ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS • JUNE 25 - 28, 2026
DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • JULY 2 - 8, 2026
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA • JULY 10 - 17, 2026
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC • JULY 22 - 29, 2026
IMMERSIVE SERIES • JULY 13 - 14, 2026
CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES • JUNE 30 - JULY 27, 2026
CLASSICALLY UNCORKED • AUGUST 5 - 6, 2026
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BY JANICE SINDEN
WWelcome to the theatre!
We’re delighted you’re joining us for the return engagements of MJ and Hadestown, which together earned 24 Tony Award nominations and 12 wins. Our Theatre Company also presents Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prizewinning English and Matthew López’s heartfelt family drama Somewhere, from the playwright behind our 2014 world premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride
Staging a world premiere is no small feat, but seeing one go on to subsequent productions affirms how essential new work is to the future of American theatre. In 2025, our Theatre Company launched the world premiere of The Reservoir by Jake Brasch. After three subsequent regional productions, I’m delighted to share it has just completed a seven-week Off-Broadway run.
Next season, we’ll debut two more new works — How to Conquer America: A Mostly True History of Yogurt by David Myers and bogfriends by jose sebastian alberdi. We’re also proud to offer a co-production of Destiny of Desire with LA’s Center Theatre Group. Be sure to explore pages 18–19 for the full 2026/27 season.
Whether this is your first visit or you’ve been with us since 1979, we hope you’ll return for more stories, more joy, and more memories during the coming season.
Vladimir Script
Warm regards,
Janice Sinden
Janice Sinden, President & CEO
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts honors and acknowledges that it resides on the traditional and unceded territories of the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Peoples. We also recognize the 48 contemporary Indigenous Tribes and Nations who have historically called Colorado home.
APPLAUSE MAGAZINE
VOLUME XXXVI • NUMBER 5 • APR – MAY 2026
EDITOR: Suzanne Yoe
DESIGN DIRECTOR: Kyle Malone
DESIGNER: Paul Koob
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS: Lucas Kreitler, Kyle Malone
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Lisa Bornstein, Collin Van Son
Applause is published six times a year by Denver Center for the Performing Arts in conjunction with The Publishing House, Westminster, CO. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Call 303.893.4000 regarding editorial content.
Applause magazine is funded in part by
Angie Flachman, Publisher For advertising 303.428.9529 or sales@pub-house.com coloradoartspubs.com
Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a non-profit organization that engages and inspires through the transformative power of live theatre.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Ruth Krebs, Chair
Hassan Salem, Immediate Past Chair
Jerome Davis, Vice Chair
David Jacques Farahi, Secretary/Treasurer
Nicole Ament
Marco D. Chayet
Yosh Eisbart
Christopher Hayes
Elizabeth Hioe
Deb Kelly
Robert Kenney
Kevin Kilstrom
Lynn McDonald
Susan Fox Pinkowitz
Manny Rodriguez
Alan Salazar
Richard M. Sapkin
Martin Semple
William Dean Singleton
Sylvia Young
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Navin Dimond
Margot Gilbert Frank
Jeannie Fuller
Robert C. Newman
Cleo Parker Robinson
Robert Slosky
Dr. Reginald L. Washington
Judi Wolf
pg 1 4
pg 1 6 FOR A
HELEN G. BONFILS
FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Martin Semple, President
William Dean Singleton, Vice President
Kevin Kilstrom, Secretary/Treasurer
Nicole Ament
Marco D. Chayet
David Jacques Farahi
Ruth Krebs
Susan Fox Pinkowitz
Hassan Salem
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
Janice Sinden, President & CEO
Jamie Clements, Vice President, Development
Chris Coleman, Artistic Director, Theatre Company
John Ekeberg, Executive Director, Broadway & Cabaret
Angela Lakin, Vice President, Marketing & Sales
Glen Lucero, Vice President, Venue Operations
Laura Maresca, Chief People & Culture Officer
Lisa Roebuck, Vice President, Information Technology
Charles Varin, Managing Director, Theatre Company
Allison Watrous, Executive Director, Education & Community Engagement
Jane Williams, Chief Financial & Administrative Officer
Fall Theatre Tour • Oct 24 - Nov 1, 2026
Experience the heart of London theatre like an insider West End performances, iconic cultural landmarks, and exclusive theatre-focused experiences designed for curious artists and audiences alike.
• 7 nights at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel
• 5 theatre productions including two new musicals, Sinatra and Burlesque
• 5 dinners
• Daily breakfast
• Afternoon high tea
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Royal Albert Hall
• Kensington Palace
• Theatre Royal Drury Lane
• National Theatre
• Eltham Palace
• Parliament
• Tate Modern Museum
• Guided walking tours
• Theatre talk and tea
For more information contact 1-800-962-7325 info@break-awaytours.com
$6,995 per person based on Double Room without Airfare
Photo by Paul Horpedahl
WORD BY WORD LEARNING TO SPEAK, AND LISTEN, IN ENGLISH
BY COLLIN VAN SON
EEnglish Only. It’s a simple rule, but sometimes the simplest rules are the hardest ones to follow. For the students enrolled in Marjan’s advanced English course, the temptation to switch to their native tongue, Farsi, is often too great to resist. But in this particular classroom in Karaj, Iran, the magic of theatre means that English is indeed the only language the audience hears.
In Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play English, the titular language manifests in two forms. When the characters practice their English aloud, they do so with a Persian accent. That accent may be light, as in the case of star pupil Omid, or it may be thick, as in the case of Elham, five-time taker of the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. But in every case the accent is present, a reminder to the audience — and the characters themselves — that English is not their first language. When they switch to Farsi, however, we hear them as they hear themselves: unaccented, with an ease of expression that some members of the class can only dream of attaining in English.
There are many plays — not all of them bad — in which accents are treated like costume pieces, as a means to imbue an otherwise forgettable character with a little extra “flavor.” At the risk of stating the obvious, English is no such play. “Changing the accent is a very important theat-
rical tool in this play,” explains director Hamid Dehghani. “It’s part of the plot, the motivations for characters, what’s happening between the characters.”
Because of how quickly the dialogue shifts between English and Farsi, Dehghani says the characters on stage are not the only ones learning a new language. “It’s very important to teach that language, that theatrical language, to the audience at the very beginning of the play,” he says. “The play itself introduces us to that feature early on, but for [the] performers and actors, if you are not able to stick to that set of rules, I think often the audience will get so confused.”
To prevent such confusion, Dehghani and the rest of the artistic team have to pay painstaking attention, not only to the mechanics of language — for example, which sounds give Farsi speakers the hardest time in English — but also to the characters’ motivations for switching between languages. What internal conflict might compel a character to abruptly switch to English, or to purposefully defy the class’s English Only rule? “We tracked all of those moments,” says Dehghani. “Beat by beat, word by word, letter by letter.”
It’s a demanding task, but one that Dehghani is amply prepared for — both professionally and personally. In addition to directing a previous co-production of English at
the Goodman Theatre and the Guthrie Theater, Dehghani grew up in Iran and built his theatrical career there before coming to the U.S. “I had the same experience of all of these characters in the play,” he says. “I was 30-something years old when I started learning English. So I could feel and relate to these characters so much.”
English is what Dehghani calls “a political play in a very non-political way.” It is set in 2008, at a time in Iran when, as Dehghani recalls, “there was some hope that it’s going to change, we are going to be free more, and that energy was in the air.” And while the intervening years have brought some changes — Dehghani notes how common it has become for Iranian women to go out in public without a hijab — there is no escaping the present-day realities of repression.
This past January, shortly after Dehghani’s most recent visit to Iran, the government responded to nationwide protests with a brutal crackdown that left thousands dead. For Dehghani, the violence has raised new questions as he prepares to bring English to the Denver Center stage. “Should I bring something that is more immediate that people can see outside, that is connected to the present moment? Or should I just look at this production as its own, without looking at the context or what’s happening outside in the world?”
Ultimately, Dehghani says his artistic choices are guided by the humanizing power of theatre. “You see cellphone footage of people protesting or getting shot on the street,” he says, “but you don’t know them. Seeing a play like English as itself, as authentic, as true to the life of these characters, I think in a very honest and deep way connects you to people on the street.”
As Dehghani sees it, that sense of connection isn’t limited to people half a world away — it also extends to those who have recently arrived in one’s own community. “This is an immigration story,” he says. “It’s like the first chapter of an immigrant’s story.” Whereas most immigrant stories open at the moment of arrival, English is in many ways a story of departure, of the struggle and self-doubt that comes with deciding to leave one’s home — and hopefully, somehow, find a new one.
I had the same experience of all of these characters in the play. I was 30-something years old when I started learning English. So I could feel and relate to these characters so much.
— HAMID DEHGHANI, DIRECTOR
“I still feel that duality,” says Dehghani, “of being both Persian and living in an English culture and country.” And while he acknowledges that duality can be a source of challenge, it is also, in his telling, a gift. “Producing this play here, in the U.S., for me…feels like home. Bringing a piece of home on a stage.”
Editor’s Note: This interview took place before the recent U.S. and Israeli actions in Iran and were not part of the conversation.
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD
For the first time, Denver audiences will have the chance to experience Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the internationally acclaimed stage production playing the Buell Theatre May 30–June 21. The play, which earned six Tony Awards including Best Play, has been praised for its imaginative storytelling and theatrical innovation. Forbes called it “one of the most defining pop culture events of the decade.”
Set years after the final chapter of the original saga, the play invites fans into an all new adventure in the wizarding world. At its heart is Albus Potter, whose unexpected friendship with Scorpius Malfoy leads them on a journey that explores family legacy, responsibility, and the delicate boundaries of time. Their story brings fresh dimension to beloved characters while offering a contemporary perspective on the world audiences know.
