Denver Actors Fund in Action: Becky Toma

Note: At the Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the aid recipient wants to have his or her story be told. Aid recipient No. 3 and No. 41: Becky Toma Updated Jan. 8, 2017: Who she is: For years, Becky has been a busy props designer… Continue reading Denver Actors Fund in Action: Becky Toma

2013 True West Award nominations: Town Hall leads balanced field with 14 nods

    By John Moore Dec. 22, 2013 A prolific and creatively surprising year in Colorado theater is reflected in the 2013 True West Award nominations released today. The True West Awards, which began as the Denver Post Ovation Awards in 2001, are the longest-running continuously administered awards program in Colorado theater. And for just the… Continue reading 2013 True West Award nominations: Town Hall leads balanced field with 14 nods

Video: Shout-outs to 2013 Henry Award nominees

By John Moore July 18, 2013 Members of the local theater community give their shout-outs to this year’s field of 2013 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Award nominees. One comes all the way from Poland. The ceremony is July 22 at the Arvada Center. Video by John Moore for www.CultureWest.Org. Running time: 7 minutes. Shouters and… Continue reading Video: Shout-outs to 2013 Henry Award nominees

My night at the Town Hall Arts Center’s teen “Grease”

To see caption information for any photo above, or to see the gallery if watching on a mobile phone, click here. (The information is posted on the lower-left corner of each photo.) Or just click the “show info” option on any photo. By John Moore July 16, 2013 Opening No. 93: Town Hall Arts Center’s… Continue reading My night at the Town Hall Arts Center’s teen “Grease”

Photos: My night at Town Hall’s ‘The 39 Steps’

Mackenzie Paulsen and a “bottom’s up!” James O’Hagan-Murphy brush up on a key bit of physical comedy after having four days off between performances.   By John Moore May 3, 2013 Welcome to my ongoing, 2013 labor-of-love photo series bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes on opening nights in Colorado theater. All photos… Continue reading Photos: My night at Town Hall’s ‘The 39 Steps’

Video: The Shelly Bordas Story, Part 2: “My Son Wins”

By John Moore March 2, 2013 In this ongoing video documentary, veteran journalist John Moore chronicles Denver actor and mother Shelly Bordas’ journey since being diagnosed – for a second time – with Stage 4 breast cancer that has now spread to her brain. In Part 2, Shelly is hospitalized, has her 15th surgery, and… Continue reading Video: The Shelly Bordas Story, Part 2: “My Son Wins”

Video: The Shelly Bordas Story, Part 1: “Tit for Tot”

By John Moore Feb. 21, 2013 In this ongoing video documentary, veteran journalist John Moore chronicles Denver actor and mother Shelly Bordas’ journey since being diagnosed – for a second time – with Stage 4 breast cancer that has now spread to her brain. Run time: 6 minutes. Previous reporting on this story: The initial… Continue reading Video: The Shelly Bordas Story, Part 1: “Tit for Tot”

2013 theater photo series: It’s Opening Night in Colorado

By John Moore Jan. 1, 2014 Welcome to my 2013 labor-of-love photo series bringing you iconic snapshots from behind the scenes on opening nights in Colorado theater. This series includes one representative shot from 151 of the performances we saw 2013. The intent was to allow the reader a window into a part of the… Continue reading 2013 theater photo series: It’s Opening Night in Colorado

Shelly Bordas fundraising efforts hit $20,000 after first week

Shelly Bordas with former "9 to 5" castmate Norrell Moore. Photo by John Moore for CultureWest.Org.

  By John Moore Feb. 18, 2013 When it was first suggested a week ago that friends of Shelly Bordas kick in a few bucks to send the cancer-stricken actor on a Disney Cruise with her son, they were simply asked to mail checks to the Town Hall Arts Center, where Bordas teaches youth theater… Continue reading Shelly Bordas fundraising efforts hit $20,000 after first week

Shelly Bordas supporters raise $10,000 in 24 hours

Shelly Bordas with her then infant son, Nathan. He's now 3 1/2.

UPDATE: As of 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, Shelly Bordas’ online fundraising page has raised $12,635 from 251 backers. By John Moore Feb. 13, 2013 Just 24 hours after the launch of an online fundraising page, friends and strangers have contributed more than $10,400 to help send Denver actor and teacher Shelly Bordas on a… Continue reading Shelly Bordas supporters raise $10,000 in 24 hours

Shelly Bordas: A story that’s just beginning

Shelly Bordas, with choreographer Kelly Kates, told her "9 to 5" castmates yesterday that she would no longer be able to continue with the show. Photo by John Moore for CultureWest.Org

  UPDATE: It’s here … an electronic means for helping Shelly Bordas with a donation. There also will be a “pay-what-you-can” performance of “9 to 5” on March 4, with all proceeds going to Shelly. Call 303-794-2787.   By John Moore Feb. 10, 2013 For the past month, I have been following the very funny… Continue reading Shelly Bordas: A story that’s just beginning

Photo gallery: My night backstage at Town Hall’s ‘Forever Plaid’

Mark Middlebrooks, Tim Howard, Barret Harper and Jacob Villareal do vocal warmups where they find the best acoustics - in a backstage stairwell art Town Hall Arts Center. Photo by John Moore of www.CultureWest.Org.

By John Moore Jan. 11, 2010 Here are some images from my night visiting the cast of the Littleton Town Hall Arts Center’s “Forever Plaid” just before their first performance in front of an audience. Starring Tim Howard, Barret Harper, Mark Middlebrooks and Jacob Villareal. Through Feb. 10 at 2450 W. Main St., 303-794-2787 or… Continue reading Photo gallery: My night backstage at Town Hall’s ‘Forever Plaid’

Here are your 2012 CultureWest.Org “True West” Award nominations

The 2012 True West "Theater Person of the Year" nominees.

    By John Moore Dec. 16, 2012 One of the hardest things about leaving The Denver Post was leaving behind the Ovation Awards, which for 12 years was my annual salute to what we perceived to be the best in Colorado theater for any given year. Then I thought, “Why not?” I can only… Continue reading Here are your 2012 CultureWest.Org “True West” Award nominations

News: Town Hall executive director Nancy Stalf resigns

The board of directors for the Littleton Town Hall Arts Center has accepted the resignation of executive director Nancy Stalf, effective at the end of November. Stalf  has been E.D. since October 2008 and is leaving to pursue other professional opportunities, according to a press release issued by Town Hall. “We appreciate the leadership that… Continue reading News: Town Hall executive director Nancy Stalf resigns

Denver Post: Colorado’s Melissa Benoist joins “Glee”

Publicity photo with Jane Lynch announcing the arrival of Colorado's Melissa Benoist on "Glee." (Provided by FOX)

  Today, I am back in the pages of The Denver Post for a day, contributing a story on Colorado’s Melissa Benoist joining the cast of “Glee.” Benoist’s life has changed forever: The Littleton native has been cast on “Glee” — and she already has been Slushied. That’s when a bully throws a Slurpee-like frozen… Continue reading Denver Post: Colorado’s Melissa Benoist joins “Glee”