Colorado BackStage: Coming Soon

Fringe Keeps Its Edge

Raising audience numbers to 25,000 in 2007, the Boulder International Fringe Festival is bolder than ever. Building on the success of the first three years, the 2008 Festival begins with the “All You Can Artist Buffet” at the Boulder Theater the Fringe Fest Opening Night, August 14th. The evening features excerpts from many 2008 Fringe shows as well as musical headliners Ian Cooke and Heather Marie Phillip.

Saturday, August 16th the Fringe introduces the new KidsFringe event featuring performances and activities by and for kids and teens in Central Park, Boulder, from 10am-6pm. KidsFringe will host professional performers, kids booths, concerts, games and Fringy art installations. Also, the Fringe will take to the streets of Denver to “fringe” the Democratic National Convention with a parade of independent artists and activists in a procession from downtown Denver to the Boulder Fringe’s first official event in Denver, Colorado: the Fashion Fringe at Sengers on the Fax, Wednesday, August 20th.

The 2008 Learning Fringe features workshops taught by world-renowned instructors in many genres of the performing arts. Programs include Butoh, physical theater improvisation, clowning, stand-up comedy, solo performance creation, improvisation for children, site-specific performance, and more. Every workshop will enrich participants from any skill level or background.

Headlining the Learning Fringe are two very significant teachers in the contemporary performance world, Katsura Kan (Butoh) and Ruth Zaporah (Physical Theater Improvisation). Based out of Kyoto since 1979, Kan - Master Butoh artist, choreographer and teacher - brings his distinctive brand of Butoh to Boulder for a special workshop that draws on his multi-faceted performance background. Zaporah is internationally known for her innovative work in the field of physical theater improvisation. She is a two-time recipient of National Endowment Choreography Fellowships and was recently appointed Cultural Envoy for the U.S. State Department.

2008 Boulder Fringe Highlights
MUSIC at FRINGE CENTRAL - the Laughing Goat: The Fringe Fest’s central music venue hosts an assortment of Musical acts each night followed by a late night daily show, the DAILY CRAB, with Eddy the Eskimo. Music Shows are at 7pm and 8:30pm the DAILY CRAB begins at 10pm. Also, a special headliner from Boston, Massachusetts will premiere work in Boulder’s new B-Side Lounge (formerly Trilogy). Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion shares the stage with local talent, Heather Marie Philipp on the 15th of August with a collection of hits from jazz to funk, blues to pop.

THEATER: Naropa University’s MFA in Contemporary Performance explodes in the festival with solo performances and ensemble works developed under the direction of the Tectonic Theater from New York, Meredith Monk and the City Company presenting the latest and greatest on the cultural fringe of contemporary performance. Naropa companies: Bowman & Brenner, Giving Voice Productions, Holderness Theater Company, Laurie Lynch, Off The Top, One Continuous Mistake, Shana Cordon, Square Product Theater, The Octopus League, Theater V, Wreckinball Theater Lab, Waking Circus Productions (Dance) and Desolate Delight with Barbara Dilley (Dance).

Internationally acclaimed Gemma Wilcox is arriving in Boulder after presenting award-winning plays in the Toronto Fringe, Ottawa Fringe, Orlando Fringe and Winnipeg Fringe. Kath Burlinson mentor and teacher to award winning Gemma Wilcox, brings the Mother’s Bones to the Boulder Fringe.

DANCE: Nicoll and Oreck Dance Theater from Brooklyn, New York, was a hit in the 2007 Boulder Fringe and promise to bring an equally exciting new work in 2008. They Might Be Napping, a timely exploration of critical moments we might have accidentally slept through. Dancer choreographers, Jessica Nicoll and Barry Oreck, with improvisational actors Mike Durkin and Laura Livingston, create a unique blend of illusion, physical theater, and virtuosic dancing.

BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue): The Power to Pleasing: The sex Lives of Teenage Girls will return to the Dairy Bathroom for the third year of the very relevant and socially conscious award winning play. Audience seating is limited.

Denver Victorian Playhouse

Announces Fall Schedule

(Denver, CO) Denver Victorian Playhouse, located at 4201 Hooker Street in Denver, announces the next four productions scheduled for fall 2008 through January 2009.

