Crystal Valley Blog

There’s plenty to do this weekend and next in Castle Rock and nearby locales! The Empress of Soul performs in nearby Colorado Springs, Third Eye Blind and Toto, too. And the first inaugural Castle Rock Film Festival is happening just minutes from the new home community of Crystal Valley. Check out all the music, comedy, theatrical performances, celebrity appearances and more this weekend and beyond!

TODAY/TONIGHT: Thursday, April 6

GLADYS KNIGHT
The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, got her start at age 7 winning the very popular Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour TV show competition. The following year, she, her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William and Eleanor Guest formed a musical group called The Pips. After several successful years and a successful 1988 tour, the Pips retired and Gladys Knight began a career as a solo artist. Gladys Knight & the Pips were later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Gladys joined Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John on the Grammy-winning 1986 AIDS benefit single, “That’s What Friends Are For”. In 1989, Gladys recorded the title track for the James Bond movie Licence to Kill, a top-10 hit both in the UK and Germany. During the 80s and 90s, Gladys appeared on Benson, The Jeffersons, A Different World, Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show and New York Undercover. 

Gladys Knight’s third solo LP, Good Woman, was released in 1991. It rose to #1 on the R&B album chart and featured the R&B hit “Men”. Her fourth solo LP, Just for You, went gold and was nominated for a 1995 Grammy. 

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $39
Phone: 719-575-9632

Thursday-Saturday, April 6-8

RUSSELL PETERS
“In the future, there won’t be any more black or white, or brown and white; everyone will just be beige.” – Russell Peters

In comedian Russell Peters’ case, “success” may be a drastic understatement. From a solidly working-class family, Russell Peters learned the value of levity from his father and his own observations on the family’s struggles with racism and multicultural differences. Peters started doing stand-up at the age of 19 and spent the next 15 years honing his craft.

Peters gained critical and global recognition for his CTV Comedy Now! special, which wound up on YouTube. That upload launched a new level of fame and unforeseen success. It also led to larger and larger shows in arenas across the United States, and around the world.

Since that time Peters has released five stand-up specials on Showtime, Comedy Central and Netflix; and has appeared on the CBS hit show Life in Pieces and has in several feature films including The Clapper, Ripped, The Jungle Book, Source Code, Breakaway, and Girl In Progress. Peters has also appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Lopez Tonight, and Def Comedy Jam.

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15 & 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$45
Phone: 720-274-6800

Saturday, April 8

HOP AND SHOP
Easter is this Sunday and in anticipation of that miraculous holiday the Outlets at Castle Rock is hosting an afternoon of free family fun. You’ll see ponies and piggies at a petting zoo, free photos with the life-sized bunny, face-painting and a scavenger hunt. 

OUTLETS, 5050 Factory Shops Blvd., Castle Rock
1:00-3:00 p.m.

RUM TASTING
Join your neighbors and friends to tip your hats and glasses, for an amazing Barrel Aged Rum Tasting! Today’s barrel-aged rums have flavor profiles equally as diverse and intriguing as those of many fine Single Malt Scotches, Cognacs, Brandys, and Bourbons. Hop aboard as to tour tantalizing rums through the spyglass of the Eastern Caribbean Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, and the Bahamas. There is a great deal to explore in barrel-aged Rum, with its rich history of pirate and seafaring, which may explain its growing popularity.

Bring a date, a group of friends, a work group or share this great night of fun with your family members at Cherokee Ranch and Castle. The five tastings will be accompanied by heavy appetizers. A cash bar is available with wine, prosecco, beer, and whiskey specials, as well. Reservations are required and non-refundable.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia 
6:30-7:30 p.m. Doors; Cash Bar
7:00 p.m. Appetizers; 7:30 p.m. Presentation
Cost: $79.75 + $3.50 fee (Reservations Required)
CALL: 303-688-5555

THIRD EYE BLINID
 California alt-rock outfit Third Eye Blind are known for their bright, melodic sound, bringing together a mix of post-grunge and classic pop/rock traditions. The group scored their first hit in 1997 when their debut single “Semi-Charmed Life” cracked the Top Ten, helping push the “self” titled Third Eye Blind to number 25 on the Billboard 200. The band built upon that success, releasing albums like 1999’s Blue and 2003’s Out of the, both which continued to earn Alternative chart attention and spawn singles like “Anything,” “Never Let You Go,” and “Blinded (When I See You).” 

