The days of sitting in the audience at a play or musical might be on hold, but theater companies across Colorado are keeping their audiences entertained online. From play readings to daily creativity prompts, these local theater companies are making it easy to experience theatre on the virtually during the pandemic. No ticket required.

Virtual Performances

The quarantine isn’t stopping Bovine Metropolis Theater from putting on full performances online. Join in on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. for Once Upon a Genre, where players improvise and act out a complete original fairytale based on audience suggestions. Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. are the On The Spot performances, a local take on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the hit 90’s improv TV show. Performances are free, but $5 donations are appreciated.

Theater 29 is made up of self-produced writers and artists working with various mediums, including plays, films, and even telenovelas. For binging purposes, Theater 29 has re-released Genius of Love, an original telenovela in three acts by Ellen K Graham, directed by Hart DeRose, and featuring a local cast. On April 30, they will release the DIY MashUP Festival, a multi-genre virtual gallery, featuring work by local performing and literary artists, including filmmaker John Aden, playwright Tami Canaday, and comedian Jared Ewy, among others.

Through May 15, tune in to Project Outbreak 2020, an audio play festival dedicated to raising funds for artists in need. Every Friday at 7 p.m., Denver’s Pandemic Collective releases a new batch of short spooky audio plays written and performed by local playwrights and actors. Some titles include The House by Trevor Hazell, Death’s Love by Alex Fish, and It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay by Chuck Wendig. Missed the first few weeks of this initiative? No problem—all audio plays are available online for streaming at any time on Pandemic Collective’s Facebook.

On April 23, Golden’s Miners Alley Playhouse launched a full-length recording of their original children’s theater show, The Frog Prince. Donations are encouraged to stream the show on-demand. In the meantime, tune in to the Playhouse’s YouTube channel for two-minute videos featuring actors in character giving quarantine advice and scenes from the play Moon Over Buffalo.

Newsletter Prompts

Opt into the Newman Center’s weekly “Midweek Boost” emails for creative content to keep you going. The emails are overflowing with resources and stories from Denver’s creative community (think: dance class links, at-home activities, original music streams, or Harry Potter themed workout videos.) Sign up here.

Behind-the-Scenes

Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) could not have the opening night of Oslo this month as originally planned. Instead, they posted a comedic two-minute miniature dinosaur figurine version as part of their Ghost Light Series. Every Tuesday and Friday, people can view Q&As with ensemble members (perhaps detailing their most embarrassing on-stage moments), new play readings by local artists, and more.

While the Arvada Center is closed to the public, the Living Room Talkback Series brings the cast and directors of the current production season to viewers online. Observe discussions about Black Box Repertory productions, including Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Although not quite as entertaining as the promised production of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Equinox Theatre Company  is releasing videos online to keep people connected to the theater. On Facebook, you’ll find the Equinox Hidden Talents Series, where viewers can see scenes from past shows, followed by a hidden talent of the actor in that clip. (There’s also a Zoom-recorded number from Monty Python in there). On Instagram, every few days a past performer greets the viewers in character with a message of hope.

Editor’s note, 5/4/20: This story has been updated to include more opportunities to view theater virtually.