
Monster Jam Weekend!
Classes, concerts, improv comedians, and Monster Trucks! This weekend you can also enjoy theater and musicals and dance performances with various locations in Erie and nearby Boulder, Denver and Longmont.
TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, January 30
DIFFICULT DIALOGUES: IMPACT OF POLITICS

This Voices at Chautauqua examines the 2024 election which was tumultuous and contentious, and regardless of what side of the political aisle you find yourself allied with, political polarization has been increasing with the rise of social media and other communication technologies over the last few decades, especially during the era of the Internet. This political polarization comes with an emotional cost, and this Difficult Dialogue Conversation (co-facilitated by Jennifer Ho, Ethnic Studies professor and Center for Humanities & the Arts director, and Angie Chuang, Journalism professor and author of an upcoming book, American Otherness, that engages with political polarization) will guide participants in conversation about the emotional reactions we have to the political issues that are taking up our head and heart space, particularly after the presidential inauguration on January 20.
Chautauqua Community House, Baseline Rd. & 9th St., Boulder 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starts at $5 (Donation)
ART & SIP

Start your 2025 Art Journal and set your intentions for the year. Learn different techniques to fill sketchbook and journal pages and make them look like tiny works of art. 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: $40
Info: 303-651-8374
Thursday-Sunday, January 30-February 2
MONOPOLY LIFESIZED

If you haven’t yet played the touring Monopoly Life-SUFFRAGETTE’S sized: Travel Edition, running through Feb. 9, there’s still time. Denver Center for the Performing Arts extended the production late last year due to demand, offering more dates for curious players.
So, what is it? It’s a 70-minute, all-ages experience in which you compete against other teams on a 50-by-50-foot board, with individual rooms representing the properties. A guide takes you through mental and physical challenges. Note: DCPA officials said online ticketing will be down for a few days, so if you hit a wall, call the box office.
DCPA-Broadway, 407 S. Broadway, Denver
Various Times
Tickets: $51.75
Box Office: 303-893-4100
GHOST QUARTET / THE CATAMOUNTS
How do souls circle one another from life to life? GHOST QUARTET explores this question in a song-cycle which interweaves four stories across seven centuries: a fairy tale about two sisters, an astronomer, and a lazy evil bear; a retelling of Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”; a purgatorial intermezzo about Scheherazade and a contemporary fable about a subway murder.

In The Catamounts’ regional premiere production, you will be invited into a transformed Carsen Theater, seated in an intimate parlor on antique sofas or plush floor pillows, amid softly lit lamps and chandeliers, and served whisky and warm drinks. We invite you to get cozy while you take in the four-person ensemble of singer-musicians performing an array of story-songs that span genres: gospel, folk, honkey-tonk, electropop, doo-wop and even the jazz of Thelonious Monk. You may even be (literally) invited to play along.
Dairy Arts Center, Carsen Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 4:00 p.m.
Admission: $25-$58
Info: 303-440-7826
BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL
Great Scott! Back to the Future, the beloved, cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for Denver in 2025.

Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, four WhatsOnStage Awards, including Best New Musical, and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical is adapted for the stage by the iconic film’s creators Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy) and Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump) and directed by the Tony Award® winner John Rando with original music by multi-Grammy® winners Alan Silvestri (Avengers: Endgame) and Glen Ballard (Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”), alongside hit songs from the movie including “The Power of Love,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Earth Angel,” and “Back in Time.”
When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself…back to the future. When Back to the Future hits 88mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.
Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Thurs.-Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $46
INFO: 720-865-4220
GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL!

