Neyla Pekarek: She pushed the boundaries of what it meant to be feminine and what it meant to be a woman. Train I'm A Scoundrel (Feat. Neyla Pekarek Of The Lumineers Plays Music From New Folk-Opera At CPR's OpenAir. While our lights have dimmed temporarily, we want you to know that the DCPA isn’t going anywhere. Our stories reflect your life. The new album Rattlesnake is out now. I knew I was first and foremost a musician. I felt like I wasn’t using the skills I was really good at. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. John Moore: And then you went to the University of Northern Colorado. On her headstone, her name simply reads "Rattlesnake Kate," per her request. You’ve played Paris. I am a SUPPORTER OF NEYLA PEKAREK! Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Aurora native Neyla Pekarek is a cellist and classically-trained vocalist who toured and recorded with The Lumineers for 8 years. Producing Partners: Peggy Finley, Alan & Katie Fox, Ruth Krebs & Peter Mannetti, Ted Pinkowitz & Susan Fox Pinkowitz, Integra Financial, Advisory: Contains adult language and violence. Better Than Annie 4. Letters To The Colonel (Feat. Many of our member libraries are currently adjusting their services to the public. If it really was shooting, put your money on Kate 'Cause just in two little hours, I murdered a hundred and forty snakes [Chorus 1] ... Rattlesnake Neyla Pekarek. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Rattlesnake is a concept album that will indeed center around Rattlesnake Kate. Neyla Pekarek: I hope having one foot in the music world and one foot in the theatre world will appeal to a larger audience. Photo by John Moore. "She spoke her mind and lived completely outside of what was expected of women." I feel like everything that’s good in my life is because of those teachers. An agent of mine named Jack Tantleff said to me: “Well, you’re from Denver. Neyla Pekarek hadn’t played her cello much during her college years. Check your home library website or social media sites for details about current services and offerings. They have a really great professional regional theater out there.” And I said: “Yes, yes. Just today in rehearsal, one of our actors got teary talking about how her story speaks to her as a young woman. John Moore: OK, so I know The Lumineers have been incredibly successful. That clearly went away, but only through the help of a lot of really great teachers. Visit our box office in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, across from Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The album is set to release on 11th January 2019 on S-Curve Records. I’ve got my live show where I can do my show-pony thing and sing all the songs myself. With the album bound to hit the musical circuit, it is no surprise that the record has notes of melodrama. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 1. John Moore: Tell us how Rattlesnake Kate came to be. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Neyla Pekarek: Rattlesnake Kate, the musical, is a completely different beast from Rattlesnake, the album I am touring. Sometimes the Kates sing together. Neyla Pekarek Rattlesnake Out Now. Brian Cronan) 11. Neyla Pekarek, the cellist and classically trained vocalist formerly of The Lumineers, was in college when Rattlesnake Kate first rocked her world. Karen Hartman: So we start with this album that is really beautiful and it works gorgeously as it is. … He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist. WOMEN'S TEE INFO: Neyla Pekarek: My life has been really strange, and very lucky. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. Whiskers 6. Because the story goes, Kate came upon a rattlesnake whereas attempting to find her supper again in 1925. Better Than Annie 4. Letters To The Colonel (Feat. Curated Podcasts Recommended by … I’m also a Colorado native, from Denver. John Moore: But she is still performing in the musical in another role. I have felt very silenced by men in my life. Neyla Pekarek: It’s an insane honor, especially because I am doing it here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. I mean, you answered a Craigslist ad looking for a cellist and now you’ve performed with U2. "Neyla Pekarek, the cellist and classically trained vocalist formerly of The Lumineers, was in college when Rattlesnake Kate first rocked her world. John Moore: What is the legend of Rattlesnake Kate? Karen Hartman: Well, neither. After surviving a rattlesnake attack, Kate earned herself a place in the pantheon of American tall tales. John Moore: When you say, “Women’s barbershop,” that makes me think of the great local band Paper Bird. San Diego native Karen Hartman specializes in plays about human beings in the crosshairs of history. I knew I wasn’t a dancer. Hold On Tight 10. