Funny in a ‘foreign’ language

World premiere of ‘Laughs in Spanish’ brings Miami to Denver for a poignant and playful exploration of family, identity and comedy by

Toni Tresca

It’s no great secret that being a woman in a leadership position comes with many unfair challenges — and for women of color, those challenges are often more complicated. Set in the vibrant Wynwood Arts District of Miami, the world premiere of Alexis Scheer’s uproarious new comedy Laughs in Spanish unwinds these complexities with a thoughtful dive into the expectations and barriers faced by women of color looking for a path to success in the art scene.

“I am a Latina, leader, artist and director whose career often requires that I leave my children in Chicago so I can go direct, and that comes with a whole ball of complex emotions,” says director Lisa Portes. “The play is centered around the question of what it means to be a woman of color who is an artist and a mother. I live in that territory all the time.”

Sheer’s play begins on the cusp of Art Basel — an international art fair that began in Switzerland in the 1970s but expanded to include Miami Beach in 2002 — after the exhibition space of gallery director Mariana (Stephanie Machado) has been robbed on the eve of a fancy party for the event. But Mariana isn’t alone. She has her intern Carolina (Danielle Alonzo) and her intern’s boyfriend and police officer, Juan (Luis Vega) alongside her TV-star mother, Estella (Maggie Bofill) to help her save the gallery.

With Laughs in Spanish, the playwright draws on her real experiences growing up in Miami and offers a touching but light-hearted look at the barriers that have been put up to exclude Latinas from cultural spaces. But despite touching on serious themes of inequality in the art world, the creative team behind the upcoming production at Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) promises the show will be a lot of fun.

“I love how funny the play is,” says actor Danielle Alonzo, who plays Carolina. “It's so well-written, relatable and very conversational; it sounds like how I would talk to my friends. All the exposition is happening, but it's furious and funny out the gate.”

Walking this fine balance between poignant and playful, Laughs in Spanish was written by Scheer as her thesis for Boston University’s MFA playwriting program. The play is the follow-up to her breakout hit, Dear Dead Drug Lord, a dark comedy about young girls attempting to bring Pablo Escobar back to life, which debuted off-Broadway in 2019.

“When I got an audition for this play, I was excited because I had seen Dear Dead Drug Lord in New York City pre-pandemic and loved it,” says actor Luis Vega, who plays Juan. “There are times when you see a playwright who you’ve never heard of and you just get this feeling that they are a once-in-a-generation voice; I had that feeling … so I was excited to work with [Sheer] on whatever she did next.”

Portes had also first encountered Scheer through her debut play. She produced a reading of the work at LTC Carnaval of New Latinx Work back in 2018. So when Portes received an email in May from DCPA Theater Company Director Chris Coleman asking her to interview to direct Laughs in Spanish, saying "yes" was a no-brainer.

“I knew Alexis was interviewing several people, so after reading [Laughs in Spanish] I wrote her a note entitled ‘Five Reasons Why I Need to Direct the Play.’ Happily, she picked me,” Portes says. “This is my third show with the DCPA. I feel like it's become kind of an artistic home. And so, to do a world premiere of a play by a writer I love at a theater I love is just fabulous.”

Alonzo shares Portes’ enthusiasm for the new work, saying a big part of what made the rehearsal experience special grew from the camaraderie between a cast with a shared cultural framework. “It's a unique experience being surrounded by an entire cast of fellow Latinos,” Alonzo says. “Lisa has created such a safe rehearsal room full of people who have similar experiences or can relate to things people go through growing up as a Latina. We have our inside jokes and sometimes we just break out and speak in Spanish like we would at home.”

Vega also emphasizes this cultural camaraderie when reflecting on her favorite moments in the play. She points to the pivotal scene from which Scheer pulls the title. “We're having a lot of fun figuring out what it means to laugh in Spanish,” Vega says. “How is our experience different than other Americans? And how does that come out in our laughter? The bottom line is, it’s super fun to giggle on stage. It's infectious and I hope the audience responds similarly when they come to see it.”

Beyond these cross-cultural explorations of Latino life in the United States, the play also promises to give Coloradans a reprieve from the cold weather outside. “It’s Miami and the set is just so warm with all these beautiful colors,” Alonzo says. “There's food, there's culture and there are these lovely family and relationship dynamics the characters are going through and everyone can relate to. You'll cry because the play might hit close to home, but then you're gonna laugh and leave happy because it’ll remind you of the love you feel for your family.”

