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.