Built in 1952 by The Nomads, the namesake Nomad Playhouse is in the midst of a renaissance that began in 2015 when Tara Performing Arts High School officially purchased the property, thanks in part to a grant from the state historic fund. Their goal was and is to embrace the quirkiness and the history while modernizing the facilities, both for the benefit of the students and the comfort of the audience.
The building’s design is reminiscent of a Quonset Hut, the half-cylindrical, metal-sided structure developed by the Navy during WWII, and it needed a whole host of updates. In the last nine years, the technical director, Shevek Majors-Peer, and the artistic producer and production manager, Catherine Barricklow, have worked with the team at Tara to write grants and raise funds for flame retardant curtains, reupholstered seats, efficient LED lighting, reroofing and insulation, new box office and lobby bathrooms, etc. They’ve also installed professional-quality sound and light boards, giving students who tech shows invaluable, practical skills for a future career in theater. Next on the list is a new HVAC system and to rebuild The Shop.
Bringing the theater to a professional level of operation, while maintaining and appreciating what makes it such a gem, has been Barricklow’s top priority since she moved back to Boulder after a successful Off-Broadway career. When she learned that Tara was purchasing the theater, she knew she had to be a part of reviving the Nomad’s legacy. Barricklow has fond memories of walking past the theater growing up and seeing the upcoming performances on the marquee. In coming back, she saw the opportunity to bring a high standard to this residential North Boulder neighborhood.
“People don’t expect quality live performance in this funky space. We defy expectations,” said Barricklow.
Barricklow wears many hats at Tara and The Nomad, one of which is directing the many student shows. The theater is about seven minutes from the high school—for slow walkers—and the students are the resident amateur company of the beloved theater. In fact, it’s a requirement of the school for students to be in the productions.
Some students are leaping with excitement and have been looking forward to being in the shows their whole lives, but some are less enthusiastic. Luckily for them, the energy tends to be infectious. Barricklow reflected on a student who didn’t start at Tara until 10th grade because he was reluctant to be in a production. But experiencing a play in this warm, supportive environment tends to win students over. Soon they’re laughing at and surprising themselves, all while up on stage.
Barricklow really can’t understate the importance of the opportunity to transform into a new character and try new things—which is exactly what The Nomad provides for Tara students. They can stretch and expand beyond the cocoon of what they’re supposed to do and be and can even learn to be more compassionate by spending a little time in another’s shoes.
We often think of theater as entertainment, but it’s actually essential to the human spirit. It’s an incredible opportunity to practice taking risks and to gain confidence in the ability to face the unknown.
Students also have an opportunity to take a practical theater class. In it, they learn from the technical director, Shevek Majors-Peer, about maintaining the theater, installing and running lights and other equipment, helping with props and fixing costumes. They learn to work in what Barricklow lovingly calls “collaborative chaos” which is a skill they can bring to all sorts of other spaces.
The 12th-grade students just wrapped a production of Dancing at Lughnasa, set in 1936 Ireland, and are now turning their attention to their annual co-production with Wild Heart Dance, a contemporary dance company created and directed by Kat Gurley that’s based here in the Front Range.
Wild Heart Dance shares The Nomad’s mission to create authentic and high-caliber professional work, and they invite students into their process. Tara students will help with set installation, light hanging and even potentially crew the performance. Plus, they’ll be able to see the show and how it completely transforms The Nomad with a raked stage.
This year, they’ll perform One Lost Song, choreographed to Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony. The piece centers around becoming and coming home to know and express all of oneself—not unlike the story of The Nomad, especially with Catherine Barricklow sharing the helm.
Fans will have six chances to see the show, with performances spread across two weekends:
April 19, 20 - 7 pm & April 21 - 4 pm
April 26, 27 - 7 pm & April 28 - 4 pm
For more info, visit WildHeartDance.com or NomadPlayhouse.org.
“People don’t expect quality live performance in this funky space. We defy expectations,” - Barricklow.
