Salida Creative District

Salida Songbirds Present: There's a Song for That
2024-09-23 19:30 - 20:30, 2024-09-24 19:30 - 20:30, 2024-09-30 19:30 - 20:30, 2024-10-01 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Cafe Topo, 211 F St, Salida
The Salida Songbirds are three childhood friends who grew up, left home and followed a career on the stage. Every now and then they get together and have a good ole gabfest. As old friends are wont to do, they are not shy about calling each other out. In “There’s a Song for That” we follow the arc of their lives and loves through songs that capture each moment of surprise, or angst, or hope and how that changed them. And, of course, like all musicals, there’s a happy ending.
For ages 14 and older.
Written and directed by Allen Lane.
Our fabulous performers are Kirsten Arbogast, Jordan Gonzalez, and
Andrea Mossman. Musical direction by Joan Lobeck.
Tickets available at the door only. $20 plus 1 drink minimum. Topo Coffee will be transformed into Cafe Topo for this Broadway cabaret.

Mountain Octopus
2024-09-26 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-09-27 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-09-28 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-02 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-03 19:00 - 21:30, 2024-10-04 19:00 - 21:30 | A Church, 419 D street, Salida, 81201
“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. Directed by Devon Jencks Kasper.

Acting Workshops
2024-09-27 13:00 - 17:00, 2024-09-28 13:00 - 17:00 | CO
The Salida Creative District presents workshops during the Salida Theater Festival for actors, directors, and those interested in learning more about performing and developing your skills! This fun and inspiring series of classes taught by experienced theater artists provides essential skills you need as an actor including voice, movement of the body, acting, stage combat, and skills for trusting your instincts such as improvisation and clowning workshops. For ages teen to adult. All levels, beginners and especially actors and directors with experience are invited to come and learn! Participants will get up on their feet as you explore new skills so dress comfortably in clothes that allow for movement and bring a water bottle. Each workshop is an hour long with a short break in between, so you can plan to attend one or more! Free! See individual links for each class below to reserve your spot for one or more workshops! Follow Salida Creative District on social media and the Salida Theater Festival website for more information and updates!
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 AT THE STEAM PLANT

