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Pamela Jones, in charge of fundraising and publicity for the Second Annual Gay Lesbian Theater Festival, says her job, while reward ing, is not always easy. Jones says she was surprised at the amount of fear still in the community over gay issues, but that, she says, is changing, due in part to groups like the Upstart Performing Ensemble, which is organizing the festival. “It’s amazing that we even have such a festival,” she says. “We’re the only city our size to have such an event and it’s all related to this city having been at the center of the Amendment 2 controversy.” When Tony Rabin of Upstart first came up with the idea last year he approached the Smokebrush Center for Arts Theater and, while they were interested in hosting the event, they had no idea how much interest it might spur. “What can I say,” says Jones. “The response was huge.” Smokebrush had given Rabin its basement space and sold-out, overflow crowds filled it every night. “We had about 1,200 people come and we had to turn people away,” says Jones. This year the three-play event, which begins October 8 and runs through the 26th, will be housed in the main theater. Tickets for the 8 p.m. shows are just $10 per show or $25 for all three. Jones hopes that through additional Front Range pub licity the festival can bring in 3,000 people. Late Snow, the first play, will deal with the complex, heartwarming and often humorous twists to the rela tionships of five women who find themselves snow bound in an isolat ed cabin. Julie Johnson is a sharp, uplifting and often funny play about a woman who leaves an abu sive relationship and, following a life long dream, returns to school. In The Normal Heart the issue of AIDS and the public’s fear and apathy are addressed as one man struggles to awaken the world to this emerging cri sis. Next year Jones says the festival hopes to produce at least one play writ ten by a local playwright. For more information call 636-5089 —MG i
Newspaper Details
Colorado Springs Magazine
Colorado Springs, Colorado, US
Wed, Oct 01, 1997
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 19 Jul 2026
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