Critics have noted the production’s blend of emotional storytelling and inventive stagecraft. The New York Times described it as a “marvel of imagination,” while People remarked that the illusions leave audiences wondering “how’d they do that?” long after the curtain falls.
For Denver theatergoers, the engagement offers a rare opportunity to experience a landmark piece of modern theatre — and a new chapter of magic — up close.
ENGLISH
APRIL 17 – MAY 31 • SINGLETON THEATRE
ASL Interpreted and Audio Described performance: May 3 at 1:30pm Stay for a post-show discussion on May 12, 20 & 28
Albus (Joshua Sullivan) and Scorpius (Kai Spackman). Photo by Manuel Harlan.
HADESTOWN : A Primer on Greek Mythology
If you’ve forgotten your Greek mythology (and who can blame you…it only dates back 2,500+ years), rest assured our primer will have you ready for the show.
Orpheus was a legendary musician who could charm all living things — even stones and the gods. He fell deeply in love with Eurydice, a beautiful nymph. But on their wedding day, she was bitten by a snake and died.
Devastated, Orpheus took her to the Underworld to plea for her life. His music softened the hearts of Hades (God of the Underworld) and Persephone (Queen of the Underworld), who agreed to let Eurydice return to the land of the living — on one condition: Orpheus must not look back at her until they reached the surface.
So as not to spoil the ending, we won’t say more but suffice it to say that the Greeks weren’t especially known for their comedies. (The tale of Thesmophoriazusae doesn’t exactly spring to mind, does it?)
This myth explores themes of love, trust, loss, and the power of art, and has inspired countless retellings including the Tony- and Grammy-winning Hadestown. Here are the key players in order of appearance.
HADESTOWN
MAY 5 – 10, 2026 • BUELL THEATRE
ASL Interpreted, Audio-Described, and Open-Captioned performance: May 9 at 2pm
HERMES
[HUR’-MEEZ]
In Greek mythology, fleet-footed guide, messenger of the gods, and conductor of souls to the Underworld. In this account, he is a worldly-wise narrator and mentor to Orpheus.
FATES [FEYTS]
Three goddesses who together determined the destinies of mortals, measuring their lifespans and apportioning their suffering. Here they sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of some.
ORPHEUS [AWR’-FEE-UHS]
Son of the muse of epic poetry, engaged to marry Eurydice. With his golden voice and lyre, Orpheus charmed all living things, even rocks and stones.
EURYDICE [YOO-RID’-UH-SEE]
A tree nymph engaged to marry Orpheus who is bitten by a snake and dies on their wedding day. In this story, she is a runaway whose hardships cause her to be distrustful of others.
PERSEPHONE
[PER-SEF’-UH-NEE]
Goddess of the seasons, she spent half the year in the Underworld, causing fall and winter above before returning to her mother to bring spring and summer. Here, she plays a party girl to dull her disenchantment with said arrangement.
HADES [HEY’-DEEZ]
God of the dead, sometimes called “the Wealthy One.” He fell in love with and married Persephone. In this version of the story, he is a greedy and zealous industrialist.
WORKERS CHORUS
In ancient Greek theater, the Chorus sang, spoke, and danced in unison. Often representing the voice of citizens, the Chorus served as an emotional conduit for the audience.
Treatments that fight hard. Care that feels gentle.
At CommonSpirit Health, we’re evolving health care. By treating people – not just patients – with innovations that amplify healing and lead to more personalized care. All guided by the belief we all hold the power to heal.
MMichael Jackson was not merely a singer, he also was an extraordinary dancer whose moves have become iconic in popular culture. His distinctive style of dance — a fusion of jazz, pop, and hip-hop — revolutionized music forever. Director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon infuses the pop icon’s famous dance moves into the choreography of MJ
Exploring Michael Jackson’s Dance Style
Jackson’s signature dance style was a blend of technical skill, rhythm, and raw expression. While he fused numerous dance styles, he also developed iconic moves that have since become synonymous with his name — the Moonwalk, the Sidewalk, the Robot, the Spin, the Toe Stand. His movements on stage were as much a part of his performance as his vocals, adding a visual element that made his performances unlike anything else.
Christopher Wheeldon’s Choreography
A former ballet dancer and award-winning choreographer, Wheeldon is known for his work with London’s Royal Ballet and Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet. His goal for MJ was not simply to reproduce Jackson’s music videos and performances, but also to capture the essence of Jackson’s artistry and present it in a fresh light.
To achieve this, Wheeldon enlisted the help of brothers Rich and Tone Talauega along with the show’s associate choreographer, all of whom previously danced with Jackson. Their firsthand experience with Jackson’s dance style proved invaluable.
“I was just in awe of the articulation in his body,” Wheeldon shared when describing Jackson’s ability to isolate every bone, every muscle, bringing intensity to his movements, while his legs moved fluidly, like mercury. It was this dichotomy, this blend of precision and fluidity, that Wheeldon sought to capture.
Perfecting the Iconic Moves
For self-taught dancer Jordan Markus who plays MJ, living up to Jackson’s legacy was motivating. As Markus
MICHAEL’S MOVES: THE CHOREOGRAPHY OF MJ
told Dance Informa, “Michael’s obviously one of the most phenomenal dancers to ever grace the stage.” Having watched Jackson’s music videos as a kid, he recalls dancing around the living room in his socks, but, “Now doing some of the most rigorous choreography I’ve ever had to do in my life, it feels like a return to what I knew because as a child this is all I did, all I wanted to do. Now that I get to portray Michael onstage, it feels like a homecoming.”
I was just in awe of the articulation in his body.
— CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON, DIRECTOR AND CHOREOGRAPHER
This is Thriller Night
The choreography for “Thriller” is a perfect representation of Wheeldon’s vision, blending the familiar with the new. The music number incorporates the signature moves from the original “Thriller” video, as well as the dark, zombie-inspired aesthetic. However, the show adds its own touch, featuring three actors embodying Jackson at different stages of his life dancing together on stage.
The impact of Wheeldon’s approach combined with the innovative dance styles of the King of Pop combine to create what The Washington Post called “A riveting adrenaline rush of a show!”
MJ
MAY 13 – 17 • BUELL THEATRE
ASL Interpreted, Audio Described, and Open Captioned performance: May 16 at 2pm
The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art is organized by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in association with the Denver Art Museum, the Portland Art Museum, and the Peabody Essex Museum.
Bank of America is the North America Tour Sponsor for the exhibition.
The presentation of this exhibition at the Denver Art Museum is supported by the Birnbaum Social Discourse Project, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). All works are from the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne.
BY LISA BORNSTEIN
I IN PURSUIT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IN SOMEWHERE
It was the summer of 1959. West Side Story was the biggest hit on Broadway and filming on the movie was just beginning. The neighborhood of San Juan Hill on the West Side of Manhattan was in the process of being demolished, so Director Robert Wise took advantage of the demolition to film scenes among half-destroyed buildings, using the rubble to suggest the hardscrabble world of the musical. It was a tough neighborhood – in the 1940s, the New York Housing Authority called it the worst slum in New York.
Perhaps that was in part reflecting the Authority’s opinions of those who lived there. In the early 20th century, San Juan Hill was the largest African-American community in New York and soon became the predominant Puerto Rican neighborhood as well. Thelonious Monk grew up there, as did pianist James P. Johnson and Barbara Hillary, the first Black woman to reach the North and the South Poles. For those people, and the 7,000 displaced by the construction of Lincoln Center, San Juan Hill was home. Playwright Matthew López chose it as the setting for Somewhere, in which a Puerto Rican family confronts artistic dreams and an entertainment industry that has no use for them.
“When you read about San Juan Hill, it was so rich culturally, it was this convergence of many communities who lived there. Thelonious Monk would stand on the street corner and listen to traffic and the sounds of the neighborhood, and they would find their way into the music that he created,” says director Laurie Woolery.
Somewhere tells the story of the Candelarias, a family with dreams of show business. The father, Pepe, is a bandleader who is frequently touring and away from home, while mother Inez looks out for the children and their futures. The siblings study dance and acting, while
the oldest, Alejandro, aspires to be cast in the film of West Side Story. A play filled with dance, it reflects the struggles of the family, whose apartment building is scheduled for demolition to make way for Lincoln Center.
“It’s a story about a mother’s love,” says Woolery, whose own mother immigrated to the United States from Central America. “She really did believe in the American dream when she came over, and she came during World War II. She worked in a factory preparing the rags that would clean the planes. It’s about immigration and pursuing the American dream.”
“The son (Alejandro) has to step in and defer his dreams, and you see this a lot with immigrant families, with the parents, because they’ve sacrificed to fulfill that dream,” Woolery says. While the Candelaria parents and their eldest child were not born in New York, neither are they quite immigrants.
“They’re not immigrants, but they’re treated as immigrants,” Woolery continues, noting that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. “Alejandro was born in Puerto Rico, but his other siblings were born here, so he does have the homeland still in him, so he and his mother shared that. Puerto Rico has always just had a very complicated relationship with all the rest of the states. You’re a citizen, but you can’t vote.”
As in most families, there is generational conflict. Alejandro posits himself as a realist, but his mother insists that her dreams for the family are not native.
“I live in the world too. I see what you see,” Inez responds. “But unlike you, I also see the future. And that gives me power to shape my destiny. I don’t imagine the world away — I imagine it better. You call my dreams foolish but I say that having no dreams is the most foolish of all.”
“To pragmatic people, that’s very head in the sand, but to me, that’s visionary thinking,” Woolery feels.
Dance isn’t just a passion for the characters; it’s a major element of the play itself. The cast had to be able to dance in a variety of styles, from Caribbean cha cha and mambo to Broadway styles. All of it is performed to original music by sound designer Paul James Prendergast. In the world of the play, Alejandro speaks about the pain he feels when he can’t dance.
