It's a Wonderful Christmas Carol Life
The Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (BETC) is on a roll. In addition to continuing a remarkable run of top notch productions that cement BETC’s reputation as one of the best theatre companies in not just Boulder but all of Colorado, over the past year BETC has collected some serious national accolades.BETC won the National Theatre Company Award from the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. The National New Play Network selected Stephanie Alison Walker’s The Madres, which sprang from BETC’s new play development project, for presentation at its national conference. Most recently, BETC’s Managing Director and Artistic Ensemble member, Rebecca Remaly, received the National Theatre Conference’s Emerging Professional Award.Never one to rest on its laurels, BETC’s latest ambition appears to be cornering the market on Christmas. BETC’s annual production of The SantaLand Diaries, David Sedaris’ cynicimental recounting of working as an elf at Macy’s during the holidays, has become a holiday tradition for many Boulder theater lovers. Now being presented at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in partnership with Denver Center Attractions, BETC’s SantaLand has expanded its drawing power to the entire metro area.This year, while SantaLand slays ’em at the Denver Center, BETC has launched another holiday humdinger in Boulder with the regional premier of Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some)! As the name suggests, Every Christmas Story Ever Told is a medley-style, whirlwind tour of the most well-known and much-loved holiday movies, TV shows, songs and traditions from around the globe. Think of it as The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) with Santa standing in for the Bard.Three actors (Jon Fortmiller, Daniel Langhoff and Justin Walvoord) are set to perform Charles Dickens’ seminal story of 11th-hour redemption, A Christmas Carol. Justin is over the moon to be playing Scrooge in this Christmas classic. Daniel and Jon, however, do not share his enthusiasm. They feel like A Christmas Carol is played out, and they want to scrap it in favor of something more modern. The three ultimately compromise on performing a Frankincense’s monster of holiday fare, a mistletoe mashup, if you will. And with a Bruce Buffer style, “Let’s get ready to jingle!” they’re off and running.Read more.