World Premiere of The Solid Muldoon... When Giants Walked the Earth Comes to Pueblo October 9 - 11
Original musical operetta created by local artists brings one of Southern Colorado’s strangest legends to the stage
PUEBLO, COLORADO — A giant. A circus. A hoax. And a Colorado story almost too incredible to believe. This October, audiences are invited to experience the world premiere of The Solid Muldoon... When Giants Walked the Earth, an original musical operetta inspired by the legendary 1877 discovery of the “Solid Muldoon” near Beulah, Colorado.
The production will be presented October 9–11, 2026, at the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center in Pueblo, Colorado. Tickets are available through the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Box Office.
Created by Southern Colorado artists Dr. David Volk and Kennedy Pugh, The Solid Muldoon... When Giants Walked the Earth takes a colorful piece of local history and transforms it into a theatrical exploration of truth, deception, ambition, exploitation, immigration, grief, and the human desire to believe in something larger than ourselves.
In 1877, reports spread that the petrified remains of a seven-foot-plus prehistoric man had been discovered near Beulah. The mysterious figure became known as the Solid Muldoon, attracting attention and curiosity far beyond Southern Colorado. But behind the sensational discovery was a story of deception, showmanship and the remarkable power of a good story to capture the public imagination.
Nearly 150 years later, that legend returns—this time through music, theatre and the imagination of Colorado artists.
The new operetta combines original music, dramatic storytelling, historical fiction, theatrical spectacle and elements of circus and expressionist theatre to transport audiences into a world where fact and fiction collide. Against the backdrop of 1870s Colorado, the story follows characters whose lives intersect with the Muldoon sensation and asks a question that feels remarkably contemporary:
What happens when the story people want to believe becomes more powerful than the truth?
At its heart, The Solid Muldoon is also a Southern Colorado story. Its world premiere celebrates the region’s history while demonstrating that compelling new theatrical work does not have to originate in New York, Los Angeles, or another major cultural center—it can be created, developed, and premiered right here in Pueblo.
“This is more than bringing an old legend back to life,” said co-creator Kennedy Pugh of Rocky Mountain Creative Experience. “It is about taking a piece of our own history and using it to explore questions we are still asking today—Who controls the story? Why do we believe what we believe? And what happens to ordinary people when truth becomes entertainment?”
Co-created with Dr. David Volk of Colorado State University Pueblo, the production represents a collaboration among local artists, performers, educators and community partners committed to creating original work rooted in the history and experiences of Southern Colorado.
Audiences can expect a visually imaginative production filled with music, theatrical imagery, circus-inspired elements, projections and characters drawn into a rapidly growing spectacle surrounding the mysterious giant.
The production is intended not simply to tell audiences what happened, but to invite them into the legend—to experience the wonder, humor, danger and consequences of a story growing larger and larger until no one is quite certain where the truth ends and the myth begins.
Performance Information
The Solid Muldoon... When Giants Walked the Earth World Premiere Musical Operetta
October 9–11, 2026
Sangre de Cristo Arts Center
210 N. Santa Fe Ave.
Pueblo, Colorado 81003
Tickets: Available through the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center Box Office.
Additional performance times, ticket prices and box-office information are available through the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
The Solid Muldoon... When Giants Walked the Earth is an original musical operetta created by Dr. David Volk and Kennedy Pugh and inspired by the legendary Solid Muldoon hoax associated with Beulah, Colorado. Blending Colorado history with theatrical fiction, music, and visual storytelling, the production explores the people behind the spectacle and the timeless tension between truth and the stories we choose to believe.
ABOUT ROCKY MOUNTAIN CREATIVE EXPERIENCE
Rocky Mountain Creative Experience (RMCE) is a Southern Colorado nonprofit organization dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for young people, artists and communities to engage in meaningful creative experiences. Through theatre, film, music, education and community partnerships, RMCE uses the arts to strengthen connection, encourage dialogue and elevate stories rooted in the people and history of the region.
Some stories grow larger than life.
This October, Southern Colorado’s giant walks again.
Both museum venues will offer free public access during regular hours, encouraging community members, students, and visitors to engage deeply with the narratives that celebrate Hispanic heritage, courage, and service to others.
“This exhibition is a tribute to the power of our Latino veterans and the extraordinary impact of courageous individuals within our community,” said Dianne Archuletta, History Museum Director. “By sharing these stories, we aim to inspire future generations and foster greater appreciation of service to others and the rich cultural fabric that defines our region.”
Sangre de Cristo CEO Andy Sánchez says, “Being a part of the Latino Legacies of Courage awards and exhibition is an honor for us at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center. We are excited for the opening of the exhibition
of veterans' portraits at the Arts Center coming up on October 2, 2026, and our partnership with El Pueblo Museum in paying tribute to those honored, for their service, and their sacrifice, is a tremendous privilege."
**About the Legacies of Courage Award:**
The Legacies of Courage Award honors Pueblo Latino Veterans who have demonstrated exceptional courage and service to our country, demonstrated leadership in our community, service to church, family and other veterans. Recipients are selected for their courage in the military and the ways in which they have selflessly served others.
For more information about the exhibition or to schedule group visits, please contact
El Pueblo History Museum - Dianne Archuletta, Executive Director at 719-766–1198
Andy Sánchez, CEO,
Sangre de Cristo Arts Center at 719-295-7200
For Immediate Release:
For more info:
Arts Center Contact:
Amanda Santistevan
719-295-7200 ( HTW )
719.295.7210 ( Buell )