John Nichols’ seminal social-justice novel “The Milagro Beanfield War” turned 50 this year. And in San Luis, Antonito, Saguache, Alamosa and soon Denver and Pueblo as well, young direct descendants of the fact-based water-rights conflict are performing their own stage adaptation of the story and touring the play as their first significant exposure to the performing arts.

The year-long effort is the passion project of Millie Duran, founder of a Denver-based nonprofit called Casa Milagro Youth Solutions. She was inspired a decade ago by a visit to Denver by the legendary Brazilian theater practitioner Augusto Boal, who coined the term Theater of the Oppressed as a way to use art to promote social and political change.

Duran found that many young people in San Luis, Colorado’s oldest town (225 miles south of Denver near the New Mexico border) – are burdened by domestic violence and other traumas that are not being addressed. “I thought there was an incredible need, and that theater would help,” she said.

Nichols’ fictional novel is based on the very real struggle by Hispanic-Americans in northern New Mexico to restore ancestral land grants taken from them by Anglos dating back to the 1850s. In the novel, a patchwork battle is sparked between dirt-poor small farmers and rich New Mexico golf-course developers over access to the town’s main irrigation channel. To many, the conflict symbolized a struggle over access to tens of thousands of acres of mountainous land that has been waged in Southern Colorado for decades.

A year ago, Duran gave Nichols’ novel to four San Luis high school students, and together they began to break it down by characters and scenes. Over time, their ensemble grew to 11, even adding two kids from Denver. The students, ages 13-18, developed their own script, parsing out 55 roles among them. “This became their lives,” said Duran. And in many ways, it already was.

“Some of these kids are the actual heirs to that (disputed) land,” Duran said.

What they learned from all their study, she added: “So much has not changed.”

On Thursday, the cast performed their play at Centennial High School in San Luis, where most of the student actors go to school. This leg of their year-long journey will end with performances at 1 and 6 p.m. on Sept. 27 at Su Teatro, home of Denver’s Chicano theater company; with a closing performance at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 at Pueblo Community College’s Hoag Theater.

San Luis School District Superintendent Joe Garcia told the Valley Courier that the opportunity for his students to both see – and perform in – ”The Milagro Beanfield War” will last a lifetime.

“These students have such a privilege to engage in the history of Southern Colorado, particularly something close to home here in the San Luis area that is rich in traditions, culture and history,” he said. “I see these students as leaders. Engaging in the play is a particularly important opportunity for them.”

For more information on the Denver performances, go to suteatro.org.

‘Laramie Project’ lawsuit lives again

In 2022, we told you that a former Ponderosa High School assistant principal had filed a lawsuit claiming he was fired because he publicly disagreed with his theater department performing the play “The Laramie Project” based on his personal religious beliefs, which he said should be considered protected speech. A U.S. District Court judge tossed the lawsuit a year ago, ruling that Dave McNellis did not credibly allege he was discriminated or retaliated against because of his status as a Christian.

That was then.

On Sept. 10, a three-judge federal appeals panel based in Denver ruled that McNellis can pursue his claims against the Douglas County School District after all.

”We conclude Mr. McNellis has alleged facts that, from circumstantial evidence, give rise to a reasonable inference of discrimination based on his religion,” Judge Veronica S. Rossman wrote in the opinion.

Read a full analysis of the decision at coloradopolitics.com.

Aurora family Mini-Con

Aurora is getting into the con business. As in the Aurora Mini-Con, to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 21), at the Aurora Municipal Campus, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway. It’s a free family-friendly festival featuring comics, cosplay and all things pop culture. Info at auroragov.org/cms.

Briefly …

So much big music news this week in The Denver Gazette: Justin Timberlake is coming to Ball Arena on Jan. 28 … Metallica will play Mile High Stadium July 27 and 29 … And Jane’s Addiction has canceled its Oct. 2 date at the Fillmore Auditorium …

It being both Denver Startup Week and Hispanic Heritage Month, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis made obligatory stops at three businesses in the Santa Fe Arts District this week: The indie bookstore/florist Petals & Pages; the Museo De Las Americas art gallery; and Su Teatro …

Denver Digerati, which bills itself as “an artist-first nonprofit dedicated to amplifying experimental media and performance” is hosting its ninth annual experimental media festival through Sept. 23 at venues like the Sie Film Center, Digital Armory Denver and others. Info at denverdigerati.org …

Exterior renovations have begun on the Firehouse Art Center in Longmont. It’s getting restored of the windows, doors, and trim along with new paint, and lighting without having to close to the public …

The Museum of Nature and Science is presenting a sensory-friendly family night screening of its “T. Rex 2D” documentary at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25 on the Infinity Theatre giant screen. It’s related to the museum’s ongoing “Teen Rex” exhibit …

And finally …

If you loved the legendary but sadly now lamented good-times cover band Mr. Majestyk’s 8-Track Revival, you might want to check out former frontman Mark Devine’s free mini-concert of ‘70s and ‘80s favorites at 6 p.m. Monday (Sept. 23) in the Brown Palace Hotel’s eight-story atrium lobby. No tickets necessary. Just show up. ‘Twill be silly.