麻豆传媒

After two years of canceled or shortened seasons due to the pandemic, the University of Northern Colorado鈥檚 Summer Arts Season is back with several productions from the and the return of the popular series of free outdoor musical performances,   

麻豆传媒鈥檚 Little Theatre of the Rockies (LTR), the oldest professional summer stock theatre west of the Mississippi and the oldest professional theatre company in Colorado, kicks off its June 16-19 with the murder mystery/farce Clue. Additional performances of The Revolutionists and All Shook Up are scheduled in July.  

Close to a dozen 麻豆传媒 alumni are returning to campus, taking on director, lighting and sound design roles in the LTR productions. And they aren鈥檛 strangers to the stage. Many performed in LTR growing up, including Megan Van De Hey, who is this year鈥檚 artistic director. Van De Hey says LTR prepared her for the professional theatre world by building her physical and mental endurance. 

鈥淟TR has been a mainstay in my life for close to 30 years,鈥� Van De Hey said. 鈥淚 have grown as an artist and a person because of my time with LTR. I feel so lucky that the University and the community value this program because what it provides the students is invaluable.鈥�

Above: Little Theatre of the Rockies performers rehearsing Clue at 麻豆传媒.

Concerts Under the Stars features a diverse lineup of musicians every Tuesday in July, beginning with the Denver Brass on July 5. Additional performances include the Colorado Jazz Orchestra on July 12, The Burroughs on July 19 and Salsa Forte on July 26. The outdoor concerts start at 8 p.m. in 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Garden Theatre and are open to the public. Blankets, picnic food and lawn chairs are welcome. 

鈥淭his year鈥檚 lineup promises a blend of sounds that include swing, funk, Latin and a taste of Americana just after the July 4 holiday, when singer Stephen Taylor joins the Denver Brass.鈥� said Melissa Malde, Associate Dean from 麻豆传媒鈥檚 College of Performing and Visual Arts. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 have done this without the generosity of our community partners.鈥� 

While 麻豆传媒鈥檚 College of Performing and Visual Arts hosts and helps sponsor these events, generous donors also make the performances possible. UCHealth is the Premier Sponsor of the College of Performing and Visual Arts, and the Bohemian Foundation鈥檚 Littler Youth Fund Grant provided funds to ensure that Weld County Youth can attend Little Theatre of the Rockies performances at no cost. The Weld Community Foundation also supports both Concerts Under the Stars and LTR. 

鈥淔or years, Concerts Under the Stars in the Garden Theatre was an iconic summer tradition. Its absence left a noticeable vacuum,鈥� said Rand Morgan, President and CEO of the Weld Community Foundation. 鈥淭he mission of Weld Community Foundation is all about our middle name, 鈥榗ommunity.鈥� We knew our 25th鈥疉nniversary was coming up this year, and what better way to celebrate than to help bring back Concerts Under the Stars?鈥� 

Morgan added that the event is known for bringing the community together. 鈥淲here else did individuals and whole families show up with lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and brown bag dinners, and mingle together? You see spontaneous, informal gatherings of friends and neighbors greeting, hugging, in conversation, and then settle into celebration of, sometimes dancing to, delightful music all under our beautiful, warm July skies. It brought community together -- the perfect setting for the Foundation to partner with 麻豆传媒 and give a meaningful gift back to the community for its support over the years.鈥