Unforgettable Plays AND Return of the Jedi!
February 27, 2020
For one weekend only, the groundbreaking 1996 Broadway musical Rent is in Denver with a 20th Anniversary tour production that brings to life the story of irrepressible young artists trying to make it in New York’s East Village. In neighborhood theatre, you can catch a world-premiere of the amazing story of Einstein and African-American opera singer Marian Anderson—based on a true story. There’s even something for kids—Paw Patrol is in town with their latest stage production!
TODAY/TONIGHT, February 27
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT DISCUSSION
It’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue, but what is the historical Civil Rights Act really all about? This informative and illuminating presentation will give you a better understanding of the landmark piece of federal legislation that was meant to forever change the lives and rights of underrepresented Americans. See what its impact on civil rights has been, over 50 years later.
Sam Gary Branch Library, 2961 Roslyn St., Denver
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Thursday – Saturday, February 27 – 29
RETURN OF THE JEDI IN CONCERT
Go back in time to the third Star Wars movie (the sixth episode in the current Star Wars saga), when Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia had just freed a frozen Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. Darth Vader was getting the Death Star ready to unleash the final blow to the Rebel Alliance, and it was up to the unlikely trio of heroes to launch a desperate attack upon the entire Imperial Fleet and defeat Darth Vader.
It’s true you can catch this movie on your TV, but what makes this event special is a LIVE symphony performance of the score along with the screening of the movie, for an out-of-this world experience! Don’t miss the Colorado Symphony’s passionate rendition of John Williams’ legendary score as you watch what many consider to be the best of the Star Wars episodes!
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. and Arapahoe St., Denver
Thurs./Fri., 7:00 p.m.; Sat., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$94
Phone: 303-623-7876
NETFLIX COMEDIAN MATTEO LANE
Among his many TV appearances, Matteo Lane is instantly recognizable from his stand-up special on Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup. A former opera singer and oil painter in Italy, Lane brings a fresh perspective to the comedy scene! He’s currently developing an animated series, Kickass Drag Queen, together with Bob the Drag Queen, Gary Sanchez and Unicorn Island Productions. He also co-hosts the podcast Inside the Closet together with Emma Willmann.
Lane has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, HBO’s Crashing, and Will & Grace. Not limited to just stand-up, he also performs a live cabaret, Streisand at the Bon Soir, to great critical acclaim.
Comedy Works-Downtown, 1226 15th St., Denver
Thurs., 8:00 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$23
Phone: 303-595-3637
Thursday – Sunday, February 27 – March 1
THE GARDEN AND HOME SHOW
If you are dreaming of lush green lawns and gardens full of fragrant blooms, make your dreams come true this weekend at Colorado’s largest garden and home show! With two-for-one admission on Thursday, it’s also a bargain!
The Rocky Mountain region’s oldest and most prestigious spring show for DIYers and gardeners alike promises to get you up to speed when it comes to all the newest and best in home gardening and home improvement. You’ll discover all the latest trends while enjoying a stroll through more than an acre of professionally landscaped gardens. With dozens of experts on hand, you’ll also be able to get advice about all your project ideas.
Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver
Thurs./Fri., 12:00-7:00 p.m.; Sat., 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 10:00 a.m.-
6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $10-$12
Phone: 303-932-8100
FINAL WEEKEND FOR TWENTY50
As one of the plays workshopped in last year’s New Play Summit Festival, this thought-provoking political drama is a Colorado theatre success story! In the not-too-distant future, America will have a new racial majority, and as part of that new majority, Andres Salazar is running for office. In Twenty50, nothing is certain for Salazar. Will identifying himself as a Mexican-American will help or hinder him on Election Day? If he decides to deny his identity for political benefits, is it worth the price?
Space Theatre, 14th and Curtis, Denver
Thurs., 6:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $30
Phone: 303-571-4401
Friday – Saturday, February 28-29
CABARET WITH HARRY BELLAFONTE
One weekend only! This special finale of the Fox Cabaret Series is a tribute to the legendary Harry Bellafonte, featuring a local performer you know and love! Leonard Barrett, Jr. was most recently celebrated as the 2019 recipient of Best Actor in a Musical in the December Westword, for the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago.
