Boulder is a town filled with holiday merriment and traditions, from the annual lighting of the Flagstaff Star to the lights that illuminate the entirety of Pearl Street Mall and Downtown Boulder. Chautauqua likewise takes part in this holiday cheer with their annual “Making Merry” show at the Chautauqua Community House presented by Stories on Stage, an organization that puts on performances throughout the year at various Front Range locations.
The “Making Merry” show at Chautauqua this year is on December 12th at 2:00 P.M. and is consistent with both the Chautauqua and Stories on Stage traditions of blending education about the arts and entertainment. The “Making Merry” show this year joins a long line of Stories on Stage events that celebrate the season through intimate and personable readings, songs, and musical performances.
Stories on Stage is a non-profit theater and literary organization that was formed out of Denver in 2000. With a mission to blend entertainment with empathy and appreciation for literature and the arts, the organization has spent the last fifteen years putting on performances, from standard programs consisting of short fiction and literature being performed on stage by professional actors, to specialized programming focusing on important issues and both historical and timely societal topics, such as teen suicide prevention, mental health, and addiction.
“If you loved being read to as a kid and were lucky enough to be read to as a kid, you never stop loving that as an adult,” says Anthony Powell, the Artistic Director of Stories on Stage. Anthony notes that Stories on Stage performances take the private, intimate pastime of reading and project that onto the stage with performances by actors who don’t simply “read” selected fiction, but perform all the characters, capture the mood, tone, emotion, and voice of the piece, and thoroughly engage with the audience. The 2015 – 2016 season marks the fifteenth year of Stories on Stage presenting valuable, impactful, relevant, and entertaining performances to the community.
The “Making Merry” Stories on Stage event this year will be the 15th anniversary of the holiday show as well. Historically, “Making Merry” performances have been completely unique in content year-to-year but, in celebration of its anniversary, this year’s show will consist of classic fan favorite material and performances from years past. Held in the Chautauqua Community House, an intimate and engaging venue that was built in 1918, this event promises to be an altogether special holiday experience.
This year’s show will feature four reading performances as well as music by renowned musician and composer Gary Grundei.
- Kathy Brady of the Denver Theater Company will perform “The Loudest Voice,” a short story by Grace Paley.
- Jamie Horton, a principal actor and director in the Denver Theater Company, will perform “The Gift of the Magi,” a short story by O. Henry.
- Jamie Horton will also perform “Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor,” a short story by John Cheever.
- Gabriella Cavallero, who has been with the Denver Theater Company for 25 seasons, will perform “A Christmas Memory,” a short story by Truman Capote.
For ticketing and additional information about this holiday event in Boulder, visit the Chautauqua website. In addition to the Boulder “Making Merry” performance on December 12th, there will also be two shows held on December 13th in Denver at the King Center Auraria Campus. To support Stories on Stage and learn more about additional upcoming shows during their 2015 – 2016 season, visit their website.