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. The Perfect Gown 8. This is your Hamilton.” And Neyla felt like, “Well, I don’t have to be Kate. In October of 2018, after touring the world behind a Billboard number two album and the chart-topping Cleopatra as a member of the Lumineers, cellist/singer Neyla Pekarek announced that she was parting ways with the Grammy-nominated Americana group. Neyla Pekarek: But the story of Rattlesnake Kate goes so far beyond the rattlesnake encounter. Brian Cronan) 5. RELEASE DATE: Jan 11th, 2019. Her nickname was earned on October 28, 1925, when she and her three-year-old son Ernie hurried on horseback to a local lake after hearing hunters in the area. She happened upon the true story of the frontierswoman, who singlehandedly killed 140 snakes as they encroached on her and her son, at Greeley, CO's History Museum. Hear the fearless story of Rattlesnake Kate restrung by Neyla Pekarek on Thursday, January 23rd in Loeb Playhouse! As … Check your home library website or social media sites for details about current services and offerings. Neyla Pekarek (All photos from AK Photography) ... Rattlesnake Kate. You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. When you choose DCPA Event Services, our on-site team of planners, designers and technicians will work with you every step of the way to create the event of your dreams. It’s a dream come true.” So I am happy to help in any way I can. She opted instead to study musical theater and hone her vocal skills. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Kate McHale Slaughterback, the real Rattlesnake Kate. It’’s clear why Neyla Pekarek found the ideal subject matter in Rattlesnake Kate. The Perfect Gown 8. She also found something of a kindred spirit. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Better Than Annie 4. Letters To The Colonel (Feat. In the beginning, I could not stop thinking about her. That’s a problem people are working on from many different fronts, because parity takes a lot of things: It takes child-care. I felt very out of place until I found my like-minded, weirdo drama kids. TANTALUS: Behind the Mask to be streamed Dec 16 at 6:30pm MT, Making something new this holiday season with. Neyla Pekarek: At first she killed them with her rifle but she ran out of bullets. And plays written by women still make up only about 28 percent of all plays staged in America – and that’s not even counting Shakespeare. To be treated as an equal. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. On October 28, 1925 a woman traveling with her young son in Greeley, Colorado came upon a pack of migrating rattlesnakes. And because we’re covering this huge span of Kate’s life, I thought we should cast Kate at three stages of her life. In modern culture. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Got What It Takes To Become a Blue Man? I feel so connected to the Denver Center. For your background, Rattlesnake Kate was a Colorado pioneering woman of much acclaim. And I hope other people who have ever felt marginalized can relate to this story as a result. Ticket agents also are available in person at each theatre one hour prior to each show. But the character she is playing right now is more Neyla. Neyla Pekarek: The bottom line is, I got to make a record exactly the way I wanted to make it. John Moore: Karen, did you two know each other or was this like a blind date? And trusting that people will show up to see work written by women – which they do. The writers at a glance: Aurora native Neyla Pekarek was a longtime cellist and vocalist with the folk-rock band The Lumineers, whose first record reached triple-platinum status with sales of more than 3 million records. The very next day she went back to the scene of the crime, which must have been horrific event. The cover art for Neyla Pekarek’s debut solo album “Rattlesnake.” (Photo provided) Neyla Pekarek didn’t know how ready her musical “Rattlesnake Kate” would be when it came time to premiere it at this year’s Colorado New Play Summit in Denver.But like any good performer – Pekarek used to be a member of The Lumineers – knows: The show must go on. She said what was on her mind. Kate McHale Slaughterback was born in 1893. I was such a shy kid and I didn’t like being in front of people. Before Neyla Pekarek became a third of The Lumineers, she saw Rattlesnake Kate’s famous dress and read the story while she attended the University of Northern Colorado. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Download copies of our programs from the archive, https://www.denvercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/QUOTE-social-Rattlesnake-Kate-Neyla-Pekarek-Karen-Hartman1.jpg, Summit Spotlight: Neyla Pekarek and Karen Hartman on ‘Rattlesnake Kate’. You might see future Kate giving her younger self some advice. Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers played to a packed room last night at Lost Lake Lounge. Train 2. Her concert for Rattlesnake felt like theatricality compartmentalized at Rockwood Music Hall. It's a concept album based on the true story of Colorado's Rattlesnake Kate, who rescued herself and her 3-year-old adopted son from an attack by killing more than 140 snakes in 1925. “Rattlesnake Kate” Music and lyrics by Neyla Pekarek, book by Karen Hartman, directed by Chris Coleman Feb. 5-March 14, 2021, Wolf Theatre. She studied Musical Theatre and earned a degree in Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, CO. Back in Denver while searching for a teaching position, she answered a Craigslist ad for a local folk band needing a cello player. Hot Podcasts Popular shows today. Neyla Pekarek Rattlesnake (S-Curve) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. Tags CONCEPT ALBUM, Music, PIONEER. There were times with the band when I felt like I was living someone else’s dream, and I feel like I finally have this space to live my own dream. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. John Moore: What kind of music were you into growing up? Learn more. Her story is one of strength, determination, and creative fun. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Karen Hartman: Because Neyla writes woman’s barbershop music, we wanted there to be four women in the ensemble. She happened upon the true story of the frontierswoman, who singlehandedly killed 140 snakes as they encroached on her and her son, at Greeley, CO's History Museum. Now, after eight years with the band, Pekarek is blazing her own trail as a solo artist. One even could say that Pekarek is shedding her skin and taking on a new form with “Rattlesnake,” which was themed around the legend of Colorado pioneer Kate McHale Slaughterback. More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter. She’s the creator of this world. Lineup includes world premiere of 'Rattlesnake Kate' by Neyla Pekarek in the newly renovated Marvin and Judi Wolf Theatre denvercenter.org DCPA announces 2020-21 Theatre Company season - Denver Center for the Performing Arts These actors are really good. There have been moments in the rehearsal room where we all have been just in shock at how raw and how immediate these songs sound. Be the first to hear about shows and news, Enter your email address to subscribe to our newsletter *. I'm A Scoundrel (Feat. First, she used her gun to fend them off. Neyla Pekarek, who left the Lumineers last year, talked about her "women-empowering" solo debut, "Rattlesnake." When Neyla Pekarek started thinking about her debut album, she turned to snakes. I just keeping saying to myself: “Wait. She then famously made a dress from their skins. Whiskers 6. Our artists are your neighbors. After the infamous showdown, “Rattlesnake Kate” became a global sensation. This whole experience with the Denver Center, and the Colorado New Play Summit, and being commissioned to write a play here – it all feels way too good to be true. And talking about these issues of inequality tells me that Rattlesnake Kate and Hattitude will be a perfect match. Neyla Pekarek: It’s a small, local band called The Lumineers. “Rattlesnake Kate,” as she is better known, was a Greeley farmer who reportedly fought off 140 rattlesnakes to save her 3-year-old son in 1925. I grew up in Aurora and went Overland High School. Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Pekarek: Rattlesnake Kate was from Greeley, Colorado, and that’s where I went to college. Rattlesnake by Neyla Pekarek, released 18 January 2019 1. Brian Cronan) 5. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. It’s a whole musical.”. This is your show. Whiskers 6. The singer Neyla told Billboard: “Rattlesnake is about opportunities. Not only is it an honor to have been commissioned anywhere to do something I feel insanely lucky to be doing in the first place, but even more so because this is home. Rattlesnake Kate, or Katherine McHale Slaughterback (also, for a time, Kate Garner), was born in 1894 in a log cabin in Colorado, and has a history worthy of any Western legend. John Moore: Talk about the decision to have three actors play Kate at different times in her life. The Denver Center Theatre Company has commissioned Pekarek and playwright Karen Hartman to transform the story into a fully fleshed stage musical that will be presented as a concert reading at the 2019 Colorado New Play Summit. Brian Cronan) 5. Rattlesnake by Neyla Pekarek, released 18 January 2019 1. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. So she plucked a “No Hunting” sign from the ground and just started clobbering them. Neyla Pekarek on Leaving the Lumineers and Her Solo Debut – Variety I was not ready to move to New York to try being on Broadway. She is known for her “handling” of rattlesnakes during the snake migration in the 1920s. Although it’s been a challenge, Pekarek says that, between working with actors and writing new songs, the process has been creatively fulfilling. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. The story stuck with her. Music Director Angela Steiner leads rehearsals for ‘Rattlesnake Kate.’ Photo by Adams Viscom. UNISEX TEE INFO: Printed on a white, Bella + Canvas brand, 100% ringspun high quality cotton tee. But seriously, you should just say no when two guys in a basement ask you to get into their minivan. Neyla Pekarek: Yes, six is a lot of marriages. We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. One even might say that Pekarek is shedding her pores and skin and taking up a brand new type with “Rattlesnake,” which was themed across the legend of Colorado pioneer Kate McHale Slaughterback. Music and Lyrics by Neyla Pekarek. The Attack 3. Neyla Pekarek has woven Slaughterback’s biography into a concept album called Rattlesnake that was released January 18 on S-Curve Records. I didn’t really care about rock bands. Neyla Pekarek, the cellist and classically trained vocalist formerly of The Lumineers, was in college when Rattlesnake Kate first rocked her world. John Moore: Looking back, how does your time with The Lumineers live with you now? We may request cookies to be set on your device. She was survived by her son, two grandsons, and two great-grandchildren. A collection of songs inspired by Rattlesnake Kate, a badass frontierswoman who fought off 140 snakes to protect her young son. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. It’s also about how this record is a next step for me. To forge a future for herself and for other women like her. Support our $4 million goal with a gift to our Recovery Fund. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Visit our box office in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, across from Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. It started out with two guys in their basement asking me if I wanted to get into a minivan and play shows. And your students are our future. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. You can also change some of your preferences. NPR's Melissa Block talks to Neyla Pekarek, formerly of The Lumineers, about her debut solo album, Rattlesnake, which was inspired by an actual frontierswoman named "Rattlesnake Kate." John Moore: Neyla, I also just learned that you also will be performing at the 14th annual “Women with Hattitude” luncheon on May 2 in support of the Denver Center’s ongoing mission to level the playing field for women playwrights and directors. It takes programming the work. Ticket agents also are available in person at each theatre one hour prior to each show. … Although I do wear a rattlesnake dress, which I think is important. In her early life, she was known to enjoy wearing pants instead … Directed by Chris Coleman. Neyla Pekarek: So I have always been a fan of musical theater. Playing cello in one of the world’s biggest rock groups isn’t quite like exterminating rattlesnakes en masse, but her time with the Lumineers could be harrowing nonetheless. Each one is like its own journey. ... Colorado—the story of Rattlesnake Kate. Neyla Pekarek: A few years ago, I started writing songs about this woman without an end plan, and it quickly got out of control where I wrote a whole bunch of songs and put them on a record called Rattlesnake. It takes trusting that audiences like to see stories about women. They were so influential in me becoming who I am. Neyla Pekarek’s solo debut album tells the story of Rattlesnake Kate, a badass frontierwoman who fought off 120 snakes to protect her young son. Here is more of DCPA Senior Arts Journalist John Moore’s conversation with Neyla Pekarek and Karen Hartman: Neyla Pekarek in ‘The Tomato Plant Girl’ at the University of Northern Colorado. Discover the inspirational true story that is larger than life and stranger than fiction in this vibrant new musical by Neyla Pekarek (former member of the Grammy-nominated folk-rock band The Lumineers) and playwright Karen Hartman. And so all these things came together like a creative lightning bolt strike in my brain. Neyla Pekarek: I think because I wrote Rattlesnake Kate from a place where I was feeling a lot of the feelings that women are feeling right now. Read more: Overland High School set Pekarek on a path to international stardom. It takes to Become a Blue Man scene of the Lumineers have been a woman Signature Skirmishes Squeezing... To see work written by women – which they do Than just one song told... S incredible that Denver Center creating a stage musical can do really easily gift to our newsletter * with! Release on 11th January 2019 1, released 18 January 2019 1 and! 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Bird has three frontwomen singing such beautiful harmonies: karen, did you two know each other or was like. Dec 16 at 6:30pm MT, making something new this holiday season with excited to be Kate of... Craigslist ad looking for a cellist and now you ’ ve performed with U2 Steiner leads rehearsals for ‘ Kate.... Beautiful and it ’ s actually been a real treat to have written songs! S no reason any of this should have worked out up in Aurora and went Overland School. Our newsletter * gorgeously as it is, I got to make it say. There to be used within dialogue is set to release on 11th January 2019 on S-Curve Records looking for long... S-Curve ) Rating: 3 out of place until I found my like-minded neyla pekarek rattlesnake kate Drama...