Meet Jim and Lindy Bartruff | Arts educators and co-founders of Niwot “Play” Company

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jim and Lindy Bartruff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jim and Lindy, every day, we talk about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
As retired theatre and dance professors we wanted to be an arts presence in a small community where we could offer dance and theatre classes and events that were both intergenerational and accessible. In 2021, we found the extraordinary town of Niwot nestled in the breathtaking Front Range, just seven miles from Boulder, Colorado. (We had retired from ESU in Emporia, Kansas and relocated to CO to be closer to Lindy’s Mom and sister in Boulder.). Niwot exploded with daily live music, charming businesses, lively arts and special, caring people. It seemed to call to us. In January, 2022 we began Niwot “Play” Company, offering dance classes, monthly Saturday activities and dance parties and a play reading group. Future performances and presentations are anticipated. The dance classes and activities are pay by donation and the play reading group is free.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Collectively, we represent nearly a century in the arts. We have been performers, directors, choreographers and teachers/mentors. Jim received both the Professor of the year award at MSUM for which he was honored in Washington DC and the Kennedy Center’s Gold Medallion, the equivalent of the Oscar as an outstanding professor in the arts. Lindy was on three national tours and was the co-founder of the nationally recognized Grand Street Theatre school. Jim has two masters, one in Directing and one in Theatre Management. Lindy has degrees in English and Theatre and danced in LA, Chicago and New York. Both of us have counseled hundreds of students on schools to careers to personal challenges. We appreciated the students seeking us out. Lower down in the same paragraph change gave a steady heart and hand to gives us a steady heart and hand. Community, expression, sharing have always and will always excite us. The arts are forever challenging, funding to diverse personalities, but, our continued education, in and outside the classroom always gave a steady heart and hand from which to strengthen and grow. We want the world to know that Niwot “Play” Company is for everyone. That it is a place to grow roots and wings, whether it be a good conversation, dancing, acting, performing or just sitting in a circle reading a really good play. Connecting in meaningful ways as humans is the story, the goal, the brand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Walking along Boulder Creek in Boulder would be included as well as scouting out the Boulder Farmer’s Market and a delicious choice in meals and countries from Rosetta Hall. The week would also feature great entertainment from Niwot’s Rock & Rails after a fabulous farm to table dinner at Niwot’s Farow restaurant. We’d also go to Denver for a show at the Denver Performing Arts Center and a Rockies game at Coors Field. Hiking, scenery and elegant Airbnbs would take us to Breckenridge and Aspen.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We have appreciated the countless students who inspired us at Carroll College and Grand Street Theatre School in Montana as well as the University of Montana, MSUM (Moorhead State University Minnesota) and Emporia State University in Kansas along with the thousands of performers, directors and technical crew (many of them former students) who grace the Broadway Theatre in New York and the West End in London. Numerous NY and UK tours and seminars we have led and enjoyed through the years.

Website: niwotplayco.org

Instagram: @niwotplaycompany

Facebook: Niwot Play Company

Other: niwotplaycompany@gmail.com