LOCAL LISTENS: Queer lineage

SEE THE PLAYS!

Join us for staged readings of two new short plays inspired by the stories of LGBTQ+ Coloradans across generations. This event marks the culmination of our season-long project, Local Listens: Queer Lineage. Tickets are pay-what-you-will. All are welcome!

Thu, April 30 at 7:30pm The Bug Theatre, Denver

Fri, May 1 at 7:30pm, The Dairy Arts Center, Boulder

TICKETS - DENVER APRIL 30

TICKETS - BOULDER MAY 1

STEVEN J. BURGE - playwright

JULIE RADA - playwright

MIRIAM SUZANNE - playwright

WARREN SHERRILL - director

CAMDEN HORNOR - stage manager

SHANAE ADAMS - acting ensemble (bio forthcoming)

BERNIE CARDELL - acting ensemble

CHRYS DURANG - acting ensemble

MARISA D HEBERT - acting ensemble

JASON MAXWELL - acting ensemble

KÉ NE’DÉE

STEPHANIE SALTIS - acting ensemble

KAREN SLACK - acting ensemble

ABOUT THE PROJECT
Local Listens is a community-inspired new play initiative that focuses on a single social issue for one year. In an increasingly-digital world, Local Listens intentionally gathers community members in a room, face-to-face, for important, informative, and illuminating conversations. These story circles, held at the beginning of every season, inspire short plays that are presented at the conclusion of the season. In order to enrich the experience for you, our audience, throughout the season we showcase a traveling portrait gallery featuring story circle participants. Each portrait is accompanied with an audio recording of a story the subject shared. Listen to these stories and discover the humans behind these complex issues. A resource guide is provided, offering unbiased context.

Research shows that people understand, remember, and act on complex social issues more effectively when they are conveyed through lived experience rather than abstract data. Stories increase empathy, reduce resistance to difficult topics, and foster shared understanding across differences making them a powerful tool for civic dialogue and social change.

Local Listens seeks to build bridges across the chasm of community divides.

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Local Listens: Queer Lineage is supported in part by the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, the Alex Wilson Fund, and Cassandra Simon. Interested in supporting this project? Email Executive Director Misha S. Zimmerman HERE.

Donate to support the project

GALLERY OF STORIES

Hear from some of the Local Listens: Queer Lineage story circle participants who agreed to audio record their stories.
Note: we have only just started to add stories. Check back regularly for new additions.

GREG

JAZ

BARBARA

RYDER

LODRO

Meet Michael Ensminger, the Local Listens: Queer Lineage photographer.

Michael Ensminger is a photographer, actor and occasional performance artist. Born and raised in Germany, he has lived in the United States since 1976. You can learn more at michaelensminger.com

LOCAL LISTENS: QUEER LINEAGE PLAYWRIGHTS

These commissioned playwrights— creative professionals living and working in Colorado—are eager to turn your stories into two exceptional new plays. Learn more about them below.

Steven J. Burge (he/him)

PLAY 1
Meet playwright Steven J. Burge

Steven J. Burge is a Colorado-based theatermaker. He moved here for a three month contract at the Aurora Fox Arts Center in 2003, and forgot to leave. So he bought a home in Littleton last year, and now he's a Queerburbanite. Favorite acting credits include: Oscar in the world premiere of National Bohemians, by Colorado playwright Luke Sorge; God in An Act of God at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts; Monty in Saturday Night Fever the Musical at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities; and of course the one that started it all for him in Colorado, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at the Aurora Fox. Steven's recent directing credits include a community focused production of Godspell produced in partnership with the open and affirming faith community at Columbine United Church; a sold-out run of Trey Parker's Cannibal! The Musical for Littleton's historic Town Hall Arts Center; and the regional premiere of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant at the Aurora Fox Arts Center. As a writer, Steven has contributed to Curious Theater's 24 Hour Play Cycle, and his autobiographical alt-cabaret, Batsh!t, has been developed at Local Lab 14 and American Stage in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"I am grateful to Nick, Betty, Misha and the entire Local Theatre family for welcoming me back to be a part of this storytelling cycle. And I'm humbled by everyone who has trusted me with her or his or their story through this process. Thank you."

