New film: Does it matter that ‘News Matters’?

  NEW LOCAL DOC DRAWS DIRECT LINE FROM MEDIA’S DEMISE TO CAPITOL SIEGE Brian Malone’s ‘News Matters’ addresses crisis of misinformation Tuesday and Thursday on Rocky Mountain PBS By John Moore Senior Arts Journalist Brian Malone‘s documentary “News Matters” is not so much a love letter to journalism as an elegy. It begins pretty much… Continue reading New film: Does it matter that ‘News Matters’?

Denver Actors Fund in Action, Glenn Grassi: $4,549

DAF has back of local Scenic Designer and set builder after double whammy About Glenn Grassi: Glenn is a Scenic Designer and set builder whose recent credits include designing the set for Emancipation Theatre’s “Honorable Discharge,” and working as a scenic painter on the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s “The Realistic Joneses.” He has been a… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action, Glenn Grassi: $4,549

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sheryl Renee

Sheryl Renee in Town Hall Arts Center's 'Sister Act.' Photo by Gary Duff.

Acclaimed performer gets her smile back from dentist Brian Kelly About Sheryl Renee: Actor, Vocalist, Producer and Entrepreneur Sheryl Renee has done it all on Colorado entertainment stages, but her stage work has included performances for (to mention but a few), the Lone Tree Arts Center, Town Hall Arts Center, Starkey Productions, Walden Family Playhouse,… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sheryl Renee

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Bernie Cardell

Only a brain aneurysm (and a pandemic) could slow down Bernie Cardell About Bernie Cardell: Over the past 20 years, True West Award-winning actor and director Bernie Cardell has been in all likelihood the single busiest person in Colorado theatre, having once booked 11 shows in one calendar year. He was directing a shortened run… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Bernie Cardell

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Kelcee Covert, $1,519

When Teaching Artist was burned, The Denver Actors Fund was there to salve her wounds About Kelcee Covert: Kelcee is an actor and Teaching Artist who has worked both for DCPA Education and as part of Kaiser Permanente’s educational theatre program. Since 2019, has been an actor, stage manager and teaching artist on KP’s traveling… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Kelcee Covert, $1,519

Denver Actors Fund in Action, Stewart Tucker Lundy: $2,309

Partnering Dentist Brian Kelly comes to the rescue again About Stewart Tucker Lundy: Stewart Tucker Lundy, an actor with a visible disability, played the only sitting U.S. president with a visible disability when he portrayed FDR in Phamaly Theatre Company’s 2017 production of “Annie.” A month later, he was elected onto the Board of Directors… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action, Stewart Tucker Lundy: $2,309

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sharon Kay White, $4,000

Denver Actors Fund helps veteran shoulder her surgical burden Aid recipient Sharon Kay White: The powerhouse native of Gilroy, Calif., has become one of the most familiar and funny faces on Colorado stages, with credits spanning Lake Dillon Theatre to the Arvada Center, where she has been featured in 19 productions. Highlights have included labor… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sharon Kay White, $4,000

Introducing the DAF’s new Kindness Fund

Denver Actors Fund announces The KINDNESS Fund: An immediate source of relief for Colorado theatre artists – with a call to service $65,000 seed money includes record donation from Bonnie Cashin Foundation APPLY TO THE NEW KINDNESS FUND HERE DONATE TO THE NEW KINDNESS FUND HERE The Denver Actors Fund today announced an innovative new… Continue reading Introducing the DAF’s new Kindness Fund

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Alicia Meyers

COVID took away her employment. Then came a breast-cancer diagnosis. Here’s how the community is supporting BDT Stage favorite Alicia K. Meyers. Aid recipient Alicia K. Meyers: Alicia has been an actor, director and choreographer at BDT Stage since 1995, winning a 2019 True West Ward as co-director and co-choreographer of “Beauty and the Beast”… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Alicia Meyers

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Robert Michael Sanders

COVID19 brought on the perfect dental storm: An infection, no money, no dental insurance and closed offices. Dr. Kelly to the rescue. Aid recipient: Actor, Producer and Director Robert Michael Sanders may be the best friend The Denver Actors Fund ever had. He’s given hundreds of volunteer hours producing and presenting fun, high-quality events on… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Robert Michael Sanders

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Denver Actors Fund makes affordable health care available to theatre artists

New collaboration will pair Maria Droste Counseling Center’s 60 independent practitioners with qualifying artists By John Moore The Denver Actors Fund today announced a major new collaboration to help Colorado theatre artists struggling with anxiety, depression and prolonged stress as the unprecedented COVID19 shutdown drags on. Beginning today, The DAF is working with the Maria… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund makes affordable health care available to theatre artists

