THE KIND OF DRAMA YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE
JUNE 4-7, 2020
We All Need A Good Laugh
Conceived by Jessica Swanson
A Drive-In Comedy Show
Conifer Community Church
DIRECTOR: Jessica Swanson
20 plays in 60 minutes! Can't be done? We beg to differ! Come enjoy a series of songs and skits all designed to tickle your funny bone -- and you, the audience, get to pick the order of the show! After your ticket purchase, you will receive an email in the following days with instructions on how to order food from Snowpack Taproom! The food will be delivered to your car so you can enjoy it during the performance. Ordering food is completely optional. 60% of the funds raised with ticket sales will go directly to the Denver Actor's Fund. This organization is a source of immediate financial and practical relief when members of the Colorado theatre community find themselves in dire medical need. When COVID 19 hit, Denver Actor's Fund created a second, temporary fund called the Denver Actors Fund Emergency Artist Relief (DEAR) Fund to provide stipends to those theatre artists on and off stage who lost contracts to the restrictions on group gatherings.
CAST + CREW: Justin Stephens, Krista Choate, Sam Barrasso, Portia Joy Glommen, Dakota Johnson, Anakay Hanold, Samantha Abbey, Bird Cassidy, Bryce Merrill, Gavin Roberts, Chase Chavez, Evan Donelson, Kyra Pierson, Jessica Swanson, Tyler Phillips
TICKETS
July 2020
When We Were Stars
Written by Tyler Phillips
A New Play
DIRECTOR: Tyler Phillips
If, for some reason, the entire world was shutdown, we would want some art to relate to... right? Here is a medium collection of short plays about long distance.
TICKETS
NextStage is a theatre company focused on developing the careers of theatre artists and developing new works of dramatic art. NextStage is a company that is not about the company, but about the ... company? For career artists: Imagine a collaboration with an organization that innovates what the professional journey is by honing in on the Next Stage of your career and not the next way you can be used. For budding talents: Imagine a world where "educational theatre" is not about "tuition", but about paying young artists for the hours of work they put into productions. That's what NextStage is about. "Pay to play" is a thing of the past. Tuition based theatre is a thing of the past. The future of art will be built by you and we would love to be part of that journey. All ticketed events that NextStage asks actors and crew members to volunteer for are fundraisers for local organizations. NextStage is a part of the Arden Arts LLC family of programs focused on innovating the professional journey for developing artists.
Shows To Know
All Ages
VIRTUAL ONLINE DISCUSSION
STARTING DATE: June 10th
DAY/TIME: Wednesday 6:45 - 7:45pm
Tyler Phillips + Jessica Swanson
Calling all theatre nerds! Join our resident theatre nerds for a weekly look at some of the musical theatre canon's lesser-known works. Students can expect to learn about at least two new shows per presentation and take part in listening exercises and talkbacks about each piece. All who attend these hour-long looks at shows that don't get their due will get access to the official SHOWS TO KNOW Spotify playlist containing songs from the musicals we spotlight as well as songs we mention in our presentations.
Free Community Discussion
ENROLL
And Now, Write Your Own Play!
GRADES 6 - ADULT
VIRTUAL ONLINE CLASS
STARTING DATE: June 14th
DAY/TIME: Sunday 5:00 - 6:15pm
INSTRUCTOR: Tyler Phillips
Join award-winning and critically acclaimed composer/playwright Tyler Phillips as he guides students through the same process he has used to create dozens of original musicals and plays for off-broadway, festival, independent, and regional theatre groups. Through brainstorming sessions, doodling projects, improv exercises, digital readings, and more, our student playwrights will explore the creation of original theatre in unique and powerful ways.
TUITION: Free, optional donation
ENROLL
Songwriter's Club
GRADE 6 - ADULT
VIRTUAL ONLINE CLASS
STARTING DATE: June 14th
TIME/DAY: Sunday 3:00 - 4:30pm
INSTRUCTOR: Tyler Phillips
Do you play a little guitar, piano, or ukulele and are interested in writing your own songs? Join our resident troubadour and award winning musician/songwriter, Tyler Phillips as he shares his methods for buckling down and writing original music from the heart! Each class will contain one writing exercise and sharing time where each of our songwriting students can share and get feedback on their original masterpieces-in-progress.
TUITION: Free, optional donation
ENROLL
Ukulele 101
GRADES 2 - ADULT
VIRTUAL ONLINE CLASS
STARTING DATE: June 1st + June 2nd
GRADES 2-5: Mondays 4:00 - 4:35pm GRADES 6-ADULT: Tuesdays 4:00 - 4:45pm
INSTRUCTOR: Tyler Phillips
It's time to stop not playing ukulele! Because of its size and simplicity, ukulele is one of the most accessible instruments in the fretted instrument family. During this 8 week course, you will learn all of the basics of uke playing: how to hold and approach the instrument, how to read ukulele music, how to play intro chords, and even how to play two full songs!
