City as a Venue: Front Range Fables

Join us for three fantastical fables based on historic events in the Pikes Peak region, written by local playwrights to entertain, educate, and foster empathy. By filtering these stories through the lens of fairytale and fable, we invite students to experience history in a very approachable manner.

To allow for social distancing, there will be multiple performances of each play, providing groups with opportunities to see all three. Bemis School of Art will provide creative activities during the breaks between plays.

Shepherd of the Great Mountain by Marisa Hebert

A princess breaks with tradition and scales an un-scalable mountain to prove to the king and the people of the kingdom that she is just as fit to rule as any man. This play is inspired by the story of Julia Archibald Holmes, the suffragist and abolitionist who, in 1858, became the first woman on record to summit Pike’s Peak.

To Slay the Dragon by Jonathan Andujar, adapted from the radio play by Mickey Burdick

At the foot of a great mountain, there was a city. And in the heart of the city, there lived a dragon, who was much loved by the children of the city. But one day, a knight in shining armor showed up on horseback, on a mission to slay the dragon. This play is a parable based on the historic Conejos neighborhood, a tight-knit immigrant community in Colorado Springs. Themes include gentrification and the power of oral tradition.

The Stone Garden by Jessica Kahkoska

A man inherits guardianship of a magical stone garden where rock formations take human shape. But when greed overtakes the man, he learns a very important (and lasting) lesson about generosity and compassion. This story is inspired by Curt Goerke, who, in the early 1900s, owned the portion of Garden of the Gods that included the famous Balanced Rock. Angry that people were taking pictures of his rock for free, Goerke built a 20-foot high spite wall around the rock and began charging admission.

About City as a Venue:
From the Colorado College campus to neighborhood parks and community centers, City as a Venue brings a diverse calendar of outdoor and socially distanced arts experiences to our community—theater, dance, live music, and more. Visit the FAC website for full event schedule.