Denver Center Blog

During those sunny, summer days, the theatre is left at an amicable peace, as it undergoes preparation for its next busy season.  However, if you listen a little more closely, you may hear the faint echo of singing, clapping, scissors tearing through paper, feet stomping in harmony and children’s laughing abound.  What you hear is the Denver Center Theatre Academy (DCTA) keeping summer at the theatre all but quiet.

Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Arts Complex, the DCTA is happy to provide so many children with skills to use in acting and in life.  The DCTA is part of the education department of The Denver Center Theatre Company.  Let’s take a look at what the Academy has been up to this summer…

As you stroll down the hallway of classrooms, the activities commence.  The week “On Camera” is a sight to see.  In one room, you will see seven and eight-year-old children dancing ‘Nsync and out of sync, while just opposite, you pass a room where ages 11 and 12 create their very own stage props.  If you continue further, you will come across the future masterminds of marketing, at age 9 and 10, as they create original TV commercials.  Next, you encounter “American Idol” challenges with contestants ranging from age five through twelve, along with on-film interviews where the students really shine.  

This summer, these young actors are taking the theatre by storm and developing the necessary skills for life on and off the stage.  Dance lessons give the students exercise and teach them coordination, incorporating, manageable stretches and dance moves.  They learn the patience it takes to put together routines with modern-pop hits, much like in a music video.  In rehearsal acting, the students are given tasks to portray emotions in different ways, learning to harness the visual aspect of their acting.  

Creativity is abundant in commercial classes, as the students are given a limited time to create television advertisements and products out of props they are given.  They learn script memorization and are given tips on projection and set placement in order to achieve better public speaking skills.  These skills greatly correspond with the training they receive in handling camera pressure, and gaining the ability to think on their feet.  

Every class has each student smiling, as students are always given stimulating and enjoyable tasks to focus on.  Weekly themes give new and returning students a choice to enhance skills they may already have or venture to a new experience.  After previewing the “On Camera” theme week, it sure makes one curious about what The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has in store at the Academy for the weeks to follow…

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Enrollment is underway for the Academy’s Fall Acting Classes. Call 303.446.4892 or go to http://www.denvercenter.org/education.

“To show our simple skill, that is the true beginning of our end.”  These Shakespearean words are spoken by the character, Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – a play performed by teens, this summer at the Denver Center Theatre Academy (DCTA).  They are comical words, but apply to every modest performer once he/she has had a real taste of being on stage.  Just ask our teenage summer actors.

Many of the teens started at DCTA in their pre-adolescent years and have continued to come back again and again.  What is it about the stage that calls them back?  Could it be the educators and directors with their fun approach to the teaching of expression?  Is it the chance for students to broadcast their own creative input?  Perhaps, it is the opportunity to be a part of something, with others who share their passion.  Whatever the reason, the outcome is a marvelous cast of students.

Each summer, the new students have just as much fun as the old.  Emerging from different communities and backgrounds, they come together in a friendly atmosphere to create as a team.  At the end of the summer, they implement this teamwork in their choice of video production or onstage performance.  Whichever route they choose, the students leave with a sense of accomplishment.

In video production, known as Your Tube, teens are encouraged to use both their entertainment and real-world knowledge to brainstorm ideas using storytelling tactics such as settings, plots, outlines, etc.  The classes are small and concentrated to roughly a dozen students per class, which allows all students participation in the discussions as the class collectively composes a storyline. 

While participation is prevalent, the students also are given exercises and individual tasks where they apply critical thinking and problem solving.  They become masters of improvisation by the end of the class.  After a long structured year at their regular schools, students thrive on the chance to be creative while learning.  Teens have the chance to be a kid again with fun activities and games, but use adult-like knowledge to expand on depth and creativity.  

At the end of the week, the students get to take home a reward for their efforts – the final masterpiece.  With graphic design and imagery, the created story is rehearsed and put to production on a video that students can take home and share with family and friends. 

