Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Posted on October 4, 2002 by The LIDA Project

Brian L. Upton as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2002). Photo: James Bevins

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Book by John Cameron Mitchell / Music & Lyrics by Stephen Trask

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the story of a sad and lonely East German girly-boy turned rock diva. In this truly unique theatrical evening the audience follows Hedwig, as her halfhearted angry-inched sex change frees her from communist East Berlin and into the spotlight headlining for her gender-bent band The Angry Inch. Looking and sounding like a cross between Ziggy Stardust and Farah Fawcett, this glam rock diva takes no prisoners in a show Rolling Stone declares “The first rock musical that truly rocks.”

“My sex change operation got botched; my guardian angel fell asleep on the watch; now all I got is a Barbie doll crotch; I’ve got an angry inch!”

Production History
October 4 – November 16, 2002 : The Wave :: Denver, CO
November 22, 2002 – March 22, 2003 :The Climax Lounge :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best Rock Concert of 2002 – The Denver Post
Ovation Award Nomination – Best Musical – The Denver Post
Ovation Award Nomination – Best Actor in a Musical, Brian Upton – The Denver Post
Best Production of 2002 – The Rocky Mountain News

The Company
Direction: Chris Tabb
Musical Direction: Colin Bricker
Producers: Brian Freeland, Jen Giannini, Melanie Mayner
Production Manager: Melanie Mayner
Stage Management: Bucy
Asst. Stage Management: Jen Paulson
Lighting Design: Robin Miranda
Production Design: Brook Nichols
Projection Design: Brian Freeland
Costume Design: Gina Penka
Crew: Ginny Crawford / Joaquin Leibert

Ensemble
Brian L. Upton: Hedwig
Sara Mykin Casperson: Yitzak

The Angry Inch
Colin Bricker
Kit Peltzel
Marty Pullam
John Rasmussen

Images

Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2002). Photo James Bevins.

Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2002). Photo Eric Weber.

Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2002). Photo James Bevins.

Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2002). Photo Eric Weber.

Hedwig and The Angry Inch (2002). Photo James Bevins.

Family Stories: Belgrade

Posted on May 17, 2002 by The LIDA Project

Family Stories: Belgrade (2002) . Photo by Jacob M. Welch.

Family Stories: Belgrade
by Biljana Srbljanovic (translated by Rebecca Ann Rugg)

Set in the desolate projects of 1998 Belgrade, Family Stories: Belgrade portrays a child’s surreal war-time game of “house”. In the wasteland of a country devastated by an unfinished war, four children expose the violence of a society and ultimately a family at war.

Production History
May 17 – June 29, 2002 : BINDERY | space :: Denver, CO

Awards
Best Supporting Actor (Chris Tabb), Denver Post Ovation Award Nomination
Best Productions of 2002 list, The Rocky Mountain News

The Company
Direction: Brian Freeland
Assistant Direction: Nya Watkins / Cristofer Lix
Lighting Design: Jacob M. Welch
Scenic Design: The LIDA Project
Sound Design: Paul Cure
Fight Choreography: Dane Torbenson
Producers: Jeannene Bragg / Melanie Mayner

Ensemble (alphabetical order)
Vojin: Robin Davies
Andrija: Chris Tabb
Nadezda: Mare Trevathan
Milena: Kelley Wade

Images

Mare Trevathan in Family Stories: Belgrade (2002) . Photo by Jacob M. Welch.

Chris Tabb in Family Stories: Belgrade (2002) . Photo by Jacob M. Welch.

Family Stories: Belgrade (2002) . Photo by Jacob M. Welch.

Brother Mine

Posted on February 2, 2002 by The LIDA Project

Brother Mine
by Eric C. Dente

Brother Mine is the compelling story of a young African-American man struggling to find his own cultural identity in a world of conflicting ideals. Malcolm, adopted and raised by a loving Caucasian family, deals with pressure from his natural father to reject his upbringing and embrace his own heritage. In the midst of this struggle he faces the possibility that his pregnant girlfriend may choose to terminate his progeny, while his drug addicted brother threatens to destroy the only family he has ever known. As Malcolm strives to hold his world together, he finds himself walking the thin line between separatism and racism. Brother Mine explores the strength of family in our uncertain and often divisive society, and ultimately celebrates parenthood and humanity.

Production History
February 2, 2002- March 2, 2002 : BINDERY | space :: Denver, CO

Company
Direction: Chris Tabb
Stage Management: Melissa Palovich
Production Management: Brian Freeland
Associate Production Management: Melanie Mayner
Lighting Design: Jacob M. Welch
Sound Design: Chris Tabb
Scenic Design: Brian Freeland
Scenic Painter: Paul Sanchez
Publicity: Melanie Mayner

Ensemble
David Pinckney: Malcolm
David C. Riley: Anthony
Chris Hampton: Young Malcolm
Laurence A. Curry: Darrell
Vanessa Lunnon: Searrie
Frederick D. Katona: Ben
Jennifer Robbins: Kyrssi
Justin Thompson: Eddie
Kurt Soderstrom: Kenneth
Margaret Amateis Casart: Sarah
Kw Brock Johnson: Raymond

