series bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes on… Continue reading Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s Dividing the Estate’

Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s ‘The Man of La Mancha’

William Michals, left, and Ben Dicke, who play Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, strike their pre-show poses.   By John Moore April 1, 2013 Welcome to my ongoing, 2013 labor-of-love photo series bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes on opening nights in Colorado theater. All photos by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org. Opening No.… Continue reading Photos: My night at the Arvada Center’s ‘The Man of La Mancha’

Anatomy of a theater director: A daily Q&A with Colorado’s creative minds

  By John Moore May 3, 2013 My return to directing (“Always … Patsy Cline,” which closed April 27 at the PACE Center), had me revisiting a story idea I always wanted to do for The Denver Post, but never got around to: The anatomy of the theater director. So I am doing it now,… Continue reading Anatomy of a theater director: A daily Q&A with Colorado’s creative minds

2013 theater photo series: It’s Opening Night in Colorado

By John Moore Jan. 1, 2014 Welcome to my 2013 labor-of-love photo series bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes on opening nights in Colorado theater. This series includes one representative shot from 151 of the performances we saw 2013. The intent was to allow the reader a window into a part of the… Continue reading 2013 theater photo series: It’s Opening Night in Colorado

The Lumineers’ Colorado theater connection

Neyla Pekarek of the Grammy nominated group The Lumineers performed in the University of Northern Colorado's theater production of "The Tomato Plant Girl." Photo by David Grapes.

Here’s a video I shot  of The Lumineers performing their encore from the balcony of the Bluebird Theatre in May 2012. By John Moore Feb. 6, 2013 It’s great to see all the love coming The Lumineers’ way, most recently today’s fine piece by the New York Times’ Jon Parales on the ever-blossoming Denver music… Continue reading The Lumineers’ Colorado theater connection

Arvada-bound Philip Sneed: The entrance/exit interview

Philip Sneed says he was not looking for a new job. "If it hadn’t worked out (at the Arvada Center," he said, "I would have kept up the good fight at CSF." Photo by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org.

  By John Moore Jan. 27, 2013 Philip Sneed loves the symmetry of it all: His first two professional jobs were with the Arvada Center and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Fast-forward more than 30 years, and now his two most recent jobs are with the Arvada Center and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Although his professional… Continue reading Arvada-bound Philip Sneed: The entrance/exit interview

Bonus photos: My night with the Arvada Center’s ‘Blithe Spirit’

Actor Mark Rubald emerges from backstage following the opening performance of the Arvada Center’s “Blithe Spirit” on Jan. 22.   By John Moore Jan. 24, 2013 Here are some bonus images from my night visiting the cast of the Arvada Center’s “Blithe Spirit,” the classic Noel Coward comedy playing  at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. The cast… Continue reading Bonus photos: My night with the Arvada Center’s ‘Blithe Spirit’

Breaking news: Phil Sneed leaving Colorado Shakes for Arvada Center

Karen Slack and Philip Sneed in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's 2008 "Macbeth."

By John Moore Jan. 14, 2013 Colorado Shakespeare Festival producing artistic director Philip Sneed announced today he is leaving the nation’s second-oldest Shakespeare festival after seven years to succeed Gene Sobczak as executive director of the Arvada Center for Arts and Humanities. That’s the money job. Rod Lansberry remains the Arvada Center’s artistic director. But… Continue reading Breaking news: Phil Sneed leaving Colorado Shakes for Arvada Center

Here are your 2012 CultureWest.Org “True West” Award nominations

The 2012 True West "Theater Person of the Year" nominees.

    By John Moore Dec. 16, 2012 One of the hardest things about leaving The Denver Post was leaving behind the Ovation Awards, which for 12 years was my annual salute to what we perceived to be the best in Colorado theater for any given year. Then I thought, “Why not?” I can only… Continue reading Here are your 2012 CultureWest.Org “True West” Award nominations

Arvada Center joins Broadway bigshots, Perez Hilton on “Carols for a Cure” CD

By John Moore Nov. 29, 2012 The Arvada Center has the distinction of being one of only two regional theaters in the country invited to join current Broadway companies performing on the 14th annual “Carols for a Cure” double-CD, a mix of holiday classics and original material benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Right alongside the… Continue reading Arvada Center joins Broadway bigshots, Perez Hilton on “Carols for a Cure” CD

Colorado theater companies join forces for military families

Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora.

  By John Moore Oct. 18, 2012 A new national initiative will be announced tomorrow that will recognize “the profound contributions of military service families,” and seven Colorado theater companies are helping to lead the way. The Blue Star Theatres program, founded by the national Theatre Communications Group service organization, will team 57 of its… Continue reading Colorado theater companies join forces for military families

The average price of a live theater ticket in Colorado is …

Those "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at the Arvada Center are charging the top ticket price in town. Photo by P. Switzer.

  By John Moore Sept. 28, 2012 Earlier today, I solicited comment from Facebook followers on my anecdotal observation that the fall theater season in Colorado seems to be off to a sure-no-fire start. Some of the most anticipated new works of the fall appear to be playing to houses that are far more empty… Continue reading The average price of a live theater ticket in Colorado is …

Photos: Arvada Center’s “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

A look at the Arvada Center’s  2012- 13 season-opener, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” running through Sept. 30. Photos by P. Switzer, Arvada Center                   Principal cast: Dennis Parlato (Lawrence Jameson); Ben Nordstrom (Freddy Benson); Laura E. Taylor (Christine Colgate); Gary Lynch (Andre Thibault); Susie Roelofsz (Muriel Eubanks) and… Continue reading Photos: Arvada Center’s “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

2012 Henry Awards paint the town “Red”

By John Moore The Henry Awards painted the town “Red” on Monday night, giving the Curious Theatre  Company’s must-see staging seven awards among its eight nominations. The haul included best play, best director (Christy Montour-Larson), supporting actor (Benjamin Bonenfant) and even best ensemble, even though that play is an ensemble of two (Bonenfant and Larry… Continue reading 2012 Henry Awards paint the town “Red”

Handicapping the Henrys: Who got snubbed (“Hairspray!”)

      By John Moore There seems to be more grumbling than ever before about this year’s list of Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards nominations, and for some understandable reason — five companies hoarded a combined 78 percent of this year’s noms. The CTG is a member-based, dues-paying service organization, and when only 14… Continue reading Handicapping the Henrys: Who got snubbed (“Hairspray!”)