Tuesday, May 22, 2018

DCPA’s Off-Center Announces Selections and Finalists for 'Bite-Size', An Evening of Micro Theatre by Colorado Artists

Off-Center, the most unconventional line of programming at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is proud to announce the selections for Bite-Size, an evening of original, short plays and performance pieces by Colorado artists, presented at BookBar and directed by Meridith C. Grundei.

Each of the five selected works will be awarded $1,000 and produced as part of an evening of micro theatre that will run for 24 performances at BookBar (4280 Tennyson St.) October 23 - November 18, 2018. This event is conceived and led by Meridith C. Grundei, who was featured as one of Westword’s 2017 100 Colorado Creatives.

“This was an incredibly competitive process with 213 eligible submissions from 101 Colorado zip codes,” said Charlie Miller, curator of Off-Center. “Every script was read by at least three different readers in a blind process that ensured the works were judged on their own merits, with the identity of the playwright hidden. The reading and selection committees were impressed with the depth of talent and quality of work that has come out of our vibrant creative community. Choosing only five for production was heartbreaking, so we have selected twelve additional pieces to be part of a post-show reading series at BookBar. This gives our twelve finalists the opportunity to hear their work out loud and share their wonderful pieces with the community.”

This evening of micro theatre will feature five original, short works by local artists. It will be performed environmentally at BookBar, with each piece performing in a different indoor or outdoor space simultaneously. The evening will accommodate 70 audience members; groups of ten at a time will see each piece in different orders. During scheduled breaks between performances, audiences will have the ability to purchase wine/tapas and socialize.

“Micro theatre is a unique approach to performance that is popular internationally, and we are excited to produce it with local artists in Denver,” said Charlie Miller, Off-Center Curator. “Meridith was inspired by the micro theatre she experienced in Mexico. Her passion was infectious and it was clear that this format would be a perfect fit for Off-Center as a different kind of site-specific theatrical experience.”

“I’m looking forward to the ways that this project will engage the larger Denver artistic community. In addition to Colorado-based playwrights/creators, Off-Center also plans to hire all performers and other collaborators locally. The idea of presenting these new works in a non-traditional setting also brought about a new partnership with BookBar, a local business that we admire. They regularly host literary events that bring the community together over food and wine and we can’t wait to activate their spaces with new stories by Colorado creatives,” Miller said.

Tickets for Bite-Size may be purchased at denvercenter.org, 303-893-4100 or in person in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex at 14th and Curtis later this summer.