As the Your Tube teen class learns how to speak to the camera, the teen performance class learns how to speak to the audience.  How do they learn this?  Through the guidance of their active mentor, the director.  With an assistant director for extra critiquing, the director ensures the students learn as much as possible within the two-week production. 

All students are involved and receive every opportunity for performance preparation.  They eagerly adopt the play as their own by enriching it with emphasis on dictation, action, emotion and placement - components strengthened by the director’s navigational dexterity.  Constantly refreshed with breaks and rotation, the students are attentive throughout the day.

For some teens, the stage has a magnetism that repeatedly pulls them in.  For others, the stage is an adventure awaiting the hero to explore its boundaries.  Consequently, at DCTA, it is no mystery why the students come back week after week, year after year: because here, everyone plays a part!  

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The Denver Center Theatre Academy is now enrolling for its Fall term. Please call 303.446.4892 or go to http://www.denvercenter.org/education.

We asked cast members from the famous (some might say infamous) Second City theatre troupe to give us their own “personal ads” in preparation of our run of Love, Sex and The Second City, which runs Sept 13-Oct 9 in the Garner Galleria Theatre. Perhaps you’ll fine your perfect mate…

DORINDA

Greetings, I’m Dorinda!  And welcome to my “Land of Possibilities.”  Have you ever wanted to meet a girl who could knit you a body sock?  Have you wished for enlightening conversation about Victorian courting rituals through the use of handkerchief signals?  Do you like romance…novels?  Then I’m the girl for you. 

EDRICK

Hi, I’m Edrick.  I’m 36 years old and my motto is: Knarbic grom dieoop.  That’s Klingon for, “Hang in there, baby!”  I recently graduated to a twelfth level mage in my weekend D&D tournament, but don’t be intimidated, I’m just like you.  I enjoy wizardry, Marvel not DC, and gazing at the stars…be they Star Wars, Stargate, or Star Trek!  I’m looking forward to meeting you! 

TRAVIS

Hi, I’m Travis, I’m 28 years old.  I’m just looking for a good time.  No marriage, no kids, no commitment! 

ALLIE

Hi, I’m Allie and I just signed up for iLove.  And I already have a date!

Dixie Longate: Well, as some of the readers may or may not know, drinking leads to friendships. Sometimes good ones, sometimes life long ones, but always to memorable ones. As you may recall, we met at a bar about 2 weeks after I had gotten out of prison. You and me started playing pool, then darts, then quarters, and then we just got tired of all of the athletics and started drinking. We realized we had some enemies in common and that led to a night of stories and shots. Sometimes the stories were better than the shots, but about midway through the night, I couldn’t remember the stories, but I do remember just laughing my ass off with you. Being smart, neither one of us drove that night, so we ended up stumbling back to our trailers through the woods and realized that we lived only about a quarter of a mile away or so. The next morning, when you came over to borrow a cup of screws and a fan belt, I knew we would be friends for life.

GJ: Just between us, and all those people reading this, what is your biggest secret?

DL: I actually don’t have that many secrets that can’t be discovered by just going to some of the law enforcement websites and looking up my booking numbers. I don’t tend to call them secrets. I just call them “things you haven’t found out about me yet.” I’m a pretty open book. I’d rather there be no surprises, you know. I have been to prison a few times. I have 3 kids that I know about. I am happily single. I work hard being a Tupperware lady and even harder being a good friend to people. I really enjoy traveling around, which I am allowed to do without the ankle bracelet now. In general, I find that keeping secrets prevents me from fully enjoying things. My life ain’t spotless, but then again, I don’t think I would have become the gal I am today without some of them spots.

GJ: What happened to Mr. Longate (or was there a Mr. Longate)?

DL: Longate is my maiden name. I took my first husband’s name, then changed it back when he died. I took my second husband’s name, then again, had to go to the post office and get everything readdressed after he disappeared. By my third husband, I just got tired of filling out all of the forms, so I just kept Longate. I don’t know my daddy, but I proudly keep the name. And I think if I was ever to be dumb enough to get married again, I would still keep Longate. And I definitely don’t want to do one of them hyphenate names, you know, like Dixie Longate-Jacobson or something. The women that have those names all tend to be lawyers or moody. And I don’t want to become either one of those things.