ON STAGE: Laughs in Spanish by Alexis Scheer. Various times Jan. 27-March 12, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 1101 13th St. $35

Words of comfort

Atlantic senior editor John Hendrickson returns to Denver to discuss new book about his stuttering journey by Adam Perry

John Hendrickson lives in New York City, but the Front Range is where his life first began to take shape. Currently a senior editor at the Atlantic, the 34-year-old journalist cut his teeth as a cub music reporter at the Denver Post, spending his freshout-of-college days living in the vibrant Baker neighborhood, making “great friends at the paper and great friends in the music scene.”

One of Hendrickson’s first big moments at the Atlantic came in 2019, when he interviewed then-presidential-candidate Joe Biden about his experience with stuttering. The resulting article expressed some disappointment, or at least confusion, over Biden’s refusal to admit he still stutters, despite what experts say are coping mechanisms observed in Biden’s public appearances. “What Joe Biden Can’t Bring Himself to Say,” as the piece was titled, also represented a life-changing moment for Hendrickson, who discussed his own stutter in the article.

Before the Atlantic feature on Biden was published in the magazine’s January-February 2020 issue, Hendrickson’s speech impediment “was very much the elephant in the room” throughout his life. He virtually never discussed it, even with family and friends.

“After writing that article, so many people who stutter from around the world began reaching out to me and telling me their life stories,” Hendrickson says. “That made me feel like I was tapping into something, that there was a desire for more writing about this topic, and that there were layers to explore. But it took me a long time to get there and to become comfortable pursuing it at all, and I don’t know if I ever became 100% comfortable. I think I just reached a point where I was, like, ‘Alright, I guess this is happening,’ and then you’re just sort of moving forward. I think that’s how a lot of life is.”

Hendrickson’s new book about his stuttering journey, Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutter, was released Jan. 17 via Penguin Random House. In the wake of his article about President Biden, and the mountain of correspondence it garnered, the longtime reporter finally engaged the stuttering community.

“A lot of people were encouraging me to check out one of the local chapter meetings of the National Stuttering Association [NSA], and it took me a while to find the confidence to go,” Hendrickson says. “Maybe nine or 10 months after that, I went to my first meeting of the Brooklyn chapter. It happened over Zoom, but it was kind of crazy to be around all these other adults who stutter, and it kind of rocked my world.”

The following year, he attended the NSA annual

ON THE SHELF: Life on Delay by John Hendrickson is available now via Penguin Random House.

Matthew Bernucca

down a little bit in a way that they might not to a more intimidating, fast-talking journalist — and the result is I think that I’ve been able to get more interesting stories out of people some- conference in Austin, followed the next week by a smaller event hosted outside Denver by a Colorado-based 501(c) (3) nonprofit called FRIENDS: The National Association of Young People Who Stutter.

Now Hendrickson is embarking on a book tour, and he’s recently spoken about his stuttering journey on PBS, as well as a moving New York Times video about what it’s like to stutter.

“It was a great reason to go back to my old stomping grounds, and at that conference I actually met Steve Varney [Gregory Alan Isakov guitarist and person who stutters] and had a real great conversation with him, and I met some other wonderful Colorado people who stutter, and I’ve remained close with them ever since.”

Throughout his early career as a writer, Hendrickson attempted to cover up his stutter by leaning on email and in-person interviews, which he says ease his stutter. “Phoners,” as journalists often call phone interviews, presented a “time pressure that just takes you back to childhood.” Now, he’s more at ease telling subjects upfront that he stutters.

“I think I’ve only become comfortable doing that in the past two-to-four years, and I went through so many interviews trying to keep the world’s worst secret, like ‘I hope they don’t figure it out.’ It was so obvious,” he says. “Disclosing that I stutter before we get started puts the other person at ease, and makes them let their guard

“I’m very honored that some people want to talk to me about it, and that I’m doing some interviews,” he says. “I’m very grateful for that, and I’ll be traveling around the country talking about stuttering, talking about the book. That’s something I’ve never, ever done — something I never, ever dreamed possible. If [someone] had told 10-year-old me, ‘When you’re 34 you will be public-speaking about your problem,’ I think I would’ve laughed in that person’s face. It’s a rare opportunity and I’m grateful to talk to anybody about it, because it’s just so cool to connect with others and trade experiences.”