In this two-person musical spoof, a pair of aspiring playwrights perform a backers’ audition for their new, ill-advised project – a big, splashy musical about printing press inventor Johann Gutenberg. With an unending supply of enthusiasm, Bud and Doug sing all the songs and play all the parts in their crass historical epic, with the hope that one of the producers in attendance will give them that elusive Broadway contract.
Garner Galleria Theater, DCPA Complex, 14th and Curtis St., Denver
Thurs.-Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $59.80
Box Office: 303.893.4100
Friday, January 31
COLORADO PIANO TRIO

The Colorado Piano Trio is an award-winning international chamber music ensemble which has performed across the United States and Europe, including performances at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and at the Contemporary Music Festival Koper Biennale in Slovenia. The trio treasures meaningful connections to the community and is heard frequently on Colorado Public Radio. Left to Right: Jubal Fulks, Violin; Gal Faganel, Cello; Adam Zukiewicz, Piano.
Center for Musical Arts, 200 E. Baseline Rd., Lafayette
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $7-$15
RENEE FLEMING SOPRANO

Kennedy Center honoree and five-time Grammy Award winner Renée Fleming is one of the most celebrated sopranos of our time. The only classical artist ever to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, she performs regularly in the world’s greatest opera houses and concert halls. This exceptional performance—inspired by her 2023 album, “Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene”—spans classical, romantic and contemporary music, exploring nature as both inspiration and casualty of humanity. Accompanied by Howard Watkins on piano. An original National Geographic Society film complements the musical selections in the concert’s first half.
Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $33-$138
NETHER HOUR WITH AUGUSTUS

Down in the heart of Austin, TX, where the music runs thicker than the heat, there’s a band that’s been making some serious noise. They call themselves Nether Hour, and they’ve been turning every dive bar and backroad juke joint into a full-blown musical revival. The band is a trio of unapologetic rebels, each one a powerhouse of sonic defiance. Bobby Flaco delivers gritty vocals and razor-sharp guitar riffs, while Bishop unleashes searing lead guitar and mandolin work, with Bercy laying down bass lines that slam right into your gut. Nether Hour is a relentless sonic melting pot, fusing the swampy grooves of Louisiana with Texas-sized doses of funk, blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $23
Info: 303-447-0095
LONGMONT LIVE

Recorded in front of a live studio audience, it’s Longmont Live! Presenting this hilarious, interactive comedy show where spontaneous scenes and characters are created based on the audience members creative suggestions. Showcasing some of the most skilled short-form and long-form improv this area has to offer, paired with live music don’t miss this hard-to-find local improvisational comedy entertainment. And you can Bring-Your-Own wine, beer, or cider, and enjoy an evening of entertainment.
Longmont Public Media, 457 4th Ave., Longmont
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35
Info: 303-951-5143
Friday-Saturday, January 31-February 1
SHREK THE MUSICAL

“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek….” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand… and his name is Shrek.
Jesters Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont
Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $22-$55
Friday-Sunday, January 31-February 2
MOMENTUM DANCE PERFORMANCE

The Mariposa Collective presents a unique blend of Dance, Aerial, Film, & Puppetry featuring new work from local Dance and Theater artists Lauren Beale, Caroline Butcher & Anna Pillot, Jaime Duggan & Lindsay Temple, Alli Jones, Jeny Jones & Ixeeya Lin, Tiana Kara, Kim Olson & Gwen Ritchie, Elizabeth Pond & Shreya Venkatesh, Bridget Ryan, Nancy Smith, and Betsy Tobin. “Momentum” will also showcase the talents of four exceptional Colorado musicians – James Hoskins, Jesse Manno, Victor Mestas, and Tober Schorr who have been commissioned to perform original live music for the performance.
Dairy Arts Center, Gordon Gamm Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2:00 p.m.
Admission: $15-$25
Info: 303-440-7826
Saturday, February 1
1964 THE TRIBUTE

Since the early eighties, 1964 The Tribute has been thrilling audiences around the globe by taking them on journey through a quintessential moment in music history that will live forever. Over 20 years of researching and performing have made the 1964 group masters of their craft. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as THE most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute band which has earned them the distinction from Rolling Stone magazine as the “Best Beatles Tribute on Earth”. 1964 recreates an early ‘60s live Beatle concert with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and onstage banter with an accuracy that is unmatched.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $46.60
Phone: 303-786-7030
CLAY STREET UNIT

