American Idol Auditions, Sweet Symphony and The Jazz Festival

September 13, 2018

This weekend you won’t want to miss any of the big events sweeping into town with the cooler weather! The Denver Jazz Festival is a two-day event with great swing and jazz tunes, and it’s also the opening weekend of Colorado Symphony’s fall season—with Rachmaninoff! Plus, American Idol is holding in-person auditions in Denver!

TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, September 13

CMA NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR BRETT ELDERIDGE
The night he won CMA’s New Artist of the Year award for his debut album. which included the hits, Don’t Ya, Mean to Me and Beat of the Music, Brett Elderidge took a contemplative walk around the block instead of partying. He decided then and there that rather than celebrating, he needed to concentrate on his next album, one that would be bigger and better.

This concert is the result of all his hard work and takes Elderidge’s music to a whole new level! Don’t miss his inspiring new songs that reflect on where he came from. “I wanted to give this album an identity,” he says. “I wanted it to be me even if you didn’t read my name on the cover. I talk a lot about my home because that is so much of who I am.” 

Bellco Theatre, 700 14th St., Denver
7:30 p.m. 
Tickets: $29.75-$55
Phone: 303-228-8260

Thursday-Saturday, September 13-15

ONE TO WATCH – COMEDIAN JOEL KIM BOOSTER
Forbes named him on their “30 Under 30” list in their Hollywood and Entertainment category spotlighting the next generation of talent, and Esquire dubbed him one of “10 Comedians to Watch.”  As a comedian, he has appeared on Conan, Comedy Central’s The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, This Is Not Happening, @midnight, Logo’s Comedy Cabaret, and truTV’s Comedy Knockout. 

Recently, Joel Kim Booster recorded a stand-up special for Comedy Central’s The Half-Hour, as well as a full-length stand-up album titled Model Minority.

Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
Thurs., 8:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $16-$24
Phone: 303-595-3637

Thursday-Sunday, September 13-16

DENVER MINERAL FOSSIL & GEM SHOW
Be dazzled and enchanted by an astounding array of minerals, fossils and gems! This is the largest show of its type in the USA, with more than 5 miles of tables and 350,000 square feet of inside space!

You will see formations of brilliant colors and luminosity, growing from inside ordinary looking rocks! You will discover the names of more gems than you ever imagined existed! This is a fantastic family-friendly event, so bring the kids and wait for the “wows” to begin!

Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St., Denver
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE

AFRICAN-AMERICAN OKLAHOMA – THE MUSICAL
You know and love the songs and story of the classic musical, Oklahoma, now in its 75th anniversary year, but you have never seen it like this! This innovative production sets the story in an all African-American town in the early days of the Oklahoma Territory. The familiar songs and story center around the cowboys and farmers who have found themselves in the midst of a territory promising a bright future.

Stage Theatre/DCPA, 1101 13th St, Denver
Thurs., 6:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$70
Phone: 303-571-4401

THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
Truly improvised, truly Shakespeare! This talented acting troupe is well-versed in all things Shakespearean, and at the mere suggestion from the audience about a play yet to be written, the company creates that masterpiece right before your very eyes!

Using the language and themes of William Shakespeare, the cast of versatile actors comes up with the dialogue on their feet. Nothing has been planned out, rehearsed, or written.  All of the characters are created as you watch, and if ever you’re wondering where the story is going … so are they. The night could reveal a tragedy, comedy, or history. Each play is completely improvised, so each play is entirely new.

Garner Galleria Theatre/DCPA, 1101 13th St., Denver
Thurs./Fri./Sat, 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $39-$42
Phone: 303-571-4401

Friday, September 14

AMERICAN IDOL AUDITIONS
If you have ever said “I can do that,” this is your chance to take your place on the American Idol stage! The American Idol New Season Auditions will be in Denver to see what kind of talent is in the Denver area! You can sign up for an in-person audition at the link below, and wow the judges with your amazing talent! Don’t be shy!

Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver
Times available upon registration
Register: FREE

COLORADO BALLET’S ATTITUDE ON SANTA FE
As part of the innovative program that showcases original works created by Colorado Ballet dancers and other artists, Attitude on Santa Fe is a dazzling dance performance in the intimate Black Box Theatre located in the Armstrong Center for Dance on Santa Fe Drive.

