Mariah Carey, Galacticon and Leftover Salmon!
You know it’s definitely the holiday season when you can catch the Christmas tour of Mariah Carey, watch the Hip Hop Nutcracker or take in an entire weekend of sci-fi madness at Galacticon. Plan your weekends – this one and next – with a concert, play, musical, class, stand-up comedy or all of the above — with various locations in Erie and nearby Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette and Longmont.
TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, November 16
ART & SIP: ROCK PAINTING
Grab a drink and get creative with these Thursday Night classes for adults. Beer, wine, and snacks will be available for purchase in the Atrium Bar. These classes are designed to guide beginners as well as bring new skills to experienced artists and crafters. This season we are highlighting natural materials inspired by our “agriCULTURE” exhibit.
This Japanese version of bookbinding is called “yotsume toji,” which roughly translates to “four holes.” In this style, practiced during the Edo period in Japan, papers are
stitched together to form a book. Make your own custom journal to record your thoughts or as a gift!
Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40
Info: 303-651-8374
MUSEUM MOVIE NIGHT
In the future, a global crop blight and second Dust Bowl slowly render the Earth uninhabitable. In INTERSTELLAR, a brilliant NASA physicist works on a plan to save mankind by transporting Earth’s population to a new home via a wormhole. But first, a farmer and former NASA pilot is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to locate a new planet for humankind.
Longmont Museum, Stewart Auditorium, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5-$10
MAMA MAGNOLIA & HEAVY DIAMOND RING
You’ll find soul at the heart of any band worth its salt. It’s the unspoken magic that invariably unites musicians of different styles and sensibilities. It’s the magnetic force that pulls together genres. It’s what makes music connect cerebrally, physically, and spiritually. Mama Magnolia live on “the soulful side of rock.” For the bicoastal six-piece Mama Magnolia – vocalist Megan Letts, saxophonist Alex Cazet, guitarist Thomas Jennings, drummer Jackson Hillmer, trumpeter Carrier McCune, and bassist Zach Jackson—would be just as at jhome in a New York City jazz dive as they would be on forested festival grounds. Like a musical time-warp where Etta James fronted Lake Stree Dive, they pepper their brew of soul and rock with boisterous horns, jazzy flavor, gospel heart, classical resonances, and even a little hip hop swagger.
Vocalist Sarah Anderson and songwriter/guitarist Paul DeHaven’s latest collaboration is Heavy Diamond Ring. They harness their proven signature partnership of open-hearted All-American folk-rock with Smooth-as-honey vocals and rugged guitar work.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$18
Thursday-Saturday, November 16-18
LITTLE RED FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
This charming, song-infused retelling of Little Red Riding Hood finds Little Red at the center of new adventures and new ways of seeing familiar characters. With a wandering wolf, a gardening grandma, singing forest creatures, and characters from other tales joining in, Little Red discovers her own power as a vital doer in her community. Joyous, inspiring, and filled with laughs, the musical captures the warmth of Little Red and her family of smart, engaged females while also welcoming a new friendship between Red and Wolf.
Head back to the forest for this limited return engagement or bring your children to their very first theatre experience and spark a lifetime of wonder! Tailored for Pre-K through 3rd Grade audiences but welcomes all ages.
Randy Weeks Conservatory Theater, 1101 13th St., Denver
Thurs., 12:00 p.m.; Fri., 10:00 a.m.; Sat., 1:30 & 3:30 p.m.
Tickets: $16-$30
Friday-Saturday, November 17-18
HIP HOP NUTCRACKER
A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns for another spectacular tour. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Jennifer Weber, this contemporary dance spectacle is a re-mixed and re-imagined version of the classic, smashing hip hop dance and Tchaikovsky’s timeless music together into a heart-stirring and inspirational holiday event. The Hip Hop Nutcracker is brought to life by a powerhouse cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. Grab your family and friends and let the dynamic performers of The Hip Hop Nutcracker take you on a journey that celebrates love, community, and the magic of the holiday season.
Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sat., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$85
INFO: 720-865-4220
Thursday-Sunday, November 16-19
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Back at Boulder’s Dinner Theater for an encore performance: Fiddler on the Roof! This is such a popular musical sometimes tickets get snatched up early and are sold out (like this Saturday and next Sunday!) But there are plenty of other performances available, including on New Year’s Eve!
Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman (played by BDT legend Wayne Kennedy), and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler on the Roof’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness.
Boulder Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO
Thurs./Fri., 6:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 p.m.
Tickets: $75
Info: 303-449-6000, ext. 4
Friday, November 17
THE DESERT FURS + THE JAUNTEE
The Desert Furs are a mesmerizing psychedelic rock quartet based in Boulder County, Colorado. Formed in 2019, the band takes listeners on a transcendental journey through kaleidoscopic sonic landscapes where intricate improvisations collide with an inspiring message of love. Led by charismatic front man and primary songwriter, Billy Wassung, whose soulful vocals, and heartfelt cosmic indie creations serve as the band’s driving force, The Desert Furs captivate audiences with their dynamic performances and stage presence.
