The Butte Theater — Attraction in Cripple Creek

Saturday, October 16, 2021 we attended the Butte presentation of Haunting At The Old Homestead. Good show. For the Butte, a presentation almost inspired. The young cast is dynamic and energetic which is no small feat considering the fact they are performing at an altitude of 9400 feet above sea level. And with this active show you get what you pay for. At three (3!) hours long you are committed to solid entertainment with comedy, drama, ghost stories, music and dance on par with what you can or will see in any small theater setting. And special effects. The set design and lighting are professional and well done. I still don't know how they turned a painting into a 3-D video display that sings well. But fair warning - the acoustics of this tiny old theater are just not very good. If you are a senior or have any hearing issues at all, you are going to require a seat down front. Even so, a splendid time was had by all. Reality outside the show was not nearly so entertaining. We had the misfortune of sitting behind a horrible white woman and during intermission she loudly discussed with her neighbor that seeing Donald Trump live was the thrill of her life. She's lucky I restrained my comments. Also, after the show when I attempted to compliment Chris Armbrister the Producing Director on a job well done his gruff reply was tell me where to dispose of my soft drink cups. Both these unpleasant behaviors are no real surprise. The Pikes Peak area in general has a reputation for rude and unkind hillbillies. It is one of the reasons that even though Cripple Creek owns the casino industry in the Pikes Peak region it was nearly a ghost town on a Saturday night in Fall. In this part of Colorado you have to look around to find a friendly demeanor. Or win at the slots. (A rarity.) No hard feelings though. If Armbrister continues to deliver product similar to Haunting, the Butte will be fine. As it has been since 1896. Just know, it has limitations and is an...

Live theater can be exhilarating or be equivalent to a lullaby. The Butte Theater excites the sense from the moment you open the front door. I have always been a fan of old western towns so pulling into Cripple Creek was a delight. I imagined old prospectors with dusty faces scurrying down the street dodging wagon ruts with bags full of gold ore. Upon opening the vintage door my wife and I were immediately transported to a different time. A quick jot upstairs pass the victorian decor and you enter into an intimate theater setting. The view from any seat is spectacular, and lends its self to a warmth and charm unmatched by larger venues. The staff is the epitome of friendly engaging customer service that is sorely lacking these days. The screenplay and actors were like the cherry on top of a scrumptious dessert. Starting at the intro to the curtain close was a performance second to none. The witty lines, harmonies, and actors interaction rivaled many theaters with ten times the resources. The Butte Theater is a hidden gem worth far more than their surprisingly affordable ticket prices. My wife look forward to the next production and plan to make it a staple in our...

Another review said that the Butte is a big time playhouse in a small town -- how very true. We saw The Andrews Brothers this week, and what a fantastic show. It's 24 hours later, and my stomach still hurts from laughing so hard. Ten members of our family went (including two surly teenagers) and everyone loved it and was talking about it for hours afterwards. Fabulous singing and acting. The music was perfect, and the staging was sooo creative. Four actors sang for two hours straight and there wasn't a single sour note. The comic interpretation of the script was just brilliant. To top it off, the bartender (who was also one of the actors) also fixed us some mean margaritas. Our family loves theater, and we had just been to the Cedar City Shakespeare Festival the week prior. That is a tough act to follow, but these cats pulled it off!! I had never been to the Butte, but after this experience I will definitely be back. Highly, highly...