Outdoor Movies, Colorado Music Festival and Shakespeare!
Who doesn’t love watching movies under the stars? This weekend you can do that and also enjoy Shakespeare AND the Colorado Music Festival offerings, night after night! Alanis Morissette is in Denver next week and you can find plenty of indie artists, plays and musicals — with various locations in Erie and nearby Boulder, Lafayette, Denver and Longmont.
TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, July 25
SOLAR SUPERSTORMS WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
Solar Superstorms narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch takes viewers into the tangle of magnetic fields and superhot plasma that vent the Sun’s rage in dramatic flares, violent solar tornadoes, and the largest eruptions in the solar system, coronal mass ejections. Audiences will witness a fury building on the surface of the Sun – high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000 kilometers high, rising loops of electrified gas. What’s driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers as this full-dome film ventures into the seething interior of our sun.
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10+
Info: 303-492-5002
FREE MOVIE NIGHT AT AVANTI
Join the film buffs Avanti F and B every Thursday this summer starting at 8:30 p.m. for their summer movie series. Back for its 25th season, this has become one of Denver’s top summertime happenings. Enjoy the movie Moulin Rouge tonight on the big screen on the patio with special themed drink and food specials, costume contests and free movies under the stars. Moulin Rouge is the musical romantic drama starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. The story begins in 1890s Paris where a poor Bohemian poet falls for a beautiful courtesan and nightclub star who is sought-after by a jealous duke.
Avanti F and B, 3200 Pecos St.
8:30 p.m.
FREE
DIVE IN MOVIES
Summer is the season to head to the Elitch Gardens for fun in the sun and the water, AND where the movie Monsters, Inc. will be showing at Island Kingdom Park. Enjoy a day at the theme park and then a movie from the Wave Pool! Movies are free with a season pass.
Before the movie, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., get the kiddos moving with high energy dance routines and fitness focused games. MOVE with Ms. Becca sessions are a unique, exercise experience for kiddos of all ages. Afterwards watch the animated Disney comedy about monsters trying to power the city by scaring children so they scream.
Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle, Denver
8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $50
Info: 303-595-4386
LASER ELTON JOHN
Elton John has sold 300+ million records over 6 decades — making him one of the biggest selling artists of all time. Celebrate his larger than life persona and the Rocket Man’s powerful music in gorgeous laser light at Fiske!
This is not your parent’s laser show! Our cutting-edge projection system from Laser Fantasy mesmerizes your eyes with vibrant colors cutting their way through the fog to our 360-degree wrap around screen – all while our laser engineers fly you through the universe in beat to your favorite jams!
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
8:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $9.50
Thursday-Friday, July 25-26
AWADAGIN PRATT / RIMSKY-KORSAKOV’S SCHEHERAZADE
As part of the Colorado Music Festival, Celebrated pianist Awadagin Pratt makes his Festival debut with music old and new, beginning with Bach’s nimble Keyboard Concerto in A major. Pratt then performs a piece he commissioned from lauded composer Jessie Montgomery; her Rounds is inspired by an epic poem by T.S. Eliot and the opposing forces that appear in nature — “action and reaction, dark and light, stagnant and swift.” In Eastern folklore, the princess Scheherazade told the cruel Sultan 1,001 stories in order to save her own life; Rimsky-Korsakov borrows Scheherazade’s tales of royalty, festivals, sea voyages, and more in his richly orchestrated fantasy.
Chautauqua Auditorium, 301 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$80
Info: 303-440-7666
Thursday-Sunday, July 25-28
88 DRIVE-IN DOUBLE FEATURE
Just 30 minutes away from Colliers Hill in Erie and open every night of the week, you can enjoy a double feature at the 88 Drive In in Commerce City. Now showing until August 1 are ILLUMINATION: DESPICABLE ME 4, (rated PG) begins at 8:25 p.m. and TWISTERS showing at 10:00 p.m. and rated PG-13. Showtimes are approximate and will always begin as soon as it’s dark enough outside to see the screen! Admission is $10 per person, children under 12 are free and tickets are only sold at the box office for that evening. The owners request that you do not bring in outside food and drink as concessions are a large part of sales and remaining open for business depends MUCH on bar sales. Enjoy burgers and dogs, pizza and popcorn, nachos, funnel cakes, cotton candy and ice cream!
88 Drive In Theatre, 8780 Rosemary St., Commerce City
7:00 p.m. (Box Office Opens)
Tickets: $10
COMEDIAN RHAPSODY
Come see why The Second City has been the first name in laughter for over 60 years! From the place that launched the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and more comes the next generation of comedy superstars. The Second City’s Comedian Rhapsody is a brand-new revue featuring the best sketch comedy and songs from our history, their newest classics and, of course, the trademark improvisation performed by The Second City Touring Company’s best and brightest…and funniest!
