Applause Magazine, April 24-28, 2019

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VOLUME XXX • NUMBER 7 • APR - MAY 2019

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APPLAUSE

SIGHTLINE

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BY JANICE SINDEN

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VO LU M E X X X • N U M B E R 7 • A P R – M AY 2 0 1 9

EDITOR: Suzanne Yoe ASSOCIATE EDITOR: John Moore DESIGN DIRECTOR: Kyle Malone DESIGNERS: Casey Eickhoff, Brenda Elliott, Terri Smith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Sylvie Drake, Jennifer Kemps, Cheyenne Michaels Applause is published eight times a year by Denver Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with The Publishing House, Westminster, CO. All rights reserved.

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Greetings and welcome to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts!

We are delighted you are joining us for the return engagements of The Illusionists and CATS as well as Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Sweat.

Sweat is the culmination of our Denver Center Theatre Company’s 40th season, and what an exceptional season it has been!

First, we greeted Chris Coleman as the Company’s fourth Artistic Director and he swept us up immediately in his Denver directorial debut. In Oklahoma!, he gave us a new perspective on the crucial role African Americans played during the rush to settle the Oklahoma Territory.

This was balanced by the irreverent yet poignant production of Vietgone and William Somerset Maugham’s 1926 oh-so-timely portrayal of The Constant Wife. We then enjoyed our most successful run ever of A Christmas Carol before it goes on hiatus during The Stage Theatre renovation.

January opened with two world premieres — Last Night and the Night Before and The Whistleblower — while Chris once again mounted a fresh approach to a classic with the lush and opulent staging of Anna Karenina.

These last three plays all took place as the Theatre Company was welcoming sold-out crowds to its 14th annual Colorado New Play Summit. Four readings of works in development, three one-act play readings by winners of our Regional High School Workshop and Playwriting Competition, and one concert reading of our first musical commission — Rattlesnake Kate. It was an exhilarating whirlwind that showcased the best new voices in the American theatre.

Now we set our gaze forward — to a new season, to new theatres, to new plays and playwrights. You can read all about our 2019/20 DCPA Theatre Company season on pages 10-11, which will offer up the first-ever production of A Doll’s House and A Doll’s House, Part 2 in repertory, a direct-from-Broadway hit and two world premieres.

Thank you for joining us for this remarkable season. You are the reason we tell stories — to remind every person in our audience that the stories on our stages reflect the diversity, the complexity and the beauty of our community.

Janice Sinden President & CEO

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APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT

UPCOMING

SHOWS

Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ biggest stars step into the spotlight — actors, designers, students and you.

Powered By Off-Center Now – Apr 14 The Illusionists Now – Apr 14 Between Us Now – May 26 CATS Apr 24 – 28 Sweat Apr 26 – May 26 Wicked May 8 – Jun 9 The Last Defender May 28 – Jul 28

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Fiddler on the Roof Jun 11 – 16 Rain – A Tribute to the Beatles Jun 23 Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Jul 9 – 28 It’s Not You, It’s Me The Second City Jul 31 – Aug 25

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Anastasia Aug 7 – 18

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Indecent Aug 30 – Oct 6

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Photos by John Moore and Amanda Tipton.

Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End Sep 4 – 22

1. DCPA hosted an Auction Preview Party in advance of its 39th annual Saturday Night Alive benefit for arts and education. The Silent Auction, which featured a walk-on role in the upcoming tour of Wicked, was chaired by Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons and Jack Fitzgibbons. 2. THEATRE COMPANY patrons got first-hand insight into Anna Karenina when they attended a pre-show Perspective discussion with the cast. 3. DCPA EDUCATION’s Regional High School Playwriting Workshop and Competition culminated in readings of one-act plays at three area high schools. DSST: Conservatory Green High School students enjoyed Después de la Illuvia (After the Rain) by Katanu Mwendwa. Read more on page 32. 4. BROADWAY enjoyed an opening night cast party at A Bronx Tale, where young Frankie Leoni (right) celebrated his touring debut with fans in the Chazz Palminteri / Robert DeNiro production. 5. THEATRE COMPANY artisans proved the notion that “math is cool” when they created an uncommon elliptical-shaped stage floor for Anna Karenina.

Their work inspired a new NewsCenter series called “Standing Equation.” Check it out: denvercenter.org/NewsCenter-Standing-Equation. 6. THEATRE COMPANY casts formed a mutual admiration society when actresses Allison Altman (Anna Karenina) and Zaria Kelley (Last Night and the Night Before) met at an opening night party.

A Doll’s House & A Doll’s House, Part 2 in repertory Sep 6 – Nov 24 Miss Saigon Sep 10 – 22 The Improvised Shakespeare Company Oct 15 – Mar 22 Blue Man Group Oct 22 – 27 The Phantom of the Opera Nov 6 – 17 Twelfth Night Nov 15 – Dec 22 Jesus Christ Superstar Nov 26 – Dec 1 Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical Dec 3 – 8 Mannheim Steamroller

by Chip Davis Dec 14 – 15 Escape to Margaritaville Dec 23 – Jan 5 FOR A COMPLETE LIST, VISIT DENVERCENTER.ORG Tickets for some shows are currently unavailable.

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AUG 30 – OCT 6

A two-sided story of self-discovery, performed in repertory for the first time ever

A Doll’s House

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The North American Tour Company of Cats. Photo by Matthew Murphy. 2019

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BY JENNIFER KEMPS

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This musical will inspire you to be adventurous and take risks. …Don’t get discouraged by obstacles or challenges; you will always land on your feet.

— JENNIFER KEMPS, CATS FANATIC JENNIFER KEMPS IS THE FORMER GROUP SALES MANAGER OF THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND A SELF-AVOWED CATS FANATIC

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The first musical I ever saw in New York City was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS. I was eight years old, and my mom had read us the poems over and over again from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. This was to be my first musical experience. My family and I made the special trip in from New Jersey to the Winter Garden Theatre. At age 40 today, I wish I could go back and tell my eight-year-old self how extraordinary this matinee would be. The following is the letter I would write.

Dear Jennifer (age eight), I know you are excited! You are about to watch the most magical Jellicle Ball with cats of all shapes, sizes and colors.

I know Mom has told you that the cats will come out in the audience. Don’t be afraid; they won’t touch you. The lights will go out in the theatre and you will be transported to the junkyard where the cats live and play. Cat eyes will glow from all around the stage and you’ll lean forward in your seat waiting with enthusiasm. Each cat will teach you a valuable lesson if you listen closely.

• Asparagus “Gus” – There is a thrill to being the center of attention; embrace that moment as it will fade.

• Jennyanydots – Nobody will call you Jenny, let alone Jenny-any-dots.

• Bustopher Jones – Never turn down free food.

• Grizabella – It will get lonely sometimes, but you’ll come out stronger on the other side.

• Macavity – Being peculiar and unique is a good thing!

• Skimbleshanks – It’s important to have a good work ethic and let people rely on you.

APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

• Mr. Mistoffelees – There is always magic around you.

• Mungojerrie / Rumpleteazer – Own up to your actions regardless of whether there are others to blame.

• Old Deuteronomy – You become wiser with age, and also slower.

• Rum Tum Tugger – Be carefree and laid back; don’t take life too seriously.

This musical will inspire you to be adventurous and take risks. You’ll learn to be aware of your surroundings, and you’ll know when to be the center of attention or to sit back with a curious spirit and observe. You’ll learn how to live in the moment and enjoy the simple joys around you. You’ll be kind and loving to animals and will have cats of your own someday. Don’t get discouraged by obstacles or challenges; you will always land on your feet.

With love, Jennifer (age 40) The uniqueness of this musical — from the costumes to the set and lights — will ground you and let you experience life as a cat. I walked away with such awe and appreciation for live theatre that it has become the one constant in my life.

Take a moment to observe and respect all the cats on stage. There is a special characteristic to each as they portray the feline species. And after 120 minutes, I hope you arch your back, stretch your claws and have more strut in your step.

CATS APR 24 – 28 BUELL THEATRE ASL interpreted, Audio-described and Open Captioned performance: Apr 27 at 2pm

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IN READING

Illustration by Kyle Malone

B Y S Y LV I E D R A K E

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APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • DENVERCENTER.ORG 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

Visionary playwrights often identify events destined to alter society well before anyone else is remotely up to speed. You’ll find such prescience in Ibsen’s plays, plenty of Shakespeare’s, some of O’Neill’s and, more recently, pretty much all of the late August Wilson’s.

When it comes to playwright Lynn Nottage, the analogy with Wilson is particularly pronounced, if unintended.

Wilson and Nottage simply share a vibrant social conscience that guides their creativity.

Both are attracted to issues that affect the marginalized among us. Both tend to overwrite, yet both also have the talent to do it so eloquently that we’re almost always willing to forgive. And Nottage, by now, has elbowed her way up into that rarefied pantheon of artists known for their social awareness and their committed body of work.

Her 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning Sweat, which you are about to see, focuses on line workers in a factory central to life in Reading, Pennsylvania, at the beginning of the 21st century. Reading is a town that the playwright meticulously researched and identified as one of the poorest in the country. We’re invited to share some of its work force’s high spirits, camaraderie and seemingly endless good fortune in the neighborhood bar where some of these people gather after work to relax and share a few drinks.

Little do they suspect how soon — and how radically — that measured life will change. The ramifications of the 1994 NAFTA agreement (never mentioned by name) will yank them from their moorings and toss them into the maelstrom of losing the only jobs they’ve ever known, leaving them to flounder without a compass or a clear path forward.

For director Rose Riordan, a longtime Associate Artistic Director of Oregon’s Portland Center Stage, directing Sweat in Denver is a first encounter with this playwright’s work. “Nottage,” she says, “writes about what she cares about, and she goes deep. Sweat fits right into her ethic and her curiosity.”

Sweat also happens to be Nottage’s second Pulitzer Prize-winner — a first for a woman. It was preceded in 2009 by her Pulitzer-winning play Ruined, a gritty ode to survival in war-torn Congo by the population of an isolated brothel run by the pragmatic Mama Nadi; she’s a protective madam who nonetheless also profits from the women she shelters, taking no prisoners. The play was seen at the Denver Center in 2011.

Sweat zeroes in on people in a crisis much closer to home, but its effect on them is no less devastating. Her focus is on workers descended from generations of unionized laborers at the same plant who held the same jobs all of their working years and looked forward to retirement with generous pensions. The drill was familiar and not expected to change. Until it did.

Let’s face it: losing security in middle age is paralyzing — a shock from which it is not easy to recover. Such workers feel betrayed, confused and lost. Can they pull out of this quagmire? Are they merely complacent?

Is there blame to assign?

“I never see characters I direct as bad or good,” comments Riordan.

“I think they’re living the only way they know how. They simply claim ownership to something that’s been part of their family for generations and as far back as anyone can remember, and they don’t have the capacity to believe it can change or end. They don’t seem to understand business and its lack of concern for their well-being.”

Since the action in Sweat is mostly confined to that working-class bar frequented almost daily by these neighborhood habitués, we get to know them pretty well. They spend their off hours drinking away time and money, gossiping and nursing grudges or relationships, as they wait for those promised golden years.

