Six Years Old
By Daphne Silbiger
Directed by Kiernan Angley
The Black Box Theatre, UCA – CSU
September 18th – October 10, 2023
By Daphne Silbiger
Directed by Kiernan Angley
The Black Box Theatre, UCA – CSU
September 18th – October 10, 2023
2023-2024 Season
Dark Comedy
Adult Theater
Empowerment
Adalaide is six years old, and she knows a few things: Her stupid babysitter Kim is stupid, her younger brother Dewey is a naked mole rat, and she does NOT like being treated like a girl. Though Kim takes Adalaide’s frustrations seriously and tries to offer support, Adalaide’s family and peers discourage her, leaving her to seek out dangerous measures in order to transform into who she was born to be (her hero, Han Solo). SIX YEARS OLD is a comic and poignant play reflecting back on the wild fantasies and serious desires of queer childhood.
Price ranges from $17-$22
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Approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes (intermission included)
Want to dig deeper? Check out the play guide and digital program.
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Six Years Old will take place at the Black Box Theater at the University Center for the Arts, CSU campus—1400 Remington Street, Fort Collins, CO.
This product contains mature themes, fog and loud noises, including gun shot sound effects. For more information, please contact the Box Office.
Henry Condell
string(69) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jacob-Offen.jpeg"JACOB OFFEN is thrilled and honored to return as a guest artist with OpenStage Theatre after two years in Houston, Texas, where he received his MFA from the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Houston. There he played Brutus in Julius Caesar, The Stage Manager in Our Town and Joe Keller in All My Sons. Jacob also has worked for Texas Shakespeare Festival, Houston Shakespeare Festival and Houston’s Main Street Theatre. He formally served as the Company Development Administrator for OpenStage and appeared in numerous roles with the Company, including as Dr. Frank N’ Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet, and Tom Collins in RENT. Jacob won the OpenStage OPUS Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor twice for performances in Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol and once for Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The 39 Steps |
Richard Hannay |
| The Book of Will |
Henry Condell Director/Production Manager |
John Heminges
string(68) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Burns-James.jpg"JAMES BURNS graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Theatre Arts in 1997. He worked at the Arvada Center during the 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons as a scenic painter and technician before moving to New York City. He stage managed On Love and Lies and Square One at the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and Box of Fools for the 2005 American Living Room Festival in NYC. Since moving back to Fort Collins in 2010, James has worked extensively with both OpenStage Theatre and Bas Bleu as an actor, fight choreographer and scenic artist. He appeared onstage most recently as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Phillip Lombard in And Then There Were None, Steve Heidebrecht in August: Osage County, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew,The Husband in Stage Kiss, Austin in True West and Sharky in The Seafarer, all with OpenStage Theatre. In addition, James recently co-directed OpenStage’s Sherwood and directed etcetera’s productions of Fool for Love and Christmas Chaos. He sends thanks to his wife, Jessica and love to his daughters, Scarlett and Sterling.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The Book of Will |
John Heminges Technical Director/Scenic Designer/Head Carpenter |
Richard Burage / Horatio
string(72) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cisco-Saavedra.jpeg"CISCO SAAVEDRA is thrilled to be returning for his second production with OpenStage. He appeared in last summer’s production of Cyrano de Bergerac as Le Bret after a three-year hiatus from the state. Cisco has played Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing with Southwest Shakespeare Theatre in Arizona. Some of his favorite roles include Mace in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Macduff in Macbeth, and the time he was able to play Macbeth and Darth Vader in a stage combat showcase.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| Reefer Madness |
Ensemble |
| The Book of Will |
Richard Burage / Horatio |
Elizabeth Condell/Marcellus