Based out of Denver, Clay Street Unit is rooted deep in homegrown southern country and folk that branches into the bluegrass sound that’s heard throughout the Appalachian hills. Forming in early 2021, the band recently released their first EP in the fall of 2022 and just recorded their first full length album set to be released this year. Clay Street Unit is working on developing and pushing their own unique sound, with a high energy, fresh take on the tradition of American folk and country music that is sure to entertain.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $23
Info: 303-447-0095
Sunday, February 2
STARS & MOONS

Our own moon is a familiar beacon in the sky that holds many important stories about the formation of the Earth, human culture, technology and space travel. But, Earth is not the only planet with a moon – most of the other planets have moons with a wide variety of interesting characteristics. In this program, we will explore the stars and constellations in our night sky and then take a deep dive to learn about Earth’s moon and the variety of other bizarre moons in our solar system. Bring your questions!
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
3:30 p.m.
Tickets: $8
Info: 303-492-5002
Next Week: Tuesday, February 4
CLASS SERIES: NATURAL DYE-MAKING

Do you want to learn how to dye fabric naturally? With the skills learned in this class series, you will be able to skip store-bought products and dye fabrics naturally with what you have in your cabinet and refrigerator instead. Use your dyed fabric to make you own totes, pouches, napkins and more. Build on what you have learned each week (February 4, 11, and 18) in this Creative Exploration Series for adults! This three-class series provides an opportunity for adults to dive deeper into arts and crafts while enhancing their knowledge and skills in a variety of mediums and techniques.
Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $130
Info: 303-651-8374
Thursday, February 6
ART & SIP: HARRIET TUBMAN EMBROIDERY

In celebration of Black History Month, embroider this beautiful and simple portrait of Harriet Tubman. You will learn beginner-friendly embroidery stitches in this class to apply to future projects!
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: $40
Info: 303-651-8374
JESSE COOK

A career spanning 25 years has brought this Canadian guitarist multiple accolades including a coveted Acoustic Guitar Magazine ‘Player’s Choice Silver Award’, 11 Juno Award nominations (he won for 2001’s ‘Free Fall’), a Gemini Award and, most impressively, 10 platinum and gold studio albums. Moreover, he has sold out concert halls the world over, produced five PBS television specials and five live CD’s. Not a bad legacy for a guy who never planned to release an album. During COVID Cook got to work producing 23 extraordinary solo YouTube videos of his favorite songs in which he played all the instruments, recorded, and filmed himself. “Love in the Time of Covid” pleased his existing fan base plus expanded his worldwide audience.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $62.58
Phone: 303-786-7030
RILEY J BAND + KAITLYN WILLIAMS

RnB vocalist, creative, and business woman, Riley J, started a youthful six-piece RnB group, the Riley J Band. The Riley J Band has quickly grown to be a well-known among the Boulder community with regular performances with audiences of 100+. Riley J, as a solo artist, released her most recent single, Not in Business, with ~5800 streams on Spotify. Riley J has performance options: solo, four-piece, or six-piece.
Award winning Denver based singer-songwriter Kaitlyn Williams is bound to put you in your feels. The up-and-coming pop songstress is unapologetically individualistic and has performed on Colorado stages like Red Rocks, The Mishawaka, and even across the country in venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center. Her band has opened for artists like The Foo Fighters, Durand Jones, and even Billy Idol.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $20.15
Thursday-Sunday, February 6-9
MONSTER JAM IS BACK!

Start your day of fun at the Monster Jam® Pit Party (Sat., 10:30 a.m.; Sun., 9:30 a.m.) and see the massive trucks up close, meet your favorite drivers and crews, get autographs, take pictures and enjoy other family-friendly activities. This fun-filled experience is the only place to get an insider’s look at how these 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks are built to stand up to the competition. Activities vary by location. The Monster Jam Pit Party—where the fun begins. And then the games will begin! During the Racing Competition, the trucks race along a prescribed course with the first advancing in the competition. Winners advance until only two trucks remain with the finals determining the racing champion. Racing may be preceded by qualifying to establish brackets.

