Shakespeare, Salsa and Cirque du Soleil!
This weekend you can enjoy outdoor Shakespeare performances, salsa dancing, plays, classes, music and light shows — with various locations in Erie and nearby Boulder, Dacono, Louisville, Lafayette and Longmont.
TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, June 29
FREE CONCERT: DEAR MARSHA!
Dear Marsha, is a magically live band. They play upbeat, energetic Rock and Southern tunes, and are known as “the band that has too much fun!” Hitting 1,400 performances and a new full-length album releasing in 2023, Dear Marsha is a well-oiled rock ‘n’ roll machine and a magical live band. “Marsha’s leading lovely ladies are on a quest to marry acoustic music with the energy of electric rock. They bring a power grrrl rock sound with a twisted shade of soul and wicked humor.” Bring your lawn chair, a blanket, and a picnic and enjoy the music. Only alcohol purchased on site is allowed. Tune in to livestreaming if you can’t listen to the concert in-person.
Longmont Museum Courtyard, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
7:00 p.m.
FREE
Info: 303-651-8374
STORIES OF COSMIC ORIGINS
Narrated by George Takei from Star Trek here’s a sound and light show featuring steroids, comets, and the hard-hitting stories of our cosmic origins…Explore the past, present, and future of our solar system and the landmark discoveries scientists have made sending spacecraft to visit tiny worlds. Plus, fly through a meteor crater!
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
2:30 p.m.
Admission: $8-$12
Info: 303-492-5002
Thursday-Friday, June 29-30
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Beatrice and Benedick love to bicker. The only thing they might learn to love more? Each other. (They just don’t know it yet!) In this rollicking lampoon of relationships, romance, and the influence of town gossip, Shakespeare delivers a near-perfect enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy.
Since 1958, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has delighted audiences with professional theatre on the CU Boulder campus. Complete your Colorado summer with Shakespeare under the stars in the historic Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre—complimentary seatbacks included.
Hellems Arts & Sciences, Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater, CU Campus, Boulder
7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $34-$90
Friday, June 30
EARLY MORNING WOOD CARVING!
Beginner and experienced woodcarvers meet to work on projects, offer advice on techniques or equipment, and share their enjoyment of this lifelong hobby. Visitors are welcome to stop by any Friday morning. All carvers are welcome.
Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont
8:00-11:00 a.m.
INFORMATION: 303-776-8866
FITNESS IN THE PARK
Free Friday Fitness in the Park means you can mix up your workouts by taking them outside! Join Recreation fitness instructors at local parks for a variety of free Friday 9:00 a.m. classes. No registration is required, and childcare is not offered. Locations are subject to change. In case of inclement weather, call 303-774-4800 to confirm.
Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont
9:00 a.m.
JOSHUA BELL + MISSORGSKY’S PICTURES
In his first appearances as 2023 artist-in-residence, the one and only Joshua Bell performs Bruch’s First Violin Concerto. The great 19th century violinist Joseph Joachim, to whom the composer dedicated this masterpiece, considered this concerto to be “the richest, most seductive” of all German violin concertos. Bruch’s Violin Concerto has become one of the most legendary works for the instrument and is an exquisite vehicle for Bell’s showmanship.
The second half features Mussorgsky’s instantly recognizable Pictures at an Exhibition, a suite of musical paintings inspired by the sketches of the composer’s close friend Viktor Hartmann. The program opens with Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient Carlos Simon’s Motherboxx Connection, the first movement of his Tales: A Folklore Symphony for orchestra; in Simon’s words the motherboxx is “an all-knowing entity that is aware of the multi-faceted aspects of blackness.”
Chatauqua Auditorium, 301 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$80
HAVANA NIGHTS
Save the date for an amazing Salsa party happening where DJ NATO will be playing the latest and greatest beats in the beautiful lobby of the Dairy Arts Center. Enjoy a selection of beer and wine from the bar as you dance the night away. Bring your positive vibes and your dancing shoes for an evening of music, laughter, and excitement.
You won’t want to miss out on one of the most entertaining Salsa parties in town.
MacMillan Family Lobby, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
8:00-11:00 p.m.
Cost: $12
Friday-Saturday, June 30-July 1
THE WINTER’S TALE
When King Leontes inexplicably accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity he makes a cruel, rash decision that he must spend two decades atoning for. Shakespeare’s nuanced epic explores both the heartrending corrosion of jealousy and the joyous redemption of forgiveness that is hard-won. Borrowing elements from fantasy and mythology, “The Winter’s Tale” weaves an audacious tapestry you have to experience to believe. Saturday’s admission reflects the preview prices, with the opening on Sunday.
Roe Green Theatre, CU Campus, Boulder
7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $26-$71
Friday-Sunday, June 30-July 2
THE MUSIC MAN
By turns wicked, funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is family entertainment at its best. Meredith Willson’s six-time, Tony Award-winning musical comedy has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.