string(71) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Molly-McGuire.jpeg"MOLLY MCGUIRE first performed with OpenStage Theatre in 2004 in The Women. She began performing with the Company again in 2014, when she appeared as Nerine in Scapin. Since then, she has appeared with OpenStage as Beatrice in The Servant of Two Masters, Millicent/Laurie in Stage Kiss, Danielle in Ultimate Beauty Bible, Suzanne in Don’t Dress for Dinner, in the Ensemble of Christmas Chaos and Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors, Conrade in Much Ado About Nothing, Angela in Natural Shocks, and Fanny Dashwood/Lucy Steele/Lady Middleton/Gossip in Sense and Sensibility. She is excited to be working with the amazing cast of Cyrano and would like to thank the entire cast, staff and crew for their unwavering support. Also, Molly would like to take this opportunity to give her heartfelt thanks to her OpenStage family. Their support and love has helped her immensely this last year.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The Minutes |
Ms. Matz |
| The Book of Will |
Elizabeth Condell/Marcellus |
Rebecca Heminges / Susannah Shakespeare
string(70) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Jessica-Crow.jpeg"JESSICA EMERLING CROW is thrilled to be performing again with OpenStage, having appeared with the Company as Helen Hubbard in Murder on the Orient Express (Henry Award Nomination/Outstanding Supporting Actress), the Narrator in Every Brilliant Thing (OpenStage Opus Award/Outstanding Actress), Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias (OpenStage Opus Award/Outstanding Supporting Actress), Emily Brent in And Then There Were None (Opus Award/Outstanding Supporting Actress), Genevra in Bright Ideas, Rosemary in Outside Mullingar (Opus Award/Outstanding Actress), Karen in Unnecessary Farce, Madame de Volanges in Dangerous Liaisons (Opus Award/Outstanding Supporting Actress), and Clara in 33 Variations. Outside of OpenStage, favorite roles include Kelly in Chaim’s Love Song, Rita in Prelude to a Kiss, Annelle in Steel Magnolias, and Rosaline in Love’s Labor’s Lost. She would like to thank her husband Robert for putting her three boys to bed all those nights she was at rehearsal.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| Agnes of God |
Connie Director |
| The Book of Will |
Rebecca Heminges / Susannah Shakespeare |
Alice Heminges
string(70) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Kaya-Rudolph.jpeg"KAYA RUDOLPH graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. While at CSU, her favorite productions included Love and Information and Little Shop of Horrors. Kaya also worked on Elephant’s Graveyard with Bas Bleu Theatre. She has appeared with OpenStage as Gary Coleman in Avenue Q, Seneca Howland/The Bishop in Men On Boats, Writer 2 in Tiny Beautiful Things, and Texas in Cabaret.
Ralph Crane / Compositor / Bernardo
string(71) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TschirhartDan.jpeg"DAN TSCHIRHART is a graduate of Colorado State University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. He received a 2017 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Award nomination for his role as Sam in OpenStage’s The Flick. Dan has appeared with OpenStage in Much Ado About Nothing, Avenue Q, And Then There Were None, Spamalot, Pride and Prejudice, Splitting Infinity, The One-Eyed Man Is King, The Ladies Man, Noises Off, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Seafarer (OpenStage OPUS Award/Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role), The Tempest, Spring Awakening, Unnecessary Farce, Romeo and Juliet, and Stage Kiss. Other memorable performances include Almost Maine, 1940’s Radio Christmas Carol, The Lion in Winter and Our Town with Bas Bleu Theatre and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scapin , and The Beckett Project at CSU. Dan is a member of the local improv group, Comedy Brewers, which performs regularly at Bas Bleu Theatre.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| Pride and Prejudice |
Bingley / Mary |
| The Book of Will |
Ralph Crane / Compositor / Bernardo |
William Jaggard / Barman 1
string(73) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bruce-Freestone.jpeg"BRUCE K. FREESTONE has been an outspoken advocate for the performing arts in Colorado for over four decades. Co-founder of OpenStage Theatre with his wife Denise in 1973, he has served as director, designer, actor, and technician. In addition, Bruce serves as a Producer and an ex officio member of the Board of Directors. In 2015, he retired from I.A.T.S.E., the international stagehands union, after forty years serving that organization. Bruce has appeared in numerous OpenStage productions, most recently as Beverly Weston in August: Osage County, Curtis and Vincencio in The Taming of the Shrew, Tony Reilly in Outside Mullingar, Alonso in The Tempest, Mr. Lockhart in The Seafarer, Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Emperor Joseph II in Amadeus and Louis de Rougemont in Shipwrecked (OpenStage OPUS Award/Outstanding Actor). He has directed numerous OpenStage productions, most recently Wit and A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Bruce is the recipient with Denise of the prestigious Tree of Peace Medallion from Arts Alive Fort Collins, signifying a lifetime of contributions to the Arts and Culture Industry.
