Summer On The Rise

Summer is on its way...and work has begun to gather casts and production teams to create an all-rep season of top tier shows for your enjoyment. What is a "rep," you say? Well, it's short for repertory - which means our valued patrons get the unique opportunity to experience all three of our mainstage shows within the same week. Pretty cool, huh? When you think summer in Breck, think BBT, as we prepare to give you nights of music, laughter, and fun for the whole family.

We start our summer season on June 9 with The Producers, Mel Brooks's multiple Tony award-winning monster hit, based on his Oscar-winning screenplay. The story of Max Bialistock, a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer, and his nebbish accountant, Leo Bloom, who introduces the brilliant idea that they can make more money with a flop than a hit, is comic madness from the first moment to the last. Our stellar production stars Scott Rathbun as Max Bialistock. Scott was last seen as Amos in last summer's hit, Chicago and played Max in the Midtown Arts production several years ago.

Leo Bloom is played by Tim Howard, whom BBT audiences will remember for his hysterical turn as Herbert/Not Dead Fred in Spamalot a few years back. Tim also played the scheming Kodaly in our recent Christmas musical, She Loves Me. He is reprising his Henry-nominated turn as Leo Bloom for this production.

Leo's and Max's bombshell secretary, Ula, is played by Colby Dunn who made a splash as blind librarian Sarah in BBT's February musical, The Toxic Avenger. Colby was seen in last summer's Chicago and has local and regional credits to backup her amazing vocal and acting abilities.

The rest of the cast is comprised of veteran comic actors who have worked from Boulder to Denver to Summit County. Playing Franz Liebkind is Brian Jackson, who played the role in Boulder's Dinner Theatre production. Eric Mather (BBT's The Nerd) plays Franz on select weekends. Roger DeBris is played by Christopher Willard (BBT's Reefer Madness) who essayed the role at Littleton's Town Hall Arts Center. Josh Rigo (BBT's Hairspray) is Carmen Gia. The gifted and versatile ensemble includes Barret Harper (BBT's Hairspray), Mary McGroary, Stephanie Hesse (BBT's She Loves Me), Connor Sullivan, Eli Stewart, Kaitlyn Althoff, and Alissa Robinson. Trent Hines (Love/Perfect/Change) is Musical Director. The show is Choreographed by Jessica Hindsley (BBT's Chicago) and Directed by Robert Michael Sanders who helmed our recent production of Clarence Darrow.

Something wicked is loose on the English seaside - and it may just be a coven of witches plotting to do away with all the children of England! It's up to Boy and his cigar-smoking grandmother to find a way to stop them all! Roald Dahl's sinister and sublime children's classic has been adapted for the stage by master playwright, David Wood, in an exciting new version featuring music by Cory Wendling (BBT's The Jungle Book) and directed by award-winning director, Christopher Willard (BBT's Babe the Sheep-Pig).

Playing the role of Boy is Brody Lineaweaver who is currently

performing as Freddy in School of Rock. Brody was first seen

on the BBT stage as Randy in our initial production of A Christmas Story. Since then, he has played in Shrek, Backstage to Hollywood, and was Mowgli in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. Brody will play the role of Michael in our Labor Day production of Billy Elliot.

The feared Grand High Witch will be played by award-winning actress, Sheila Swanson McIntyre. Sheila's extensive list of credits include work at the Arvada Center for the Arts, Town Hall Arts Center, and many more.

The role of Grandmother is being played by Mary McGroary (BBT's The Producers). Mary was in the Edge Theatre production of Murder Ballad and can currently be seen in Candlelight's 42nd Street. The rest of The Witches cast is being finalized, but look for a wonderfully wicked brood of versatile actors to give this delightfully terrifying tale the first rate production it deserves.

File this one under "What Would You Do?" A struggling actor takes a job working the shops in a lavish Main Street built in the Malibu basement of a beloved megastar. One day, the Lady Herself comes downstairs to play. It feels like real bonding in the basement, but will their relationship ever make it upstairs?

Originally performed on Broadway by Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty"), this hilarious one man comedy stars Josh Rigo (BBT's Hairspray) as Alex More,

and fantasizes the upstairs/downstairs relationship

between an idol and her lowly admirer. Rigo is an exciting young actor whose work has already won him a CCTC Best Actor award and "Reader's Choice Best Actor" award from the Aurora Sentinel. His credits include The Last Five Years, All Shook Up, Sylvia, Fame, and Footloose. Get ready for a fast and funny story about the price of fame, the cost of things, and the oddest of odd jobs.

Directed by BBT Artistic Director, Christopher Willard - who knows a thing or two about one person shows, having directed the award-winning Karen Slack in The Syringa Tree and starred himself in the one-man comedy Fully Committed at the Avenue Theatre and Breckenridge Backstage Theatre.

Millions of fans...thousands of standing ovations...ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical...this is Billy Elliot, The Musical, the spectacular show with the heart, humor, and passion to be named TIME Magazine's "Best Musical of the Decade!"

Billy Elliot will be our Labor Day at the Riverwalk production this year, featuring a cast of 30 local and Denver-based artists. The show opens August 25.

Based on the international smash-hit film, and featuring a score by music legend Elton John, Billy Elliot is an astonishing theatrical experience that will stay with you forever.​ Set in a northern English mining town against the background of the 1984 miners' strike, Billy Elliot is the inspirational story of a young boy's struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Follow Billy's journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and community...and changes his life forever.

BBT is pleased to announce that Greeley performer Lucas Moir will be playing the role of Billy. Lucas is an 8th grader at Chappelow Arts Magnet School in Evans. The demanding role of Billy requires a "triple threat" - an actor who can sing, dance, and act. Not only that, the role also demands a triple-triple threat - as Billy needs to be a skilled dancer in ballet, modern, and tap.

Joining Lucas is Equity actor, Robert Michael Sanders, as Jackie Elliot (Dad). Robert is currently starring in The Baby Dance at Cherry Creek Theatre and has been seen in Arvada Center's Ragtime and Edge Theatre's Murder Ballad. A prolific director on the Front Range, Robert will be directing our summer production of The Producers.

Billy Elliot will be Directed by Christopher Willard (Disney's Beauty and the Beast). Music Direction is by Michael Bowerman (BBT's Hairspray). Choreography is by Gina Eslinger and Andrew Bates.

Auditions for other roles in the show will be happening soon, so watch our website for details.

And don't forget about our Annual Gala - to be held on Friday, July 7. Our summer Galas have gotten a deserved reputation for being the most exciting and entertaining performance galas of the Summit summer, and this year will be no exception as we take on Broadway "Showstoppers" as our theme. Get prepared for songs that stop the show, stop the heart, and rip the roof off the playhouse! We're gathering an outstanding array of talent to perform in this magnificent event, so don't miss out on your chance to be part of the fun.

Save the date - July 7 at the Breckenridge Theater!

This is summer is heating with unforgettable shows, events - and not to mention our KidsPlay Camps now open for registration. Make plans to attend all of our shows and make a summer ion Breck a summer with the BBT.

Tickets for our Summer Rep Season are On Sale Now!

Order online at backstagetheatre.org

#summertheatreseasonBreckenridgeBackstage