The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band that he vows to organize – this, despite the fact that he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, the librarian, who transforms him into a respectable citizen by curtain’s fall.
Unitiive Theatre, 800 S. Hover St., #30,
Fri., 7:00 p.m.; Sat., 2:00 & 4:00 p.m.; Sun., 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$30
CRIMES OF THE HEART
The scene is Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where the three Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. In the end the play is the story of how its young characters escape the past to seize the future—but the telling is so true and touching and consistently hilarious that it will linger in the mind long after the curtain has descended. Winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best American Play.
Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont
Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $19-$50: $27 (show only) to $47 (with dinner)
Saturday, July 1
BREWERY RUNNING SERIES 5K FUN RUN
The Red, White, & Brew 5K Wild Provisions Beer Project is a 5k-ish, fun run event that starts and ends at a taproom in Boulder. Run, walk, jog – whatever – just complete the course and celebrate with a FREE, local craft brew at the finish line.
Start windows will be available at 10:00 AM & 10:30 AM. Each runner/walker will need to start during their 30-minute window. Please do not arrive at check-in more than 30 minutes before your selected start time begins.
With you craft beer you’ll also receive your choice of a collector’s pint glass or seasonal swag item from the Brewery Running Series AND a chance to win sweet door prizes Don’t miss this celebratory event with live music, food trucks, local vendors, and loads of fun, goodies, and giveaways
WILD PROVISIONS/4 NOSES BREWERY, 2209 Central Ave., Boulder
10:00 a.m.
Mobile eTicket: $35-$53
BRADEN CARLISLE MAGICIAN
Step into a world of wonder and enchantment with Braden’s Family Friendly Magic Show! Brace yourself for an extraordinary experience that will captivate both young and old, leaving you spellbound and begging for more. Unlike the typical magicians you may have encountered, Braden brings a fresh and unique approach that will shatter any preconceived notions of magic.
Far from the tackiness often associated with magicians, Braden elevates the art of magic to new heights, intertwining it with side-splitting humor and heartwarming moments. Get ready to embark on a journey filled with mind-boggling illusions, mind-reading feats, and astonishing sleight of hand. But that’s not all! Braden possesses a rare gift of making you laugh harder than you ever thought possible at a magic show. His infectious energy and quick wit will have the whole family roaring with laughter from start to finish. Gather the whole family and prepare to be amazed as Braden weaves a tapestry of illusion and entertainment right before your eyes. This is a show you won’t want to miss!
Grace Gamm Theater, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
2:00 & 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$20
INDEPENDENCE DAY FUN & FIREWORKS
Head over to the neighboring town of Lafayette and Waneka Lake Park to enjoy live music, local food trucks, a beer/cider/wine garden (fees apply), and plenty of activities for the littles. This Independence Day event from free face painting, to bungee trampoline and bounce houses (fees apply). The fireworks will begin at dusk, so grab your lawn chairs and your coozis and plan on an early fourth of July celebration, less than 20 minutes, south and west, from your front door.
Waneka Lake, 1600 Caria Dr., Lafayette
4:00-10:00 p.m.
Free – (some purchase fees apply)
BLUNT FORCE DRAMA: RUIN
Colorado Territory in the spring of 1865: Camped in the ruins of old Fort Vasquez, Hersa Paxton enlists the help of two experienced frontiersmen to find her missing husband. The investigation leads them all to unexpected places. ‘Ruin’ draws on historic primary source material to paint a fictional portrait of the tumultuous and violent early years of Colorado’s colonial history.
Blunt Force Drama is a guerrilla theatre company that has been producing backyard productions of classics and new works since 2013. This is BFD’s first production at the Dairy Center.
Carsen Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $24-$29
Sunday, July 2
RED, WHITE & BLUES FESTIVAL
Join us for an unforgettable day of music and flavor at the Red, White, and Blues Festival on Sunday, July 2, from 2pm to 8pm. Prepare to be transported back in time as Felonius Smith Duo takes the stage, delivering the most authentic prewar blues music that will make you feel like you’re relaxing on a river bank in southern Mississippi. Then get ready to groove to the horn-driven grooves of Deborah Stafford and the Night Stalkers, who bring their award-winning talent and soulful vocals to the Colorado Blues scene.
The mesmerizing fingerstyle guitar and captivating vocals of Cary Morin and Ghost Dog will take you on a journey through American musical traditions with a roots-infused Native Americana sound. And don’t miss the electrifying performance of the Lionel Young Trio, led by the legendary Lionel Young, a double champion of the International Blues Challenge, who will leave you in awe with his bluesy electric violin skills. We have La Rue Bayou serving up mouthwatering Cajun specialties from their food truck to satisfy your cravings. Don’t miss out on this sensational event that combines outstanding music and delicious food.
Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
2:00-8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$25
Next Week: Tuesday, July 4
FREE 4th of JULY CONCERT IN THE PARK
Join the Longmont Symphony Orchestra for the Annual Fourth of July Summer Concert in the Park! Complete with patriotic music, a picnic contest with prizes, kids conducting the orchestra, and cannons for the 1812 Overture—It’s a performance that can’t be missed. This free community concert has become an annual family tradition where people of all ages and backgrounds attend in celebration of our nation and those who have served. The Opening Act begins at 12:30 p.m.—The Longmont Chorale performing some of their favorite patriotic music under the direction of Nathan Wubbena. Conducted by LSO’s Music Director, Elliot Moore, the Longmont Symphony Orchestra comes together to bring us exciting and nostalgic patriotic music—from “The Star-Spangled Banner” to “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and more, along with the triumphant 1812 Overture.
11:00-11:30 a.m. – Picnic Contest Registration/Picnic Contest Judging
12:30 p.m. – The Chorale Begins!; 1:10 p.m. – The LSO Begins!; 2:45 p.m. – Grand Finale
Thompson Park, 420 Bross St., Longmont
11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
FREE
Wednesday-Sunday, July 5-9
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL KOOZA
KOOZA is an innovative journey viewed through the perspective of The Innocent, an endearing yet naïve clown looking for his place in the world. A mystery item is delivered to The Innocent one day when he is flying his kite. The self-discovery journey of The Innocent, who is miraculously transferred to a bizarre but exotic world, is followed in KOOZA under the watchful eye of an enigmatic trickster with remarkable abilities.
From high above the audience spinning and swinging in all directions, the aerialist’s motion is a combination of high acrobatics performed on silks with breathtaking versatility and athletic talent. You’ll see twin highwiare acts as the aerialists cross diagonally at 15 and 25 feet above the stage, and the wheel of death showcasing one brave performer who hangs onto and tames a giant spinning contraption. It’s all Cirque du Soleil and it’s all entertaining!
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
Various Times
Tickets: From $54
Thursday, July 6
FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT: TWENTY HANDS HIGH
One of country music’s hottest bands in the Rocky Mountain region, CW and Twenty Hands High is proof that there’s strength in numbers. The band’s single “Back to Wichita” has grown from 133,00 plays to over 350,000+ across digital platforms and streaming outlets. What’s more, the song has netted a nod for “Song of the Year” by the Mississippi Music Foundation as well as it has been nominated for a Josie Music Award in several Categories.
Country crooner CW has been blazing trails since forming his Colorado-based band in 2017. Working relentlessly to grow the band’s popularity among venue promoters and country music enthusiasts, the singer, songwriter, and guitarist has also crafted a solid set of original songs. Hard work has paid off for CW, lead guitarist Mark Gabert, bassist Jodie Woodward, and drummer Scotty Rivera, snagging opening act slots for performers like Pat Green, Wade Bowen, Josh Ward, Pam Tillis, Chancey Williams, Suzy Bogguss, and Sam Riggs.
Longmont Museum Courtyard, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
7:00 p.m.
FREE
Info: 303-651-8374
BRYAN ADAMS WITH JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams rose to fame with the release of his third album, “Cuts Like a Knife” (1983). The album made him popular throughout the United States. However, it was his fourth album “Reckless” (1984), which is referred to as one of the best albums of the decade that made him an international superstar and gave him his first Grammy nomination. The album also sold four million copies at the time. In 1987, he released his fifth album “Into the Fire”, a more social conscious album. The album yielded a top ten single “Heat of the Night”, another Grammy nomination and another platinum album to his name.
Adams’ single “All for Love” with Rod Stewart and Sting became a #1 across Europe and North America and the single “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” from the movie Don Juan DeMarco (1994) became his fourth #1 single and his second Academy Award nomination. More awards nominations followed and Bryan Adams remains one of the most successful Canadian singers ever.
Joan Jett rose to fame in the 1970s all-girl rock band The Runaways. Her cover of “I Love Rock and Roll” was a number one hit in 1982; “Crimson and Clover” was another hit for her. Jett has appeared as Columbia in the Broadway production of “The Rocky Horror Show”. With the Blackhearts, Jett is known for her rendition of the song “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” which was number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks in 1982. Jett’s other notable songs include “Bad Reputation”, “Light of Day”, “I Hate Myself for Loving You”
Entrepreneur, feminist, rocker, fashion icon, and mentor, Joan Jett’s career is a testament to her ability to keep working and stay true to herself and her vision in the face of hardship and failure. In 2015, she was honored with the rest of the Blackhearts and Kenny Laguna with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $35
Thursday-Sunday, July 6-9
MISS RHYTHM – THE LEGEND OF RUTH BROWN
Before Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner, there was Ruth Brown—the legendary rhythm and blues singer best known for her hits “Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean,” “Teardrops from My Eyes” and “5-10-15 Hours.” Her powerhouse voice and sassy squeal brought such worldwide success to Atlantic Records in the 1950’s, it was deemed “the house that Ruth built!”