VOICE FOR THE ACTOR led by Creede Repertory Theatre. Friday Sept 27 at 1:00pm- 2:00pm at the Salida Steam Plant Theater. THEATER WORKSHOP: Voice for the Actor Tickets, Fri, Sep 27, 2024 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite
Explore the care and use of this most valuable tool to convey emotion. Breath work, annunciation, exercises, and care. ABOUT CREEDE REPERTORY THEATER: Founded in 1966, Creede Repertory Theater (CRT) is now in their 58th season. A nationally recognized theatre serving over 20,000 patrons during the summer and over 37,000 youth through their educational outreach programs. They are an artistic home to their rural community and beyond, through the creation of repertory seasons, dynamic educational programs, and compelling new works. CRT Education programs offer residencies, intensives, and workshops bringing hands on learning directly to students of all ages.
STAGE COMBAT led by Tina Gramann. Friday, Sept 27 at 2:15-3:15pm at the Steam Plant Theater.
THEATER WORKSHOP: Stage Combat Tickets, Fri, Sep 27, 2024 at 2:15 PM | Eventbrite
What to do when your play has a fight scene. Actors and directors learn and discuss safety, fight styles, the rehearsal process, and overview of stage combat disciplines such as unarmed fighting and sword techniques. Tina Gramann is a professional fight choreographer and has staged over 100 fight scenes for the stage. During her tenure in Austin, Texas, she served as resident fight choreographer for Austin Shakespeare Company, and fight choreographer for professional regional theater Zachary Scott Theatre Center (ZACH Theatre) staging numerous fights, notably for Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan- Lori Parks’ world premiere of The Book of Grace; and ZACH Theater’s innovative production of Porgy and Bess which was featured in the New York Times. She served as the Department Director for ZACH’s Performing Arts School and Education Departments for 10 years, overseeing 25 staff and teaching artists and providing theater education and youth productions to 50,000 students a year. She is certified by the Society of American Fight Directors in the stage combat disciplines of Unarmed, Rapier & Dager, Broadsword, and Single Sword, and she holds an MFA in Theater from the University of Houston School of Theater where she served as the Fight Choreographer for Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Edward Albee New Play Workshops. Tina is the Artistic Director and founder of Salida Creativity Lab since 2016, providing art, theater, and diverse cultural events for the community such as Asia Fest, Dia de los Muertos Salida, and Filipino Modern coming in 2025.
THEATER WORKSHOP: Viewpoints Acting Techniques Tickets, Fri, Sep 27, 2024 at 3:30 PM | Eventbrite
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 are trying to tell. Rather than diving into a character’s backstory, Viewpoints allow you to more holistically embody a character to evoke certain emotions from your audience. This style of acting is highly collaborative and is best used in ensemble pieces. In our Viewpoints workshop we’ll spend some time getting into our bodies and exploring some of the basic viewpoints. We will then work together to craft some improvised stories as an ensemble. Please come dressed to move! Stretchy pants and bare feet are highly encouraged. Please note that the nature of Viewpoints exercises incorporates some physical contact, and participants should be comfortable with appropriate physical touch. Liz Dunn is thrilled to be a part of the second annual Salida Theater Festival! She received her BFA, in Theater Performing and Directing, from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO and has worked with several companies throughout the state. Previous credits include Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown and June in Chicago at the Pagos Center for the Arts, Kenni in Bas Blue’s production of Becky’s New Car, Mattie Silks in TINTS various productions, and Pip in Love…Really and chorus in Rocky Mountain Horror Picture Show with Salida Theater Project. She recently joined the Salida Theater Project’s board and is thrilled to be expanding her impact in a company that she holds near and dear to her heart.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 WORKSHOPS AT THE SCOUT HUT

CLOWNING led by Jennifer Dempsey. Saturday, September 28,1:00pm- 2:00pm at the Salida Scout Hut.
THEATER WORKSHOP: Clowning Tickets, Sat, Sep 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM | Eventbrite
Jenn will show how “clown” is a verb and will take you through exercises to show the simplicity and endless possibilities of clowning! Jennifer Dempsey founded the Salida Circus in 2007. She has been a circus performer for 35 years, as an acrobat, stilt walker, unicyclist, juggler, comedy actor. Jennifer trained in clowning with Angela De Castro, Peta Lilly and Circo Rum Baba. In this workshop, Jennifer will show how “clown” is a verb and will take participants through simple exercises to show the simplicity and endless possibilities of clowning. No experience required, just an openness and willingness to try!
“YES, AND… “ An INTRODUCTION to IMPROV COMEDY led by Garrison Garcia. Saturday, September 28, 2:15pm- 3:15pm at the Salida Scout Hut. THEATER WORKSHOP: Intro to Improv Comedy Tickets, Sat, Sep 28, 2024 at 2:15 PM | Eventbrite
In this class, participants can expect to learn and practice three foundational principles of improv comedy: agreement, supporting your scene partner, and free association. Highly engaging and participatory, students will be immersed in exercises and games aimed at learning these concepts. After 60 minutes, participants will leave with a greater understanding of key tenets of improv and will have several games they can continue to practice. Please come in comfortable shoes and be ready to move! According to his mother, Garrison Garcia is “very funny” and has been leveraging that trait through improv comedy since 2013. The founder of two headlining Arizona improv troupes (Tiny Punches and Chomsky School of Business), Garrison loves to make people laugh and discover the joys of improv. While making things up on the fly is his primary interest, Garrison has also acted and directed for Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, the Flagstaff Foundry, and Northern Arizona Playmakers. A student of the Tucson Improv Movement, Northern Arizona University, Kevin Macdonald, and Emily Holland, Garrison brings a diversity of knowledge and perspectives to his teaching.
ACTING & AUDITIONING, AN INTRO led by Jan Justis. Saturday, September 28, 3:30pm- 4:30pm at the Salida Scout Hut. THEATER WORKSHOP: Intro to Acting & Auditioning Tickets, Sat, Sep 28, 2024 at 3:30 PM | Eventbrite
Actors become used to transforming into someone different than themselves. This is the essence of Acting. There are also techniques for actors to learn and use to audition for Theater Projects. In this Workshop we will explore the ‘how-to’s of transformation: vocal, physical, and emotional. We will also explore several different audition styles used by Theater Directors today. Jan Justis has spent most of her life and career creating dance and theater in New York, Chicago, and Colorado. After training in classical ballet at the Cincinnati Conservatory and performing internationally with the Nikolais Dance Theater, she co-founded and directed the Denver-based Jan Justis Dance Company. She has a large repertory of original choreographic work spanning over 4 decades that includes six full-evening Dance/Theater works. She directed and choreographed over 30 plays and musicals. She holds a Masters in Humanities from the University of Colorado at Denver. Also, a dance and theater educator in Universities, Schools, Festivals and Conferences across the U.S., she received the Richard L. Knaub Award for Colorado Theater Teacher of the Year and in 2020 was recognized as one of Colorado’s Legends of Dance from The Dance Archive at the University of Denver. In July 2020 she opened in TINTS’ one-woman play MOTHER! The Life of Mother Jones in Salida. In 2022 she founded Justis Theater Works. She currently teaches Dance for people living with Parkinson’s and other mobility issues and is happy to return to the stage via Salida Theater Project.

