Editor:

Firebird Theatre Co. would like to send a massive thank you to the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District for its generous grant awarded to our organization in support of our 2026 Shakespeare in the Park production of "Much Ado About Nothing" this summer. Founded in 2023, Firebird Theatre Co. is a local theatre nonprofit that produces arts entertainment independently and in collaboration with other arts organizations on both ends of the valley each year. The highlight of our season every year is a free-admission outdoor presentation of a play by William Shakespeare. This year, our 18-person cast will be performing the Bard's quintessential romantic comedy with a modern-day twist. This funding from MetRec will be critical in supporting production expenses such as costumes and set pieces, which in turn helps us to keep these events entirely free for everyone in the valley. Firebird Theatre’s "Much Ado About Nothing" will perform starting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 22-23 at the Crested Butte Depot and Aug. 29-30 at the Quigley Bandshell on the Western campus. For more production information, please visit firebirdcb.com/much-ado/ or contact us at firebirdtroupe@gmail.com. We are deeply appreciative of this support from MetRec and look forward to performing for the Gunnison Valley again this summer.

Tristan Buss

Tristan Buss, artistic director, Firebird Theatre Co.