Article by Marcia Darnell
Theatre – June 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
THERE’S A LOT OF VARIETY in Creede Repertory Theatre’s 43rd season — drama, comedy, and a musical that will involve every member of the company.
That production, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” will open the summer season on June 6. It’s based on the last book by Charles Dickens, who died before he finished it. Set in an English music hall at the turn of the 20th century, the mystery musical requires audience participation to determine the ending. “The Mystery” will be directed by Frank Kuhn and star John Arp, who won the Denver Post award for best actor last year.
“It’s our big musical,” says CRT Creative Director Maurice Lamee. “Everyone in the company will be in it.”
Next up is “Fools,” by Neil Simon, America’s most popular playwright. It involves a village cursed with stupidity and a new schoolteacher who tries to break the curse.
“It’s based on a Yiddish folktale,” says LaMee. “I actually laughed out loud when I first read it.” The play will be directed by Nagle Jackson, a heavyweight in the world of theater. A prolific playwright, he was director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater for 10 years, and one of the early members of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
“Quilters” will open on June 27, and star CRT veterans Christie Brandt, Trary Maddalone, and Diana Dresser.
“Lots of familiar faces,” says LaMee. “It’s all strong women.”
The play, previously staged by CRT in the early ’90s, portrays every stage of pioneer women’s lives through quilting. It will be complemented by a quilt show in September, and the theater will auction quilts throughout the season.
The Spanish classic, “Life is a Dream,” will take to the stage in late July. Written in 1635, it’s the story of a king who chains his son to a rock in a cave because he believes the boy is destined to destroy the kingdom. He relents, and his son finds himself transported from a cave to a castle, trying to overcome his destiny.
“It’s a treatise on free will versus fate,” says LaMee. “It’s beautifully constructed.”
Next on the schedule is “Billy Hell,” the sequel to 2005’s “Slabtown.” The lead character falls in love with an ex-prostitute and the two journey to Mexico.
“It’s exciting and has a lot of music,” says LaMee, “and an interesting design challenge — how to have the characters riding on horseback through the desert on stage.”
“Billy Hell” will run in September.
Kids will have a range of entertainment this summer at CRT. “Meet the Beasts” will recreate the fables of Aesop and La Fontaine through song, dance, and comedy. “Grimm’s Pajamas” will tour throughout the region this fall, and CRT is once again offering a children’s theater workshop.
Kids will work to design and stage “Scruff Turbo and the Children of the Future,” a science fiction adventure. “It’s about saving the Earth,” says LaMee, “in ways you wouldn’t expect.”
The CRT company will also offer an improv show on Friday nights, and the theater will host a plethora of art shows and concerts throughout the season, including a bluegrass show, the Mitguards, Darrell Scott, Spring Creek, and Peter Rowan.
“The schedule is really jam-packed,” says LaMee. “We’re doing 13 or 14 weekly shows at the height of the season. There are only two dark nights scheduled in all of July and August.”
Now in his eighth season with Creede Rep, LaMee is enjoying success never before seen by the tiny theater. CRT won several critical awards in the last two years, and has begun attracting name actors and directors to the tiny town far from the big city. This season looks to be another prize winner.
Tickets to Creede Repertory Theatre are the same price as last year, and much cheaper in June and September. For a complete schedule and ticket information, go to www.creederep.org or call 719/658-2541.
Marcia Darnell lives and writes in the San Luis Valley.