Garner Galleria Theatre, 1350 Curtis St., Denver
Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $48-$52
INFO: 720-865-4220
WICKED PREMIERE
So much happened BEFORE Dorothy dropped in. WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”
From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers as “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
Buell Theatre, DCPA Complex, 14th and Curtis St., Denver
Thurs./Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $45
Thursday and Saturday, July 25 & 27
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
“Wives may be merry, and yet honest, too.”
A delightfully naughty romp! The infamous Falstaff is on the hunt for a wealthy wife (or two) to woo in order to finance his next wave of frivolity and fun. But when he sets his sights on the clever and quick-witted Mistresses Page and Ford, he gets a bit more than he bargained for.
Since 1958, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival has delighted audiences with professional theatre on the CU Boulder campus. All productions will occur in the comfortable indoor Roe Green Theatre this season.
Roe Green Theatre, University Theater Bldg., 261, CU, Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $31-$86
Friday, July 26
MARGARITA BROTHERS
Get ready for an extraordinary night at the Dickens Opera House with The Margarita Brothers! This talented band is set to infuse your evening with an irresistible tropical rock energy that promises to be unforgettable. Specializing in the timeless hits of Jimmy Buffett, the Beach Boys, and the Ventures, along with an eclectic mix of nautical-themed tunes, The Margarita Brothers will transport you to a sun-soaked paradise.
Dickens Opera House, 302 Main St., Longmont
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $20
LASER GAGA
With her meteoric rise to fame, Lady Gaga is undeniable force in modern music and entertainment. Bring some excitement and glam to your night and enjoy this wide-ranging show featuring the best from the woman with a thousand faces.
This is NO ORDINARY laser show! The cutting-edge projection system will mesmerize you with vibrant colors cutting their way through the fog to our 360-degree wrap around screen – all while engineers fly you through the universe in beat to your favorite jams!
- Bad Romance
- Perfect Illusion
- Beautiful, Dirty, Rich
- Paparazzi
- Boys Boys Boys
- Million Reasons
- Telephone
- Born This Way
- Starstruck
- Applause
- The Fame
- Alejandro
- Poker Face
- Just Dance
MACBETH
When three witches deliver a prophecy in three parts to General Macbeth, he faces a choice: Should he let destiny take its course or conspire with his wife to pursue fortune’s favor on his own? But what’s done cannot be undone, and his decision sets off a scorching, action-packed descent into darkness. Fates and fantasies collide in Shakespeare’s sexy and spellbinding tragedy.
Roe Green Theatre, University Theater Bldg., 261, CU, Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $26
THE FRAY
The performance marks the start of a new chapter for the 4-time Grammy-nominated Denver natives, with vocalist/guitarist and primary songwriter Joe King taking over lead vocal duties alongside longtime guitarist Dave Welsh and drummer Ben Wysocki. The performance will also feature musicians Kai Welch on keys and Dane Poppin on bass guitar.
When The Fray first burst onto the scene in the early aughts, the Colorado-bred band introduced the world to a profoundly life-affirming form of alt-rock: timeless but inventive, arena-sized in scope but firmly rooted in raw emotion. Over the coming years, their soul-searching songwriting and high-powered sound led to earning four Grammy Award nominations, scoring a multitude of Billboard top 10 hits, and amassing a passionately devoted worldwide fanbase. Their single “How To Save A Life” spent a staggering 58 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the “unofficial theme song” for Grey’s Anatomy. Rolling Stone praised their “stick-in-your-head hooks and eloquent narratives,” while the LA Times called their music “melodically rich.” The Fray’s debut album How To Save A Life (2005) is certified double-platinum in the US and has been declared one of the best-selling digital debuts of all time. LOW TICKET ALERT!
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $89.50-$91.50
Friday-Sunday, July 26-38
THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience. An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. The small cast and unit set make this a perfect option for high schools or community theatres. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced crowd pleaser and an instant theatre patron favorite.
Arts Hub, 420 Courtney Way, Lafayette
Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 & 2:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $19.58
SEUSSICAL!
Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination – Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.
The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.
Jesters Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont
Fri.-Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $19-$50
Saturday, July 27
KALUOKA’HINA – THE ENCHANTED REEF
This full-dome movie at the Fiske is about the vastness of our planet’s oceans whicjh hold unimaginable secrets. One of the most precious is Kaluoka’hina, The Enchanted Reef, whose magic protects it from being discovered by humans. Kaluoka’hina’s colorful inhabitants have thus always lived in peace… until the volcano erupts, and the spell is broken. Now it’s up to the young sawfish Jake and his paranoid pal Shorty to restore the magic of Kaluoka’hina. Their only lead is an ancient legend that tells of touching the moon. But how is a fish supposed to touch the moon? This is just one of the intriguing puzzles that Jake and Shorty have to solve on their most exciting adventure ever — the quest to save their beloved reef. An endangered reef… a lunar riddle… two fish on a mission!
