There’s no timetable when it comes to the creative process. Sometimes, an idea can take years to get from your mind to out in the world. That’s the case for local actor and playwright Luke Sorge, whose “National Bohemians” is making its world premiere at Miners Alley Playhouse.
“This the first play I wrote when I was 20 years old, but it’s undergone many changes since that initial script,” he said. “It went through a lot work with great people and theaters like the Benchmark Theatre before making its way to Miners Alley.”
Directed by Warren Sherrill, “National Bohemians” runs at Miners Alley, 1100 Miners Alley in Golden, through Sunday, April 20. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Loosely inspired by Sorge’s experiences with his father and brothers, the show follows estranged brothers Thom (Len Matheo) and Oscar (Steven J. Burge) as they return home to deal with a family crisis. Their older brother, John (Tim Fishbaugh), has taken their mother from her care facility, claiming he’s ending her suffering. The family, which includes John’s daughter Liah (Jenna Moll Reyes), has to come to terms with difficult truths as they face a literal and figurative hurricane.
Working on a world premiere can be both exciting and challenging, but Sherrill said Sorge has been great to work with as they shaped the production.
“A lot of times, having an author or playwright around isn’t the best experience, but Luke has been a great collaborator,” he said. “We’ve always believed in the show and believe we have all the right elements to make it truly enjoyable for audiences. We’re really lucky we get to do the world premiere.”
While the show certainly tackles weighty issues, that doesn’t mean it is without humor. Sorge described it as a “dark play about death, but still a comedy,” and said Sherrill and the cast have found the humor he embedded in the script and brought it to the stage. That blend of darkness and light mirrors the way life so often can be.
“I hope there are enough points of view on stage that everyone in the audience can relate,” Sorge said. “I believe folks will see themselves reflected in the characters.”
The humanity present in “National Bohemians” is a major draw for Sherrill, who added that he hopes audiences come away appreciating the time they have with those they love.
“The message to me is how important family is and how life is fleeting,” he said. “We all have petty things that we challenge ourselves with that we shouldn’t, but life just gets in the way sometimes.”
Information and tickets are available at https://minersalley.com/shows/national-bohemians/.
JCC Denver Hosts Queer Seder
The Jewish holiday of Passover is just about to start – this year it goes from April 12 through 20 — and to mark the occasion, the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center(JCC Denver) in Denver is hosting its annual Queer Seder from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 17.
According to provided information, the Passover Seder is a “time to celebrate, contemplate and rejoice around freedom,” and the Queer Seder will honor the hard-won freedoms the LGBTQIA+ community has earned and the work there is still to do. It will be led by local rabbis and leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Tickets are available on a sliding scale for families and people of all ages and are available at https://www.jccdenver.org/portfolio-items/queer_seder/.
Maria Bamford to Perform at PACE Center
Maria Bamford is one of the most unique and hysterical stand-up performers in the comedy world. Not only is her sense of humor and timing impeccable, but she mines her own struggles with mental illness and other challenges she’s faced in her life for her shows. There’s a reason her specials and film and television appearances are so highly revered.
Bamford will be coming to the Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24. This is a big get and I’m sure tickets are going fast, so secure yours https://parkerarts.org/event/maria-bamford/.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Paul Simon at the Paramount Theatre
We’re getting close to prime concert season in Colorado, which means fans are about to be spoiled for choice when it comes to live music. There are some great options this week, but it would take something seriously top-tier to beat Paul Simon at the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver. For a while there, it didn’t seem like we’d get Simon touring anymore, so this is an opportunity that should absolutely not be missed.
Simon is touring in support of 2023’s lovely and introspective album, “Seven Psalms,” and he’ll be performing for three nights: 8 p.m. on Monday, April 14, Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17. The man is responsible for at least one perfect album and numerous classic songs, and the Paramount is the perfect venue for his music. In other words, don’t miss this.
Information and tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.