Jan. 25, 2022 – By Stephen Weitz, Producing Artistic Director
In March 2020, like every arts institution, the COVID-19 pandemic forced BETC to close our doors. We had no idea at that point that it would be almost two years before we could produce live, in-person theatre again. We were determined not only to survive this fallow period but to use it as an opportunity to create the organization we wanted to be on the other side. Now, as we return to live performance with this world premiere production of “Fourteen Funerals,” we are proud of what we learned and accomplished during the last twenty months and thrilled about the future of our company.
During the shutdown, we undertook a lengthy evaluation of our mission, vision, and values that led us to an overhaul of those elements, as well as a new name, Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado. While still BETC, this new moniker reflects our commitment to serving a broader Colorado constituency and a greater awareness of the power of our work to effect change in our community.
The flagship of these new efforts is our touring theatre truck, bringing free theatre to parks and parking lots throughout the front range and beyond. Our cornerstone belief is that theatre is for everyone, and this program upholds that belief by eliminating access barriers such as cost and transportation. Our new tagline, “Moving Theatre,” highlights our desire not only to meet our constituents where they are but to present work that can get inside, to spark change in each of us.
Simultaneously, we redoubled our efforts surrounding new play development, expanding and refining programs such as Science Shorts and (inter)Generations to bring new, exciting voices to the fore. Our Generations new play competition finished its ninth cycle, leading to the development and presentation of this new script, our sixth world premiere.
The last two years have been challenging for our organization and our community. So many members of the BETC family have experienced so many hardships: the loss of friends and loved ones to the pandemic, the grinding stress of uncertainty, the struggle for greater justice in our country, the acts of violence that have rocked our communities, and most recently, the unspeakable tragedy of the Marshall fire. It will take many years for all of us to come to terms with these events. We promise to take that journey along with you by doing what we do best: presenting powerful, challenging, entertaining, and inspiring stories. Stories that have the power to color our lives and help us to see the world more deeply. The act of coming together to share in these stories is only the first step in what promises to be an exciting journey into an uncertain but exhilarating future.
We’re so glad you’re along for the ride.