Out of Order
By Ray Cooney; Directed by Joe Staab
September 5 - October 4, 2008
Tales of the Night:
Sorry Wrong Number and The Hitch-Hiker
By Lucille Fletcher
The War of the Worlds
By H. G. Wells
Directed by Edwin Fronheiser
October 10 - November 8, 2008
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
By Roald Dahl; Directed by Rita Broderick
November 21- December 21, 2008
Educating Rita
By Willy Russell; Directed by Rick Bernstein
January 2 - February 21, 2009

Santa Fe Arts District To Showcase Storytellers, Artists, and Performers

Denver, CO July 25, 2008: Five Two Eight O is an award-winning story-and-arts project that brings to the stage simple, unadorned life stories told by Denver’s residents and interpreted by Denver visual and performing artists.
Thursday, August 14, at 7:00 PM, Five Two Eight O comes to the Santa Fe Arts District, to the Globeville Studios at 635 Santa Fe Drive, where 5-7 local residents will tell a 10-minute story onstage: a story that responds to questions such as, “What brought you here, to this neighborhood?” “What do you see when you look around?” and suggestions like, “Tell about an experience, or a moment, or a relationship that, to you, provides insight into your immediate community.”
Visual artists, playwrights, choreographers, poets, photographers and performers will be among the members of the audience, watching and listening for inspiration. They have two days to respond creatively. On Sunday, August 17 at 5:00 PM, the original storytellers, the artists and the public reconvene at Globeville Studios to share these artistic reflections of the community: spoken word, music, dance, sidewalk art, sculpture, theatre.
Sunday’s exhibit and performances are preceded by a reception at 4:30 PM, followed by a dialogue. All Five Two Eight O’s events are videotaped and photographed. Some stories will end up on the website, and some of the artistic renderings will be developed into more polished work to be shown in the Spring of 2009. There is no cost to audience members or active participants. If interested in contributing a story or artistic reflection, Santa Fe residents should call 303 912-5935 or e-mail info@fivetwoeighto.org. No reservations are required to attend.
Follow-up dialogues and projects will be held in every spotlighted neighborhood, which include Berkeley-Regis, Lowry, Santa Fe and Five Points. For further information, go to http://www.fivetwoeighto.org.

Central City Opera Guild’s 32nd Annual L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Tour & Boutique

DENVER (July 29, 2008) – The celebrated L’Esprit de Noel Holiday Home Tour and Boutique returns this holiday season for its 32nd year in the Denver Metro Area. Tours begin Friday, November 21, and run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday, November 23 in the Belcaro Park neighborhood. The Phipps Tennis Pavilion at 3300 Belcaro Drive will showcase the boutique. This popular fund raising event, organized by the Central City Opera Guild, is considered one of Denver’s signature holiday events and benefits Central City Opera.
The annual Patron Preview Party will be held Thursday, November 20, and includes an evening tour with cocktails and an elegant grand buffet. Tickets are $250 for benefactors, $150 for patrons and $90 for junior patrons (age 35 and younger).
Five homeowners will open their homes to some of Denver’s most accomplished and renowned florists and table designers this holiday season. The boutique will showcase more than 40 vendors with holiday decorations and gifts, clothing, jewelry and gourmet food. In addition, Whole Foods will host a free wine tasting. With the grace and elegance of Belcaro Park, the spirit of the holidays will never be more alive. “We are fortunate to be in the Belcaro neighborhood where there is ample parking and the houses and boutique are within walking distance,” said L’Esprit de Noel Chairperson Cindy Koch.
Perry & Co. Real Estate Professionals is the presenting sponsor for another year. “We had such a great experience last year—from working on committees to volunteering at the homes and making new friends—it was an easy decision to come back this year as presenting sponsor,” said R. Don Larrance, President of Perry & Co. Real Estate Professionals. “Plus, we’re all becoming opera fans! Central City Opera is a truly a Colorado treasure.”
Advance tickets are $18 at King Soopers or through Central City Opera box office at (303) 292-6700. Tickets will cost $20 at the door. Admission is free at the boutique, and parking also is free for all home tour and boutique guests. For more information please visit www.centralcityopera.org.
Proceeds support Central City Opera’s programs including its annual Summer Festival, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Artists Training Program, the preservation and maintenance of the Opera House and more than 30 other Victorian-era properties and its education and community programs, which serve more than 60,000 people each year through performances in elementary and secondary schools, community centers, senior residences and theaters.