Whatever the [art] form is you partake in, you can be anyone and go anywhere and expand your existence and transcend your labels. Art allows us to be able to see outside of the box society and our families and ourselves place us in. — LAURIE WOOLERY, DIRECTOR
“I think about artists who really have a passion, and who really feel like ‘this is all I know how to do’, like there’s a liberation in the arts that opens up your soul and your spirit,” Woolery says. “Whatever the form is you partake in, you can be anyone and go anywhere and expand your existence and transcend your labels. Art allows us to be able to see outside of the box society and our families and ourselves place us in. I have my guesses of why Matthew chose dance; I think it’s connected to his aunt, and I think it’s connected to West Side Story. Words and music are no longer enough to express the emotion that is being felt.”
As she spoke, Woolery was in tech rehearsals for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival production of Come From Away. The two plays combined felt particularly meaningful in the year following her own mother’s death and a conflicted nation.
“It’s very emotional to be doing theater right now,” she says. “I find it very challenging because you’re just trying to figure out: How should I be serving my community, my neighbors, my country? And then I get into the rehearsal room and I’m reminded, we are reflections of the world that we are in, and we get to show our humanity to each other.”
SOMEWHERE
MAY 1 – 31 • KILSTROM THEATRE
ASL Interpreted and Audio Described performance: May 17 at 1:30pm Stay for a post-show discussion: May 21 & 27
CHILDREN, TEENS & ADULTS
WHERE STORIES COME ALIVE
The magic of live theatre awakens something inside us—it stirs wonder, ignites empathy, and propels us toward new possibilities. Next season, we invite you to experience stories that sweep you away and transport you to unexpected worlds. Stories that come alive right before your eyes.
From Shakespeare’s swirling storm of sorcery to a telenovela of swapped destinies; from a crime gone deliciously awry to a love preserved in ancient peat, these are stories that surprise us, move us, and remind us what it means to be human. As they spring to life on stage, they ask us to laugh together, open our hearts, and see the world a little differently than before.
Dive into this new season and discover what happens when a story comes alive.
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LIA VOLLACK JOHN BRANCA JOHN MCCLAIN
SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT ROY FURMAN CUE TO CUE PRODUCTIONS
JAMES L. NEDERLANDER KUMIKO YOSHII NAOYA KINOSHITA LATITUDE LINK STEPHEN C. BYRD
CANDY SPELLING JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION PETER W. MAY SANDY ROBERTSON ED WALSON
ALBERT NOCCIOLINO KEN SCHUR WILLETTE & MANNY KLAUSNER DAVID SHAFER MARTIN BANDIER and DOUG MORRIS
Executive Producer: MICHAEL DAVID
By Special Arrangement with the Estate of Michael Jackson
PRESENT
BOOK BY LYNN NOTTAGE
STARRING JORDAN MARKUS
MELVIN GRAY JR.
FEATURING
JACKSON ROBERT VANN ERIC WILTZ ERIK HAMILTON BRANDON LEE HARRIS
QUENTIN BLANTON JR. DEVIN BOWLES KEVIN CRUZ RAJANÉ KATURAH
KENDRICK MITCHELL MICHAEL NERO JED RESNICK KRISTIN STOKES
ZURI NOELLE FORD UI-SENG FRANÇOIS ANDY GOLDEN TRESTON J. HENDERSON SHELDON HENRY
JAHIR L. HIPPS SKYE JACKSON-WILLIAMS JACOBI KAI SAGE LEE RACHEL LOCKHART MATTEO MARRETTA
BUNA M c CREERY-NJIE ZION MIKHAIL PRADIER DARIA PILAR REDUS TYRONE REESE AVILON TRUST TATE
SCENIC DESIGN LIGHTING DESIGN COSTUME DESIGN SOUND DESIGN PROJECTION DESIGN DEREK McLANE NATASHA KATZ PAUL TAZEWELL GARETH OWEN PETER NIGRINI
WIG & HAIR DESIGN MAKE-UP DESIGN
GLOBAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR GLOBAL ASSOCIATE CHOREOGRAPHER
CHARLES G. LaPOINTE JOE DULUDE II DONTEE KIEHN MICHAEL BALDERRAMA
CASTING BY COMPANY MANAGER
LINDSAY LEVINE, CSA
MANAGER MICHAEL JACKSON MOVEMENT BY THE TELSEY OFFICE ERIC ARMSTRONG NICOLE OLSON RICH + TONE TALAUEGA
RACHEL HOFFMAN, CSA
BOOKING AGENCY TOUR MARKETING & GENERAL MANAGEMENT PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR THE BOOKING GROUP PUBLICITY DIRECTION
BESPOKE THEATRICALS GREGORY T. LIVOTI MEREDITH BLAIR BOND THEATRICAL KARA GEBHART MUSIC DIRECTION
MANAGEMENT NATHANAEL WILKERSON STRANGE CRANIUM JOHN MILLER JUNIPER STREET JASON YARCHO PRODUCTIONS, INC
ORCHESTRATIONS & ARRANGEMENTS JASON MICHAEL WEBB
MUSIC SUPERVISION, ORCHESTRATIONS & ARRANGEMENTS DAVID HOLCENBERG
DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON
Jordan Markus Melvin Gray Jr.
Jackson Robert Vann
Eric Wiltz
Erik Hamilton Brandon Lee Harris
Quentin Blanton Jr. Devin Bowles
Kevin Cruz Rajané Katurah
Kendrick Mitchell Michael Nero
Jed Resnick
Kristin Stokes
Michael Andreaus
Omarion Burke
JoJo Carmichael
Kolby Colmary
Joshua Dawson Ghrai DeVore-Stokes
Zuri Noelle Ford
Ui-Seng François Andy Golden
Treston J. Henderson
Sheldon Henry Jahir L. Hipps
Skye Jackson-Williams
Jacobi Kai Sage Lee
Rachel Lockhart
Matteo Marretta
Buna McCreery-Njie
Zion Mikhail Pradier
Daria Pilar Redus
Tyrone Reese Avilon Trust Tate
MJ
MJ (Alternate)
Rob, Joseph Jackson
CAST
(in order of appearance)
JORDAN MARKUS
MELVIN GRAY JR.
DEVIN BOWLES
Rachel KRISTIN STOKES
Michael
BRANDON LEE HARRIS
Little Michael JACKSON ROBERT VANN, ERIC WILTZ
Little Marlon
Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones
Kate, Katherine Jackson
QUENTIN BLANTON JR.
MICHAEL NERO
RAJANÉ KATURAH
Alejandro KEVIN CRUZ
Nick, Berry Gordy, Don Cornelius, Doctor
KENDRICK MITCHELL
Dave JED RESNICK
Tour Dancer, Randy Jackson, Jackie Wilson (dancer) ANDY GOLDEN
Tour Singer, Jackie Jackson, James Brown (vocal)
TRESTON J. HENDERSON
Tour Dancer, Soul Train Dancer UI-SENG FRANÇOIS
Tour Dancer, Suzanne de Passe, Isley Brother (dancer)
Tour Dancer, Isley Brother (dancer), Nicholas Brother
Tour Dancer, Fred Astaire
RACHEL LOCKHART
ZURI NOELLE FORD
MATTEO MARRETTA
Tour Dancer, Bob Fosse, Newscaster KOLBY COLMARY
Keith, Jermaine Jackson, Isley Brother (vocal)
Tour Dancer, Marlon Jackson, James Brown (dancer), Nicholas Brother
AVILON TRUST TATE
BUNA McCREERY-NJIE
Standby for MJ and Michael ERIK HAMILTON
Standby for Rachel and Kate, Katherine Jackson DARIA PILAR REDUS
Swings
MICHAEL ANDREAUS, OMARION BURKE, JOJO CARMICHAEL, JOSHUA DAWSON, GHRAI DEVORE-STOKES, SHELDON HENRY, JAHIR L. HIPPS, SKYE JACKSON-WILLIAMS, JACOBI KAI, SAGE LEE, ZION MIKHAIL PRADIER, TYRONE REESE
UNDERSTUDIES
(Understudies never substitute for listed players unless announced at the time of the performance)
Standby for MJ and Michael—ERIK HAMILTON
For Rob, Joseph Jackson—MICHAEL ANDREAUS, KENDRICK MITCHELL, MICHAEL NERO; for Rachel—DARIA PILAR REDUS, UI-SENG FRANÇOIS; for Michael—MELVIN GRAY JR., JACOBI KAI, SAGE LEE; for Little Michael—QUENTIN BLANTON JR.; for Little Marlon—TYRONE REESE, JACKSON ROBERT VANN, ERIC WILTZ; for Kate, Katherine Jackson—DARIA PILAR REDUS; for Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones—TRESTON J. HENDERSON, SHELDON HENRY, JAHIR L. HIPPS; for Alejandro—JAHIR L. HIPPS, MATTEO MARRETTA; for Nick, Berry Gordy— MICHAEL ANDREAUS, TRESTON J. HENDERSON, SHELDON HENRY, JAHIR L. HIPPS; for Dave—MICHAEL ANDREAUS, JAHIR L. HIPPS, KENDRICK MITCHELL
DANCE CAPTAIN: TYRONE REESE
ASSISTANT DANCE CAPTAIN: ZION MIKHAIL PRADIER
FIGHT CAPTAIN: ZURI NOELLE FORD
Buna McCreery-Njie is appearing with the support of Actors’ Equity Association. The Producers gratefully acknowledge Actors’ Equity Association for its assistance with this production.
