It's 2023
Happy New Year!
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Happy New Year!
Did you see it? The New Yorker wrote a glowing review of the Theater of the Mind. If you are from Denver, then you probably have several conflicting thoughts about this. Is it nice to be recognized by the East Coast tastemakers? Is it about time that people realized Denver is a relevant location on the cultural map? Is this an indicator that we are moving away from our Cow Town defensiveness? Or maybe this is just another day in Denver culture, cool stuff coming and going. You are welcome, New Yorker, we are glad you got a chance to experience a little mile high awesome.
Our take?
All of the above.
If you’ve been around the Denver art scene for a while (you know, like more than 20 years) then you know the ebb and flow of attention that seems to arrive in the state. At a certain point in time you learn to enjoy the spotlight but to stick to the facts—Denver is far from the cultural centers of New York and Los Angeles and if you are any good, sooner or later you will decamp for fame and fortune on the coasts. It’s made for a scrappy, DIY, cooperative and wildly creative arts and entertainment community for those of us that stick it out. Yes, Denver creatives can have a chip on their shoulder. But at our best, that chip is a reminder to just make better art.
Over a the Immersive Denver headquarters, were we delighted to see TOTM in the New York press. The show is important, for the DCPA, for Denver, for us. Anything that brings national attention to Denver is a part of the bigger puzzle of building an immersive capitol, right here, right where we live. We get the sense that big shows can feel like creative carpet baggers have come to town to show us how it’s done. But we’d beg to differ. We say, Denver continues to attract people that see something special in Denver. Whether it’s David Byrne flying out of NYC to launch a creative endeavor in the Rocky Mountains, Meow Wolf realizing that Denver would be a great home to grow its wild art brand, or even a couple of Colorado boys that came back to Denver to with bags of money to rehabilitate a classic. Casa Bonita, we need you.
Every month we fill these newsletters with the best of local and national immersive running in our fair city. And when a big, important magazine decides to spend time talking about what’s happening in Denver, we are nothing less than delighted. You should be too. Denver is going somewhere and we are all going to get there together.
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In this issue
- Denver Fringe Applications Open!
- Community News
- Happy Hour and More!
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DENVER FRINGE APPLICATIONS OPEN!
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Who are you and what's your relation to the Denver Fringe?
I am a visual artist and the founder and director of the Denver Fringe Festival.
What's the concept behind fringe festivals & what is Fringe?
The original Fringe festival started in Edinburgh 75 years ago and has spread worldwide. Fringe festivals are annual, open-access performing arts festivals that exist to support independent artists from all genres of the performing arts--theatre, comedy, dance, circus, immersive, and more.
What makes the Denver Fringe Festival unique to you?
I'm a third-generation Denverite, so my passion is to contribute to the arts ecosystem in Denver. I believe that independent artists are the lifeblood of a thriving performing arts scene and that the Fringe festival is the perfect platform to support them. The Denver Fringe is centered in Five Points, one of Denver's oldest neighborhoods that has a rich history of being a cultural hub where jazz musicians like Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Billie Holiday performed and was once known as the "Harlem of the West".
Which kinds of artists can apply (& which formats) and what are you paying attention to when selecting them?
We support bold, progressive arts and diverse voices in all genres of performing arts. We are looking for productions that are between 45-75 minutes in length and are technically simple enough to be supported at a variety of venues.
How and where can artists apply?
Artists can apply online via the link on our website. The application will be open January 1, 2023 through February 28th, 2023.
Interview Credit: Pending App via Instagram
Excited to get your Fringe on?
Important Dates & Ways to get involved.
The fourth annual Denver Fringe Festival will take place June 8-11, 2023 at multiple performance venues throughout the Five Points/RiNo area. We love supporting the Fringe, and there are plenty of ways to get involved!
Have a show you'd like to perform in the Fringe?
Applications are open, you can read the guidelines and submit your application here.
Visual artist but want to Fringe too?
You can apply to design the poster here starting January 15th (applications close February 1st, Finalist poster designs due February 15th, winner and final design announced February 17th).
Want to volunteer?
You'll see us helping out every year on the Fringe--it's a great way to support the arts, get free passes to Fringe shows, a free Fringe t-shirt, and access to the performer lounge and opening night party! Apply to volunteer here.
