SHADOWLANDS to Play The Space Theatre 3/28-4/27

SHADOWLANDS by William Nicholson will run March 28 - April 27 in the Space Theatre. Press night is set for Thursday, April 3 at 6:30pm.

A deeply moving reminder that great loss cannot exist without great love, Shadowlands is a biographical look at the late-in-life blooming relationship between C.S. Lewis and wife Joy Davidman. The lynchpin of the story is Davidman's cancer diagnosis, and how the reverberation of that moment shakes the foundation of Lewis' strong faith.

"Shadowlands is about many things: God and love, life and death, pain and suffering. However, at its core is an unlikely love story of undeniable staying power: a heart awakened to great love is vulnerable to great pain. As a great fan of the Chronicles of Narnia as a child and as someone who lost her parents as a young adult, I find Shadowlands to be one of the most personal plays I have directed. I hope this story touches the audience's heart as it did the first time I saw it." - Christy Montour-Larson, Director

"Shadowlands tells the story of a deep love that comes in mid-life and manages to transform the two people so completely; they question everything they thought they knew before. Then tragedy strikes. Why is it when bad things happen, we ask the question 'Why me God?' Can we negotiate with God? Is He listening? How do you maintain a faith when your world is being shattered? I've heard the phrase, 'God gives us only as much as we can handle.' If this is true then Shadowlands is a journey that is heartbreaking and devastating, but ultimately uplifting and transcendent in its message." - Kathleen McCall, actor playing the role of Joy Davidman

"In Shadowlands there are quite a few references to magic, particularly with Douglas and his reading of C.S. Lewis' books in the Narnia series. We wanted to allow for some of this magic in the design while setting the play in the reality of 1950's Oxford. This is a male dominated academic world but there are several other specific historical locations. While we did the historical research, the reality of our staging in the Space Theatre means we make very specific choices but can't fully realize every detail. We transition from one location to the next utilizing a variety of stage mechanics. Frequently one scene is ending and gliding away as the actors are crossing the stage and entering the next scene. We have wrapped this realistic world with a magical world, which we catch glimpses of throughout the play. Enjoy the "magic" of theatre!" - Lisa M. Orzolek, Set Designer

Clive Staple Lewis was born November 29, 1898 in Belfast, Ireland and died November 22, 1963, the same day as President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

The meaning of the title Shadowlands: At the end of The Last Battle, the final book in the Narnia series, Aslan, the lion, tells the children, "You are all dead as you used to call it in the Shadowlands." The text implies that our world and Narnia are only reflections of Aslan's kingdom. In his writings C.S. Lewis used the concept of "shadowlands" as an analogy for the world we live in. Our world is "veiled" by shadows of pain and suffering; therefore, we cannot fully experience goodness, love and mercy.

Joy Davidman was an American poet and writer born in New York City. Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis were married in 1956 in England. She died four years later from bone cancer.

William Nicholson (1948-) is a British screenwriter, playwright and novelist who has been nominated twice for an Academy Award. In 2012 Nicholson adapted the musical Les Miserables for the screen. His most recent screenplay is Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.

Single tickets for Shadowlands start at $35 (non-SCFD) and also are available for $10 (SCFD 10 for $10 program). To purchase, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. For groups of 10 or more, please call 303.446.4829. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Tickets also may be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby. Buy and print online at www.denvercenter.org. Student rush $10 tickets are available one hour prior to curtain with a valid student ID subject to availability. Senior and military rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain, subject to availability. No children under four will be admitted to any theatre.

EVENTS:

Coffee & Donuts | Mar 30, 12:30pm
Our pre-show discussion will feature free coffee and donuts and explore the topics of love, loss and grief, followed by a performance of Shadowlands.

Directors Society Evening | April 9
Directors Society consists of loyal theatre patrons who want to provide support for the continued success of the Denver Center Theatre Company. This group enjoys an 8-play Wednesday night subscription with cocktails before the show and dinner with the cast immediately following each play. Producing Artistic Director Kent Thompson provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into each production during dinner. For more information, visit www.denvercenter.org/members.

American Sign Language Interpretation/Audio Described Performance | April 27, 1:30pm

Perspectives on the Play | March 28 at 6pm
The DCTC's creative team provides the audience a unique perspective on the production. In The Jones Theatre.

General Talkback | April 6, post-show
Please join us for this talkback after the show.

From Page to The Stage | April 8 at 12pm-1pm
Tattered Cover (2526 East Colfax Ave.)
Join John Moore as he hosts a discussion with Shadowlands director Christy Montour- Larson and cast members Kathleen McCall and Graeme Malcolm. Free Parking.

Talkback hosted by the Higher Education Advisory Council | April 13, post-show
Discussion led by members of our academic community. Please join us for this talkback after the show.

Theatre & Theology | April 22, post-show
In a continued partnership with Pastor Dan Bollman of the Rocky Mountain Evangelical Lutheran Synod, this discussion examines the relevant connections to the productions through the theological lens.

Spark a dialogue today when you connect through our FREE discussion series. For more information on CONNECT, visit www.denvercenter.org/CONNECT.

The Tony Award-winning Denver Center Theatre Company, helmed by Producing Artistic Director Kent Thompson, is currently in its 35th season of offering classic, contemporary and new works to the American West

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