Two of the women — Tracey, alcoholic and angry, and Cynthia, more resourceful and ambitious — have sons Jason and Chris, respectively, who are buddies and also work at the plant. The boys have inherited more than a way of life. They also reflect their parents’ differing notions about how to cope.

“I think they’re living the only way they know how. …They don’t have the capacity to believe it can change or end.”

— ROSE RIORDAN, DIRECTOR

“They represent possibility,” says Riordan. “One is complacent and doesn’t reach for more; the other has a shot at something completely different. It’s a kind of betrayal that nobody, especially not his best friend, really understands.”

That is as close as Nottage wants to come to taking a position. She sees these people as they are. Her unwavering bead on their authenticity validates the play.

That includes the bar’s owner, Stan — an aging former plant worker who had been injured on the line and became a barkeep to earn some dollars and stay close to his community. Stan is friend, colleague and confidant to all, including Oscar, his diligent if quiet American-born Latino busboy. Oscar is the outlier. When Stan decides it’s time to sell the bar, he sells to Oscar.

As Riordan sees it, “Oscar represents America’s changing demographic.

He’s the future and stands in clear contrast to the denizens of this town, particularly of this bar, who treated him like he was invisible.”

Nottage chooses to make her play jump around in time, carefully recording the date of each scene in astute political detail. These notations allow the audience to draw its own conclusions. If Sweat refrains from judgment, it doesn’t shy away from pointing to the social failures that let those workers down. Nottage is careful to not do the work for us. She simply opens the door, provides the instructions on connecting the dots and points us in the right direction.

COSTUME COLUMN Lynn Nottage’s 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama takes place in the small industrial town of Reading, Pennsylvania, in the early 2000s. One might think moderndress shows are a piece of cake compared to productions with period costumes, but they can still require a bit of sweat.

For Costume Designer Kevin Copenhaver, the biggest obstacle is the cinematic nature of the show.

“Most of these scenes flow right into each other, without characters even leaving the stage, so I have to visually help tell that story with internal quick changes where possible,” Copenhaver said. “This might involve the removal or addition of a piece of clothing, a quick hairstyle modification, or in some cases, a makeup switch.”

Nottage based her play on interviews she conducted in 2011 with working-class residents of Reading, which at the time was one of the poorest cities in America. “The characters in this piece have to be relatable and real,” Copenhaver said. “I will be paying careful attention to small details, such as the aging and distressing of the clothes worn in the factory, to the small touches that might lend a bit of depth — such as personalization (jewelry, style, etc.) and choice in terms of what a character might wear when not ‘on the job.’”

Sylvie Drake is a translator, writer, and a former theatre critic and columnist for the Los Angeles Times. She is a regular contributor to culturalweekly.com and served for several years as Director of Publications for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

SWEAT APR 26 – MAY 26 • SPACE THEATRE

ASL Interpreted, Audio-Described performance: May 19, 1:30pm Personal Closed Captioning Devices available May 7 – 26 Please stay for a Talkback immediately following the performance: May 4 – 26

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THE WHOLE FAMILY

THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION JAMES L. NEDERLANDER THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP CAMERON MACKINTOSH ROY FURMAN JOHN GORE STELLA LA RUE GROVE ENTERTAINMENT BURNT UMBER PRODUCTIONS INDEPENDENT PRESENTERS NETWORK/AL NOCCIOLINO PETER MAY PRESENT

MUSIC BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER BASED ON “OLD POSSUM’S BOOK OF PRACTICAL CATS” BY T. S. ELIOT THE “CATS” COMPANY: ZACHARY S. BERGER CAITLIN BOND NICK BURRAGE ERIN CHUPINSKY TONY D’ALELIO KAITLYN DAVIDSON PHILLIP DECEUS PJ DIGAETANO MARIA FAILLA KERI RENÉ FULLER TION GASTON JUSTIN W. GEISS TIMOTHY GULAN DAN HOY ROSE IANNACCONE LAURA KATHERINE KAUFMAN TYLER JOHN LOGAN MCGEE MADDOX BRANDON MICHAEL NASE DEVIN NEILSON CHARLOTTE O’DOWD EMILY JEANNE PHILLIPS LEXIE PLATH MARIAH REIVES ADAM RICHARDSON ETHAN SAVIET LIZ SCHMITZ TRICIA TANGUY HALLI TOLAND AHREN VICTORY ANTHONY MICHAEL ZAS AND ANDY MICHAEL ZIMMERMANN MUSIC SUPERVISION BY KRISTEN BLODGETTE MUSIC DIRECTOR ERIC KANG MUSIC COORDINATOR TALITHA FEHR CASTING BY TARA RUBIN CASTING / LINDSAY LEVINE, CSA AND XAVIER RUBIANO, CSA TOUR BOOKING, MARKETING AND PUBLICITY DIRECTION BOND THEATRICAL GROUP TOUR MANAGEMENT TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT GREGG DAMANTI GENERAL MANAGEMENT KAREN BERRY PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER DONAVAN DOLAN COMPANY MANAGER AARON QUINTANA ORCHESTRATIONS BY ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & DAVID CULLEN SCENIC AND COSTUME DESIGN BY JOHN NAPIER LIGHTING DESIGN BY NATASHA KATZ SOUND DESIGN BY MICK POTTER A S S O C I A T E C H O R E O G R A P H E R K I M C R A V E N ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER CHRISSIE CARTWRIGHT C H O R E O G R A P H Y B Y A N D Y B L A N K E N B U E H L E R BASED ON THE ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY BY GILLIAN LYNNE DIRECTED BY TREVOR NUNN ORIGINALLY PRODUCED BY CAMERON MACKINTOSH AND THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP LIMITED. TM © 1981 RUG LTD

CATS

SEASON SPONSORS

CATS

CAST

Zachary S. Berger

Caitlin Bond

Nick Burrage

Erin Chupinksy

Tony d’Alelio

Kaitlyn Davidson

Phillip Deceus

PJ DiGaetano

Maria Failla

Keri René Fuller

Tion Gaston

Justin W. Geiss

Timothy Gulan

Dan Hoy

Rose Iannaccone

Tyler John Logan

McGee Maddox

Laura Katherine Kaufman

Brandon Michael Nase

Devin Neilson

Charlotte O’Dowd

Emily Jeanne Phillips

Lexie Plath

Mariah Reives

Adam Richardson

Ethan Saviet

Liz Schmitz

Tricia Tanguy

Halli Toland

Ahren Victory

Anthony Michael Zas

Andy Michael Zimmermann

Alonzo.................................................................................................................... PHILLIP DECEUS Bill Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger....................................................................... McGEE MADDOX Bombalurina................................................................................................................LEXIE PLATH Cassandra............................................................................................................... MARIAH REIVES Coricopat...................................................................................................................PJ DiGAETANO Demeter..........................................................................................................................LIZ SCHMITZ Grizabella........................................................................................................KERI RENÉ FULLER Jellylorum.......................................................................................................KAITLYN DAVIDSON Jennyanydots.....................................................................................EMILY JEANNE PHILLIPS Mistoffelees............................................................................................................... TION GASTON Mungojerrie.............................................................................................................TONY d’ALELIO Munkustrap...........................................................................................................................DAN HOY Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asparagus........................................................TIMOTHY GULAN Plato/Macavity.......................................................................................... TYLER JOHN LOGAN Pouncival............................................................................................ ANTHONY MICHAEL ZAS Rumpelteazer.............................................................................................. ROSE IANNACCONE Sillabub.................................................................................................................. AHREN VICTORY Skimbleshanks........................................................................................................ETHAN SAVIET Tantomile..................................................................................................................HALLI TOLAND Tumblebrutus....................................................................................................... DEVIN NEILSON Victor/Old Deuteronomy.........................................................BRANDON MICHAEL NASE Victoria.......................................................................................................................CAITLIN BOND The Cats Chorus....................................................MARIA FAILLA, ADAM RICHARDSON, TRICIA TANGUY, ANDY MICHAEL ZIMMERMANN SWINGS ZACHARY S. BERGER, NICK BURRAGE, ERIN CHUPINSKY, JUSTIN W. GEISS, LAURA KATHERINE KAUFMAN, CHARLOTTE O’DOWD DANCE CAPTAINS NICK BURRAGE, ERIN CHUPINSKY UNDERSTUDIES Understudies never substitute for listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance.

For Bill Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger: ZACHARY S. BERGER, TYLER JOHN LOGAN; for Grizabella: MARIA FAILLA, TRICIA TANGUY; for Mistoffelees: PJ DiGAETANO, JUSTIN W. GEISS; for Munkustrap: ZACHARY S. BERGER, TYLER JOHN LOGAN; for Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asparagus: ADAM RICHARDSON, ANDY MICHAEL ZIMMERMANN; for Victor/Old Deuteronomy: ADAM RICHARDSON, ANDY MICHAEL ZIMMERMANN

The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited.

CATS

CAST

CATS

SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS Act I Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats............................................................................................................Company The Naming of Cats................................................................................................................................Company Invitation to the Jellicle Ball............................................................. Victoria, Mistoffelees, Munkustrap The Old Gumbie Cat................ Munkustrap, Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, Demeter, Bombalurina The Rum Tum Tugger.....................................................................................Rum Tum Tugger, Company Entry of Grizabella......................................................... Grizabella, Demeter, Bombalurina, Company Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town........................................Bustopher Jones, Jennyanydots, Bombalurina, Jellylorum, Company Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer....................................................................Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer Old Deuteronomy................................................Munkustrap, Rum Tum Tugger, Old Deuteronomy Song of the Jellicles and the Jellicle Ball.....................................................................................Company Memory........................................................................................................................................................ Grizabella Act II Introduction to Act II/The Moments of Happiness............................. Old Deuteronomy, Sillabub Gus the Theatre Cat..................................................................................................... Jellylorum, Asparagus The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles........................ Asparagus, Old Deuteronomy, Munkustrap, Company Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat......................................................................Skimbleshanks, Company Macavity, The Mystery Cat.................................................................Demeter, Bombalurina, Company Magical Mister Mistoffelees.............................................. Mistoffelees, Rum Tum Tugger, Company Memory........................................................................................................ Sillabub, Munkustrap, Grizabella Journey to the Heaviside Layer........................................................................................................Company The Ad-dressing of Cat.................................................................................Old Deuteronomy, Company Finale

Prologue — “Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” additional lyric material written by Trevor Nunn and Richard Stilgoe “Memory” lyric written by Trevor Nunn, based on poems by T.S. Eliot

THERE WILL BE ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION

CATS ORCHESTRA Music Director/Conductor: Eric Kang Associate Music Director/Keyboard 3: Evan Roider Keyboard 1: Luke Flood; Keyboard 2: David Robison Reed 1: Garrett Hack; Reed 2: Dave Stambaugh Guitar: Ralph Agresta; Bass: John Toney Drums/Percussion: Aaron Nix Music Supervisor: Kristen Blodgette Associate Music Supervisor: Brian Taylor Keyboard Programmer: Stuart Andrews Music Coordinator: Talitha Fehr

ZACHARY S. BERGER (Swing) hails from Niskayuna, NY and couldn’t be more excited to be back into the junkyard. Credits include: CATS (International Tour); Jekyll and Hyde (World Tour); Hello, Dolly! National tour starring Sally Struthers (Cornelius u/s). Off-Broadway: The Kid, 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor) at Sacramento Music Circus, My Fair Lady (Freddy) at Theater by the Sea. PCLO, Pioneer Theater Company. Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, BFA Musical Theater/Drama. “Spread love.”

