When life tried to kick Bruce Laks in the teeth, the Denver Actors Fund blocked that kick
Who we helped: Bruce Laks has been performing, teaching, choreographing stage fights and directing in the Denver area since moving here from Phoenix in 2018. He has performed at Benchmark Theatre, Miners Alley, Shakespeare in the Wild, Vintage Theatre, Firehouse Theater and Parker Arts. He has also directed for Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids. Earlier this year, he appeared in the world premiere of Wendy Miller Productions’ dating comedy “The Body is Still Warm” at the Dairy Arts Center. He is currently a swing for two actor tracks in Firehouse Theater’s “Let Nothing You Dismay,” running through Dec. 21.
His medical story, in Bruce’s words: “Dental health has been a long-running issue for most of my life. Not that I don’t take care of my teeth, but I have been prone to periodontal problems for many years. This particular problem came to a head during the spring of 2025 when my dentist had to do a deep cleaning with a laser and then had a periodontal surgeon look at my situation. He determined I needed intense surgery to remove all presence of gum infection and then rebuild the bone within my gums that had deteriorated from the infection. My dental insurance covered 80% of the cost, but my co-pay was still nearly $5,500 – a debt that would have been an intense strain and set me back years financially because I am now pretty much on a fixed income. I saw (Denver Actors Fund founder) John Moore make a pre-show address at a DAF Industry Nigh performancet, and I was inspired to apply for assistance.”
How we helped: The Denver Actors Fund board approved payment of Bruce’s entire co-pay obligation, which came to $5,490.
‘‘MY FINANCIAL SITUATION WOULD HAVE BEEN DIRE WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF THE DENVER ACTORS FUND.’ – BRUCE LAKS
How you can help us help us help more Colorado theater artists: If you would like to make a donation to help The Denver Actors Fund replenish, simply mail checks in any amount made out to Denver Actors Fund to P.O. Box 11182, Denver, CO 80211. Or use this donation link, with our humble thanks.
Read testimonials from other Denver Actors Fund beneficiaries here, or click on a recent name below:
McKAYLA and SEAMUS McDONOUGH: $3,000
The Denver Actors Fund has now made $1,800,000 available to Colorado theater artists.
Note: At The Denver Actors Fund, anonymity of aid recipients is presumed and fully protected, unless and until the recipient chooses to have their story told.
Read more Denver Actors Fund testimonials by clicking here
HOW YOU CAN HELP US REPLENISH:
To DONATE the Denver Actors Fund, please CLICK HERE (with our humble thanks)
ABOUT THE DENVER ACTORS FUND:
Video above: The Denver Actors Fund presents the memorial video at the Colorado Theatre Guild’s 2023 Henry Awards.
The Denver Actors Fund is a source of immediate, situational relief when members of the local theater community find themselves in medical need. To date, the Fund has allocated more than $1.8 million to more than 625 artists facing medical need. In addition to financial relief, a team of more than 100 Denver Actors Fund volunteers offers good neighborly assistance including meal prep and delivery, child care, transportation, errands, construction, pet-sitting and more. For more information, visit our web site at DenverActorsFund.Org.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AID:
To apply for Denver Actors Fund aid: Fill out this brief online form here
MORE WAYS TO HELP:
DONATE BY MAIL:
Send checks made out to the Denver Actors Fund to:
P.O. Box 11182
Denver, CO 80211
VOLUNTEER:
Ever thought about taking a more active role in The Denver Actors Fund? Click here for more information
SHOP AT KING SOOPERS
Sign up for King Soopers’ Community Rewards Program and raise money for The DAF just by shopping for your groceries – and it doesn’t cost you an extra penny. To sign up, simply go here and designate The DAF as your preferred non-profit. Each quarter, King Soopers sends us a donation based on how much our supporters have spent. Thanks to all of you who are shopping for The DAF.
DONATE YOUR CAR
The Denver Actors Fund is now registered to accept vehicle donations, thanks to a new partnership with Vehicles for Charity. You can turn your unwanted but usable vehicle into greatly appreciated funds for The Denver Actors Fund. The process is simple. The DAF will receive 80 percent of auction proceeds, and a receipt for the donation will be sent to you that can be used for tax purposes. Read all about it here.
