The Show Must Go On

ArtLab is a joint venture of PlatteForum, run by Trish Thibodo, and Labyrinth, where Jose Mercado is at the helm; both nonprofits are dedicated to helping at-risk and underserved youth in Denver. Working together as ArtLab, they select high school students and create a project to get them interested in drama. This year, they’re working on their own takeoff of High School Musical.

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More About

• Trish Thibodo
• Jose Mercado
• Shawn King
• Craig Volk
• High School Musical

“The students are involved in creating the sets, making the costumes, writing and acting,” explains Thibodo. “The program immerses them in the entire process. They are not required to have a theater or visual arts background, but they do need to have an interest. It’s an intensive program utilizing the arts and the creative process.” Professionals from the community are also involved; this year’s advisors are Shawn King from DeVotchKa and Craig Volk, who’s on the University of Colorado Denver theater faculty.

Because the students come from low-income backgrounds, they’re all paid for their work. Otherwise, as Thibodo points out, they wouldn’t be able to be a part of the program. But it costs money to pull this off, and so ArtLab is hosting a Wine & Tequila Tasting fundraiser tonight at Denver’s historic D&F Clocktower, 1601 Arapahoe Street. Proximus is supplying the wine and tequila; the food is coming from Mezcal and Tambien restaurants and Little Man Ice Cream. Tickets start at $100 and can be purchased at www.blacktie-colorado.com (event code: PF8/19); for more information, call 303-893-0791.
Wed., Aug. 19, 6-8 p.m., 2009