CAITLIN BOND (Victoria) is thrilled to be making her Broadway National touring debut! She has performed in professional productions with Atlantic City Ballet, Ballet West Academy, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and appeared on Season 14 of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Thanks to Mom and Dad for their love and support.

NICK BURRAGE (Dance Captain/ Swing) BFA Dance Marymount Manhattan College. National tours: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Notable dance credits: The Joyce Theater, Jacob’s Pillow, Emery Lecrone Dance, KENZO by H&M Fashion Show. Much love to family and friends! Proudly repped by CESD. @nickburrage ERIN CHUPINSKY (Dance Captain/ Swing) Off-Broadway: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. Tours: Love Never Dies (US Premiere); Hello, Dolly!; CATS; Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Wonderful Town (1st Nat’l). Regional Favorites: The Tempest (Ariel), Beauty and the Beast (Babette), Chicago, Victor Victoria. Training: BFA Western Michigan University, LAMDA (London). Erin has run 27 marathons and is an ironman triathlete.

Love and gratitude to Kristen, Andy and Karen. www.erinchupinsky.com @erinchupinsky TONY d’ALELIO (Mungojerrie) is elated to be back on the road dancing a role he has loved since kindergarten. Off-Broadway: This Ain’t No Disco World Premier. Other National Tours: Matilda the Musical (Michael Wormwood), Kinky Boots (Angel), Beauty and the Beast (LeFou).

Regional: The Kennedy Center, The

Maltz Jupiter Theatre, The Wick.

Creator of upcoming Web Series: “Daydream”. Thank you Mom, teachers, family, and friends. @tonydalelio KAITLYN DAVIDSON (Jellylorum) Broadway: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Nice Work If You Can Get It. National Tour: Bright Star (Lucy Grant), R&H’s Cinderella (Ella), Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Judy).

Regional: Riverside Theatre: Chicago (Roxie); The Cape Playhouse: The Music Man (Marian Paroo). CCM Alum. Thanks to Andy, Lindsay, DGRW, Mom and Dad! Instagram: @kaitlyndavidson27 PHILLIP DECEUS (Alonzo) A New Jersey Native is thrilled to be performing on the North American tour of CATS. Regional Credits: My One and Only, On Kentucky Avenue; International: Tokyo Disney Sea Resort and Vegas The Show. Thanks to all my Family, friends for your love and support.

PJ DIGAETANO (Coricopat) is thrilled to be making his national tour debut in CATS. Credits: CATS (Mr. Mistoffelees) Royal Caribbean, Iceploration (Austin) Busch Gardens, Singer/Dancer on Regent Cruise’s Navigator (traveled to 55 countries and 6 continents). Love to my family, friends, and incredible mom.

Dreams do come true! Instagram: @itspjdigaetano MARIA FAILLA (Cats Chorus) Broadway: CATS. Tours: Sound of Music, Evita, West Side Story. Regional: Man of La Mancha (Shakespeare Theatre Co), Pirates of Penzance, The Vagabond King. B.M. Rice University.

Love to my family, Billy and HAA. www.mariafailla.com @mvf10 Like houseplants? Subscribe to Maria’s Planty Podcast @bloomandgrowradio on iTunes and Instagram!

KERI RENÉ FULLER (Grizabella) National Tour Debut! Previous credits- Broadway: Waitress (Francine & Jenna u/s). Regionally, she has appeared in Murder Ballad (Sara), Les Misérables (Eponine), Lizzie Borden (Lizzie), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda), Dogfight (Rose).

Proud BM Baldwin Wallace University

Alumna and member of the Actor’s Equity Association. Thank you to the Lord as well as endless gratitude to CGF, Lindsay from Tara Rubin, Trevor, Andy, Brian and Kristen, and the magic that is our Creative Team for this life altering experience. Love to BWMT’15, Mom, Dad, and Michael.

For KJB and Tiff. @krfuller13 TION GASTON (Mistoffelees) is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Tion is an undergraduate student at Point Park University majoring in dance. Regional credits include: Brigadoon, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Throughly Modern Millie.

Tion is ecstatic to be embarking on this new journey with CATS. Tion wants to give a huge thanks to God, his family, and all his teachers! @tion_9 JUSTIN W. GEISS (Swing) So pumped to be joining CATS! Regional: Newsies (Henry, U/S Crutchie), A Chorus Line (Bobby). Training at Houston Ballet Academy and the Nancy Einhorn Milwaukee Ballet 2 Program. Special thanks to my friends and family who have supported me throughout my entire career.

TIMOTHY GULAN (Peter/Bustopher Jones/Asparagus) Broadway/Tours: The Last Ship, Les Misérables, South Pacific, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Some Like It Hot, Picasso at the Lapine Agile, Carousel, Falsettos, The Lion King, Blood Brothers, Passion, The Frogs. Premieres: Mr. Knightley in Emma @streamingmusicals.com, For the Boys, Houdini, the King Stag, Just So, Get In the Car. Movies/ TV: South Pacific, Passion, The Knick, Ice Age, Boardwalk Empire, The Producers. Regional: The Glass Menagarie, Arsenic and Old Lace, Amadeus, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Billy Elliot, Bridges of Madison County, Big Fish. Tim teaches throughout the country. Thanks Professional Artists, Tara Rubin Casting. Love Kat. timothygulan.com DAN HOY (Munkustrap) is thrilled to be a part of the CATS family.

Touring Debut. Regional: Jehan/ Aphrodisius (Quasimodo U/S) in the Hunchback of Notre Dame (Great Lakes/Idaho Shakes), Gabe in Next

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WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST

CATS

to Normal (BTOTS), Jamie in Last Five Years (Revolution Theatrics), Pippin in Pippin (Thin Air Theater).

Graduate of BWMT (2018) and the Chagrin Falls Performing Arts Academy (2014). Special thanks to Erin, Mallory and Melissa at CESD and Lindsay/Tara Rubin. He is grateful to his friends and family (Mom, Dad, Lizzie, Rachel, Grace and Zane) for all of their love and support. IG/ Twitter:@dan_jhoy; FB:@DanHoy95 | Web: www.danhoy.org ROSE IANNACCONE (Rumpleteazer) is ecstatic to take on her first national tour with CATS! Regional: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Newsies, Gypsy, Singin’ in the Rain (Broadway at Music Circus) Mamma Mia! (Ogunquit Playhouse, Gateway Playhouse). IAMT ’18! Rose gives special thanks to all her family, friends, and teachers. Meow!

LAURA KATHERINE KAUFMAN (Swing) is thrilled to join the 1st National Tour of CATS. Previous: An American in Paris 1st National Tour, Odyssey Dance Theatre, City Ballet of SD. BFA Dance From the U of Arizona. Thanks to the CATS team, Miller-Marley, Lakey Wolff, and her incredible parents. This is for you! @yuzzz12 TYLER JOHN LOGAN (Plato/ Macavity) National Tour: Elf; American Musical Theatre Dance Company.

Regional: “Riff” in West Side Story (Ordway, North Shore, Theatre by the Sea), Annie (Hollywood Bowl), Honeymoon in Vegas (Marriott Theatre). Huge thank you to his phenomenal family and incredible friends. @tylerlogan31 MCGEE MADDOX (Bill Bailey/Rum Tum Tugger) From Spartanburg, South Carolina I am thrilled to be back on the road and in such an iconic show! First National Tour: An American in Paris/Jerry Mulligan.

Principal Dancer: The National Ballet of Canada. I want to thank my friends, family, and the lovely Charlotte. @mcgeemaddox BRANDON MICHAEL NASE (Victor/ Old Deuteronomy) Thrilled to be joining the CATS family! Regional: American Repertory Theater, Asolo Rep, Bucks County Playhouse, Casa Mañana, Dallas Theatre Center,

Tulane Summer Lyric, 3D Theatricals.

Training: BM University of North Texas, MM NYU. Infinite thanks to God, Tara Rubin, DDO, and family (especially my rocks; Lauren, Anaya, and Ellis).

For my Annie. www.brandonmichaelnase.com; @brandonmichaelnase DEVIN NEILSON (Tumblebrutus) a native of St. George Utah, is thrilled to be joining the North American Tour of CATS. Theatre credits include Race in Disney’s Newsies, Pepper in Mamma Mia!, Gideon in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Le Fou in Beauty and the Beast. Training: Brigham Young University, Music Dance Theatre BFA. CHARLOTTE O’DOWD (Swing) Broadway & 1st National Tour: An American in Paris. Regional: Chicago, Wizard of Oz, Disney’s Little Mermaid, Joseph. Vegas: Cirque du Soleil The Beatles LOVE, Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers. Canada’s National Ballet School graduate. Endless love and thanks to mom, dad, Laura, Hannah, Ellen, Rachel & McGee. Thanks MSA! Instagram:@chassychassimi EMILY JEANNE PHILLIPS (Jennyanydots) National Tours: Elf, the Musical (MSG). Off-Broadway: Attack of the Elvis Impersonators.

Regional: Goodspeed, Papermill Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, North Shore Music Theatre, MerryGo-Round Playhouse, Fulton Opera House and more! Thank you to GBM, Lindsey Levine, Andy and the Creatives. Love to Dad and Becca! emilyjeannephillips.com LEXIE PLATH (Bombalurina) is honored to be a part of this magical legacy. National Tours: Bullets Over Broadway (First National), Anything Goes (Virtue). Regional: A Chorus Line (Val, Arvada Center), Bullets Over Broadway (Ogunquit Playhouse), Guys & Dolls (Fulton Theatre). To my family & Conor, love you mean it.

Insta: @lexie.plath MARIAH REIVES (Cassandra) was born and raised in Sanford, North Carolina. She trained at UNCSA for high school and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College.

Regional theatres include NY City Center, The Muny, and Theatre Under The Stars. This is Reives’ first national tour. A huge thanks to my family and friends for the support and

my amazing agents at Bloc NYC. @mariahreives ADAM RICHARDSON (Cats Chorus) Regional credits: We Shall Not Be Moved (The Apollo), Showboat (Westchester Broadway Theatre), CATS (Flatrock Playhouse). Tour: Porgy and Bess (Europe/Middle East).

Proud Carnegie Mellon University and Juilliard alum! Thanks to God, mom and dad, siblings, family/friends, Tara Rubin Casting, and Kathy and the entire Encompass team.

ETHAN SAVIET (Skimbleshanks) is thrilled to be joining the tour of CATS. Past regional credits include Pittsburgh CLO, Syracuse Stage, and MGR Playhouse. BFA, Syracuse University. Thanks to my friends and family for the love and support.