Choreography for the original works in the series is by Colorado Ballet Dancers, Domenico Luciano, Arianna Ciccarelli, Tyler Rhoads, as well as guest choreographer Edgar Page. Prior to the performance, a reception will be held with tasty bites, beer and wine.

The Armstrong Center for Dance, 1075 Santa Fe Dr., Denver
6:00 p.m. – Reception; 7:30 p.m. – Performance
Tickets: $85
Phone: 303-339-1629

Friday-Sunday, September 14-16

DENVER JAZZ FESTIVAL
Don’t just enjoy the best of jazz, blues and tango music in the Denver area, but also dance to it! This one-of-a-kind festival features spacious dance floors with swing dance, blues and fusion classes available for all levels of dancers. 

The Denver Jazz Festival is run in a Jazz Party format, focusing on early-era throwback music, with several All-Star artists rotating through bands throughout the weekend. Talented local musicians are mixed in with top name bands to help bolster the local music economy.

Studio Loft at Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1400 Curtis St., Denver and 
Dazzle Denver, 1512 Curtis St., Denver
Fri., 6:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.; Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 2:15 a.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$25

COLORADO SYMPHONY OPENING WEEKEND
What better way than the romance of Rachmaninoff to open the fall season? The Colorado Symphony will present the well-known tour de force, Rachmaninoff’s luscious Symphony No. 2, brimming with emotion and melodies of heart-wrenching beauty! Also on the program are Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 in C and the world-premiere performance of Principal Timpanist William Hill’s latest composition.

Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. & Arapahoe St., Denver
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$89
Phone: 303-623-7876

Saturday, September 15

BABY & KIDS FAIR
If you have babies or kids, you won’t want to miss this event! With $5,000 in giveaways, this fair is worth attending! Bring the kids along for Kids’ Zone, face painting, princesses and superheroes! Food trucks will be on site, as well as quality vendors catering to child-related themes. The entire family will enjoy live music by DJ Staxx.

Belmar, 464 S Teller St., Lakewood 
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE

STEAM FOR ALL
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, and this festival is the place to experience engaging and hands-on STEAM activities dedicated to getting EVERYONE involved. 

Wings Over the Rockies and The Sentinel are partnering with fellow institutions, industry-leaders and experts in STEAM to bring attendees a comprehensive overview of how to get involved in STEAM, what STEAM is, how these fields can be used for personal and career development and, most importantly, how to have fun in these fields! The event is ideal for students age 8 and up.

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE to $5
Phone: 303-360-5360

ENTERTAINER TERRY FATOR
This evening of comedy with Terry Fator promises the unexpected and delightful humor of a genuine variety show. There are the puppets and ventriloquism that made Fator famous when he first appeared on America’s Got Talent 10 years ago, but there are also music, characters and impressions. A portion of the proceeds from the event will support schools and programs for learning disabled children in and around the Denver community.  

Fator has been called a wizard at making inanimate objects come to life. He even has a Donald Trump puppet, which he uses in a non-political way. “I’m not a political guy,” he says. “We have Bill Maher, Dennis Miller, who do that, and we need them to do that. But it’s not my job. My job is to make everybody laugh.”

Bellco Theatre, 700 14th St., Denver
8:00 p.m. 
Tickets: $49.95 – $69.95
Phone: 303-228-8260

Saturday-Sunday, September 15-16

THE KENTUCKY CYCLE – AN EPIC THEATRE EVENT!
This winner of the 1992 Pulitzer Prize is a sweeping epic of three families in eastern Kentucky, spanning 200 years of American history from 1775 to 1975. The show is so big it requires two parts! Fast-paced and finely drawn, the story examines the myths of the American past which have created, for better or worse, the country we are today.

Part One of the play is performed in the afternoon and Part Two in the evening. You may see one or both of the parts on the same day (or spread them out over more than one day), but a separate ticket is required for each part. The Vintage will be serving dinner during intermission at $15 per person. Advanced dinner reservation is required.

Vintage Theatre Productions, 1468 Dayton Street, Aurora
Sat./Sun., Part One: 2:00 p.m.; Part Two: 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $16-$32 per part
Phone: 303-856-7830

Swinging in Southshore

Activities, recreation and entertainment options abound in and around the master-planned community of Southshore. Tour one of the spectacular models from Toll Brothers, Richmond American Homes or Century Communities, three of Colorado’s top home builders. You’ll find ranch and two-story designs in this lakeside community, priced between the upper $300s and the $700s.