Things to Do Near Colliers Hill, September 12 and Beyond!

Dance, Ballet and Usher!

The one and only, multi-talented, R&B artist Usher will perform live at Ball Arena in less than a week, but before that enjoy a couple of premiere performances – music, theater and art. This weekend you can also enjoy the and a variety of classes, indie artists and events — with various locations in Erie and nearby Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette and Longmont.

TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, September 12

ART & SIP: ROOSTER ON GLASS
Learn a simple technique to create a colorful pop-art rendition of a rooster on glass. We cock-a-doodle-dare you to sign up for this fun painting class! Grab a drink and get creative with these classes designed to guide beginners as well as bring new skills to experienced artists and crafters. Beer, wine, fizzy water and snacks are available to purchase at the Atrium Bar.

Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
4:00 & 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $45
Info: 303-651-8374

CULTURAL CARAVAN: MIN TZE WU
Introducing “Behind the Music,” a new Cultural Caravan series which takes a peek behind the curtain at their creative process, and listen as they share music you won’t hear anywhere else during their residency! Bring your questions — about music, creativity, and life — for an intimate and insightful conversation with our artists. Cash bar available!

This edition of “Behind the Music” features MinTze Wu, a violinist of many passions. She has been heard on stages from the pubs in Poland, opera houses in Italy, concert halls in Australia, US, Taiwan, and the remote villages in Newfoundland. She has performed as a member of Azmari Quartet, Sarasota Opera, San Diego Symphony, and Australian Chamber Orchestra, and from 2004-2007 she was a full-time faculty at Northern Kentucky University. She has been active in presenting, performing, and creating music projects inspired by different genres, cultures, and traditions. A graduate from Cleveland Institute of Music, she has pursued an interesting career exploring possibilities of expression in classical music, with notable projects such as Peer Gynt, Death of the Pugilist, Metamorphosis, Carmen Fantasy, You Better Watch Out, The Kiss, Earth Program, and the Passage series. On her bucket list are hike the Colorado Trail, dance Tango, and make pottery.

The Dairy Arts Center, Walnut St., Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Pay What You Will

ARMAGEDDON 101: HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD
Every day, the Earth is hit by small rocks and debris that usually result in harmless shooting stars. However, what happens when those small rocks turn into something much, much bigger? Hollywood loves a disaster, and few disasters rival the explosive nature of an asteroid or comet hitting the Earth. Movies like Armageddon and Don’t Look Up can burrow deep into the public imagination, but how close are they to the truth? The potential threat of an asteroid or comet hitting the Earth is very real. If the time comes, can humanity save the world?

Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10+
Info: 303-492-5002

BOULDER BALLET: UNLOCKED
Join fellow ballet aficionados for an evening of exquisite dance as Boulder Ballet returns to the Chautauqua Auditorium this September. Boulder Ballet’s fall show features a dynamic program showcasing works ranging from classic to contemporary, ensuring there’s something for everyone — even those new to dance.

Witness the creative prowess of acclaimed choreographers Ching Ching Wong, Andrea Schermoly and Gerald Arpino as they bring memorable and engaging performances to this historic venue. Don’t miss a post-show conversation on unlocking the creative process with choreographers Ching Ching Wong and Andrea Schermoly moderated by Boulder Ballet’s Artistic Director, Ben Needham-Wood.

Performances:
Light Rain by Gerald Arpino
World Premiere by Ching Ching Wong
Within Without by Andrea Schermoly
Grand Pas Classique from Raymonda Act 3 by Ben Needham-Wood

Chautauqua Auditorium, 301 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $41-64
Info: 303-440-7666

NEAL FRANCIS PERFORMS
Neal Francis PR Shot Neal Francis’s refined yet free-spirited performances on piano, an instrument he took up at the age of four, are hypnotic. “From a very early age, I was playing late into the night in a very stream-of-consciousness kind of way,” he says, naming everything from ragtime to gospel soul to The Who among his formative influences. With a prodigy-like gift for piano, Francis sat in with a dozen different blues acts in Chicago clubs as a teenager, and helmed a widely beloved instrumental funk band called The Heard before going solo. Along with earning lavish acclaim (including a glowing review from Bob Lefsetz, who declared: “THIS IS THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS!”), Changes led to such triumphs as performing live on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” sharing the stage with members of The Meters at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and touring with such acts as Lee Fields & The Expressions and Black Pumas.

