By Cara Miale, Fourth Wall member

Cast members Megan Byrne and Chris Mixon judging sweaters.

Thanksgiving came and went kicking off another holiday season and all that it brings: family dysfunction, snowflake sweaters, shameless re-gifting, drunken uncles, and oh yes – cheer.

If your holidays are anything like mine, an Ugly Sweater Party and Absurd Holiday Extravaganza with  FOURTH WALL, The Denver Center’s new group of culture lovin’ 20- and 30-somethings, is a more-than-welcome occasion.

At a recent event, friends and members of Fourth Wall mixed and mingled, caught a performance of Absurd Person Singular and rang in the holidays with cathartic cocktails at a lively after party. If Fourth Wall’s party felt different than the usual holiday events, it might be because:

• No one’s judging you – just your ugly sweater. Cast members Megan Byrne and Chris Mixon of Absurd Person Singular had quite the task at hand as official judges of the Ugly Sweater Contest. Fourth Wall Members came dressed to impress in an array of hilariously hideous holiday sweaters, including one with pockets for Christmas cards.
• It Was Nothing Like Little Sister’s Holiday Play. Nope, no two hour Frosty the Snowman medley or snoring grandma at this show.  We laughed our faces off (and not because someone peed their pants on stage) at a performance of Absurd Person Singular, a hilarious comedy featuring some strangely familiar dysfunctional couples at Christmas.
• … of the White Elephant in the Room. No dancing around uncomfortable subjects at the dinner table. The only elephant in the room at the Fourth Wall party was wrapped in tinsel with a bow on top. Our white elephant gift exchange featured piles of fun and festive gifts; even tickets to Spring Awakening – now there’s something worth stealing from a friend. Of course, not every present was equally amazing – someone did go home with a box of rotten bananas. 
• There was Mixing and Mingling with Other Grown Ups – Cool Ones.  Students from the National Theatre Conservatory stopped by the Fourth Wall party for a meet and greet. Yes, real celebrities. As much as we all enjoy the cheek-pinching and Q&A sessions that are par for the course at family gatherings, nothing beats an evening out with other 20- and 30-somethings who appreciate a little culture and a little cocktail.

Happy Holidays from Fourth Wall, and join us at our next event for EVENTIDE on January 30!

Josh Rael and Heidi Bosk in their best sweaters.

Popularity: 17% [?]

By Emily Edwards, Audience Development Intern

Since the age of nine The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has thrilled me with its theatrical performances. Luckily I grew up with parents who shared with me their interest in the theatre.  One of the first shows I remember seeing here was Cats. The lights, music, and amazingly cat like furry leotards remain vivid in my memory. Fortunately CATS  will be coming back to The Denver Center for a limited time in January 2010.

This experience early on in life has kept me coming back for more. I have enjoyed various other performances through Denver Center Attractions, and over the last couple years I have become more familiar with the Denver Center Theatre Company and the quality work they provide for the community. One perk of being a student in Denver is the student rush ticket price of just $10 available an hour before these shows with a student ID. I most recently joined other students taking advantage of this offer for The Voysey Inheritance and on Halloween will be joining other 20 and 30 somethings for a Denver Center Fourth Wall event centered on A Raisin in the Sun.

I would like to say that I have come to know about all of these events by way of my own exploration, but being an intern in the marketing department at the DCPA has certainly helped. I encourage you to take the initiative and browse the website to find out about all the present and upcoming shows and events.  You don’t want to miss out!

Popularity: 25% [?]

FOURTH WALL, a new monthly play series for 20 and 30-somethings, has been just launched by the Denver Center Theatre Company (DCTC) as part of its ongoing efforts to engage the next generation of theatergoers. This new initiative to cultivate long-term patronage and make The Denver Center a cultural hub for young people is an audience development program for the 21^st Century that provides an alternative to the traditional subscription model.

Fourth Wall members playing our interactive Ponzi scheme game at the inaugural Fourth Wall event on September 26, 2009.

The Denver Center hosts Fourth Wall events the last Saturday of every month during the regular theatre season. Each event includes a performance of a DCTC production followed by a fun and engaging social event relating to the themes and ideas of the play. For example, the inaugural Fourth Wall party in September featured a performance of David Mamet’s adaptation of The Voysey Inheritance, a play about a century-old Ponzi scheme, and an evening-long interactive Ponzi scheme game played with Monopoly money and chance cards.

This program was designed and created by The Denver Center Young Professional Advisory Board, a group of 18 young professionals who volunteer their time helping the DCTC develop new strategies for engaging a new generation at the theatre. Members of the Board co-chair each Fourth Wall event, planning and executing the night’s activities with Denver Center staff support.

Fourth Wall memberships cost $50 and include discounts at the theatre and local restaurants, special Denver Center offers, and a USB membership card with free downloads at each event. Members can purchase $25 tickets to every Fourth Wall event (that’s 50% off regular prices), and $40 tickets are available to non-members.

For more information about Fourth Wall, visit http://www.denvercenter.org/fourthwall or contact Jamie Alexander at jalexander@dcpa.org.

Popularity: 35% [?]