Educating Rita

 
"Funny, engaging, self-aware"
- Juliet Wittman, Westword
"The entire production is fantastic"
- Emilee Hatfield, Riley Reels
"John Hutton is tremendous"
- Alex Miller, On Stage Colorado
"Another lovely theatre evening at the Arvada Center"
- Beki Pineda, Boulder Magazine
"An interesting…study of how we perceive ourselves and others"
- Tom Jones, Colorado Theater Reviews
 

Educating Rita

Rita is a working-class hairdresser who wants to learn. Frank is a failed poet and professor who wants to drink.

Buy Now

October 5 - November 11, 2018

Black Box

Tickets: Starting at $45 (Previews $25)

By Willy Russell
Directed by Lynne Collins

 

Underwritten by Karen and Jack Berryhill

When they are thrown together, they embark on a journey that neither expected. The story is loosely based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion , which became the heart of My Fair Lady and the film Pretty Woman . This funny and touching play reveals the unlikely connections that can surprise and change us.

Genre: Drama

 

Content: Young Adult – Adult Audiences

 

Performance Dates

Previews: October 3 and 4, 2018
Performances: October 5 – November 11, 2018 Wed at 1:00 pm, Thurs – Sat at 7:30 pm, Sun at 2:00 pm.
Opening night: Friday, October 5, 2018

 

Photos

  1. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  2. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  3. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  4. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  5. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  6. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  7. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  8. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center
  9. Educating Rita at the Arvada Center

Photos courtesy McLeod9 Creative

 

Cast

 

Emily Van Fleet

Emily Van Fleet (Rita) has performed in 9 Arvada Center productions, including Sunday in the Park with George , The Drowning Girls , Bus Stop , Tartuffe , and Death Takes a Holiday . She will return to the Black Box stage when the Repertory Company opens its third season in February 2019.

 

John Hutton

John Hutton (Frank) is a very familiar actor to Colorado audiences, having spent 23 years with the Denver Center Theatre Company. He last appeared on a Colorado stage for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s 2016 productions of Equivocation and Cymbeline . His film credits include Lincoln , The Dwarves of Demrel , Bit Player and Distance .

 

Come Prepared

In order to help you enjoy Educating Rita , we’ve created a companion guide to the play and our production. You’ll learn more about the script, the playwright, the director and much more. Read the full Educating Rita companion guide.

 

Bring a book, take a book

In the spirit of Educating Rita , we hope you'll help spread the love of literature with our Book Share! When you come see the play, drop off a gently-loved book on our bookshelf, and take home something new for yourself. Thanks to our partners at BookBar for stocking our tiny library!

 

Talk Backs

Following every performance, members of the cast and creative team will be available for informal discussions about the performance.

 

Performance Run Times

Performances of Educating Rita last about 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission.

 

Theatre Salons

Have a passion for theatre? Then join the Arvada Center Theatre Salon where you’ll spend 4 weeks exploring the script and its themes, the sets and costumes, the playwright and the history behind it all. You’ll also have the opportunity to see the production and meet the people who make it happen!

Theatre Salon dates:

 
  • Classes: Thursday evenings 7-9 pm, Oct. 11 - Nov. 1
  • Performance: Oct. 25

Habitat for Humanity performance

Proceeds from the 2 p.m. performance of Educating Rita on October 20 will benefit Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver.

Buy tickets benefiting Habitat for Humanity