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Performing Arts

380 Ed. note: TIO's Denver-based contributor Tracy Shaffer muses about the play she has written, which is being performed this week by the Paragon Theatre Ensemble.

After years of living with these characters inside my head and seeing them come to into two-dimensional existence with various staged readings, my play (W)hole is finally on its 3-D feet in Paragon Theatre Ensemble's World Premiere production. I sat down for lunch at Cholon Bistro (more on that) with Telluride Playwrights Festival Director, Jennie Franks, who came to town this week to see my play, discuss our new Colorado playwrights group, Collective 7, and brainstorm about the 2011 Playwrights Festival. As Denver Post Theatre critic, John Moore, wrote in his advance press piece, (W)hole was started years ago and has been the beneficiary of input from various theatre companies along its way.  I wasn't writing or shopping the play around the whole decade, but revising drafts and submitting as time allowed.

30 October, 2010 /

 

 Above is a snippet of the Popovitch Pet Theater act, which will perform at the Palm Theatre Sunday Oct. 17 at 4 p.m.; the show is for all ages and is a benefit for Wags and Menace Foundation in support of animal shelters.

 

When Gregory Popovitch moved to the U.S. from his Russian homeland, he was a gold medal juggler who had been scouted by the Ringling Brothers Barhum & Bailey Circus. Only a world-class juggler could manage his life these days: Popovitch's act includes 14 cats and 10 dogs, trained to perform with him, that he takes on tour in a special custom trailer when they are not at home in Las Vegas.

How long has he been doing this? "All my life," says Popovitch. "I was born in a circus family. My mom and Dad worked in the circus. For me it was normal, this style of working with the pets."

14 October, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with Cindy Lee]

 

 

Popovich_2 Telluride is known for many fine things: gnarly ski terrain, a robust cultural economy – and the fact we are a pet paradise. Raise your hand if you are a local who weeps at the thought of an animal in need. That's most of us, right? (Ok, except the guy at the east end of town who messed with the poop.)

On Sunday, October 17, 2010, 4 p.m. Telluride's Michael D. Palm Theatre presents the Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre, featuring Gregory Popovitch and his 16 cats and 10 dogs, all rescues from animal shelters. The event sponsor is Cindy Lee's Wags & Menace Foundation, also a big-time supporter of Second Chance Humane Society. Second Chance plans to bring a cast of thousands from its Ridgway shelter to the show in the hopes of finding some of them loving homes. Popovitch could be the show that keeps on giving.

10 October, 2010 /

by Tracy Shaffer

As the leaves turn in the high country, Denverites turn out in style. Theatres open their season, ball fields close up shop and a flurry of arty events fills the calendar.

There's a not-to-be-missed show at the Denver Center Theatre  as four actors glide through more than fifty characters as fluidly as a flip-book. The 39 Steps is a Hitchcock spoof extraordinaire led by DCTC staple, Sam Gregory as our Everyman caught in a high-stakes international crime caper. Mr. Gregory is always good, but watching him in this film noir frolic opens up the throttle of his comic talent, while Victoria Mack makes an impressive Denver debut as the vixen, victim and vamp. It is by far, the boffo ballet of Rob Nagle and Larry Paulsen that brings this roller-coaster to its vaudevillian knees. My jaw was on my chest in simultaneous awe and laughter. Director, Art Manke, takes the play out of the script's British music hall setting and brilliantly lands it smack in the middle of a black & white movie reel: fast and suspenseful, like Cary Grant running from a crop duster. The result is perfection. Also at the Center, the Caridad Svich adaptation of Isabele Allende's gripping novel, "The House of Spirits", starring the amazing Franca Sofia Barchiesi in the role of Clara, and Thursday's opening of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Three medium adapted for stage... spooky.

09 October, 2010 /
Sunday flag I’ve been a fan of the Telluride Blues & Brews Festivals for years. I’ve actually watched the event morph from a few tasting tents on Colorado Avenue to a full-blown, internationally renowned music festival with some of the best musicians on the planet, fabulous microbrews and a venue that simply blows the socks off most other blues festivals - outside of New Orleans, that is. And the 2010 TB&BF was no exception. It was, in fact, one of the best ever.

  Graced with magnificent, cerulean blue skies, mountainsides of glowing, golden aspen and temperatures in the 80’s, the stage was set for a weekend of stellar performance, outrageous weather and ecstatic experience.  Thursday evening opened the festivities with a free sunset concert at the Mountain Village Plaza featuring the Gold Kings – a talented local band of “brothers” – followed by on-the-rise British blues guitarist Matt Schofield – wow!

23 September, 2010 /

It’s Saturday at Blues & Brews. Thursday was a cool jumpstart and Friday was awesome – honestly some of the best blues guitar playing I’ve ever heard. From smooth opener Matt Schofield to "bad boy" George Thorogood’s  closing act – and I can’t forget Dana...

19 September, 2010 /

Having the great good fortune to be asked by TIO CEOs Susan and Clint Viebrock to cover this year’s Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, I decided to start with the kickoff event on Thursday – a Sunset Blues Concert at the Mountain Village Plaza,...

17 September, 2010 /
[click "Play" to hear Susan's conversation with George Thorogood]

3520 Steve Gumble's 17th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival takes place September 17 – September 19 on the Main Stage in Town Park.

So what do you picture when you hear the word "blues?"

Do you imagine a slump-shouldered vagabond scuffling down a dusty Delta road? Or perhaps someone up there on stage with his band in a smokey Chicago club shouting over the noise of the crowd until the crowd stops making noise and listens? Do you imagine the hard-rocking sound, Chicago-style blues sound of George Thorogood and the Destroyers?

17 September, 2010 /


Happy birthday and long live the King. Riley B. King – B.B. to his friends – turns 85 on September 16, just two days before he closes out the 17th annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in high style.

King's expressive signature style of fluid string bending and elegant vibrato has influenced every electric blues guitarist  and singer who followed in his long shadow. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is ranked #3 on Rolling Stone's list of the " 100 greatest guitarists of all time." (Behind Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman.)
16 September, 2010 /