DCTC Set for MAMA HATED DIESELS, OTHELLO & MARIELA IN THE DESERT

The Denver Center Theatre Company completes the 2009/2010 season with Mama Hated Diesels - a Denver Center World Premiere musical by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman, an intimate setting of William Shakespeare's Othello and the winner of the National Latino Playwriting Award - Mariela in the Desert by Karen Zacarías.

A Denver Center World Premiere Musical
Mama Hated Diesels
by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman
with additional material by Charles Weldon
Directed by Randal Myler
Musical Direction by Dan Wheetman
March 19 - May 9, 2010 (Opening Thursday, March 25)
The Stage Theatre

Playwright and Director Randal Myler and Playwright and Musical Director Dan Wheetman (Fire on the Mountain, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, Appalachian Strings) create musicals that, in Wheetman's words, "part the curtain that stands between our perception of a group of people - coal miners, blues singers - and who they really are." Their Denver Center World Premiere musical Mama Hated Diesels gives the audience a poignant, humorous and exuberant look at the independence, hopes, fears and loneliness of the men and women who drive 18-wheelers across America.

With a song list that includes the music of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, the Stage Theatre is expected to reverberate like a truck stop or roadside diner on a crowded Saturday night. The trucker's story is further enhanced by the personal experiences of company actor Charles Weldon who took a three-year break from acting to drive a rig. A special scenic element of the production is projected original photographs by award-winning Colorado photographer James D. Steinberg who drove more than 8000 miles to complete this project.

The design team for Mama Hated Diesels includes Scenic Designer Vicki Smith (Eventide, Inana, Noises Off), Costume Designer Kevin Copenhaver (A Christmas Carol, Noises Off, Fire on the Mountain), Lighting Designer Don Darnutzer (Quilters, Richard III, Fire on the Mountain), Sound Designer Craig Breitenbach (Quilters, A Christmas Carol, Fire on the Mountain) and Projection Designer Charlie I. Miller (When Tang Met Laika).

The Acting Company includes Brad Bellamy (Picasso at the Lapin Agile), Kathleen M. Brady (Quilters, The Trip to Bountiful), Jan Leslie Harding (Denver Center Debut, Broadway's The Green Bird), Mike Hartman (Eventide, Glengarry GLen Ross), Jeanne Paulsen (The Voysey Inheritance, A Prayer for Owen Meany), Charles Weldon (Radio Golf, Gem of the Ocean) and Augustus Lane Filholm (Eventide, A Christmas Carol). Joining the cast are nationally-known singers and musicians, all making their Denver Center debuts - vocalist Rhonda Coullet (Broadway's The Robber Bridegroom, Pump Boys and Dinettes), vocalist/guitar musician Jason Edwards (Broadway's Ring of Fire), bass and keyboard musician David P. Jackson, electric guitar and keyboard musician David Miles Keenan, and drummer James Cruce.

Othello
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Kent Thompson
March 26 - May 1, 2010 (Opening Thursday, April 1)
The Space Theatre

Director Kent Thompson has often wondered why Shakespeare's play Othello is often produced as if it were Verdi's opera Otello, with expansive sets and countless extras. He envisions a more intimate and interpersonal production with an emphasis on the relationships of the characters. Therefore as Artistic Director of the company, he chose to stage his Othello in the intimacy of the in-the-round Space Theatre.

Set in Venice and Cypress at the turn of the last century, Thompson's Othello will explore what makes Shakespeare's classic a tragedy - an interracial romance, irrational jealousy, betrayal, psychological manipulation and revenge.

The Denver Center Theatre Company production of Othello has received a grant from Shakespeare in American Communities initiative, Shakespeare for a New Generation targeting middle and high school students, introducing more than 750 young people to the power of live theater and the masterpieces of William Shakespeare.

Scenic design for Othello is by Lisa M. Orzolek (Well, The Voysey Inheritance, The Trip to Bountiful), costume design is by Bill Black (The Voysey Inheritance, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Dusty and the Big Bad World), lighting design is by Charles R. MacLeod (When Tang Met Laika, A Raisin in the Sun, Radio Golf), and sound design is by Jason Ducat (When Tang
Met Laika, Absurd Person Singular, The Voysey Inheritance). Original music was composed by Gregg Coffin (A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pride and Prejudice), the fight director is Geoffrey Kent (Eventide, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Richard III) and the dramaturg is Douglas Langworthy (When Tang Met Laika, The Voysey Inheritance, Quilters).

Leading the cast are Robert Jason Jackson (Richard III, King Lear) as Othello and John Hutton (Eventide, Absurd Person Singular) as Iago. The company includes Philip Pleasants (A Christmas Carol, The Voysey Inheritance) as Brabantio, Harry Carnahan (Denver Center Debut, Broadway's An Inspector Calls) as Cassio, David Ivers (Eventide, A Prayer for Owen Meany) as Roderigo, Randy Moore (When Tang Met Laika, The Voysey Inheritance) as the Duke of Venice, Meghan Wolf (Denver Center Debut, GeVa Theatre Center, The Guthrie Theater) as Desdemona, Kathleen McCall (Absurd Person Singular, A Prayer for Owen Meany) as Emilia, Allison Pistorius (Denver Center Debut) as Bianca, Stephen Weitz (Richard III, King Lear) as Lodovico, and John Arp (Denver Center Debut, Creede Repertory, Curious Theatre) as Gratiano. National Theatre Conservatory actors Chad Callaghan, Tom Coiner, John DiAntonio, Lincoln Thompson and Caitlin Wise make their Denver Center debuts completing the cast.

Winner of the National Latino Playwriting Award
Mariela in the Desert
by Karen Zacarías
Directed by Bruce K. Sevy
April 2 - May 15, 2010 (Opening Thursday, April 8)

The Ricketson Theatre

 

 

Karen Zacarías won the National Latino Playwriting Award for her play Mariela in the Desert - the passionate, emotional journey of a young painter returning home to the Mexican desert to reconcile with her dying artist father. Although the richness and diversity of Mexico is evident in her play, she says her play "is not about being Mexican, it's about being a family...it's a mystery about what happens to a family when creativity dies."

 

Director Bruce K. Sevy (The Voysey Inheritance, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Doubt) has assembled a creative team and company of actors to bring the vast Mexican desert and this singularly creative family to life. Original music was composed for Mariela in the Desert by Gregg Coffin (The Merry Wives of Windsor, Pride and Prejudice). The scenic designer is Vicki Smith (Eventide, Inana, Doubt), costume design is by Clint Ramos (Denver Center Debut, Lincoln Center, Oregon Shakespeare Festival), lighting design is by Don Darnutzer (Quilters, Richard III, A Christmas Carol), and sound design is by William Burns (Denver Center debut, Curious Theatre Company, Boulder Ensemble Theatre).

Making their Denver Center Debuts in the cast are Yetta Gottesman (Seattle Repertory, Hartford Stage) as Mariela, Geno Silva (The Goodman, Dallas Theatre Center) as Jose, Franca Barchiesi (Yale Repertory, Woolly Mammoth) as Oliva, Vivia Font (The Old Globe, Princeton Repertory) as Blanca, and Jean-Pierre Serret (Haverhill Theater Center) as Carlos. They are joined by company member Sam Gregory (The Voysey Inheritance, Doubt) as Adam.

Tickets and Subscriptions

Tickets start at $18 (some restrictions may apply) and are on sale now. The Denver Center Box Office located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone call (303) 893-4100 - for those outside the Denver calling area, 1 (800) 641-1222, TTY (303) 893-9582. Buy and print tickets on-line by visiting www.denvercenter.org.

Student $10 rush ticket are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability.

Senior and military rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability.

Groups of 10+ contact 303.446.4829 or groupsales@dcpa.org

No children under six will be admitted to any theatre.

Performance Schedule

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances at 6:30pm
Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7:30pm
Saturday matinees at 1:30pm

Mama Hated Diesels April 25 - May 9
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances at 6:30pm
Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening performances at 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30pm

Perspective on the Play
Complimentary pre-show discussion.

Mama Hated Diesels Friday, March 19 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre

Othello Friday, March 26 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre

Mariela in the Desert Friday, April 2 at 6:00pm, The Jones Theatre

Accessibility
The Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Cordless headsets are available for patrons with hearing impairments at Patron Services.

Audio-described and ASL Interpreted Performances
Mama Hated Diesels, Saturday, May 1 at 1:30pm
Othello, Saturday, April 17 at 1:30pm
Mariela in the Desert, Saturday, April 24 at 1:30pm