Change was in the air during the Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual award ceremony last month. The 17th Annual Henry Awards, presented by the organization since 2006 to recognize local achievements on stage, also served as a moving farewell to Rebecca Remaly and Stephen Weitz, co-founders of the Boulder-based Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado (BETC).
The husband-and-wife team, who earlier this year handed the reins to Jessica Robblee and Mark Ragan after running the theater for nearly two decades, left on a high note. Last fall’s BETC production of The Royale — based on the true story of Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight world champion — took home a record-breaking nine Henry Awards, a stark reminder of the big shoes left to fill.
“Stephen said to us, ‘Good luck, it’s your baby now,’ and I was like, gulp,” says Robblee, BETC’s new producing artistic director, who admits she feels pressure to carry on Remaly and Weitz’s legacy. “It is an honor and a privilege to continue [BETC], and I am thrilled that Stephen and Rebecca were honored at the Henry Awards.”
But BETC supporters had even more reason to celebrate at this year’s ceremony. Robblee won the 2023 Henry Award for Lead Actress in a Play for her performance in The Belle of Amherst by William Luce, which aims to shed new light on the poet Emily Dickinson. The play was produced by Clover & Bee Productions, a theater company founded by Robblee and Ragan that has been folded into BETC.
As a part of the company’s upcoming 2023–2024 season — themed around the Dickinson quote, “I dwell in possibility” — The Belle of Amherst will be re-staged in a five-show run at the Dairy Arts Center from Nov. 22 through 26.
“Since it’s a transition year for us, we kind of wanted to use a few shortcuts to help us learn the ropes this year,” Robblee says. “Bringing a short stint of The Belle of Amherst to the Dairy Thanksgiving weekend made logistical sense and allowed us to fulfill this promise we made while performing at Buntport Theater to take the show to Boulder.”
BETC will also be touring the production at Millibo Art Theatre in Colorado Springs from Nov. 2 through 12 as part of its efforts to expand the company’s reach. “Mark and I are excited about fostering connections across Colorado,” Robblee says. “We have numerous opportunities for cross-pollination across the state’s artistic community throughout our season.”
In addition to expanding its reach geographically, BETC will also present a diverse set of offerings during its upcoming 18th season. Productions will include mainstage productions at venues like the Dairy and the Savoy Denver, along with a play-reading series (Cafe Au Play) hosted by BETC veteran Dr. Heather Beasley and two new improv comedy shows (King Penny Golden Radio Hour and MAD LIBrarians).
“I think we’ve really hit an inflection point,” says Ragan, BETC’s new managing director. “Ticket sales are surprisingly booming right now, so I am looking forward to seeing if our first season takes off. We have a good lineup of shows, and our subscription sales are currently ahead of last season.”
Raising the curtain
BETC’s upcoming season kicks off Oct. 26 with the Colorado premiere of Coal Country, a gripping story built from interviews with the survivors of a mine explosion in West Virginia, written by Erik Jensen and Jessica Blank and woven with the music of Steve Earle.
“It’s the first time it’s being done outside New York City, and we have an amazing cast,” Ragan says. “No one play completely defines us, but Coal Country will define our taste.”
In keeping with the company’s emphasis on new work, BETC will present the world premiere of Holly, Alaska! for its holiday show in December. The play by Matt Zambrano follows a humble and hilarious group of locals who band together to ensure that the town holiday pageant continues.
“We wanted to bring something sunny and festive to the holiday season that the whole family could enjoy,” Robblee says. “Expect an all-ages play with a somewhat Pixar sensibility. Holly, Alaska! is sharp enough for adults to enjoy themselves while remaining playful and enjoyable for kids.”
The final mainstage play in BETC’s 18th season, What the Constitution Means to Me, is a comedic look at how the founding document of the United States has influenced the lives of four generations of women in the family of playwright Heidi Schreck.
“I was fortunate enough to do What the Constitution Means to Me in Jackson, Wyoming, for just two weekends this spring,” Robblee says of the show running early next year at the Savoy Denver and later that spring at the Dairy in Boulder. “It’s such an exciting and important play that is incredibly smart and funny. Mark and I wanted this play to have a longer life and bring it to our area. … Because it’s such a notable script, we think both Denver and Boulder will be interested in the show.”
With this slate of performances, the new BETC leadership team hopes to continue Remaly and Weitz’s mission of producing “powerful, engaging, top-quality performances” that reverberate both on and off the stage.
“BETC has created strong production and such a supportive community,” Robblee says. “We’re honored to continue working to do the very same.”
ON STAGE: BETC 2023–2024 Season. Oct. 26, 2023–May 19, 2024. Tickets here.