LIZ SCHMITZ (Demeter) Thrilled to be in the junkyard! 1st National Tour: An American in Paris, Matilda.

Regional: The Fulton Theatre, Maine State Music Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO. BFA Penn State University, Crew15!

Endless love and gratitude to my family. @LizSchmitz TRICIA TANGUY (Cats Chorus) Off-Broadway: The Marvelous Wonderettes (Original and Revival companies). National Tours: Joseph...

Dreamcoat (U/S Diana Degarmo), Sister Act, CATS (Grizabella), The Producers, Disney on Classic concert tour (Japan). Regional: MerryGo-Round Playhouse, Theatre Aspen. Ithaca College grad (BFA Musical Theater) and Cleveland, OH native. Love to family & friends! www.triciatanguy.com @TriciaTanguy HALLI TOLAND (Tantomile) Broadway: Carousel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Regional: The Muny, Music Theatre Wichita.

Proud graduate of the University of Michigan, Class of 2017. Thanks to HCKR, friends, teachers, and most especially Mom, Dad, Nikki, Troy and Scottie. @hallitoland AHREN VICTORY (Sillabub) Thrilled to be making her Broadway National Tour debut at the Jellicle Ball! New York based artist, recently performed at Jacob’s Pillow and BC BEAT with Breton Follies. Love & Gratitude to my Family, Friends, LDC Artist Rep., Mentors for their

ANTHONY MICHAEL ZAS (Pouncival) is thrilled to be a part of this legendary production! Anthony’s most notable credits include the 1st National Tour of Newsies where he played the roles of Elmer and Spot Conlon. Anthony was then asked to reprise his role of Elmer in the filming of Newsies Live!

Anthony recently made his television debut dancing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live’s Back to Brooklyn” special!

Anthony wants to thank all his friends and family for their endless support! @anthonymzas ANDY MICHAEL ZIMMERMANN (Cats Chorus) is thrilled to make his National Tour debut! Musicals: Carousel (Enoch Snow), Into the Woods (The Baker), Street Scene (Daniel Buchanan).

Operas: Die Zauberflöte (Tamino), Don Pasquale (Ernesto), Roméo et Juliette (Roméo). Thanks Roth & Associates East, Kristen Blodgette and Tara Rubin Casting! Love to Mom, Dad and Sam. @AndyZimmann ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (Composer) is the composer of some of the world’s best known musicals including CATS, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera (which celebrated its 30th anniversary on Broadway this year) and Sunset Boulevard. When Sunset Boulevard joined School of Rock – The Musical, CATS and Phantom on Broadway in February 2017 he became the only person to equal the record set in 1953 by Rodgers and Hammerstein with four shows running concurrently. As well as The Phantom Of The Opera and CATS his productions include the groundbreaking Bombay Dreams which introduced the double Oscar winning Bollywood composer AR Rahman to the Western stage. As a composer and producer, Lloyd Webber is one of an elite group of artists to have achieved EGOT status by receiving an Emmy, four Grammys including Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem, his setting of the Latin Requiem mass, an Oscar and eight Tony Awards including the 2018 Special Tony for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Additionally he has been honored

with seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, a BASCA Fellowship, and the Kennedy Center Honor. He owns seven London theatres including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Palladium. He is passionate about the importance of music in education and the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has become one of Britain’s leading charities supporting the arts and music. In 2016 the Foundation funded a major new national initiative which endowed the American Theatre Wing with a $1.3 million, three-year grant to support theatre education opportunities for underserved young people and public schools across the U.S. He was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 1992 and created a life peer in 1997.

To mark his 70th birthday, his bestselling autobiography Unmasked was published by HarperCollins in March 2018.

Shakespeare Company, directing more than 30 productions, from classics to new works including Nicholas Nickleby and Les Misérables. He was later director of the National Theatre, where award-winning productions included Not About Nightingales, Troilus and Cressida, Oklahoma!, The Merchant of Venice, Summerfolk, My Fair Lady, A Streetcar Named Desire, Anything Goes and Love’s Labour’s Lost. He directed the world premieres of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, The Coast of Utopia and Rock ’n’ Roll; and of CATS, Sunset Boulevard, Starlight Express, Aspects of Love and The Woman in White by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Other theatre includes Hamlet, Richard II, Inherit the Wind, Kiss Me Kate (Old Vic); A Little Night Music (West End and Broadway); Heartbreak House, Flare Path, The Tempest (Theatre Royal, Haymarket); All That Fall (59E59); The Wars of the Roses (Rose Theatre); Pericles (TFANA).

THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT (Poet & Lyricist) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 26, 1888. He was educated at Harvard, the Sorbonne in Paris and Merton College, Oxford. He settled in England in 1915 and taught briefly at two schools before joining Lloyds Bank in the city of London. His first volume of poems, Prufrock and Other Observations, was published in 1917. The Waste Land, his most famous work, was first published in 1922. In 1925 he left the bank to become a director of the publishing house of Faber. There have been several individual and collected editions of his poetry, as well as volumes of his literary and social criticism; he also wrote a number of verse plays, including Murder in the Cathedral, which was commissioned for the Canterbury Festival of 1935. T.S. Eliot had a great affection for cats, and “Possum” was his alias among his friends. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats appeared in October 1939 and was the basis for CATS. He received many honors and distinctions, among them the Order of Merit and the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Eliot died in January 1965 and was posthumously awarded the 1983 Tony Award for the book of CATS.

GILLIAN LYNNE (Original Choreographer) 1926-2018: The first non-royal woman to have a London theatre named after her: the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Broadway: The Roar of the Greasepaint…, Pickwick; How Now, Dow Jones; CATS (Olivier Award, Tony nomination), Aspects of Love, The Phantom of the Opera (Tony Nomination); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Off-Broadway/Regional: Jeeves Takes Charge, Now Or Never, Imaginary Invalid (WTC). Gillian’s iconic work on CATS and Phantom has been seen and enjoyed by millions worldwide along with her direction of the television programs A Simple Man and Le Morte D’Arthur (both BBC). Awards: BAFTA, 2013 Olivier Special Award, Golden Rose of Montreux (“The Muppet Show” series), Vienna’s Silver Order of Merit in 1983 (for directing the first proscenium arch production of CATS enabling the show to tour the world), Mr. Abbot Award, Molière Award and DBE: Dame of the British Empire. Her “White Cat” solo was honored by the American Dance Machine in 2015.

Her husband, the actor Peter Land proudly oversees her legacy.

TREVOR NUNN (Director) From 1968 to 1986, he was the youngestever artistic director of the Royal

ANDY BLANKENBUEHLER (Choreographer) Mr. Blankenbuehler is proud to have received the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors for his work on the musical Hamilton. He is three-

CATS

endless support. DZLAM! Check Meowt: AhrenVictory.com & Instagram: @ahren.victory

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time Tony Award winner for his choreography in the Broadway productions of Bandstand, In The Heights and Hamilton for which he also received London’s Olivier Award. The recent production of Bandstand (director/choreographer) also received the Drama Desk and Chita Rivera Award for Best Choreography. Other Broadway credits include Bring It On (Tony nomination), 9 To 5 (Tony nomination), The People In The Picture, The Apple Tree, Annie, and the recent revival of CATS. Other theatrical work includes Desperately Seeking Susan (West End), the world premiere of the new musical FLY (Dallas Theatre Center), The Wiz (City Center Encores), A Little Princess (Andrew Lippa), and the recent international tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Upcoming projects include the new musical Only Gold with British singer/songwriter Kate Nash. On television, Mr. Blankenbuehler’s work has been seen on the Lionsgate/ABC remake of Dirty Dancing, America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, the Sopranos, MTV, Sesame Street featuring Janelle Monae, as well as many commercials.

He has staged concert work for both Elton John and Bette Midler, and he conceived, directed and choreographed the hit Caesars Palace production Nights On Broadway. He is currently working on a new limited series on FX about the lives of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon and also on the new film adaptation of CATS. As a performer, Mr. Blankenbuehler has danced on Broadway in Fosse, Contact, Man of La Mancha, Saturday Night Fever, Steel Pier, Big and Guys and Dolls. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Blankenbuehler resides in New York City, with his wife Elly and two children, Luca and Sofia.

Mr. Blankenbuehler is a recipient of a special 2015 Drama Desk Award for his achievement in the theatre.

KRISTEN BLODGETTE (Music Supervisor) was associate musical supervisor for CATS (original Broadway, tours, Copenhagen) and musical supervisor/conductor for the Broadway revival. She has been the associate musical supervisor for The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway since 1988 and supervised 15 subsequent companies of Phantom worldwide. She served as musical supervisor for Love Never Dies in Hamburg

and the National Tour. Additional Broadway: Evita, Mary Poppins, LoveMusik, The Woman in White, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Little Night Music and rehearsal pianist for Carrie with Betty Buckley. She recently was the conductor for the Broadway revival of Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close. National tour: On Your Toes, Jerry’s Girls, Barnum and Bounce (Goodman, Kennedy Center).

JOHN NAPIER (Scenic & Costume Designer) studied Fine Art at Hornsey College of Art and theatre design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts.

Credits: Royal Shakespeare Company (associate designer), Royal National Theatre; opera includes the Royal Opera, Glyndebourne, ENO and the Metropolitan Opera; CATS; Starlight Express; Les Misérables; Miss Saigon; Sunset Boulevard; Michael Jackson’s Captain EO; Siegfried & Roy Show at the Mirage (creator/co-director); and Steven Spielberg’s Hook. Awards include four Oliviers (nine nominations), a BAFTA and Tony Awards for Nicholas Nickleby, CATS, Starlight Express, Les Misérables and Sunset Boulevard. American Academy of Achievement member, elected Royal Designer for Industry in 1996 and an Honorary Fellow of the London Institute.

NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Designer) is a New York-based lighting designer who has designed lighting for many varieties of entertainment, including dance and opera companies, concerts, regional theatres, OffBroadway, Las Vegas, TV and permanent lighting installations. She is a six-time Tony Award winner whose recent Broadway credits include Frozen, Springsteen on Broadway, Hello Dolly, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Aladdin, An American in Paris, Once, The Glass Menagerie, Aida and Beauty and the Beast. CATS is her second show with Andrew Lloyd Webber after designing School of Rock on Broadway last season.

MICK POTTER (Sound Designer) School of Rock (Drama Desk Award nominee), The Phantom of the Opera (Parnelli Award), Les Misérables (Tony Award nominee, Helpmann Award), Miss Saigon (Broadway World Audience Award, London), Love Never Dies (Green Room Award),

CATS (Drama Desk Award nominee), The Woman in White (Olivier Award), Saturday Night Fever, Bombay Dreams, The Wizard of Oz, Sister Act, Joseph, Zorro the Musical, The Sound of Music, Evita, Betty Blue Eyes, From Here to Eternity, Barnum, Sunset Boulevard, Carousel, Chess.

