Unique Melodramas, Historic Legends and Hollywood/Broadway Magic Return to CC Stage
Rick Langenberg
Buoyed by the success of the last two seasons, representing a booming return to pre-COVID numbers, Cripple Creek’s Butte Theater is definitely on a roll.
Moreover, the theater, dubbed as one of the best entertainment venues in the entire Pikes Peak region, is now preparing for another bullish season, capped by historic melodramas, Halloween and autumn scares and a revisiting of familiar local legends, Broadway and Hollywood magic, and no shortage of festive dancing and singing. The schedule, announced recently at a special event and preview party at the Butte, includes a classic melodrama with ties linked to early performances at the old Imperial; a 1930s-style Hollywood musical that parodies “42nd Street;” a world premiere of a newly-created Halloween melodrama; and a grand Christmas time production complete with holiday favorites from the 1960s.
Butte Theater Manager Lauren Smith promises the professional season won’t disappoint regular patrons, area visitors, locals and new theater-goers. The Butte is again partnering with the Colorado Springs-based production companies of Chameleon Arts & Entertainment and Green Glass Productions.
Professional season subscription packages are now on sale, offering patrons the opportunity to save 25% off full priced, individual tickets and reserve their seats before the public sale. Tickets for individual seats go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 9 at 12pm.
“We really want to show much fun it is to see a performance at the Butte,” said Smith in describing the amazing variety and strength of their four signature shows and the overall Butte Theater experience.
To kick off the season in June, Chameleon Arts & Entertainment presents “Under the Colorado Moon,” a Cripple Creek melodrama written by Chris Sorensen. Last seen on the Butte stage in 2021, “Under the Colorado Moon” tells the story of gentleman Brett Armstrong. In financial distress after a lost wager and falsely accused of forgery, Brett must fake his own death and flee for a new life in the rough and tumble mountain town of Cripple Creek. He assumes a new identity and joins a team of hard rock miners who toil under the thumb of Roy Shatterly, a man as cruel as he is rich. All is well until Armstrong falls for a beautiful and spirited mule skinner who has also caught Shatterly’s eye. Now, Armstrong must either deny his love or risk his freedom…and quite possibly his life. “Under the Colorado Moon” runs from June 12th – July 12 and will capture many of the Donkey Derby fans and the town’s early summer event-goers.
For long-time theater buffs, the show also is loosely based on “Under Two Flags,” which was previously performed at the Imperial Hotel, when melodramas were produced there by the Mackin family, who pioneered this style of theater.
Musicals have become a key element of the Butte stage in the summer. So, for 2026, Green Glass Productions will present “Dames at Sea,” a long running Off-Broadway musical that gave Bernadette Peters her start and parodies classic musicals such as “42nd Street” and “Anything Goes.” The show revels in nostalgia for Hollywood musicals of the ’30s. Sweet little Ruby from faraway Hometown, U.S.A. has come to the big city make her mark on Broadway. Who should she chance to meet but another boy from Hometown, U.S.A.: Dick, a sailor, who also has ambitions as a songwriter. Ruby begins in the chorus, and by the end of the day, in true Hollywood fashion, Dick saves her doomed Broadway show with a smash tune and Ruby becomes a star on the deck of a battleship, which just happens to be passing by.
Smith says this show will feature a frenzy of amazing tap dancing on stage and will showcase choreography like never seen before. “It will be a whole lot of fun,” said Smith in describing an ongoing theme of Butte musicals that often attract big crowds.
Dames at Sea will open July 17th and run through August 23rd.
September will represent a needed break for professional shows at the Butte.
But then in October, the stage will bustle with probably its most unique show of the year.
Following the unprecedented success of Green Glass’ 2025 production of “The Vampire of Cripple Creek,” the Butte stage will unveil the 2026 World Premiere of a brand-new Halloween melodrama written by Chris Sorensen, entitled “Sweeney, The Demon Barber of Cripple Creek.” Taking inspiration from the story of Sweeney Todd, this brand new, spooky melodrama is set in Cripple Creek during the gold rush. Returning to the town that betrayed him after his escapes from Colorado State Penitentiary, Sweeney Todd finds things are no longer the same as when he left. His wife is dead and his daughter Johanna was raised by the very man who imprisoned him, Sheriff Thornton. Once Thornton’s plans to marry off Johanna to clear his debts come to light, Sweeney teams up with Mrs. Loveland of Loveland’s Tavern where an accidental kill turns into a lethal partnership, hiding dead bodies in vats of chili, while Sweeney pursues his final revenge against Thornton. Darkly funny with twists and songs galore, “Sweeney” proves that in Cripple Creek, justice, like chili, is best served hot. (Sound familiar, as this is definitely true, even today.) This show will run from October 2 to November 1.
Holiday Bang and Past Success
The professional season will conclude with another holiday bang, with “Winter Wonderettes,” showcasing holiday favorites from the 60s. This is a sequel to “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” It features four friends Missy, Suzy, Betty Jean, and Cindy Lou, as they provide the holiday entertainment at Harper Hardware’s annual Christmas party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party! Featuring great versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland. This energetic and glittering holiday package is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages, according to the Butte theater manager. The holiday show runs from November 20 to December 27, and this year an extra Wednesday matinee will be added to the lineup.
Historically, the Christmas-time shows attract the most patrons. In fact, during the 2025 showing of “White Christmas,” more than 3,200 patrons attended just 21 performances, with the Butte featuring many sold-out shows.
During the recent special preview party, Smith touted the 2025 season as a huge success and one that attracted more than 10,000 audience viewers. “We did very well last year. We quadrupled our season patron holders. We really want to thank our sponsors and patrons for supporting us,”
Based on the initial reaction to the early sneak preview of the 2026 performances, the coming year is on target to duplicate this success, a sign that the Butte, like successful theaters in the region, is finally freeing itself from the COVID menace.
