1980B/Leadville Colorado performances September 2 and 3, 1980

Cast B80's 9th city stop out of Staging in Tucson, was Leadville, Colorado, the highest altitude incorporated town in the US at 10,152 feet above sea level. Warned by staff about the altitude, the cast was cautioned to perform a lower energy show for the first night of two performances while we acclimated to the altitude. Senior Tucson Production staffer, Reed Thompson ('72A), was with the cast this city to observe and fine-tune aspects of the show. The first performance went off without incident, though everyone felt like they hadn't given it their all, so the next night, the cast gave a full-energy performance, resulting in 7 Cast members hyperventilating during the show due to altitude. Cast members were stepping over castmates who lay on the ground behind the cyclorama screen and at least three cast members were transported to Leadville General Hospital. One of our cast mates, Mariette from Sweden, remained hospitalized (having lost some ability to completely use one of her arms) when the cast tour busses left Leadville for Fort Collins. Mariette never rejoined the cast as a performer, though she did surprise us during our second semester when Cast B arrived in Antwerp, Belgium.