Ed Knight / Isaac Jaggard
string(74) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Ryan-Wilke-Braun.jpeg"RYAN WILKE-BRAUN is a recent Graduate of Colorado State University’s theatre program. This is his first performance with Openstage but he appeared in many productions at CSU including Cabaret, Big Love, A Man of No Importance, and many others. If you enjoy his performance you can look on Spotify or Apple Music to listen to the Radio play Patria Del Cuore Sergio or swing by First United Methodist Church of Fort Collins to hear him singing with the choir.
Marcus / Boy Hamlet / Crier
string(68) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Anh-Nguyen.jpeg"ANH NGUYEN Coming to America at a young age, Anh is proud to be making his debut with OpenStage. He is currently attending Colorado State University concentrating in theater performance, some of his credits include Polyneices in These Seven Sicknesses, Ensemble in She Kills Monsters, and Judge in Machinal. Anh is very thankful to the cast and crew of OpenStage for this opportunity, it has been a meaningful experience to be with the amazing cast of his production, as well as a great learning experience in his career as an actor.
Ben Jonson / Sir Edward Dering
string(75) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/David-AustinGroen.jpeg"DAVID AUSTIN-GRӦEN A Doll’s House Part 2 marks David’s lucky 14th show with OpenStage and his second directing credit after The North Plan in 2016. A 37-year veteran of theatre, David has performed in over 56 different productions and theatrical tours as well as several directing credits. Some of his favorite past roles include Brock in Ideation, Harold in The Full Monty, Prince John in Sherwood, Caliban in The Tempest, Agamemnon in Apocrypha, Stuart in Cooking with Elvis, Edward Winslow in A Pilgrim’s Project, and Parmenter in God’s Country. David was previously the Artistic Director of Radio Star Improv in San Francisco and is a founding member of Fort Collins Comedy Brewers Improv. When not being a theatre nerd in one way or another, he is a brewer, an avid gamer, and Board Vice President at Fort Collins Children’s Theatre.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The 39 Steps |
Clown 1 |
| The Book of Will |
Ben Jonson / Sir Edward Dering |
Anne Hathaway / Francisco / Barman 2
string(76) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DBF-Headshot-scaled.jpg"DENISE BURSON FREESTONE co-founded OpenStage Theatre in 1973 with her husband Bruce and served as the Company’s Producing Artistic Director for forty-six seasons. During her extensive career, Denise has worked as an actress, director, producer, designer, and dancer and has directed and performed in numerous productions. Some of her most memorable acting roles include Violet Weston in August: Osage County, Vivian Bearing in Wit, Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie, Sister Aloysius in Doubt, Dotty in Noises Off, Hannah/Ethel Rosenberg/Roy’s Doctor/Rabbi Chemelwitz/The Oldest Bolshevik/Angel Asiatica in Angels in America, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, and Emily Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst. Recent directing credits include The Comedy of Errors, The Three Musketeers, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Denise has received numerous OpenStage OPUS Awards for directing, acting, and designing, and has been named an inaugural Zonta: Her Legacy recipient, a BizWest Woman of Distinction, and a Colorado Woman of Influence.