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO SEE THE CAST AT THIS PERFORMANCE
MUSICAL NUMBERS
(in alphabetical order)
2 Bad
ABC
Another Part of Me
Bad Beat It
Billie Jean
Black or White
Blame It on the Boogie Can You Feel It
Climb Ev’ry Mountain
Dancing Machine
Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough
Earth Song
Ease on Down the Road
For the Love of Money
Higher and Higher
Human Nature
I Can’t Help It
I’ll Be There
I Want You Back
Jam
Keep the Faith
LA LA Means I Love You
The Love You Save Man in the Mirror
Money
Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
Price of Fame
Rock With You
She’s Out of My Life
Shout
Smooth Criminal
Stranger in Moscow
Tabloid Junkie
Soul Train Theme Song
The Way You Make Me Feel
They Don’t Care About Us
Thriller
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ You Can’t Win
Original Broadway Cast Album available on Sony Music Entertainment.
The writing on the Act II curtain is copied from Michael Jackson’s notes.
ORCHESTRA
Music Director/Conductor/Keys: NATHANAEL WILKERSON
Co-Music Director/Keys: JASON YARCHO
Drummer: JAMES WADE
Percussion: MESIA AUSTIN
Bass: JOHN DAVID BRATTON II
Guitar: JULIA LEVIN
Electronic Music Design: BILLY JAY STEIN and HIRO IIDA for STRANGE CRANIUM
Music Coordinator: JOHN MILLER
Associate Music Supervisor: RICK HIP-FLORES
LOCAL MUSICIANS
Guitar 2: DAVE DEVINE
Reed 1 (Tenor Sax, Alto Sax, Clarinet, Flute): ART BOUTON
Reed 2 (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax): JARED CATHEY
Trumpet 1/Flugel: JAKE BOLDMAN
Trumpet 2/Flugel: DAWN KRAMER
Tenor and Bass Trombone: MASON COOKE
Contractor: JAMES HARVEY
The Estate of Michael Jackson wants to thank all of the individuals who contributed to Michael’s career and his development as an artist including Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones and the Jackson family and want to specifically acknowledge all of the choreographers who worked with Michael on his short films, concerts and live performances throughout his career. In particular, Michael Peters (co-choreographer on “Thriller” and “Beat It”), Gregg Burge (co-choreographer on “Bad”) and Vincent Paterson (co-choreographer on “Smooth Criminal”) whose original work with Michael was an inspiration for those production numbers in this show.
MICHAEL JACKSON
is one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all time. His electrifying live performances and groundbreaking use of video and fashion continue to inspire today’s performers. To date, Michael has sold more than 1 billion records worldwide and is one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His album Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time, and his Thriller short film is the only music video to be listed on National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized him as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time. New generations of fans continue to discover his artistry making him the #1 streaming catalog artist in the global marketplace. As a compassionate and prolific humanitarian, Michael set a new standard of generosity for other entertainers.
WHO’S WHO
JORDAN MARKUS (MJ). Singer, songwriter, actor, and dancer, Jordan Markus, is so excited to be making his Broadway Tour debut with MJ! He would like to thank his family and friends for all their love and support! IG: jordanmarkus_
MELVIN GRAY JR. (MJ–Alternate, u/s Michael). A proud North Carolina native, Melvin is honored to join this iconic production! Tours: Ain’t Too Proud (Swing/Dance Captain). Regional: Bull Durham, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Songs for a New World, The Scottsboro Boys, Newsies. Film/TV: “Killer Beat”, “Medicating & Healing”, “Hype”. Writer/producer: The Witch’s Book. Endless thanks to Mom, Dad, Jeffrey, my family, and Telsey! @melvingrayjr5 | melvingrayjr.com
JACKSON ROBERT VANN (Little Michael, u/s Little Marlon) is a 13-year-old actor and singer making his national tour debut with MJ. He has trained in voice and performance and loves storytelling through music. Jackson thanks his family and team for their unwavering support.
ERIC WILTZ (Little Michael, u/s Little Marlon). 9, is a viral social media sensation thrilled to join the national tour! He has worked with Tyler Perry and loves Wicked, God, his family, and singing. Thankful for this incredible opportunity.
ERIK HAMILTON (Standby for MJ and Michael) is excited for his Broadway tour debut with MJ He thanks God, his parents Lance and Caryn, brothers Ellis and Evan, Carson Kolker, TMT, extended family and friends, and Hampton University theatre professor and advisor Dr. Iris Goode-Middleton. @erikhamilton35608
BRANDON LEE HARRIS (Michael) is so grateful to be continuing his journey with MJ on the road! He
would like to thank God, his family and friends, Berklee, CGF, and MJ for welcoming him to the family! “Make Something Grow.”
IG: @brandonharrisofficial
QUENTIN BLANTON JR. (Little Marlon, u/s Little Michael). 200+ performances as Little Michael on first national tour! Excited to take on the role of Little Marlon. TV/VO: “Abbott Elementary,” “Cocomelon” (Cody), “The Prophecy” (Young Thomas) “Paw Patrol to the Rescue” (Rubble). Film: The Second Time Around (CJ). Training: India Blanton, Mozart Music Acad, Luckie, Kanec. Thanks God, Mom, Dad, family & team! @quinny_gram
DEVIN BOWLES (Rob, Joseph Jackson) is beyond grateful to be making his national tour debut in MJ Actor/Singer/Dancer from Tennessee, he would love to give glory to God, thank his family and friends, and agents. Let’s keep getting better and create magic!
KEVIN CRUZ (Alejandro). National tour debut! Notable credits: Native Gardens, Refuge, Chicago Lore(s), Three Sisters, Measure for Measure Born in Puerto Rico, trained in South Florida, now based in Chicago. Grateful to mentors, reps, Urban Theater, and especially his mom. IG: @kebcru
KENDRICK MITCHELL (Nick, Berry Gordy, u/s Rob, Joseph Jackson, u/s Dave) is beyond thrilled to have joined the MJ family! Regional: The Wild Party, After Midnight, Almost a Full Moon, RENT. Film/TV: “Law & Order: SVU,” “The Blacklist,” “Dr. Death.” Love to FSE, Jordan, Dad, and the greatest Mama in the world. @KendrickMitchellOfficial
RAJANÉ KATURAH (Kate, Katherine Jackson) is overjoyed to be on the first national tour of MJ! Broadway:
MJ. Endless gratitude to God, my amazing family, The Mine, and my guardian angels! Matthew 17:20 @rajanekaturah | rajanekaturah.com
MICHAEL NERO (Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones, u/s Rob, Joseph Jackson). Nero is excited to make his national tour debut! Regional: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Raisin’, A Christmas Carol, Let’s Dance. IG: @mchlnero. Special thanks to Chi Talent Management and Telsey Office!
JED RESNICK (Dave). Broadway: Avenue Q. National Tours: Company, Rent, Avenue Q. Off-Broadway: Pulitzer Prize-winning Fairview (Soho Rep, TFANA), The Wanderers (Roundabout). Regional: Berkeley Rep, City Theatre, Actors Theatre Louisville, Williamstown, Weston. Television: “Dear Edward” (AppleTV+). Brown University alum. @jedres
KRISTIN STOKES (Rachel). Broadway: The Lightning Thief; Annabeth Chase. World Premieres & OCR: Indigo, Fly By Night, Ballad of Little Jo, Mr. Burns, Junie B’s Survival Guide. Big thanks: DGRW, Telsey Office, MJ cast/ creatives, Tebs. @Chitty_Balone
MICHAEL ANDREAUS (Swing, u/s Rob, Joseph Jackson, u/s Nick, Berry Gordy, u/s, Dave). Broadway: A Soldier’s Play. National Tour: Ain’t Too Proud. Off-Broadway: Love and Yogurt. NY: Savage. Film/Television: Finding Carlos, “When They See Us.” BA: University of Central Oklahoma. Thanks to his family, friends, Headline Talent and his manager LK. @michael_andreaus
OMARION BURKE (Swing). BROADWAY TOUR DEBUT! Juilliard senior on full scholarship. YoungArts winner, Dance Spirit Editors’ Choice, Jacob’s Pillow awardee. Performed works by Forsythe, Wei, Boykin, Tanowitz. Credits: Madonna, Paula
Abdul, Ariana Debose, Netflix’s Tick Tick Boom. Grateful to God & his tribe. @omarion.r.burke
JOJO CARMICHAEL (Swing). From Dothan, AL. BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University. Credits include: Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Rockette), The Devil Wears Prada (James M. Nederlander Theatre). JoJo gives thanks to God, her family and friends!
KOLBY COLMARY (Tour Dancer, Bob Fosse, Newscaster). From Oxford, PA to NYC, Kolby is thrilled to make his national tour debut with MJ! Credits: Macy’s Parade with Jennifer Hudson, GAP x HFR (choreography by Luam). All glory to God—thanks to family & friends!
JOSHUA DAWSON (Swing) is thrilled to make his Broadway tour debut with MJ. BFA Commercial Dance (Pace). Special thanks to his Mom and Dad, Mrs. Treshawn, MSA, Calli Company, and BAA. IG: @mr.broadway
GHRAI DEVORE-STOKES (Swing). Broadway tour debut! Ghrai danced with Ailey (13 yrs), Ailey II, Deeply Rooted, Hubbard St. 2 & DanceWorks. Film: The Little Mermaid, Swamp Lake. Theatre: Dance, Salome, Dance (Tia, Workshop). Dizzy Feet & Queen Ingrid Scholar. Thanks to her mother & the Creator. IG: @ghrai_
ZURI NOELLE FORD (Tour Dancer, Isley Brother (dancer), Nicholas Brother, Fight Captain) is excited to make her national tour debut with MJ! Broadway: West Side Story Film: In the Heights, Better Nate than Never. Regional: Songs for a New World, Other World, May We All
UI-SENG FRANÇOIS (Tour Dancer, Soul Train Dancer, u/s Rachel) is a multi-disciplinary artist and creator committed to Arts for healing. Credits: West Side Story (Broadway), Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE. Graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts and Peabody Conservatory. @ui_seng
ANDY GOLDEN (Tour Dancer, Randy Jackson, Jackie Wilson (dancer)) is a Memphis, Tennessee native and proud University of Memphis graduate. He is so thrilled to be making his Broadway tour debut! Endless thanks to his beautiful close-knit family for always encouraging greatness and pushing him to be the best, especially Mom and Dad. @andygoldy
TRESTON J. HENDERSON (Tour Singer, Jackie Jackson, James Brown (vocal), u/s Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones, u/s Nick, Berry Gordy). An Oak Ridge, Tennessee native, thrilled to be on the road with MJ! Credits: The Wiz (Broadway), Ain’t Too Proud (1st Nat’l Tour). Regional: Music Circus, Goodspeed, The Rev. Grateful to God, his mom, stepdad, family & friends for their unwavering love and support! @Treston.henderson
SHELDON HENRY (Swing, u/s Nick, Berry Gordy, u/s Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones) is a native New Yorker and has a BFA from The Hartt School of Music. His favorite credits include Broadway: The Prom, Tina, The Who’s Tommy, Once Upon a Mattress, MJ Henry is an alum of Boys Choir Of Harlem. Love ya Mom (SPJ).
