Paige Price of Theatre Aspen visits the Con Man to tell about the premier of "Crimes of the Heart" under the tent in Rio Grande Part, and to say what she learned in her first year as artistic director. Then Barry Schochet weighs in on what he sees as the sanguine effects of the Iraq war.
Click here for the complete "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Thursday July 24, 2008.
Add comment July 24th, 2008
In the interests of full disclosure I first have to say Theatre Aspen is a sponsor of my "Con Games" radio show and so I am predisposed to like what I see. But I should also point out that no one bemoaned the loss of former artistic director David McClendon any more than me--he was both a friend also a person who I believe lifted the company out of the primordial ooze. Loving Theatre Aspen without my good friend around has been a monumental task: this town has not been the same for me since he left.
With disclosure in the books and off my chest, I can also say--based on performances of "Little Shop of Horrors" and the premier of "Rounding Third" Thursday night under the tent in Rio Grande Park--that Theatre Aspen is on the way to something special under artistic director Paige Price in the continuing evolution of what used to be an off-the-beaten-track venue for community theatre in the valley.
Continue Reading Add comment July 10th, 2008
The Con Man welcomes legendary sitcom director Jay Sandrich to talk about his stage directorial debut at Theatre Aspen, and also talks with Kevin Stapleton, one of the leads. In the second hour, he re-plays an interview about the strange powers of the mind with Sandra Blakeslee of The New York Times, then chats with some Aspen Youth Experience graduates and executive director David Wiedinmyer.
Click here for the complete "Con Games with Michael Conniff" for Wednesday July 9, 2008.
Add comment July 9th, 2008
“A few years after working with Kent Reed in Aspen in the Theater Under the Jerome, I did Speed-The-Plow on Broadway and at the Kennedy Center. “SPEED-THE-PLOW is a perfect play for our valley; it's smart, wickedly funny, and non-stop enjoyable. Aspen has a wonderful tradition of supporting the arts, and I encourage you to support to the Hudson Reed Ensemble”, says Felicity Huffman, who currently stars in Desperate Housewives, the popular television series.
Continue Reading Add comment June 2nd, 2008
Aspen Community Theatre is offering a free dance workshop hosted by Marisa Post, the director and choreographer for Aspen Community Theatre’s fall musical, Chicago. Synonymous with the show Chicago is the name of its brilliant director and choreographer Bob Fosse. Highly stylized, this dance class will explore the essential ingredients in the choreography of Fosse, including his dance roots in vaudeville, burlesque and jazz. The workshop will include a film history of vaudeville and burlesque, a session on how to follow choreography, culminating in a dance class designed to pull it all together. This class is perfect for actors, singers and dancers of all experience levels.
Continue Reading Add comment May 18th, 2008
Wednesday, November 14th is Family Night for ACT’s fall production, “She Loves Me.” Treat your family, friends, and sweethearts to a wonderful night of music, comedy and dance. Reduced ticket prices for Family Night are $16 for adults and $12 for children (12 and under.) The show starts at 7 pm.
This romantic musical premiered on Broadway in 1963 with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harrick, the songwriting team behind "Fiddler on the Roof." The story centers on Georg and Amalia, two feuding shop workers who are unaware that they are romantic pen pals.
Performances will be held at the Wheeler Opera House November 14 – 17 at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at Aspen Show Tickets – 920-5770 – www.aspenshowtickets.com
Add comment November 13th, 2007
Okay, I admit it--I had to leave early and the second act awaits next week. I also write this not more than an hour after my first glimpse of "She Loves Me," the brand-new Aspen Community Theatre production that opened Thursday night at the Wheeler Opera House. But I can happily report that what awaits you at the Wheel House is an evening of almost unrelenting good cheer, with a joviality that reaches from the performers to the back of the house.
Continue Reading 1 comment November 8th, 2007
Local actors Bryan Gonzales and Jennetta Howell join Michael Conniff on KNFO’s Con Games Monday, November 5th to talk about ACT’s Fall Production of “She Loves Me.”
Bryan plays Kodaly, a dashing clerk who woos his lovely co-worker, Ilona (Jennetta) then does her wrong. Jack Cassidy won the Tony for best supporting actor in a musical in this role in 1964.
Add comment November 4th, 2007
Join Aspen Community Theatre for the Opening Night Party for “She Loves Me” at the Wheeler Opera House on November 8th. Meet & greet the cast and crew following the performance. Refreshments will be provided by our local restaurants.
Tickets are on sale for ACT’s fall production “She Loves Me.” This romantic musical premiered on Broadway in 1963 with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harrick, the songwriting team behind "Fiddler on the Roof." The story centers on Georg and Amalia, two feuding shop workers who are unaware that they are romantic pen pals.
Performances will be held at the Wheeler Opera House on November 8 – 10 and November 14 – 17 at 7 pm with a Sunday matinee on November 11 at 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased at Aspen Show Tickets – 920-5770 – www.aspenshowtickets.com
Add comment November 4th, 2007
I moved from Boulder to Vail and worked in a dinner theatre club for three years before I moved back to Denver. Then I came to 35th Anniversary of the Crystal Palace on July 12, 1992. In a simple conversation with Mead Metcalf, the owner, I said: “If you ever have an opening I’d come here.” This will be my sixteenth winter. I didn’t work the summers for the first two years. I would wait tables. After a few years, I had to work my way back in. I don’t think I would ever consider myself the most featured performer there, but the most satisfying thing for me was writing songs.
MC: Can you give us an example?
MM: “Viagra.”
Continue Reading Add comment October 23rd, 2007
