Dear TRENDS Diary –
Since 2006, the Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company has presented dozens of critically acclaimed new works and re-imagined classics that have brought new audiences and new artists to Boulder County. Then came the unthinkable. During the pandemic, we adapted, presenting a full season of virtually devised works including “CO2020,” a documentary-style theatre project that gave dozens of Coloradans the opportunity to reflect on the seismic, chaotic events of 2020. When almost all other performance opportunities were muted, we managed to hire more than 100 artists over the past year.
2020 was brutal on so many levels. But it also presented us with a rare opportunity to breathe – and to re-evaluate. We recognize that it is incumbent upon us to lead, not only on stage but behind the scenes and in our community. We are emerging from the pandemic changed, with a new vision, a new commitment and a new name that reflects our commitment to serving more people and more communities. We are now the Butterfly Effect Theatre Company – A name that, we hope that you notice, maintains our BETC acronym and identity.
This summer, BETC premieres a touring theatre-truck program that will bring free outdoor theatre into the heart of communities throughout Colorado. This first year kicks off with “JQA,” a historical fiction centered on the life of President John Quincy Adams and his journey as an advocate for the abolition movement.
We still will present a smaller season of plays at our traditional home at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder. This is about adding to our portfolio, not subtracting. It’s the best of both worlds.
We will always be BETC. “Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado” represents our evolution, our commitment to a wider audience, and a foundational belief that even the smallest undertakings have profound effects on our world.
– Artistic Director Stephen Weitz, as told to John Moore