Barrett brings the same charisma, sophistication and charm to the stage as he embodies the “King of Calypso,” Harry Bellafonte!
Bellafonte was one of the most successful Jamaican-American pop stars in history, and his breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $28
Phone: 303-873-6622
Friday – Sunday, February 28 – March 1
SCREENING SIDE STORIES
This exciting evening of art brings cinema outdoors—to the sides of buildings in the RiNo Art District. This signature FREE event is a cross between a festive street party, an immersive art show, and a cinema screening!
Side Stories // RiNo features original large-format short films projected nightly on Denver’s walls along 36th Avenue. Eight Colorado artists will be featured on the art walk, and you can enjoy food and drink deals from participating local breweries, restaurants and distilleries.
RiNo Art District, 3525 Walnut St., Denver
6:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: FREE
Phone: 309-830-2615
RENT’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
The fresh, original rock musical that changed American theatre forever, Rent is a contemporary re-imagining of Puccini’s La Boheme that takes place in New York City’s East Village. The musical seemingly came out of nowhere in 1996, the heartfelt creation of little-known composer Jonathan Larson, and it has been shining bright in the two decades since.
For one weekend only, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning masterpiece returns to the stage in a vibrant 20th anniversary touring production, following an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. With its inspiring message of joy and hope in the face of fear, this timeless celebration of friendship and creativity reminds us to measure our lives with the only thing that truly matters—love.
Buell Theatre, 14th and Curtis, Denver
Fri./Sat./Sun., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$135
Phone: 303-571-4401
AMAZING PLAY BASED ON A TRUE STORY
Two iconic figures came together in a most unusual way at a time when the world was being turned upside down in so many ways. The intriguing Secrets of the Universe takes place in 1937 and imagines the conversation between Albert Einstein and the internationally-renowned classical singer Marian Anderson.
Anderson was appearing in a concert at Princeton where Einstein was a professor, but because she was African-American, she could not get a hotel room in town, so Einstein invited her to stay at his home. While the original production of the drama was a musical, this is the world premiere of the non-musical version of the show!
Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12-$37
Phone: 303-873-6622
A FAMILY DRAMA WITH HEART
Marvin’s Room is a warm, funny and totally human drama that tells the story of two sisters who have grown apart over the decades. Lee and Bessie couldn’t be more different—Bessie has become the caretaker for their father and his soap opera-obsessed sister, while Lee has moved away. But when Bessie is diagnosed with leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant to survive, both sisters are reunited.
Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $32
Phone: 303-856-7830
Saturday – Sunday, February 29 – March 1
PAW PATROL RACES TO THE RESCUE!
If your kids are Paw Patrol fans, don’t miss this opportunity to take them to see the whole gang of pups in a brand-new live stage show, Race to the Rescue. It’s the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race between Adventure Bay’s Mayor Goodway and Foggy Bottom’s Mayor Humdinger, but Mayor Goodway is nowhere to be found.
Paw Patrol to the rescue! All the pups join Ryder to rescue Mayor Goodway and to run the race in her place. Using their unique skills and teamwork, the pups show that “no job is too big, no pup is too small.”
Bellco Theatre, 700 14th St., Denver
10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $23-$134
Phone: 303-228-8260
Sunday, March 1
MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO ELLIS ISLAND
The incredibly talented Denver Young Artists Orchestra take the stage to celebrate one of the most powerful aspects of our country—our identity as an immigrant nation. The musicians will perform Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America with actors from the PHAMALY Theatre Company providing first-person narrations of seven immigrants who entered the United States through Ellis Island between 1910 and 1940. A powerful projected image show will complete the collaboration. The performance will also feature Beethoven’s 5th Symphony!
Boettcher Concert Hall/DCPA, Speer Blvd. and Arapahoe St., Denver
2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$20
Phone: 303-623-7876
Family-Friendly Activities Near Southshore!
There’s always something to do near the family-friendly community of Southshore! Enjoy Life at the Lake with plenty of cultural and entertainment activities in the surrounding area! Check out the beautiful model homes from Richmond American Homes, Toll Brothers, and Taylor Morrison, and picture yourself in your very own dream house! With ranch and two-story models available, new homes are priced from the upper $400s to the $700s.