I was a freshman at Florida State University when I saw my first play on stage called “Lysistrata”, a Greek play by Aeschylus that was first performed in 411 BC. It’s the story of Lysistrata’s efforts to end the Peloponnesian War by persuading the other women to withhold sexual favors from their husbands and lovers. It may be the first play about a theme we’re very familiar with today – the war between the sexes!

“Lysistrata” was the beginning of many entertaining hours sitting in a theater enjoying live productions on stage. Unknown to me, my future husband was in the audience also watching his first play!

After meeting and marrying, we continued our love of live theater together. Our first season tickets were for the 1973 summer season at the historic Elitch Theatre then located at the original Elitch Gardens site in northwest Denver, Colorado. We saw Shelly Winters, William Shatner, and Jose Ferrer in three memorable plays.

We have watched local actors and famous actors, seen new and older plays, and enjoyed various play themes. In the late 1970s, we introduced Sean and Colleen to children’s theater when they were toddlers. Their first play was “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” performed at the historic Bonfils Memorial Theater in Denver, which hosted more than 400 main stage and children's productions until it closed.

Growing up, Sean and Colleen performed in school plays, talent shows, mystery dinner theatre, forensics school tournaments, dance recitals, and the Larkspur, Colorado Renaissance Festival. They also directed, were stage managers, made props, and wrote scripts.

These are only a small number of survivors I’ve collected over the years. Each one holds a fond memory for me!

Several years ago, I bought the soldier mug in the lobby of the Denver Theatre Complex after a performance of “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” danced by the Rockettes out of New York City. Sean had a date that evening with Pam, who later became our daughter-in-law!

I love live theater on stage – Post 1 of 4