A thundering unicorn

STRAIGHT TALK WITH PARKER ARTS, STORIES ON STAGE AND THUNDER RIVER

Ethan Walker, performing at the 2019 Henry Awards, played Jack Kelly in Inspire Creative's 'Newsies' at the PACE Center in Parker. Photo by John Moore. 

Welcome back to "Straight Talk," our ongoing series with artistic leaders from the Colorado theatre community about the unique challenges they face during this unprecedented time.

By John Moore, Senior Arts Journalist

PARKER ARTS

“Parker Arts” is an entity that encompasses the facilities and events overseen by the Town of Parker’s Cultural Department. Parker Arts oversees several performance spaces – primarily the PACE Center’s 542-seat jewel theatre just east of downtown (complete with a small outdoor amphitheater), and the newly refurbished boutique Schoolhouse Theater on the heart of the infuriatingly spelled Mainstreet that houses a 200-seat theatre, art gallery and heritage center.

Being city-owned can be both a blessing and a burden for cultural organizations. Parker Arts received an essential $1.2 million from the town of Parker this year (about one-fourth of its overall budget), but that already was down by $200,000 from 2019, even before COVID19 shut everything down. With sales tax revenues plummeting in 2020, Parker Arts can’t count on any emergency cash infusions from the city to help them through the current crisis.

“We are so grateful for support from the town, said Cultural Director Elaine Mariner, who yesterday announced her retirement effective July 6. “We’re fortunate because a lot of non-profit companies come and go if you don’t have the support of your municipality. Our support from the city is going to keep the arts alive in Parker, even if that funding is reduced.”

The major casualty to summer programming so far has been Give 5 Productions’ planned homegrown staging of “Mamma Mia,” directed by Piper Arpan, as well as three concerts. No decision has yet been made about a scheduled fall staging of “Clue, the Musical” scheduled for the Schoolhouse Theatre.

A new summer socially distanced drive-in series will begin at 8:30 p.m. this Friday (June 12) with live entertainment in the PACE parking lot, beginning with a concert from a high-energy Dixieland jazz band called The Rootin’ Tootins. The cost id $30 per vehicle, with the sound piped to your car’s radio. Tickets here

While all 50 part-time jobs at Parker Arts have been temporarily eliminated, Mariner has been able to retain all 18 members of her full-time staff so far. The immediate financial difficulty Parker Arts faces is that earned revenue is down 60 percent for the year, and contributed revenue is projected to be down 25 percent. That translates into a $2 million revenue decline.

''We received nothing but compliments from parents who were relieved to have activities for their kids.' –  Elaine Mariner

Although all venues remain closed indefinitely for public performances, some buildings re-opened last week for youth summer camps that have a maximum enrollment of nine students each. “We received nothing but compliments and sincere thanks from parents and grandparents who were relieved to have activities for their kids, and grateful for the safety measures and sanitary precautions we set into place,” Mariner said. “Camper registrations are increasing daily, and we hope to add more sessions throughout the summer.”

Limited event rentals have resumed as well, including a small wedding last weekend that took place in the Ruth Chapel. 

As for indoor programming, if social distancing requirements allow for only 25 percent of normal audience capacity, “that is going to seriously impact what we can present through the end of the year,” Mariner said.

But whatever it takes, she added, Parker Arts, and its programming, will go on.

“Our primary goal is to maintain our connection to our community, no matter how long this lasts,” she said. “We are not shutting down, and we are not cancelling the arts in Parker.”

DONATE TO PARKER ARTS


'It feels so good being able to hire actors for something, even if we can only pay chump-change right now.' –  Anthony Powell

STORIES ON STAGE

Stories on Stage is an old-fashioned live storytelling company of professional actors who read stories from the stage that audiences listen to and fill in with their own imaginations. “We bring stories to life as a shared human experience,” said Artistic Director Anthony Powell. “We're sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always thought-provoking.”

