A play taking place at the famous Rossonian Hotel, located at the pinnacle of Five Points in Denver’s historic Black neighborhood. Three employees tell the story of its rich Jazz history and how it earned its nickname “Harlem of The West”.

In the Pocket – Jazz History Retold through Theatre

Emancipation Theater Company presents in collaboration with Theatre Artibus a new play In the Pocket: The Ballad of Bobby Trombone at The Savoy Denver, February 9-19, 2023. The performance runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm, and Sunday at 2:00 pm. The box office and The Savoy’s in-house bar will open at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at our.show/inthepocket. The play is written by Jeff Campbell and directed by Theatre Artibus with music by Akil. The cast includes Jeff Campbell, Danette Hollowell, Shane Franklin, and Wesley Watkins. In the Pocket is supported in part by a Denver Arts & Venues Jazz Activation Grant.

In the Pocket: The Ballad of Bobby Trombone takes place in a fictionalized lobby of the historical Rossonian Hotel, located at the pinnacle of Five Points, Denver’s historic Black neighborhood. Three employees tell the story of Five Point’s rich jazz history and how it earned its nickname “The Harlem of the West”. Jeff Campbell, the playwright and founder of Emancipation Theater, stars as the titular character Bobby Trombone. The cast also includes Shane Franklin, an accomplished tap dancer, musician, and actor; Danette Hollowell, a dynamite jazz vocalist, performer, and entrepreneur; and trumpeter and band leader Wesley Watkins. Music was composed by Akil (akilbeatsdenver.com) with Set Design by Tom Varani (instagram.com/tomvarani). Other sponsors include the RiNo Arts District & more