GJ: Where are your children these days and what are they up to?

DL: Wynona is working at the Hooters. She is doing real well. She ends up staying late all the time working with the manager so that is a good thing I think. I am hoping that she can get bigger and bigger in the company. I am trying to get her to score me one of those bright orange t-shirts that they wear. I think they look amazing.

Dwayne is doing well. He is so creative and active all the time and as long as he keeps out of trouble, I guess the fact that there is construction paper, glitter, markers, glue, and a mini-chemistry set from Christmas in his room, is better than the alternative. I’d rather have to scrape glue off of the wood paneling in his bedroom than have to pick him up from jail because he was joy riding.

Absorbine Jr is just an angel. 3 years old and starting to crawl around like crazy. He is always into things so I’ve had to put them baby locks on everything, which is a pain because those are real hard to open when you drink. I’m constantly locking myself out of stuff. The funny thing is, he doesn’t seem to be challenged by them at all. I guess I should change strategies.

GJ: You have mighty shapely legs. How do you stay so fit?

DL: I definitely try to take care of myself. I find the two best things are sex and running, usually in that order. Sex tends to make the pounds just fall away. I mean look at all of those people in “adult entertainment.” There is a reason they are so fit. It burns a lot of calories when you are hanging from the ceiling fan over the bed and your man friend is bouncing on the trampoline and you are ready to meet in the middle. It’s sweaty, fun, and definitely keeps you fit. Also, when I am running, from the law, for the bus, at a storefront with a big “sale” sign in the window, that just keeps me in top shape. That would be my exercise program if I ever put out one of those videos like Jane Fonda did. It would all be about running and sex. And sex while running; WOW! There couldn’t be a better cardio-burn.

GL: What is that extraordinary hair color called and where can I get it?

DL: People ask me all the time if I color my hair. I don’t. It’s natural. It’s what God gave me. And yes, the carpet does match the drapes. I know cause I was “vacuuming the carpet” this morning. I’m a red head through and through.

GL: Have you ever won that diamond necklace for the highest Tupperware sales in North America? If not, how can a girl help?

DL: Well, I have been in the Top 10 in Personal Sales every year at the Jubilee except for the first year that I went. I was so inspired at my first Jubilee seeing all of these amazing women get up on stage and be recognized for their accomplishments that I got super-motivated to do the same. I had never had anyone cheering for me where they weren’t tipping me in dollar bills, so I decided I was going to go for it and see how many Tupperware parties I could do and how for I could get up in the rankings at the Jubilee. I actually eventually got to #1 in the US, which was a really proud moment for me. Being on stage at the Jubilee with everyone cheering was something I wish everyone could experience. That is what I try to do in the show. When I get people up on the stage to play games or to get raffle prizes, I love how they get cheered for and that is when I hope they experience a wee whisper of that love and encouragement that I got at the Jubilee!

GJ: In 10 seconds or less, name your favorite:

DL: Book – I don’t read all that much, but when I do, I like it to be about people’s real lives. What do they call them? Automobograhpies

Song – “Slow Hand” by the Pointer Sisters. It is great to get the night started.

Color – Gingham - Is that a color?

Movie – Anything where someone kicks some butt for being wronged.

Play - I loved that “Avenue Q” where those puppets were getting busy in the bedroom.

Car – 1977 Corvette, just cause it reminds me of that movie “Corvette Summer”

Clothing Item – A really kicky pair of shoes. I can’t help it. I’m a woman. We all have a weakness for shoes, right?

City – I really love Denver, but my heart will always be in Mobile, Alabama.

Accessory – I love to run with my iPod. Now I don’t have to carry cassette tapes in my pocket

Tupperware Product! – The 1289 E Series Can Opener