TUITION: Free, optional donation
ENROLL
Princess Bedtime Story
All Ages
VIRTUAL ONLINE EXPERIENCE
STARTING DATE: June 10th
DAY/TIME: Wednesday 6:00 - 6:30pm
Would your child like to video chat with their favorite princess? Princesses such as Elsa, Anna, Aurora, Ariel, Merida and Rapunzel will read a bedtime story for anyone who wants to spend time with royalty! Each week will feature a different princess and story so your child can spend quality time with the entire classic princess collection!
TUITION: Free, optional donation
ENROLL
Virtual Play Readings
GRADES 7 - ADULT
VIRTUAL ONLINE CLASS
STARTING DATES: See session list
DAY/TIME: Fridays 4:00 6:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Swanson
Do you want to explore new scripts and perform from the comfort of your own couch? Over the course of two weeks, students will study a specific play to present in a live online stage reading! Students will receive a PDF of the script on the class start date. During the class, students will be cast in roles and analyze their characters to prepare for their performance. The cast will present the play to a live audience in an online stage reading on the final Friday of the session. Space is limited in each session so register now! Available Sessions: Complete Works of Harry Potter Abridged By Jessica Swanson (June 8th- June 19th) - The Man Who Came to Dinner (June 22nd- July 2nd) *on Thursday to observe 4th of July - 12 Angry Men (July 6th - July 17th) - Steel Magnolias (July 20th- July 31st) *all female cast - A Christmastown Quarantine by Tyler Phillips (August 3rd- August 14th)
TUITION: Free, optional donation
ENROLL
Dancer's Stretch + Strengthen
AGES: Grades 6 - Adult
VIRTUAL ONLINE CLASS
STARTING DATE: June 9th
DAY/TIME: Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:00pm
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Swanson
Do you want to achieve high kicks like the Rockettes, leaps like a Prima Ballerina? The first way to do so is strengthening your muscles and increasing your flexibility! For 30 minutes, students will go through a full body dance workout centered around building the muscles you need to advance dance technique. After your workout, enjoy 30 minutes of calming and restorative stretches focused on increasing flexibility and achieving your splits.
TUITION: Free, optional donation
ENROLL
Tap Dance
AGES: Grades 6 - Adult
VIRTUAL ONLINE CLASS
STARTING DATE: June 11th
DAY/TIME: Thurs 4:00 - 4:45 PM
INSTRUCTOR: Jessica Swanson
This class will focus on growing your tap technique, increasing your speed and mastering audition combinations. The first 30 minutes of class exercise important tap skills such as time-steps, pull backs, wings and many more! For the last 15 minutes of class, students will learn a short combination similar to those at dance calls.
TUITION: Free, optional donation
ENROLL
Jessica Erin Swanson
Artistic Director
Jessica Erin Swanson is an award-winning actress who performs across the Colorado Front Range. She has graced stages from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs bringing her to stages such as Ellie Caulkins Opera House and Denver Center for the Performing Arts. She has studied dance for the majority of her life with companies such as Colorado Ballet and trains privately with former Rockettes. Even though she loves performing, she finds the most joy in working with children and sharing her love for the theatre to the next generation.
Tyler Phillips
Development Director
Tyler Phillips is an award-winning playwright, composer, director, and musician. Tyler moved to Colorado after working as a New York City based theatre director and session musician for the better part of a decade. He is the critically-acclaimed writer/director of the 2013 production of Under The Greenwood Tree (Flea Theatre, NYC) and in 2010, co-founded Phillstock Entertainment, a music and theatre production and management company focused on developing the original works of independent writers and performers in Brooklyn, NY. Tyler's work has been enjoyed at The Flea Theatre (NYC), 17 Frost (Brooklyn, NY), The Lucille Lortel Theatre (NYC), The Laurie Beechman Theatre (NYC), The Sundance Film Festival (Park City, UT), The Arkansas Rep (Little Rock, AR), StageDoor Theatre (Conifer, CO), The Bakery (Denver, CO), The Zach Scott Theatre Center (Austin, TX), The Magik Theatre (San Antonio, TX), The York Theatre (NYC), and others.
Justin Stephens
Program Manager
Justin Stephens is a peppy, young, and excited member of the NextStage team. With a great attitude and loud voice his experience ranges from belting high notes on stage to teaching kindergartners to sing and dance. Between his experience acting as a board member at an educational theatre and being on stage since 2007, theatre is second nature. Having fun is one thing Justin does best. He always makes sure that he and everyone around him is their optimizing their own time. Having a half glass full mindset has always been important to him, and he hopes that you all will share that glass with NextStage.
Portia Joy Glommen
Community Director
Portia Joy Glommen is a passionate young actress and musician. She has been performing for 12 years, and has had the chance to appear on some beautiful stages such as Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and The Detroit MoPop Festival. Portia has loved theatre from a young age. After a few years being devoted to the Denver music scene while developing her own bands and helping others develop theirs, she is thrilled to join the NextStage team as Community Director and return to the theatre community.
CALL: (970) 812-3810
EMAIL: Manager@NextStageCo.com