The Fox Theatre, 1135 13^th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $30
Info: 303-447-0095

Thursday-Saturday, September 12-14

THE CONVERSATION SERIES
Conversation Dance Series This collaborative, immersive work, performed by two men with different racial and cultural backgrounds, is an ongoing and always shifting dance-quilt, confronting and celebrating heritage, resilience, justice and hope. Activating technologies of the body, tools and toys in a non-colonizing fashion, this work centers belonging as a way to disrupt the erasure of silenced stories and forge paths towards justice/equitable landscapes. The Conversation Series: Stitching the Geopolitical Quilt to Re-Body Belonging is a dynamic intersection of contemporary dance, performance art, technology (video and interactive gaming), music, fashion and design.

This premiere performance will feature sections inspired by conversations with Colorado state residents between 2021 and 2024 during community programs and workshops organized in collaboration with The Collective Community Arts Gallery (Lafayette), Mi Chantli Art & Movement Sanctuary (Boulder), CU Boulder (Boulder), Dance Initiative and the LaunchPad (Carbondale), University of Colorado – Colorado Springs Visual and Performing Arts (Colorado Springs), Lafayette Youth Advisory Commission (LYAC) (Lafayette), and RedLine Contemporary Arts Center (Denver). Each performance will be followed by Q & A sessions with the artist and special guests. This event is the feature program for the annual (un)WRAP series.

Roe Green Theatre, University Theatre Bldg., 261, CU, Boulder
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $26

Thursday-Sunday, September 12-15

ERMA BOMBECK: AT WIT’S END
Erma Bombeck actress The Suburban Outlaw production of Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End, is a quick-witted, uplifting story recounting the life of America columnist and humorist, Erma Bombeck. The heart-warming, humorous biographical play is written by Allison Engel and Margaret Engel, directed by Mark Cuddy and stars film, television, and stage actress, and producer Pam Sherman as the nationally syndicated columnist, Erma Bombeck.

One of America’s most beloved humorists, Erma Bombeck was widely known as, “the woman who made women laugh.” Equal parts wife, mother, daughter, and “domestic demigoddess,” she gave voice to the everyday joys and struggles faced by women of all ages.

The play draws its title from Bombeck’s popular “At Wit’s End” nationally syndicated column, which was published in 900 newspapers nationwide. The story recounts the voice of a generation of unheard homemakers who elevated their joys and struggles to a platform where they could be seen and heard. A story about an equal rights activist known for telling tough truths and finding humor in them, Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End celebrates a remarkable woman who reminded us all how to embrace whatever life throws at us.

Garner Galleria Theater, DCPA Complex, 14^th and Curtis St., Denver
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $52.50

Friday, September 13

HOSTAGE SITUATION
Band Hostage Situation Hostage Situation is a Denver based trio that began working together in the summer of 2021. The crew quickly is making a name for themselves around the local scene due to the wide variety of music they produce and DJ. While they mainly focus on heavy hitting dubstep/riddim, Hostage Situation also has a passion for different forms of bass music that are more emotionally driven in an attempt to create heartfelt moments for their audience. Within the first two years, this trio has performed at various venues across the country along with selling out their first two headline shows at The Black Box and Meow Wolf Denver. In addition, they have performed at multiple Denver-based festivals.

The Fox Theatre, 1135 13^th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $20-$28
Info: 303-447-0095

Friday-Sunday, September 13-15

HAMLET
Hamlet PR Graphic Arguably one of the greatest plays of all time, Hamlet is a psychological revenge thriller, political epic, and family saga that’s both grand and deeply human. Packed with unforgettable characters and famous lines, Artistic Director Chris Coleman will helm the DCPA’s iconic season opener.

When Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, returns home after his father’s death, he finds his mother remarried to his uncle and his father’s spine-chilling apparition roaming the palace grounds. Commanded by his father’s ghost to avenge his brutal murder, Hamlet’s burden to reclaim the reins of the kingdom becomes a perilous journey through the psyche. Bound by duty yet tormented by the gravity of his mission, every scheme and equivocation will test his resolve, disrupt his relationship with the fair Ophelia, and pose the tragic dilemma of whether “to be, or not to be.”

It’s one of Shakespeare’s best-known plays — a timeless tragedy — as you’ve never seen it before!

Wolf Theatre, DCPA Complex, 14^th and Curtis St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $40.25

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Fiddler on the Roof Graphic Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, 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.

Jesters Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont
Fri.-Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $22-$55

Saturday, September 14

LONGMONT AIR SHOW
Vintage airplane After a six-year absence, the Longmont Airshow and Expo is back! This year’s event will showcase the Future of Aerospace in our community. Come and see flyovers, general aviation, historic, corporate, and military aircraft in the air and on display. From static displays to thrilling fly-overs and aerial performances, the Longmont Airshow is your chance to get close to all types of aircraft and meet the people who fly them. Be sure to visit our kids’ space for fun family activities. Explore aviation history, fly a simulator, or build your own model airplane, the Longmont Airshow offers fun for all ages! Browse local vendors, eat, drink, and much more!

Vance Brand Airport, 229 Airport Rd., Longmont
7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Airshow 11:00 a.m.)
Free

LEMON SPONGE CAKE CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Rush Dance Troupe The creation of RUSH – world premiere – celebrates Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet’s 25th year. This radical new work by internationally recognized choreographer and company founder Robert Sher-Machherndl, boldly brings contemporary ballet into sharp, present-day focus as he creates something strange, beautiful and compelling. “ … highlight of the program” The New York Times.

RUSH demonstrates the powerful imagination and deeply exquisite emotional context which Sher-Machherndl consistently manifests on stage. A rigorous display of movement, body shape, and highly specialized arm épaulement are at play. An experimental work: smooth and velvety, often contrasted with the awkward and pedestrian, creates this transformative performance. RUSH undeniably redirects one’s mind, and takes the witness on an intriguing journey.

Dairy Arts Center, Gordon Gamm Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $28-$34
Info: 303-440-7826

BADFISH
Badfish band The phenomenon known as Sublime, arguably the most energetic, original and uniquely eclectic band to emerge from any scene, anywhere, ended with the untimely death of lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Brad Nowell in May of 1996. But encompassing the sense of place and purpose long associated with Sublime’s music, Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. What separates Badfish from other tribute bands is that they have replicated Sublime’s essence, developing a scene and dedicated following most commonly reserved for label driven, mainstream acts. Badfish make their mark on the audience by playing with the spirit of Sublime. They perform not as Sublime would have, or did, but as Badfish does!

The Fox Theatre, 1135 13^th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $20-$25

Next Week: Tuesday-Wednesday, September 17-18

USHER LIVE

Credit: Songkick

Usher Raymond IV, commonly known by his stage name Usher, is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and actor. Usher rose to superstardom as a rhythm and blues/ pop musician and has established himself as one of the most successful R&B artists of his era and one of the best-selling musicians in American history. Throughout the course of his career, Usher has won eight Grammy awards, 35 ASCAP Awards, 18 Billboard Music Awards, 14 BMI Awards, 12 Soul Train Music Awards, and eight American Music Awards.

In addition to continuously creating music and performing for over two decades, Usher became a part owner of the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005, founded a fragrance line, and began working more as an actor. In 2013 Usher joined the television series The Voice for one year as a coach. Usher also heads the New Look Foundation, a charity he founded in 1999 that helps fund children in foster care and service programs, works to help at-risk youth, and promote leadership skills for children in low income communities. The charity was also involved in rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $87

Wednesday, September 18

WEEEKLY
Weeekly Weeekly (위클리) is a six-piece South Korean girl group under comprised of Soojin, Monday, Jihan, Zoa, Soeun, and Jaehee. Debuting in 2020 with the mini-album We Are, the group found their breakout hit with 2021’s “After School,” which was propelled to over 200 million streams in a year through its viral dance challenge.

