#Candlelight dinner playhouse free#

It was, he noted, also one of his strengths, since his no-nonsense approach to running the operation leaves others - like production manager Pat Payne and technical manager Shauna Johnson - free to focus on the plays themselves. It’s now owned by Clark and Taylor, under the company Candlelight Properties.Ĭlark is quick to point out that one of his weaknesses in joining the theater was his lack of theatrical experience. “But I’m still here.”Ī combination of the recession and building slump prompted Clark to take the reins managing the theater and leave his career as a contractor behind. “I figured it’d be like usual, where we’d build it and then turn it over,” Clark said with a laugh. Enter Clark, at the time a local contractor in business with his brothers, who was hired to build the place. With land and another investor in Taylor, all the group needed was a builder. Nick Turner, Gina Schuh Turner, Troy Schuh and Peter Muller were looking around for existing buildings in which to launch a dinner theater in 2005 “when they made a connection with Chauncey Taylor (the owner of Johnson’s Corner), who suggested they just build something new on some land he had nearby,” Clark added. “It was just a group of four with a dream to do this,” Clark said. Don’t expect to see “Avenue Q” or “Rent” here, but it’s offering fare like “Beauty and the Beast” this holiday season, and Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me Kate” next spring.ĭenver’s LGBTQ community is catering more to sober-curious and all-ages crowds The season launched last weekend where it began in June 2008: with the Meredith Willson stalwart “The Music Man.” It’s typical of the shows put up here: family friendly classic musicals with strong name recognition. On most nights, the place is packed, and during the holiday season - even with eight shows a week -it can be tough to get tickets at all. The theater, which seats up to 350, typically does five big musicals a year, with long runs lasting between 10 and 12 weeks.Īnd here’s another surprise: With as many as 100 full- and part-time staffers, Candlelight is one of the largest theater operations in Colorado. What’s extraordinary about this venue is not just its location, but also the quality, scale and frequency of its productions.–Just like any theater - from Broadway to the Denver Center to the most humble 50-seat community playhouse - the Candlelight is dedicated to transporting its audience to another place.Ĭandlelight has thrived over the last decade, and expanded, as it continues to offer top-notch, large-cast musicals year-round. Monday, July 18th 2022 Home Page Close Menu