70 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | standing proudly against encroaching devel- opment. A neighborhood fi xture that refuses to sell out, the Bug remains a stubbornly cre- ative beacon in a rapidly gentrifying city. Best Immersive Experience Impossible Things The Catamounts/Lonnie Hanzon/ Museum of Outdoor Arts thecatamounts.org Immersive theater reached new surrealist heights with Impossible Things last May, an imaginative collaboration of Boulder’s Cata- mounts theater company, visual artist Lonnie Hanzon and the Museum of Outdoor Arts. Set in Marjorie Park around Hanzon’s whim- sical art installation Cabinet of Curiosities and Impossibilities, the performance invited audi- ences to the graduation party of Alex, a non- binary teen facing key life decisions. Guests moved among fantastical characters offering dreamlike guidance, while director Amanda Berg Wilson and playwright Jessica Austgen crafted a playful yet profound exploration of identity, uncertainty and coming of age. By reimagining Hanzon’s celebrated exhibit as the backdrop for a theatrical wonderland, Impossible Things reaffi rmed Denver’s lead- ership in immersive storytelling. Best Musical A Chorus Line Phamaly Theatre Company phamaly.org Phamaly Theatre Company’s 35-year dream came true this year with a ground- breaking, disability-affi rmative production of the iconic musical A Chorus Line. Direc- tor Ben Raanan assembled a diverse cast of 28 disabled actors whose moving per- formances prioritized heart and humanity over uniformity and precision, resulting in a powerful redefi nition of perfection at the DCPA in August. Bold adaptations — including tap dancing performed from a wheelchair — proved that disability isn’t a limitation, but an invitation for innovation. Celebrating the passion and individuality of performers long marginalized by tra- ditional theater, Phamaly’s triumphant production challenged expectations, cel- ebrated diversity and proved that after 35 years, the company remains a transforma- tive force in theater. Best Dance Experience alone: un/tethered HOLDTIGHT holdtightcompany.com In alone: un/tethered, HOLDTIGHT artistic director Gwendolyn Gussman transforms solitude from a daunting isolation into an empowering experience of interconnected- ness. Performed solo in near-total darkness with mesmerizing live-looped vocals at the Newman Center last December, the piece evolves from introspective choreography to gentle audience interaction, exploring the delicate balance between solitude, loneli- ness and human connection. Enhanced by Nicholas Caputo’s immersive, womb-like soundscape and Maki Teshima’s metaphor- ical set design, the show encouraged refl ec- tion, guiding audiences toward communal catharsis via a series of dance pieces. This thoughtful installment in HOLDTIGHT’s ambitious un/tethered trilogy challenged and comforted, proving that sometimes the best antidote to loneliness is a collective embrace. Best Ensemble A Jukebox for the Algonquin Miners Alley Performing Arts Center 1100 Miner’s Alley, Golden 303-935-3044 minersalley.com A Jukebox for the Algonquin is a poignant celebration of aging, friendship and re- bellion that made its regional premiere at Miners Alley Playhouse last March. Writ- ten by Paul Stroili and directed by Len Matheo, the warm, witty play featured a pitch-perfect ensemble, with powerful performances from Dwayne Carrington, Edith Weiss, Chris Kendall, Abby Apple Boes, Arlene Hicks, John Hauser and Stroili himself. It’s set in the overlooked Algonquin Room of Placid Pines Senior Care Center, where the residents unite in their quest for a jukebox, a symbol of life. With humor, heart and gentle defi ance, this unforgettable troupe joyously celebrated life’s golden years. Arts & Entertainment continued from page 68 continued on page 72
