Most theaters take a similar approach to their seasons – it’s a blend of musicals and stage plays that usually run for about a month each. But at Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center, they wanted to try something different.
Matthew Kepler, programming director, thought a wider audience could be reached by removing one of the six musical titles that make up their season and adding limited engagement productions that were more nuanced and intimate.
“I wanted the opportunity to produce titles that were powerful pieces of theatre, intrigued our current audience, appealed to audiences who didn’t view our typical offerings as interesting, and really spoke about the human condition, specifically through the lens of the arts and how the arts affect our humanity,” wrote Kepler in an email interview. “These productions aim to provoke deeper emotions, prompt critical thinking from alternate perspectives, and foster engagement with diverse communities that audience members may not typically encounter or understand.”
The latest entry in this series is “Red,” written by John Logan and directed by Kepler. It runs at the theater, 2450 Main St. in Littleton, from Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, May 5. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday and Saturday, May 4.
The show is about Latvian-American abstract painter Mark Rothko (Andrew Uhlenhopp) and his young, new assistant Ken (Josue Miranda). At the time of the show, Rothko is at the height of his powers but struggling with his latest commission – a series that will be showcased in New York’s brand-new Four Seasons restaurant.
“Throughout the narrative, Rothko and Ken engage in conversations about the essence of artistic creation and its connection to the human experience,” Kepler wrote. “Moreover, the play delves into generational tensions, exemplified by the decline of Rothko’s Abstract Expressionist movement in the face of the rising popularity of Ken’s generation’s Pop Art movement. Rothko and Ken deliberate on themes such as the commercialization of visual art and its impact on the artist’s spiritual expression.”
“Red” is the perfect show for the Town Hall’s limited engagement approach, because it tells the story of a massively important creative person and highlights the importance of art in daily life. Plus, it’s just a very well-told story.
“In this modern day of technological distractions, there really is something so pure and precious about having actors bear their soul in front of you. If you open yourself up to it, it truly is a moving experience,” Kepler explained. “I hope they engage intellectually with what they see and allow it to open a dialogue. You don’t have to be an artist to dig into these questions. Our interests and passions and hobbies are a part of our human expression and all play into the ideas that are confronted in the play.”
For information and tickets, visit https://townhallartscenter.org/.
Abigail Osborn brings intimate performance to Northglenn
There’s a reason music from the bedroom pop movement has become so popular in the last several years. There’s an intimacy and relatability to the sounds these artists create, especially when paired with the fact that they are composing and writing everything themselves (often in, you guessed it, their rooms). One such artist is Abigail Osborn, who was born and raised in the Denver area and now lives in Los Angeles.
Osborn will be performing at the In the Studio, 1 E. Memorial Parkway in Northglenn, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19. Get tickets at https://northglennarts.org/.
Walker Fine Art strips the creative process down
“Stripped,” the latest exhibition at the Walker Fine Art gallery, 300 W. 11th Ave., No. A, in Denver, explores the act of “reducing, distilling, tearing, removing and shredding,” as part of the creative process and what can be made because of these actions.
The show features the works of Theresa Clowes, Doug Haeussner, Lee Heekin, Sandra Klein, Morgan Robinson and Zelda Zinn, and will be on display through Saturday, May 11. The artists work in a variety of mediums, including photography, mixed media, collage and steel, and provide a stirring window into the power of transformation.
More information can be found at www.walkerfineart.com/stripped.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Bluebird Music Festival at Macky Auditorium
I’d be hard-pressed to think of a better way to welcome the warm seasons of the year than with the beautiful folk music you’ll find at the annual Bluebird Music Festival. This year’s festival features Gregory Alan Isakov, Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), Joy Oladokun, Langhorne Slim, Andy Shauf and many more.
This year’s Bluebird Music Festival runs on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, at Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St. in Boulder. The festival benefits the Future Arts Foundation, which aims to improve communities through arts, music and environmental programs.
Find all the details and tickets at www.bluebirdmusicfestival.org.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.