Lee Kaplan on Onstage Colorado Podcast

🎭 A Conversation with Lee Kaplan on the OnStage Colorado Podcast

I’m thrilled to share highlights from an episode of the OnStage Colorado Podcast titled “The Trouble with Theatre Programs”, which features an insightful interview with Lee Kaplan — founder and artistic director of Debut Theatre Company in Fort Collins.

Why this episode matters

In this wide-ranging conversation, the hosts dive into the evolving role and design of theater programs in a live-performance environment — from full show programs to minimalist QR-code-only handouts — and what that means for audience experience. Later in the episode, Alex Miller catches up with Lee Kaplan to explore her work at Debut Theatre and the big move ahead.

Given your deep interest in leadership development, youth performing arts, culture design, and community engagement, this episode offers a timely lens on how one organization is building not just shows but a developmental environment for young people.

Key take-aways from Lee’s segment (see minute 50)

• Lee Kaplan, who has been teaching with Debut Theatre since 1991, shared how the troupe-structured, youth-driven model gives students real hands-on experience in all aspects of theatre: acting, design, set/lighting, production and more.

• She emphasized theatre as a vehicle for growth: “Young people are open to using their emotions as their medium of expression… I am honored to provide a safe, loving, fun canvas to explore upon.”

• Lee also spoke about a major organizational next step: Debut is currently raising funds to convert an 18,000-square-foot former AMC cinema into their permanent youth performing-arts hub in Fort Collins.

• The podcast segment gave attention to how programs (in the theatre-handout sense) reflect the value and branding of a theatre experience — which echoes your own interests in culture, storytelling, and “ownership” of organisational experiences.

If you haven’t yet, I’d recommend giving the podcast a listen (go to minute 50) — the full conversation offers lots of practical insight.