Kenny Moten, Award Winning Director for “Cabaret”

Kenny Moten is an award-winning vocalist, creative director, and writer who has performed and directed across the country

Some of his credits include International Special Event awards for “Best Theatrical Production” for his work on the 2017 and 2018 Beaux Arts Ball for National Jewish Health.  His directing credits include: “Caroline”, or “Change” (Aurora Fox), “Murder of the Orient Express” (Candlelight Dinner Playhouse),  “42nd Street” (Midtown Arts Center), “Take to the Highway” (Lone Tree Arts Center), and “Motones” & “Jerseys” (National Tour). He is also the Co-Creator and Co-Writer of “The Bright Lights of Denver”, a podcast experience produced by Denver Center for the Performing Arts available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  When he is not producing or creating innovative new works, he is collaborating with the dynamic collective he started a few years ago: Narrative Creative Consulting.

I began my career in the world of musical theater but my true passion lies in working behind the scenes. After years of performing onstage, I served as the Artistic Director of Midtown Arts Center in Fort Collins, CO for their inaugural season. I then began creating for Snooze A.M. Eatery, developing the design, creation, and implementation of their first training program. Melding both professional worlds, I became the Creative Director of Imprint Group, one of the country’s premier corporate entertainment and event planning companies before starting my own creative firm in 2016. I believe that creative storytelling unites the human experience. Whether on stage, at a restaurant, or in an event venue, experiences are defined by the details that shape the story and create a lasting impression. I love to work on storytelling with a wide spectrum of organizations and am regarded as a force in the creative community.

I’ve been coming to OpenStage productions since I first visited friends at CSU in the late 1990’s. When I moved to the area, I kept my eye on their upcoming shows and have continued to support their efforts over the years. Most of my work takes me out of Fort Collins, so when Sydney asked me to direct in their 50th season I jumped at the chance to work in the community that I call home.

Community and family are the cornerstones of the work that OpenStage has produced over the years and without them you don’t have great collaborative art. OpenStage is working to give every voice a seat at the table and that starts by welcoming new faces and minds into the community of artists who create these productions.

“Cabaret” illustrates the dangers of what can happen when a society ignores the immense political changes happening all around them. The piece serves as both a re-telling of one of history’s darkest moments and a warning of how easily something like this could happen again.

I hope that this production continues to enrich and inspire the community just as OpenStage productions have for the 49 seasons that came before this.