Sopris Theatre Company (STC) is proud to announce its 2025-2026 season and is in the midst of rehearsing for its opening show, “26 Pebbles.” This season is dedicated in memory of Gary Katzenberger, a former director of the theater department at Colorado Mountain College, who passed away in July.
“26 Pebbles,” written by Eric Ulloa, recounts the stories of the community members of Newtown, Connecticut who were impacted by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.
Directed by STC Artistic Producer Brad Moore, “26 Pebbles” tells the story through a series of monologues and dialogues, which detail the day of the shooting, the subsequent trauma and the road to healing. A central theme throughout is the power of community, which Moore says will be a throughline for the season.
“The connection with these shows is they all have to do with community,” Moore told The Sopris Sun. “It also questions what defines a community and a connection.”
“It’s about a small, obscure community nobody knows anything about that was existing quietly. Then, this horrific tragedy happens which brings them into the focus of the entire world,” Moore said of the opener. “The whole world is watching them as they go through and understand what’s happened, and how that’s impacting them — whether they’ve lost someone directly or indirectly.”
The play has been known to prompt conversations around gun violence the United States, particularly when it comes to children being harmed. STC’s rendition stars seven local actors: Sandy Redak, Willie Moseley, Calvin Parrish, Dakota Lavigne, Adi DelliQuadri, Morgan Walsh and Jay Edmonds.
“I’m of the belief that things can and will happen to us — whether it’s tragedies such as this, mistakes we’ve made, relationships we’re in or whatever,” explained Moore. “Whatever the situation may be, awful things can happen to and/or because of us, and I don’t think that is how our character is defined. I think it is defined by how we crawl out on the other side and how we show up afterwards.”
On deck …
Next up, STC will feature Sean Daniels’ “The White Chip,” which will be directed by Julia Whalen. The play tells the story of Stephen McAlister, a functioning alcoholic who is in denial of his addiction up until a point. The “white chip” is a nod to the token system in traditional Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, wherein white chips often symbolize new beginnings.
“It’s another look into how we step through difficult times in life,” said Moore, “and how we learn from them when we come out the other side.”
The final show, also directed by Moore, is “The Cottage,” a comedy that tells the story of two deeply entangled couples. One of the women plans to expose her affair to not only her husband, but the lover’s wife as well. Mischief unfolds through a saga of sex, betrayal, desire, fate and love as these couples’ secrets unravel, albeit humorously.
“It is a bit of a stretch with ‘The Cottage,’ but it does explore the questions of what could be when unpopular or bad decisions are made,” said Moore.
“26 Pebbles” opens at STC on Oct. 10 at 7pm and runs two weekends, with Friday and Saturday showings at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Talkbacks take place after the show on Oct. 11, 12 and 17. For tickets, visit www.coloradomtn.edu/campuses/spring-valley/cmc-theatre
And mark your calendars, as STC will also bring “26 Pebbles” to the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen on Jan. 23 & 24 at 7:30pm.