Stories on Stage had completed most of its 19th season when the shutdown hit, but it already has broadcast several readings virtually since. “We're basically groping around in the dark and bumping into walls just like everybody else in Denver's theatrical community,” Powell said. “But we feel extremely lucky that our very simple format lends itself pretty well to doing little micro-shows on Zoom. That’s turning out to be a great stop-gap measure for us, and our wonderful audience has been very forgiving of our various technical snafus – like when freaking Alexa started to talk right in the middle of things."

Powell says the whole thing has given him "Quarantine Brain." If that is not a real thing, he asks – can we simply make it one?

“As a card-carrying Luddite, I’ve always been suspicious of – if not downright hostile to – this kind of thing, but the Zoom experience is proving to be a huge gift to us right now. But I assume the novelty of Zoom will soon wear off and our audiences will be yearning for a more professional-quality product.”

Financially, “it's a bit of a nail-biter for us right now,” said Powell, whose company has benefited from small loans from the Paycheck Protection Program and elsewhere.

“Our small size makes it a little easier to weather the immediate storm, as we've only got two full-time employees on staff,” he said. “Our loans have been a godsend. It has given us time to breathe and figure out what our next moves will be.”

It is Powell’s dream to be back in a real theatre for Stories on Stage’s popular annual holiday offering, “Making Merry,” but that might be overly optimistic, he said. “Still – a boy can dream, can't he?”

Last week’s micro-shows featured stories about sheltering at home submitted by Stories on Stage audience members (including acclaimed local author Nick Arvin) and performed by popular Arvada Center actors Kate Gleason and Sam Gregory. Read the stories here

“It feels so good being able to hire actors for something, even if we can only pay chump-change right now,” Powell said. “Once we get a handle on how much to charge for virtual season subscriptions and such, we will be able to do a lot better by our actors – and I am so looking forward to that day.”

DONATE TO STORIES ON STAGE

Video bonus: 'Zooming with Stories on Stage: Wild Kingdom'

Featuring Erin Rollman of Buntport Theater and John Jurcheck of Curious Theatre Company at the Dairty Arts Center in Boulder.


'Everything is on the table.' –  Corey Simpson

THUNDER RIVER THEATRE COMPANY

In 1995, Lon Winston founded Thunder River Theatre Company 170 miles west of Denver in the Roaring Fork Valley. His gypsies roamed from Aspen to Glenwood Springs over the first 11 years, presenting everything from classics to edgy contemporary plays. In 2005, the company made its permanent home in the heart of downtown Carbondale. Since 2017, the thunder from Thunder River has made this little company the darling of the Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual Henry Awards, last week garnering 10 nominations for the abbreviated 2019-20 season.

This Friday and Saturday (June 12-13), Thunder River will air live performances of “The Pink Unicorn” starring Missy Moore, who won the 2019 Henry Award for her performance. Directed by And Toto Too Theatre Company’s Susan Lyles, this one-woman play by Elise Forier Edie introduces a Christian widow living in a conservative Texas town who has her life thrown into turmoil when her teenage daughter announces she is genderqueer.

This final production of Thunder River’s 25th season will be aired on ThunderStream, the new streaming channel the company launched the week after COVID19 started spreading across the country. Anyone can watch live at app.arts-people.com.

“While we agree with many others that theatre produced and experienced online is entirely different from sitting in a facility packed with our fellow theatre enthusiasts – if live sports can translate successfully to camera, then so can theatre,” said Thunder River Artistic Director Corey Simpson (pictured above and right).

Simpson feels fortunate that Winston had the foresight to pay off his new theatre from the start, or otherwise the shutdown would have likely spelled the end of Thunder River.

"Like all theatre companies, we have been hit hard financially," said Simpson. "It's fair to say we have had to cut our revenue expectations by a third for the year."

