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Season of Sharing – UpstART: Theater That Moves
Actor Ian Lassiter plays Othello and Elizabeth Mueller performed as Desdemona in UpstART's No Holds Bard production of "Othello" in August 2023. The production was directed by John Kissingford of Ouray, the cofounder of UpstART Theater. Photo courtesy UpstART Theater
Feature
November 29, 2023
Season of Sharing – UpstART: Theater That Moves

SEASON OF SHARING

Editor’s note: The Ouray County Plaindealer started publishing profiles of nonprofits between Thanksgiving and New Year’s in 2020 as a community service.

The purpose of these profiles is to highlight the meaningful work being performed by these organizations and let the community know how they can help them even more, as the holidays approach and we reach the end of 2023. Nonprofit organizations that are based in Ouray County and serve Ouray County are eligible for these profiles. To participate, please email erin@ouraynews.com.

Year established as a nonprofit: 2015

What does your organization do for Ouray County?

UpstART creates professional, quality theater for Ouray Coun-ty audiences, by collaborating with artists from all over the country and combining them with local talent. UpstART seeks to awaken, enliven and entertain audiences with an intensity and excellence hard to find outside of metro areas. And our shows are fun – they move you – in pace, emotion and insight.

What do you list as your greatest accomplishments in 2023?

Audiences loved our production of “Othello,” with New York actor Ian Lassiter in the title role. They were thrilled by our collaboration with the Sherbino Theater for “Big Love.” They were mesmerized by our production of “Everybody” at the Wright Opera House.

What are some goals or projects you have planned for 2024?

We have “Heroes of the Fourth Turning,” planned for performances in February, “Good People” in June and our “No Holds Bard” Shakespeare production in August (still to be determined, but I think we can promise you a comedy). We’ll have spectacular actors from all over the country and a guest director at one of the performances.

Tell us how the community can help you do more here in Ouray County.

We are always seeking hosts for our actors, so if you have an ADU or guest room and would like to get to know one of our extraordinary artists, please let us know! And of course we fundraise steadily to make these spectacular collaborations possible. We so appreciate your generosity. Visit upstartmoves. org to donate or get in touch.

Thank you to Steve Gallion for providing this information.

Evacuations ordered near Cutler Creek as rain pummels burn scar
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Main, News...
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Main, News...
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News
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Feature
Ridgway-area homes featured on Home Trust tour
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
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Equal parts romantic comedy, moral conflict, ‘Love’s Labors Lost’ takes stage in Ouray
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
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Forty years after he wrote his senior thesis about “Love’s Labors Lost,” one of William Shakespeare’s seldom-seen, early comedies still resonates with John Kissingford. As a student at Princeton Unive...
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Thank you, community
July 29, 2026
Dear Editor: We were getting ready for bed the evening of June 27 when our power went out. Shortly after we received the evacuation alert on our phone. At this point we were unaware of the fire. We lo...
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Rain helps, but region still mired in drought
Columns, Opinion...
Rain helps, but region still mired in drought
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July 29, 2026
Two weeks ago, the southwest monsoon arrived, bringing relief to these parched landscapes and their residents. Most afternoons since then, Ouray has had measurable rain. But the condition of these mou...
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Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
By Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 
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60 Years Ago July 28, 1966 High cables across the Uncompahgre valley and river, leading from a mountainside to the Silver Shield Mill, are to come down this weekend, according to Warren H. Gibbs. Gibb...
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Good for you!
Feature
Good for you!
July 29, 2026
The Wizards of the West celebrate winning the Ouray Parks & Rec Softball League Championship on Tuesday, finishing their season with a 10-2 record. Pictured here in the back row from left to right are...
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Shop owner swaps calculator for chisel
Feature
Shop owner swaps calculator for chisel
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Jon Pollard’s life changed when he and his wife, Jessica, bought Ouray Hardware & Mercantile on May 1. For 21 years, his career had been in the H&R Block franchise. He said he “wore many hats” during ...
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