BOULDER, Colorado — The final show at Boulder Dinner Theater is a performance that's ingrained in their history.
"The overwhelming theme throughout the show is tradition. It's tradition of holding onto your traditions and losing some of your traditions, and it very much seemed the right fit," said Seamus McDonough, producing artistic director at BDT.
Over 46 years, the troupe has performed "Fiddler on the Roof" seven times. They're adding one more run for their last performance on Saturday.
"It's definitely a deal of don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened," McDonough said.
He started at the theater as a busser, continuing a family tradition that spans three generations.
"The resounding feeling you have from BDT is family," McDonough said. "We've had many people who have many generations of families who have worked in this building and have worked together."
Since 1977, the theater has been entertaining audiences with 175 different productions. Some of members of their cast have gone on to star on the big screen and Broadway.
"Amy Adams did shows for us. Dan Sharkey has performed on Broadway. Beth Malone. Annaleigh Ashford, who just finished a run of Sweeney Todd on Broadway. They've all come through here," McDonough said. "The pool of talent that we’ve had in this building has been second to none, and a lot of those people just chose to make a life here."
He said live theater promotes discussion and emotions shared with others.
"Seeing a live theater show, even the audiences' heartbeat becomes syncopated," McDonough said. "It becomes something larger than yourself."
It's why he and the rest of this company are grateful for more than four decades spent in the Boulder community.
"Thank you for 46 years of your patronage and giving us a chance to get to know you and you becoming part of our family and for letting us be able to have a life and create our own families doing something we love," McDonough said.
He said the owners of the theater tried to find someone to purchase the company for several years, but it never worked out. The land was sold in May and will eventually become a grocery store and affordable housing.
The rest of the Boulder Dinner Theater's scheduled performances are sold out.
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