The company canceled its planned season finale of "Into the Breeches," as well as two fundraisers; all outside building rentals; and all cabaret and improv performances. As a result, Simpson has been forced to eliminate one of the company's four full-time positions. "And let me tell you, for our level of programming, letting go one-quarter of our staff is devastating," he said. 

But the saving grace: No mortgage to pay. The aching reality: No indoor performances for the foreseeable future.

“We believe in the importance of continuing to safely support the work of as many artists as possible," said Simpson, "and we believe in the vital way that theatre can lift up our global community with stories of hope and shared humanity during these times of crisis.

“Theatre-makers are an adaptable, ingenious bunch, and we are actively considering safe, transformative alternatives to the traditional theatre-in-a-box model. Maybe that’s smaller-cast outdoor theatre, or location-specific devised work where the technical aspect is less of a focus." That also could include drive-in – or even bike-through! – theatre in multiple locations, he added, or long-distance improv comedy.

“Everything is on the table,” said Simpson.

And the bottom line is good news: "Thunder River Theatre Company is here to stay."

DONATE TO THUNDER RIVER

Contact John Moore at culturewestjohn@gmail.com

Thunder River's Henry Award-winning 2017 production of 'The Tempest' in Carbondale.

MORE STRAIGHT TALK

• Straight Talk with Platte Valley Players and Theatreworks READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with OpenStage, Firehouse and Adams Mystery Playhouse. READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Curious Theatre Company.  READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with The Catamounts, Bas Bleu Theatre and Thingamajig Theatre Company. READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Lake Dillon Theatre Company, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company and Northglenn Arts. READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with the Fine Arts Center, Miners Alley Playhouse, Dangerous Theatre and Lone Tree Arts Center READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with square product, Forge Light, Springs Ensemble Theatre and Coal Creek Theatre of Louisville READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with the Denver Center, Jesters Dinner Theatre, Glenwood Vaudeville Revue and Germinal Stage-Denver READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Local Theater Company, Theatre 29, The Source and Equinox READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Su Teatro, Vintage, Breckenridge Backstage and Counterweight Theatre Lab READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Aurora Fox, BDT Stage, Cherry Creek Theatre and Misfits Theater READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Creede Rep, Town Hall, Candlelight and Theatre Company of Lafayette READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Phamaly, Buntport, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre. READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Rod Lansberry, Arvada Center Artistic Director of Plays. READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Lynne Collins, Arvada Center Artistic Director of Plays. READ IT HERE

• Straight Talk with Philip C. Sneed, Arvada Center President and CEO. READ IT HERE

• Survey: Most theatregoers aren't coming back anytime soon. READ IT HERE

• COVID-19's toll on Colorado theatre: 224 productions and counting. READ IT HERE

 

Home,Reignite the Arts,Donate Now,Donate Now,Corporate Giving,Art Circle,2024-2025 Theatre Season,Renew,Visit Us,View All Events,Roland Bernier: In Other Words,Word Play,Animal Farm,Big Band Royalty,Lola Montejo: After Another After,Floyd D. Tunson: Ascent,Anthony Garcia Sr: Pigment,A Tribute to the Boston Pops,The CJRO presents A Night of Sizzling Soul with Larry Braggs,Pink Martini featuring China Forbes,Carlou D,Pamela Webb: Hand + Hammer,Lauri Lynnxe Murphy: Seeing the Trees For the Forest,Pink Progression: Collaborations,Imprint: Print Educators of Colorado,528.0: Regional Juried Printmaking Exhibition,Wood.Works,Carley Warren: Three Pieces,Viral Influence: Art in the Time of Coronavirus,Brady Smith: (Don’t be embarrassed by) Your Trouble with Living,Melody Epperson: 100 Years + 1,Blurring The Line,Dawes,Melissa Etheridge,Narkita Gold: Black In Denver,Australian Pink Floyd,José González,Art of the State 2022,Into The Woods,Elle King,Madeleine Peyroux In Concert,One Sheet,The River Bride,The History of African American Music Part 3,Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,Colorado Abstract +10: A Survey,Gary Staab: Second Nature,Flora: Scientific Botanical Illustrations of Colorado Plants,Charlotte's Web,Art + Science,Jeffco Schools Foundation High School Art Exhibition,Wendy Kowynia: Following the Thread,Spring Pottery Sale,Teacher Appreciation Concert,Damn Yankees,Bueno: Mark Bueno,Mary Poppins,Denver Gay Men's Chorus: Divas, Icons and Justice Warriors,The Book Club Play,Guitar Stars and Friends,The Denver Brass: In Pursuit of Leisure,Swing, Swing, Swing: Benny and Beyond ,Spamalot,A Night at the Movies with the Colorado Symphony,Toad the Wet Sprocket and Cracker,Ramón Bonilla: The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places for me.,Keb' Mo',Boz Scaggs,Lucero,The Ladies of Soul,Ben Folds,Drawn: From The Source,Day of African Culture,Cleo Parker Robinson Dance presents Living the Lush Life,Face Vocal Band,George Thorogood and the Destroyers,Indigo Girls,Big Draw Colorado,Collective Soul,A Tribute to Chick Corea with Eric Gunnison,Exhibition Unveiling,Honoring Dance Legends: Great teachers and choreographers of the 20th century,An Evening with Holocaust Survivor Sara Moses,Rockley Instrument Sale,The Laramie Project Talkbacks with Judy and Dennis Shepard,Allyship & Advocacy in Action: Supporting the LGBTQAI+ Community,Emilio Lobato: A Mi Manera A 40-Year Survey,Latitude 37° Art of Southern Colorado,Beautiful - The Carole King Musical,The Laramie Project,Colcha Embroidery of the San Luis Valley,Hazel Miller and the Collective: Christmas with Soul,Cinderella Dinner and a Show,Fine Art Market,Holiday Pottery Sale,Our Town,Big Band Royalty: Nothin’ But the Blues,Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella Sensory Friendly Performance,Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella ASL Interpreted Performances ,Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella,iZCALLi: La Posada feat. ArtistiCO Dance Company,Artist Proof: Print Process at Oehme Graphics,Exhibition Tour and Artist Talk with Sue Oehme,Sue Oehme Inclusions,Big Ink,53rd Annual Jeffco Schools Foundation High School Art Exhibition,Print Jam,Latin Sounds From Legendary Artists,A Year With Frog and Toad,Matt Christie: Between Then and Now,Robin Cole: Genesis,Arvada Center Spring Brunch,Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812,Noises Off,Dining Partners,Amplify,Theatre,Upcoming Shows,2024-2025 Theatre Season,Renew,Performances for Students,Auditions,Galleries,Current Exhibitions,Gallery Events,Upcoming Exhibitions,Art Sales,Art Submissions,Sculpture Field,History Museum,Archive,Education,View All Classes,Summer Camps,Full Day,Summer Camp Performances,FAQ,Spring Break Camps,Classes for Kids,Classes for Adults,Ceramics,Front Range Youth Symphony,Dance Classes,Links and Forms,Arts Day,Arts Day Outreach,Ageless Adults,Scholarships,Yesterado,Yesterado,Field Trips and Outreach,ECE Field Trips,K-5 Field Trips,Middle and High School Field Trips,Outreach Programs,Preschool Partnership Program,Music and Dance,Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra,Summer Concerts,Humanities,Private Event Rentals,Caterers,Vendors,Straight Talk Series ,Straight Talk with Philip Sneed,COVID’s toll on Colorado theatre: 224 productions and counting ,Straight Talk with Lynne Collins,Straight Talk with Rod Lansberry,Straight Talk with Phamaly, Buntport, Colorado Shakes and Rocky Mountain Rep,Straight Talk with Creede Rep, Town Hall, Candlelight and Theatre Company of Lafayette,Straight Talk with Aurora Fox, BDT Stage, Cherry Creek Theatre and Misfits,Straight Talk with Su Teatro, Vintage, Backstage and Counterweight,Straight Talk with Local Theater Company, Theater 29, The Source and Equinox,Straight Talk with the Denver Center, Jesters Dinner Theatre, Glenwood Vaudeville Revue and Germinal Stage-Denver,Actors' union issues safety guidelines for re-opening,Straight Talk with square product, Forge Light, Springs Ensemble Theatre and Coal Creek Theatre of Louisville,Straight Talk with the Fine Arts Center, Miners Alley Playhouse, Dangerous Theatre and Lone Tree Arts Center ,Straight Talk with Lake Dillon Theatre Company, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company and Northglenn Arts,Straight Talk with The Catamounts, Bas Bleu and Thingamajig,Straight Talk with Curious Theatre Company,Straight Talk with OpenStage, Firehouse and Adams Mystery Playhouse,Straight Talk with Platte Valley Players and Theatreworks,Straight Talk with Parker Arts, Stories on Stage and Thunder River ,Staight Talk 2 with Philip Sneed: This much is uncertain,Arvada Center News,Getting to Know The Big Tuna,Getting to Know: Keith Ewer and his Hammered Dulcimer,Understanding Farce in Theatre,Pivoting With,Pivoting with The Black Actors Guild,Pivoting with ... Emily Van Fleet and Nathan Jones,Pivoting With ... Tammy Franklin and the Curtain Playhouse,Pivoting With Nick Sugar and the Town Hall Arts Center,Pivoting With Helen Murray and the Aurora Fox,Pivoting with Edith Weiss and Christy Montour Larson,Pivoting With Scott RC Levy and the Fine Arts Center Theatre Company,Pivoting with Todd Debrecini for Halloween,Pivoting with Ashley Campbell,Pivoting with Meghan Anderson Doyle,Pivoting with Jenna Moll Reyes,Pivoting with Erik Fellenstein,Pivoting with Ray Bailey ,Pivoting with Tara Falk,Community News,Inside the Arvada Center,All About Printmaking Techniques,Humans of the Arvada Center: Meet Collin Parson ,Christina Noel-Adcock,"Bright Star" cast unveils video as message of hope,Humans of the Arvada Center: Meet Christine Moore,Humans of the Arvada Center: Steven Cogswell,Humans of the Arvada Center: Ashi K. Smythe,City of Arvada to install new sculpture in Hoskinson Park,Humans of the Arvada Center Jessie Page,Humans of the Arvada Center Cal Meakins,Humans of the Arvada Center: Adam Stolte,Supreme Court workplace ruling hits home for Lisa Leafgreen,'Time for talk is over': Arvada Center launch 'Amplify' series to raise black male voices,Humans of the Arvada Center Jon Olson ,Humans of the Arvada Center: Abygail Rosales,Revealing The Dialogue,Amplify Epiode 3 launches, series expanding to include black women,Photo Blog: Sweeney Todd Rehearsals,Humans of the Arvada Center: Gabriel Morales,Cleo Parker Robinson dances back in the box with Arvada Center,Amplify turns the mic over to local Black women ,Beth Malone bringing 'joy bomb' to Arvada Center oon September 4,Humans of the Arvada Center: Meet Emily King,Amplify Women Episode 2,Special Book Honors Special Dance Teacher,amplify-series-comes-to-powerful-conclusion,Take a stroll through 'Sculpture in the Field',Lessons from a summer of outdoor theatre in the time of COVID ,Humans of the Arvada Center: John Hamilton,Doreen Montalvo in Denver: Compassion and grit,Betty Hart's presidential promise: Build a bigger tent,Humans of the Arvada Center: Brenna Clendaniel and Sophia Koop,On being Black in Denver and all the colors that it brings,2020 True West Awards: Buntpivot ,2020 True West Awards: Lily Bradford,2020 True West Awards: The Scenesters,2020 True West Awards: Podcastic,2020 True West Awards: Phamaly takes 'Honk' to Japan,2020 True West Awards: Christine Moore,2020 True West Awards: Alive Inside,2020 True West Awards: Michael Ensminger,True West Awards: They Wrote the Book,True West Awards: Rent-A-Pals,True West Awards: Of Spacious Skies,True West Awards: Christopher Page-Sanders,2020 True West Awards: Suffer the little children,2020 True West Awards: Spirit of Giving,2020 True West Awards: Secret Gardeners,2020 True West Awards: Denis Berkfeldt,2020 True West Awards: Amplify,2020 True West Awards: Reclaiming One Star,2020 True West Awards: William Hahn and Jessica Robblee,2020 True West Awards: Lisa Wagner Erickson,20 for 20,Meet the Frasers,Lucy Roucis' final act is a gutpunch,Reunite the Arts Collin Parson,Jodie Steeves and Nancy Terry,Reunite the Arts Lisa Leafgreen,Remembering John Gratkins,Reunite the Arts: From our CEO,Danielle Johnson Q&A,Reunite the Arts Lynne Collins,The Show Must Go On,Diana and Mike Kinsey,Get to Know Kazu Oba,Meet Suzanna Champion,The Gear of Million Dollar Quartet,FRYS and the Symphony,Get to Know Carlou D,Stories From the Studio,Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet Lares Feliciano,21 for 21,An interview with Geoffrey Kent: The Liar,An interview with Jada Suzanne Dixon: Stick Fly,An interview with Jessica Robblee: Animal Farm,Fast Facts About Kinky Boots,Costume Department Boots Up,Rod A Lansberry Announces Retirement from Arvada Center,Lynne Collins Named Artistic Director of Arvada Center Theatre,Getting to Know José González,Getting to Know Joan Osborne and Madeleine Peyroux,The Many Sounds of Carlou D,Setting the mood: Into the Woods Set Designer Brian Mallgrave,Into the Woods Directors Note,The River Bride Director's Note,What is Magical Realism?,Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet Ana María Hernando,Meet Ceramics Artist Luanne Burke,From student to teacher: Hadley’s story,Tackling the Beast,Things to Know About Our Town,Creating the Look of Our Town: A Q and A with Set Designer Brian Mallgrave,Whatever Lola Wants - A Deep Dive into the Damn Yankees Signature Song,Selling Your Soul - A Pop Culture Favorite,The Book Club Play Reads,Metatheatre Elements in Our Town - When a Play Knows It's a Play,90s Throwback Vibe with Arvada Center 2023 Summer Concert Series,Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra at the Arvada Center,Opening Acts of the Arvada Center 2023 Summer Concert Series,Getting to know Baaba Maal,Big Draw Highlights,The Music of Keb' Mo,Getting to Know Lucero,The People at the Indigo Girls ,Listen to the hits of Carole King with this playlist,Carole King: The Writer Behind The Music,Songs inspired by Matthew Shepard,Summer Internship at The Arvada Center,Arvada Center journeys to Southern Colorado : A Photo Diary,Arvada Center and Colorado Chapter of Free Mom Hugs share the love,Costume Inspiration for Cinderella with Costume Designer Madison Booth,Getting to Know: iZCALLi and ArtistiCO,The Many Faces of Cinderella,Arvada Center awarded Social Impact Theatre Grant from Biller Family Foundation,The music that influenced the music of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812,Volunteer,About Us,Ticketing Policies,Authorized Ticketing,Group Tickets,Ticket Discounts,Contact Us,Accessibility,Health and Safety,Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access,Careers,Tours,Adopt an Actor 2023,Adopt An Artwork,Temp,Land Acknowledgement,What To Expect at the Theatre,One Sheet Music,Gift Certificates,LGBT Resources,Privacy Policy,Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet Seat Map,Gala,Gala Sponsors,Errors,404,Natasha and Pierre Synopsis,Concessions,Summer Preorders