The Jauntee is an electrifying and genre-blending musical ensemble that has captivated audiences with their unique and dynamic sound. Formed in 2010, the band has been pushing the boundaries of improvisational music, combining elements of jazz, funk, rock, and psychedelic jams to create a sonic experience like no other. With a deep-rooted passion for exploration and improvisation, The Jauntee is known for their spellbinding live performances.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $15
THE LAST WALTZ – 19th ANNUAL!
The 19th Annual Last Waltz Revisited will showcase members of Polytoxic together with 60+ musicians from across Colorado; this show has become an annual tradition, bringing the community together to kick-off the holiday season. The musicians will perform the music of The Band and will celebrate the 47th Anniversary of The Band’s historical performance, The Last Waltz. To celebrate the last 19 years of our performance, we have added a number of special guests, additional details to be announced.
The Last Waltz culminates the official Holiday Canned Food and Desired Hygiene Items Drive that benefits the Denver Rescue Mission. With the support of Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta, YellowDog Printing & Graphics, All Stars Ink, KBCO and The Westword, we are again reaching out and seeking to give back to the community by supporting the Denver Rescue Mission.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $25
Phone: 303-786-7030
Friday-Saturday, November 17-18
LEFTOVER SALMON + BANSHEE TREE
In their earliest days, Leftover Salmon was known as a forward-thinking, progressive bluegrass band that had the guts to add drums to the mix and that was unafraid to stir in any number of highly combustible styles. In their ever-evolving sound as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene who cast a huge influential shadow over every festival they play, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own weirdly, unique style.
Leftover Salmon is a band that for more than 30 years has never stood still; but is constantly changing, evolving, and inspiring. To understand what Americana music is, go to a Leftover Salmon show, where the group effortlessly glides from a bluegrass number born on the front porch, to the down-and-dirty Cajun swamps with a stop on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $45
Phone: 303-786-7030
Saturday, November 18
TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA
Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is a progressive rock band founded as an outlet for the many rock operas late rock industry veteran, producer, composer, and musician Paul O’Neill was writing. TSO was created to push the boundaries of what was possible for a band to create – both musically and visually. Paul O’Neill dreamed of a different kind of “band” that is not limited by the confines of traditional rock acts and instead established one with multiple singers who could inhabit the various characters he was writing into his rock operas.
TSO is best known for their Capra-esque trilogy of holiday records – Christmas Eve & Other Stories, The Christmas Attic, and The Lost Christmas Eve – and have also released several other rock operas. Consistently one of the Top 25 touring acts in the country, TSO shows no signs of slowing down. Since its touring debut in 1999, TSO has played over 2,000 Winter Tour shows for more than 18 million fans. So far TSO has also donated over $18 million from these tours to local charities.
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
3:00 & 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $49
SHOSTAKOVICH 5
As you anxiously await the performance of “Shostakovich Symphony No. 5”, LSO will first bring you Beethoven’s “Overture to Coriolan”, depicting the Roman leader, Gaius Marcius Coriolanus’ transition from brutality to tenderness, followed by Bloch’s “Schelomo”. The voice of Schelomo (Hebrew name for King Solomon) is the cello which embodies the greatness, glory, and sensuality of the great King. When Shostakovich takes center stage, his fifth symphony opens with the color of glistening rivers by the strings, doom-laden fanfares from brass and percussion, followed by the largo movement of lamenting, and finally the furious explosion of brass and timpani in the final movement—with flurries of strings and woodwinds as it rushes to a thundering finale. A must see and hear!
Soloist / Cellist Clancy Newman has enjoyed an extraordinarily wideranging career, not only as a cellist, but also as a composer, producer, writer, and guest lecturer. He received his first significant public recognition at the age of twelve, when he won a Gold Medal at the Dandenong Youth Festival in Australia, competing against contestants twice his age.
Vance Brand Civic Auditorium, 600 E. Mountain View Ave., Longmont
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$36
PATRICK DETHLEF + BLUEBOOK
Patrick Dethlefs’ songwriting crests like a humble Townes Van Zandt, innocent of his own haunting melodies and lyricism. Dethlefs’ music offers folk Americana with effortless sincerity at a time when many acts strive purposefully to revive the stripped-down feel of a musical history long past.
Bluebook is the haunting apocalyptic lounge project of Julie Davis, Jess Parsons, Hayley Helmericks, and Anna Morsett. NPR describes Davis’ music as offering, “beautifully structured dynamics and captivating sonic twists,” and Kyle Harris of The Westword describes Bluebook’s album, The Astronaut’s Wife, as “a jewel…superb…phenomenal,” and The Denver Post Reverb says Bluebook “gives haunting, holy voice to some of the darkest spots of imagination.”