AVENUE Q Makes Denver Debut

Denver, Colo. – AVENUE Q is the smash-hit Broadway musical about real life in New York City, as told by a cast of people and puppets through a hilariously irreverent, Tony-winning book and score. The three-time Tony Award-winning musical will make its Denver debut at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, running September 9 – 21. Single tickets go on sale to the public on Sunday, August 3 at 10am.
AVENUE Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone's looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a "purpose." Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that "the real world" isn't so bad, after all!
The New York Times hailed AVENUE Q as "a breakthrough musical of a very different stripe…savvy, sassy and delicious!" and Entertainment Weekly claimed it was "one of the funniest shows you're ever likely to see!"
AVENUE Q features music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, and direction by Jason Moore. Puppet design is by Rick Lyon, musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts' 2008 VIP Series sponsored by Fidelity Investments will host an AVENUE Q VIP Evening on Sunday, September 21 at 5:30pm. The VIP Evening includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, dinner in the Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom and excellent orchestra seats. Tickets are all inclusive and cost $225, with $80 tax deductible; proceeds benefit The Denver Center’s Arts in Education programs. For more information call (303) 446-4815 or www.denvercenter.org/vipevenings
AVENUE Q is a featured production in Denver Center Attractions’ 2008 subscription season.
AVENUE Q is produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, Vineyard Theatre and The New Group.
Due to adult situations (like full-puppet nudity), AVENUE Q may be inappropriate for kids under 13. See Calendar for details.

Jersey Boy Tickets Now On Sale

Denver, Colo. – Tickets are now on sale for the Denver premiere engagement of JERSEY BOYS, playing the Buell Theatre December 11 through January 3.
Directed by two-time Tony® Award-winner Des McAnuff, JERSEY BOYS won both the 2006 Tony® Award for Best Musical and the 2006 Grammy Award® for Best Musical Recording, and continues to break box office records on Broadway and across North America. JERSEY BOYS is written by Academy Award®-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were 30.
The JERSEY BOYS design and production team comprises Klara Zieglerova (Scenic Design), Jess Goldstein (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (winner of the 2006 Tony® Award for his Lighting Design of JERSEY BOYS), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Sound Design), Michael Clark (Projections Design), Charles LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Orich (Orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements & Incidental Music).
JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner.
JERSEY BOYS premiered at La Jolla Playhouse, October 17, 2004, where the musical played a record-breaking run prior to the Broadway production. JERSEY BOYS opened at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway to critical acclaim on November 6, 2005 and continues to set new weekly box office records, remaining among the five top grossing shows in New York. The National Tour opened to rave reviews at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco on December 1, 2006 and played a record-breaking long run. The show completed a sold-out run in Los Angeles and is now playing to capacity houses in cities across the U.S.
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of JERSEY BOYS, produced by Bob Gaudio, was recently certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The cast recording is now available on Rhino Records. JERSEY BOYS: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Broadway Books) is the official handbook to the smash Broadway hit.
The DCPA will throw a JERSEY BOYS Bash on Saturday, December 13, featuring cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, catered dinner, orchestra seats, and an after-party with the cast. Tickets for this unique event start at $375 and tables of 10 are available. A portion of the proceeds is tax deductible and support The Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Theatre On Broadway Features National Tour of Eyes of Babylon

(Denver, Co.) Theatre On Broadway is pleased to announce the presentation of the National Tour of the 90-minute, one-man play, The Eyes of Babylon, a true story written and starring Iraq war veteran Jeff Key. Based on the writings in his journal, Key wrote and performs in "Babylon," which was the inspiration for the Showtime documentary, Semper Fi: One Marine's Journey, which aired on the network last year.
From the morning phone call from his mom on Sept. 11, 2001, we follow Lance Cpl. Key through his deployment in Iraq, his struggles of being a gay Marine, to his return to American soil to begin a new life of political activism and philanthropy.
Key, who now lives in Salt Lake City, had a nine-month run of Babylon in Los Angeles and another successful run in San Francisco. After a 1 1/2-year break to work on the documentary, Key is back onstage readying the show for its off-Broadway debut in New York City.
Key’s script includes the human side of war — stories about himself and other Marines and stories of his interactions with Iraqis.
On the way to Key's decision, we get an interesting glimpse into the life of our military folk bravely serving overseas. Wearing his camouflage, at times removing his jacket to reveal a tattooed arm, the audience goes with Key into the scorching tent where he sleeps, into the foxholes where he stands guard, and into the cramped armored vehicle that became Key's "home."
The compelling evening of theatre shows Key's continued and renewed love of country, flaws and all, his hope for — and commitment to — a better future and his pride in having served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"In so fervently and colorfully crafting his all-too-human story, Key demonstrates that the triumphant journey through one's own psyche is perhaps the greatest adventure of all."
--The Hollywood Reporter