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
9:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $39
Phone: 719-575-9632

A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS & STRANGELOVE
As well-known for their bizarrely teased haircuts as their hit single “I Ran (So Far Away),” A Flock of Seagulls was one of the infamous one-hit wonders of the new wave era. Growing out of the synth-heavy and ruthlessly stylish new romantic movement, A Flock of Seagulls were a little too robotic and arrived a little too late to be true new romantics, but their sleek dance-pop was forever indebted to the short-lived movement. The group benefitted considerably from MTV’s heavy rotation of the “I Ran” video in the summer of 1982.

Truly evocative of a Depeche Mode arena/stadium stage show; the scale of STRANGELOVE’s theatrical stage production is unparalleled, save for the real article. Custom-produced multimedia projection visuals delight the concertgoer’s senses and enhance the illusion that they’re witnessing an actual Depeche Mode concert.

STRANGELOVE –The Depeche Mode Experience brings a thoroughly enjoyable and staggeringly authentic DM concert to concertgoers, and connects with international audiences, wherever the group performs.

Parker Arts Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $34-$49
Phone: 303-805-6800

Sunday, April 9

TOTO: DOGZ OF OZ TOUR
The DOGZ OF OZ WORLD TOUR is presented by Toto co-founder and musical director David Paich. Joining Steve Lukather and Joseph Williams on the road are new band members bassist John Pierce (Huey Lewis and The News), drummer Robert “Sput” Searight (Ghost- Note), and keyboardist / background vocalist Steve Maggiora (Robert Jon & The Wreck). Keyboardist Dominique “Xavier” Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note) and multi-instrumentalist / vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr) segued over to this incarnation of the band. 

Collectively TOTO has over two billion streams worldwide on all streaming services. Just last year one of their biggest hits “Africa” went from being a Platinum single to being recently recertified 6X Platinum. The band has found a new generation of fans and is the benchmark by which many artists base their sound and production, and they continue to transcend the standards set by the entire music community, being simply synonymous with musical credibility. They are pop culture and are one of the few 70’s bands that have endured the changing trends and styles continuing to remain relevant while enjoying their multi-generational global fan base.

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
6:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $49
Phone: 719-575-9632

NEXT WEEK: Tuesday, April 11

SEEDLINGS: BUSKER AND ME
Don’t miss the adventures of Busker, the mischievous circus dog, and his bumbling sidekick, Mr. Art Guffaw. Together they turn the circus upside down in this laugh out loud performance complete with puppetry, juggling, magic and hilarious stunts. It won’t be long before you’re cheering for this very “bad” dog and his outrageous antics.

Seedlings is a family program designed to engage parents and young children in arts, culture, and science at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Everyone in attendance must have a ticket – children that are 12 months and younger require a free ticket. Please call the Box Office to make arrangements. 

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
9:30 & 11:00 a.m.
Tickets: $5
Phone: 720-509-1000

Wednesday, April 12

12 O’CLOCK TALES
The American cabaret — imported from France and performed primarily in speakeasies during the Prohibition era — is the perfect format for Kenny Moten, whose career as a performer was polished on stages across the country. Just as those early cabarets centered on jazz and storytelling, Moten’s 12 O’Clock Tales: An Afternoon of Songs and Stories melds music with captivating background tales in a one-man performance. This collection of songs, stories, poems, and quotes span the genres of jazz and musical theater. Moten delivers an unforgettable performance that bridges generations of music and takes audiences on a timeless journey.

Arts in the Afternoon is a monthly hour-long program that usually takes place once a month on a Wednesday afternoon at 1:30pm. The series features some of the finest classical, jazz, opera, and other musicians from the metro Denver area. Each show includes a significant educational component, with the professional musicians or their narrators sharing historical and artistic insights about the music they play. You can enjoy complimentary refreshments and conversation with artists after each performance.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $22
Phone: 720-509-1000

THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC
More than 100 years ago, the unsinkable Molly Brown boarded the RMS Titanic, a luxury steamship on its maiden voyage. Off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic, the flawed steamship sideswiped an iceberg and sank with more than 2,240 passengers and crew on board. It was a night to remember, and a night that no one who survived would ever forget. In this presentation, learn about how and why the Titanic sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912

Parker Arts Schoolhouse, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
6:30 p.m.
Free Lecture
Phone: 303-805-6800

Thursday, April 13

MUSIC CITY HIT-MAKERS
“Geniuses who have mastered their craft and love sharing their lives through music.” —The Columbusite

Get ready for rollicking, rousing performances by some of the most famous people you’ve never heard of! 