Emilia Bassano Lanier
string(70) "http://os.nerdstaging.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Judith-Allen.jpeg"JUDITH ALLEN served for over two decades as the Associate Artistic Director for OpenStage Theatre and is an award-winning director, actress, and designer. She most recently appeared with OpenStage as Princess Dragomiroff in Murder on the Orient Express, Clairee in Steel Magnolias, and is a recent recipient of the BroadwayWorld (Denver Region) nod for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mattie Fae Aiken in August Osage County. Judi was the first recipient of the Shela Jennings Award for Theatre Excellence (OpenStage, 2017) and has directed OpenStage productions of Noises Off (OpenStage OPUS Award/Best Play and Best Director and Denver Post Ovation nominee/Best Comedy), The Drawer Boy (OPUS/Best Play and Best Director), and Romeo and Juliet (OPUS/Best Director. Other favorite roles with OpenStage have been Chris in Neil Simon’s Rumors (OPUS nominee and Denver Post Ovation Award/Best Supporting Actress) and the Nurse in the 2014 production of Romeo and Juliet (OPUS/Best Actress). Judi is also an award-winning makeup artist and the 2001 recipient of the OpenStage Founders’ Award for outstanding contributions to the Company.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The Book of Will |
Emilia Bassano Lanier Director/Production Manager |
Playwright
Lauren Gunderson has been one of the most produced playwrights in America since 2015, topping the list thrice including 2022/23. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for I and You and The Book of Will, the winner of the Lanford Wilson Award, and a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. She is a playwright, screenwriter, musical book writer, and children’s author who lives in San Francisco. She graduated from NYU Tisch as a Reynolds Fellow in Social Entrepreneurship. LaurenGunderson.com
Director / Production Manager
SYDNEY PARKS SMITH has worked with OpenStage since 1997 and serves as Producing Artistic Director for the Company. She received the 2019 OpenStage OPUS Award for Outstanding Director for Avenue Q; the OPUS for Outstanding Actress for her role as M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias; the 2018 OPUS for Outstanding Director for And Then There Were None; and the 2017 Colorado Theatre Guild’s Henry Award, a True West Award and the OPUS Award for Outstanding Actress for her role as Barbara in August: Osage County. Recent roles include Marie-Antoinette in The Revolutionists and Sir John Middleton in Sense and Sensibility. Recent directing credits include the upcoming Hedwig And The Angry Inch, Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, and Every Brilliant Thing. Sydney has designed hair for several productions and received OPUS Awards for her designs for Macbeth and The Tempest. She received the 2016 Founders’ Award for her outstanding contributions to the Company.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The Minutes |
Edward Bloom Director |
| Agnes of God |
Dr. Martha Livingstone |
| The Book of Will |
Director / Production Manager |
Assistant Director
ANDREW COLE joined OpenStage in 2012. In 2021 he received the Shela Jennings Award for Theatre Excellence for his outstanding work with OpenStage. “Sometimes there’s a man…I won’t say a hero, ‘cause what’s a hero? But sometimes, there’s a man. And I’m talkin’ about the Dude here. Sometimes, there’s a man, well, he’s the man for his time and place. He fits right in there.” – The Stranger, The Big Lebowski
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The Minutes |
Mr. Breeding |
| The Book of Will |
Assistant Director |
Technical Director / Scenic Designer / Head Carpenter
CALEB GILBERT started his career in 2008 with a degree in Fine Arts, specializing in sculpture awarded by Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. In 2012 Caleb graduated from Cranbrook Academy of Art based just outside Detroit, MI., specializing in sculpture. After graduating he started at 11th Street Workshop (Brooklyn, NY) as a Carpenter. 11th Street Workshop is a full-service design and production facility specializing in the set world. They design and build sets for events, commercials, photo shoots and short films. While working there Caleb was a project manager, designer, and production coordinator. By 2020 Caleb was the Head Production Designer, running upwards of five million dollars in projects. Some of his favorite clients/projects included Google, Nike, Saturday Night Live, and Refinery 29. Caleb is now excited to use his skills and talents as the first (paid) Technical Director for OpenStage Theater. OpenStage has always been a home for Caleb ever since his first show over 20 years ago.
| Event | Role |
|---|---|
| The Book of Will |
Technical Director / Scenic Designer / Head Carpenter |
Costumer Designer / Head Dresser
REBECCA EVANS is delighted to join OpenStage for her debut production of Treasure Island. Rebecca is currently employed as the full-time Cutter/Draper in Colorado State University’s Costume Shop, which handles the costumes for the theatre, dance, and music departments at CSU. She is also enjoying her third year at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder, CO, as a Costume Draper. Previously, Rebecca was a Draper at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, where she worked on such productions as The Sound of Music, Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, and Evita. Rebecca has costume-designed over 30 theatrical productions in her career and is thrilled to lend her expertise to OpenStage.
