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About Us
Our Story
Opening Act Theatre was founded in 2016 by Public Relations Consultant Sylvia Cordy, and eight Black professional women in Denver.
Our goal is to instill confidence and develop personal and professional leadership qualities in young Black women between the ages of 6 and 17 years old.
Opening Act is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission
Our mission is to use theatre arts to promote and enhance the creative talents and positive development of young Black women.
Vision
We envision successful, poised, and skilled women empowered to create change in themselves, their community and their world.
Our Values
- Confident self-expression and professional proactive communication
- Integrity and personal ethics
- Excellence
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Mutual respect for diverse values and communities
- Humor and versatility
- Personal and professional resilience
Our Leadership
The Opening Act board members have accomplished careers in education, theatre, business, and law. Each member is dedicated to young Black women's personal and professional development.
Three women on our Board, Sylvia, Maude, and Adrienne, bring their experience as alumnae of Spelman College in Atlanta, a liberal arts college for women dedicated to intellectual, creative, ethical, and leadership development.
Sheryl and Carol McCallum come from a renowned theatre family. Their brother, the late John McCallum, Jr., was the founder and artistic director of Denver’s Black Arts Company.
These community leaders serve as Opening Act's 2024 Board of Directors:
- Sylvia Cordy, CEO (B.A. Theatre; Television Executive and Public Relations Agency CEO)
- Claudia Jordan (Retired Denver County Court Judge)
- Lee Kathryn Gash-Maxey (Former TV Producer, Exec. Dir., Black Chamber of Commerce)
- Carla Elam Floyd (Former HR Director at CDOT and Denver Water; Business Consultant)
- Beverly Ausfahl (Former President of the Colorado Education Association; Retired Teacher)
- Carol McCallum (Founding Member of the Denver Black Arts Company)
- Anita Ware Berry ( Co-Founder of Full Circle Intergenerational Project, Inc., a 501c3 organization)
- Mogale Stewart (Youth Board member, Sophomore majoring in Voice Performance at Florida State University)
- Hilary Smith ( Co-Founder and COO of Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities -CHIC)
- Biaze Houston (Ph.D., Chief of District Support, University of Virginia - Partnership for Leaders in Education)
Legacy Board Members:
- Gwen Brewer (Chairperson, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre; Retired Teacher)
- The Late Dr. Adrienne Seward (B.A. Theatre; Professor Emeritus, English, Colorado College)
- Sheryl McCallum (Actress and producer with experience locally and on Broadway)
- Dr. Maude Lofton (Retired Pediatrician, Philanthropist)