Music City Hit-Makers are the Nashville songwriters behind the stars that have written hit upon hit for the likes of Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Chris Stapleton, Tim McGraw and many, many more! You will hear stories behind some of the biggest Nashville hits, performed by the songwriters themselves, backed by the sublime sound of symphonic strings, piano and upright bass! It’s true a one-of-a-kind acoustic music experience!

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $41-$55
Phone: 720-509-1000

Thursday-Sunday, April 13-16

WHERE WE BELONG
In 2015, a Mohegan theatre-maker moves to England to pursue a PhD in Shakespeare, grappling with the question of what it means to remain or leave, as the Brexit vote threatens to further disengage the UK from the wider world. Moving between nations that have failed to reckon with their ongoing roles in colonialism, Achokayis finds comfort in the journeys of their Native ancestors who had to cross the ocean in the 1700s to help their people. In this intimate and exhilarating solo piece directed by Mei Ann Teo, Sayet asks us what it means to belong in an increasingly globalized world.

Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $43.50
Info: 719-634-5583

Friday, April 14

SINATRA TRIBUTE: HE’S BAAAACK
He’s BACK….the legendary….the one, the only….Sinatra Sensation and he’s LIVE.

Derek Evilsizor is back by very popular demand for a dazzling show at Cherokee Ranch & Castle. Grab your Rat Pack peeps, and get ready to swing and swagger for the best Sinatra show in the country. Doppelganger, Derek Evilsizor is high energy, with off-the- charts charm and good humor as he engages everyone with his truly uncanny impersonation of a young Frank Sinatra. Retro skinny ties, hats, and little black dresses are encouraged for a nostalgic trip to the Las Vegas strip! Event includes delicious charcuterie appetizers and please note: reservations are required and non-refundable.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia
Doors/Bar Opens: 6:00 p.m.
Appetizers: 7:00 p.m.; Show: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $79.75 + Service Fee
Box Office: 303-688-5555

DUELING PIANOS!
Whether or not they are friends in real life, mercy is the last thing on their mind when fighting on stage. Winning audience hearts is the only thing that counts!

The brainchild of internationally acclaimed pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis, the PIANO BATTLE sees the duo go head-to-head on stage, charming and enchanting the audience with a variety of classical pieces. The show is divided into several rounds, each featuring a certain musical style. The two artists, with distinctly different performance techniques, will even go so far as to improvise on the tunes you request.

Part serious classical recital, part tongue-in-cheek performance by two classy pianists…YOU crown the winner at the end of the night with your votes!

Parker Arts Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29 (starting price)
Phone: 303-805-6800

AN EVENING WITH LAURA BENANTI
“Benanti’s ridiculous range and exuberant talent lets her roam seamlessly through the musical landscape in a way that few other performers working today can.” – The Daily Beast

Tony® Award-winner and five-time Tony Award® nominee Laura Benanti is a highly celebrated stage and screen actress. Benanti can currently be seen in Netflix’s Worth starring opposite Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan, as well as in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s film Tick, Tick…Boom! Since making her Broadway debut at the age of 18 in The Sound of Music, Benanti has gone on to star in numerous musicals and stage plays, including My Fair Lady, Meteor Shower, She Loves Me, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and Into the Woods. Benanti earned the 2008 Tony® Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her revelatory portrayal of Louise in Gypsy opposite Patti LuPone.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$65
Phone: 720-509-1000

Friday-Saturday, April 14-15

FIRST EVER CASTLE ROCK FILM FESTIVAL
The Castle Rock Artist Cooperative is proud to present its first-ever, first-annual Castle Rock Film Festival. The film festival will include experimental films, short films, documentaries and music videos from independent filmmakers in Castle Rock and around the Colorado Front Range.

Theater of Dreams, 735 Park St., C, Castle Rock
5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Info: 303-660-6799

BLACK PANTHER 
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther became a global sensation, showing a new dimension of what superhero films could be. In this live-cinema event, relive the excitement of T’Challa becoming king and battling Killmonger accompanied LIVE by the Philharmonic performing Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar®-winning score. Josep Cabbalé-Dom conducting.

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $40
Phone: 719-575-9632

Saturday, April 15

BRAD WILLIAMS
Brad Williams has appeared on umpteen TV shows including Live at Gotham, The Tonight Show, Dave Attell’s Comedy Underground, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. His first one-hour special, Fun Size, was the highest rated on Showtime, and a year later, he followed that up with his second special, Daddy Issues. Most recently, Williams recorded a new half-hour special for Netflix’s upcoming stand-up comedy showcase The Degenerates.

