Holiday stories are about to overrun just about every theater stage in Denver, so you have to act now if you want to see an uncommonly compelling swath of intriguing dramas, comedies and musicals on stage before they close and make way for two months of predictable seasonal fare.
Here is a sampling (metro only):
• Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s “An Enemy of the People”: First, a tease. The one play I would most highly recommend is, unfortunately, fully sold out through its closing on Nov. 17. That’s how good it is.
This world-premiere adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen masterpiece centers on a doctor who discovers that the town’s bathhouse (its primary economic generator), is teeming with deadly bacteria. When the doc tries to declare a necessary public-health emergency, he is vilified by politicians, businessmen, journalists and the gullible, greedy citizenry who place their own self-interest above the value of human life. This infuriatingly relevant story is set in 1882 but anyone who doesn’t see its parallels to the 2024 U.S. presidential election is missing the point.
“You believe that people will make the right decision when presented with the facts,” we are told. “But now you know another truth: People will eagerly embrace lies. They will fall headlong in love with them – and the people who tell them.”
“Enemy” is, as advertised, “a slow-motion horror story of how fascist societies are born.” It has four remaining performances at the Savoy Denver (2700 Arapahoe St.) before moving to the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder.
A few seats for two recently added performances in Boulder might yet be made available to the public, but your best bet is to go to any scheduled performance at either venue to be wait-listed. There are always no-shows, and rarely are wait-listers ever turned away.
• Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s “The Ballot of Paola Aguilar”: BETC is also presenting an election-season comedy about “a major political party” (OK, the Democrats) that is trying to stop hemorrhaging the Hispanic vote. It’s Mexico-born playwright Bernardo Cubría’s way of poking fun at America’s obsession with identity politics. Oct. 17-Nov. 3 at the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, thedairy.org.
• The Catamounts’ “The Last Night of Red Barker”: Boulder’s most adventurous company tends to perform its stories as immersive experiences in site-specific locations. This one, written by Denver’s Jeffrey Neuman, explores one of the darker chapters in Colorado’s past. It imagines the last night in the life of Lloyd Barker of the infamous Ma Barker’s gang. (In real life, Red moved to Westminster in 1949.) The story plays out at Westminster Grange Hall, 3935 W. 73rd Ave., thecatamounts.org .
• Su Teatro's “Interview with a Mexican”: Denver's Chicano theater company has been chosen to perform its popular comedy – inspired by the Westword column penned by Gustavo Arellano – in the prestigious Encuentro 2024 National Theater Festival later this month in Los Angeles. To prepare, Su Teatro will present for four Denver performances on Oct. 12-13, and 18-19 at 721 Santa Fe. Drive. 303-296-0219 or suteatro.org .
• Denver Center Theatre Company's “I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”: This ambitious new stage adaptation based on the bestselling Erika L. Sánchez novel stumbles to the finish, but still, this refreshingly original story about a troubled teenage girl coping with the death of her impossibly, yes, perfect sister features a gorgeous performance by young Rosa Isabella Salvatierra. Through Nov. 3 in the Kilstrom Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org . (The DCTC's season also includes one essentially imported show, “Avaaz,” written and performed by Michael Shayan. In it, an Iranian shares her journey from Tehran to “Tehran-geles, California.” Through Nov. 17, Singleton Theatre, denvercenter.org .)
• Local Theater Company’s “Stockade”: Another ambitious world-premiere play; this one humanizes the plight of LGBTQ+ soldiers at the height of the Lavender Scare in 1952. Through Oct. 13 at the Dairy Arts Center, 720-379-4470 or localtheatercompany.org .
• Local Theater Company's " Raised on Ronstadt ”: Local is also bringing back its award-winning musical memoir written performed by GerRee Hinshaw for two nights only (Nov. 10 and 17) at eTown Hall in Boulder, localtheaterco.org .
• Buntport Theater’s “Eyes Up, Mouth Agape”: This unique company only presents original works of their own invention – always clever, usually comedies. This one is told through the lens of a fictional documentarian who is interviewing key players on the 20-year anniversary of “a strange pop culture event.” Nov. 1-23 at 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com
• Curious’ “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” is an all-out farce that hopes to make weary voters laugh a bit as the miserable, real-life election season plods on. Through Oct. 13 at 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org . Curious is also staging " Confederates " (Nov. 9-Dec. 8), parallel stories of two past and present Black American women.
• Phamaly’s two repertory comedies: Denver’s disability-affirmative theater company presents “Funny as a Crutch” (a sketch comedy about disability) and “The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls” (stories about the complicated relationship between Black women and the way society views their hair) through Oct. 20 at the People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., phamaly.org .
• Denver Center's “Gutenberg! The Musical!”: This is a musical spoof about two aspiring playwrights who want to mount a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg. Nov. 2-May 4 at the Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, denvercenter.org.
• Lone Tree Arts Center's “Million Dollar Quartet”: The legendary jam session that brought together Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley in 1956. Oct 17- 27 at 10075 Commons St., 720-509-1000 or lonetreeartscenter.org .
• Also, a few select others: Arvada Center’s “Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really” (through Nov. 3) at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org ... the Aurora Fox’s ”Around the World in 80 Days” (through Oct. 27) at 9900 E. Colfax Ave., 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org ... Town Hall Arts Center's “Cannibal: The Musical” runs Oct. 25-Nov. 3 but is fully sold out ... Vintage Theatre’s “Murder on the Orient Express” (through Oct. 20) and “Murderers” (Oct. 18-Nov. 17) at 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com ... Miners Alley Playhouse's "Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear" (through Nov. 10) at 1100 Miners Alley, Golden, minersalley.com ... Firehouse Theater Company's "The Girl on the Train" (through Nov. 3) at the John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, firehousetheatercompany.com ... Off-Center’s "Monopoly Lifesized," an immersive “4D” way to play the world’s most enduring board game. Oct. 22-Jan. 5 at 407 S. Broadway, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org ... Cherry Creek Theatre's “The Mountaintop” (Oct. 25-Nov. 17), Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-316-6360 or cherrycreektheatre.org ... Platte Valley Players’ “Cabaret” (through Oct. 19) at 300 Strong St., Brighton, 303-227-3053 or plattevalleyplayers.org ... The Wesley Players' “The Secret Garden” (through Oct. 13 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 8817 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch, wesleyplayers.org ... Parker Arts’ “Nunsense” (Oct. 25-Nov. 17) at Parker Arts Schoolhouse Theater, 19650 Mainstreet ... Wheat Ridge Theatre Company's “Mindgame” (Oct. 25-Nov. 10), 5455 W. 38th. Ave., 720-244-5204 or wheatridgetheatre.com .
• Plus, well, you know… “ Hamilton ” (Oct 16-Nov. 24).
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