Jenn Bass enjoys helping others have a good time.
“I want to be the face of Estes Park nightlife,” proclaimed Bass, who runs Pirate Face Productions.
While “Estes Park nightlife” may seem like an oxymoron, Bass thinks there’s a market for more adult entertainment in town.
“There are a lot of family activities here and I don’t necessarily cater to that crowd,” she said. “I want to treat the residents of Estes Park as if they were adults. If they want to come and see burlesque or something more avant-garde, I want to provide that kind of live entertainment.
Bass is originally from Florida. She attended the New World School of the Arts in Miami. She moved to Manhattan and started producing theater. Then she went to Los Angeles where she worked in television, film and commercials.
She moved to Estes Park in 2008 and worked with theater companies including Bump in the Night Productions. She produced a dinner theater called Murder at Mary’s Lake Lodge, which was supposed to run for three weeks, but was so popular it ran for six months.
More recently, she started Pirate Face Productions which produced various shows like Rebel Pop which was an art exhibition that ran from the afternoon until midnight.
In February, Bass performed a burlesque show which was extremely popular.
“We had to turn people away,” she noted. “It was so loud that we couldn’t hear the music. When I talk about adult entertainment, I don’t mean to take your mind off strip clubs. Maybe it’s a play. I want to produce live events that make you think or leave with tears in your eyes or hopefully leave you deep in thought.
Bass is rehearsing a play in Denver right now. She plays in “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike”. The play will be produced in Estes Park at the Historic Park Theater over Memorial Day weekend. Tickets will be available online.
“Buy tickets,” she pointed out. “This is how you can support these efforts. Support live theater.
In June, Bass plans to hold Pride Month activities.
Calling herself an LBGTQ ally, she pointed out that the LBGTQ community in Estes Park is growing.
“Ten years ago it almost had to be whispered here,” she noted. “But it’s a thriving community in Estes and it’s not recognized and not celebrated. We have many young people here who need to feel that they are not alone. It’s a different generation. They’re kind of like, ‘Wake up and grow up and let’s move on.'”
Bass said Estes Park is too small for a Pride parade right now, but she has other ideas for smaller, community-based Pride events.
“I can find talent and book things, but I need help,” she said. “I need things like talent housing. If someone has an Airbnb, they can donate it for the weekend. I want John Cullen to donate space to the Stanley so we can do one of the White Balls here.
A white ball is a traditional LBGTQ party where people dress up and celebrate.
Bass said she needed the following to help with a Pride Month celebration at Estes Park June 24-26.
- Housing, VRBO or hotel room donation for talent
- Food stamps for talent, maybe a discount for volunteers
- Venue donation for shows (mainly drag)
- Connections with local musicians for Pride Day and Night events
- Connections with potential guest speakers
- A graphic designer will donate their work for the main flyer
- Lighting and sound equipment donated by the crew for certain events
- Volunteers to set up and take down the event
- Marketing and/or publishing donation
- Businesses will display the Pride flag this weekend
- Financial donations or talent sponsorship
- Assistance in finding an outdoor venue for the Saturday Pride event, combined with licensing assistance
Bass also plans to bring back another burlesque show over the summer.
“When you see my logo which is Pirate Face Productions, I want you to think, ‘Oh, this is going to be fun,'” Bass said. “The proof is in the pudding. People show up and are excited. You hear a lot of ‘it’s not how we do it here in Estes’, but we have young people coming in and more artists coming in. He thinks it’s time and people want to be treated like adults.
Those interested in helping Bass in her endeavors can find her on Facebook or email her at [email protected].
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