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
12:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10+
Info: 303-492-5002
SCIENCE FRIDAY LIVE
Join Ira Flatow and the SciFri crew as they hit the road to uncover and report on the amazing science news and stories happening in Colorado! This is your chance to peek behind-the-curtain of your favorite national radio show and participate in a special live performance with the experts and conversations you love.
This 2-hour program typically features interactive moments, props, audience Q&A, and science demonstrations. As a bonus, the event will be recorded for the Science Friday radio show, so you can be a part of a future broadcast! (We’ll give attendees a head’s up when they can tune in to re-listen to their favorite moments). Check back for more details about our guests soon.
By attending this event, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with the Science Friday Initiative, KUNC and the Colorado Chautauqua, including but not limited to: brochures, websites, online videos, radio broadcasts, social media, etc.
Chautauqua Auditorium, 100 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$65
Sunday, July 28
MOZART: DUO PIANOS
The Washington Post declares that twin sister pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton “have to be heard to be believed”; the Festival is honored to welcome these audience favorites for an all-Mozart program. Following the charming serenade Eine kleine Nachtmusik (“A Little Night Music”), the Naughtons perform the Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, written for Mozart to play with his beloved sister Nannerl.
After intermission is Mozart’s Haffner Symphony, a staggering work of intensity and invention.
Chatauqua Auditorium, 100 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$80
HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCKS
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live™ Glow Party™ is coming to Denver for the first time ever! Don’t miss the only opportunity to watch your favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks – Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, Bone Shaker™, Bigfoot®, Gunkster™, and the brand new HW Skelesaurus™! The Glow Party production features a laser light show, spectacular theatrical effects, dance parties, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. Plus, a special appearance from the car-eating, fire-breathing transforming robot TRANSAURUS, and the electrifying high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, Freestyle Motocross! Special kids pricing is available for all shows providing a great value for the whole family!
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
Sat., 12:30 & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $25
Next Week: Tuesday, July 30
DANISH STRING QUARTET
“Yes, playing string quartets is our job, and yes it is hard work, but we mostly do it for pleasure, like we always did,” says the Danish String Quartet, a highly sought-after ensemble of energetic musicians who met each other at music camp as teenagers. The Quartet returns to the Robert Mann Chamber Music Series with a varied program including work by Haydn, Stravinsky, and Mozart, as well as Shostakovich’s profound String Quartet No. 3 and three Irish folk melodies by Celtic harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan.
Chatauqua Auditorium, 100 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$70
ALANIS MORRISETTE
Alanis Morissette’s first album, Alanis, was released in Canada in 1991 by MCA Records Canada. She co-wrote every song on the album with producer Leslie Howe. It was a dance-pop album that went platinum. Because of her fame, music style, and looks, especially her hair, she was called the “Debbie Gibson of Canada” and often compared to Tiffany. At the time, she even opened concerts for rapper Vanilla Ice.
Songs like “You Oughta Know,” “Hand in My Pocket,” “Ironic,” “You Learn,” “Head Over Feet,” “Uninvited,” “Thank U,” and “Hands Clean” were all successful, charting in the top 40 in major markets worldwide.
Morissette holds the record for the most No. 1s on the Billboard Alternative Songs list as a soloist, group leader, or duet member. She has won seven Grammy Awards, fourteen Juno Awards, and one Brit Award, and has sold over 75 million records globally. Rolling Stone has given her the title of “Queen of Alt-Rock Angst.”
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $60
Wednesday-Sunday, July 31-August 4
NEW JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS FILM
Tuesday is the latest film starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a mother, in a profoundly moving performance, and her teenage daughter (Lola Petticrew) who must confront Death when it arrives in the form of an astonishing talking bird.
From debut filmmaker Daina O. Pusić, Tuesday is a heart-rending fairy tale about the echoes of loss and finding resilience in the unexpected.
Boedecker Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Wed., 4:30 p.m.; Thurs./Sun., 4:00 p.m., Fri./Sat., 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12
Thursday, August 1
SUMMER MOVIE SERIES: WONKA
In partnership with Neighborhood Nights, neighbors will transform Northglenn streets into open-air theaters. Families and friends gather under the stars, bringing blankets and snacks for a unique outdoor cinema experience that fosters community connections and lasting memories. Tonight, Wonka, a 2023 musical fantasy comedy-drama the origin story of Willy Wonka, a central character in the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, depicting his early days as a chocolatier. Before the movie, enjoy live music provided by Jerry and Joy, an R&B, Soul, Hip Hop Blues, Alternative and Rock cover duo.
