Theater Aspen Launches 43rd Season with A.R. Gurney's Sylvia

Theater Aspen has a new summer headliner, and it’s not your typical musical extravaganza. The company is opening its 43rd season with Sylvia, A.R. Gurney’s 1995 comedy-drama, running from June 15-27 at the Hurst Theater.

It’s a play about a dog. Specifically, a stray dog played by a human actor who talks to the audience.

That’s the hook. That’s the "dumb" question folks in the valley are probably asking themselves while scrolling through the playbills: Why is a person playing a dog?

Jen Cody, a Broadway veteran with over 25 years on stage, says it’s less about pantomime and more about emotional translation. She plays Sylvia, the lovable stray that upends the life of Greg and Kate, a middle-aged New York couple whose kids have just moved out.

Greg, feeling restless and adrift, brings the dog home. Kate, played by Tony Award-nominee Erin Dilly, is less than thrilled. The marriage doesn’t break up because of an affair; it fractures because Greg’s affection shifts toward the canine.

“It’s a four-person play, and I’ve worked with all the people,” Cody said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

The production is directed by Hunter Foster, who is returning for his sixth season with Theater Aspen. Foster knows the material well — he performed in Sylvia at the Geva Theatre Center in 2017. He also knows the cast. He’s known Dilly for 25 years, having gone to school with her in the 1980s. He’s worked with David Beach, who plays multiple roles including Tom and Phyllis, since they were castmates in the original Broadway run of Urinetown.

“We want to create a family,” Foster added.

This isn’t just a random casting choice. The connections are deep, and Foster is betting that familiarity will translate to stage chemistry. The creative team includes scenic designer Riw Rakkulchon, lighting designer Wheeler Moon, and sound designer Jeff Sherwood. Wig designer Jeff Knaggs is also on board, which matters when your lead character is a dog who needs to look the part while delivering sharp dialogue.

Cody has played Sylvia four times before — in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. She says the role is a trap for actors who can’t handle physical comedy.

“I think it’s a really great role for an actress because it’s a lot of physical humor, you have to emulate a dog; then you slowly personify her,” she said.

The play explores how empty-nest couples drift apart. It’s a relatable story for anyone in the Western Slope watching their own kids pack up and leave, or for the locals who remember when the valley felt more like a tight-knit community and less like a tourist destination. The dog becomes the proxy for the missing children, the missing noise, the missing connection.

Jim Stanek has jumped into the role of Greg following a casting change, adding a new dynamic to the central relationship.

The production kicks off June 15. It’s a safe bet for Theater Aspen’s summer crowd. It’s not a blockbuster musical with a massive set change every two minutes. It’s a character study. It’s funny. It’s touching. And it’s about a dog who talks.

“I love the play so much,” Cody said. “It runs the gamut. It’s so funny, but it’s so touching and beautiful.”

If you’re looking for spectacle, you might want to wait for the next big production. If you’re looking for a story about how a little bit of chaos can fix a broken marriage, Sylvia is the place to be.