Cirque Dreams Illumination tix go on sale Valentines Day

Get ready for the all-new Cirque Dreams Illumination, the groundbreaking hit and only show of its kind to ever perform on Broadway. Hailed as “Dazzling! A reason to stand up and cheer” by the New York Daily News, Cirque Dreams Illumination will ignite Denver audiences at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House beginning March 31 for five performances only. Single tickets go on sale Sunday, February 14 at www.denvercenter.org.

Tickets on sale for Chazz Palminteri in A Bronx Tale

Academy Award-nominated actor Chazz Palminteri will visit Denver’s Ellie Caulkins Opera House June 9-21 to perform his critically-lauded one-man show 'A Bronx Tale.' Single tickets go on sale Sunday, May 3 at www.denvercenter.org, or by phone and walk-up Monday, May 4 at 10am.

'A Bronx Tale,' the funny and touching memoir written by and starring Chazz Palminteri, launched its national tour in September 2008 to rave reviews. Paul Hodgins of the Orange County Register said it is "Masterful!...It occupies 100 minutes but it feels like five...it's been almost 20 years since Palminteri's one-man show, in which he plays 18 characters, first catapulted him to fame, but after two decades with this wonderful material, Palminteri's story still seems as fresh and insightful as ever."

Colorado native Bobby List starring in Denver production of High School Musical

(LtoR) Heléne Yorke as “Sharpay Evans” and Bobby List as “Ryan Evans” in Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL National Tour. ©2008, Disney.
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Casting has been announced for the Denver engagement of Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, playing the Ellie Caulkins Opera House July 22–27. Presented by Disney Theatrical Productions, the division responsible for smash Broadway hits The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins and the Denver-born The Little Mermaid, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is based on the 2006 Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel Original Movie. The touring company, which is scheduled to play 42 cities over 60 weeks in the United States and Canada, includes a live orchestra and a cast of 34 talented theatrical performers.

Fort Collins native Bobby List will play Drama Club enthusiast and brother of Sharpay, “Ryan Evans.” List, a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College–Conservatory of Music, played opposite Debby Boone in The Human Comedy at Barrington Stage and in The 60’s Project at the Goodspeed Opera House. List was born and raised in Fort Collins, graduated from Rocky Mountain High School, and attended University of Northern Colorado for musical theatre.


“Troy Bolton,” captain of the basketball team, will be played by John Jeffrey Martin, whose Broadway credits include Rocky Horror Show, Hairspray and Good Vibrations. He is a graduate of Syracuse University with a BFA in Musical Theater. Starring opposite Martin as the shy, academic student “Gabriella Montez” will be Arielle Jacobs. Jacobs’ theatre credits include Crazy for You, A Chorus Line and Cinderalla, and her film credits include The Stepford Wives and Water Lilies.

Veteran actor Ron Bohmer will portray Troy’s father and Wildcats basketball coach, “Coach Bolton.” Bohmer is known for his Broadway and national tour credits including The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Phantom of the Opera, The Woman in White, Aspects of Love, Fiddler on the Roof and Sunset Boulevard. Troy’s best friend, “Chad Danforth,” will be played by Shakiem Evans who most recently appeared as “Eddie” in Broadway’s Mamma Mia! Evans’ off-Broadway credits include Two Gentlemen of Verona and Fame, and he is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. Ellen Harvey is the drama teacher “Ms. Darbus.” Harvey’s Broadway credits include Thou Shalt Not and The Music Man, and her touring credits include Mamma Mia! and Doctor Dolittle. “Taylor McKessie,” the leader of the “brainiacs” at East High School, will be played by Shaullanda LaCombe, who was “Shenzi” in Disney’s The Lion King and “Charlane” in Ain’t Misbehavin.

Michael Mahany will introduce audiences to a new character written specifically for the stage production - “Jack Scott,” the crooning voice of East High School. Mahany’s credits include the off-Broadway production of Spring Awakening, a reading of Ella Minnow Pea, a workshop of Bill Russell’s Mister Fabulous and regional productions of Into the Woods and Annie Get Your Gun. The young composer “Kelsi Neilson” will be portrayed by Olivia Oguma, who has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia! and Les Miserables and off-Broadway in Sarah, Plain and Tall, La Dispute and The Scarlet Letter. Oguma’s film credits include Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Flamingo Rising and Strangers with Candy: the movie.

