The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
November 24 - December 24, 2018

The Nutcracker has become an annual tradition for many families in the Denver area. The Colorado Ballet production sells out year after year. For good reason.

Colorado Ballet again managed to balance the traditional elegance of their performances with a few changes just to make things interesting. The comedic touches were enjoyable. The Mouse King's death varies from year to year, but it managed to be funny as well. Mother Ginger had her usual homage to modern dances which always entertain. Some the the background action was quite enjoyable - even though most audiences missed it.

The costumes were stunning, as usual. The traditional garments of the sweets and flowers were a beautiful accompaniment to a new Sugar Plum Fairy ensemble.

The Colorado Ballet production is a prime example of why audiences return year after year. The charm never gets old for the beautiful music and dancing. The attention to detail brings the magic to life whether you'e seen it every year or if this was the first time.

A Colorado Christmas

A Colorado Christmas
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
December 14-16, 2018

A Colorado Christmas is a holiday tradition at the Colorado Symphony. It’s a concert with a sampling of music that will satisfy every taste. Even though it is an annual event, the lineup of songs changed significantly from last year.

This year’s selections were less familiar than previous years. They included “Ceremony of Carols,” “Hodie Christmas” and “A Christmas Festival.”

Soloist Devin DeSantis led the audience in a sing along of more famous songs and performed the essential selections by Irving Berlin. And right before intermission was “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” performed by the Colorado Children’s Choral joined by Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Always a favorite were the selections from Too Hot to Handel. The Hallelujah Chorus created a joyful moment in the show. And it wouldn’t be complete without “Sleigh Ride” where the audience actually got to see all the musical special effects.

As always, A Colorado Christmas provided the musical backdrop for the holiday season. It was a wonderful way for families to celebrate and expose their children to classical music.

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood
Boulder Opera
Nomad Playhouse
Boulder Colorado
December 8-9, 2018

Every December, Boulder Opera presents a short opera designed for young audiences. It is a wonderful opportunity to expose young children to opera without losing their attention. This year’s performance was Little Red Riding Hood.

Before the show was a short introduction to opera terms, including a lesson in Bravo, Brava and Bravi. It set the stage for a first opera experience.

The set of the show was wildly creative. The entire stage was covered with artificial grass with flowers near the edge. A small house was nestled in one corner.

Little Red was pretty and exuberant. She easily engaged the audience. The Wolf, on the other hand, was charming and obviously up to no good. His baritone was deliciously dark in tone. A group of children played the woodsmen. Some were more talented than others, but they played their roles well.

Midway through the show was another instruction session. That took away from the momentum of the show. Especially considering there was a question and answer session afterwards as well.

The intimate Nomad Playhouse was an ideal place for this show. The only issue was at the end during he cast meet and greet in the tiny lobby. But the performers stayed around until every child had a chance to speak with their favorite character.

Aloha

Aloha
Bitsy Stage
Denver, CO
October 12 – November 18, 2018

The Bitsy Stage has made itself known for taking world fables and bringing them to life for audiences. Aloha, a collection of Polynesian tales featuring the demi-god Maui, was well timed after the success of Disney’s Moana last year.

As always, the space was transformed to fit the location. The set was particularly ingenious – a three sided island in the middle what easily rolled to reveal a new tropical location.

Maui was played by a talented actress. She cleverly never played the role as male or female – merely a person. This took away any thought about gender throughout the performance. The rest of the cast quickly changed characters and costumes for each scene. Their versatility was impressive.

Short Polynesian dances and songs were inserted between scenes giving it the feel of a luau. Set changes were quick and the limited props were used to their advantage. A boat with the actors’ legs clearly visible was used for the full comic effect.

Aloha was an enjoyable show that appealed to all the ages present. Once again, the Bitsy Stage has created a fun lesson about culture.

Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland
National Tour
Lincoln Center
Fort Collins, CO 
November 8-10, 2018

The film Finding Neverland was a critical and commercial success. Since the trend on Broadway today is to make musicals from movies, it was no surprise this also became a musical.

The story followed author JM Barrie as he created the play Peter Pan. The treat for audiences was spotting the everyday events which created the characters and events of this well-loved story.

JM was a likeable character in a miserable existence. The situation was a cliché one – married to a woman who doesn’t even try to understand him. One wonders how these two people could have ever gotten together. His character was a bit on the bland side while his wife was materialistic and critical.
The chance in the story came when Sylvia entered with her four sons. Sylvia was a bit on the quirky side, but not enough to be believable. Her boys were mostly personality traits, not fully fleshed out characters.

The music was enjoyable if not memorable. The greatest musical moment came just before intermission when JM sang “Stronger” inspired by Captain Hook.

The story was another cliché – Sylvia was a woman who was so emotionally strong and yet physically weak. And though the audience could easily see her fate coming her death was ultimately magical.