"CRITICS' CHOICE: Disarms our defenses with considerable humor and lingering punch . . . A poetic depiction worthy of Allen Ginsberg."
--L.A. Times

"I was blown away by Jeff's artistry. He was meant to influence us all."
--Lily Tomlin

"The Eyes of Babylon is as astonishing to me as any other work of art which appears, fresh, from a highly gifted artist. I was drawn into it, disarmed, and stilled to a state of positive shock and awe. As moved as I was throughout the presentation, I didn't weep until later, when the worth and weight of it had sunk in."
--Joan Baez

See Calendar for details

Vintage Theatre’s 2009 Season

(Denver, CO) Denver’s Vintage Theatre Productions 2119 E 17th Ave., Denver announces the line up for 2009.
January 9 – February 8, 2009
Barefoot in the Park, by Neil Simon, directed by Sarah Roshan
February 20 – March 22, 2009
Regional premiere comedy by
Mitch Albom; Directed by Craig A. Bond
February 27 – March 21, 2009
Let The War Begin
World premiere comedy written and directed by Gene Kato
April 3 – May 3, 2009
Romeo and Juliet
By William Shakespeare; Directed by Rob Kramer
May 15 – June 14, 2009
Kimberly Akimbo
By David Lindsay-Abaire; directed by Bernie Cardell
July 10 – August 9, 2009
The Violet Hour
Regional premiere produced in collaboration with Hunger Artists
By Richard Greenberg; directed by Stacey Nelms
August 21 – September 20, 2009
Dial ‘M’ For Murder
By Frederick Knott; directed by Bernie Cardell
October 2 – October 31, 2009
Halloween Dreams
Regional premiere
By L. Don Swartz; directed by Craig A. Bond
November 6 – December 6, 2009
Den of Thieves
Regional premiere
By Stephen Adly Guirgis; directed by Bernie Cardell

For Girls Only Tickets On Sale

Denver, CO — Tickets are now on sale for Denver Center Attractions’ production of GIRLS ONLY – The Secret Comedy of Women, running September 18 – December 21 in The Garner Galleria Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. This production is generously sponsored by Coors.
GIRLS ONLY, written and performed by Barbara Gehring and Linda Klein, is an original comedy that celebrates the honor, truth, humor and silliness of being female. With a two-woman cast and audiences full of raucous, laughing ladies, the show has found quick popularity in its unique examination of all things girly.
Born out of the earnest and sweetly absurd writings the two authors discovered in their girlhood diaries, the GIRLS ONLY mix of sketch comedy, improvisation, audience participation, and hilarious songs and videos reminds audiences of the very funny and very charming similarities all women share.
“We are so excited to continue to share GIRLS ONLY with women in the Rocky Mountain region,” said Gehring and Klein. “We created this show to be a celebration of being a woman, and we have such fun seeing the ladies who come to the show really let loose and laugh at themselves.”
Barbara Gehring is a veteran of improvisation, sketch comedy and theatre, and is also a commercial actor in the Denver market. Together with Linda Klein and Matthew Taylor, she is a founder and performer in the international comedy troupe A.C.E. Gehring’s film credits include “Dragon and the Hawk” and television credits include Fox Sports Network’s “Best Damn Sports Show” and national commercials.
Linda Klein has been an active member of the Denver comedy scene for the last 15 years and along with Gehring and Taylor is a founding member of A.C.E. comedy troupe. Klein has performed on stages in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago and also does commercial and voiceover work nationally.
Performers Amie MacKenzie and Allison Watrous will also join the production. MacKenzie is a graduate of the Colorado College and has been seen regularly as a narrator with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and in national commercials and films. Her local theatre credits include The Dinner Party, for which she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy from The Denver Post.
Allison Watrous is a graduate of the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver and recently appeared in 365 at the Public Theatre in NYC as well as in CBS television programming. She has also appeared locally in John Brown’s Body, (W)hole, and as Mrs. Filcher in DCTC’s A Christmas Carol. Other credits include Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, the California Theatre Center and PCPA. Watrous is a teaching artist for the Denver Center Theatre Academy, TADA! and The New Victory Theater.
GIRLS ONLY is an added attraction in Denver Center Attractions’ 2008 season and is generously sponsored by Coors. Media sponsorship for DCA is provided by The Denver Post, CBS4 and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine. Denver Center Attractions is supported in part by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Please visit our website at www.denvercenter.org.

