By Catherine Trieschmann

World Premier!

A small town arts council has $20,000 to award to a local artist with an “under-represented American voice.” 

Should they choose the teacher/painter of modest talent or the self-taught artist who creates religious figures out of trash? 

This comedy explores how gossip, politics and opinions of art can decide who is the most deserving.

·         Ellis County, where the play takes place, is in north-central Kansas, boasts 900 square miles and is home to just over 28,000 people.

·         The Kansas Arts Commission was established in 1966 after legislation was introduced by Mr. Vivian Meckel, owner of Hays Music Company in Ellis County. The following year, the Hays Arts Council (HAC) became the first arts council in the state. In 1998, the council received the state’s highest honor for arts excellence, the Governor’s Arts Award.

·         The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was established by the US government in 1965, and though it still functions, its funds have been whittled away because of high profile opposition by political and cultural conservatives to a few grant-receiving artists. One of the disputes even came before the US Supreme Court, which upheld the NEA’s rights to sponsor the artists. But today the NEA no longer funds individuals, presumably to avoid the same type of controversy.

“Writing any play is a lot like falling in love: there’s the first rush of excitement, then the actual getting to know the play behind the rose colored glasses. Sometimes my relationship with the play is tortured; it burns fast and bright, then fades. Other times, it’s mutually respectful; we work things out slowly over time. The Most Deserving, however, has been my summer love of plays: working on it has been sunny, carefree and full of delight. My hope is that audiences will have as much fun watching the play as I had writing it.” – Catherine Trieschmann, Playwright

“My first read of The Most Deserving was surprise after surprise after surprise. I was delighted by the twists and turns in the story. I find Catherine's exploration of art, patronage, and politics in small town America, enthralling. The arts council she has created proves a ripe ground for comedy and we're enjoying mining the laughs--many of which come from unexpected places. Huge fights occur when there is grant money on the table and I think audiences will be tickled by the antics that arise as characters go to great lengths to get their way.” – Shelley Butler, Director

“I have spent a great deal of my career working on classical pieces. Incredible works that taught me to be brave yet vulnerable, grand yet truthful, sculpted yet effortless. Playwrights who were daring, inventive and highly skilled. Most of them men. All of them, well…dead. There can be no collaboration with the writer. So, you can imagine my delight to be able to delve into a thoroughly zany modern word. One that demands as much of me – if not more – with a brilliant female playwright. A playwright who possesses all these attributes and two spectacular additions: First, she is very much a generous, open collaborator and, second she is, well…ALIVE! All this and an utterly fantastic character? I couldn’t ask for more.” – Judith Hawking, actor playing to role of Jolene Atkinson

“I jumped at the opportunity to work on this new play! It's such a rare and wonderful treat to be part of a new play process. And this new play is such a wonderful, character based comedy. The characters are all so richly self-deluded! And the cast gets to behold the play evolve, to watch as Catherine Trieschmann, our playwright, makes hilarious tweaks and finds those extra comic flourishes in her script. Every day, she comes to rehearsal with terrific adjustments. As an actor, it's so creatively fulfilling to feel that you have contributed to her process, even if only in a very small way. I can't wait to get this one up in front of an audience. It's gonna be a blast!” – Sam Gregory, actor playing the role of Ted Atkinson

WHEN & WHERE:                        

October 11 – November 17 in The Ricketson Theatre

Media Night: Thursday, October 17 @ 6:30pm

PERFORMANCE DATES:                                                                       

Tuesday – Thursday                                                    6:30pm

Friday & Saturday                                                      7:30pm

Saturday & Sunday matinee                           1:30pm

CAST: (in order of appearance)

Jolene Atkinson                                              JUDITH HAWKING

Ted Atkinson                                                  SAM GREGORY

Liz Chang                                                       REBECCA MIYAKO HIROTA

Edie Kelch                                                      JEANNE PAULSEN

Dwayne Dean                                     CRAIG BOCKHORN

Everett Whiteside                                           JONATHAN EARL PECK

ARTISTIC STAFF:

Director                                                           SHELLEY BUTLER

Set Designer                                                    DAVID M. BARBER

Costume Designer                                           LEAH PIEHL

Lighting Designer                                           JANE SPENCER

Sound Designer                                              TYLER NELSON

Dramaturg                                                       ABIGAIL GONDA

Voice & Dialect Coach                                   KATHRYN G. MAES, Ph.D

American Sign Language Interpretation/Audio Described Performance | November 10, 1:30pm

Ø  CONNECT

Spark a dialogue today when you connect through our free discussion series.

Perspectives on the Play | October 11 at 6pm

The DCTC’s creative team provides the audience a unique perspective on the production. In The Jones Theatre.

“You call that art?” Panel Discussion | October 20, post-show

This discussion, moderated by John Moore, explores the how and why public art decisions are made.  Panelists will include experts from the arts community.

Talkback hosted by the Higher Education Advisory Council | November 10, post-show

Join the cast for a discussion led by members of our academic community.

Theatre & Theology | November 12, post-show

In a continued partnership with Pastor Dan Bollman of the Rocky Mountain Evangelical Lutheran Synod, this discussion examines the relevant connections to the productions through the theological lens.

For more information on CONNECT, please visit www.denvercenter.org/CONNECT.

TICKETS:

Single tickets for The Most Deserving start at $35 (non-SCFD) and also are available for $10 (SCFD 10 for $10 program).  To purchase, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100.  For groups of 10 or more, please call 303.446.4829.  TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582.  Tickets also may be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby.  Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org.  Student rush $10 tickets are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability.  Senior and military rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability. No children under four will be admitted to any theatre.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).  Please visit our website at www.denvercenter.org.

GENERAL:

This production of The Most Deserving is generously supported by Producing Partners Terry & Noel Hefty and Karolynn Lestrud and The Women’s Voices Fund. The Most Deserving is part of the Denver Center Theatre Company 2013/14 season, which is generously supported by CBS4, Daniel L. Ritchie, Larimer Square, The Denver Post, The Steinberg Charitable Trust and Wells Fargo.