If you’re a curmudgeon, a cynic, or a righteous opponent of giggles, I invite you to the DAC theater this weekend to meet your spirit animal.
“The Grunch” is being performed by our youth theater company, and these talented actors who positively gurgle with enthusiasm behind their proverbial rose-colored glasses have met their match: Rudy Grunch, a bitter sixth grader who is determined to ruin the middle school play by whatever means necessary. To make matters worse for this committed young cast, they just lost all their theater funding to the football team, and they have to pour their hearts into writing and producing their own musical. While they’re giving it everything they’ve got, The Grunch and his bevy of New York Times critics are doing their best to thwart their plans and steal all the joy in the room.
That’s the plot. If you’re an adult, here’s why you need to go:
It offers a deep moral message shrouded in jazz-handed musical numbers, and provides a glimpse into the truth of a common social problem we all face: No matter how well intentioned you are, no matter how pure your heart or how kind your mission, there will always be that one person or group who tries to stop you, make your life harder, who lies about you and does their darndest to ruin you. In the end, it’s always about them, not about you at all.
In a day and age of social media and pervasive negativity, isn’t it nice to have a reminder that a bully is just an isolated soul who might have the courage to change if only he felt like he belonged?
This play was done seven years ago at the DAC. Several of the cast from the last production are grown up now, and they’ve all turned into excellent and promising young adults. (If you were in it, and you’re in town this weekend, I invite you to email me for a ticket to the show so you can see your role acted by a new “you”!) I’m so proud of all of these kids and you will be, too – chances are you know at least one of them. This play only runs this weekend and opens Friday evening. You won’t want to miss it nor will you want to wait another seven-plus years to see it again.
- “The Grunch”: The Grinch with a twist: 7 p.m. Aug. 4-5, 2 p.m. Aug. 5-6. Tickets $15/$10.
- A Night of Improv with Cindy, Mary & Friends: 7 p.m. Aug. 11. $10/$15.
- Silent Swanson: Silent films on the big screen accompanied on live piano by Adam Swanson. 2 p.m. Aug. 13. Tickets $15.
- “Bye Bye Birdie,” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18-19, 25-26 and Sept. 1-2; 2 p.m. Aug. 20, 27 and Sept. 3. Tickets $25/$15.
- “The Odd Couple, the Female Version”: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30; 2 p.m. Sept. 17, 24 and Oct. 1. Tickets $20/$10.
- Member’s Art Exhibit in Barbara Conrad Gallery: Free.
- Call to Artists for the “That’s So Durango!” art exhibit. Deadline Aug. 11, submit online.
- Shop the Artisan’s Market: Open noon-6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday.
- Adult and youth art and theater classes offered year round, see website for catalog and registration.
- 29th Annual Durango Autumn Arts Festival: Sept. 16-17, 100 artists from across the country along East Second Ave.
Email info@durangoarts.org. Buy tickets, donate, become a member, register for classes and keep in touch at DurangoArts.org.
Brenda Macon has been executive director of Durango Arts Center since 2018.