CHRISSIE CARTWRIGHT (Associate Director/Choreographer) West End, performer: Billy, Irene, Evita, Barnum, Blondel; Choreographer: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Sherlock Holmes the Musical, Mack and Mabel. Tours: The Entertainer, Devil’s Virtuoso, Annie, The Card, On the Twentieth Century, The Witches of Eastwick, Showbizpops Orchestra’s The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. TV choreography: Kiss Me Kate, Alas Smith and Jones, Hit Dancing. Associate director/choreographer: Five Guys Named Moe (London, NY, Australia), CATS all over the world, Brick by Bricusse, Dear World. Movement director and musical staging: The Private Ear and The Public Eye, Birdsong, This is the Hour – a celebration of the music of Claude-Michel Schönberg. Children’s director: Mary Poppins. Resident director: CATS, Joseph…, Sister Act, The Wizard of Oz. KIM CRAVEN (Associate C h o r e o g ra p h e r ) Re s i d e n t Choreographer - CATS (Broadway).

Resident Director - Come Fly Away and Times They Are A-Changin’ (Broadway).

Associate Director/ Choreographer Movin’ Out (London). Associate Choreographer - Honeymoon in Vegas (Broadway).

Dance Supervisor - Movin’ Out (1st National), Swing! (1st National). Dance Captain - Mamma Mia! (1st National & Vegas), On The Town (Broadway).

Associate Choreographer - Damn Yankees and The Full Monty (Papermill Playhouse). Kim began her career with The Pennsylvania Ballet and is part of the faculty at NYCDA. ELLENORE SCOTT (Assistant Choreographer) Broadway: King Kong (associate choreographer), Head Over Heels (associate choreographer), CATS Revival (assistant choreographer), Falsettos Revival (assistant choreographer). Off-Broadway: Pride and Prejudice at Cherry Lane Theater (choreographer). Artistic Director of ELSCO Dance Company.

Instagram: @ellenorescott

Bandstand, Sunset Boulevard, Miss Saigon, Dear Evan Hansen, A Bronx Tale, CATS, Falsettos, Disaster!, School of Rock, Les Misérables, The Heiress, The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, Shrek, Spamalot, …Spelling Bee, The Producers, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys.

Off-Broadway: Gloria: A Life, Smokey Joe’s Café, Jersey Boys, Here Lies Love, Love, Loss, and What I Wore Selected Regional: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, Westport Country Playhouse, Asolo Rep. www.tararubincasting.com

of their love and support! For SMB!

VICTORIA TINSMAN (Hair and Makeup Design Coordinator) Thrilled to be back at the Junkyard! Broadway: Pretty Woman, CATS, She Loves Me, Fish in the Dark, Fun Home, Rocky, Amazing Grace, A Delicate Balance, Phantom of the Opera. 2 Seasons at The Alley Theatre. 3 Seasons at Utah Shakespearean Festival. UNCSA BFA in Wigs & Make Up.

AARON QUINTANA (Company Manager) is excited to be a part of CATS. Broadway credits include: Shuffle Along, The Addams Family, Next to Normal. National Tours include: The Lion King, Once the Musical, Dirty Dancing, Love Never Dies. A Colorado native, he would love to thank his family and friends for their ongoing love and support!

STUART ANDREWS (Keyboard Programmer) Broadway/West End: The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Evita, Mary Poppins, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Woman in White. West End: Miss Saigon, CATS, Stephen Ward, The Wizard of Oz, Betty Blue Eyes, Love Never Dies, Oliver!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music, La Cage aux Folles.

ABIGAIL HAHN (Associate Costume Designer) is a New York based Costume Designer/Stylist. As an Associate, her International credits include: School of Rock (West End and Australia) and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Shanghai). NY Associate/ assistant credits include Broadway: Sunset Boulevard, CATS, School of Rock, Fun Home, Violet, A Christmas Story, Hair. Select Associate credits Off-Broadway: The Public Theater (Dry Powder), CSC (Peer Gynt, Allegro), and NY City Center (Wild Party, Little Shop of Horrors, A New Brain, Irma La Douce, Merrily We Roll Along). Additionally, Abby has designed costumes for several commercials and photoshoots.

JUSTIN COFFMAN (Assistant Company Manager) National Tours Include: Love Never Dies, Dirty Dancing, The Lion King. New York/101 Productions: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Big Fish, Of Mice and Men, Romeo & Juliet, The Bridges of Madison County, and more. Endless love to all my family and friends! #BKind2EachOther

TALITHA FEHR (Music Coordinator) has worked on over 70 national and international tours and productions.

Highlights include: Sister Act, Mamma Mia!, School of Rock, Come Fly Away, and Love Never Dies, as well as the Vancouver Olympic Ceremonies 2010.

She dedicates her work on CATS to the memory of her mentor, Sam Lutfiyya.

DONAVAN DOLAN (Production Stage Manager) National Tours: Love Never Dies, An American in Paris, 42nd Street, Annie, GHOST, Catch Me if You Can, Grease, Peter Pan 360, Jesus Christ Superstar, RENT, Oklahoma!, A Chorus Line, Copacabana.

International Tours: 42nd Street, The Sound of Music, and Thomas & Friends.

TARA RUBIN CASTING (Casting) Selected Broadway and National Tours: Ain’t Too Proud (upcoming), King Kong, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Band’s Visit, Prince of Broadway, Indecent,

J. ANDREW BLEVINS (Stage Manager) National tours: Love Never Dies, An American in Paris, Motown, Ragtime, Camelot, 50 Shades! The Musical. Regional: Illinois Shakespeare Festival. Thanks to my family for all

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT (Tour Management)has been an innovator in touring musical theater productions for over two decades, producing shows throughout North, Central and South America, Europe and Asia.

Additionally, the company is experienced in casino and leisure markets. Current and upcoming productions include On Your Feet!, School of Rock, Kinky Boots, CATS, Escape to Margaritaville and My Fair Lady.

With strong ties to the Broadway community, TROIKA prides itself on delivering top quality productions to audiences worldwide. Please visit us at www.troika.com.

BRIAN TAYLOR (Associate Music Supervisor) Broadway credits include CATS (Associate Conductor), Evita (Assistant Conductor), An American in Paris, Cinderella, and Mary Poppins.

Rehearsal piano for Sunday in the Park With George at New York City Center, and Paint Your Wagon and Lady Be Good! at City Center Encores.

Keyboard for Jesus Christ Superstar live on NBC. ERIC KANG (Music Director/ Conductor) National tours: Love Never Dies (assistant conductor), A Gentleman’s Guide To Love And Murder 1st National (pianist). New York: Bunnicula (assistant music director). Regional: Merrily We Roll Along, The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables, and others. Degrees from New York University and Williams College. Support Arts Education in your public schools!

LAURA C. NELSON (Assistant Stage Manager) Broadway/national tour: An American in Paris. Off-Broadway: Desperate Measures, Trip of Love, Around the World in 80 Days, The Hatmaker’s Wife. Other NYC: LCT Directors Lab, Amélie (for Berkeley Rep), A Man of No Importance (Gallery Players). Regional: Gateway Playhouse, Two River Theater, Florida Studio Theatre. On the high seas: Royal Caribbean. BFA: UC-CCM Stage Management. @lar.nelson

NEURO TOUR (Physical Therapy) Carolyn Lawson PT, founder and CEO of NEURO TOUR and Neurosport, leaders in performing arts medicine.

We are honored to be part of CATS. Broadway: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Cher Show. Tours: On Your Feet!, Hamilton.

CATS

LILI FROEHLICH (Assistant Choreographer) Broadway: CATS (Electra, DC, u/s Sillabub, Jennyanydots & Rumpleteazer). Tours: Hamilton (Swing/DC) and Joseph . . . Dreamcoat (Ensemble). Lili is originally from Fort Worth, TX and is a proud graduate of Otterbein University in Westerville, OH. She is so grateful for this opportunity!

CATS

BOND THEATRICAL GROUP (Booking, Marketing & Publicity Direction) is a fully independent booking, marketing and publicity company for live entertainment productions. Current tour marketing and booking projects include Blue Man Group, CATS, Clueless, Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical, Djembe, Girl from the North Country, First Date, Hundred Days, Jesus Christ Superstar, Latin History for Morons and Once on this Island. Additional booking clients include Spamilton and Tap Dogs. Current marketing and publicity projects include Anastasia, The Band’s Visit, Dear Evan Hansen, Diana (Broadway), Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, Fiddler on the Roof, Moulin Rouge!, The Color Purple, The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway), and The Prom.

THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP (Licensor/Producer) is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s producing and licensing company and manages the theatrical rights for all of Andrew’s works, including The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Sunset Boulevard and School of RockThe Musical. The Really Useful Group reached over 20 million people across the globe last year from live theatre and concert audiences, cinemagoers, television viewers and music fans, to social media and art lovers.

This year, The Really Useful Group continues to work across theatre, film and television and as it produces and develops new projects and partnerships worldwide, alongside its ongoing work in education, amateur licensing and music publishing.

THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION (Producer) For more than 100 years, the Shubert Organization has been in the forefront of the American theatre.

Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman, and Robert E. Wankel, President, the Shubert Organization owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres and six Off-Broadway venues.

The company has produced and coproduced hundreds of plays and musicals, including CATS, Dreamgirls, Sunday in the Park With George, Amadeus, The Real Thing, The Grapes of Wrath, Equus, The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, School of Rock-The Musical,

The Humans, Meteor Shower, Angels in America, The Band’s Visit, Come From Away, and Dear Evan Hansen.

JAMES L. NEDERLANDER (Producer) President of the Nederlander Organization and son of the late James M. Nederlander. He is the third generation of a family known for owning and operating theatres around the world, and for producing theatre, cultural presentations, and popular music attractions. Recent credits include On Your Feet!, The Band’s Visit, Escape to Margaritaville, Meteor Shower, Mean Girls, My Fair Lady, The Humans, The Elephant Man with Bradley Cooper, Kinky Boots, Movin’ Out, the upcoming Tootsie, and many others.

CAMERON MACKINTOSH (Producer) has produced the three longestrunning musicals in history: Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and CATS. Miss Saigon is now touring North America and the U.K. while his co-production with Disney of Mary Poppins returns to London’s West End in 2019. He owns eight London theatres including the Victoria Palace which is now home to the award-winning musical Hamilton, co-produced with Jeffrey Seller. Cameron was knighted in 1996; recently was the first British producer to be elected to the Theater Hall of Fame; and is the recipient of the 2017 Stephen Sondheim Award.

ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 50,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. #EquityWorks

CATS TOUR STAFF GENERAL MANAGEMENT & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT GENERAL MANAGER KAREN BERRY PRODUCTION MANAGER GREGG DAMANTI TECHNICAL DIRECTOR DAVE BURCH COMPANY MANAGER AARON QUINTANA Assistant Company Manager...Justin Coffman CASTING TARA RUBIN CASTING Tara Rubin CSA, Lindsay Levine CSA, Xavier Rubiano CSA, Merri Sugarman CSA, Laura Schutzel CSA, Kaitlin Shaw CSA, Claire Burke CSA, Peter Van Dam CSA, Felicia Rudolph CSA, Louis DiPaolo, Kevin Metzger-Timson, Juliet Auwaerter BOOKING DIRECTION BOND THEATRICAL GROUP Temah Higgins Mollie Mann Rada Angelova Wendy Roberts Tammie Ward MARKETING & PUBLICITY DIRECTION BOND THEATRICAL GROUP DJ Martin Temah Higgins Marc Viscardi Mahaley Jacobs Nicholas Jaech Matthew Lerner Nicole Musto Tori Viggiano www.bondtheatricalgroup.com MAKEUP DESIGN JOHN NAPIER Makeup development by Nanci Powell WIGS MISS LEMON LIMITED Jenny Dean & Charles Wright MUSICAL SUPERVISOR FOR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER David Wilson New dance sequences for “The Old Gumbie Cat,” “The Rum Tum Tugger” and “Magical Mister Mistoffelees” co-arranged by John Clancy PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER........................................DONAVAN DOLAN Stage Manager...................................J. Andrew Blevins Assistant Stage Manager................. Laura C. Nelson Assistant Choreographers.................. Ellenore Scott, Lili Froehlich Dance Captains.......Nick Burrage, Erin Chupinksy Associate Scenic Designer..................Kevin Depinet UK Associate Costume Designer..........Tracy Stiles US Associate Costume Designers...........Lisa Zinni, Abigail Hahn Costume Assistants................................... Chris Hynds, Holly McCaffrey Costume Intern.................................Matthew Freeman Associate Lighting Designer.....Craig Stelzenmuller Assistant Lighting Designer.................... Dan Walker Moving Light Programmer......................... Alex Fogel Associate Sound Designer.....................Adam Fisher Hair & Makeup Design Coordinator............................................Victoria Tinsman Production Carpenter............................ D. Wade Jolly Production Electrician..........................Dawn Kenseth Production Sound....................................... Colle Bustin, Joshua Hummel Production Properties............................. Clista Jarrett HEAD CARPENTER.........................JOSEPH SPRATT Flyman.................................................Samantha Vettrus Foy Carpenter...................................... Stephen Bogaev Head Electrician....................................Maxfield Bishop Assistant Electrician.....................Chrissi McCulough Sound Mixer...............................................Zachary Ireson

Physical Therapy...................................... NEURO TOUR Physical Therapy Physical Therapist.......... Kerrie O’Donnell, PT, DPT Medical Director.................................Craig E. Weil, MD Production Photography...............Matthew Murphy Creative Services.................................................... SpotCo Website & Interactive Marketing.................... SpotCo Accounting.................................. Zwick & Banyai, PLLC Employee Benefits.....................................PEOPLE, Inc. Insurance...........The Arts Insurance Program, LLC. Legal..........................................................Jean Ward, Esq., Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz Merchandising.....Creative Goods Merchandise LLC For TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT Chief Executive Officer.....................Randall A. Buck Chief Operating Officer..................... Angela Rowles Executive Vice President, Production.....Kori Prior Executive Vice President, Marketing.......Amy Katz General Managers..... Karen Berry, Brian Schrader Assistant General Managers............ Madeline M. McCluskey, A.J. Orth Technical Director..........................................Dave Burch Production Managers....................Heather Chockley, Gregg Damanti, Jessica Sentak Production Coordinator.............. Nathaniel Vilandre Director of Engagements.............. Barrett Newman Financial Controller..............................Sean O’Connell Budgeting & Forecasting Manager................................................ George Lamberty Senior Accountant.............................. Lourdes Castillo Staff Accountant...................................Marite Espinoza Accounting Clerk.....................................Electra Walker Office Manager........................................Mary Lauritzen Costume Shop Administrator.........Alison M. Smith Warehouse Manager................................Scott Garrish www.troika.com CREDITS Scenery and automation by TTS STUDIOS, Charleston, SC. Lighting equipment from PRG LIGHTING. Sound equipment by SOUND ASSOCIATES. Rigging equipment by CHRISTIE LIGHTS. Light up and large costumes executed by John Kristiansen New York Inc. Grizabella costume executed by Sasha Keir. Leotards executed by Phil Reynolds. Painting

by Nicola Killeen Textile. Jennyanydots painting by Hochi Asiatico. Leg and arm warmers knitted by Jo Thompson. Skimbleshanks and Victor knitted by Marian Grealiish. Additional makeup consultation by Karen Dawson.

CATS

Assistant Sound........................................Kevin Thurber Props Supervisor........................................... Paul Wilson Assistant Props............................................. Sara Schultz Wardrobe Supervisor.................... Crystal S. Heckert Assistant Wardrobe...............................Emma Bogaev Hair & Makeup Supervisor........................ Jakey Hicks Assistant Hair & Makeup.................... Sierra Peterson Production Assistants.............................Chelsey Arce, Megan Ciszek, Mason Fick Associate Keyboard Programmer....David Weiser Rehearsal Pianist...............................Ming Aldrich-Gan

The Actors and Stage Managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

The musicians employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians.

Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E) The Director-Choreographer is a member of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.

United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.

The Company Manager employed in this production is represented by the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers.

This production is produced by a member of the Broadway League in collaboration with our professional union-represented employees.

PLEASE BE ADVISED • LATECOMERS and those exiting the theatre are seated at predetermined breaks in designated areas.

• PHOTOS, RECORDING & CELL PHONE USE are prohibited.

• CHILDREN 6+ are welcome in our theatres and must be ticketed.

• DRINKS are allowed in provided containers.

• ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES, LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS & BOOSTER SEATS are available in most theatres. Ask an usher to direct you.

• BRAILLE PROGRAMS are available with 2 weeks’ notice to ckrueger@dcpa.org or 303.893.4836.

Members of Denver Theatrical Wardrobe, Wigs, Hair and Make-up, Union 719 Linda Ackerschott Carrie Breidenbach Vonnie Clough Janel Clough Craig Cory Cyndie Cory Laura Cotugno Steve Davies Anne Davis Carolyn Dore Deborah Guess AnnSue Gunter

Judy Holabird Leslie Lambert Sharon Millikan-Hale Callie Morrow Laura Payne Yolanda Pollock Dave Poole Liz Spadi Amy Tepel Marybeth Tscherpel Barb Wilson

DPAC House Crew Mark Anthony Albert Sainz, Sr Perry Elliot Jay Schenk James R. Gralian David A. Wilson EJ Posselius DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT IN ITS 2018/19 BROADWAY SEASON

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THE BUELL THEATRE is part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, Arts and Venues.

CITY & COUNTY OF DENVER Michael Hancock, Mayor ARTS AND VENUES Ginger White-Brunetti, Interim Executive Director For information call: 720.865.4220

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THE ILLUSIONISTS

BY JOHN MOORE

“I tell young women wanting to pursue magic to make yourself the role model.

Anything you want to do is possible as long as you work hard and go after it.”

Raymond Crowe(left) and Sabine Diemen (inset) The Illusionists • 2019 US Tour

20

T

The Illusionists, Live From Broadway is a sophisticated variety show that gives seven of the greatest magicians in the world 10 minutes each to blow your mind. And then, on to the next.

“Most of our audiences love all five of them,” says Director Neil Dorward. But should you not care for one, just blink and another will appear before your very eyes. The ensemble includes an escape artist, a mentalist, a daredevil and a deductionist.

The Illusionists was (and remains) a simple performance concept that Dorward and Creative Producer Simon Painter modestly launched in 2012 as a two-week run at the Sydney Opera House. It has since grown into a worldwide phenomenon that has played on Broadway and now has three current touring productions traveling the world, with stops including Canada and Russia.

There is just something we humans universally love about being fooled, Painter said. “That goes back to childhood,” he said, “that lovely age of innocence.” But why do we so love to be fooled? That’s a bit like saying, “Why does a kid like Christmas?” Painter said. Both require a certain suspension of disbelief — and a healthy belief in magic.

The current touring production of The Illusionists features its first-ever female magician, Sabine Diemen of Amsterdam.

Diemen joined the Holland Show Ballet as a dancer at age 18, and that opened the door to her joining The Illusionists.

“One of the assistants had an injury one day, and they put me in the illusion called The Fire Cage,” she said. “I immediately loved it.”

Because magicians have always been men, Diemen added, “We don’t have a Beyoncé of magic.”

They do now.

“I love the idea of inspiring young girls,” she said. “I tell young women wanting to pursue magic that even if there are not many role models to look up to, make yourself the role model. Anything you want to do is possible as long as you work hard and go after it.”

Her message for Denver audiences: “The Illusionists is a jampacked show with all the varieties of magic you can wish for. I know for sure you’ll have lots to talk about at the dinner table after you’ve seen the show.”

— SABINE DIEMEN, THE ILLUSIONISTS

THE ILLUSIONISTS APR 12 – 14 • BUELL THEATRE

APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

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The DCPA bridges a gap in school arts programs statewide through in-school workshops, on-site classes and live performances.

Help us champion all children and put them on the path to success.

TOGETHER WE CAN IMPACT THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS Photo by John Moore

Fuel a child’s creativity and enrich their lives with a gift to DCPA Education: • $25 sends a child to a matinee for their first play • $50 fills our theatre truck’s gas tank to bring Shakespeare to area high schools • $100 provides in-school playwriting workshops that give voice to high school students

