Benchmark Theatre goes beyond Stonewall

Coming Attractions

The Stonewall uprising is a key ashpoint in 20th-century American history — one that changed the course of the struggle for LGBTQIA+ equality in the country. But a lot of what happened during the summer of 1968 is shrouded in memory and mystery.

And while there will always be questions that remain unanswered, the Benchmark eatre explores the events that lead to and followed the uprising in the world premiere of “Stonewall.” e aim of “Stonewall” was to tell as accurate a story of what happened as possible, so the show was culled from actual interviews and information about the uprising and was inspired by members of the largest cast the space has ever seen. Since the crowds at Stonewall would have been incredibly diverse, diversity needed to be re ected in the production.

“With how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go, it seemed like the right time to revisit Stonewall,” said Neil Truglio, director of the production and artistic director at Benchmark. “ e question for us was, how can we dramatize the events in a way that’s interesting and educational?

Developed by the creatives at Benchmark, 1560 Teller St. in Lakewood, “Stonewall” runs through Saturday, July 1. Performances are at 8 p.m. ursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

“We went about the piece by opening the casting as wide as we could,” Truglio said. “From the community that turned out to the auditions, we were able to create and elevate the characters we wanted to tell the story.”

While the creatives were building the show, it was almost impossible not to compare the situation at the time to where society currently is, especially with the rollback of trans rights in many states and book bans on LGBTQIA+ books. e resulting show serves as a dialogue between the past and present.

“A member of the cast was there at the time and said there’s too much of then in now,” Truglio remembered. “People still feel like second-class citizens and live their lives based on court decisions.” e hope that audiences who see “Stonewall” come away willing to have conversations and think critically about what occurred at the time and what is happening now, according to Truglio.

“Every group, community and individual has their own vision of what Stonewall was like, so we wanted to create a show where everyone who attends will learn something,” he said. “I hope audiences walk away with newfound knowledge and an appreciation for where we are today. People should see Stonewall as the beginning, not the end.”

For tickets and information, visit www.benchmarktheatre.com.

Have a laugh at DMNS ere are all kinds of approaches to learning and one of the best has to be by pairing education with laughs. at’s just the method the Denver Museum of Nature & Scienceis embracing for the Science Riot: Standup Comedy for Science Fans event. e 21-and-older show will be held at the Morgridge Family Atrium in the museum, 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver, at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16. According to provided information, the event feature local STEM professionals trying their hand at standup. Secure access to the event at www. dmns.org/visit/events-and-activities/.

Rock and roll with ‘Coco’ in Northglenn

I’d never have thought of pairing the music of Led Zeppelin with the timeless power of Pixar’s “Coco,” but I reckon that’s why I’m a columnist and not in charge of a city like Northglenn, which is doing just that to kick o its free Summer Concert & Movie series at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 21.

Ten Years Gone, a Led Zeppelin tribute act, will kick o the event and entertain attendees at the Festival Lawn, 1 E. Memorial Parkway, until the “Coco” begins at dusk. ose looking for a quick bite can purchase food from one of the food trucks that will be on hand for the event.

All the details can be found at https://northglennarts.org/ programs/summer-concert-movieseries/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Neko Case at the Denver Botanic Gardens

You can’t go wrong with an outdoor concert almost anywhere in the metro area — there is no shortage of great spots for music under the starts. But the Denver Botanic Gardens is a gem among gems, which makes it the perfect place to host a performance by Neko Case, who is, herself, a true gem in the alt rock world. rough her multi-decade career as a solo artist and a member of e New Pornographers, Case has rmly established herself as one of the best and most powerful vocalists working. And she’ll be stopping by the Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. in Denver, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20. She’ll be joined by opener Nora O’Connor. Get tickets at www.ticketmaster. com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.