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Dana Hart Wright

After a devastating miscarriage, a focus on healing Aid recipient: Evergreen actor Dana Hart Wright (formerly Lubeck) has performed throughout the metro area for years, most recently in Ovation West’s “Lend Me a Tenor”; a reading of Laurie Scalf Scoggins’ “Polished Pieces” for And Toto Too Theatre Company; and in Benchmark Theatre’s 2019 Fever Dream… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Dana Hart Wright

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Becca Greer

A baby, a pandemic and a frightening complication Aid recipient: Local actor, choreographer and Littleton native Becca Greer, a graduate of Heritage High School and Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota, moved back to Colorado five years ago and last appeared in Inspire Theater Company’s 2018 staging of “The Little Mermaid,” directed by Tanner Kelly.… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Becca Greer

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Peter Trinh

Actor runs out of medication, into expensive hospital stay Aid recipient: Peter Trinh is a longtime Denver-based actor, playwright and budding stand-up comedian who most recently appeared in Colorado Springs TheatreWorks’ “Around the World in Eighty Days” and The Catamounts’ “Everybody.” Before that, he was the Assistant Artistic Director for Theatre Esprit Asia, where he… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Peter Trinh

Survey: Most Denver theatregoers aren’t coming back anytime soon

Audiences, and artists, express deep concerns over going on with the show By John Moore Senior Arts Journalist The spirit is ready and willing, but when it comes to returning to our local theatre stages during an ongoing pandemic, the flesh is weak. Local theatre companies are all wondering when they will be allowed to… Continue reading Survey: Most Denver theatregoers aren’t coming back anytime soon

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Tim Fishbaugh

‘Even with insurance, the bills were overwhelming‘ Denver Actors Fund aid recipient: Longtime local actor Tim Fishbaugh recently played bossman Mr. Hammerschmidt in Benchmark Theatre’s “Parfumerie.” OnStage Colorado‘s Lane Ware called Fishbaugh the anchor of the production, “deftly moving from the autocratic businessman at the start to a bewildered and broken-hearted man emerging from his… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Tim Fishbaugh

Costume Designer Kevin Brainerd was epitome of class and panache

Kevin Brainerd designed costumes for 18 productions at Curious Theatre Company. Photo courtesy Markas Henry.

  Death at age 58 has theatre community’s heart on its linen sleeve By John Moore, Senior Arts Journalist The clothes may not make the man, but under his meticulous eye, Kevin Brainerd’s clothes made hundreds of fictional characters come to vivid life on stages from Broadway to Boulder. Brainerd, an acclaimed theatrical costume designer… Continue reading Costume Designer Kevin Brainerd was epitome of class and panache

Back to Africa: My 2002 review of ‘The Lion King’ in Denver

A journey to the heart of Julie Taymor’s imagination By John Moore Denver Post Theater Critic Originally published April 28, 2002 It turns out “The Lion King” doesn’t bring Broadway’s most highly sought national tour to Denver after all. Instead, it transports the people of Denver nearly 10,000 miles away to the magical splendor of… Continue reading Back to Africa: My 2002 review of ‘The Lion King’ in Denver

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Melissa Lucero McCarl

  ‘I am a part of a community that takes care of its own in a profound way’ Aid recipient: Melissa Lucero McCarl is a prominent Denver playwright, director and actor. She is perhaps best known for writing the Denver Post Ovation Award-winning “Painted Bread,” about the fractured life of Frida Kahlo; “Poignant Irritations,” about… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Melissa Lucero McCarl

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sean Cronan

Dr. Kelly comes to the aid of BDT Stage lighting designer Aid recipient: Sean Cronan of Lafayette (who also goes by Seann) recently served as the assistant lightning designer and light-board operator for BDT Stage’s production of “Mamma Mia.” Other credits include “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” He also lends his talents to BDT’s youth… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Sean Cronan

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Chris Casketta

‘My appearance and speech are as vital to my profession as my singing’ Aid recipient: Glenwood Springs actor and baritone Chris Cascketta appeared as the opera singer Rafael Bellini in “The Last Romance” for Thunder River Theatre Company in Carbondale. He is also Choir Director at Saint Barnabas Episcopal Church in Glenwood Springs. He is originally… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Chris Casketta

Denver Actors Fund in Action: Lindsay Fuller

For an actor who often plays princesses, a front tooth is an essential prop Aid recipient: Lindsay Fuller has appeared in many local productions including most recently as Cinderella in Town Hall Arts Center’s “Disenchanted” and in the Arvada Center’s children’s productions of “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “Ella Enchanted.” Other prominent roles in recent years… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Lindsay Fuller

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Denver Actors Fund in Action: Laura Jo Trexler

When Medicaid would not help a local actor with Medicaid, we did Aid recipient: Laura Jo Trexler, who grew up in Littleton and graduated from Heritage High School, last year performed her one-woman Shakespearean musical “Play On! A Musical Romp Through Shakespeare’s Women” for And Toto too Theatre Company at the Denver Performing Arts Complex’s… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Laura Jo Trexler