Catch their first tour across the Americas as they stop at Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colorado!

The Fox Theatre, 1135 13^th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $19-$69

Thursday, September 19

ART & SIP: STITCH THE ROCKIES
Art & Sip Embroidery Class This class will cover beginner-friendly embroidery stitches and tips to make embroidery easy and fun. Learn a simple design transfer method and build texture and dimension with the satin stitch, back stitch, reverse chain stitch and French knot.

Grab a drink and get creative with these classes designed to guide beginners as well as bring new skills to experienced artists and crafters. Beer, wine, fizzy water and snacks are available to purchase at the Atrium Bar.

Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
4:00 & 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $45
Info: 303-651-8374

MONSTER RALLY
Monster Rally Promo Monster Rally is the musical project of Cleveland-based artist Ted Feighan. Monster Rally has been a major force in the rise and popularity of tropic-tinged and mellow lo-fi production over the past ten years.

Equally inspired by 90s hip-hop and 60s exotica, Monster Rally has created his own tropical world that invites the listener to come along. His signature dreamy and escapist compositions are instantly recognizable and have garnered the attention of countless fans and music critics alike, racking up over 75 million streams in the process. He’s performed at several top festivals including Outside Lands, Noise Pop, SXSW, CMJ and Treefort Fest.

The Fox Theatre, 1135 13^th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $22

Friday, September 20

LESPECIAL
lesSpecial Band lespecial is redefining the term “power trio”. The multi-instrumentalists from Connecticut continue to push the boundaries of what a three-piece band is capable of both live and in the studio ahead of their latest album, “Odd Times”. The band’s signature blend of “heavy future groove” combines head-banging metal riffage and surgical rhythmic precision with bone shaking 808s, sub synths and ethereal vocal stylings for a dance floor that welcomes moshing, dancing and hip swaying alike. Listeners are taken on a journey to the musical netherworld through esoteric soundscapes punctuated by raw, primal power.

The Fox Theatre, 1135 13^th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $15

Friday-Sunday, September 20-22

DENVER OKTOBERFEST
The Denver Oktoberfest has been a staple two weekend festival in Downtown Denver since 1969. From keg bowling to stein hoisting, live music and more, there’s something here for Oktoberfest pro’s and first timers, from Stein Hoisting (male and female champs show their strength holding full steins of beer); live music (from polka to late night silent disco, plus singalongs and chicken-dance-a-longs); Costume Contest, Keg Bowling, a Talent Show, the Long Dog Derby and plenty of giant turkey legs and Bavarian pretzels!. So grab your stein, throw on your lederhosen and join the Fest!

Downtown Denver, Larimer and 21^st in the Ballpark
Fri., 5:00-11:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Free (With plenty of things to buy and eat)

Sunday-Wednesday, September 22-25

KIMBERLY AKIMBO
A new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order), Kimberly Akimbo is the winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical. It features Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone.

Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush…and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure.

Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Sun., 2:00 p.m.; Mon.-Wed., 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$110
INFO: 720-865-4220

GOLD OVER AMERICA: WITH SIMONE BILES
The Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour is an exhilarating display of jaw-dropping athleticism and high-energy choreography with an inspirational message of hope, strength, resilience, and determination. Led by Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, the Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour—or GOAT, its sublime acronym—will have audiences on the edge of their seat with every tumble, twist and gravity-defying trick.

This pop concert-style spectacle will showcase the athletic brilliance and championship journeys of Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Fred Richard, Joscelyn Roberson, Shane Wiskus and Yul Moldauer. Other cast members joining them on tour include Katelyn Ohashi, Peng-Peng Lee, Mélanie Johanna De Jesus Dos Santos, and Casimir Schmidt.

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $49