The Catamounts, an adventurous local theater company, put on its first show in Boulder back in 2011. Ever since then, it has crafted unique and immersive theater experiences for the community to enjoy. From its FEED productions to interactive estate sales, The Catamounts continues to redefine theater in the Front Range.
Its founder, Amanda Berg Wilson, was inspired to start the company after moving to Boulder from Chicago. “Theater in Chicago is incredibly inventive,” said Berg Wilson. “While living there, I realized theater could integrate with different art forms. A performance could be 10 minutes or four hours. I started The Catamounts to bring multidisciplinary, non-traditional types of art to the Boulder community.”
In addition to constantly rotating offerings, The Catamounts regularly produces its signature FEED event. The FEED series pairs food, drink and performance in a four-course seated meal. “Colorado, and Boulder specifically, deserves a company as intrepid as its citizens,” said Berg Wilson. “We live in a state where people like to climb mountains and then ski down them. When we started the company, we really wanted to meet people where they were in terms of interests. So, we decided to bring theater to nontraditional spaces like farms and breweries and Open Space. Grant funding helps make these special experiences happen.”
If you are thinking about applying for a grant with the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture, Berg Wilson advises to understand what the community priorities are and let that influence your programming. “As artists, we need to partake in a dance of integration – produce what speaks to you and also understand how that dovetails with community priorities. Plus, you can attend Arts Commission meetings to learn more about what types of projects will fit well for grant opportunities.”
If you’re looking for more information about The Catamounts, including upcoming events and opportunities for involvement, please visit their website at TheCatamounts.org and follow them on social media @thecatamounts.
Image credit: Michael Ensminger