The woman behind the amazing concerts at Boulder Public Library By Mary Jarrett When Juliette León Bartsch was growing up in State College, Pa., she recognized herself as a “library junkie”—she was used to being kicked out at closing time. Yet she discovered the Boulder Public Library quite by accident. Brand new in town in
Sure, U2 gets all the attention this year for kicking off the Big Name concert season in Denver (at least they’re not sending you free concert tickets you didn’t ask for), but it doesn’t take much digging to find plenty of gems in and around Boulder for the discriminating music lover this summer. So turn
He’s been at the forefront of contemporary instrumental music for 30 years, from smooth jazz to healing music. Just don’t call it ‘New Age.’ By Dave Kirby Pianist Peter Kater’s music is remarkable for its accessibility. Deeply melodic, evocative in whispering tones, emotional in subtle and nuanced cadences—Kater has mastered the tricky balance between the literal and the interpretive, making his primary musical
Today’s mini trailers are perfect for camping, say Longmont residents Matt Erickson (seen peering through the window) and Debbie Adams. In May, they exhibited their “modern-day covered wagon,” a Cricket, at Old Town Outfitters during Longmont’s ArtWalk; other brands on display were R-Pod, Teardrop and Go. With room for two adults and two kids, the
Jean-Marie Zeitouni takes up his baton July 1 as music director of the Colorado Music Festival. Trained as a percussionist, the Montréal-based conductor was chosen from among last summer’s candidates as Michael Christie’s successor at the festival. His opening-night program presents four of his favorite works by Rossini, Respighi, Debussy and Ravel, with contralto Marie-Nicole
A mad professor whose research could save the world—or destroy it—vanishes. His research remains untouched in his quarters, but university officials are coming to steal his work. It’s up to you, locked in his quarters with a team of seven others, to decode the clues around the room, find the schematics and escape within one hour.
Since last summer, more than 400 volunteers from the Mennonite Disaster Service (www.mds.mennonite.net) have completed 32 repair or rebuilding projects in the severely flood-damaged town of Jamestown, which requested their help. They come from congregations all over the U.S. and Canada, following their church’s mission to serve needy “neighbors” in times of disaster. Some conservative
By Beki Pineda, Image BDT Stage MARY POPPINS. Original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman; book by Julian Fellowes; directed by Scott Beyette. Produced by BDT Stage (5501 Arapahoe Ave.) through Sept. 5. Tickets available at 303-449-6000 or www.bouldersdinnertheatre.com. Sometimes a role just finds the perfect person to play it.
By Beki Pineda; Photo Credit: Avenue Theater MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD. Written by Leslie Ayvazian, Brooke Berman, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West; directed by Dave Shirley. Produced by the Avenue Theater (417 17th Ave., Denver)
By Beki Pineda; Image: Edge Theater Company JERUSALEM. Written by Jez Butterworth; directed by Warren Sherrill. Produced by the Edge Theater Company (1560 Teller St., Lakewood) through May 24. Tickets available at 303-232-0363 or www.theedgetheater.com. As I sat in the darkened Edge theater, I could turn my head and see other audience members or the
By Beki Pineda HYSTERIA. Written by Terry Johnson; directed by Michael Stricker. Produced by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (performed at the Diary Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St.) through May 17. Tickets available at 303-444-7328 or thedairy.org. There was a time in medical history when symptoms that could not be identified as having a
By Beki Pineda. Image: Denver Center for the Performing Arts ANNIE. Book by Thomas Meehan; music by Charles Strouse; lyrics and directed by Martin Chernin. Presented by Center Attractions (Buell Theater, 14th and Curtis, Denver) through May 10, 2015. Tickets at 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org. Annie is nearly 40 years old and yet she still retains
By Beki Pineda A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE. Book by Terrence McNally; music by Stephen Flaherty; lyrics by Lynn Ahrens; directed by Rod Lansberry. Produced by the Arvada Center (6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada) through May 17. Tickets available at 720-898-7200 or www.arvadacenter.org. The happiest people I’ve known are those who have discovered their passion in
By Beki Pineda IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER. Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney; directed by Dee Covington. Produced by Curious Theatre Company (1080 Acoma St., Denver) through April 18. Tickets available at 303-623-0524 or at www.curioustheatre.org. A lonesome, rundown shack set on poles above the water of the bayou. A road runs in front
By Beki Pineda THE ARCHBISHOP’S CEILING. Written by Arthur Miller; directed by Brett Aune. Produced by the Arvada Center (6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada) through April 19. Tickets available at 720-898-7200 or www.arvadacenter.org. First of all, thank you to the Arvada Center for choosing to produce this little-known Arthur Miller play. It’s always a risk—but an
By Beki Pineda THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Written by Anton Chekhov; directed by Ed Baierlein. Produced by Germinal Stage (7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster) through May 3. Tickets available at 303-455-7108 or www.germinalstage.com Having just enjoyed the BETC spoof of Chekhov in STUPID F##KING BIRD, I found it equally enjoyable to visit the original Chekhov of THE
By Beki Pineda THE 39 STEPS – Adapted by Patrick Barlow from the movie of Alfred Hitchcock; Directed by Steven Cole Hughes. Produced by Lone Tree Arts Center in conjunction with Starkey Theatrix (Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St in Lone Tree) through April 11. Tickets available at 720-509-1000 or www.lonetreeartscenter.org. I remember hearing
By Beki Pineda FOREVER PLAID. Written by Stuart Ross; directed by Brian Jackson. Produced by BDT STage (5501 Arapahoe Ave.) through May 10. Tickets available at ww.bdtstage.com or 303-449-6000. I have to admit I was not excited about seeing yet another production of FOREVER PLAID; I’ve worked on the show multiple times and seen it
By Beki Pineda A PUBLIC READING OF AN UNPRODUCED SCREENPLAY ABOUT THE DEATH OF WALT DISNEY. Written by Lucas Hnath; directed by Amanda Berg Wilson. Produced by The Catamounts (performed at Madelife, 2000 21st St.) through March 28. Tickets available at 720-468-0487 or thecatamounts.org/tickets. Walt Disney: icon or tyrant—or both? That’s the question posed in
By Beki Pineda STUPID F##KING BIRD. Written by Aaron Posner; directed by Stephen Weitz. Produced by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company (playing at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St.) through April 5. Tickets available at www.betc.org. The play starts after a cast member tells the audience it will start when someone requests that
