Awards
OpenStage Theatre & Company has garnered numerous prestigious awards since its inception 46 years ago including the 2017 Henry Awards for Outstanding Season, Outsanding Director, Outstanding Actress, and Outstanding Actor, the 1997 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Arts Alive Fort Collins Tree of Peace Medallion in 2003 for the contribution to the growth of the arts in Fort Collins, and the Colorado Community Theatre Coalition's Distinguished Merit Award in 2000 for OpenStage's outstanding contributions to theatre in Colorado. In 2001 OpenStage was awarded membership to Theatre Communications Group for its commitment to professionalism. OpenStage received the 2007 Arlene Nededog Multicultural Award, the Northern Colorado Business Report's 2010 Woman of Distinction Award for Co-Founder and Artistic Producer Denise Burson Freestone, the 2011 Henry Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, the 2012 Colorado Woman of Influence Award for Denise Burson Freestone, the 2013 Henry Award for Best Actor was given to Jonathan Farwell as Salieri in OpenStage's production of "Amadeus", and the 2014 Henry Award for Best Costume design went to Rebecca Spafford for her work on OpenStage's production of "Dangerous Liaisons".
"OpenStage Theatre & Company - the trailblazer, the stalwart, the adventurer, almost all things to all theater people in Northern Colorado." - The Loveland Reporter Herald
"OpenStage ... can easily take its place among Colorado's best companies." - The Denver Post
"Without OpenStage a young wayward teen would not have found his first sense of self-worth. I am forever indebted for that." - OST Alumni, Gordon A. Jones
"OpenStage Theatre plays a key role in nurturing the arts community in Fort Collins and, indeed, in all of Northern Colorado.... I can think of no other organizations that deserves support and recognition more than OST." - State Representative, Randy Fischer
"There can be no doubt of OpenStage's ongoing critical and popular acclaim. The City of Fort Collins is indeed fortunate to have such a capable and prolific performing arts producer in residence. Over the years the staff, board members and artists of OpenStage Theatre have contributed extensively to the cultural environment that is so much a part of the quality of life we enjoy in Fort Collins." - Former City of Fort Collins Mayor Ann Azari
"OpenStage sparked something in Fort Collins. It's made this community a better place to be." - Charlie Ferrie, OpenStage Company Artist