The Denver Center Theatre Company, in partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS’ Women and Girls Lead Initiative, will host its second Town Hall Meeting at the station’s downtown Denver location (1089 Bannock St.) on January 28 from 10am-5pm in conjunction with the opening of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. The meeting, consisting of a series of conversations on “Women: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” will bring together members of the community in an open discourse surrounding the history and status of women in the United States.
“Through engaging in civic dialogue, we can find a bridge to understanding, realize a common purpose, and hopefully ignite a spark that can be a catalyst for positive change in our communities,” said Denver Center for the Performing Arts Audience Development Director Gregory Smith.
“We are thrilled with the partnership with the Denver Center and with convening our community about important women’s issues,” said Rocky Mountain PBS’ Director of Communications Elizabeth Mayer. “It’s a perfect complement to the work we are launching state wide around our Women and Girls Lead Initiative.”
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW reflects a time in our past where women were bound in a subservient role — expected to acquiesce, to serve and to adorn the arm of a man. The play highlights Katherine’s struggle to define her existence, free of the strictures placed upon her by the male dominated society; it is because of this struggle that she is deemed by the patriarchy as needing to be “tamed.”
During the course of the play, romantic relationships are dealt with from a social perspective; instead of focusing on the concepts of love and romance. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW examines the institutions of courtship and marriage and their implications on the economics of the parties involved. Director Kent Thompson sets the play during the late 1950’s as a reflection, in our modern existence, of a time when the roles of the sexes were purportedly more defined; men were men…and women were expected to be housewives
This event is free to the public, there is ample free parking and no reservation is required.
Moderated by Rocky Mountain PBS’ Executive Producer Cynthia Hessin and PBS Regional Director/General Manager Amanda Mountain.
Panelists* include:
Kent Thompson – Artistic Director of the Denver Center Theatre Company
Jill Tietjen – author and Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame inductee
Christine White – Molson Coors and Women’s Vision Foundation
Barbara Bridges – Founder Women + Film
And many more! *Panelists subject to change
Schedule
· 10-11:30am / That Darn Speech
You know the one. Kate’s final speech of the play. Typically each director of a production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW must wrestle with providing intent and meaning for this monologue and the thematic issues of the play. And with all of the social commentary, at its core, the play is still a comedy.
· 11:30am-1pm / Two Steps Forward. Two Steps Back.
Rosie the Riveter lays down her rivet gun and picks up a dust mop. Women became a vital part of the war effort and workforce during WWII. After the war, they were summarily banished back to more traditional roles. How do gender roles determine the course of our society?
· 2-3:30pm / Sisters Doing It For Themselves
Contributions of women of color in the US. Despite the constraints of race, gender and class, women of color made and continue to make invaluable contributions to the fabric of American society.
· 3:30-5pm / The Journey to Equal Rights
Standing on the shoulders of those who fought the fight. Women’s Suffrage Movement, Reproductive
Rights, Women’s Lib. Many of the young women growing up in the 1950’s became fierce champions for equality in the 60’s and 70’s.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, by William Shakespeare and directed by DCTC Artistic Director Kent Thompson, will play the Denver Center Theatre Company’s Stage Theatre January 27 – February 26. Tickets are can be purchased now, by calling 303.893.4100 or visiting www.denvercenter.org.