An accomplished actor, Williams has appeared on numerous TV shows, including FX’s Legit, Sam and Cat, Mind of Mencia, Pitboss, and a recurring role on the Hulu original show Deadbeat. 

Brad’s ability to make humorous and inspiring observations on disability, relationships, sex, and race are consistently winning over audiences – five of his six Denver shows have already sold out!!!

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
3:45 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$45
Phone: 720-274-6800

MURDER & MYSTERY 
It’s 1957 and the Easter celebrations are underway in Mousehole. The mayor has decided to make it one to remember! The daffodils are blooming, the animals are birthing, and the Morris dancers have come out to play. Join the town for their celebration of spring! Let’s just hope the revelries aren’t cut short by… MURDER! Hypothetically speaking, of course. But if anyone should kick the bucket, Detective Pinkney Polkinhorne is on the scene. That is to say, it won’t get solved without some help from you! Join the Mayor of Mousehole, Detective Polkinhorne, and a colorful cast of characters for a night you won’t soon forget.

As this is a springtime celebration, dress for a garden party with fancy hats and spring dresses galore! No matter the weather or the time of day, it’s always a pleasant spring afternoon somewhere, unless it’s summer or winter, of course. Food shall be served, and a cash bar will be available! Although all ages are welcome, naughty words may occur so use your parental discretion.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia
Doors/Bar Opens: 6:00 p.m.
Appetizers: 7:00 p.m.; Show: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $74.00 + Service Fee
Box Office: 303-688-5555

MEAGHAN FARRELL
From heartbreak to healing, from injustice to empowerment, from anxiety to confidence, this American/Pop singer-songwriter shares it all through music that speaks of day-to-day living, the struggles, the conflict, and the inevitable surge of happiness we discover on the way to our dreams.

Each Uncharted Series event will feature a separate, pre-concert beer or wine flight paired with a locally sourced dessert that may be enjoyed in the lobby or near the firepit on our outdoor patio from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Simply add to your cart at checkout for an additional $15.

Parker Arts Schoolhouse, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29 (starting price)
Phone: 303-805-6800

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN CELEBRATION
Celebrate the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein in this concert with the multi-talented members of the Parker Chorale. Known for beloved showtunes you’ll know by heart from such stage and screen classics as The Sound Of Music, Carousel, Oklahoma!, and more, Rodgers and Hammerstein helped define Broadway as we know it today.

Join this extraordinary evening of heartwarming melodies as the Parker Chorale performs Rodgers and Hammerstein favorites, with some fun surprises along the way!

Parker Arts Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $24 (starting price)
Phone: 303-805-6800

HOLISTIC EXPO & CREATIVE MARKET
Come and connect with a transformative group of practitioners and artisans committed to a path of awakening and supporting the community in the south corridor of the Denver metro area. Spirituality with an Artsy Twist! 

Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Rd., Castle Rock
Sat. 10:00 a.m.-Sun. 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Info: 303-660-7400

Saturday-Sunday, April 15-16

YOUTH BALLET: SNOW WHITE
Littleton Youth Ballet, the non-profit youth ballet company associated with Littleton Ballet Academy will be presenting the original ballet Snow White. Performances are presented with beautiful backdrops, full sets, and costumes. Enjoy the crazy antics of the seven dwarves and the beauty of Snow White as she escapes through the forest away from the Evil Queen. This production is family-friendly and is the perfect way to introduce your children to the ballet.

Littleton Youth Ballet is Littleton’s only non-profit youth ballet company. They aim to provide their 86 young dancers (ages 8 to 18) a caring and respectful environment that offers each dancer quality performance experience to enable them to reach their fullest potential, not only as dancers but in all areas of life. 

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
Sat., 6:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 & 5:00 p.m.
Tickets: $5-$40
Phone: 720-509-1000

Things to Do Near Crystal Valley!

Enjoy life in Castle Rock within minutes from the master-planned community of Crystal Valley – where nature is around every corner of the neighborhood! Looking for a new home you can add your signature style to? Check out the beautiful model homes from Kauffman Homes, Taylor Morrison, D.R. Horton, Richmond American Homes, and Century Communities. Picture yourself in your very own dream house – ranch-style or two-story models priced from the $600s.