@D_Only_Do
JAHIR L. HIPPS (Swing, u/s Tito Jackson, Quincy Jones, u/s Alejandro, u/s Nick, Berry Gordy, u/s Dave). Tours: RENT Farewell. Regional: Something Rotten (FST), In The Heights (Stages St. Louis). TV: “Elsbeth” (CBS). Thanks to God, Mom, Grandma, Sam, BW, Avalon, and all my friends for their support! IG and TikTok: Jahir.hipps
SKYE JACKSON-WILLIAMS (Universal Swing) is an artist born nd raised in New York City. She made her Broadway debut with MJ and is excited to join the tour! IG: @skyejacksonwilliams
JACOBI KAI (Swing, u/s Michael) can’t express how blessed he feels to be sharing black excellence across the US in MJ. He would like to thank God and his beautiful family for keeping him grounded. YOU are light!
SAGE LEE (u/s Michael) is elated to join the MJ tour. Seen on Broadway’s MJ, ART’s Real Women Have Curves, and many shows at The Muny. Grateful to be here and reminding you that you create your own reality. Be the rainbow. @theeonesage
RACHEL LOCKHART (Tour Dancer, Suzanne de Passe, Isley Brother (dancer)). She/her. A Birmingham native and Juilliard BFA graduate, trained under her mother at J. Lockhart Performing Arts. Credits: “SYTYCD” S17, CBS’s “East New York,” MET Opera’s Malcolm X, 2023 “VMAs,” Broadway’s Illinoise, and a Chita Rivera nominee. @rachelxlockhart
MATTEO MARRETTA (Tour Dancer, Fred Astaire, u/s Alejandro). Broadway national tour debut! Credits: MAMMA MIA! (RCCL), The Elf On The Shelf (Tour), Newsies (Regional), and many more. Matteo is off the wall excited, love to his family and friends. It’s all good! @matteomarretta
BUNA McCREERY-NJIE (Tour Dancer, Marlon Jackson, James Brown (dancer), Nicholas Brother). From London, England, Buna is thrilled to continue his MJ journey on this tour, having previously performed the role in the West End production. Theatre: Hamilton (Original UK & Ireland Tour), Gypsy (regional). Television: “Strictly Come Dancing” (BBC), “Blue Lights” (BBC), “Wren Kitchens” (Michael Gracey/Ashley Wallen). Huge thanks to Mum, family, and friends for their unwavering love and support! @bunamnjie
ZION MIKHAIL PRADIER (Swing, Assistant Dance Captain). National tour debut!: MJ. Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
DARIA PILAR REDUS (Standby Rachel and Kate, Katherine Jackson). Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors (Crystal, US Audrey), The Spongebob Musical first national tour (Sandy). Select Regional: The Sound of Music (Maria), RENT (Mimi), Ragtime (Sarah). Lucky to love Adam. Hi Mommy and Daddy! Woo Hudson Artists! IG:@dariaredus101
TYRONE REESE (Universal Swing, u/s Little Marlon, Dance Captain) is a native of Mobile, Alabama. Broadway: Illinois (St. James) Film: Descendants (Netflix). Education: The Juilliard School. Other performance credits; Fall For Dance (kNonameartist) and choreography by Ebony Williams, Ohad Naharin, Azure Barton, Jamar Roberts, and more. Tyrone is grateful for the neverending love and support he receives from his village. @_its.tyrone_
AVILON TRUST TATE (Keith, Jermaine Jackson, Isley Brother (vocal)). Greensboro native. Broadway: The Wiz (Ensemble, u/s Tin Man). Tours: The Wiz (Ensemble, u/s Tin Man), Mean Girls first national tour (Ensemble, u/s Mr. Duvall).
Regional: R+H’s Cinderella (NSMT); Chess (Muny). BFA MT ‘24 UNCG. Tate gives all thanks to God, Family, LINK4 and Agency, The Collective. IG: @avilon.tate
LYNN NOTTAGE (Book). Intimate Apparel Opera (LCT/The Met), Clyde’s (Broadway, Second Stage, Tony nomination), The Secret Life of Bees (Atlantic, Almeida), Mlima’s Tale (Public, Kiln), Sweat (Pulitzer Prize, Obie, Lucille Lortel, Evening Standard Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize; Tony & Olivier Award nominations), Ruined (Pulitzer Prize, Obie, Lortel, NY Drama Critics’ Circle, AUDELCO, Drama Desk & OCC awards). PEN/ Laura Pels Award, Doris Duke Artist Award, MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship. Member of the Dramatists Guild.
CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON, OBE, (Director & Choreographer) trained at The Royal Ballet School, he joined New York City Ballet in 1993 and was named first resident choreographer. Christopher has created productions for The Royal Ballet and major ballet companies worldwide. In 2014, Christopher directed and choreographed the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical An American in Paris. He has choreographed for opera, film and television. Christopher thanks his husband, Ross Rayburn, for his love, support and quiet guidance during the making of MJ
DAVID HOLCENBERG (Music Supervision, Orchestrations and Arrangements). Drama Desk Award, Tony, Grammy and Outer Critics nominations for his work on MJ. Other Broadway: Groundhog Day, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, Rocky, Ghost, Bye Bye Birdie, The Story of My Life, Good Vibrations, Seussical, Titanic and Show Boat. Other credits include The Radio City Summer Spectacular, the U.S. premiere of Ragtime (LA Drama Critics Award), the world premieres of Come Fall in Love (The Old Globe), Newsies (Paper Mill) and Mamma Mia! at the Hollywood Bowl.
JASON MICHAEL WEBB (Orchestrations and Arrangements). Special Tony Award recipient, Drama Desk winner. Music director: Choir Boy (MTC; arranger); The Color Purple (Broadway revival). Arranger: Disney’s Aida (revival; music supervisor); “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (2013 Inauguration of President Barack Obama). Executive music producer: Respect (MGM; starring Jennifer Hudson). Director: The Last Five Years (2021 film). Composer: “The Ms. Pat Show” (BET+), “Beebo Saves Christmas” (CW), Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare in the Park),
Light It Up! (Cleveland Playhouse), Wildflower (National Black Theater/ Apollo Theater).
NATHANAEL WILKERSON (Music Director/Conductor/Keyboards). Regional: The Color Purple (Umbrella Stage Company, Elliot Norton Nominee); Side By Side By Sondheim (Arts After Hours); Swing! (Calderwood Pavilion). Composition: The Mountain And Her Mortals (Boston Conservatory). Incredibly grateful to my teachers, and to make my tour debut!
JASON YARCHO (Co-Music Director/ Keyboards). National Tours: Wicked, Bright Star, Falsettos, Aladdin Broadway: Bullets Over Broadway, Wicked, Shuffle Along, An American in Paris, West Side Story. Other: The Muny, Playwrights Horizons, Carnegie Hall, Obie Awards; Paper Mill. Master’s Degree in Conducting (CCM). For Nolan, Leighton, Camryn, and Nash!
BILLY JAY STEIN (Electronic Music Design). Grammy Award-winning founder of Strange Cranium and Strike Audio. Broadway credits include Parade; Kimberly Akimbo; Shucked; One More Time; Paradise Square; Beautiful; Caroline, or Change; Tootsie; Mean Girls; The Band’s Visit; Fun Home; Spider-Man; Amélie; Tuck Everlasting; Jekyll & Hyde
DEREK MCLANE (Scenic Design). Broadway: MJ, Moulin Rouge!, A Soldier’s Play, Beautiful, Follies, Anything Goes, Bengal Tiger, Ragtime, 33 Variations, How to Succeed, The Pajama Game, I Am My Own Wife, Ragtime. Designed Oscars 6 times, 4 television musicals. Winner of multiple Obie, Art Director’s Guild, Emmy Awards, Drama Desk Awards and Tony Awards.
NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Design). Recent Broadway: Sweeney Todd, Grey House, Springsteen; Some Like It Hot, The Prom, and Hello, Dolly!. She is a TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project mentor, inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, and an 8-time Tony Award winner.
PAUL TAZEWELL (Costume Design). Hamilton (Tony Award); In the Heights; The Color Purple; Caroline, or Change; many others. Revivals include Side Show and Jesus Christ Superstar. TV and films include “The Wiz!” (NBC, Emmy Award), “Jesus Christ Superstar” (NBC), and Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story
GARETH OWEN (Sound Design). Back To The Future (Olivier nominee), MJ (Tony win), & Juliet (Tony nominee), Bad Cinderella, Summer, Come From Away (Olivier-win), End Of The Rainbow (Tony nominee), Bat Out of Hell (Olivier nominee), A Little Night Music (Tony nominee), Memphis (Olivier win), Top Hat (Olivier nominee), Merrily We Roll Along (Olivier win).
