Salida Theater Festival
A Revival of Live Theater in Chaffee County
Curtains Up!
Sept 23 - Oct 6, 2024
6 Shows
4 Venues
4 Companies
Sept 23rd-Oct 6th
BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER!!
Curtains Up!
6 Shows
2024 Show Lineup
“Mountain Octopus”
By Beth Kander
Directed by Devon Jencks Kasper
Produced by Salida Theater Project
Written bay Beth Kander
Show Dates
- September 26, 27, 28 at 7PM
- September 29 at 3PM
- October 2, 3, 4 at 7PM
Location
A Church, 419 D St
Show Information
MOUNTAIN OCTOPUS chronicles a few days in Chance – a town very similar to Salida itself and to the mythical Grover’s Corners of Wilder’s OUR TOWN. A town where people live a quiet life, enjoying each other’s company, looking forward to tomorrow with few expectations. A town that accepts the inevitable pains of life as well as the hoped-for joy. A town that takes everyone’s problems seriously, but with a grain of salt. This is a new play written by Beth Kander that was commissioned by Creede Repertory Theater and produced during their 2023 season. Ms. Kander catches the essence of small-town life and gives each player an appropriate answer to their “what do I do now” questions. Thornton Wilder would approve of this script and so will you.
“There’s a Song for That”
A Cabaret Performance
Directed By Alan Lane
Produced by Salida Theater Project
For ages 14 and older
Show Dates
- September 23, 24, 30 at 7PM
- October 1 at 7PM
Location
Cafe Topo, 211 F St
Show Information
Alan Lane has created an intimate and mesmerizing Cabaret Performance straight from the Great American Songbook and highlighting some of our community’s best singers and performers. It is something special and not to be missed.
Our fabulous performers are: Kirsten Arbogast, Jordan Gonzalez, and
Andrea Mossman.
“The Wind is Us: The Death that Killed Capote”
By Mike Broemmel
Directed by Mike Broemmel
Staged and Performed by Eddie Schumacher
For ages 13 and older
Show Dates
- September 30 at 7PM
- October 1 at 3PM
Location
A Church, 419 D St
Show Information
“The Wind Is Us: The Death that Killed Capote” by Mike Broemmel chronicles the life of author Truman Capote from his days researching his iconic “non-fiction novel” In Cold Blood until his death in 1984. The play combines pathos and comedy to reveal how and why Capote’s life collapsed because of his most-acclaimed work, resulting in his premature tragic death. Veteran actor Eddie Schumacher plays Truman Capote. The Wind Is Us is presented at the Salida Theatre Festival by the Salida Theater Project and is produced by Act One Productions and Theatrix USA.
“Something Great! Finding Myself in the Belfast Circus”
Written and performed by Jennifer Dempsey
Directed by Dr. Moira Forsythe
Co-Directed by Greg West
Produced by TINTS
For ages 14 and older
Show Dates
- Part 1 – Sept 27, 28 at 7pm
- Part 2 – Oct 4, 5 at 7pm
You don’t have to have seen Part 1 to enjoy Part 2
Location
Box of Bubbles, 206 E St
Show Information
In 1989, a twenty-one-year-old American college dropout moves to Belfast, hoping that the Troubles in Northern Ireland will take care of her own. They do, but not in the way she ever imagined. “Something Great” is a raw portrait of a young woman who loses her way but finds herself in the Belfast Circus.
Written and performed by Salida Circus director Jennifer Dempsey, this 75-minute dramedy is a coming-of-age story about searching for purpose and finding it in the most unlikely of places.
“Taking Tea with the Ripper”
By Mike Broemmel
Staged and Performed by Greg West
Produced by Act One Productions and Theatrix USA
Show Dates
- September 29 at 8pm
- October 2 at 4pm
Location
Salida SteamPlant, 220 W Sackett Ave
Show Information
Taking Tea with the Ripper by Mike Broemmel is considered the most disturbing play around — but in a most spectacular way. The play brings you face-to-face with the London Gentleman on the night of the infamous Jack the Ripper’s first murder. The play brings a theater-goer up close to unbridled insanity. The play stars Salida theater stalwart Greg West in the title role.
“Brighton Beach Memoirs”
By Neil Simon
Directed by Gloria Fant
Produced by Sventastik Productions
For ages 13 and older
Show Dates
- October 3, 4, 5 at 7PM
- October 6 at 3PM
Location
Salida SteamPlant, 220 W Sackett Ave
Show Information
Here is part one of Neil Simon’s autobiographical trilogy: a portrait of the writer as a young teen in 1937 living with his family in a crowded, lower middle-class Brooklyn walk-up. Eugene Jerome, standing in for the author, is the narrator and central character. Dreaming of baseball and girls, Eugene must cope with the mundane existence of his family life in Brooklyn: formidable mother, overworked father, and his worldly older brother Stanley. Throw into the mix his widowed Aunt Blanche, her two young (but rapidly aging) daughters and you have a recipe for hilarity, served up Simon-style. This bittersweet memoir evocatively captures the life of a struggling Jewish household where, as his father states “if you didn’t have a problem, you wouldn’t be living here.”
Free Theater Workshops
In partnership with
the Creative Arts District
Friday, Sept 27
Salida SteamPlant
Voice for the Actor presented by Creede Repertory Theatre, Friday Sept 27 at 1:00pm- 2pm
Stage Combat– techniques and safety information for both actors and directors, Led by Tina Gramann, Friday, Sept 27 at 2:15-3:15pm.
View pointing, a Movement and Acting Technique for actors and directors; Led by Liz Dunn, Friday, Sept 27 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
(Viewpoints is an acting technique that relies less on the written language of a script and more on how time, space, and vocality can inform the story you’re trying to tell. Rather than diving into a character’s backstory, viewpoints allow you to more holistically embody a character in order to evoke certain emotions from your audience. This style of acting is highly collaborative and is, perhaps, best used in ensemble pieces.)
Saturday, Sept 28
Scout Hut
Clowning Workshop (given by Jennifer Dempsey), Saturday, Sept 28,1- 2pm
An improv workshop (Given by Garrison Garcia), Sat, Sept 28, 2:15-3:15pm (Garrison is new in town and experienced in teaching Improv. He would like to start an Improv group here in Salida)
Introduction to acting and auditioning (Given by Jan Justis), Sat, Sept 28, 3:30pm- 4:30pm
Festival Party
The After Party will be at the Velveteen Lounge in downtown Salida. You will have the chance to rub elbows with the producers, writers, directors, and lead actors. This event will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
Outdoor and indoor space will give us an opportunity to hold a Q&A rain or shine.
We encourage you to dress up and show your sparkle! Everybody is welcome.
Location: Velveteen Lounge, 115 G St, in downtown Salida.
Salida Theater Festival Producers
The 2024 Salida Theater Festival is Sponsored by Sponsored by the HHSB Family Fund
Producers Jennifer Demspey, Kyria Stange, Leslie Matthews (Festival Director) and Devon Kasper
Community Theater That Excites Us
Collaborating with artists based locally and beyond to foster a safe artistic platform for growth, conversation, and innovation. Salida Theater Festival is bringing quality, sustainable, and inspirational theatre to our community that celebrates the humanity in us all.