Malley Park, 11449 Fowler Dr., Northglenn
7:00 p.m.
FREE
AUGUSTIN HADELICH & DVORAK 7
The Colorado Music Festival continues with Augustin Hadelich, one of the greatest violinists of all time, who returns to perform Tchaikovsky’s unparalleled Violin Concerto. The deeply patriotic Dvořák wished to use his music to recognize the struggle and oppression of his fellow Czechs; he wrote of this urgent Seventh Symphony, “What is in my mind is Love, God, and my Fatherland.” Kevin Puts’ Two Mountain Scenes, composed “with the impressive backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in mind” and beginning with “the sonic illusion of a single trumpet reverberating across the valley,” opens this wondrous program.
Chatauqua Auditorium, 100 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$85
Friday-Sunday, August 2-4
FREQUENT FLYERS DANCE FESTIVAL
Frequent Flyers® Aerial Dance annual international Aerial Dance Festival 2024 Showcase Performance brings together world-class artists in one show. Lyra, stilts, bungee, aerial chains, invented apparatus, dance trapeze, multicorde, and more. You won’t see these artists anywhere else in the world in one show.
Gordon Gamm Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Fri./Sat., 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $26-$30
Saturday, August 3
SECOND NIGHT ADDED: GRAHAM NASH
Legendary artist Graham Nash, as a founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who has seen rock history unfold at some of its seminal moments – from the launch of the British Invasion (that’s him on-screen in 1967, eyewitness to the Beatles global broadcast performance of “All You Need Is Love” from Abbey Road studios) to the birth of the Laurel Canyon movement a year later. An extraordinary Grammy Award® winning renaissance artist – and self-described “simple man” – Nash was inducted twice into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, for his work with CSN and his work as a solo artist, beginning with two landmark albums, Songs For Beginners and Wild Tales.
In September 2013, Nash released his long-awaited autobiography Wild Tales, which landed him on the New York Times Best Sellers list. In recognition for his contributions as a musician and philanthropist, Nash was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth. While continually building his musical legacy, Nash is also an internationally renowned photographer and visual artist whose work has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide. A collection of his photos is featured in the book A Life in Focus: The Photography of Graham Nash which was released in November 2021 by Insight Editions.
Chautauqua Auditorium, 100 Morning Glory Dr., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Cost: $50-$100
NEPATHYA
Nepathya (Nepali: नेपथ्य, also spelled as Nepathaya) is a Nepalese folk rock band that was formed in the early 1990s. Nepathya was formed by Deepak Rana, Bhim Poon and Amrit Gurung while studying in Kathmandu, Nepal. The band has enjoyed both commercial and critical success. Nepathya are known for their contemporary songs with strong ties to indigenous music and lyrics using dialects from rural Nepal.
Nepathya is widely regarded as one of the greatest and the most successful music band in Nepal. During their musical career, Nepathya has toured countries like UK, the US, Australia, Japan, Israel, Germany, Finland, India and many more.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $100
Phone: 303-786-7030
Saturday-Sunday, August 3-4
PARLANDO SCHOOL: NEW MUSICAL PROJECT
The 2024 New Musical Project features scenes from three brand new musicals: Zelda’s Girls (Book, Music, & Lyrics by Shelby Merchant), Lucy Larcom (Book, Music, & Lyrics by AJ Layague), and Dig Deep (Book, Music, & Lyrics by Michelle Uyemura). All together this show is jam-packed with exciting scenes and musical numbers from these brand-new works! You don’t want to miss it!
Grace Gamm Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Sat., 2:00 & 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12
Tuesday, August 6
SUNSET CINEMA
Sunset Cinema is an annual outdoor movie series that takes place at Denver Center Performing Arts Complex, just outside of the Galleria next to Boettcher Concert Hall. In partnership with Denver Film, every summer is dedicated to films that celebrate a particular genre, director, art form or theme. This year the outdoor film + entertainment series highlights animated features and showing this night: The Incredibles, a family of superheroes forced to assumed ordinary lives until trouble breaks out on an island.
There will also be live performances before the film, and plenty of food trucks (Wheels on Fire, Roll It Up Sushi, Cirque Kitchen and Spirits, Pint’s Peak Ice Cream),
drinks and other cinema snacks available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., pre-show entertainment starts at 7 p.m., and films begin at dusk. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring chairs, blankets, family and friends and enjoy the show! All events are FREE, but please register on Eventbrite.
DCPA Complex, Sculpture Park 14th and Curtis St., Denver
8:30 p.m.
FREE BUT REGISTER PLEASE
So Much More in Colliers Hill
Isn’t it time you discovered one of the fastest growing master-planned communities in Northern Colorado? Colliers Hill has so many exciting amenities (two pools, two gyms, two rec centers!) 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.