PETER NIGRINI (Projection Design) is one of Broadway’s pioneering projection designers. His work includes Here Lies Love, Ain’t Too Proud, Beetlejuice, The SpongeBob Musical, Dear Evan Hansen, and Fela!. In other venues: the Grace Jones Hurricane tour, Deep Blue Sea (Bill T. Jones).
RICH + TONE TALAUEGA (Michael Jackson Movement). Legendary choreographers Rich + Tone have worked with pop music’s biggest names including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Usher and many others, but working with MJ, first as dancers from the mid 90s to choreographing many of MJ’s projects through today, has been the highlight of their career.
CHARLES G. LaPOINTE (Wig & Hair Designer). Numerous Broadway, touring, regional, West End, International productions including Hamilton (Make-up Artists/Hair Stylist Guild Award), Ain’t Too Proud, Beetlejuice, The Cher Show (Drama Desk Award), SpongeBob SquarePants (Drama Desk Award). Television: “The Wiz Live!,” “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.”
JOE DULUDE II (Makeup Design). Broadway and West End: Wicked, Beetlejuice, KPOP, MJ, SpongeBob SquarePants, Anastasia, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and more. Film: Hocus Pocus 2, Don’t Look Up, Godmothered, etc. TV: “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” (Emmy nomination), “Annie Live!,” “The Gilded Age,” “Julia,” etc. IG: @dulude2
THE TELSEY OFFICE (Casting).
With offices in both New York and Los Angeles, The Telsey Office casts for theater, film, television, and commercials. The Telsey Office is dedicated to creating safe, equitable, and anti-racist spaces through collaboration, artistry, heart, accountability, and advocacy. Please visit thetelseyoffice.com for our credits.
JOHN MILLER (Music Coordinator). Over 140 Broadway shows including: Shucked, A Beautiful Noise, Mrs. Doubtfire, Ain’t Too Proud, Tina, Beautiful. Studio musician (bass): Madonna, Eric Clapton, BB King, Billy Joel and Michael Jackson. johnmillerbass.com
KATE WILSON (Voice Coach). Broadway: Camelot, Topdog/ Underdog, Piano Lesson, Leopoldstadt, Funny Girl, Moulin Rouge!, To Kill a Mockingbird. Film: Women Talking, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Lady Bird, Three Billboards… Missouri. Faculty: Juilliard.
NICOLE OLSON (Production Stage Manager). She/her. Tours: Ain’t Too Proud, What the Constitution Means to Me, Waitress, Beautiful, The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Chicago: Jersey Boys, Billy Elliot. Regional: San Jose Repertory (6 seasons). B.A., Theatre, Univ. of Southern California.
XAVIER KHAN (Stage Manager). Broadway: Hamilton. National Tours: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Hamilton (Philip and Angelica companies). NYC/Regional: many. @xavesk
ALEXANDER PIERCE (Assistant Stage Manager). Tours: Mamma Mia!, TINA - The Tina Turner Musical, Ain’t Too Proud, Jesus Christ Superstar, RENT. Regional: Kennedy Center, Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre, Huntington Theatre, and Ogunquit Playhouse. Graduate of Emerson College.
LAUREN TAYLOR WINSTON (Assistant Stage Manager). Broadway: Suffs, MJ, Almost Famous. Select Regional: Watch Night (PAC) The High Ground (Arena Stage), Cabaret (Goodspeed Musicals), The Central Park Five (Portland Opera). AEA / AGMA member.
ERIC ARMSTRONG (Company Manager). Broadway: A Strange Loop, New York, New York, The Wiz (2024 revival), JOB. Other Credits: The Wiz (Pre-Broadway Tour). AMDA Graduate. Proud ATPAM Member. Love to Bonnie, Mike, and Brian.
BIANCA JEAN-CHARLES (Associate Company Manager). Broadway: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, Grey House. Out of Town Pre-Broadway: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, BOOP!. New York University, New York City graduate.
DONTEE KIEHN (Global Associate Director). An American in Paris (Broadway, London, Paris, Tokyo; Associate Director/Choreographer); Diana: The Musical (Broadway; Associate Director); The Addams Family (Broadway, International; Associate Director/ Choreographer); Next to Normal (Broadway, Kennedy Center, International; Associate Choreographer); Brigadoon and Oklahoma! (Pittsburgh CLO; Director); Seven Brides.. (The Muny, Directing Consultant). Broadway performance credits: 42nd Street, Gypsy, and The Addams Family
MICHAEL BALDERRAMA (Global Associate Choreographer). Drama Desk. ACCA award. Part of almost a dozen Broadway shows, both on stage and the creative side. Favorites: In the Heights, Movin’ Out, Hamilton Choreographed/performed/worked with Michael Jackson, Gloria Estefan, Andy Blankenbuehler, Christopher Wheeldon, Thomas Kail, Twyla Tharp, Julie Taymor, Lin-Manuel Miranda and more.
VICTORIA DAVIDJOHN (Resident Director) is thrilled to be part of the MJ team! Previously: Into the Woods, 2022 Revival (Broadway, National Tour, New York City Center | Associate Director). Proud Lilly Award recipient. @victoriadavidjohn
CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL (Tour Resident Director). Director, choreographer, and educator. Hamilton (Sydney & San Francisco), MJ (Broadway); The Bodyguard (TBTS); Natasha…1812 (PCLO). BFA: University of Michigan; MFA: Penn State. chriskdc.com
JUSTIN PRESCOTT (Dance Supervisor). With a Broadway career of 10 shows, spanning over 12 years, Justin is excited to be sharing his professional knowledge and experiences as Dance Supervisor for the first national tour of this fabulous production!
BESPOKE THEATRICALS (General Management). Partners Amy Jacobs, Devin Keudell, David Roth, and Danielle Saks manage Broadway musicals, plays and tours. Current productions: Giant, The Lost Boys, Mamma Mia, MJ, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Beetlejuice, and Back to the Future: The Musical. General managers in the firm include Kate Egan, Matty Cogliano, and Michael Demniak.
JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS (Production Management) is a New York City based production management firm. Formed in 1998, JSP has managed more than 100 Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours and events. Currently running: & Juliet, Funny Girl, Grey House, Harry Potter, Here Lies Love, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: The Musical, Moulin Rouge, Parade, Shucked, Some Like It Hot, Tina juniperstreet.com.
NEUROTOUR (Physical Therapist) are global leaders in live entertainment and performing arts medicine and honored to be part of this amazing touring company of MJ. Keeping performers happy, healthy & on stage.
THE BOOKING GROUP (Tour Booking Agency). has represented 28 Tony Award® winning Best Musicals and Plays. Current tours include Boop!, Buena Vista Social Club, Hamilton, Harry Potter & the Cursed Child, Just In Time, Mamma Mia!, Oh, Mary!, Operation Mincemeat, Six, Some Like It Hot, Suffs, The Notebook, and The Wiz
BOND THEATRICAL (Tour Marketing & Publicity Direction) is an independently-owned theatrical booking, marketing and publicity company representing award-winning Broadway shows and live entertainment properties. BOND connects artists and audiences by forming strategic, authentic and profitable partnerships between producers and presenters across North America. For a complete list of current projects, please visit BondTheatrical.com
LIA VOLLACK (Producer) began her career in the music industry and as a theatrical sound designer before transitioning to film. Over her two decades as president of worldwide music at Sony Pictures, Vollack created multi-platinum soundtracks with artists including Destiny’s Child, Alicia Keys, Jack White, Kendrick Lamar, Pearl Jam and Adele. Vollack founded Sony’s Columbia Live Stage, where she produced the Olivier Awardwinning musical Groundhog Day Since forming her company in 2019, she has produced MJ and Almost Famous on Broadway.
JOHN BRANCA (Producer). As head of the music department at Ziffren Brittenham LLC, John has been advancing the careers of recording artists for more than four decades. His clients have included more than
30 members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Michael Jackson, Branca’s client since 1980, hailed him as the “greatest lawyer of our times” for his innovative representation of artists’ interests. Branca is co-executor and co-manager of the Estate of Michael Jackson.
JOHN McCLAIN (Producer). As a music producer, musician and respected recording executive, John has for decades played a key role in the music industry by transforming young talent, hip-hop artists, gospel choirs, record labels, producers, R&B and pop singers into international stars. He is co-executor and co-manager of the Estate of Michael Jackson.
MICHAEL DAVID (Executive Producer). President of Dodger Properties (“the Dodgers”). Responsible for roughly 200 productions over 40 years in New York and internationally. Blessed with a host of awards from Tonys (56), London’s Oliviers and the like. Lead producer Broadway’s Matilda, Jersey Boys, Into the Woods, The Who’s Tommy, Titanic, The Gospel at Colonus, Urinetown, 42nd Street among others. Offices in Times Square and Covent Garden.
SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
(Co-Producer) is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. SPE’s global operations encompass motion picture, television and digital content production, acquisition, and distribution; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. www.sonypictures.com/ corp/divisions.html
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT (CoProducer). For more than 40 years Sony Music, as one of the leading music companies globally, has proudly represented the recorded music of Michael Jackson and continues to work with his Estate to develop new and innovative ways of sharing this amazing music with the world.
ROY FURMAN (Co-Producer). 17 Tony award-winning musicals/plays. Currently on Broadway: Some Like It Hot, Funny Girl, Book of Mormon (Tony), Sweeney Todd, Moulin Rouge! (Tony). Vice Chairman Jefferies Group, Vice Chairman emeritus Lincoln Center.
CUE TO CUE PRODUCTIONS
(Co-Producer). Cue to Cue Productions is a theatre production company led by Jeff Vinik, the former hedge fund manager and owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Joshua Vinik, a stage manager.