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DCPA

Tara Miller......................................... Senior Manager Brook Nichols......Director, Event Technology Janice Sinden..............................President & CEO Peter Sifter.......Facilities Operations Manager Maggie Lamb........................Executive Assistant Madison Stout......................Reception/Security to the CEO Dawn Williams................................Director, Event Sales & Marketing BROADWAY & CABARET Cesar Carillo, Juan Loya, Carmen Molina, Blanca Primero, Judith Primero, ADMINISTRATION Angeles Reyes Soto.............................Custodians John Ekeberg.........................Executive Director Alicia Bruce................................. General Manager MARKETING, SALES & Ashley Brown...........................Business Manager PATRON SERVICES Lisa Mallory........................................Vice President GARNER GALLERIA THEATRE Abel Becerra.............................Technical Director Patrick Berger.............Audience Development Manager Anna Hookana+..........................Core Stagehand Heidi Bosk.................................Associate Director, PR & Integrated Marketing DEVELOPMENT Casey Eickhoff, Brenda Elliott..........Senior Graphic Designers Shelley Thompson.........................Vice President Brianna Firestone..........Director of Marketing, Rebecca Clark.......................................Coordinator Insights & Strategy Megan Fevurly.......................Associate Director, Rachel Garn..................................Email Developer Individual Philanthropy Jacquelyn Glover.......Junior Web Developer/ Tamara Fox.....................................Grants Manager Administration Alicia Higginbotham..............Manager, Special Brittany Gutierrez.................... Communications Events Associate Ariel Keener.........Coordinator, Special Events Donna Hendricks................Executive Assistant Marc Ravenhill....................Director, Individual & Jeff Hovorka......... Director, Sales & Marketing Institutional Philanthropy Emily Kent................................Director, Marketing David Lenk.......................................Video Producer EDUCATION Emily Lozow......Marketing & Digital Manager Allison Watrous..................... Executive Director Adam Lundeen...........Marketing Technologist Patrick Elkins-Zeglarski.......................Director of Kyle Malone.....................................Design Director Education & Curriculum Management Helen Masvikeni..........................Project Manager Stuart Barr..................................Technical Director Carolyn Michaels....................................Copywriter Claudia Carson.....Teaching Artist & Program Cheyenne Michaels.........Marketing Associate Manager – Playwriting & Bobby G John Moore....................... Senior Arts Journalist Leslie Channell....................Director of Business Anna Nunez........................Jr. Marketing Analyst Operations Joseph Schurwonn.................Financial Analyst Linda Eller........................................................Librarian Sarah Shepard........................... Communications Coordinator Dana Good...............................Assistant Registrar Timothy McCracken...................Head of Acting Austin Walker.................Marketing Coordinator Andre Rodriguez......................Teaching Artist & Suzanne Yoe...........Director, Communications & Cultural Affairs Program Manager – Shakespeare David Saphier.......Teaching Artist & Program TICKETING & AUDIENCE SERVICES Manager – In School Programming Elizabeth Schmit..........................Office Manager Jennifer Lopez....................Director, Ticketing & Audience Services Melissa Sumner............................................Registrar Rachel Taylor...............................Teaching Artist & Ticketing Services Program Manager – Literacy Engagement Kirk Petersen...........................Associate Director, Patron Relations and Resiliency Programming Justin Walvoord........................Teaching Artist & Micah White.............................Associate Director, Program Manager – Teacher Subscription Services Professional Development Billy Dutton....Associate Director, Operations Maggy Stacy, Malcolm Brown..............Subscription Manager Robyn Yamada............................Teaching Artists Amanda Gomez...........VIP Ticketing Manager Christina Gesford, FACILITIES & EVENT SERVICES Tristan Jungferman, Zoë Mäkelä, Lauren Trujillo....................Box Office Managers Clay Courter.......................................Vice President D.J. Dennis, Edmund Gurule, Roger Haak, Rebecca Hibbert, Hayley Solano, Steven Allen, Benjamin Koenig, Michael Quezada................Security Specialists Mariah Thompson..............................Show Leads Kirsten Anderson, Keenan Coke, Quentin Crump, Cody Gocio.....................Lead Security Officers Scott Lix, Brad Steinmeyer, Gregory Swan.....................Subscription Agents Dwight Barela, Mark Dill, Rena Bugg, James Bullock, Adam Busch, Eric Farrell, Clint Flinchpaugh, Michael Kimbrough................................ Engineers Kelcee Covert, Cynthia Dillon, Jennifer Gray, Kristina Guarriello, Taylor Hayes, Danielle Bell, Savanna Campbell, Matt Leaver.................................Events Managers Noah Jungferman, Cecillia Kim, Timothy Courson.....................Director, Facilities Gustavo Márquez, Frank Millington III, Management Clayton Nickell, Hayley Obremski, Gunnar Reinig, Becca Saunders, Jane Deegan................................. Office Manager Liz Sieroslawski, Andrew Sullivan, Colin Dieck, Stori Heleen, Will Stowe, Emmalaine Wright.........................Ticket Agents Ian Wells.............Event Technology Specialists Theatre Services Tom Duffin...........Manager, Event Technology Carol Krueger............................................... Manager Dan Havens................................Security Manager Ethan Aumann, Nora Caley, Brian McClain.....................Custodial Supervisor Samantha Egle, Jahnice Jones,

LeiLani Lynch, Aaron McMullen, Stacey Renee Norwood, Margaret Ohlander, Dylan Phibbs, Valerie Schaefer, Elizabeth Schreffler, Elliot Shields, Lauren Veselak, Mica Ward..................................Theatre Company House Managers Volunteer Ushers................................................305+ Group Sales Jessica Bergin................Groups Sales Manager Jonalyn Bradshaw.............................Coordinator, Education Sales Patrick Naughton...Group Sales Coordinator SHARED SERVICES Vicky Miles........................Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Jeffrey........................Director, Financial Planning & Analysis Julie Schumaker..................Executive Assistant to the CFO & Board Liaison ACCOUNTING Jennifer Siemers...........................................Director Sara Brandenburg.......... Accounting Manager Michaele Davidson, Linda Erickson.....................Senior Accountants Valerie Lingbloom...................Staff Accountant HUMAN RESOURCES Brian Carter, Karen Jewell.......................Director Jamie Hawkins..............................HR Coordinator Paul Johnson...............................Payroll Specialist Monica Robles...................Mailroom Supervisor INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Yovani Pina.........................................Vice President Rick Bennett, David Tschan...................Director Eric Boone.............................Software Developer Vincent Bridgers....Ticketing System Analyst Simone Gordon......................Program Manager Christopher Hoge..................................IT Manager Phillip Johnson, Adam Smith.......................IT Analyst; Help Desk Joseph Reecher............................Junior Systems Administrator THEATRE COMPANY ADMINISTRATION Charles Varin...........................Managing Director Ann Marshall............................... General Manager Allison Taylor Brinkhoff......Company Manager Katie Grayson.... Assistant Company Manager ARTISTIC Chris Coleman.............................. Artistic Director Charlie Miller.........Associate Artistic Director/ Off-Center Curator Douglas Langworthy............Literary Director/ Director of New Play Development Melissa Cashion.........................Artistic Producer Grady Soapes.....................Associate Producer/ Director of Casting Lynde Rosario.............................Literary Manager PRODUCTION Jeff Gifford............Director of Production and Construction Project Management Kate Coltun..........................Production Manager Matthew Campbell....... Associate Production Manager Julie Brou..............................Production & Artistic Office Manager

Scenic Design Lisa M. Orzolek....... Director of Scenic Design Kevin Nelson, Nicholas Renaud.....Scenic Design Assistants Lighting Design Charles R. MacLeod..........Director of Lighting Lily Bradford............Lighting Design Assistant Reid Tennis+......................Production Electrician Multimedia Gregory W. Towle..........Projection Supervisor Sound Design Craig Breitenbach..................Director of Sound Alex Billman+, Frank Haas+, Tyler Nelson+...........................Sound Technicians Stage Management Kurt Van Raden.....Production Stage Manager Christoper C. Ewing....Senior Stage Manager Heidi Echtenkamp, Corin Davidson, Rick Mireles, Michael Morales, Kristen O’Connor, D. Lynn Reiland...........................Stage Managers Scene Shop Eric J. Moore..............................Technical Director Josh Prues, Robert L. Orzolek..........Associate Technical Directors Albert “Stub” Allison................................Assistant Technical Director Louis Fernandez III.................Master Carpenter Brian “Marco” Markiewicz.... Lead Technician Tyler Clark, Amy “Wynn” Pastor, Kyle Scoggins, Mara Zimmerman................Scenic Technicians Prop Shop Robin Lu Payne....................Properties Director Eileen S. Garcia...................Assistant Properties Director Jamie Stewart Curl, Tobias Harding, Georgina Kayes, Tony Nguyen, Katie Webster..................................Props Artisans Paint Shop Jana L. Mitchell...................Charge Scenic Artist Melanie Rentschler...............Lead Scenic Artist Kristin Hamer MacFarlane............Scenic Artist Costume Shop Janet S. MacLeod.................Costume Director/ Costume Design Associate Meghan Anderson Doyle......................Costume Design Associate Carolyn Plemitscher, Jackie Scott..... Drapers Cathie Gagnon..........................................First Hand Sheila P. Morris..................................................... Tailor Costume Crafts Kevin Copenhaver....Costume Crafts Director Chris Campbell.......Costume Crafts Assistant Wigs Diana Ben-Kiki........................................Wig Master House Crew Doug Taylor+.................Supervising Stagehand Jim Berman+, Jennifer Guethlein+, Stephen D. Mazzeno+, Miles Stasica+, Tyler Stauffer+, Matt Wagner+......Stagehands Kyle Moore+.........................Assistant Stagehand Wardrobe Brenda Lawson............... Director of Wardrobe Taylor Malott^, Jessica A. Rayburn^....................Wig Assistants Robin Appleton^, Amber Donner^, Anthony Mattivi^, Tim Nelson^, Lisa Parsons Wagner^, Alan Richards^..............................................Dressers + Member, I.A.T.S.E. Local 7 ^Member, I.A.T.S.E. Local 719

As of 3/27/19

PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

A “Our support of the DCPA and its mission is a privilege, and we are happy to see Denver secure its rightful place as a world-class city with a world-class performing arts scene.”

At CCIG, we’re passionate about the health and welfare of our community. There are few better ways for us to express our commitment to that ideal than, once again, to serve as a sponsor of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Why? Because the arts and culture help shape, build and strengthen communities.

As a locally based insurance and employee benefits brokerage, our commitment to the community is at the heart of CCIG’s values.

Our support of the DCPA and its mission is a privilege, and we are happy to see Denver secure its rightful place as a world-class city with a world-class performing arts scene.

The arts, of course, deepen and widen and expand our sense of life.

As Albert Einstein once said: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”

We couldn’t agree more.

— BROOK MAHONEY, CEO, CCIG

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APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

FREE PARKING + DRINK Show your DCPA ticket for complimentary valet parking and a glass of wine, draft beer, or cocktail with entrée purchase.

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JOIN US BEFORE THE SHOW • 3-Course Theatre Menu Special $30 95 or 10% Off Your Bill • Free Parking at Independence Plaza* • Located 2 Blocks from DCPA LOCA

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Enjoy a meal with us before the show - when you show your tickets, receive OVEN-TOASTED a FREE cocktail, Social Beer or house SANDWICHES wine with entree purchase. Parking is SALADS & SOUPS just $7 GLUTEN-FREE &when you use our valet parking.

VEGGIE OPTIONS ICE CREAM RECEIVE $2 OFF WHEN YOU BRING IN THIS AD

Four Diamonds AAA Four Stars - 5280 magazine Just 3 blocks from the theater complex 909 17th Street at Champa Call 303.296.3525 for reservations

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE 2018/19 DCPA BROADWAY SEASON

CONNECTING PEOPLE. UNITING THE WORLD.

“With over 80 years of service to the Mile High City, we are proud of our longstanding commitment to the Denver community that thousands of employees and customers call home.”

— SHARON GRANT, VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

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United does more than connect passengers through safe and convenient air travel; it forges strong relationships with the communities it serves across the globe.

United is pleased to serve as the official airline of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) and proudly supports its remarkable contributions to the performing arts community in Denver and beyond. United provides valuable travel support that allows the DCPA to bring in artists for its productions and sponsors Student Matinee performances for thousands of local students to expand their view of themselves and the world through a targeted theatrical experience and educational talkback.

United employees have donated thousands of hours of service to various local non-profit organizations and have tirelessly conducted drives, mentored interns, hosted Aviation Days both at Denver International Airport and United’s flight training center, among many other efforts. As part of United’s relationship with Warren Village transitional housing center, employee volunteers enjoy actively participating with resident families at community events. United’s Volunteer Impact Grants program allows employees to earn grants for nonprofits where they volunteer frequently and has provided thousands of dollars to local organizations. United employees especially love bringing smiles to hundreds of deserving children through the annual holiday Fantasy Flight trip to the “North Pole” and teddy bear deliveries to local hospitals.