Chatauqua Auditorium, 198 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$75
INFO: 303-440-7666
DAIRY COMEDY IN THE BOE
Shanel Hughes is an up-and-coming Denver original who has performed at various venues all across Colorado, including The Comedy Fort, Comedy Works and the Denver Improv. Her comedy style can be described as an evening with your funny, and blunt, best friend. Her warmth and contagious energy fills each room she enters. To the stage, she brings with her years of improv and acting skills. Shanel was a semi-finalist in the annual Comedy Works New Faces Competition during her first year.
Lee Robinson is a Denver-based stand-up comedian, writer, and former middle school chess champion (brag). They’ve been featured on OutTV, in the New York Times, and their TV pilot script “It’s Compligayted” placed as a Semi-Finalist in the Screencraft TV Pilot Competition. Ryan Bonnell, Miriam Moreno, and Jeff Stonic round out the evening, with the delightful Zoe Rogers hosting.
Dairy Arts Center, Boedecker Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
8:30 p.m.
Admission: $15
Info: 303-440-7826
THE TAYLOR PARTY
Hey, Swifties! Are you ready for it? THE TAYLOR PARTY, a Taylor Swift-inspired dance party like no other.✨ Experience an enchanting evening, singing and dancing through all of the iconic eras, creating The Story of Us.
If you are 18 years of age and older, pick your most elaborate Eras outfit, bring your besties, and come party like the fate of the world depended on it! Sparks are sure to fly! 🎆
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
9:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $15
Sunday, November 19
DARCY & JER
Together for over 20 years, Darcy & Jer are first and foremost proud dads to their daughter Grace and their golden retriever Yuma. And second, they’re idiots on the internet. Known for their hilarious videos around their relationship, ADHD, plants and more, Darcy & Jer have quickly become household names with a global audience.
After just 3 years creating content online they stand today with a combined total of over 4.5 million followers across platforms with an average of 50 million views a month. Darcy Michael and Jeremy Baer have become leaders in comedy content creation. Their comedy has allowed them to build a community that celebrates conversations around mental health, relationships, politics and living a happier life.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $25
Phone: 303-786-7030
Next Week: Wednesday-Sunday, November 22-26
THE BELLE OF AMHERST
She rarely left her bedroom. She requested her papers be burned. And yet, Emily Dickinson is widely considered one of the English-speaking world’s greatest poets.
BETC’s production of the one-woman show The Belle of Amherst invites you into the mystery of the reclusive woman who wrote those poems you read in high school. She is a woman of magnitude, humor, and feeling– a woman who defied conventional society’s mores in order to find freedom through her pen. Award-winning Playwright Luce writes in his 1976 Author’s Notes for The Belle of Amherst: “The essential Emily of my play is secretly saying to the audience: ‘Pardon my insanity, Pardon my jubilation to Nature, my terror of midnight, my childlike wonder at love, my white renunciation. Nothing more do I ask than to share with you the ecstasy and sacrament of my life.’
Dairy Arts Center, Grace Gamm Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Wed./Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Admission: $15-$50
Info: 303-440-7826
Thursday-Sunday, November 23-26
COAL COUNTRY
Coal Country is a poignant capture of one small town’s efforts to be heard. In 2010, the Upper Big Branch explosion took 29 miners’ lives, and tore a gaping hole in a small West Virginia mining community. Erik Jensen and Jessica Blank (the award-winning writers of The Exonerated) crafted this moving, raw play from interviews with people who lived its story, and three-time Grammy-Award-winning singer/songwriter Steve Earle wrote the music that courses through, under, and alongside their words.
This David-and-Goliath story draws you into a distinct world few have encountered and a power dynamic that is all too familiar. Coal Country was last performed in NYC in 2022. BETC is honored to be the first theatre company to produce it in the Rocky Mountain Region.
Dairy Arts Center, Grace Gamm Theatre, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Admission: $15-$38
Info: 303-440-7826
Friday, November 24
STRAWBERRY GIRLS
Strawberry Girls is an independent instrumental band from California featuring guitarist Zachary Garren (ex-Dance Gavin Dance), drummer Ben Rosett (Eternity Forever), and bassist Ian Jennings. “The band is aptly named after 80’s post-punk song “Christine”, by Siouxsie & the Banshees, which was written about the real-life patient Christine Sizemore depicted in the 1957 movie The Three Faces of Eve. In the movie, Christine interweaves three distinct personalities, similar to how Strawberry Girls blends genres.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
6:45 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $18
Friday-Sunday, November 24-26
GALACTICON COMES TO DENVER
GalactiCon is starting an ongoing mission this Thanksgiving weekend, and it’s going to be out of this world. The Mile High’s new sci-fi convention is seeking strange new realms of fandom, welcoming all to come aboard and boldly go where other nerds have gone before (and will go again). The inaugural event happens Attention all sci-fi fans and lovers of all different fandom genres! An event by fans, for fans. You’ll find Cosplay events, Star Trek and Star Wars centric activities, Lego® modeling, gaming, video gaming, plus things like, The Dealer’s Room, a perfect place to find unique merchandise, collectibles, and artwork from a wide range of vendors.
Whether you’re looking for rare comics, handmade crafts, or exclusive fan merchandise, you’re sure to find something that catches your eye in The Dealer’s Room. And special guests from some of your favorite sci-fi TV programming include Todd Stashwick (Star Trek; 12 Monkeys); Denise Crosby (Star Trek: Next Generation); Mason Alexander Park (Quantum Leap) and J.G. Hertzler (Star Trek: Deep Space 9)
Marriott Denver Tech Center, ,4900 S. Syracuse St., Denver
Fri., 6:00-10:00 p.m.; Sat., 10:00 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$60
WE’RE STILL HERE
A proposed copper mine pits the preservation of Indigenous holy land against the survival of a rural town. Two young leaders, fighting to save their homes, become bitter political enemies. They also form an unlikely bond. Caught in an iconic battle over the identity of American soil, will these two dreamers be able to help their warring communities find common ground?
Empathy Theatre Project presents its premiere workshop performance of “We’re Still Here,” a new musical co-authored by Mesquakie Tribal Elder Alex Walker Jr. and Playwright and Composer Cordelia Zars. Inspired by true events at Oak Flat, Arizona, this is a powerful and thought-provoking musical about cultural preservation, Indigenous rights, and rural poverty in America.
Dairy Arts Center, Carsen Theatre, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Fri.-Sun., 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Admission: $25-$35
WINTER WONDERETTES
Step back in time with this smash seasonal celebration hit finds the four gals entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party! Featuring great ’60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and glittering holiday package is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. WINTER WONDERETTES will keep you smiling in this must-take musical trip down memory lane
Longmont Theater Company, 513 Main St., Longmont
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $32-$33
CLYDE’S
At Clyde’s, formerly incarcerated individuals cook up meals that range from sublime to soul-crushing. Even as the surly shop owner tries to keep them under her thumb, their kitchen mentor, Montrellous, guides them on a quest to create the perfect sandwich – and reclaim their lives. Through this shared pursuit, each cook must face their demons on their personal journeys towards purpose, self-worth, and even salvation.
Clyde’s is an extraordinary work that dances effortlessly between moments of searing pain and outrageous humor. It’s a work Variety calls “a flavor-bomb of a new comedy.” It’s the sustenance you didn’t know you needed — until now.
Kilstrom Theatre, DCPA COMPLEX, 1101 13th St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$77
WEEK AFTER NEXT: Tuesday, November 28
MARIAH CAREY CHRISTMAS TOUR
Mariah Carey is the best-selling female artist of all time with more than 200 million albums sold to date and 19 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles (18 self-penned), more than any solo artist in history. An inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Carey is a singer/songwriter/producer recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, three Guinness World Record titles, Billboard’s “Artist of the Decade” and “Icon Award,” the World Music Award for “World’s Best Selling Female Artist of the Millennium,” the Ivor Novello Award for “PRS for Music Special International Award,” and BMI’s “Icon Award” for her outstanding achievements in songwriting, to name a few.
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $82
Wednesday, November 29
PHONEBOY
Phoneboy [fohn • boi] – noun
(1) someone consumed with their phone, unable to tear themselves away from a distraction
(2) Gen-Z’s newest indie-pop trio spinning off shimmering licks over toe-tapping beats so danceable it’ll make you put your phone down.While in undergrad the three college boys bonded over a love of midwest emo and first built their band to soundtrack the semester’s keggers.In an age of hyper-stimulated doom-scrolling and over-polished social media stars, humble New Jersey three-piece Phoneboy are all about putting down the phone and living in the moment. Fresh out of school and poised on the edge of adulthood, Phoneboy’s depict the wise-beyond-their-years bittersweet Gen-Z sensibility of a generation forced to contend with not just typical adolescent grievance, but a world continually inundated with ephemeral fame, transient praise, hollow accolades, and oh yeah, a global pandemic. Their music is full of undeniable toe-tappers and bangers determined to fuel get-togethers from outdoor blowouts to dorm-room dance parties.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $18
The Best of NoCo Life – Colliers Hill!
Isn’t it time you discovered one of the fastest growing master-planned communities of in Northern Colorado? Colliers Hill has so many exciting amenities to offer new home buyers! And for things to do — whether five minutes away in Erie, or 20 minutes away in Boulder, there are happenings each and every weekend. If you don’t live here yet, check out the stunning model homes from Richmond American Homes and Boulder Creek. Priced from the $600s.