JAMES L. NEDERLANDER
(Co-Producer). President of Nederlander Organization. Credits: Kimberly Akimbo; Some Like It Hot; Titanique; Mr. Saturday Night staring Billy Crystal; Tina: The Tina Turner Musical; The Lehman Trilogy; My Fair Lady; The Band’s Visit; On Your Feet!; The Elephant Man; Next to Normal; Movin’ Out and many others.
KUMIKO YOSHII (Co-Producer). Credits include: Museum of Broadway, Be More Chill, Prince of Broadway, Pacific Overtures, The True (Off-Broadway) and The Fantasticks (West End). Current/upcoming: The Karate Kid – The Musical and Working Girl
NAOYA KINOSHITA (Co-Producer) is president of Kinoshita Group. Current/ upcoming credits include Museum of Broadway, The Great Gatsby the Immersive Show and The Karate KidThe Musical
LATITUDE LINK (Co-Producer). Four-time Tony-winning co-producer of more than 25 Broadway, OffBroadway, West End, touring and international shows including MJ, Come From Away, Fun Home, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Memphis & Jersey Boys. Latitudelink.com
STEPHEN C. BYRD (Co-Producer). Producer: Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, Streetcar Named Desire, Get Up Stand Up, Ain’t Too Proud, Iceman Cometh, Smokey Joe’s, Eclipsed, Romeo & Juliet, American Son, Mandela, Trip To Bountiful, MJ, Camelot.
CANDY SPELLING (Co-Producer). Producing credits: Moulin Rouge!; Tina—The Tina Turner Musical; The Color Purple; Tootsie; The Iceman Cometh; Nice Work If You Can Get It; How to Succeed in Business; Promises, Promises
JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION (Co-Producer) family of companies includes Broadway Across America and Broadway.com, under the supervision of 22-time Tony-winning producer John Gore. Productions include: MJ, Moulin Rouge!, The Outsiders, Parade.
PETER W. MAY (Co-Producer). President of Trian Partners and an avid Broadway investor and producer. Winner of five Tony Awards, including Moulin Rouge! and The Inheritance Producer and an investor in many more.
SANDY ROBERTSON (Co-Producer) is an investment manager from Dallas and San Francisco who has invested in or produced more than 25 Broadway plays, including several Tony winners. This one is a winner!
ED WALSON (Co-Producer). Broadway: Relatively Speaking, Cinderella, Big Fish, Bullets Over Broadway, An American in Paris, Carousel, Pretty Woman, King Kong Film: City Island, Blue Jasmine, Magic in the Moonlight, Irrational Man
ALBERT NOCCIOLINO (Co-Producer) presents touring Broadway in the Northeast and has been investing in and producing Broadway shows for over 35 years. Recent productions: Tina—The Tina Turner Musical, and To Kill A Mockingbird
KEN SCHUR (Co-Producer). Broadway productions: Waitress, Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations, Network, Burn This, Take Me Out Almost Famous and MJ West End: Waitress and Ruthless the Musical
WILLETTE & MANNY KLAUSNER (Co-Producer). Hadestown, Ain’t Too Proud, Grey House, Take Me Out, For Colored Girls, Ohio State Murders, American Buffalo, The Band’s Visit, Eclipsed, Trip to Bountiful. LondonGet Up Stand Up, Mandela
DAVID SHAFER (Co-Producer) is a renowned plastic surgeon in NYC. Committed to innovation and patient satisfaction, he has earned recognition as a leading expert in the field.
MARTIN BANDIER (Co-Producer). Former CEO of Sony Music Publishing, member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, BMI Icon, lifetime achievement Grammy, and founder of the Bandier School for Music at Syracuse University.
DOUG MORRIS (Co-Producer) successfully ran all three major music companies - Warner, Universal, and Sony. He is an honoree of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He co-produced Motown: The Musical
LIA VOLLACK PRODUCTIONS
Lia Vollack
Lawryn LaCroix
Nick Durst Kelsea Edgerly
THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON
John Branca John McClain Karen Langford
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
BESPOKE THEATRICALS
Devin Keudell Amy Jacobs
David Roth Danielle Saks
General Manager Kate Egan
Associate General Manager Lisa Jaeger
Company Manager .......................................... Eric Armstrong
Associate Company Manager Bianca Jean-Charles
TOUR BOOKING AGENCY THE BOOKING GROUP thebookinggroup.com
Meredith Blair Kara Gebhart
Laura Kolarik Stephanie Ditman Sophie Tiesler Kelsey Ballard
TOUR MARKETING & PUBLICITY
BOND THEATRICAL bondtheatrical.com
Temah Higgins Mollie Mann DJ Martin
Marc Viscardi Wendy Roberts
Jenny Bates
Steph Kelleher Katelyn Wenkoff
Melissa Cohen Alexandra De La Cerda Caroline Frawley
Tony Joy Deborah Mann Harrison Mootoo
Scotland Newton Elisabeth Reyes
Anne Simendinger Linda Stewart
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
JUNIPER STREET PRODUCTIONS
Hillary Blanken Ana Rose Greene Sadie Alisa Sarah Penland
Guy Kwan Victoria Bullard Ross Leonard Hannah Wilson
Abby Filiaggi Carolyn Bonaccorsi Christopher Childs
Laura Zamsky Burkett Horrigan Z Zurovitch Kara Kennedy
CASTING THE TELSEY OFFICE
Lindsay Levine, CSA Rachel Hoffman, CSA
TOUR STAFF
Resident Director Victoria Davidjohn
Tour Resident Director Christopher Campbell
Dance Supervisor Justin Prescott
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER Nicole Olson
Stage Manager Xavier Khan
Assistant Stage Managers Alexander Pierce, Lauren Taylor Winston
Physical Movement Coordinator Lorenzo Pisoni
Associate Scenic Designer Erica Hemminger
Assistant to the Scenic Designer Rochele Mac
Global Associate Costume Designer Christine Meyers
THE ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS EMPLOYED IN THIS PRODUCTION ARE MEMBERS OF ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
The musicians employed in this production are members of the American Federation of Musicians
All stage work performed by employees represented by IATSE
ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), represents the Press Agents, Company Managers and House Managers employed on this production.
The Director is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.
DRAMATISTS GUILD
The writer/s of this production are members of the national trade association of professional playwrights, composers, lyricists, and liberettists.
This production is produced by a member of The Broadway League in collaboration with our professional union-represented employees.
WARNING
The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside this theatre, without the written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for money damages.
Lambert, Leslie Lambert, Sarah Martin, Loren Millikan-Hale, Sharon Morrow, Callie Nelson, Timothy Parsons Wagner, Lisa Payne, Laura Poole, Dave Richards, Alan Sorce, Marisa Spadi, Elisa Tepel, Amy Vlasova, Eliza Watts, Nicole Williams, Kami Wilson, Barbara
DPAC House Crew
Kiko Marra Allen Olmstead
Albert Sainz Sr. Josh Thurman
Derek Tovar
David A. Wilson
The Denver Performing Arts Complex is owned and operated by Denver Arts & Venues for the City and County of Denver.
City and County of Denver
Mike Johnston, Mayor
Denver Arts & Venues
Gretchen Hollrah, Executive Director
Jen Morris, Deputy Executive Director
Tariana Navas-Nievas, Deputy Executive Director
Denver Arts & Venues, Arts Complex Operations
Jody Grossman, Venue Director
Todd Medley, Facilities Superintendent
Kelly Graham, Safety, Security and Garage Operations Manager
Carol Krueger, Senior Operations and Guest Experience Manager
artscomplex.com | (720) 865-4220
For immediate assistance & security (720) 865-4200
We Fund Culture.
LEGACY GIVING
Leave a legacy. Make a pledge that safeguards the future of theatre. By doing so, you’ll become a member of the Encore Society, a dedicated group of patrons who have made long-term commitments to the DCPA in their estate plans.
HERE’S HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Take advantage of tax-wise giving: Speak with your tax advisor about transferring appreciated stock directly to the DCPA, or direct part or all of the RMD from your IRA directly to us. We pay no capital gains, so your direct transfer contributions often go further than personally taking your distribution and making donations out of the proceeds.
Make a gift in your will or revocable trust: Give a tax-free gift for any DCPA designation that can be updated at any time.
Designate the DCPA as a beneficiary: Name the DCPA as a beneficiary of a retirement plan, IRA, insurance policy, or other account.
As a member of our Encore Society, you’ll receive invitations to special events, access to discounted show tickets, and more member-only perks!
