, that I was considering for the role of Sugar,” Hughes says. “They were very distinct in their style, process and track record. It’s not that I couldn’t choose — I needed both. So we came up with the idea to alternate the role so they both get a run. It’s the chance to create a show with both of these actresses, which is a huge gift for Firehouse, me as a director and the audience. It’s two whole unique representations, so people really should come to see it twice.
“For the staging of it, I had to create two environments: Sugar’s world, which is grounded and tangible, and then the letter writers' world, which had no sense of reality,” Hughes says. “It took everything inside me not to howler-monkey scream when I learned who was on the show’s crew, because I was just so excited.
“The story of the show is about how to be with yourself authentically,” he explains. “Most people aren't afraid of failing; they're afraid of succeeding. Failures are familiar. We all know how to be uncomfortable with the human experience. This play invites us to be comfortable with our human experience so that we can thrive.”Saturday, February 25 through March 25; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., the John Hand Theater, 7653 East First Place, Denver.