Arvada Center Presents The Capitol Steps

ARVADA, CO - Just in time for the Democratic National Convention, the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities welcomes back the Capitol Steps to its outdoor amphitheater on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 7:30PM This is the final show of the Summer Entertainment Series.
A presidential election year provides excellent food for political satire, and the Capitol Steps gang will break through the campaign rhetoric that's been driving you crazy. A night full of good-natured ribbing, bipartisan of course, is just what these political pundits dish out. No matter who's in the headlines, the Capitol Steps are equal opportunity offenders. They'll also share some barbed vignettes from their latest CD, "Campaign and Suffering." This evening will help you regain the perspective you’ll need to make it through to Election Day.
Tickets are $40 for Premium Covered, $35 for Covered, $20 for Lawn and $10 for Child (Lawn). Tickets for this show are selling fast! Order your tickets today by calling the Arvada Center box office at (720) 898-7200 or visiting arvadacenter.org. All summer concerts are held rain or shine.
A barbecue dinner is available from the Arvada Center's catering service for a cost of $11.95 in advance or $12.95 at the concert. Meals can be ordered when purchasing tickets. In compliance with city regulations, no alcoholic beverages or glass containers can be brought into the amphitheater. The Arvada Center offers beer and wine service. Concessions open at 6:00 p.m. Patrons are welcome to bring their own meals to the performances.

It's That Time Again! Miscast 2008

Next Stage proudly presents our annual gala and silent auction ...MISCAST...in which some of Denver's finest actors perform songs and scenes from roles in which they would never be cast.
Winner of a Denver Post Ovation Award for Best Special Event and recognized by local critic David Marlowe as one of the best theater events Denver has to offer!
And this year...we will be offering our audience the opportunity to vote on their favorite act each night!
Miscast is scheduled at the Aurora Fox, Studio Theater Friday, 09/26 and Saturday, 09/27.
Interested in participating???
Next Stage will be accepting submissions on August 1. Anything goes: gender bending, race defying, or just because you'd never have a chance to perform it otherwise. Send it our way! Email Jenny Hecht at jdweir@yahoo.com with questions and/or submissions. Submissions should include all pertinent details about the selection, all performers names and contact information, and the reason why you believe you are "miscast" for the role!
Silent Auction
If you have goods or services you would be interested in donating for our silent auction, contact Becca Fletcher at beccajanef@yahoo.com
Next Stage is a 501(c) 3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Next Stage
(303) 364-9998
nextstagedenver@gmail.com
http://nextstagedenver.com

Emerald City Opera Announces 2008 Season

Celebrating its sixth season, Emerald City Opera has announced its 2008 season, featuring Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Così fan tutte. This season's performances will take place in Saratoga, Wyoming, as well as in Craig, Walden, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

The 2008 mainstage production, La Traviata, will be presented on August 15 and 17 at the freshly renovated Steamboat Springs High School auditorium and featuring some of the brightest opera talent in the business today.

The second offering of the 2008 season is a special rendition of Mozart's final comedy, Così fan tutte. The opera will be presented in English in reduced length.

The Così fan tutte production is part of The Emerald City Opera's new, national-level young artists training program, the Opera Artist Institute. The Institute aims to expand the company's regional performance offerings, bolster mainstage artistic offerings, encourage development in emerging artists and strengthen networks within the national operatic community.

La Traviata plays August 15 and August 17 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Così fan tutte will play: August 7 in Walden, Colorado; August 8 in Craig, Colorado; August 14 in Saratoga, Wyoming; and, August 16 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

For tickets and information as well as details on other season events: emeraldcityopera.org

The Colorado Music Alliance Announces August Summer Music Festivals

DENVER (July 2, 2008) - Although the summer classical music season begins to wind down in August, there's still plenty of time and opportunities to sit back and soak in world-renowned musical talent with the breathtaking Colorado landscape as the backdrop.

The following highlights August's festival happenings (listed in alphabetical order):

Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival: August 20-26 Known for producing music that "lights up the sky," the Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival is nestled in the heart of Silverthorne. The Festival performs great masterworks of the chamber music repertoire to diverse audiences. Led by Artistic Director Eddie Arron, this year's festival will offer two concert performances, one free community concert, and two Soiree concerts held in private homes for an intimate experience. Alpenglow prides itself on catering to young audiences and encourages young musicians to pursue musical studies at college by providing scholarship opportunities. www.alpenglowmusic.org

Aspen Music Festival and School: June 19-August 17 Renowned for bringing together the world's leading classical music practitioners and students for more than 350 events in nine weeks, the Aspen Music Festival and School is one of America's premier classical music festivals. The town is immersed in music and musicians fill the streets as they prepare for an unusually rich and comprehensive menu of events, which include symphonic and chamber music recitals, children's workshops and private-home musicales. Led by Music Director David Zinman, the 2008 season is inspired by the theme of storytelling - one of the most fundamental ways people understand themselves and their culture. A few August highlights include: Aspen Chamber Symphony performing Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 (August 1); Schoenberg's epic work Gurre-Lieder conducted by maestro Zinman, who will be joined by tenor Jon Villars, soprano Measha Brueggergosman, mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi, tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, bass John Relyea, the Colorado Symphony Chorus and the United States Army Chorus (August 16); and Aspen's nationally acclaimed ballet troupe dancing in the Benedict Music Tent to live orchestral music (August 6). www.aspenmusicfestival.com

Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival: June 27 - August 2 Bravo! brings another spectacular season of music with the magnificent Rocky Mountains as the backdrop. Relish the artistic excellence of the Festival and its many musicians in the reserved seating sections or relax on the lawn with friends, family, a picnic basket and a glass of wine at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. August performances include: Casual Classics at Cordillera (August 1); and the festival sunset Soiree at the Chester Residence in Beaver Creek (August 2). www.vailmusicfestival.org

Breckenridge Music Festival: June 6 - August 16 The Breckenridge Music Festival is a year-round arts presenter celebrating its 28th anniversary. The Festival is comprised of a Classical series highlighting both an orchestra of 47 professional musicians as well as a non-classical Blue River Series featuring internationally known acts. Led by Musical Director and Principal Conductor Gerhardt Zimmermann, this year features a series of beautiful Champagne, Chamber and Orchestra Concerts. August highlights include: an Orchestra Concert featuring violinist Nathan Olson (August 1); Robert Earl Keen (August 3); Cabaret Night (August 13); Emerson Drive (August 10); Champagne Concerts (August 3 -10); the Orchestra Finale Showcase (August 16); and Rhonda Vincent and the Rage (August 17). www.breckenridgemusicfestival.com

To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, runs through August 2. cuconcerts.org/lightopera

Ba-Rock On! Art Fest

An evening of art, drama, comedy and music for great change in America.

Get your art, band, self, talent, product or service out there! Make a contribution and make a difference!

The Oriental Theatre will be accepting submissions for a multi-medium art fundraiser on August 16th.

What is wanted:
Art, artists, performers - art pieces, photography, painting, sculpture, bands, musicians, stand up comics, improv troupes, dancers, dance troupes, actors with prepared scenes or monologues, performers of all types, and items or services for a silent auction. Please know all art and performances will be donated to the cause. There will be no pay, but there will be media exposure!

If interested, contact www.barockon@mac.com

All submissions must be in by August 1st, 2008

Arvada Center Announce 2008/2009 Children's Theater Season

Seussical runs September 30 - November 14, 2008 in the main stage theater, and November 28 - December 28, 2008 in the black box theater. Embrace the wild and whimsical world of Dr. Seuss as it has never been seen before! Classic stories including "Horton Hears a Who," "Gertrude McFuzz" and "The Cat in the Hat" collide in this musical extravaganza with all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters. These stories, brought together by Jojo, a young boy and "thinker of strange and wonderful thinks," is really about believing in yourself, keeping promises and the rewards of being an independent thinker. People of all ages will enjoy this wild and powerful musical adventure that will keep your feet a tappin' and children a laughin'!

"Just So" plays February 17 - May 9, 2009 in the main stage theater. Ever wonder how life's little mysteries came about? It’s time to find out! Set in a once-upon-a-time land of trunkless elephants, thin-skinned rhinos and spotless leopards, everything is "just so" until a great adventure transforms them all. Three of Rudyard Kipling’s famous tales including "How the Elephant Got His Trunk" and "How the Leopard Got His Spots" come to life to take you on a fun filled ride of fantasy, humor and song as you discover the answers. This witty and clever musical about courage, individuality and friendship is sure to delight the mind and expand the imagination in kids and adults alike! "Just So” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Tickets for "Seussical" and "Just So" go on sale on August 1, 2008. Weekday general admission tickets are $8 and weekend reserved tickets are $9. Tickets for Children's Theater sell out fast.