Theatrical concert ‘Wild Fire’ shares personal accounts from last year's East Troublesome Fire
DENVER — The Denver Center for the Performing Arts and History Colorado have teamed up to help bring the vision of playwright Jessica Kahkoska to life. "Wild Fire," her latest project, emphasizes the importance of community storytelling.
“Wild Fire" is a new theatrical concert…and explores the impacts of last year’s wildfire season in Colorado and is inspired by true stories of the East Troublesome Fire,” Kahkoska explains.
Kahkoska conducted dozens of Zoom interviews with residents and community members in Grand County, where the fire raged from October 14 through November 30, 2020. She knew that not every story would make it into the play and wanted to find a way to preserve the stories for years to come. That’s where History Colorado’s Museum of Memory comes in.
Marissa Volpe, chief of equity and engagement at History Colorado, works closely with the Museum of Memory—a digital archive that collects oral histories from communities across Colorado.
“Our partnership with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts is really a way for us to preserve the stories of the wildfire histories that have happened through 2020,” says Volpe. “It was the most historic year for wildfire history in the state of Colorado… and History Colorado wants to preserve those histories and make them available for future generations.”
The plot of "Wild Fire" relives a week in the life of Grand County community members who lived through the East Troublesome Fire. The theatrical concert explores their experiences, evacuations, resilience, rebuilding, and the impact the fire had on their lives.
“It’s not really about the trauma,” explains Kahkoska. “It’s about the community response, it’s about our first responders, it’s about mutual aid, it’s about local journalism, and I hope that people come away from this project and this show with a deep sense of respect and appreciation for our friends in Grand County.”
"Wild Fire," which is part play, part concert, and part musical, will have shows at the Levitt Pavilion in Denver, the Dillion Amphitheater in Dillon, and the Rendezvous Event Center in Winter Park. Eight percent of each ticket sold will benefit the Grand Foundation’s Grand County Wildlife Emergency Fund. Free tickets are available for first responders and firefighters across Colorado.
Alexis Kikoen is a multimedia journalist with Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at alexiskikoen@rmpbs.org.