Stuttering “doesn’t – can’t – define who you are,” President Biden has said. But anyone who traversed trauma from stuttering — even if they grew up to be a successful writer or even president — knows well the connected feelings of shame and helplessness.

“The cultural perception of stutterers is that they’re fearful, anxious people, or simply dumb, and that stuttering is the result,” Hendrickson wrote in his landmark piece on Biden. As he prepares to return to Denver for a Life on Delay conversation at Tattered Cover on Jan. 26, Hendrickson says he is humbled by the idea of a young person who struggles with a stutter discovering his book.

“It’s aimed at adults, but I in many ways wrote this book for my teenage self,” he says. “This is a book [I wish] I could’ve read when I was 16 or even early college … I think it would’ve just given me comfort. I am totally overwhelmed and honored at the prospect of a teenager who stutters possibly reading this, and I hope it gives them comfort.”

■ ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Various times Friday, Jan. 27 through Sunday, Jan. 29, Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road, Broomfield. $15

Danse Etoile Ballet is bringing Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow and more of L. Frank Baum’s classic characters to life at the Broomfield Auditorium. With showtimes all weekend, there’s plenty of opportunities to catch this family-friendly ballet.

■ The Goat Experience

2-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, The Art of Cheese, 505 Weaver Park Road, Suite E., Longmont. $65

The Art of Cheese invites participants to explore the basic art and science behind how to make cheese — specifically Chevre, the classic goat cheese. Participants will get time to tour the farm, play with goats and meet the local guardian llama.

■ Mini Cornhole Tournament

6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, Spirit Hound Distillers, 4196 Ute Highway, Lyons. Free

Think you’re a cornhole master? Head to Spirit Hound Distillers in Lyons for an evening of spirited competition. The tourney starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. and the winning team will get to take home a bottle from Spirit Hound.

ON STAGE: Longmont couple Graham and Kristina Fuller bring In the Trenches: A Parenting Musical from New York City to the Front Range for its regional premiere. The production wraps its run at the Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton this weekend, with a final performance on Sunday, Jan. 29. See listing below for more details.

Rachel Graham

The Clocktower Follies: Burlesque & Comedy. The Clocktower Cabaret, 1601 Arapahoe St., Lower Level, Denver. Thursdays in January. $35

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story BDT Stage, 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder. Through Jan. 28. $70

In the Trenches: A Parenting Musical. Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Through Jan. 29. $30

To Kill a Mockingbird. Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver. Through Feb. 5. $35

Alma Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St., Denver. Through Feb. 18. $53

The Roommate. Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. Through Feb. 19. $20

Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies. Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. Through March 5. $20

Laughs in Spanish. Singleton Theatre, 1400 Curtis St., Denver. Through March 12. $35

■ Teen Movie Night

6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, Erie Community Library, 400 Powers St., Erie. Free

Join friends at the Erie Community Library for a night at the movies with beloved Studio Ghibli features like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away in Japanese with English subtitles. This monthly event is for teens grades 6-12, and Japanese snacks and popcorn are provided.

■ Duke Ellington’s ‘Sophisticated Ladies’

Various times Friday, Jan. 27 through March 5, Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. $20

Vintage Theatre is celebrating the musical legacy of The Duke in this “stylish and brassy retrospective.” The first performance is on Friday Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m., with shows continuing on weekends through March 5.

■ Know Your Antiques

10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, Lafayette Public Library, 775 W. Baseline Road. $5

The Lafayette History Museum is hosting an event at the public library to help you identify your inherited or thrifted antique. The museum’s antique experts will tell you all about the item, and how to take care of it if you should keep holding onto it. Participants will get access to free lectures from the experts throughout the day.

ON VIEW: Celebrate more than a century of the Colorado Chautauqua with a new exhibition at the Museum of Boulder Chautauqua: 125 Years at the Heart of Boulder traces the history of this local institution, from its beginnings as a mountain health retreat in 1898 to its current-day status as a community gathering place and celebrated performing arts venue. Read more about the exhibition featuring archival photography, video and local plein-air artwork in the listing below.

Vessel. Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Bouder. Through Jan. 28. Free

Yvens Alex Saintil: Photographs. The New East Window Gallery, 4550 Broadway Suite C, Boulder. Through Jan. 29. Free

Disruption: Works from the Vicki and Kent Logan Collection. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. Through Jan. 29. $15

■ Versatility Dance Festival

7-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, Gordon Gamm Theatre, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $15

The Versatility Dance Festival presents “the best in emerging and established dance companies and dance filmmakers from around the country and beyond.” Now in its fifth year, the event is heading to D.C. after its showing at the Dairy.