Lighting Designer
DAVID GRINNELL has been continuously involved with OpenStage for the last 10 years. David originally worked in the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area, with companies such as The Great American History Theater, Cricket Theater, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, and The Guthrie Theater. For OpenStage, he has served as the Master Electrician for Moonlight and Magnolias, Unnecessary Farce, North Plan, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Avenue Q, and Men On Boats. David was the Lighting Designer for this season’s CABARET and Don’t Dress for Dinner in 2017. Since the 2015 relaunch of OpenStage etcetera, he has served as Lighting Designer and Master Electrician for their productions of The Submission, A Bright New Boise, Ultimate Beauty Bible, H2O, Ideation, The Mystery of Love and Sex, Fool For Love, Every Brilliant Thing, Tiny Beautiful Things, Cry It Out, and A Doll’s House Part 2.
Properties Designer / Set Dresser
Allen Edwards is proud to be working on his first OpenStage show. Before joining the creative staff for The Book of Will, he taught Drama and headed CenterStage Theatre at Westminster High School, directing shows such as Firebringer, and Almost, Maine. He graduated from Northern Colorado after transferring from Southern Mississippi, where he was the sound designer for Richard III and Urinetown. He would like to thank Erin Breitenbach, Dr. Davis and the Westminster community, his partner Keni and his family for their unwavering support, and Sydney and Caleb for the opportunity to join an amazing creative team.
Stage Manager / Master Electrician
HANNAH ARMSTRONG graduated from the University of Northern Colorado, where she received her degree in Stage Management. She has been actively and avidly working in theatre for many years with various companies in Fort Collins and Loveland. She is excited to be celebrating her 20th season with OpenStage. Most recently, Hannah worked with OpenStage as the Stage Manager for Murder on the Orient Express, Men on Boats, and Avenue Q. She has also been a Production Stage Manager with the William Inge Center for the Arts in Independence, KS since 2010. She has worked extensively behind the scenes in other capacities and received the OpenStage OPUS Award for Best Technical Support for several years. Hannah is the recipient of the 2019 OpenStage Founders’ Award, which is awarded annually for outstanding contributions to the Company.
Sound Designer / Make-Up Designer
VICTORIA VILLALOBOS has loved theatre since she was a child. She has worked extensively with OpenStage as a Sound Designer and Engineer, Makeup and Hair Designer and Stylist, Assistant Director, Stage Manager, Board Operator, Stagehand, and Dresser. Victoria also has worked with Fort Collins Children’s Theatre for the past 6 productions, most recently as the Makeup Designer and Stylist for Elf and James and the Giant Peach. Next on the list, she will be designing for FCCT’s production of The Addams Family in November of 2023. In addition, she has worked with companies such as Opera Fort Collins, The Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, and Pop Up Theatre. Victoria received her associate degree from Front Range Community College, where she was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and was named to the President’s List, both for her academic achievements. Victoria wishes to thank her family and friends for all their love and support!
Hair / Wig Designer
KIRSTEN HOVORKA, has devoted her professional talents to hair and wig design for scores of actors and actresses in Fort Collins since 1976. She has been a member of OpenStage since 1977, and in 2005 received the Company’s Founders’ Award, which recognizes individuals who have made extensive contributions to the artistry and excellence of the Company. Though the list of productions Kirsten has participated in, for both local theater groups and touring companies, would fill a page, let alone a paragraph, what is most important is that, when doing hair for theatre, she is doing what she loves with the people she loves. Having that opportunity is something for which she is truly grateful.
Scenic Artist
MYA COCA is currently a senior at Colorado State University majoring in Theatre Design as well as Food Science and Nutrition. While at CSU, she worked on various scenic and prop aspects for The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, She Kills Monsters, Cosi Fan Tutte, These 7 Sicknesses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, How I Learned to Drive, A Man of No Importance, and Lysistrata. Most recently, she was the assistant scenic charge artist for CSU’s production of Spring Awakening and will be the scenic charge artist for the upcoming production of Machinal.
Regular Performance
FAB Friday Performance
Matinee Performance
Pay What You Can Performance
Student/Educator Performance
ASL Performance
