Over 45 Years of Language-Focused Theatre in Boulder, CO
Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare
August 27 – September 6, 2026
Directed by Jeremy Elman
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Harvey
by Mary Chase
December 3 – December 13, 2026
Directed by Maggie Wingate
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The Confidential Clerk
by T. S. Eliot
March 18 – March 28, 2027
Directed by Madge Montgomery
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Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern Are Dead
by Tom Stoppard
May 6 – May 23, 2027
Directed by Brandon Bruce
A classic French comedy written by Molière, centers on the character Orgon, who becomes infatuated with Tartuffe, a conman posing as a pious man. The play opens with Orgon’s family living harmoniously, including his younger wife Elmire and his children from a previous marriage. However, the arrival of Tartuffe disrupts their happy home, as he ingratiates himself with Orgon and manipulates him into adopting a strict, puritanical lifestyle. Tartuffe’s ulterior motives unfold as he seeks to marry Orgon’s daughter, Mariane, while harboring desires for Elmire.
Molière performed his first version of Tartuffe in 1664. Almost immediately following its performance that same year at Versailles’ grand fêtes (The Party of the Delights of the Enchanted Island/Les fêtes des plaisirs de l’ile enchantée), King Louis XIV suppressed it, probably under the influence of the archbishop of Paris, Paul Philippe Hardouin de Beaumont de Péréfixe, the King’s confessor and former tutor. While the king had little personal interest in suppressing the play, he did so because, as stated in the official account of the fête:
Although it was found to be extremely diverting, the king recognized so much conformity between those that a true devotion leads on the path to heaven and those that a vain ostentation of some good works does not prevent from committing some bad ones, that his extreme delicacy to religious matters can not suffer this resemblance of vice to virtue, which could be mistaken for each other; although one does not doubt the good intentions of the author, even so he forbids it in public, and deprived himself of this pleasure, in order not to allow it to be abused by others, less capable of making a just discernment of it.
This show presents adult themes.
• Performances are Thursday – Sunday April 30 – May 17.
• Thursday through Saturday evening performances begin at 7:00pm.
• Sunday matinee performances begin at 2:00pm.
• There will be an industry night benefiting the Denver Actors’ Fund on Monday May 4.
Thursdays are Name-Your Price Nights.
There will be an audience talk-back on Sunday, May 3 after the matinee performance.
General Admission — $28
Senior (65 and over) — $24
Student (with ID) — $24
Season Tickets for the 2026-2027 season: only $80 for ALL of the shows this season!
Season tickets are a great value—all four plays of the season for a 30% savings off the regular, per-show ticket price! These are fully transferable and make great gifts. Season ticket purchases are only available through our Season Tickets page and are not available through the Dairy Center.
Since 1990, each Thursday performance has been “Name-Your-Price” Night. We realize that even our low regular admission price can be a stretch for some and we don’t want that to be a barrier to experiencing these great plays. Instead of a ticket, you’ll be given a plain envelope when you enter. After the show is over, drop your envelope in the collection box, paying as much or as little as you like. For your convenience, at the show there will be a poster with 3 QR codes – for PayPal, Venmo, and Stripe – should you wish to contribute that way.
Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. No reservations are needed – just show up at the theater.
Individual show tickets can be purchased online, by calling 303.444.7328, or in person at the Dairy Arts Center box office at each performance or during regular box office hours. Seats are not reserved, so arrive early to get the best selection!
The Upstart Crow Theatre Company was founded in 1980 by Richard and Joan Bell. They traded off acting and directing for 38 years, and established our aesthetic of producing language-driven plays.
The best way you can show your support of The Upstart Crow Theatre Company is to attend our shows. Your patronage ensures we can continue our mission to keep classical theatre accessible to everyone in our community. What are you waiting for? Become a subscriber today!
Join us: Audition, volunteer, or donate!
We hope you’ll join us as audience members, actors, directors, technicians, and designers for this memorable year. If you’re ready to get involved, contact us at info@theupstartcrow.org or sign up for our email list to receive audition and performance reminders.
We have lots of ways you can get involved onstage or offstage whether you’re a novice thespian or a seasoned professional. Auditions are the most popular way to get involved, but if you can build, sew, file papers, write grant applications, organize events, store props, or even just smile and shake hands, we can use your expertise!