“At United, we take our role as a community partner and corporate citizen seriously, and we are proud to support the DCPA,” said Sharon Grant, Vice President, Community Affairs. “With over 80 years of service to the Mile High City, we also are proud of our longstanding commitment to the Denver community that thousands of employees and customers call home.”

In addition to DCPA, United is honored to support other Colorado organizations including the Colorado Symphony, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Public Schools Foundation, Girls Inc., Latin American Education Foundation, Mile High Youth Corps, Warren Village and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and Exploration of Flight locations.

APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

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More than 70 visiting artists participated in the 14th annual Colorado New Play Summit.

BY JOHN MOORE

T

The 2019 Colorado New Play Summit took on timely and topical issues ranging from colorism to gender norms to questions of personal and national identity.

It presented an array of ghosts real and imagined. It introduced an exciting variety of complex new roles for older women. It told unexpected stories that are being lived every day throughout America but are rarely presented on our stages.

The Summit has grown into one of the nation’s premier showcases of new plays. Since 2006, it has introduced 62 new works leading to 34 fully staged world premieres.

This was the first Summit under the full creative influence of DCPA Theatre Company Artistic Director Chris Coleman, who has chosen two of this year’s readings to be produced next season: Tony Meneses’ twenty50 and Bonnie Metzgar’s You Lost Me. twenty50, set in the year 2050, introduces a congressional candidate who must decide whether identifying himself as a Mexican American will help or hinder him on Election Day. “I love that it really speaks to things that are urgently being debated in this country right now,” Coleman said.

You Lost Me is a time-hopping story that follows two women named Ann Harvey connected by blood but divided by two centuries following a shipwreck off the Newfoundland coast.

“I haven’t come across that many new plays I felt were poetic and inventive with the structure of the storytelling,” Coleman said. “So when something like You Lost Me comes along, it gets your attention.”

Coleman has committed to further developing the

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new musical Rattlesnake Kate, and he said the other two Summit offerings — Isaac Gomez’s Wally World and Beaufield Berry’s In the Upper Room would remain under consideration. Those plays were: • Neyla Pekarek and Karen Hartman’s Rattlesnake Kate is a stage adaptation of Pekarek’s concept album, Rattlesnake. It tells the story of Kate McHale Slaughterback, a Greeley farmer who, as a single mother in 1925, famously fought off a rattlesnake migration.

• Berry’s In the Upper Room is an unsparing look back at the playwright’s Omaha family in the 1970s. Their lives orbit around Rose, a controlling matriarch hiding dark secrets from her mysterious past.

• Gomez’s Wally World is a comedy set in a 24-hour retail superstore in the border city of El Paso on Christmas Eve, just before the one day each year the store closes.

This year’s Summit drew industry leaders from 49 local and national theatre organizations. Total attendance eclipsed 3,000, with a record 975 individuals attending at least one Summit reading.

To Metzgar, this year’s Summit slate made it abundantly clear that America is at a moment of change. Just like the American theatre. “On our first day in the room, I looked around at the incredible diversity of voices and of artists and of different perspectives all together here,” Metzgar said. “That shows me that the future is really bright. If one of the great institutions in this country can do that and it can happen here, it can happen everywhere.”

To read full coverage of the 2019 Colorado New Play Summit, visit denvercenter.org/news-center.

APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

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PHOTOS: 1. Mary Kate Morrissey in Rattlesnake Kate. 2. The cast of twenty50. 3. Majorie Johnson in In the Upper Room. 4. Leslie Alexander and Leslie O’Carroll. 5. The cast of Wally World.

6. Playwright Beaufield Berry (In the Upper Room) at the Playwrights’ Slam. 7. Betty Hart and Regina Taylor. 8. Neyla Pekarek in Rattlesnake Kate. 9. Kurt Hellerich, Anastasia Davidson and Marianna McClellan in You Lost Me. 10. Liza Fernandez, James Vincent Meredith and Blanca Camacho with twenty50 director Henry Godinez. 11. Colorado New Play Summit party. 12. Sophie Greenway, Katanu Mwendwa and M. Rae K, winners in the High School Playwriting & Workshops Competition.

Photos by John Moore and Adams VisCom.

Kristina Fo untaine, Ke vin Cu in the 2019 Colorado Ne rtis and Dan Lin w Play Sum mit.

PROUD SPONSOR OF DCPA EDUCATION

“Giving back is not just an idea we work toward, it’s the cornerstone of PCL’s culture.”

— RYAN SCHMIDT, DISTRICT MANAGER

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With US headquarters in Denver, PCL Construction is proud to support the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) Education programs.

PCL, a 100% employee-owned company, is dedicated to giving back to the communities where employees live and work. The organization strives to make a positive contribution by supporting community development programs, such as the DCPA, that promote a greater appreciation for the arts. “Giving back is not just an idea we work toward, it’s the cornerstone of PCL’s culture,” said Ryan Schmidt, district manager.

PCL is proud to have partnered with the City & County of Denver on construction projects throughout the Denver Performing Arts Complex, including the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Temple Boyne Buell Theatre, and the Galleria arch.

The organization’s 40+ year portfolio in Denver encompasses marquee projects such the original main terminal at Denver International Airport, Republic Plaza Tower, Mile High United Way, and 250 Columbine Condominiums in Cherry Creek.

PCL’s work in the Rocky Mountains includes resorts such as the Ritz-Carlton Residences at Vail, the Monarch Hotel and Casino in Black Hawk and the Grand Colorado Peak 8 Residences in Breckenridge.

PCL and its employees are passionate about not only building structures, but also building hope for individuals and families in the community through the company’s philanthropic efforts.

This is one of the many reasons why PCL is consistently ranked as a Top Philanthropic Company by the Denver Business Journal.

APPLAUSE • APR – MAY 2019 • 303.893.4100 • DENVERCENTER.ORG

A N N O U N C I N G O U R 2 0 1 9/2 0 S E A S O N !

SEPTEMBER

Home Alone in Concert

Bobby McFerrin with the Colorado Symphony Chorus

NOV 29 FRI 7:30

SEP 7 SAT 7:30

FEB 15 SAT 7:30

DYAO Side By Side 2020

DEC 1 SUN 2:30

Beethoven Missa Solemnis featuring the Colorado Symphony Chorus

Love Actually in Concert

FEB 21-23 FRI-SAT 7:30

Drums of the World

SEP 15 SUN 2:00

Opening Weekend: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto featuring Yumi Hwang-Williams SUN 1:00

Macy’s Inc. Family

DEC 6 FRI 7:30

Rhapsody & Rhythm: The Gershwin Concert Experience SEP 28 SAT 7:30

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MAR 6-8 FRI-SAT 7:30 SAT 2:30 & 6:00

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SUN 1:00

Marin Alsop Conducts MAR 20-22 FRI-SAT 7:30

Handel’s Messiah — Awakening

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 conducted by Brett Mitchell

Holiday Brass

OCT 4-6 FRI-SAT 7:30

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SUN 1:00

Dvořák Symphony No. 7 OCT 18-20 FRI-SAT 7:30

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SUN 1:00

Verdi Requiem – 35 Anniversary Celebration of the Colorado Symphony Chorus n

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 1 in Concert

APR 3-5 FRI-SAT 7:30

JAN 3-5 FRI-SAT 7:30

Holst The Planets

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SUN 1:00

MPAA Rating: PG

Halloween Spooktacular!

Macy’s Inc. Family

SUN 1:00

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto n

Arrow Symphony Pops

presenting sponsor

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SUN 1:00

Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance JAN 31-FEB 1 FRI-SAT 7:30

FEB 7-9 FRI-SAT 7:30

also supported by

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SUN 1:00

Colorado Symphony Ball APR 25 SAT 6:00 M AY

MAY 1-3 FRI-SAT 7:30

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MAY 8-10 FRI-SAT 7:30

SUN 1:00

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SUN 1:00

Jim James and Teddy Abrams with the Colorado Symphony MAY 15 FRI 7:30

Big Band Classics conducted by Brett Mitchell

Arrow Symphony Pops

MAY 16 SAT 7:30

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 featuring Ingrid Fliter

These performances include FULL SCREENING OF THE FEATURE FILM!

APR 17-19 FRI-SAT 7:30

SUN 1:00

Elgar Enigma Variations conducted by Christopher Dragon

FEBRUARY

SUN 1:00

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Mahler Symphony No. 9 conducted by Brett Mitchell

A Tribute to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops JAN 24-26 FRI-SAT 7:30

SUN 1:00

Renée Fleming - The Brightness of Light- Colorado Premiere NOV 22-24 FRI-SAT 7:30

Bank of America Free Community Concert

JAN 14 TUE 7:30

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3

Mozart Symphony No. 40

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SUN 1:00

JAN 18 SAT 7:30

NOV 3 SUN 2:30 n

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Dr. MLK, Jr. Tribute

Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. ©Disney. All rights reserved.

SUN 2:30

APRIL

JAN 10-12 FRI-SAT 7:30

NOV 1-2 FRI-SAT 7:30

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Presentation licensed by Disney Concert Library ©Disney

Barber Piano Concerto performed by Olga Kern

Disney in Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas

NOV 15 & 17 FRI 7:30

MAR 28–29 SAT 7:30

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. WIZARDING WORLD trademark and logo © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s19)

SUN 1:00

NOVEMBER

NOV 8-10 FRI-SAT 7:30

Disney’s Fantasia in Concert

DEC 22 SUN 1:00

JANUARY

th

OCT 26-27 SAT 7:30

MAR 27 FRI 7:30

DEC 31 TUE 6:30

OCT 11 FRI 7:30

SUN 1:00

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Music and Art: A Symphonic Exploration

A Night in Vienna

The Goonies in Concert

Macy’s Inc. Family

MAR 15 SUN 2:30

DEC 16 MON 7:30 DEC 20-21 FRI-SAT 7:30

SUN 1:00

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Carnival of the Animals

All Beethoven – 250th Birthday Celebration

OCTOBER

SUN 1:00

Strauss A Hero’s Life conducted by Brett Mitchell

A Colorado Christmas DEC 13-15 FRI 7:30

SEP 26 THU 7:00

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MARCH

Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour DEC 8 SUN 3:30

Bank of America Free Community Concert

Macy’s Inc. Family

FEB 16 SUN 2:30

DECEMBER

Rick Steves - A Symphonic Journey with the Colorado Symphony

Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas

Legendary Women’s Voices: An Evening with Cynthia Erivo

Arrow Symphony Pops

NOV 30 SAT 7:30

SEP 14 SAT 7:30

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FEB 14 FRI 7:30

Home Alone © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Aretha: A Tribute

An Intimate Evening with Kristin Chenoweth and the Colorado Symphony

SEP 20-22 FRI-SAT 7:30

From Britain, with Love MPAA Rating: PG

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SUN 1:00

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 “Eroica” conducted by Brett Mitchell MAY 22-24 FRI-SAT 7:30

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SUN 1:00

COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG