Rocky Mountain Regional Report May-June 2010

AAC Benaiah Anderson just closed Dead Man’s Cell Phone, in which he played Dwight, and choreographed a kung-fu fight. He is working on Hamlet for the University of Wyoming, and has been hired to choreograph the violence for Romeo and Juliet for Colorado State University. He will resume teaching at Tara Performing Arts High School after Spring Break and is looking forward to “Blood Day” with the Juniors.

CT/FD Geoffrey Kent just closed Othello for the Denver Center Theatre Academy and wrapped up classes for the University of Denver and the National Theatre Conservatory. After spending May in Italy, Geoffrey will return to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival to fight direct and act in their 53rd season: Edmund in King Lear, Grumio in Taming of the Shrew, and Simon Stinson in Our Town. www.thefightguy.com

AAC Terry Kroenung’s 7th annual Food Fight (his production of Much Ado About Nothing) collected $1,500 for the local food bank. He'll teach a class in Bartitsu at Denver's Starfest in mid-April to illustrate Steampunk self-defense. His second fantasy novel, Jasper's Foul Tongue, continuing the adventures of Jasper the obnoxious talking sword, will be published in September.

AAC Michael Mueller traveled to New York City with his loving wife, Katie, where they caught some shows, saw some family, and toured some of the city's many museums. He was fortunate enough to catch a fantastic lecture on Middle Eastern Arms and Armor from Honorary SAFD member Richard Gradkowski. Richard has offered to show SAFD members around the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the past, and Michael reports that this is an opportunity not to be missed. If you love combat of any kind and appreciate history and fine art, this is a must. Michael also traveled to Denver and caught up with Geoffrey Kent, talked shop, and saw Othello at the Denver Center Theatre Academy. Currently, Michael is preparing to embrace a wonderful experience at this year's TCW. He is grateful to the selection committee for their support and vote of confidence. This will come immediately before he moves his family for two years to Pittsburgh, where he will begin an MFA in Theatre Pedagogy this August at the University of Pittsburgh.

AC Stephen Weitz fought furiously as Montano in the Denver Center production of Othello and is now looking forward to his 6th season as a company member at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.