LAKEWOOD, CO – Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) Theatre Arts and Dance Department presents the comedy-drama Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean by Ed Graczyk, presented by special arrangement Samuel French, Inc. and under the direction of David-Matthew Barnes. Performances will be November 3, 4, and 5 at the Red Rocks Community College Theater.
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean was first produced in 1976, which is surprising considering its subject matter. The play explores celebrity idolatry and obsession—relevant in today’s celebrity culture. It tackles transgender identity issues, sexuality, sexual assault, death, alcoholism, and the culture of small-town life (specifically in West Texas). This multi-layered work also takes an up-close look at the thin line between reality and delusion.
The Theatre Arts and Dance Department has coordinated with the Center for Inclusion and Diversity to produce this show in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance, which will take place later in the month on November 20.
Director and Department Chair David-Matthew Barnes emphasized the significance of the show: “This play has an important place in American theater, given its still-relevant subject matter, its powerful female roles, and the deep connection these characters have to their pasts. It’s a challenging play from every perspective, given that both the past and present happen simultaneously on stage. I’ve wanted to direct this play for many years since I first discovered the film adaption when I was a teenager. The play has a subtle power that sneaks up on audiences and then resonates considerably after the final scene. There are very few scripts that can achieve this.”
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean will be performed November 3, 4, and 5 at 7:30 pm at the Red Rocks Community College Theater on the Lakewood campus of Red Rocks Community College (west end, lower level). Admission is $10. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at www.tinyurl.com/RRCCTickets. Credit and debit cards are also accepted at the door. RRCC students may attend the show for free by picking up a voucher at the Student Life Desk. Adult language and subject matter.
About RRCC Theatre Arts and Dance Program
Red Rocks Community College has the only fully developed two-year Theatre Arts program in performance, production, and theatre technology in Colorado. The program offers courses leading to an Associate of Arts in Theatre Arts and an Associate of Applied Science in Theatre Technology. It also offers six unique certificates in technical theatre. In addition, the Theatre Arts and Dance Department engages in numerous partnership projects, both on campus and within the community. For more information contact Kelly Jo Eldredge at 303-914-6458 or theatre@rrcc.edu.
Need accessibility? Contact Accessibility Services at 303-914-6733 or access@rrcc.edu at least one week prior to the event to request disability accommodations.
More about Red Rocks Community College: Established in 1969, Red Rocks Community College delivers high-quality, affordable education programs leading to two-year degrees or professional certificates. The college serves over 13,000 students per year online and at campus locations in Lakewood and Arvada. www.rrcc.edu.