Crystal Valley Blog

Take a look at all the family-friendly and FREE activities this weekend in the Castle Rock area! In addition to abundant theatre and music offerings, there are also opportunities to learn something about the universe, human ingenuity, your family heritage, and summer camps and other activities for the kids! You don’t need to venture far to find entertaining and useful events for the entire family!

Thursday-Saturday, April 5-7

LAUGH WITH JOHN HEFFRON
Something of an anomaly in the stand-up comedy world, John Heffron is a comedian whose humor appeals to audiences of all ages as he relates funny anecdotes of his own experiences from childhood to his current life as a family man. His enthusiasm is contagious as he imparts his hard-won wisdom in his stories about growing up.

Energetic and accessible, Heffron was the winner of the second season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has since performed on The Tonight Show, Chelsea Lately, The Late Late Show, as well as on HBO, FX, VH1, A&E, and CMT. He meets up with his wife Rie in their week podcast, The Critical 48, an ongoing discussion about what it’s like for two people who have crazy work schedules and can only meet up each week for about 48 hours. Don’t miss your chance to see one of the few non-offensive comedians out there!

Comedy Works-South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15 and 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $22-30
Phone: 720-274-6800

Thursday-Sunday, April 5-8

DREAM BIG – A 3D MOVIE!
Have you ever stood beneath a skyscraper and stared up it, marveling at what it must have taken to design and build it? Dream Big is a 3D movie that explores and celebrates the wonder of fantastic engineering feats and puts them up there on the big screen so you can see every detail! Narrated by Academy Award® winner Jeff Bridges, Dream Big: Engineering Our World is the first film for Giant Screen theaters that revolves around human ingenuity and engineering.

From the Great Wall of China to underwater robots, solar cars, and sustainable cities, this film shows how engineers push the limits of innovation in unexpected and amazing ways. Marvels big and small are revealed through inspiring stories of human grit and aspiration, and extraordinary 3D visuals fill the screen! At the heart of this inspiring movie is the compassion and creativity that drive engineers to create better lives for people and a more sustainable future for us all.

CU South Denver, 10035 S. Peoria St., Lone Tree
11:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8-$12
Phone: 303-315-9444

FENCES – ON STAGE
“Like being hit by lightning—that’s how I felt watching Fences on Broadway” (Rolling Stone). This poetic, haunting drama about the African-American experience in 1950s Pittsburgh is much more than a history or sociology lesson. It’s a deeply personal story revolving around Troy Maxson, a garbage collector who never had a chance to live his dream of becoming a baseball star. The relationships with his family are at stake when he blocks his son’s chance to become a pro athlete and cheats on his devoted wife, Rose.

Playwright August Wilson, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and a Tony Award, is widely regarded as one of the finest ever to write for the American stage. His authentic and complicated characters are full of the bitterness of forsaken dreams as well as the heartbreaking promises of a flawed man. You may have seen the Academy Award-winning film version, but the original stage play will move you deeply, staying with you long after you leave the theater.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 8:00 p.m., Sat./Sun., 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$60
Phone: 720-509-1000

THE BEST BROADWAY MUSICAL IN A DECADE – FUN HOME 
Growing up in a home that’s different from everyone else’s is hard enough, but for Alison, trying to figure out her puzzle of a father proves to be downright daunting. The smash Broadway musical Fun Home is a refreshingly honest and straightforward look at the idiosyncrasies of family as told through Alison’s memories of her life at three different ages. The innovative score led to multiple 2015 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book of a Musical. 

Based on the best-selling graphic memoir, Fun House is the story of Alison’s struggle to understand her father while also dealing with her own budding sexuality, resulting in a production that is “a rare beauty, extraordinary and heart-gripping” (New York Times). This show is recommended for ages 14+.

Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
Thurs./Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 5:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20-$45
Phone: 719-634-5581

Friday, April 6

TOUR THE UNIVERSE!
Not only kids dream of traversing the skies in search of mystery and majesty! This interactive 3-D presentation is for adults and teens, presented by the Head Space Science Curator of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Dr. Ka Chun Yu. Audience requests are welcome and encouraged on this far-out tour of the universe, exploring the Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy and even venturing into aspects of the Big Bang theory. You’ll leave with stars in your eyes!

James H. LaRue Library, 9292 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 303-791-7323

Friday-Saturday, April 6-7

A MUSICAL ABOUT A HAIRY MAN!

Not much of a go-getter, young Wiley would prefer to sit around his house all day. But his mother pushes him to get up off the couch and go out and do something productive (as mothers are known to do). Wiley’s greatest fears are realized when he’s forced to enter the scary swamp where the dreaded Hairy Man lives, a notorious creature who is said to feast on humans!

Based on a classic Southeastern folktale, Wiley and the Hairy Man imparts native folk wisdom in this tale of summoning courage and facing fears. With the help of his crafty mother and his trusty dog, Wiley comes up with a plan to drive away his nemesis. Full of clever rhymes and catchy tunes, this lively musical about finding strength within is sure to be a family favorite! Appropriate for children ages five and up.

PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
Fri., 6:30 p.m.; Sat., 10:00 a.m.
Tickets: $12
Phone: 303-805-6800

Saturday, April 7

GENEALOGY FAIR
Just who do you think you are? Whether you have a hunch or no clue, this fascinating and free presentation will help you get started on your own personal journey to find your heritage and construct your family tree. A variety of techniques and technology will be introduced, and experts will be on hand to get you pointed in the right direction. No need to register—just drop in at the Highlands Ranch public library to get started!

James H. LaRue Library, 9292 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Information: FREE
Phone: 303-791-7323

FAN-TASTIC FESTIVAL AND COSTUME FAIR
For children and teens, this is a chance to embrace your fandom! Whoever you wish to emulate, you can become! During the first part of the day, this fun celebration of pop culture allows kids of all ages to dress up and participate in geeky games, crafts, a photo booth, a fan art show, a costume parade, and an opportunity to let your inner hero (or villain) shine. Then in the evening, the festival is open for teens only to show off their creative costumes, snap pictures in the photo booth and get crafty.

Lone Tree Library, 10055 Library Way, Lone Tree
1:00-5:00 p.m., ALL AGES; 5:00-8:00 p.m., TEENS ONLY
Registration: FREE
Phone: (303) 791-7323

DUELING PIANOS!
Long before Karaoke machines there were…Dueling Pianos! Real live musicians from Howl at the Moon sit at the keyboards and play your favorite songs all evening! Shout out requests from classic rock to contemporary pop songs and get ready to sing along! You may even find yourself up and dancing as your inner diva comes to life. There is some adult humor involved, so this show is recommended for ages 16+. Snacks and cash bar will be available.

Southridge Rec Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$20
Phone: 303-791-2500

BRIGHTEN YOUR WEEKEND WITH BOSTON BRASS!
There’s nothing like the bright notes of a brass quintet to put a smile on your face! And Boston Brass is among the best brass ensembles in the country, performing playful, one-of-a-kind concerts for over 30 years. With a far-reaching repertoire that spans classical arrangements, burning jazz standards, and the best of original brass quintet works, you are in for a delightful evening of music! Highly-accessible, the ensemble’s quick wit and supreme artistry bridge the gap of classical formality. This event is co-presented with the UCCS Music Program.

Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS, Shockley-Zalabak Theater, 5225 N Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$65
Phone: 719-255-3232

Saturday-Sunday, April 7-8

DRAMA AT THE PHILHARMONIC!
With a sweeping program that includes Ravel’s tumultuous ode to Vienna, and a world-premiere from contemporary composer Enric Palomar, this concert is a must see! Ravel’s La Valse was influenced greatly by the outbreak of World War I, and what had started as a symphonic poem about Vienna quickly became what the composer called “a fantastic and fatefully inescapable whirlpool.” The atmosphere of the music is thoroughly Viennese, but the piece builds and spirals out of control, culminating in a frightening, deathly riot, cut off at the end as if by a bolt of lightning.

As if that weren’t dramatic enough, the program also offers a world-premiere performance featuring acclaimed classical guitarist Sharon Isbin in a composition by Catalan composer Enric Palomar, who is known for blending jazz and flamenco elements into his operas and symphonies. Rounding out the evening of music, the Philharmonic will perform Enescu’s Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 and Rodrigo’s Fantasia Para in Gentilhombre. 

Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs              
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $24-$73
Phone: 719-520-SHOW

Sunday, April 8

SUMMER PLANNING BEGINS NOW!
Get a head start on your kids’ summer activities schedule! The Macaroni Kid Douglas County Summer Camp & Activities Fair is a one-stop event for the local community to give families a chance to see all of the options for children’s activities once school lets out. With over 40 camps and programs, the fair offers you a chance to speak with representatives to find the best fits for your children and their interests.

This FREE event also includes admission to the host museum at CU South Denver, so you and your family can also check out the great exhibits while you’re there! Register in advance to be entered in a drawing to win a $200 gift certificate for the participating camp/activity of your choice. Or just drop in! The first 200 families receive an event bag filled with goodies and special offers. Bring a school supply donation for DCSD’s annual county-wide Lend a Hand School Supply Drive and receive a special treat!

CU South Denver, 10035 S. Peoria St., Lone Tree
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Registration: FREE
Phone: 720-209-5716

Events for the Entire Family in the Crystal Valley Area!

You don’t need to venture far from the Crystal Valley area to find events for the entire family! There are a wide variety of things to do nearby, including free educational events and entertainment. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood and visit the beautiful new models offered by D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes, and Richmond American Homes. Crystal Valley homes are available in ranch and two-story models and priced from the high $300s.