Hefty Entertainment Lineup Slated Through the End of 2024
Trevor Phipps
It is safe to say that during the summertime, Teller County has become a sizzling hot spot for entertainment.
In the last few months, thousands of visitors have flocked into town for various events and festivals, and to try their luck at the casinos.
However, for those who attend the events and want something more to do, the Butte Theater is striving as a hub for family entertainment. For their summer shows, the Butte has partnered with Chameleon Arts and Entertainment for live performances that run Wednesday through Sunday throughout the summer season.
Tourists and locals alike both enjoyed the famous “Darling of the Donkey Derby” melodrama that was shown during Cripple Creek’s popular Donkey Derby Days event and in the early part of the summer. The play, which showcased Cripple Creek when it was a gold boom town in the late 19th century, received great reviews.
And now showing in July and August, is a musical put on by the professional theater company that tells the story of a group of pre-teens testing their luck at a spelling bee. The show titled, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is filled with catchy musical numbers and jokes that will make people of all ages crack up laughing.
“An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime,” the Butte Theater website describes. “While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming ‘ding’ of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.”
The musical is a bit different type of show than what the Butte historically features, but it is definitely worth watching. The play is designed to showcase the talents of each actor. Many of the performers really shined during their song and dance numbers.
Most of the actors for the summer shows were performing on the stage at the Butte for the first time. Many come from across the country with a list of live shows under their belts, while others just recently graduated from college. This variety of performers is a trait that sets the Butte apart from other performance areas.
However, veteran Butte actor Lauren Smith has returned for both the summer plays and Malerie Jo came back for the recent musical. Smith was last seen at the Butte for the 2013 summer and fall productions put on by the Thin Air Theatre Company. Jo has performed at the Butte for plays produced by the Thin Air Theatre Company and the Mountain Repertory Theatre in the past.
One aspect that set the current production above the others was the addition of audience participation. The crowd got a good laugh when they saw other audience members try to spell words under the spotlight.
In the end, the audience was impressed by the skills of the crew when the actors broke out into hilarious and entertaining song and dance routines. The selection of jokes intertwined into the script made sure that everyone got the chance to laugh.
Butte Theater Sports a Packed Schedule for the Remainder of 2024
This year, the Butte Theater contracted with a new professional arts and entertainment company for the summer shows. However, the fall and winter seasons will again feature local actors and plays put on by the Thin Air Theatre Company, which is no newcomer to Cripple Creek. Thin Air has done shows at the Butte for several decades.
The current musical is slated to run Wednesdays through Sundays, with the last show taking place on August 18. The theater then plans to have some special shows before their fall and winter performances kick off.
From August 30 to September 1, the Butte plans to bring back the popular musical that features a famous country music star. “Crazy A Tribute to Patsy Cline” written by Robert Taglia will hit the stage for evening performances on August 30 and 31, and matinee showings at 1 p.m. on August 31 and September 1.
Then in September another unique musical performance will hit the stage. The Butte will host “Ken & the Bens A Teller County Roots Music Experience” from September 6-8.
The band plans to entertain the audience with “Alaskan music.” “Ken & the Bens will transport you to the real Alaska, featuring old time string band music and smart, Alaska-set storytelling,” according to Butte Theater website.
Then from October 4 to November 2, the Butte will be showing “Monty Python’s Spamalot” for their fall/Halloween season performance. The play plans to tell the legendary tale of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail with a twist inspired by the classic comedy film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
The theater’s holiday show will then run from November 29 to December 29. To get people into the Christmas spirit this year, the Butte will be showing the classic Cripple Creek-based musical put on by the local Thin Air Theater Company titled “Miracle on Mistletoe Mountain.”
For a full schedule of all the showing times and to purchase tickets to the Butte Theater in Cripple Creek visit Buttetheater.com
For free tickets to a show at the Butte Theater courtesy of the Mountain Jackpot Newspaper e-mail Newsofwoodlandpark@gmail.com!
