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'One Bike' opera tells Grand Junction’s history on two wheels

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by Matt Thornton • Published on • Last modified on
Performers sing and dance during a rehearsal for the new musical "One Bike"
Rocky Mountain PBS

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Walking inside Brown Cycles on main street in Grand Junction, you can see why it isn't your typical bike shop. Over the last 20 years, the owner, Chris Brown, has collected photos, gadgets and even entire bicycles from people just dropping them off. Some of these bikes and photos are on display in the shop, making it feel like a museum of sorts.

Brown wanted to take his love of collecting these items and consolidating stories connected to Grand Junction's history up a notch. 

“We have something in the shop called the "next thing," thing. Anything you do, there's another level above it,” Brown explained.

Last year, Brown published a book called "Bicycle Junction", a historical fiction based on real events and characters from the last 140 years. Told by a fictional character on a time-traveling bike, the book guides readers through the valley and around town, experiencing scenic monuments, events, and people, all from trails still accessible by bike in present day.

So what was the "next thing" for Brown after writing a book? Turning it into a musical. With the idea in mind, he took to Facebook where he connected with local composer and director, Scott Betts. 

Colorado Voices
Opera tells Grand Junction’s history on two wheels

"One Bike", a newly written opera tells the history of Grand Junction on a bike.

After reading Brown’s book, Betts knew something special was at hand. 

“I have never made anything like this before,” said Betts. “I had written songs and taught kids how to write songs, but when I saw Chris’ book I thought, 'Well, this is what it’s going to be. This will be my first.'”

Confident that he could tie history and literature into a musical performance, Betts flexed his creative muscles in a way that would attract all ages to what became a jazz/folk opera called "One Bike". Stemming from a background in music education, Betts consolidated the past decades into songs and interwove a romance into the story against the backdrop of historical context. And the performance will also have literal backdrops of history behind the actors. 

Bicycle parade in downtown Grand Junction. Photo courtesy of Chris Brown.

With photos provided from the Mesa County Historical Society, the performance will feature projections of historical photos from the periods being referenced during the play, all the way from 1888 to 2015. Creating this opera has really taught Betts more about the place he lives.

"I had no idea that bicycles were so important in the development of history all over, not just here, but here in particular," said Betts. 

“From traffic stuff, to buildings, to roads, bike shops, town founders, atom bombs, Olympic stars—it all comes through Grand Junction on bicycles,” explains Brown.

Now the bikes are ready to take center stage, acting as props and a common thread in this new opera that Betts and Brown believe can bring people together.  

"I wouldn't be surprised if we wake up after this show is over and the cycling community is just a little bit bigger, a little bit thicker," said Brown.

"One Bike" will premiere at the CMU Robinson Theater August 7 at 1:30 and 7:30pm in Grand Junction. Tickets are available at 970tix.com.

Matt Thornton is a multimedia journalist with Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at matthewthornton@rmpbs.org.

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