Denver Equity theatres

[littlemeatpie]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:57pm

Anybody got the scoop on the Denver Equity theatre scene? We might be forced to move there from Chicago (help me) and I'm wondering how much work there might be for Equity actors. Thanks for your help.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 2:01pm

Found this online:

"But despite this rich theatrical culture, Denver has fewer professional venues -- that is, theaters that pay Actors' Equity wages -- than several other cities its size. The Denver Center Acting Company and the Arvada Center are both Equity; so is the Curious Theatre Company. A couple of other Denver directors occasionally hire an Equity actor as a guest artist. Chip Walton of Curious points out that Atlanta, with a smaller population than Denver, has seven Equity theaters and two others that have signed letters of agreement with the union. There are five Equity theaters in Portland, Oregon, and six in Seattle. Since Denver is the major metropolis between Chicago and Los Angeles, Walton feels this city could do equally well. Unionizing offers only a partial solution to the problem of making a living, however. Equity wages vary from as low as $140 to as high as $1,000 per week. Companies the size of Curious pay between $200 and $500."

http://www.westword.com/issues/2004-08-26/theater.html

Hope that helps...

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 3:17pm

In addition to Denver Center, Arvada Center, and Curious, there is also the Country Dinner Playhouse. Recently another theatre somewhere in Colorado went equity, but I don't think it is near Denver.

The only issue is DCTC is a full out theatre company that can be very difficult to break into. They have company auditions each year in May (I believe).

[littlemeatpie]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 7:03am

Oh dear, that doesn't sound promising. Thanks for the info. I miss Chicago and I haven't even left yet.

[shermanslave]

Posted: 2/7/07 at 9:40am

I have known people who have worked as actors for years (like 15+) in Denver, both with and without their card, and none of them have been able to break into Denver Center. I know of at least two wo gave up their card because there is more non-Equity work that pays.