This intimate cabaret experience explores the life and times of R&B legend Ruth Brown through story and song, accompanied by a five-piece jazz band. Created by and featuring Sheryl McCallum (Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway; Xanadu, Oklahoma, and The Wild Party at the Denver Center) and featuring David Nehls (The Great American Trailer Park Musical, composer/lyricist; Xanadu and The Other Josh Cohen at the Denver Center). Ruth Brown is a pioneer in the development of rock, blues and jazz, a Tony and Grammy award-winner and an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A true original who showed grace and strength with a great sense of humor, Ruth Brown took the stage with as much talent as she did warmth. Here’s to Ruth!
Garner Galleria Theater, DCPA Complex, 14th and Curtis St., Denver
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$42
THE BOOK OF MORMON
The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical.
This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, THE BOOK OF MORMON has truly become an international sensation. Contains explicit language.
Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Wed.-Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Thurs./Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$155
INFO: 720-865-4220
Friday, July 7
MUSIC AND MOVIES IN DACONO
Just 8 miles away in Dacono, enjoy an evening of great live music and an outdoor movie at Centennial Field (under the blue water tower). Admission is free and the food trucks will be peddling delicious eats for the evening. Grab a blanket – and maybe some comfy dancing shoes and head over for a night of music by Mojomama, food provided by IPIE, Pierogies Factory and Sugar Shack and the movie LIGHTYEAR.
Centennial Field, 123 S. Forest Ave., Dacono
5:30 p.m. Food Trucks; 6:30 p.m. Music; 8:30 p.m. Movie
Free
Friday-Sunday, July 7-9
WILLY WONKA
The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder and new songs by Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde, Doctor Dolittle) and Anthony Newley, Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone’s sweet tooth.
Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont
Fri.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $19-$50: $27 (show only) to $47 (with dinner)
Saturday, July 8
DIXIE’S CHERRY BOMBS & BOTTLE ROCKETS
From the creator of Dixie’s Tupperware Party . Do you ever wake up one morning at 2:30 in the afternoon to discover that there is a global pandemic which makes your kids’ schools shut down so you have to raise them yourself? What the hell kind of nonsense is that? It’s in these moments of crisis that you really find out what you’re made of. When life seems to get too crazy and the world is crapping on your lawn, it’s time to strap on your big-girl boots, grab your breakfast vodka and light off a few CHERRY BOMBS & BOTTLE ROCKETS. There’s nothing better than walking into your new self with a bang!
The new show from Dixie Longate is a web of storytelling that only America’s favorite southern redhead can create. Catch up with everyone’s favorite Tupperware lady in her first ever stand-up show where she talks about everything from Loretta Lynn to alien abductions, pogo sticking to “safe words” in that rapid-fire delivery that has made her an international sensation. (Adult language/content)
Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St, Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$75
ROOFTOP CONCERT: ANNA CUTLER
Anna Cutler is a singer/songwriter and keyboardist based out of Boulder, Colorado. She started playing the keyboard at the age of six, by 13 she had booked her first gig, and by 18 she had performed to a crowd of 3,000 people.
Above anything else, Anna is an entertainer. Inspired by other singer-songwriters like Norah Jones and John Craigie, she loves to connect with fans through lyrics and storytelling. She often sings about the romance of life and the downfalls of love, and offers her audience a bit of comic relief in-between songs. She shines brightest when performing live, and captivates the crowd, whatever the size, with her witty charm and truthful portrayal of life.
It is not easy to stick Anna into a single genre. Her voice is raspy yet sweet and she writes music as if she were the lovechild of Adele and Regina Spektor; call it Americana/Folk-Pop with ballad undertones if you must.
Museum of Boulder @ Tebo Center, 2205 Broadway, Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Saturday-Sunday, July 8-9
KING LEAR
An aging King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, proportionally by who professes to love him most. His plotting comes to catastrophe and sees him cast from his own kingdom. Shakespeare’s tumultuous tragedy explores speaking truth to power, the cost of grievous mistakes, and whether it’s ever too late for redemption.
Hellems Arts & Sciences, Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater, CU Campus, Boulder
7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: $27-$87
Life in Erie, Colorado
Not far from the master-planned community of Colliers Hill, whether five minutes away in Erie, or 20 minutes away in Boulder, there’s lots to do every week and weekend. If you don’t live here yet, check out the stunning model homes from KB Home, Richmond American Homes – and now open, Boulder Creek. Priced from the $600s, this fast-growing new home community in Northern Colorado has lots of exciting amenities to offer new home buyers, too!
