Visit Alamosa had the incredible opportunity to view one of only several showings of Prima’s Guide to Funerals at the Adams State University Theatre and it goes without saying, our hearts and minds were taken with the Alamosa based show. We feel there is no better time to bring theater into the discussion as we continue to celebrate being the Number One Small Town Cultural Scene in the US as designated by USA Today’s Readers Choice. Theater in and around the area adds a special piece to the Alamosa culture and the recent show is no exception! Continue reading below to learn more about theater in the area, Prima’s Guide to Funerals, Creede Repertory theater, and more about theaters ties to culture in the San Luis Valley!

Adams State University Theatre 

The Adams State Theatre is an Alamosa gem that you cannot overlook! There is so much to love about the programs to be seen here and so much more you are missing if you haven't experienced it yet. There are several productions a year, so there is always a chance to experience the magic of the Adams State Theatre production! 

The theater is celebrating its 24th year in the building and their second year of Co-Op work with the Creede Repertory Theater as they join forces to bring a variety of shows into Alamosa! Keep your eyes on the show lineups as they roll out so you never have to miss a show you are dying to see.  

Creede Repertory Theatre 

The Creede Repertory Theatre is the oldest theater  in the San Luis Valley and came to life in Creede as a Movie House in the 1930’s. It later became an opera house for a few years before being closed down for a time. In the year 1966, the Creede Repertory Theatre was born and has been entertaining the masses ever since! They have since become recognized nationally and bring an annual economic impact of roughly $3 million locally. This is a huge impact and it is to be noted that Creede is primarily a summer tourist town that brings in visitors from all over the world. You see so many different displays of culture within the performances that come out of the Creede Repertory Theatre, none as much as the prominent Alamosa culture displayed in their most recent show, Prima’s Guide to Funerals, written by Leonard Madrid. This show made its world premiere in Creede this summer and made its way to Alamosa for several guest performances, and we are sure glad it did! 

Prima’s Guide to Funerals and its Alamosa Ties 

This play is set in Alamosa, Colorado and there were several notable nods to the area! Anyone that was born and raised in the area could laugh at the use of “Sonics” as compared to “Sonic” and “Safeways” as compared to “Safeway.” There were several nods to local eateries including The Rubi Slipper, The Purple Pig, Nino’s and Oscar's. Not to forget the countless nods to the beautiful Rio Grande River. The acting displayed and the language used was accurate and displayed notable characteristics of the ever talked about “Valley Accent” that Alamosa and San Luis Valley Natives would catch easily! The emotions displayed by the three show stopping performers (Savanna Padilla, Julian Ibarra, Katie Rodriguez) brought audience members to tears as the relatable plot unfolded. The set was simple, yet perfect for the vibe of the production, a nod to the director (Yesenia Garcia Herrington) and the set creator (Sydney Hagan) cannot be forgotten!  This performance brought vibrance and life to the stage and the community. It was a show that left people intrigued from start to finish and triggered many emotions, laughter, hears, pain, joy, and so much more all wrapped up into a brilliant 90 minute production. Alamosa was captured brilliantly in this play, and we sincerely hope to see its return to the stage in the future!  

Theater has the power to inspire, and this performance highlighted so many amazing Alamosa eateries, tempting the crowd to get out into the community and visit some of the mentioned locations that they haven't tried yet! As the plot of the show unfolds, one is also inspired to get back in touch with their roots, love and embrace their heritage and culture, and be free to be oneself in the embrace of family.

Theater continues to move and inspire viewers all over the world, and we are so fortunate that our destination not only hosts a theater that has regular productions, but collaborates with the award winning Creede Repertory Theater to bring professional shows to the stage in Alamosa for both residents and visitors alike to enjoy. 

When you Visit Alamosa, you cannot skip the opportunity to view a live theater production at either the Adams State University Theater or the Creede Repertory Theater! Each location keeps their show schedules up to date for weeks and even months in advance for you to select the perfect performance to attend! You can find the Creede Repertory Theater show schedule here. Do keep in mind that the Creede Theater does work seasonally, keep an eye on their website for schedule launch announcements! The Adams State University show schedule can be found here.