“Zeke Baylor,” the basketball player who loves to bake, will be portrayed by Jelani Remy, who is making his national tour debut and was last seen in regional productions of Cabaret and Parade. Lizzie Weiss will play the hip-hop brainiac “Martha Cox.” Weiss earned her BA in Theater from the University of California at Irvine, and was an original cast member of the Atlanta Theatre of the Stars production of High School Musical. The scheming Drama Club president, “Sharpay Evans,” will be played by Heléne Yorke, who received a BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Michigan and appeared in the off-Broadway production of Walmartopia.

This new touring stage adaptation of Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Big River). HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL features a book by David Simpatico (adapted from the original movie script by Peter Barsocchini), and a score including all the songs from the original soundtrack plus two new songs written especially for the stage.

Commenting on the touring production, Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, said, “Our stage version of this great property has been mounted as a direct response to overwhelming demand. As someone who has been passionate about theatre since I was a kid, I am thrilled that we are touring this remarkably popular title as a fully realized stage production, and most certainly introducing countless young people to the world of theatre for the very first time. You can’t ask for more than that.” Schumacher adds, “It is a great joy and privilege for us to be able to produce and present the Disney Channel’s enormously popular property on stage.”

Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is a contemporary musical comedy about a popular high school basketball star and a shy, academically gifted newcomer who discover they share a secret passion for singing. When they sign up together to audition for the lead roles in the school musical, it threatens East High's rigid social order and sends their peers into an uproar. In a desperate effort to maintain the status quo, the "jocks," the "brainiacs" and even the drama club regulars are soon hatching convoluted plots to separate the pair and keep them offstage. By defying expectations and taking a chance on their dreams, however, the couple inspires other students to go public with some surprising hidden talents of their own.

The creative team for this new touring stage production of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, in addition to aforementioned director Calhoun, are choreographer Lisa Stevens, scenic designer Kenneth Foy, costume designer Wade Laboissonniere, lighting designer Kenneth Billington, sound designer Duncan Robert Edwards and music supervisor Bryan Louiselle.

The Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical premiered on Disney Channel U.S. on January 20, 2006 and posted the highest ratings for a Disney Channel Original Movie up until that time. It went on to become a smash hit internationally, airing on 27 Disney Channels and free-to-air broadcasters worldwide, thus far reaching over 250 million viewers in over 100 countries including China. It was also the first TV movie to be offered on the iTunes Music Store. High School Musical delivered the #1 album of 2006, the year's #1 TV movie on DVD, licensed amateur and professional touring stage productions, a best-selling junior novel, a popular consumer products franchise at mass retailers, a themed show at Disneyland Parks and Resorts in Anaheim, Orlando and Paris, a sold-out 42 date arena concert tour in North America and Latin America and a popular touring ice show around the world. Adding to its success, it won two Emmy Awards, a DGA Award, Television Critics Association Award, an Imagen Award, a Director's Guild of America Award and a Humanitas Prize nomination among other honors. Its soundtrack received a Billboard Music Award (Soundtrack of the Year) and was nominated for an American Music Award in the Favorite Album (Pop/Rock) category.

Its critically acclaimed sequel, High School Musical 2, ranks as the #1 basic cable telecast of all time (18.6 million viewers for its August 17, 2007 premiere) and has thus far been seen by 179 million total viewers around the world. Its soundtrack is quadruple Platinum in the U.S., triple Platinum in the UK and many more countries. It recently won an American Music Award. Walt Disney Studios will begin production on a feature film based on the movie; Kenny Ortega will direct and choreograph and the cast will reunite for the film titled High School Musical 3: Senior Year, scheduled for a 2008 release in theatres around the world.

Single tickets start at just $25. To charge by phone, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Groups of 20 or more, please call 303.446.4829. Tickets may also be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located at the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby (in the Denver Performing Arts Complex at Speer & Arapahoe), or at the Guest Services Desk at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. TicketsWest outlets are located in all King Soopers stores. Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org.

Special cast meet-and-greet fundraiser. On opening night, Tuesday, July 22, The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Disney Theatrical Productions will present a special event fundraiser benefiting the Denver Center's Arts in Education programs. A family four-pack ($2500) includes four excellent front orchestra seats, a private ice cream social to meet the cast after the show and an autographed commemorative program. For more information call 303.446.4812.

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL is an added attraction in Denver Center Attractions’ 2008 season and is generously sponsored by United Airlines. Media sponsorship for DCA is provided by The Denver Post, CBS4 and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine. Denver Center Attractions is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Please visit our website at www.denvercenter.org.