Friday, May 25, 2007

A good way to get rid of those frown lines

The Denver Center Theatre's production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was just as they said it would be, absolutely hilarious. The cast brought the characters' personalities to life with great facial expressions, their body language, and singing. The costumes added to the comedy with their bright colors, and for the courtesans, minimal coverage. While slight in fabric, their design was bold and created in such a way to give each one a distinct and fun personality. And, that can be said for each one of the characters who were lovable and funny all at the same time. Truly a comedy as said at the beginning.

While the play fulfilled its bill as a comedy, the play's underlying theme of truth and freedom, was well stated when the characters' true identities were revealed, the slave gains his freedom in the end, the guy gets his girl, the father finds his lost children, and a marriage is reconciled–well, sort of. No tragedy there. What a relief to see everyone live happily ever after.

If you have been looking for a way to get rid of those frown lines, you need to go see A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Want to help pick the next President of the USA?

Join us tonight as we revive the Colorado Caucus Community of Practice. We'll be sharing information and experience about the way candidates get on the ballot here in Colorado, the good, the bad, and the ugly!

We gather to maximize informed participation in the next statewide Colorado neighborhood caucuses in 2008, and to help other states that would like to adopt Colorado's Community Caucus system.

Join us tonight, 6:30 p.m., at Panera Bread, 13th & Grant Street in Denver. More information and RSVP at http://cocacop.meetup.com or just attend, no RSVP is required.

Video: How would Ben Franklin Participate Today, see http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2406591995588617176&q=Ben+Franklin+Vote&hl=en

Be part of the solution!

Was there a neighborhood caucus in Rome?

Mary and I are going to be at the opening next Thursday, May 24 at Stephen Sondheim’s hilarious musical classic – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum this week. The classic comedy runs until July 8 at The Stage Theatre at the DCPA.

Forum is a comedy about Pseudolus, an earnest slave who hilariously attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master charm the pretty girl next door. A classic American musical, it opened in tryouts at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven on March 31, 1962. The hilarity continued through an original 964 performances on Broadway, London productions, national tours, a motion picture and Broadway revivals in 1972 and 1996.

Chris Winger tells us that Forum’s Rome will have the whimsical and exaggerated look of theatrical scenery with outrageous costumes that are somewhat risqué, a little naughty, and ridiculously inspired by the classic films Barbarella and Hercules.

We'll post our comments about the play here next week after we see it.

Here's all you need to know about tickets:

They are available through the Center Box Office in the Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby at Speer and Arapahoe streets. To purchase tickets by phone call (303) 893-4100 (for those outside the Denver calling area, 1 (800) 641-1222, TTY (303) 893-9582. Buy and print tickets on-line by visiting www.denvercenter.org

Children under six are not permitted in the theatre. Parental advisory – This production includes some suggestive situations and risqué costumes. Single Tickets for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are available now and start at $30.Group Discounts (10 or more) call Tina Risch at (303) 446-4849 or trisch@dcpa.org.

Student, military and senior rush tickets are obtainable with a valid ID one hour before curtain subject to availability. Senior and military rush tickets are half-price (one hour prior to curtain).

A generous grant from Directors Society Member Leslie Kaye has underwritten student tickets to all Denver Center Theatre Company productions at the special price of $10 (one hour prior to curtain).

Performances Monday (May 21 and 28, June 4, 11 and 18) at 6:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30pmThursday, Friday and at 8pmSaturday at 1:30pm and 8pmSunday (June 24, July 1 and 8) at 1:30pm and 7:30pmThe Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex is fully accessible to persons with disabilities.

Cordless headsets are available for patrons with hearing impairments. An audio-described performance for patrons who are blind or sight impaired – Saturday, May 19 at 1:30pm An ASL interpreted performance for patrons who are deaf or hearing impaired – Saturday, May 19 at 1:30pm

The Jones TheatreProducing Partners for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum are Margot & Allan Frank and Robert & Judi Newman. Media sponsor for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is KOSI 101. Season sponsors are The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, Wells Fargo and American Express Company.Season media sponsors are SCFD, CBS 4, The Denver Post and Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Socrates Cafe Next Thursday

Chris Phillips, who wrote the book Socrates Cafe, which inspired the start of the first group in Denver asked John to stand up recently at the talk he gave at Tattered Cover LoDo recently. (The only media coverage of the event was the student paper at Regis University.) The next meeting of our monthly group is next Thursday, RSVP at http://socratescafe.meetup.com/82, or join the group that meets each Friday, 6 p.m. at Panera Bread, 13th & Broadway here in Denver, no RSVP required.

Big Changes at IDEA Cafe

John has been leading IDEA Cafe meetings since 1996 or so. They met for years at the Koelbel Library in Littleton, and most recently at Panera Bread at 13th & Grant near the State Capitol here in Denver. At each meeting, John invites people to share their startup experience and brainstorm. Meetings are free and open to everyone who is starting something new, a project, campaign, business, or career. They became a meetup.com group a couple of years ago, and now meet weekly. They are making some big changes in the meeting format. If you'd be willing to share your startup experience, or if you want a boost as you get started, join them! They just ask that you bring your brain for the brainstorming! For more information see http://ideacafe.meetup.com/1. RSVP "No" if you want to get an invitation to next weeks meeting with when & where we will be meeting. Jarid Polis will be with us to tell the Pro-Flowers success story May 25.