Leslie Alexander and Sophia Dotson in A Little Night Music
Photo by Amanda Tipton Photography
DCPA TEAM
DCPA
Janice Sinden President & CEO
Donna Hendricks Executive Assistant, President & CEO
Julie Schumaker Manager, Board Relations
ACCOUNTING & FINANCE
Jane Williams CFAO
Sara Brandenburg Director, Accounting Services
Jennifer Jeffrey Director, Financial Planning & Analysis
Kristina Monge Associate Accountant
Jennifer Siemers Director, Accounting
BROADWAY & CABARET
John Ekeberg Executive Director
Administration
Ashley Brown Business Manager
Alicia Bruce General Manager
Lisa Prater Operations Manager
Garner Galleria Theatre
Abel Becerra Technical Director
Jason Begin+, Anna Hookana+ Core Stagehands
DEVELOPMENT
Jamie Clements Vice President
Sarah Darlene Manager, Grants & Reports
Julia Dunn Manager, Donor Engagement & Legacy Giving
Kara Erickson-Stiemke Manager, Annual Giving & Stewardship
Emily Kettlewell Director, Operations
Caitie Maxwell Senior Director, Major Gifts
Marc Ravenhill Director, Donor Relations
Sarah Smith Coordinator
Megan Stewart Associate Director, Special Events
Jazzmin Bonner Yale Management Fellow
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Allison Watrous Executive Director
Stuart Barr Technical Director
Dani Robb Director, Business Operations
Lyndsay Corbett Teaching Artist & Manager, Bobby G
María Corral Director, Community Engagement
Heather Curran Teaching Artist & Manager, Playwriting
Elliot Davis Evening Registrar & Office Coordinator
Rachel Ducat Executive Assistant & Business Manager
Rya Dyes Registrar & On-Site Class Manager
Gavin Juckette Teaching Artist & Manager, TYA Engagement & Music
Timothy McCracken Head of Acting
Rick Mireles Manager, Community Engagement
David Saphier Teaching Artist & Manager, In-School Programming
Charlotte Talbert Librarian
Rachel Taylor Teaching Artist & Manager, Literary Engagement & Resiliency
Justin Walvoord Teaching Artist & Manager, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot
Samuel Wood Director, Education & Curriculum Development
Lauren Estes*, Jen Gray*, Noah Jungferman*, Oliver Knight*, Reagan Luchte*, Alix Maulitz*, Claudia Ruizesparza*, Holly Stigen*, Asheala Tasker*, Rob Warner* Ticket Agents
Kirsten Anderson*, Scott Lix*, Liz Sieroslawski*, Greg Swan* Subscription Agents
Jon Collins, D.J. Dennis Manager, Subscription
Amanda Foust*, Edmund Gurule*, Brett O’Neill*, Hayley Solano*, Andrew Sullivan*, Bronwen VanOrdstrand*, Alfonso Vazquez*, Max McCord* Counter/Show Leads
Billy Dutton Associate Director, Operations
Katie Davis, Claire Hayes, Ella Mann Managers, Box Office
Chandra R.M. Anthenill, Wayne Breyer, Corin Davidson, Elizabeth Ann Goodman, Harper Hadley, Sage Hughes, Nick Mason, Melissa J. Michelson, Christine Rose Moore, Nick Nyquist, Brooke Redler, Malia Stoner Stage Managers
Kelly Breuer, Nora Caley, Robin Lander, Melanie Mason, Barbara Pooler, Ayden Smith House Managers
Safety & Security
Quentin Crump Director
Timothy Allen, Jodi Benavides Lead Security Officers
David Bright, Ariana Cuevas, Acura Holt, Ethan Kemberlin, Jack Leatherwood, Ian Nelson, Glenn Powell, Ashley Skillman, Zach Stemley, Tori Witherspoon Security Specialists
•Immediate Need or Pre-plan Services
•Available 24/7 Statewide
•On-Site Crematory
IN THE COMMUNITY
Join us for FREE public performances of SHAKESPEARE
IN THE PARKING LOT
Abridged versions of some of the Bard’s most beloved plays performed in and around a pickup truck “set”
Performances take place throughout the community on Saturdays Apr 11 – May 9.
LEARN MORE
BRINGING SHAKESPEARE TO THE COMMUNITY
FFor the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, community connection is central to its mission. That commitment is vividly realized through Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, a program designed to bring free, high quality theatre directly into neighborhoods across the metro area. Performed outdoors in everyday public spaces, these lively productions make Shakespeare accessible, informal, and welcoming to audiences of all ages.
Launched in 2014/15, the program began as a high school initiative but quickly grew into a beloved resource across the Denver metro area. Its hallmark is accessibility: performances take place in parking lots, plazas, libraries, and parks, using a simple pickup truck “set” that allows the cast to bring Shakespearean classics to audiences who may not otherwise encounter live theatre. “There’s something beautiful in the accessibility of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot,” said Allison Watrous, DCPA Executive Director of Education & Community Engagement, noting how ordinary spaces become creative gathering points for all ages.
This community focus is reflected in the program’s reach. Last season alone, Shakespeare in the Parking Lot completed 80 school performances for nearly 13,000 students and nine free community performances serving more than 1,100 individuals — a demonstration of both widespread enthusiasm and the strong demand for high quality cultural programming. This expanded community access is supported by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), which helps broaden access to the arts.
The spring 2026 tour continues this mission with a new round of free Saturday performances across the region. Audiences can enjoy A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Romeo and Juliet at locations including the Curtis Community Center (April 18), Aurora Public Library Central Library (April 25), Belmar Library (May 2), and Riverfront Plaza (May 9).
Each performance, running approximately 90 minutes, blends professional acting with nimble stagecraft on and around a pickup truck set.
As the program enters its twelfth year, it has already reached more than 11 1,000 people in schools and public settings, reinforcing DCPA’s vision of theatre as a shared civic experience. This spring, Denver area residents are once again invited to gather, connect, and enjoy Shakespeare the way it was meant to be: together.
Photo by McLeod9 Creative
Cherry Creek 250 Steele St., Suite 200, Denver
Financial Clarity & Direction From a Team You Can Trust Michael Mullen, CFP®, CRPS®, CRPC® Executive Financial Advisor Osaic Institutions, Inc. mmullen.bcu nancial@bellco.org 303-367-9768
Osaic Institutions financial professionals are located at select Bellco Credit Union branches. Convenient access to a variety of investment services located right at your local branch. Michael Mullen is located at the following branches: 120th & Huron, Clifton, Grand Junction, Thornton, and Erie
CHASE THE SPARK!
Experience the rush of Broadway’s biggest touring hits — from Tony Award-winning sensations to the season’s most electrifying new arrivals — as they burst to life with music, movement, and magnetic storytelling. Each performance delivers a spark worth chasing and a connection worth capturing. Your seat awaits.
joyous, family-friendly charmer!
Denver
Complete
&
IN DOWNTOWN DENVER
Just show your theatre tickets and
Complimentary Seasonal Dessert with purchase
Three-course Pre-Theatre Menu for $60 per person with an optional wine pairing for $30
range
Complimentary valet parking and dessert with purchase of entrée
Panzano
Dazzle
Rioja Free glass of our proprietary Barcino C3 Cava
— KEVIN CLASSEN, PNC REGIONAL PRESIDENT FOR COLORADO AND MOUNTAIN TERRITORY EXECUTIVE
PROUD SPONSOR OF DCPA EDUCATION’S BOOK STARS
PPNC aims to strengthen and enrich the lives of our neighbors in the communities where we live and work, and, with funding from PNC Foundation, we are pleased to once again support the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) in this season’s Book Stars program. Since 2004, PNC Grow Up Great, our $500 million, bilingual early childhood education initiative, has helped prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life by supporting programs, resources and experiences that plant the seeds for a lifetime of opportunities. DCPA Book Stars likewise supports early childhood educators to enhance early literacy in pre-K by working with Title I schools throughout metro Denver.
This innovative program encourages children to become characters and solve problems through creative play and theater-based learning, with teaching artists building relationships with students and teachers over time. By offering Book Stars to schools at no cost, in English and Spanish, we can increase accessibility and help eliminate achievement gaps before they start.
By focusing our support on high-quality early childhood education, we aim to positively impact school readiness, setting children on a path for success. We’re proud to help DCPA continue to grow this program and build more relationships with teachers, students, and families in our region.
Thank you for your continued support for the arts, and enjoy the show!
“ “
PNC is firmly committed to strengthening access to high-quality early childhood education in Colorado. Early literacy is a powerful driver of long-term community stability and economic growth, laying the foundation for a strong workforce and resilient local economies. Book Stars is a unique and engaging way to build these essential skills in our youngest learners, helping ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive and every community has the opportunity to succeed.
We believe that the arts have the power to connect and inspire our neighbors, and we are proud to support the DCPA.
— STEVE PEATE, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF AMERISTAR CASINO RESORT SPA
PROUD CORPORATE MEMBER OF THE DCPA
AAmeristar Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk is proud to continue its partnership with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. This collaboration highlights a dedication to supporting the arts and enriching the local community. Together, Ameristar and the DCPA aim to bring the magic of live theatre to the entire Denver community by offering the opportunity to experience world-class performances right in their backyard.
Steve Peate, Vice President and General Manager of Ameristar Casino Resort Spa, shared his excitement about the partnership: “Partnering with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts is another fantastic opportunity to positively impact the community. At Ameristar, whether through charitable or civic organizations, supporting our community is part of our culture. We believe that the arts have the power to connect and inspire our neighbors, and we are proud to support the DCPA.”
It’s about having a passion not only to entertain, but to also change lives. It’s about wanting to foster a vibrant community of giving and contribute to causes which seek to create a better tomorrow. When the curtain falls, Ameristar will be standing with the DCPA.
A PROUD PARTNER OF THE DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
CChevron has invested in Colorado for more than 90 years and today Chevron is the largest oil and gas producer in Colorado, with close to 1,000 employees. We know how to deliver affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy and we are investing resources and time to find ways to drastically lower the carbon intensity of the energy we produce while maintaining the important pillars of affordability and reliability.
Our company and our employees take pride investing our time and talent into the many communities we call home. Chevron invests millions of dollars and volunteers thousands of hours with community organizations across the state. Our focus areas include meeting essential needs, promoting diversity and inclusion, enhancing education, providing arts experiences, and protecting the environment.
Through several different partners, Chevron supports science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects at universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, and career technical education centers on the Front Range and Western Slope.
We also work with non-profits whose programming encourages young boys and girls to explore STEM in various ways. Our support of robotics programs in several schools enables youth to have hands-on learning.
We have proudly supported the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for more than three years, believing in its vital contribution to the state’s creative energy. The arts are for everyone, and Chevron’s contribution enables DCPA’s educational programs, youth theater, budding teen playwrights, Denver’s own theater company, and Broadway productions.
Congratulations on another wonderful year bringing the performing arts to all the Front Range, and indeed, Colorado.
To learn more about Chevron and our community investments, please visit https://colorado.chevron.com/
Supporting communities is a treasured and fundamental ethic of Chevron employees. They are proud to volunteer at food banks, environmental projects, fundraisers, and more.
