
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
7:00PM
SILVER VINES WINERY
7509 Grandview Ave, Arvada, CO 80002
Silver Vines is wheelchair accessible
MADNESS MOST DISCREET
A Last Visit with Larry and Viv
by Donna Hoke
A Staged Reading
Summoned by Vivien Leigh's final companion, Jack Merivale, Sir Laurence Olivier rushes to the apartment where his one-time love has been recovering from a bout of tuberculosis. Viv
and Larry's love story was as legendary as the careers they forged on stage and film--until devastating mental illness tore them apart. Is it too late for them to make amends?
Directed by Kate Poling
Stage Manager/Stage Directions: Darren Smith
Starring: Andrew Uhlenhopp and Susan Lyles
DONNA HOKE-PLAYWRIGHT
Donna’s work has been seen in 48 states--Colorado more than any other!--and on five continents, including at Barrington Stage, Barrow Group, Celebration Theatre, Gulfshore Theatre, Queens Theatre, Lake Dillon Theatre Company, Theatre Aspen, The Road, Phoenix Theatre, Atlantic Stage, Purple Rose, Skylight, Pride Films and Plays, New Jersey Rep, Hens and Chickens (London), The Galway Fringe Festival, and Actors Repertory Theatre of Luxembourg. Plays include BRILLIANT WORKS OF ART (Kilroys List), ELEVATOR GIRL (O’Neill, Princess Grace, and Austin Film Festival finalist), SAFE (winner of the Todd McNerney, Naatak, and Great Gay Play and Musical Contests), and TEACH (Gulfshore New Works, O'Neill semifinalist). She has been nominated for the Primus, Blackburn, and Laura Pels prizes, and is a three-time winner of the Emanuel Fried Award for Outstanding New Play (SEEDS, SONS & LOVERS, ONCE IN MY LIFETIME). She has also twice received Individual Artist Awards from the New York State Council on the Arts to develop HEARTS OF STONE and CANALSIDE, and, in its final three years, Artvoice named her Buffalo's Best Writer—the only woman to ever receive the designation. Donna also has been serving the Dramatists Guild in various capacities since 2012, is an ensemble playwright at Road Less Traveled Productions, blogger, former moderator of the 13,500+-member Official Playwrights of Facebook, New York Times-published crossword puzzle constructor; children's and trivia book author; and founder/co-curator of BUA Takes 10: GLBT Short Stories. Speaking engagements include Citywrights, Kenyon Playwrights Conference, the Dramatists Guild National Conference, Chicago Dramatists, the Austin Film Festival, and a live Dramatists Guild webinar. Her commentary has been seen on #2amt, howlround, The Dramatist, the Official Playwrights of Facebook, Workshopping the New Play (Applause, 2017), and at donnahoke.com.
KATE POLING-DIRECTOR
Kate Poling is a director, actor and writer based in the Denver area. She has appeared in several And Toto too productions, including Smoke and Gertrude and Ophelia in Hell. Directing credits include These Shining Lives, Little Women; (Firehouse Theater) and Jeremiah (Benchmark Theatre, World Premiere); Juan Bobo, Mother Goose, Rumpelstiltskin, Princess and the Pea, and The Story of the Nutcracker. (Miners Alley Theatre for Young Audiences). Enjoy the show!
ANDREW UHLENHOPP (LAWRENCE OLIVIER)
Andrew has been seen on stages all over Denver — anywhere they’ll have him, really. Favorite roles include Kelly’s husband, and Dashiell & Jolene’s dog dad.
SUSAN LYLES (VIVIEN LEIGH)
Susan Lyles is an award winning director, Actor, Director and producer, holds a BA from Wichita State University, and certification from The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Shakespeare. She has worked on stage as an actor in both Chicago and Denver. Credits: Gertrude and Ophelia in Hell (Gertrude), Whacking the Turkey (Hildegard); The Playground (Omni, Rachel); Ordering Lunch (Sarah); Hay Fever (Sorrel); Present Laughter (Daphne); Swimming in Seuss (Fox, Cindy Lou Who, The Lorax. Ensemble) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator). Film Credits: 5 Minutes (Best Supporting Actor), Tea Party, Down the Drain, Chasing Christmas, Solemates, Primogenture, Outed, Among Us,Blameless; Shattered; Second String Villains; Son of Spies and Whispers, B.O.B. and Night Screams. She has also worked in commercials, print, industrial, and voice over. Susan is the founder and Producing Artistic Director of And Toto too Theatre Company, and has directed more than 20 plays, including the award winning Naked in Encino, Car Talk, and Heads. She has designed costumes for more than 50 plays, including Lion in Winter (Denver Victorian Playhouse), 12th Night (Denver Victorian Playhouse), and Greater Tuna and Christmas Tuna (Denver Victorian Playhouse, Town Hall Arts Center). Susan is also producer for the award winning film production company Ruff, Ruff, Dog Productions. insta: ruff ruff dog productions IMDB for representation and full film credits
DARREN SMITH (Stage Manager/Stage Directions)
Darren Smith is a successful business owner, stage designer and filmmaker..Darren has more than 30 years of experience both on-stage and in almost every capacity behind the scenes, and is responsible for the technical operations for And Toto Too. Since 2015 he has directed more than 31 short films, garnering awards including winning 3rd Place for Best Film at the London 48 Hour Film Project in 2024. His aim with storytelling - whether on screen or stage - is to immerse the audience in situations that feel familiar to them, even if they have never personally experienced the exact scenario that is unfolding. They should see themselves or someone they know reflected back to them, and through these stories gain a little more insight into the beautiful, inevitably flawed, human condition. Originally from Birmingham, England, Darren has made Denver Colorado his home for the last 27 years. IMDB for full film credits