VOLUNTEER:
Ever thought about taking a more active role in the Denver Actors Fund? Click here for more information
COME TO THE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT US:
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8: Our friends at Vintage Theatre have designated their MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 Industry Night performance of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” as a benefit for The Denver Actors Fund! Charles Dickens’ final, unfinished novel becomes a rollicking musical comedy whodunnit that invites the audience to choose the identity of the murderer leading to a different ending every night. It’s written by Rupert Holmes and directed by Bernie Cardell. Join us at 7:30 p.m. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 at 1468 Dayton St. in Aurora. Vintage will donate 50% of all ticket proceeds to the Denver Actors Fund. All seats (normally $39) are just $25 for this night only. Order yours at vintagetheatre.org Let’s fill the Nickelson Auditorium for this one! Thank you all at Vintage! And if you can’t join us on DAF Night, please support the companies that support us by taking this show in anytime through Dec. 19.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2026: Our friends at OpenStage Theatre & Company in Fort Collins have a unique, signature program to support The Denver Actors Fund called “Final Fridays.” On the, yes, final Friday of every mainstage production run, cast members gather after the show to greet departing audience members and collect bucket donations for the DAF. Next up: OpenStage will be collecting after the Friday, February 6 performance of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” at the Lincoln Center’s Magnolia Theatre. The director is Heather Ostberg Johnson.
“The Mousetrap” is significant for being the world’s longest-running play in history, a testament to its enduring appeal as a murder mystery that keeps audiences guessing. On a snowy winter day in a newly converted manor run by an inexperienced young couple, Mollie and Giles, a radio report announces that a woman has been murdered in Paddington. You can pretty much take it from there.
Tickets are regularly up to $39 but, to receive discounted pricing for students, teachers or industry, simply enter INDUSTRY or STUDENT as a promo code at checkout. Tickets at https://openstage.com/show/the-mousetrap.
Please support the companies that support the DAF by seeing this show anytime before it closes on February 7. But if you want to support the DAF at the same time, why not join us on February 6 at the Lincoln Center? Thank you, Producing Artistic Director Jacob Offen, cast, crew, volunteers – and all of you who show up!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2026: Save the date for the third annual “Applause for PAWS” cabaret at the Denver Improv.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026: Please join us for Town Hall Arts Center’s Industry Night performance of “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” Our friends at Town Hall are continuing their incredible commitment to designate one performance per run with 100 percent of all proceeds from ticket and concession sales to be donated to The Denver Actors Fund. “Spamalot,” inspired by the classic 1975 Monty Python film, is an irreverent spoof of Arthurian legends that won a Best Musical Tony Award in 2005 There are nutty knights, a mighty diva, flatulent Frenchmen, a bloodthirsty bunny, plenty of puns, and a partig reminder to “always look on the bright side of life.” Town Hall is located at 2450 Main St. in Littleton. Tickets are only $22-$27 (normally as much as $52). Reserve your seats at 303-794-2787 or https://townhallartscenter.org/event/annie-daf-performance. Thank you to Robert Michael Sanders, Matthew Kepler, Steven J. Burge and the Town Hall Board of Directors. THANK YOU ALL!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026: Our great friends at Firehouse Theater Company have designated their Industry Night performance of “H-E-Double Crooked Letter” as a benefit, with 100 percent of all proceeds donated to the Denver Actors Fund! In Leonard Madrid’s world-premiere comedy, three Latine cousins have opened a gate to Hell in their grandma’s living room, and now they can’t get it closed. Think of it as a hilarious and ultimately heartwarming, journey to the dark side. Directed by Debra Gallegos and Beki Pineda. This continues Firehouse Producing Artistic Director Helen Hand’s steadfast commitment to designate one performance of every run with 100 PERCENT of proceeds donated to the DAF. Thank you to all involved, including cast, crew, creatives and staff for helping the DAF continue to help Colorado theater artists! Tickets at https://firehousetheatercompany.ticketspice.com/h-e-double-crooked-letter – and be sure to choose MONDAY, FEBUARY 16! Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. And If you can’t join us on DAF Night, please support the companies that support us by taking in this fun new play anytime between February 7 and March 8.
ONGOING: “Waiting for Obama,” the audio version of DAF Founder John Moore’s play that was an official selection at the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival, has been released as way of raising funds for The Denver Actors Fund. A Colorado Springs family is convinced that Barack Obama is coming for their guns in the final weeks of his presidency – and they’re right. Featuring Laurence Curry, Drew Horwitz, Chris Kendall, Leslie O’Carroll, Jenna Moll Reyes, Jessica Robblee, Luke Sorge and Mare Trevathan. It was recorded by the staff of Parker Arts at the PACE Center as an in-kind donation to The Denver Actors Fund. Listen for FREE on all major podcasting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Podbean. Just by listening, you will be raising revenue for The DAF! Or, WATCH the recording as a pay-per-view video for $9.95 on Broadway on Demand. ‘Waiting for Obama’ was recorded by the staff of Parker Arts at the PACE Center and edited by Ray Bailey TV as in-kind donations to The Denver Actors Fund. The actors also donated their services.