While there is nothing new or spectacular about Finding Neverland, it was an enjoyable show to watch.

La Traviata

La Traviata
Opera Colorado
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
November 3, 2018

La Traviata is timeless love story, the epitome of opera. It's no wonder that Opera Colorado sold out opening night of the production.

The show started with a bang at a dinner party hosted by Violetta. The beauty of the music and the setting were on full display. The set for the show was open and versatile. It contained a large window with a diagonal staircase and a doorway on the other side. But what the set dressers did with that blank canvas was stunning. The opening scene created a lavish dining room for Violetta’s home, Act Two was a luxurious country house and the finale took place in Violetta’s bedroom which at one time would have been stunning, but instead carried the pall of sickness and struggle.

Violetta was beautiful, charming and talented. Her voice performed the Verde music as it was meant to be heard. Alfredo’s voice was also a perfect vessel for the music. Unfortunately he did not have the same magnetism as his costar.

The costumes were equally magnificent. Violetta’s opening costume was a majestic red gown. She couldn’t help but be the center of attention in that dress. The rest of the cast were glamourous but they were clearly the court of the stunning Violetta.

Opera Colorado’s production of La Traviata was everything opera should be: beautiful music in a gorgeous setting with larger than life characters and a tragic end.

Love Never Dies

Love Never Dies
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
October 23-28, 2018

As a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies has a lot to live up to. This show has had a rocky road to its first US tour with too many revisions to keep up with.

The show begins with the assumption that every audience member has seen Phantom and knows it well.  The Prologue let the audience know he was still pining for Christine but gave no other expository information.

The character of the Phantom didn't seem to have changed much in the ten years since the end of The Phantom of the Opera. Raoul became a gambler and drunk while Christine's career blossomed. Most strange was the inclusion of Madame Giry and her daughter Meg. Both have seemed to forget their fear of the Phantom and gone into business with them. Madame Giry still commanded the dancers but somehow acquired a greedy sense of business while Meg has a strong desire to be Christine.


The storyline also took liberties with the original script. Suddenly the Phantom's psychotic need to control Christine has transformed into a love affair.

The script by itself was uncomfortable. While Raoul and the Phantom were still fighting over Christine, they made an agreement that her decision to sing a song would determine who would be with her - taking Christine's future completely out of her hands.

The music, unfortunately, was not as memorable as the original. The title track "Love Never Dies" was beautiful and climatic "The Beauty Within" and "Beneath a Moonless Sky" were nice to listen to at the time but most of the rest of the songs just served to move the story along.

The sets and costumes for the show did not disappoint. During the circus scenes the backdrop lit up like a carnival and the smooth transitions to the Phantom's Lair and Christine's dressing room were exactly what Phantom fans would expect. The use of mirrors for the Phantoms entrances were expected and yet they still managed to surprise.

Christine's costumes were enchanting, especially for the show's title song. However, they did undermine her situation of being short of money. The circus like costumes of the ensemble were colorful and fun but they directly contrasted the creepy music behind them.

When comparing Love Never Dies to its predecessor, it won't even come close. But taken on it's own, it is an enjoyable night at the theater.

The Sleeping Beauty

The Sleeping Beauty
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
October 5-14, 2018

The Sleeping Beauty is a classic ballet. While it doesn't bear much similarity to the Disney film, there is plenty in the show for young audiences.

The sets for the performances were just what audiences want to see - including ornate palace rooms and dark forests. The costumes were glamorous. While most of the cast were dressed realistically, Princess Aurora wore a fancy tutu throughout. While this is the classic way of costuming her, it seemed odd.

The role of Princess Aurora was danced by a young dancer who seemed to lack the skills needed on some of the more difficult combinations. The fairies did not disappoint with their performances. The fairy tale characters in Act Three stole the show.

Fans of the film will undoubtedly recognize some of the music. The Tchaikovsky score was worth the price of admission on it's own.

The Sleeping Beauty proved it is timeless and the production at the Colorado Ballet did not disappoint.

Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration

Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration
Colorado Symphony
Boettcher Concert Hall
Denver, CO
October 6, 2018

The music of Rogers and Hammerstein seems timeless and a concert at the Colorado Symphony seemed a natural fit. The addition of three talented soloists brought the show to life.

The song selection included their most famous songs including some pieces they wrote before becoming a team. The show began with songs from Rogers and Hart and Show Boat. The rendition of "Ol' Man River" was stunning in it's depth and beauty.

The Rogers and Hammerstein portion was crammed with classics - most from South Pacific and The Sound of Music - arguably their most popular scores. However, every work from this famous team was represented by at least one song. Each one was performed flawlessly.

The glamour of the evening was heightened by the soprano's constant change of evening gowns.

