Mary Louise Lee in rehearsals for "The Wiz."

The Afterthought Theatre Company is gearing up for the upcoming production of "The Wiz" in August directed by Bernie Cardell and starring Denver's first lady Mary Louise Lee as Glinda the Good Witch. The Aurora Sentinel stopped by the Dayton Street Theatre this week to chat with the cast and crew. Look for a feature in next week's paper, and in the meantime, here's a clip of Lee gearing up for the show.

Live from the Henry Awards

The first awards are rolling in here at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Here are the winners so far:

Photo from Mysto the Magician's Aurora Fox show - 7/16

Mysto the Magician makes a bird disappear during his magic show at the Aurora Fox theater on July 16. (Heather L. Smith / Aurora Sentinel).

Shadow's CRUNK youth program persists despite company's challenges

Kamettisara LuQman practices her dance routine for last year's incarnation of the Shadow Youth Ensemble's Creative Resources Uniting Neighborhood Kids, aka CRUNK, show last July. The Shadow will offer its fifth year of the youth program, despite the company's eviction from its Dayton Street theater earlier this year. The show will run at the Aurora Fox theater in August. (Gabriel Christus/ The Aurora Sentinel)

The Shadow Theatre Company's annual youth theater program will continue this year, despite the troupe's loss of a permanent home.
The Creative Resources Uniting Neighborhood Kids, aka CRUNK, program has been a part of the Shadow's season since 2006. The theater camp offers local youths the chance to take a lead role in writing, producing and directing a full show. This year's theme, "Remember Where You Came From," will steer the tone and content of the production.
The program will enjoy its fifth consecutive season despite the Shadow Theatre troupe's eviction from its Dayton Street theater at the beginning of the year. While the Shadow has run most of its recent productions out of the Su Teatro facility in Denver, the CRUNK program will return to Aurora for a run at the Aurora Fox theater, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7.
Information and tickets: www.shadowtheatre.com/crunk.html.

July Artwalk to focus on "found art"

Jean Hreno and Phil Bender look through found objects Jan. 25 at The Collection in Aurora. (Photo by Heather L. Smith / Aurora Sentinel). 

Who says trash can't be turned into treasure?
This month's Second Friday artwalk on East Colfax Avenue will feature works from "The Collection," an artistic effort organized in part by Denver artist Phil Bender. Co-headed by the Original Aurora Renewal department, "The Collection" consists of found art pieces assembled by community teams, everyday artists who have morphed discarded objects into artistic statements.
Proceeds from Friday's sales will go toward future projects by the Original Aurora Renewal department, and organizers are encouraging participants to dress in 'recycled' outfits.
The artwalk will take place along the Aurora Arts District on East Colfax Avenue from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 8. The free event is set to feature open galleries, live music by the Andalus Jazz Express, street artists and other events. For more information, log on to auroraartsdistrict.com.

Colorado Theatre Guild announces special Henry Awards

Image courtesy of the Colorado Theatre Guild

The Colorado Theatre Guild’s Henry Awards banquet is next month, but the organization has revealed the recipients of four special honorees.

OpenStage, based in Northern Colorado, won a Henry Award for outstanding regional theater; Geoffrey Kent received a nod for Outstanding Fight Direction; the Northglenn Youth Theatre’s production of “The Sound of Music” won the Guild’s award for Outstanding Children’s Theatre Production; and Rhodes University and Trinity College graduate Joey Wishnia won an award for lifetime achievement.

Nominations for the four awards in these categories were submitted by members of the local theater community and finalized by the CTG Board of Directors.

The rest of the winners of the Colorado Theatre Guild’s awards will be announced during a special ceremony at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 18 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

For more information, log on to coloradotheatreguild.org.

PACE Center announces collaboration with Aurora Fox for inaugural season

Photo courtesy of the city of Parker.

A new arts complex in Parker will draw creative help from the Aurora Fox theater soon after it opens its doors in October.

Officials from the new Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center, or PACE, announced a collaboration that will see the Fox contributing two theater productions for the coming season. The PACE Center’s 500-seat theater will host productions of “A Christmas Story” in December and “Annie” in April, both co-produced with the Aurora Fox.

“The shows offer very satisfying entertainment, especially for people who aren’t accustomed to going to the theater regularly,” said Aurora Fox Executive Producer Charles Packard. “The primary advantage for me is that I’m finally going to be able to serve citizens of south Aurora who aren’t regularly coming up to the Fox. They’ll come to the PACE Center.”