PLAY 2
Meet playwrights Julie Rada and Miriam Suzanne

This new play will be created under the Grapefruit Lab banner. The combined vision of Julie Rada and Miriam Suzanne, Grapefruit Lab is a hybrid performance company based in Denver, CO since 2008 – practicing a more queer and humane world through highly-aesthetic work in conversation with our communities. We blur together disciplines, and celebrate multi-sensory experiences because we believe the most vibrant work happens in the overlap. We also run the ACT Ensemble program, creating work with artists in several Colorado prisons. For more information, see grapefruitlab.com.

To learn more about Julie Rada, click HERE.
To learn more about Miriam Suzanne, click HERE.

F.A.Q.s

Story Circle participants are encouraged to arrive at 5:30 to enjoy some free food and n/a beverages.

At 6 pm, we begin! The Facilitator will welcome everyone and share the plan for the evening. That is:
- ~20 minutes of simple games that allow us to relax and find commonalities. Social mapping is one way we do this. The Facilitator shares a prompt (i.e. “morning people over here; night owls over there.”) and participants select a group (or remain in the middle if they’re ambivalent). Within those groups, participants find one thing they have in common and share it with everyone else. Simple, easy, fun.
- ~10 minutes to play with an “I Come From Poem.” What’s that, you ask? It’s like mad-libs to better understand oneself. We open up the floor to anyone who wishes to share (only if comfortable; you are not required to share).
- Hey, now we’re starting to know one another! For the next 45 minutes we’ll break up into small groups (4-5 individuals) with a consideration for intergenerational groupings. In your groups, you’ll be given a box containing cards. These cards contain questions that are specially designed to stimulate conversation. Each participant will have an opportunity to pull a card and share a response. Other individuals are also welcome to respond to the prompt. For example, Participant Miriam pulls a card asking, “What was life like for you as a teenager and how did your LGBTQ+ identity influence it?” Miriam will respond, and then open the floor to others in the group. We know you’ll find many commonalities, and many distinctions. We celebrate and respect each individual’s story.
- Now that we’ve had a chance to chat in a smaller group, let’s come back and chat in a larger circle (story circles vary in size but do not exceed 30 individuals unless otherwise noted). Each group will have a chance to share their stories and their experiences of hearing others’ stories. The Facilitator will allow for robust conversation between groups as they share their stories.
- As our event comes to an end, we’ll invite you to grab some snacks as you depart. In most instances, you are welcome to stick around for 15 minutes to mingle with your fellow participants. We love to see that!
2 hours
No, you are not required to address the entire group at any point. However, you will be asked to participate in a small-group discussion (4-5 participants).
There will be:
-At least 2 Local Theater Company representatives ensuring that all guests are checked in and comfortable.
-1 Story Circle Facilitator (Nick Chase, Co-Artistic Director, Local Theater Company)
-No more than 30 participants (we like to allow our groups enough time to chat and share)
- LGBTQ+ individuals
- Anyone with a story that centers the LGBTQ+ experience
These story circles are a part of Local Theater Company’s Local Listens new-play initiative. Every season, we host story circles. Commissioned playwrights listen, and find inspiration in your stories. That inspiration will fuel the creation of a 45-minute new play that will be read aloud (staged reading) in April, 2026.
The playwrights will be inspired by your stories. They are not writing your biographies. Think of the playwright as a bird creating a nest (a play). The bird draws material from many sources, weaving them together to make something complete.

We also encourage you to consider what you are and are NOT willing to share. Your comfort level is the primary consideration.
Great question. Three answers:
-Directly following each story circle, participants are welcome to stay and audio record their story (5 minutes or less). A Local team member will assist you. There will also be a photographer on hand who may ask to take your photograph.
-On September 13, 4-6 pm, at Junkyard Social in Boulder, we’ll present a 90-minute Works-in-Progress Celebration (FREE). Here, our playwrights will share early excerpts of their plays. Special musical guest appearances will be announced in August.
-April 2026 (date TBA): join us for the staged reading of the two short plays.

Additionally, Local Theater Company has numerous programs that specifically engage the LGBTQ+ community including an OUT Night performance at every one of our world premieres. We invite you to review our website for more information.
Don’t worry: you do. Story Circles are rooted in the belief that every human is unique and, therefore, has a unique story to tell.
Yes, we welcome you and your friends. We do ask that all attendees RSVP.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LOCAL LISTENS: QUEER LINEAGE PROJECT
click images to watch video

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

For Local Listens: Queer Lineage, we’ve partnered with our friends at a number of Colorado nonprofits and businesses. The great people at these organizations have provided outreach support, space, and collaborative input.

Click on the org’s logo to learn more.