It was surprising the at the standard "You'll Never Walk Alone" was not included on the program list. It was a much appreciated encore song. And it was worth waiting for - the performance brought the audience to their feet.

While generations of audiences may be familiar with this music, few will ever hear them presented with a full symphony orchestra, which is a shame because the results were spectacular.

Beautiful

Beautiful
National Tour
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
September 4 - 9, 2018

To be fair, Beautiful was more about the creation of Carole King's immortal Tapestry album than a biography. But that is not a detriment to the show. The meaning behind each song only adds another dimension to the album. Fans will never hear it the same way again - in a good way.

Carole was only sixteen when the action begins. The audience warmed to her instantly. Very quickly her songwriting career launched and her writing partner Gerry Geffen entered the picture. After this quick exposition, the story slows down in order to set up Carole's place in music history.

The plot was perfectly set up with the introduction of fellow composers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. The friendly competition made the accomplishments of each team even more impressive.

The strength of the music was on full display when characters talked about a new song and when it was revealed to the audience it was an instantly recognizable classic. The recreation of these songs as they would have been originally performed was electric.

The character development moved smoothly alongside the historic music. Each character evolved into real situations audience members could relate to.

The performances were stunning throughout. Carole matured before our eyes as Gerry fell apart. The ensemble easily transitioned from sixties icons to office workers.

The set appeared simple, but it adapted from songwriting warehouse to television stages. The more intimate scenes were played in front of the curtain with ease. The costumes helped to set each scene in time.

The effects of seeing Beautiful will likely last longer than many theatrical experiences. It is a reminder the songs that tell the stories of our lives first were lived by those that wrote them.

On Your Feet

On Your Feet
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
August 8 - 19, 2018

Anyone listening to music in the 1980's has to recognize the music of Gloria Estefan. On Your Feet took this memorable soundtrack and used it to tell the deeper story behind that music.

The focus of the story was on family. While both Gloria and Emilio were immigrants from Cuba, they were shown as an American family. It wasn't until Emilio wanted to release a song in English that the issue of racial bias entered the story. When Emilio declared "This is what an American looks like!" the audience roared.

A major strength of the show was when the famous songs by Gloria Estefan were used in a personal context. It was a strong demonstration of how relatable their music was and still is. Act Two was less dynamic due to the heavier subject matter and the use of many unfamiliar songs to fill in gaps. But it all came to an emotional climax with the famous comeback song "Coming Out of the Dark."

Each character was well cast. Gloria was stunning and she did justice to each famous song. Emilio was handsome, charismatic and the glue that held the show together. Gloria's mother was also compelling, especially when she got into her backstory.

The set was simple was versatile. The show began with the musicians at stage center and they moved smoothly behind the play space. Their presence was a metaphor of the continual presence of music in the character's lives. The set changes were smooth and most were minimal but effective. The use of color and lights brought made the show feel more like a concert at times.

The costumes were an excellent interpretation of each character and it was fun to see them evolve into spectacular performance outfits. Gloria commented on Emilio's bad shorts in the beginning - and they were memorably bad!

Lovers of the music of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine aren't the only ones who will enjoy this show. The inspirational true story should appeal to everyone.

The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute
Central City Opera
Central City, CO
July 7 - August 5, 2018

The Magic Flute is one of Mozart's seemingly timeless operas. It is usually presented as a grand fantasy, however Central City Opera put their own spin on this production.

The performance was set in the early 1900's in the imagination of three boys whose imaginations created a blend of fantasy and their reality. At times it worked but in some moments it was a bit odd.

The show seemed to be slow to start as the ladies of the Queen of the Night were the governesses of the boys. While it was a clever twist, it lacked the fantasy element and revealed the character of the Queen of the Night earlier than it should have.

The appearance of the Queen through a picture was clever. She was every bit the glamorous apparition the audience wanted. Sorastro was equally impressive - appearing as a ringmaster of an antique circus. While that concept was an interesting one, it seemed strange to have ancient Egyptians mixed in at his temple was puzzling.

Pamina and Tamino were the typical hero and heroine. Papageno was a bit more original as an Aussie on an ostrich. But that initial gag did seem to get old after a while.

The performance I was was the young artists and this was a very strong group. Sorastro had a few snags in the opera, but the rest connected beautifully with the more experienced ensemble.

The show was enjoyable, if not spectacular. It was a creative interpretation of the show and fun to watch. But it lacked the wow factor of previous shows at Central City Opera.

Les Miserables

Les Miserables
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
July 25 - August 5, 2018

Musicals don't get any more epic than Les Miserables. After more than 30 years, this show still has an audience in London, Broadway and on tour.  The story of the redemption of Jean Valjean has not lost its impact on people.

In 2010, the show was restaged, removing the revolving stage and creating more realistic backdrops. The result was a more intimate and darker show. Some moments, such as "One Day More," were left virtually the same and for good reason, the staging was spectacular.


The actor playing Jean Valjean was difficult to understand in the opening scenes of the show. For a through-sung musical, that's a problem. However, he got better as the show progressed, receiving an extended ovation for a stunning rendition of "Bring Him Home."

The performance of Javert was strong throughout. His character was strong an militant. His motivation was clearly shown in "Stars." Fantine was beautiful and vulnerable and Eponine was as tragic as ever. Marius and Cosette created a moving love story in the midst of tragedy.

Despite being over 30 years old, Les Miserables is not showing it's age. The story and music is still as powerful and human as they were on it's opening night in 1987.

Irish Tales Along the Trail

Irish Tales Along the Trail

Arts in the Open
Chautauqua State Park
Boulder, CO
July 7 - August 5, 2018

Irish Tales Along the Trail seems an appropriate title for a play performed on a hike. This production presented four fun stories from Ireland in scenic Chautauqua Park. While the stories were not familiar to most audiences, they were easy to follow and well told.

The cast all used Irish accents throughout. They were consistent and not at all grating. They easily switched for character to character - often in the same scene. And when an actor played more than one character in the same scene, it was easily distinguishable.

This show did not attempt much scenery other than the framework of the park. But the sets and costume pieces were enough to create each location.

Irish Tales brought audiences what they have come to expect from Arts in the Open - outrageous characters, just enough costumes to create the characters and funny stories.

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon
National Tour
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
June 13 - July 1, 2018

The musical The Book of Mormon took Broadway by storm in 2011. In that time, the appeal of this satirical show has not died down. Even on its third trip to Denver the tickets sold quickly.

The show started quickly with “Hello,” showing a group of young men training to go door to door. From there the story took off running. The songs were full of energy and the choreography added to the humor.

The main characters of Elder Price and Elder Cunningham were fun to watch. They had good chemistry between them. Nabulungi was charming but when she sang it was difficult to understand the words. On a song like “Sal Tlay Ka Siti" it was unfortunate because much of the humor was lost.

The brief bits from the actually Book of Mormon helped put the show in context. The “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream” served as a psychological analysis as well as a production number. Songs like "I Believe" and "Baptize Me" showed relatable sides of the characters.

The show was funny, often vulgar and never took anything seriously. It pushed the limits of good taste and the comfort level of the audience. The result was a hilarious presentation that somehow managed to show the human side of all the characters involved.

The Commedia of Robin Hood

The Commedia of Robin Hood

Arts in the Open
Chautauqua State Park
Boulder, CO
June 2 - July 1, 2018

Robin Hood seems like a natural fit for a theatre hike from Arts in the Open. The natural setting at Chautauqua State Park can easily stand in for Sherwood Forest.

The Commedia of Robin Hood was presented as a play within a play. The first scene introduced the audience to the actors - a pretentious Shakespearean, a young narcissist, an exasperated director. Once the parts were assigned, the action of the story began. Occasionally we would see the actor behind the character. It was impressive to see each actor playing two characters at once.

All the familiar characters were part of the show: Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, the Sheriff of Nottingham. The introduction of each one brought on tales that some audiences may not have been familiar with, but each was memorable.

The story contained plenty of action. The actors (aside from Robin Hood) switched from character to character to tell the story. At times the portrayal was quite silly, but it was all in good fun.

The limited props and simple costumes were brought alive by the talented cast and clever directing. The weather changed during the performance I attended and the actors persevered through it. Even a rainstorm couldn't stop the famous Robin Hood!

School of Rock

School of Rock
National Tour
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
May 29 - June 10, 2018

The movie School of Rock wasn’t the most obvious choice to become a musical, especially on written by superstar composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. But that is the journey this show took.

The show was exactly what audiences wanted. The music was not-too-heavy rock and roll. The story was fun and inspiring. The script was funny and the pace was quick and the characters were relatable.
The cast carried the show. It was often difficult to understand the lyrics when Dewey was singing, but his portrayal of the character was spot on. The children’s performances were also very enjoyable, particularly the know-it-all Summer. The announcement before the show that the children actually play the instruments during the performance only increased the appreciation of their performance
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The songs are not reminiscent of past Andrew Lloyd Webber scores. However, there are two soaring ballads that he is known for: “Where Did the Rock Go?” and “If Only You Would Listen.” Other songs like “You’re In the Band” and “Stick It to the Man” are very different than what we would expect.

The set for the show seemed simple. Most only took up a portion of the stage giving them an intimate feel. The technology used made each scene flow seamlessly into the next.

The show was a real crowd pleaser. It was the perfect show to introduce children to live theatre, especially teens and tweens.