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Check out John Moore's review for PAGEANT. Did he call these characters "freaks"? See for yourself


http://www.denverpost.com/theater/ci_4158751

posted by theatre group at 12:15 PM  |  0 comments  

Review by David Marlowe, Life on Capital Hill - Outfront Colorado

The Musical Theatre Super Bowl of fashion wear and pulchritude is currently kicking up its gams over at Theatre on Broadway. Steve Tangedal directs this sidesplitting send-up of shows like the Miss America Pageant with a dollop of (dare I say it?) Queen For a Day. It's all done with Tangedal's usual tongue in cheek style. Everything is played to get the yucks of the week out and the yuks of the weekend in. Tangedal's show will Pulverize your finny bone. How? Well first of all he's cast George Pulver (get it? Pulverize?) as Frankie Cavalier, the Bert Parks of this beauty Pageant non-pareil. Costumed in a seemingly never ending array of matching bow ties and cummerbunds for his after six wear, Pulver charms with the ingratiating humor of his songs and commentary. He's "tender and macho, and hot as a nacho!" The girls are all portrayed by the TOB boys in this show, and whether new faces, or familiar ones, they will do you Proud. C.J. Hosier is a sure fire bet to run for the roses as Consuela Manuela Rafaella Lopez - Miss Industrial North East. The raven black curls and over-the-top accent of Hosier's character's spicy Latin heritage stands him in good stead for winning the coveted award. His roller-skating accordion solo is hilariously horrifying. Todd Black as Laurinda Summerford (Miss Deep South) does his funniest stage work yet. His three voiced ventriloquism with granny and gramps puppets had the audience howling. Preston Britton is completely charmin' as Kitty Bob Ames (Miss Texas.) "Daddy always says, 'we may have more money than God, but we don't have to act like it." Richard Clark is a hoot as Ruth Ann Ruth (Miss Bible Belt.) She has deep faith that she will win since it is all a part of "His Plan." Clark's singing of "Bankin’ on Jesus" is the zenith of this musical lampoon. Michael Higginbotham is Bonnie Louise Cutlett (Miss Great Plains.) Shannon McCarthy is Karma Quinn (Miss West Coast.) Karma is big on fire walking and reincarnation and "hopes that someday she will live in the past." The behavior and attitudes of these contestants will enchant and floor the most avid bodaciaphile! Shelley Bordas has created a stunning array of costumes for the contestants, which one might refer to as fox haute couture, or was that "faux?") You be the judge! If you're sitting in one of the two front rows you could be picked to be one of the four judges of the finalists in this "Pageant." And don't think it will be easy to choose one of these hilarious characters as the winner. They are all prime targets for victory when the judges hold up those voting cards. (Please note: there was no attempt at voter fraud on the evening this reviewer attended.) Pageant also takes off on the commercials seen between segments of such programs. These cheesy vignettes are intermittently inflicted as contestants take turns promoting hilariously unlikely ladies' products from Glamouresse. Just one example is the innovative aerosol hair spray with a dual purpose. You spray your do from one end, and an Ozone healer sprays out the other. "It’s Hair Repair and Air Repair in one easy to use canister." Of equal value was a promo for "Smooth as Marble Facial Spackle." The staff at TOB has also renovated their lobby and repainted the walls a refreshing combination of mauve and sage green. It's easy on the eyes and very conducive to pre-show and Intermission socializing. The music and lyrics are passable for the moment, but evaporate quickly. If you're looking for something light and frothy just for skits and giggles, this is it!
Not to be missed.

posted by theatre group at 2:38 PM  |  0 comments  

“This play really put me back in the sandbox. As I read, my heart and breathing rates shot up. I got that slightly shaky feeling that comes with the onset of what I call "combat rage". This is my term for the heightened awareness, aggressiveness and cold, calculated mindset of the true combat veteran who knows he's about to do battle. It only took a couple days of combat to lose the crazy, damn near paralyzing fear I experienced as a non-combat vet on the eve of my first mission and turn into God's agent of death to the enemy… It was truly moving for me and may give those who have never been there a glimmer of understanding regarding the price of freedom. The Sand Storm shows, warts and all, the back side of war, the human aftermath and the psychological mortgage that will be paid out over the balance of our lives for those who were there… It was great to see through your play that many others have similar periods of reflection, self doubt etc. I wish you all the success in the world with this.”— John W. Currie (Major, USMC)

"I am an AF Combat Search and Rescue helo pilot with two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq; I leave for my second tour in Iraq in less than two weeks. I am also a former Marine. I am glad to see the troops’ stories get told on the stage and in film. The military is at war and the rest of country is not, so the average person has no idea what our people are dealing with. Thanks for telling the story.

Regardless of where you stand on the war, the story of the people fighting it must get told."— Yonel J. Dorelis (Major, USAF)

"I have to say it was very eye opening. Mainly in the sense that it made me acknowledge a lot of my own memories and thoughts that I have stuffed away. It helped me in ways only someone like you that has actually lived the experience will understand."— Geoffrey Gilliland (Major, USMC)

"Huze’s play is another important component in our mission to get the troops who fought in the current wars heard. Sean doesn’t sugarcoat anything about the war, and that’s the way it should be. His play is real and raw – the same as a service member’s mind is while in a war zone. People need to see this play, and Operation Truth is honored to help."— Paul Rieckhoff (1st Lieutenant, US Army, Executive Director of Operation Truth)

posted by theatre group at 4:52 PM  |  0 comments  

posted by theatre group at 4:40 PM  |  0 comments  

Sean Huze was interviewed by the Washington Post on August 8, 2005, just after 21 Marines were killed in a 48 hour period. This is the interview.

http://www.thesandstorm.com/index_files/washingtonpost080805.pdf

posted by theatre group at 4:28 PM  |  0 comments  

Did you know Theatre Group sponsors 3 bingo games every week to raise funds that help keep their doors open? Since 1989 Theatre Group has held bingo games at Bingo City in Sheridan - just 1/2 mile south of Federal and Hampden. On Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings - the Theatre starts their game at 10:00pm and the 1500.00 is usually all given away by about 12:30 - just in time for you to hit last call with your winnings. Join us for an evening of Bingo madness and help keep Theatre alive. They also need volunteers to help out with the games - give Shelly a call at 303-777-3292 if you'd like to be added to the volunteer list. And watch for the $10,000 giveaways which they sponsor every 2-3 months. Our next large giveaway will be on Thanksgiving evening. Check out the website at http://www.bingocity.org

posted by theatre group at 1:50 AM  |  0 comments