World Premiere of “Harry the Great” at Creed Repertory Theatre
If the West is indeed a landscape in which we can tell epic stories as Robert Duvall suggests, then Creede Repertory Theatre is making a concerted effort to foster some epic storytelling.
In the past ten years, about one-third of all of CRT productions have been original plays. In 2011, the theater formalized their commitment into “Headwaters: New Plays of the Southwest.”
For many, this region is conducive to creativity, the telling of new and old stories, and so narratives bubble out of artists like water out of the mountains. CRT’s Headwaters program takes advantage of this generative setting to foster the development of new works. While other arts organizations have a similar interest and commitment to the creation of new works, CRT has narrowed the focus in order to better serve the artists and stories of this region.
To that end, CRT hosted the World Premiere of Harry the Great on July 20. Written by John DiAntonio, this romantic comedy delves into the world of magicians, their egos and why you never, ever reveal how it’s done. Set against the vibrant, innovative backdrop of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the recently not-so-great Harry Robenstein is making an ambitious comeback at the Fair’s wild Trocadero Vaudevilles. When his act is foiled by an upstart (and remarkably adept) young magician, Harry vows revenge. Full of magic, romance, and suspense, Harry the Great will have you rolling in the aisles – and wondering, “how’d he do that?”
Headwaters can provide an artist with financial resources, artistic mentorship, rehearsal and living space, and a network of actors for play readings and workshops. For those artists working to tell the stories of the Southwest, Headwaters provides a respected partner and a creative home to explore their craft and hone their skills. Headwaters is funded, in part, by a gift from the estate of Drs. Ed and Minnie Lee Lancaster. For more about Headwaters, write to headwaters@creederep.com or call 719-658-2540.
