Why is Heritage Square Music Hall's "The Baseball Show" Worth Twice the Price of Admission?

By Fred Holden

Since we moved back to Colorado 36 years ago I have called Golden's Heritage Square "Colorado's best kept secret." It is a place away from where you are, having great scenery, all kinds of stores, amusements, family rides, restaurants and more family fun.

Their Heritage Square Music Hall is a truly delightful and enjoyable family place. Coming to my new job at Adolph Coors Company back in 1971, we found what was then called the Heritage Square Opera House, an entertaining and exciting entertainment venue. Today it is even better. The longstanding players have honed their writing, drama and musical skills to a fine edge. Humor is clever and titillating. Stories are great. Sometimes there are villains ("Boo!"), heroes ("Yea!") and even heroines (Little Nell, "Sigh.").

Sometimes there is Loud, More Loud, and May 23 -September 14, Retro Loud, "featuring the best of all our Loud shows ..." musical memories and well, you get the picture.

Playing now and until May 18, 2008 is "The Baseball Show," with due respect to our World Series-Playing Colorado Rockies. What you won't see there but will see here is the captivating, talented, BIG Bubble-Gum Wad Chewing (and much more) comedienne Annie Dwyer, a performance by itself worth the price of admission.

Producer, Writer and Director T. J. Mullin is villain Vincent Vascombe who wants to keep baseball player par excellence Bill "The Bomber" Dawson (Rory Pierce) from leaving his team for the big leagues--to keep fans attending local games. His mob-like sidekick, Sid (Alex Crawford, also drummer), intimidates and threatens to keep things like the boss likes.

One of the in-between scenes is a reprise of the Bud Abbott and Lou Costello "Who's on First?" a gut-wracking spoof of a baseball team of strange names, Who's on First, What's on Second, and even stranger, much mixed names that turn T.J. Mullin into a confused, raving nut. Again, by itself, worth the price of admission.

Following the drama is the famous Musical Review (Olio?), again worth the price of admission, a musical montage of baseball-appropriate songs, dancing, singing and spoofing.

To round it out is 20-year pianist, musical genius and performing veteran N. Randall "Randy" Johnson, and other players Kira Cauthorn, Vanessa Bowie and Scott Koop.

For those requiring a fuller evening, a full meal is served upstairs prior to the play (information, reservations: 303-279-7800, hsmusichall.com). The players also present special children's programs (4/5-8/9 "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs") on Saturdays, 1:30 pm (Annie, 303-523-8965).

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Fred Holden is public policy specialist, speaker and author of the citizen power manual, TOTAL Power of ONE in America: Discover What You Need to Know, Why and How to be a More Powerful Person and Citizen. He recently brought Earl Taylor, Jr., president of the National Center for Constitutional Studies, to present "The Making of America" Constitutional Seminar, and four weeks later, "The 5000 Year Leap" Founder's 28 Principles of Liberty Seminar. He may be contacted at 303-421-7619.