26th Annual Colorado Theatre Festival Begins Today

The Colorado Community Theatre Coalition will raise the curtain for theatre companies, actors, and fans from across the State of Colorado during the 26th annual Colorado Theatre Festival. From August 13-16, the Festival will come alive with performances from 10 state-wide community theatres, 12 professional workshops, acting competitions, and nightlife networking, or "wetworking," in downtown Denver with fellow theatre lovers and experts from around Colorado. Ranked as one of the best community theatre festivals in the country, the Colorado Theatre Festival takes the spotlight at the Newman Center for Theatre Education, 1101 13th Street, Denver, across the street from the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

"We are excited to host the Colorado Theatre Festival in vibrant downtown Denver and provide an environment for creativity in the performing arts to spark, grow, and flourish," said Shane Delavan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition. "We are pleased to invite back several strong returning companies that have implemented what they have learned in this environment and have significantly expanded their abilities as a theatre. Also look for several new companies to join us this year that have great potential to take their company to a new level of excellence."

Highlights of this year's Festival include 10 captivating, 60-minute performances from coalition companies, including scenes from Apartment3A from Evergreen Players, A Song for Correta from Vintage Theatre, and Spirit and Sworded Treks from newcomer Theatre Esprit Asia. Companies who present their performances at the Festival have had a higher rate of success during their scheduled runs. In addition, participants can look forward to 12 stimulating workshops, some taught by faculty of the Denver Center Theatre Academy. A sample of workshops include "Strengthening Your Callback Audition" taught by Allison Watrous; "Recipe for Genius: Practical and Effective Tools for Creating a Thriving Theatre Experience" taught by Peter Hughes; and "Ten Broadway Moves Every Actor Should Know" taught by Regina Fernandez Steffan. The Festival is one of the most unique opportunities for theatre practitioners across the spectrum--actors, producers, directors, production staff, etc.--to grow their skills and knowledge through educational workshops and direct critiques from their performances.

"It's great to feel like we are a part of the community. We love to see all of the other plays and learn so much in one place," said one participant of last year's Festival. "I learned more in three days by watching others perform than I would have in ten years on my own."

The Colorado Theatre Festival is open to the public. Often cited as the best theatre deal in town, tickets to the Festival are $65 per person and include admission to all three days of the Festival, 10 theatre company performances, 12 workshops, and all networking and social events. Day and single workshop/performance passes are available, as well as student and senior discounts. Visit www.cctctheatrefestival.com www.cctcfestival.com to register. The 2014 Festival is expected to attract 200 participants.

The Colorado Community Theatre Coalition is a state-wide theatre organization that promotes and enhances community theatre in the State of Colorado, and is comprised of individuals who are passionate about producing quality theatre at the community level. Held annually in various locations across the State of Colorado, the Colorado Theatre Festival provides opportunities for theatre companies and professionals to expand the quality and effectiveness of their performance art and craft. The Festival is presented by the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition in partnership with the Denver Center Theatre Academy.

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