Our Town

Posted on September 14, 2001 by The LIDA Project

Sara Casperson & Brian E. Lewis in Our Town (2001). Photo: Eric Weber

Our Town
by Thornton Wilder

Production History
September 14 – October 20, 2001: BINDERY | space :: Denver, CO

The Company
Direction: Brian Freeland
Assistant Direction: kryssi wyckoff martin
Stage Management: Brandy Qualls
Movement / Choreography: Robin Davies
Scenic Design: Brian Freeland
Lighting Design: Brian Billings
Sound Design: Jeremiah Lyman Moore
Costume Design: Carrie Wyatt
Publicity: Melanie Mayner

Ensemble
David C. Riley: Stage Manager
Dane Torbenson: Dr. Gibbs
Nancy Flanagan: Mrs. Gibbs
Brian E. Lewis: George Gibbs
Alexandra Trow: Rebecca Gibbs
Brian Thompson: Mr. Webb
Karen Kargel: Mrs. Webb
Chandler Gibbons: Wally Webb
Sara Casperson: Emily Webb
Dan Mundell:Professor Willard
Kelley Wade: Mrs. Soames
Robin Davies: Constable Warren
Chris Hampton: Si Crowell/Joe Crowell, Jr.
James Christian Villarreal: Howie Newsome
Dell Domnik: Simon Stimson
Thomas O’Connor: Joe Stoddard
Cristofer Lix: Sam Craig
Josh Hicks: Baseball Player
Tamara Bradley: Chorus
Tami Canaday: Chorus
Haley Gibbons: Chorus
Carrie Wyatt: Chorus

Images

Our Town (2001). Photo: Eric Weber

Kurt Cobain Was Right

Posted on January 10, 1997 by The LIDA Project

Nils Ivan Swanson, Dan Hiester, and Cody Alexander. Kurt Cobain Was Right (1997).

Kurt Cobain Was Right
by Don Becker

Mass suicides, dominance and bondage, global disaster, and a murdered cat…

Production History
January 10 – February 16, 1997 : The Acoma Center :: Denver, CO

The Company
Direction: Dan Hiester
Stage Manager: Nils Ivan Swanson
Producer: Brian Freeland
Scenic Design: Dennis Bontems
Sound Design: David Schmitz
Costume Design: Katharine Guthrie
Lighting Design: Dennis Bontems
Publicity: Melanie Mayner

Ensemble
Dan Hiester: Ford Landers /Charles Horse
Mary Gay Sullivan: Mrs. Landers / Nurse
Nils Ivan Swanson: Schaffer / Blake Horse
Holly Wasinger: General /Dakota Horse
Cody Alexander: Mo Gleckman / Mo Horse

Daughters of Lot

Posted on April 22, 1996 by The LIDA Project

Nils Ivan Swanson & Katherine Guthrie. Daughters of Lot (1996).

Daughters of Lot
by Brian E. Lewis

And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. And the firstborn said until the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the Earth to come into us after the manner of all Earth: Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he precieved not when she lay down, nor when she arose. And it came to pass on the marrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: Let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the Daughters of Lot with child by their father.
– Book of Genesis, Chapter 19, 30-37

Production History
April 22 – 28, 1996 : The MK-Ultra Theatre :: Denver, CO
August 1 – 24, 1996 : Jack’s Theatre :: Denver, CO
August 13 – 23, 1997 : La Tea :: New York City, NY
September 5 – October 5, 1997 : The LIDA Project Theatre :: Denver, CO

The Company (April 1996)
Direction: Brian Freeland
Assistant Direction: Brian E. Lewis
Scenic Design: Brian Freeland / Brian E. Lewis
Original Music: Paul Cure
Sound Design: Brian Freeland
Costume Design: Katharine Guthrie

Ensemble (April 1996)
Joshua: Nils Ivan Swanson
Martha: Rebeque Destro
Mary: Katharine Guthrie
Mute: Sara Casperson
Damon: Brian Freeland

The Company (August 1996)
Direction: Brian Freeland
Assistant Direction: Brian E. Lewis
Scenic Design: Brian Freeland / Brian E. Lewis
Original Music: Paul Cure
Sound Design: Brian Freeland
Lighting Design: Craig Osterberg
Costume Design: Katharine Guthrie

Ensemble (August 1996)
Joshua: Nils Ivan Swanson
Martha: Katharine Guthrie
Mary: kryssi wyckoff martin
Ruth: Sara Casperson

The Company (August / September 1997)
Direction: Brian Freeland
Assistant Direction: Brian E. Lewis
Scenic Design: Matthew Morgan
Original Music: Paul Cure
Sound Design: Matthew Morgan
Lighting Design: Matthew Morgan
Costume Design: Katharine Guthrie

Ensemble (August 1997)
Joshua: Nils Ivan Swanson
Martha: Katharine Guthrie
Mary: Tara M.E. Thompson
Ruth: Sara Casperson

Ensemble (September 1997)
Joshua: Nils Ivan Swanson
Martha: Catherine E. Worster
Mary: Tara M.E. Thompson
Ruth: Sara Casperson