Fine Wine, Fine Food and Fine Tunes – This Weekend!
With several quartets, philharmonic and jazz concerts in the area—including the incomparable Branford Marsalis!—music lovers are in for a treat this weekend! Also playing around Castle Rock are award-winning plays, children’s theatre, a local home and garden show, and the 23rd annual Pikes Peak Food, Wine and Beer Expo!
Thursday-Sunday, April 12-15
CLASSIC AMERICAN THEATRE – FENCES
Fences is a deeply personal family drama by the renowned August Wilson—one of American’s finest playwrights. This poetic, haunting story about the African-American experience in 1950s Pittsburgh revolves around Troy Maxson, a garbage collector who never had a chance to live his dream of becoming a baseball star. Maxson’s bitterness and disillusionment fuel his choices concerning his own family, leading to a desperate move to stand in the way of his son’s athletic career.
Winner of two Pulitzer Prizes and a Tony Award®, Fences is widely regarded as a must-see classic of American theatre. Wilson’s authentic and complicated characters are full of forsaken dreams as well as the heartbreaking promises of people who refuse to give up. This play will move you deeply, and stay 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
Friday, April 13
NEGRO LEAGUES PRESENTATION
In conjunction with the Lone Tree Arts Center production of Fences, a special multi-media presentation by the president of the famed Negro Leagues Baseball Museum will give you relevant context for the setting of August Wilson’s famous play. Bob Kendrick is the prominent expert and spokesperson about the role the Negro Leagues played not only in baseball history, but American history as well. He’ll share stories of some of the legendary players in the Negro Leagues and how their passion changed the sport forever.
Kendrick was named president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) in March 2011. Founded in 1990, the NLBM is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African-American baseball and its profound impact on the social advancement of America.
Lone Tree Arts Center, Event Hall, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10
Phone: 720-509-1000
KIDS’ THEATRE ABOUT BOY’S BEST FRIEND
Kids will delight in this musical tale of a boy and his canine buddy! Based on the best-selling book series by Cynthia Rylant, Henry and Mudge is the story of a boy who moves from the city to the country and has a hard time adjusting.
Henry misses his best friend, Annie, and can’t find a new playmate in his neighborhood. Luckily, Mom and Dad buy him a great big, slobbery dog, Mudge, to share his adventures. But when Annie comes for a visit, Henry is torn—can he have two best friends? Come see this Theatreworks USA musical to find out!
PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12
Phone: 303-805-6800
Friday-Saturday, April 13-14
GET PATRIOTIC – PHILHARMONIC STYLE!
A musical look at what it means to be American, this multi-media theatrical philharmonic concert explores America’s past to understand the present. By way of America’s crossroads and cultural byways, this concert reveals the roots of our great nation!
The program includes Morton Gould’s timeless American Salute; a segment titled The Golden Age of Americana with selections by Copland, Pryor and Clarke; and concludes with the sweeping theatrical presentation of Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America, an appreciation of the historic immigrant experience as part of the American Dream. Be ready to be dazzled and moved by this authentic look at the American experience!
Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $24-$73
Phone: 719-520-SHOW
Friday-Sunday, April 13-15
LAUGH WITH CRAIG ROBINSON FROM THE OFFICE
If you’re a fan of The Office, you know Craig Robinson as Darryl Philbin, the sarcastic Dunder-Mifflin employee. Robinson has much more to bring as he tours the country with his comedy and music shows! Robinson first made his mark in the comedy circuit back in the late ’90s at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. He went on to perform his act on The Jimmy Kimmel Show and Real Time with Bill Maher.
His shows include lyrical comedy, making use of his pianistic talent, and sometimes include sets with his band, The Nasty Delicious. Either way, the results are raucous laughter and appreciation for musical comedy on stage!
Comedy Works-South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
Fri./Sat., 7:15 and 9:45 p.m.; Sun., 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $39-$50
Phone: 720-274-6800
Saturday, April 14
POST-CLASSICAL MASTERPIECE – THE RIVER!
To see the string quartet ETHEL in action is to witness great passion and energetic musicianship! The genre-defying group has been crossing boundaries for decades in pursuit of their unconventional music projects and unlikely alliances. Dubbed the “avatar of post-classical music” by The New York Times, the group has ventured far beyond the norm with electronics and amplification, working with such trail-blazing artists as David Byrne, Thomas Dolby, and Joe Jackson.
In this exciting collaborative concert, ETHEL joins with three-time Grammy Award®‐winner Robert Mirabal to create a culturally rich and inspiring musical tour de force. Mirabal is a world-renowned flautist who finds inspiration in the culture of his Native American heritage. The River fuses Mirabal’s mastery of the flute and native storytelling with the plucked and bowed string creations from ETHEL’s quartet, resulting in an intricate and exuberant soundscape. The River is fine creative music born out of diverse cultural influences, artistic experimentation, and mutual respect. Don’t miss your chance to try something new! Come see this adventurous installment of Parker Arts’ Uncharted Music series!
Schoolhouse Theater, 19650 E. Main St., Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $34
Phone: 303-805-6800
FRESH TAKE WITH THE HARLEM QUARTET
In a concert featuring traditional repertoire by Grieg and Mozart, the Harlem Quartet brings a fresh attitude to the well-known compositions. Praised by The New York Times for its “panache,” the Harlem Quartet is on a mission to advance diversity, engaging young and new audiences through the presentation of a varied repertoire that includes works by minority composers.
If you haven’t yet seen the new Entertainment Center for the Arts at UCCS, you are in for a treat! The stunning contemporary architecture adds to the enjoyment of the top-rate classical concerts held in its halls!
Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS, Chapman Foundations Recital Hall, 5225 N Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$50
Phone: 719-255-3232
Saturday-Sunday, April 14-15
LOCAL HOME AND GARDEN EXPO
Are you looking for enhancements for your home to make it your own—inside or out? Everything you need to make it a happy place can be found at the Home and Garden Expo! Whether you need ideas for window treatments, paint and stain solutions, basement finishing, or landscaping, you will be able to explore many options right here in the Highlands Ranch area!
Local suppliers will be showcasing their services and products all in one location, so you can take the guesswork out of your home projects by finding top-rated companies for all your needs! Great prizes, giveaways and demonstrations, too!
Eastridge Rec Center, 9568 University Blvd., Highlands Ranch
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Phone: 303-791-2500
Sunday, April 15
PIKES PEAK FOOD, WINE & BEER EXPO!
All the best tastes in Southern Colorado come together in the 23rd annual Pikes Peak Food, Wine & Beer Expo. Enjoy the Chef’s Competition, where the best chefs in the Pikes Peak Region duke it out as they create an appetizer or entrée with secret ingredients! Browse and graze at all of the food booths, then vote for your favorite! Enjoy a mini-take on a Brew Fest with more than 15 local breweries! There’s also a Craft Cocktail Competition where you can weigh in on the best cocktail creations!
A silent auction offers a chance to bid on trips, exclusive dinners, tours and more! This event is recommended for ages 21 and older, and ID checks will be in full effect.
Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35
Phone: 719-520-SHOW
VERONIKA STRING QUARTET
You won’t want to miss the group the Denver Post calls “one of the five best quartets in the state.” The Veronika String Quartet hails from Moscow but has become a beloved part of the chamber music scene in Colorado. By recording and broadcasting for Colorado Public Radio, these veteran performers have single-handedly revitalized the chamber music scene in the region.
Recognized throughout the state of Colorado, the quartet has appeared frequently on NPR’s Colorado Spotlight series and regularly receives grants from the Colorado Council on the Arts for launching its own popular and critically-acclaimed concert series in Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Known for its innovative programming, the Quartet is committed to performing a wide range of music, from beloved classics to neglected masterpieces.
Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18-$20
Phone: 719-634-5581
AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS
Top off your weekend with the unparalleled talent of Branford Marsalis! NEA Jazz Master, renowned Grammy Award®‐winning saxophonist and Tony Award® nominee Branford Marsalis is one of the most revered instrumentalists of his time. The Branford Marsalis Quartet, led by Marsalis himself, is one of the most innovative and forward‐thinking jazz ensembles around today!
In this concert featuring the quartet’s most recent recording, Four MFs Playin’ Tunes, the song takes center stage. The band members bring their considerable musicianship to the table, but they collectively focus on each tune as an important musical entity unto itself. The result is a showcase of “complex original tunes that are thoroughly modern while referencing past jazz masters” (Associated Press).
PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $64-$69
Phone: 303-805-6800
Music, Theatre and More near Crystal Valley!
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. If you venture to Castle Rock stop by and tour the beautiful new models offered by D.R. Horton, Kauffman Homes, and Richmond American Homes. The new Crystal Valley homes are available in ranch and two-story models and priced from the high $300s.
