Dates & Times

Go Deeper:  Pass Over. Racial Justice. Police Brutality.

A curated collection of resources about the play Pass Over by Antoinette Nwandu and about racism in American, especially in our criminal justice system.  The Curious team developed these resources in conjunction with our Social Justice Partner the ACLU of Colorado, and other local allies and advocates on the front lines of social change.

Click here to see a PDF of the Pass Over Playbill.

Check out these links for more info. and read below for Three Simple Action Steps you can take right now!

*Get Involved: Local Organizations, Allies and Activists
*About the Play and Playwright
*Resources, Articles, and Statistics related to racial justice

Three Simple Actions Steps to Make Change Now!

Learn More: There are so many amazing books and articles about race, white privilege, and our criminal justice system. If you are white and new to the topic try Waking up White by Debby Irving; for a definitive look at race in the criminal justice system we recommend The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander; for a hard-hitting look into the life of a black man in America, check out Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Need more? Use the link above for more resources and articles.

Talk about it: Get involved in one of the many excellent discussion groups and forums in Denver or start your own. A few of our favorites include The Second Tuesday Race Forum, Soul to Soul’s Facing Racism, and Race Talk University.

Invest your time, talent, testimony, or treasure by aligning with a local group working on racial justice or criminal justice reform, by reaching out to your elected officials, or supporting a person of color who is running for office. We recommend you check out the opportunities to work on racial justice hosted by our Social Justice Partners at the ACLU of Colorado at aclu-co.org/volunteer  or check out the many amazing groups on Get Involved link above.

What is the runtime of this show?
Pass Over runs approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Is there an intermission?
There is no intermission.

Are there any advisories I should know about?

Pass Over contains strong language and repeated use of the n-word in context.

Curious offers an advisory about any stage effect of potential concern to patrons’ health. We typically don’t offer advisories about subject matter, as sensitivities vary from person to person. If you have any concerns about content or language, please contact the box office.

Can I bring my kids?
We require that audience members find alternative activities for children under 6 years of age. In addition, our material may not be appropriate for young people under 14 years of age. We will gladly discuss subject matter with parents or guardians before the performance in order to make an informed decision for you and your child. Before purchasing tickets, please email or call our Box Office at 303.623.0524.

Where can I park?
Curious is pleased to offer various options for complimentary parking on performance days: the Denver Community Credit Union parking lot directly across the street; the lot directly adjacent to our theatre; on-street parking along Acoma. Please make sure to pick up a parking permit from our Box Office if you wish to park in either lot. Note that these lots are only available for the two hours before a performance and one hour following; Curious does not own either lot and the owners will tow vehicles.

Is Curious wheelchair accessible?
Yes. However, due to the age of our building (1890s!), there are a few quirks to our accessibility. When buying tickets, know that Rows F & G are fully wheelchair accessible and all seats are removable. All seats on the orchestra level of the theatre are accessible to those with mobility concerns, however, the other rows of the orchestra do involve a small step up and the seats are fixed. The balcony of Curious is only accessible by stairs. Know that the bar for Curious is located in the balcony; however, Curious staff are eager to assist you by serving you from your seat should you have mobility concerns that prevent you from stairs.

The front entry of Curious is stairs-only, so those with mobility concerns or in a wheelchair may enter the building through the double red doors on the south side of the building (where you will also find accessible parking spaces) beginning 30 minutes before the show. Please let the ushers or staff know that you have arrived so we may greet you if we miss you slipping in.

May I eat/drink in the theatre?
You bet! Our bar is on the balcony level and carries wine, beer, and bourbon in addition to treats, chips, coffee, water, and soft drinks. All are permitted in your seats, although we ask that you unwrap any candy before the show begins.

Where do I pick up my tickets?
If you have selected Will Call for your tickets, they will be available at the Box Office one hour prior to the show. If you selected Print-at-Home, simply print out the PDF that was emailed to you or show that attachment on your phone to the ushers when you arrive, no need to see the box office.

Can I change my tickets to another performance?
Usually, yes. If you know your dates have changed, do contact us as soon as possible to ensure comparable seats are available for your new date. Sometimes our shows do sell out and occasionally an entire run will sell out. So it is always best to call early with a change.

What if I arrive late?
Patrons who arrive late will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager, and may not be seated in their assigned seats until intermission. In the event that a performance runs without an intermission, latecomers will be seated in a location that will not disrupt the performers or other audience members. We reserve the right to deny admission to latecomers when a performance has been running for 15 minutes or more.

Will the show go on in a snowstorm?
Curious will make every possible attempt to continue with a scheduled performance in inclement weather. However, in the VERY RARE case that local authorities deem it unsafe, we will alert all patrons of the canceled performance and reschedule you following our return to normal operations. Should you feel personally unsafe driving in weather, you are encouraged to call the box office to move to a later performance if one is available.

Is it cold/hot in the theatre?

Our swamp coolers were recently replaced and working much better!

While we make every attempt to ensure our patrons and performers are comfortable in our space, Curious is in a church built in the 1890s; we have no A/C or central air (although we do have two swamp coolers and radiant heat). Temperature control can be a challenge in the extreme cold or extreme heat of Colorado. We encourage you to wear light layers to ensure your comfort.

Do you offer group discounts?
Yes! Call the box office to get a quote for the performance you would like to attend. Discounts vary by performance. As a general rule, bigger discounts are given for Thursday evening performances early in the run of a show.

How can I become a volunteer?
Call or email the box office for information on joining our volunteer corps.

Can I get the program ahead of time?
Yes. About one week before the show opens, you can find our full program in the Go Deeper section.

In Media

• REVIEW: At Curious Theatre, an explosive dive into race relations

  by Alex Miller, OnStage Colorado

  The multi-layered drama features a brilliant script and three fine performances. There are many ways in which the injustices visited upon black people in America have been explored in theatre. But playwright Antoinette Nwandu may have found the perfect recipe to really nail it by stranding her characters on a metaphorical island from which there is no escape — save death.

• REVIEW: Curious Theatre’s “Pass Over” puts violence against young black men at center stage

  by Barbara Ellis, Denver Post

  It is a soul play, a riffing play, a cri de couer, a sock in the snout. Come prepared to grapple...The play’s raw and wounded lyricism, its expansive symbolic gesturing, its admirably greedy set-up rebuffs literalism and shouts of art and its power to reckon with the unfathomable.

• Colorado theater companies use drama and satire to confront racism without flinching

  by Joanne Ostrow, Colorado Sun

  Clearly the country is having a moment regarding race and identity politics, and theater seems to be proving itself the scrappiest, most accessible medium to explore it...“Pass Over” is a riff on “Waiting for Godot” with a dollop of the Exodus story on top, inspired by the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin.

• 10 must-see fall plays in Colorado

  by Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

  Moses and Kitch stand on a corner in an unnamed city jawing. They are young black men waiting for … well, that is the challenge and the beauty of Nwandu’s play. Influenced by her experience growing up in the black church and her fondness for a master of the absurd, Samuel Beckett, she’s set the Exodus story and existential conundrums on a collision course.