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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Dance, theater, music, and poetry, plus workshops for adults and children of all ages are featured in the first ever Grand Junction Performing Arts Festival Aug. 4-7. And most of it is free!
It all started with dancer-choreographer Connie Monroe's love of Colorado National Monument. Monroe set out to create a piece in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the monument's designation.
The result — “Art on the Edge - Dancing the Rim,” the second act of Friday and Saturday evening's Main Stage Show titled “Melody in Motion” — is a multimedia production (music, dance, film and poetry) piece dedicated to the monument.
“We wanted to dance the elements — the rocks, wind and water,” Monroe said. “My father is a retired geologist. He taught me to see the story in the rocks.
“Modern dance can represent even geology.”
Many of the dancers in “Art on the Edge” accompanied Monroe to the monument to conceptualize the dances, one of which depicts the Serpent's Trail.
“Art on the Edge” contains three parts: “Otto's Playground,” “Myths and Curses” and “Erosion.”
The first act of “Melody in Motion” will include a performance by cello and piano duo Tyme and Katherine Mientka, followed by a collection of short musical theater pieces, including scenes from “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” “Quilters” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”
The festival kicks off Thursday, Aug. 4, with a free children's theater workshop and performance of “Fairy Tale Extravaganza” by local playwright Shawn Clingman.
Children ages 8-18 can show up for rehearsals that morning at 9 a.m. Most cast members will rehearse until 2 p.m. for a 6 p.m. performance that evening in the Black Box Theatre. The workshop and performance is coordinated by Creative Avenue's Youth Theater Project.
The festival continues Friday, with selections from the musical “Hairspray” performed at 2 p.m. in the Black Box Theater; followed by free music and poetry readings at 5 p.m. in the grassy quad area outside of the Moss Performing Arts Center.
Monroe and Mesa State College dance student Truman Haley will perform an improvisational dance duet to a poem written by Luis Lopez. The poem, “Gramma, Tell Me About the Sand,” is based on one of the Grand Valley's urban legends.
“We've really interfaced with the poet community,” Monroe said. “We have a very lively poetry community here.”
Poet Suzanne Bronson will perform her poem “Admittance” during the “Art on the Edge” main stage production. Other poets whose work will be featured include Melinda Rice and Maureen McCarney.
A slew of activities Saturday takes place both indoors and outside — all free except for the main stage show in the Robinson Theater at 7:30 p.m.
The “Kid Zone” will include instrument-making workshops (drums, rain sticks, masks), music theater, a puppet-making workshop and puppet theater.
Other events include performances of classical guitar, and Middle Eastern and Latino dancers; choral and barbershop singers; a play “Beauty and the Beast, Junior”; a screening of the Emmy-nominated Rocky Mountain PBS documentary “The Colorado National Monument: Celebrating 100 Years of John Otto's Dream”; and a lawn performance by the Grand Junction Centennial Band.
A Sunday matinee performance of the musical “Seussical” by The Theater Project, takes place at 2 p.m. in the Robinson Theatre.
This year's performing arts festival was made possible by a “generous grant” from the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture, Monroe said.
Tickets for the Main Stage Show are $10 for adults; $5 for students and children under 18. Tickets for the Sunday matinee are $5. Tickets are available at City Market stores.
It all started with dancer-choreographer Connie Monroe's love of Colorado National Monument. Monroe set out to create a piece in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the monument's designation.
The result — “Art on the Edge - Dancing the Rim,” the second act of Friday and Saturday evening's Main Stage Show titled “Melody in Motion” — is a multimedia production (music, dance, film and poetry) piece dedicated to the monument.
“We wanted to dance the elements — the rocks, wind and water,” Monroe said. “My father is a retired geologist. He taught me to see the story in the rocks.
“Modern dance can represent even geology.”
Many of the dancers in “Art on the Edge” accompanied Monroe to the monument to conceptualize the dances, one of which depicts the Serpent's Trail.
“Art on the Edge” contains three parts: “Otto's Playground,” “Myths and Curses” and “Erosion.”
The first act of “Melody in Motion” will include a performance by cello and piano duo Tyme and Katherine Mientka, followed by a collection of short musical theater pieces, including scenes from “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” “Quilters” and “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.”
The festival kicks off Thursday, Aug. 4, with a free children's theater workshop and performance of “Fairy Tale Extravaganza” by local playwright Shawn Clingman.
Children ages 8-18 can show up for rehearsals that morning at 9 a.m. Most cast members will rehearse until 2 p.m. for a 6 p.m. performance that evening in the Black Box Theatre. The workshop and performance is coordinated by Creative Avenue's Youth Theater Project.
The festival continues Friday, with selections from the musical “Hairspray” performed at 2 p.m. in the Black Box Theater; followed by free music and poetry readings at 5 p.m. in the grassy quad area outside of the Moss Performing Arts Center.
Monroe and Mesa State College dance student Truman Haley will perform an improvisational dance duet to a poem written by Luis Lopez. The poem, “Gramma, Tell Me About the Sand,” is based on one of the Grand Valley's urban legends.
“We've really interfaced with the poet community,” Monroe said. “We have a very lively poetry community here.”
Poet Suzanne Bronson will perform her poem “Admittance” during the “Art on the Edge” main stage production. Other poets whose work will be featured include Melinda Rice and Maureen McCarney.
A slew of activities Saturday takes place both indoors and outside — all free except for the main stage show in the Robinson Theater at 7:30 p.m.
The “Kid Zone” will include instrument-making workshops (drums, rain sticks, masks), music theater, a puppet-making workshop and puppet theater.
Other events include performances of classical guitar, and Middle Eastern and Latino dancers; choral and barbershop singers; a play “Beauty and the Beast, Junior”; a screening of the Emmy-nominated Rocky Mountain PBS documentary “The Colorado National Monument: Celebrating 100 Years of John Otto's Dream”; and a lawn performance by the Grand Junction Centennial Band.
A Sunday matinee performance of the musical “Seussical” by The Theater Project, takes place at 2 p.m. in the Robinson Theatre.
This year's performing arts festival was made possible by a “generous grant” from the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture, Monroe said.
Tickets for the Main Stage Show are $10 for adults; $5 for students and children under 18. Tickets for the Sunday matinee are $5. Tickets are available at City Market stores.
GO&DO
What: 1st ever Grand Junction Performing Arts Festival
When: Aug. 4-7 Where: Mesa State College Moss Performing Arts Center and outdoor quad Cost: Most events free; Main Stage Show tickets $10 and $5 Info: www.GVPerformingArtsFestival.org |
