3 minute read

Benchmark Theatre explores gun rights

Public Notices

The issue of gun rights is one that almost everyone has an opinion about and has the rare distinction of being one that is literally costing lives as more and more time goes on.

All of this makes tackling guns on the stage no easy feat. But those are just the kinds of stories Lakewood’s Benchmark eatre, 1560 Teller St., lives to tell. And that’s what they’re doing with the world premiere of “Jeremiah.” e show runs through Saturday, Sept. 2. Performances are at 8 p.m. ursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Written by Tami Canaday and directed by Kate Poling, the show follows four young men (Brandon Billings, Nate Cushing, James Giordano and Kaden Hinkle) who get enmeshed in a situation involving

Coming Attractions

a gun.

We spoke to Poling about the show, the cast and

Interview edited for brevity and

What drew you to the produce challenge of exploring toxic masculinity and gun culture in a way that everyone in the audience can hopefully relate to. I think theatre can shine a light on issues in really powerful ways, and the opportunity to narrow a wide-ranging and hot-button topic to a slice of life in Aurora was a fascinating and enticing challenge.

Tell me about working with the cast?

Because this is a world premiere, we are developing these characters without precedent, and it’s been wonderful to work with a group of actors who are nding the humanity of these characters. It would be easy to create stereotypical characters, and I think my cast has done an excellent job of cutting through that to create fully rounded characters. Every character is both hero and villain, and, hopefully, the audience will nd a connection to each of them.

With a topic as challenging as the one covered in “Jeremiah,” how do you go about addressing it?

I think approaching the topic with understanding is the key. While I have my opinions about guns and gun control, the only way to tell a story that doesn’t alienate people is to re ect and understand all sides, and let those sides be re ected within the play.

What do you hope audiences come away with?

I hope every audience member sees themselves re ected in some way. I hope they have a conversation about guns. No matter what side of the gun debate they might be on, I hope every person can connect to the story being told in a way that maybe opens their mind just a little bit. If people are still thinking about this show the next day, I feel like we’ve done our job.

For information and tickets, visit www.benchmarktheatre.com/ tickets-jeremiah.

Go back in time at Corral Blu s e Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., is home to a new bilingual exhibit that takes visitors back millions of years thanks to a newly discovered collection of fossils at Corral Blu s near Colorado Springs.

After the Asteroid: Earth’s Comeback Story shows visitors how Earth recovered after the asteroid impact 66 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs. It features fossils from the nd, multimedia storytelling, art stations and much more.

Anyone who wants a glimpse at what our state was like in ancient times should visit www.dmns.org/ visit/exhibitions/after-the-asteroid-earths-comeback-story/.

A screaming good time at Lakeside I can’t really think of a cleverer idea than Denver Film’s annual Summer Scream fundraiser being hosted at Lakeside Amusement

Thu 8/24

Chuck Shadow at Beacon w/ JVCKPOT, NoizeyxFlo & Slick

Portal @ 8pm The Beacon, 2854 Larimer St, Denver

Fri 8/25

Dan Bublitz Jr: Comedy Garage Showcase @ 9pm Banded Oak Brewing Company, 470 Broadway, Denver

Thee Sacred Souls @ 9pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Den‐ver

Sat 8/26

Mon 8/28

Wed 8/30

GRIZZLY GOPHER BAND AT THE VIEWHOUSE - BALLPARK @ 5pm

ViewHouse Ballpark, 2015 Market St, Denver

Jay_Martin @ 7pm

Mangiami, 5614 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada

Sun 8/27

Duran Duran at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO with Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC @ 7pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison