Bad Books at Curious Theatre Company

Curious Theatre Company and Local Theater Company Unite for the Electrifying Bad Books — A National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere

DENVER/BOULDER, CO — Colorado theatre audiences are in for a provocative, laugh-out-loud, heart-gripping experience this winter as two of the state’s most dynamic companies—Curious Theatre Company and Local Theater Company—team up for the first time to present Bad Books by Sharyn Rothstein, a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Performances run January 10 – February 1, 2026, at Curious Theatre Company (1080 Acoma St, Denver) and February 5 – 14, 2026, at Dairy Arts Center (2590 Walnut St, Boulder).

About the Play

Bad Books is as sharp as it is humane—a brilliant, bitingly funny exploration of book bans, parental rights, and the battles over who decides which stories are told. 

The quietest place in America, the local public library, becomes a battleground when a concerned mother goes head-to-head with a principled librarian over a book she deems inappropriate.

Directed by Nick Chase, this gripping two-hander stars Jada Suzanne Dixon and Lauren Dennis, who bring Rothstein’s sharp dialogue and emotional nuance to life with a gripping blend of wit, compassion, and courage.

A Collaboration Across Communities

For both Curious and Local, Bad Books is more than a new play—it’s a regional collaboration built on shared values. “We’re thrilled to bring this powerful story to Denver and Boulder audiences together,” said Jada Suzanne Dixon, Producing Artistic Director at Curious Theatre Company. “These characters remind us that even when we disagree, we can find understanding. They’re not villains—they’re human, with different approaches to common concerns.”

Local Theater Company Artistic Director and show Director Nick Chase added, “The quietest place in America--the local public library--becomes a battleground when a concerned mother goes head-to-head with a principled librarian over a book she deems inappropriate.”

Bad Books will be produced at Curious Theatre Company and Local Theater Company as part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Other Partner Theaters are Florida Studio Theatre (Sarasota, FL), Round House Theatre (Bethesda, MD), and Williamston Theatre (Williamston, MI), with additional support from The David Goldman Fund for New American Plays. For more information, please visit nnpn.org.

Performance Schedule

• Curious Theatre Company
  1080 Acoma Street, Denver, CO 80204
  January 10 – February 1, 2026
  www.curioustheatre.org
   

• Local Theater Company (at Dairy Arts Center)
  2590 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302
  February 5 – 14, 2026
  www.localtheaterco.org
   

Together, these runs invite Colorado audiences to experience Bad Books in both the heart of Denver’s arts district and Boulder’s vibrant creative community.

About Curious Theatre Company

Founded in 1997, Curious Theatre Company produces thought-provoking contemporary plays that ignite conversation and challenge audiences to think deeply about the world around them. Based in Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District, Curious has built a reputation as one of Colorado’s most daring and socially engaged theatre companies.
www.curioustheatre.org

About Local Theater Company

Local Theater Company, based in Boulder, is dedicated to discovering, developing, and producing new American plays that spark meaningful dialogue. Through its mainstage productions and development labs, Local champions fresh voices and fosters connection between artists and audiences.
www.localtheaterco.org