Want to attend as an audience member and experience the magic of Fringe?
While they aren't on sale yet, you can certainly bookmark it for when those tickets are released. We have a link here for that too! Pro-tip, it's worth it to spring for the Fringe with Benefits, and the Festival passes--once you've seen a few shows, you'll be hooked.
Still not convinced, or just want to learn more?
Come chat with Fringe staff and artists and learn about the application process.
Whether you’re interested in performing, working, or volunteering with the Fringe, they’d love to talk with you!
When: Wednesday, January 11 at 6pm
Where: Woods Boss
2210 California Street
We hope to see you there, and at the Fringe this summer!
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Spectra Art Space's annual Spookadelia has extended through February!
Spookadelia: The Wakening: is an all-ages narrative-driven psychedelic immersive art, theatrical, and highly interactive experience presented by Spectra Art Space, investigating the human condition and our relationship with self while providing a fresh take on art consumption and the haunted experience. The Wakening is fifth installment of the Spookadelia series and boasts several all-new installations, amazing new characters, actors, and more ways than ever to interact with the art and the story. This experience is self-guided.
Where: Spectra Art Space, 1836 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210
When: Wednesday-Monday, Through February 27th
Tickets & Pricing: $12-30
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Congratulations to the cast and crew of Theater of the Mind on a wonderful run and for getting the national immersive spotlight on Denver with great articles in The New Yorker and Thrillist!
The show runs for a few more weeks, but if you haven't snagged tickets, unfortunately you're out of luck; the remainder of the run is sold out.
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Somehow, we think Dali would approve of the surreal aspects of projecting his paintings and drawings on 20 foot high screens. The immersive projected art fad continues with a one-of-kind exhibit of a one-of-a-kind artist. Tune in, turn on and drop into the the Lume.
Where: Lume in the Stanley Marketplace,2501 N. Dallas Street, Aurora
When: Though January
Pricing: $29 and up for adults, $19 and up for children
More information and ticket: https://www.thelumecolorado.com/
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Update to the Regular Schedule:
We're going through some changes as we grow and expand our offerings, including a small shift on the Monthly Meetup schedule. We will now be meeting on the final Monday each month instead of the third.
We will also continue to rotate locations around the Denver metro area to make our group more accessible to all parts of Denver. If you have a venue you'd like to see host a meetup, get in touch!
This Month:
All that business aside, our next monthly networking meetup will be on Monday, January 30th at a location in the Denver Metro area to be announced shortly!
What: January Meetup
Who: Anyone in the industry, or those who are seeking to get connected to the industry.
Where: TBA, a venue in the Denver Metro Area
When: Monday January 30th, 5-8pm Open-house
Price: Free, cash bar.
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And in case you missed the news, Matt Stone, Trey Parker, and chef Dana Rodriguez of Casa Bonita have announced their official return date!
(Well. They gave us the month. Our money is on Cinco de Mayo.)
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The Catamounts announce TWO immersive offerings coming this summer.
Pride of the Farm at the Metzger Farm Open Space on the border between Broomfield and Westminster. This will be their newest site-specific, outdoor, immersive piece created in collaboration with the City of Westminster. Taking place May-June, 2023.
The Estate Sale at the People’s Building of Aurora. This new immersive theatre piece will be created in collaboration with visual artist Brad Ramsey (a lead artist on Camp Christmas).
Click here to learn more and buy a Fat-Cat season pass, loaded with savings and perks (Including a ticket to the ever popular FEED: Aprés event at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder. This will be the 27th installment of the Catamounts' original food and performance event taking place February 17-March 5, 2023. Each ticket includes four courses of food, drink, and performance plus live music and more.)
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Look Who's Staying for Dinner
Imagine AirBnB, but in reverse, and immersive. Log onto the site and scroll through the various people there. It looks like a dating site, but instead of seeking an LTR or a FWB, you are looking for a house guest. Someone interesting. Someone to make your weekend interesting. And that’s the other thing, they don’t pay you. You pay them. Because you about to spend the evening or weekend with someone remarkable. It will be worth it. Whether a dinner with an intergalactic time traveler or an entire weekend with an Old Country Nana, you won't be bored. And your life will never be the same.
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Do you know someone who would appreciate this newsletter? Share it!
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