Something Great! Finding Myself in the Belfast Circus - Part 1
2024-09-27 19:00 - 20:15, 2024-09-28 19:00 - 20:15 | Box of Bubbles, 206 E St, Salida
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.

Mountain Octopus
2024-09-29 15:00 - 17:30 | A Church, 419 D street, Salida, 81201
“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.

Taking Tea with the Ripper
2024-09-29 20:00 - 21:30 | Salida Scout Hut, 220 W Sackett Ave., Salida, CO, 81201, United States
This one-man show by playwright 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. No graphic images, but plenty of graphic language. For ages 17 and up.
Two performances only!
This is one of 7 plays offered during the Salida Theater Festival.

The Wind Is Us: The Death that Killed Capote
2024-09-30 19:00 - 20:30, 2024-10-01 15:00 - 16:30 | A Church, 419 D street, Salida, 81201
“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.

Taking Tea with the Ripper
2024-10-02 16:00 - 17:30 | Salida Scout Hut, 220 W Sackett Ave., Salida, CO, 81201, United States
This one-man show 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. Graphic, disturbing language so only suitable for 17 and older

Brighton Beach Memoirs
2024-10-03 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-10-04 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-10-05 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-10-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Salida SteamPlant
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.” Directed by Gloria Fant. A Sventastik production. For ages 13 and older.
Tickets: Adults – $20
Seniors – $15

Something Great! Finding Myself in the Belfast Circus - Part 2
2024-10-04 19:00 - 20:15, 2024-10-05 19:00 - 20:15 | Box of Bubbles, 206 E St, Salida
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.
Note: You do not have to have seen Part 1 in order to enjoy Part 2.

The Candy Cane Cordial
2024-12-01 18:00 - 21:00, 2024-12-08 18:00 - 21:00 | A Church, 419 D street, Salida, 81201
Join us for the 6th annual Candy Cane Cordial! A fun filled evening for the whole family! All funds go to support our Ryan Hansen Memorial Scholarship Fund. Providing scholarships for people of all ages to access performing arts opportunities.

TRI: A staged reading by Kelly Walters
2025-02-14 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-02-15 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-02-16 19:00 - 20:30 | A Church, 419 D street, Salida, 81201
What happens when three old friends who typically sit around eating sweeties at the local coffee shop complaining about life get their habit thrown off course when one of them suggests they train for a triathlon together. Directed by Susan Dawn Carson and starring Kelly Walters, Allen Lane and Bill Rogers. A Salida Theater Project Production.