The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse. Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St. Through Feb. 5. $10

Erin Hyunhee Kang: A Home In Between BMoCA: Union Works Gallery, 1750 13th St., Boulder. Through Feb. 19. $2

Natascha Seideneck: Outlandish Redux Caruso Lounge, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. Through Feb. 23. Free

Her Brush: Japanese Women Artists from the Fong-Johnstone Collection. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. Through May 13. $12-$19

Rugged Beauty. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. Through May 28. $15

Chautauqua: 125 Years at the Heart of Boulder Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway. Through April 2. $10

Jerrie Hurd: Beyond the Male Gaze BMoCA at Macky, 1595 Pleasant St., Boulder. Through May 26.

Lasting Impressions. CU Art Museum, 1085 18th St., Boulder. Through June 2023. Free

Onward and Upward: Shark’s Ink CU Art Museum, 1085 18th St., Boulder. Through July 2023. Free

Celebrate 50 Years of Historic Preservation at the beautiful Boulderado Hotel!

Since 1972, Historic Boulder Inc. has been the voice of advocacy for Boulder’s built past. Join us on February 10th for a fun, golden-themed night featuring acclaimed speakers, compelling presentations, a delicious dinner and silent auction.

■ RetroMania Collectibles Show

10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 29, Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont. $12

Head to the Boulder County Fairgrounds and participate in a weekend full of toys, comics and games. From Star Wars and Spiderman to Godzilla and Power Rangers, this homegrown comic-con has it all.

■ Stars & Planets 2:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, Fiske Planetarium, 2412 Regent Drive, Boulder. $12

Curious about the cosmos? The Fiske Planetarium is hosting an introduction to stars and constellations. Participants at the outof-this-world event will get a tour of the solar system and learn all about other planets you can see in the night sky.

■ Thomas Dybdah: ‘When Innocence Is Not Enough’ 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St. $5

Boulder author Thomas Dybdahl will speak about and sign his book, When Innocence Is Not Enough: Hidden Evidence and the Failed Promise of the Brady Rule, at the Boulder Book Store. Dybdahl’s latest is a work of narrative nonfiction exploring inequality in the justice system.

ON THE BILL:

Celebrated indie-folk singer-songwriter Will Sheff sheds his former Okkervil River moniker on Nothing Special, the first album recorded under his own name. The Austin-based musician will bring more than two decades of songs to eTown Hall in Boulder for an intimate performance on Sunday, Jan. 29. Details below.

★ FRIDAY, JAN 27

Colorado’s Finest Underground Hip Hop featuring Microphone Militants and more. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $20

Travis McNamara and Madeline Hawthorne. 8 p.m. Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl Suite V3A, Boulder. $15

Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore. 8 p.m. Swallow Hill Music, 71 E. Yale Ave., Denver. $26

INZO. 8 p.m. Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax, Denver. $25

17th Avenue All Stars. 8 p.m. Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. First Ave., Denver. $20

★ SATURDAY, JAN. 28

Little Moses Jones. 8 p.m. The Louisville Underground, 640 Main St. $15

Adam Melchor. 8 p.m. Gothic Theater, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $25

Pat McGee and Friends. 8 p.m. Soiled Dove Underground, 7401 E. First Ave., Denver. $32

The Desert Furs + Flash Mountain Flood with special guest Toast. 8:45 p.m. Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $15

James Hype. 9 p.m. Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax, Denver. $35

★ SUNDAY, JAN. 29

Will Sheff / Okkervil River. 7 p.m. eTown Hall, 1535 Spruce St., Boulder. $23

Greg Koch featuring Koch/ Marshall Trio. 7:30 p.m. Muse Performance Space, 200 E. South Boulder Road, Lafayette. $20

Country Folk with Meghan Clarisse. 4 p.m. BOCO Cider, 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 14, Boulder. Free

★ TUESDAY, JAN. 31

Sunn O))) with Kali Malone. 8 p.m. Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood. $35

★ WEDNESDAY, FEB. 1

Jordan Davis. 8:30 p.m. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $40

★ THURSDAY, FEB. 2

Folk Rock with Piper Davis. 5 p.m. BOCO Cider, 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 14, Boulder. Free