Immersive REUNION Concerts Set to Begin in Denver
By: Julie Musbach Jul. 19, 2018
Creative Endeavor Office announced today that the immersive concert experiences Reunion '69 and Reunion '85 begin performances on Thursday, July 26 at 7.30pm at the Elizabeth Eriksen Byron Theatre at the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts (2344 East Iliff Avenue). Performances run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7.30pm and Sundays at 6.00pm, with 3.00pm Saturday matinees on August 18 and 25. The final performance will be Sunday, August 26 at 6.00pm. Tickets are $18-48 and available by visiting http://bit.ly/Reunion6985tix.
The Reunion '69 and Reunion '85 experiences welcome audiences into an immersive 360 o environment, where they enjoy improvisational comedy and beloved, iconic music of the era. After guests choose a fictitious identity, they grab a drink from the cash bar, meet old (and new) friends, listen and dance to a rocking band as they relive (or rewrite) their past. With four singers, five musicians, and two anything-can-happen hosts, audiences will celebrate the experience of a lifetime.
Graduates of the Class of 1969 remember the political unrest and social change of their college years. In Reunion '69, the physical memories of that time, their yearbooks and photos, have been lost in a fire and the alumni audience has to make new memories in this modern age. Fast forward to the opulent 1980s-a time of big hair and big living. In Reunion '85, a high school senior class unites to open their buried time capsule, the contents of which are no surprise, but strike audiences in the funny bone...and the nostalgia bone. Reunion '69 and Reunion '85 are choose-your-own experiences, where the soundtrack you love gets you up on your feet.
Howie Michael Smith (Avenue Q, "America's Got Talent") and Kat Palardy ("New Girl," "Brooklyn 99") lead a cast including Arielle Crosby, Aubrie Hamrick, Kyle Kemph, and Cartreze Tucker. University of Denver students Katherine Goodwin, Evan Monteith, Samuel Pierce, and Alex Seballes also join the company. The band is led by music director Chris Sargent (keyboard), includes Justin Francouer (guitar/vocals), Lynn Keller (bass/vocals), Ryan McCurdy (keyboard/guitar/vocals), Brian McRae (percussion).
"Colorado audiences have a massive appetite for adventure, culture, and live music-and as a Denver native, it's super satisfying to return home and share these innovative shows," says producer Matthew Schneider. "Having worked with conceiver Susan Draus nearly two decades ago as a student at Smoky Hill High School, it's been a wild ride to enjoy a personal reunion of our own while creating Reunion."
Reunion is conceived and created by Susan Draus (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Book of Mormon). Reunion '69 is created by Draus in collaboration with Becca Anderson (Academia Nuts, President Mom) and Dan Marshall (Academia Nuts, President Mom), Reunion '85 is created by Draus, David Larsen (American Idiot, Billy Elliot) and Cody Jamison Strand (The Book of Mormon). Directed by Marshall Pailet (Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started the Iraq War; Triassic Parq), the shows have scenic and lighting design by Anshuman Bhatia (The Public, Santa Fe Opera, Royal Winnipeg Ballet), costume design by Janice Benning Lacek (La Jolla Playhouse, Curious Theatre), sound design by PSI and projection design by Brad Peterson (CATS, The Stone Witch). Kellian Adams of Greendoor Labs serves as the immersion consultant, Katie Walker is the dramaturg, Steven McDonald is the production manager, Sara Sachs is the stage manager, Ellie Handel is the company manager with casting by Kate Lumpkin of Kate Lumpkin Casting and Evan Bernardin of Evan Bernardin Productions (Afterglow, Million Dollar Quartet) serving as the general manager. Creative Endeavor Office produces with Joe Grandy, Jenn Maley, and Cori Stolbun. Reunion '85 had its world premiere at The Lone Tree Arts Center in Lone Tree, Colorado (Lisa Rigsby Peterson, Executive Director). Reunion '69 and Reunion '85 are being developed as a co-production with the Department of Theatre at the University of Denver (Steven McDonald, Chair).
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