In the Skills Challenge: Monster Jam drivers will have multiple opportunities to perform the best stunt, bringing at least two wheels into the air, in attempts to impress the judges. The Donut Competition pits trucks against each other with drivers trying to perform as many rotations as possible for the judges. And finally, the Freestyle Competition features drivers performing tricks and stunts in timed competitions.
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
Fri., 7:00 p.m.; Sat., 1:00 & 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $40.50
THE SUFFRAGETTE’S MURDER

On the morning of July 5, 1857, an eclectic group of tenants bustle about their Manhattan boarding house, arranging the final details of a clever scheme they hope to pull off in the name of the budding women’s suffrage movement. As they prepare to host an important secret gathering, they receive an unexpected visit from a constable. One of the tenants has been murdered.
The odd bunch must then band together in an elaborate ruse to throw the constable off their scent. His investigation, however, reveals much more than murder motives and rabble-rousing. It becomes an examination of early American suffrage movements, the struggle to define “a woman’s place,” and the political systems that have historically sought to snuff out feminist voices.
Kilstrom Theater, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $59
Friday-Sunday, February 7-9
PUCCINI DOUBLE BILL

Boulder Opera invites you to experience the drama and intensity of Puccini’s masterpieces, “Gianni Schicchi” and “Il Tabarro.” This compelling double bill showcases an ensemble orchestra conducted by the acclaimed Brandon Matthews with riveting stage direction by Gene Roberts. “Gianni Schicchi” offers a delightful tale of cunning and humor, while “Il Tabarro” unfolds a gripping story of love and betrayal on the Seine. Together, these operas provide a rich, emotional contrast that captures the essence of Puccini’s genius. Join us for an evening of unforgettable opera contrasting tragedy and comedy with extraordinary melodies.
Dairy Arts Center, Gordon Gamm Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Fri./Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sun. 3:00 p.m.
Admission: $15-$25
Info: 303-440-7826
MUST BE MURDER

This time Harry Monday is posing as a golf-playing psychiatrist at the Shady Meadows Country Club. “A place where old polyester goes to die,” says Harry, after club members start dropping like divots on the duffer’s course. And the club members aren’t much saner than he is. A prima donna club president, an astrological moonchild, a Wall Street ad man and, yes, even someone passing themself off as the twin of a missing club member, are all dropping red herrings in their wake. Throw in a naive supervisor, a sultry hard-hearted dame with a surly police sergeant and you have to figure, If It’s Monday, This Must Be Murder!
Longmont Theatre Company, 526 Main St., Longmont
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $30
Info: 303-772-5200
CATAPULT
These athletes who train for hours to move to music with what seems effortless ease, are fascinating to watch and these dancers and choreographers from Boulder Fine Arts, who have crafted new dance works in an exciting fusion of genres that explores a variety of personal themes. Please purchase your ticket with an open mind and an adventurous spirit and check back close to the performance for a more specific content warning if necessary.
Charlotte York Irey Theatre, University Theatre Building, 261 University of CO, Boulder
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Sunday, February 9
STARS & LASER MOVIE MAGIC
Pure joy for the entire family! Take a tour of the night sky, then sit back and enjoy Laser Movie Magic with your favorite songs from The Lion King, Star Wars, Encanto, Frozen, Moana and more reimagined in vibrant laser light! After the one-hour show get ready for a Q&A time with the planetarium experts!
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8
Info: 303-492-5002
Homes and Happenings in NoCo!

Isn’t it time you discovered one of the fastest growing master-planned communities 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 things to do nearby each and every weekend. If you don’t live here yet, check out the stunning model homes from Richmond American Homes, including the Seasons Collection. Priced from the $600s.