Crystal Valley Blog

Hurry up to get tickets to Rob Schneider and/or Bobby Collins – they’re preselling fast! If drama’s your jam, take in an Agatha Christie play, or you can pick from lots of other fun things to do this weekend! Just minutes from the new home community of Crystal Valley in Castle Rock, you’ll find music, classes, forest hikes and more!

TODAY/TONIGHT: Thursday, April 4

MUSICAL THEATER SUMMER PROGRAMS
Register now for the musical theater summer programs at Spotlight Theater in Castle Rock. It’s a fun and creative program for young people of all ages and includes vocal training, dance and acting lessons, games and a showcase for family and friends when all is said and done. Embrace your inner villain and hero with the Disney Villains camp, two sessions in June for ages 6 to 10; dive into the world of musical theater with the Hi Barbie camp with two sessions in June and July for ages 10 to 15; or explore the thrilling energy of Pop Goes Broadway with two sessions in June and July for ages 11 to 17. These immersive camps celebrate a variety of music and creative learning and performing activities for the actor, singer, dancer or wannabe!

Spotlight Theater, 680 Atchison Way, Suite 100, Castle Rock
Dates and Times 
Tuition: $399
Info: 303-89514615

RECYCLED ART: CALL FOR ENTRIES
If you have an idea and a little talent – plus some reclaimed and rescued items you can repurpose into art, the REMAKE, REUSE, RECYCLE call for entries has been issued by the Parker Arts Center to Artists from across the country. Any and all who create work out of recycled materials PACE is looking for ingenious uses or everyday materials and studio stuff. Two- and three-dimensional works are acceptable. Because sustainability is one of the political hot-buttons this year, we are joining the conversation with positive ways to support artists and the planet through the recycled art movement. Artwork done with recycled materials should encourage viewers to question the sustainability and ecological impact of the artistic process and how we can all leave this planet a better place. There’s a $20 entry fee and the deadline is Sunday, April 7. The jury dates are April 8-12, and the exhibit of the entries at the PACE will start May 18. For more information, click here.

Parker Arts Center, 20000Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
Phone: 303-805-6800

Thursday-Saturday, April 6

BREAKFAST FLY-IN
Join Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight for monthly fly-ins featuring planes, pilots and breakfast! On the first Saturday of every month (weather permitting), enjoy breakfast from a local food truck — Cruz In & Eat, watch aircraft fly in and explore interactive exhibits and simulators. At 11:00 a.m. you can catch an historical presentation about the Doolittle Raid on April 18, 1942, by Steve Steinberger. Mr. Steinberger is a Wings’ volunteer and retired Systems Engineer from Lockheed Martin as well as a 12-year “Air Force Missile Man” veteran. He is a former Mission Pilot with the Civil Air Patrol and now spends his volunteer time at Wings Over Rockies™ Exploration of Flight. This presentation will be worth WINGS credit.

Wings Over the Rockies, 13005 Wings Way, Englewood
9:30 a.m.

Tickets: $6.95-$12-95
Info: 303-360-5360 ext. 160

BOBBY COLLINS
Comedian Bobby Collins has an ability to truthfully translate the human condition. Audiences across the country relate to his comedic characterizations as he exposes the humor of day-to-day situations as well as serving up resplendent rants on world events.

A native New Yorker, Collins possesses a confidence and genuine everyman likeability that can only be earned. As a professional stand-up comedian, he’s worked alongside friends, Chris Rock, Ray Romano and Drew Carey, as well as toured with titans of entertainment like Frank Sinatra, Cher, Julio Iglesias and Dolly Parton. Rosie O’Donnell specifically requested that Bobby take over as host for Stand-Up Spotlight. 

Through his personal appearances at Comedy Clubs, Theaters, Corporate and Charity events, coupled with innumerable television appearances on legendary shows like Letterman, The Tonight Show with both Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno, Collins continues to add new fans of all ages to his loyal base of diehard followers.

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m.; Fri./Sat., 7:15; Sat., 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $19-$27
Phone: 720-274-6800

Friday, April 5

MURDER AND MYSTERY
Lucky you! You’ve been invited to the Dunn Speakeasy for the wedding of the year! In this “married to the mob” event, you’ll never know who to trust. With the two families merging together, someone is bound to lose power, which means someone else will lose their life! 

Get on the trolley and solve this case with your fellow detectives. Dress like the cat’s meow for this mafia wedding! Flapper dresses, zoot suits, feather boas and headbands, pinstriped suits and fedoras are all appropriate. Traditional wedding attire is nifty too!

Food shall be served, and a cash bar will be available! Although all ages are welcome, naughty words may occur so use parental discretion.

Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia 
6:00 p.m. Doors Open/Cash Bar/Tours
7:00 p.m. Appetizers
7:30 p.m. Show Commences
Cost: $78.95 + 3.50 Fee (Reservations Required)
CALL: 303-688-5555

MARIELLE KRAFT 
When you hear Nashville-based Marielle Kraft’s music or experience her candid live shows, you feel as though you already know her. The indie pop singer/songwriter displays craftsmanship beyond her years, like artists Colbie Caillat, Maisie Peters, and Taylor Swift. Self-taught, the Rhode Island native began playing guitar at 16 and soon writing songs that strike chords with listeners everywhere. Her gift for storytelling is evident through her use of salient detail, raw emotion, and poignant word choice to describe moments “exactly as they feel.”

Marielle Kraft regularly plays at venues across the U.S., and the raw authenticity with which Marielle invites listeners into her storied life cultivates a relationship with them beyond the song, as she is known to “bring together a room full of strangers.” Her “winning personality,” “genuine connection”,” and “gift for story telling” on stage have fueled the ever-growing crowds at each of her shows, with no signs of slowing down.

Parker Arts Schoolhouse, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $29
Phone: 303-805-6800

THICK SKIN
Hard R-rating. Thick Skin may not be for everybody, full disclosure.

Thick Skin is notoriously the wildest stand-up show in Colorado. Each month Comedians Mike Stanley (Amazon Prime) and Matt Cobos (High Plains Comedy Fest) host a lineup of comedian all stars from across the map, juxtaposed with a lottery of new comedians where anyone can try their hand at stand-up by signing up. Winners from each category will be crowned “best set of the night”.

First timers, last timers… good comedy will be rewarded, bad comedy will be ridiculed. Thick Skin is a rapid-fire gauntlet of comedians testing their skills to see if they have what it takes to walk away with a cash prize. Voted “A must see show!” ~ Westword. Thick Skin is not one you’ll want to miss!

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $15
Phone: 720-274-6800

Friday-Saturday, April 5-6

AUDIENCE MIXTAPE: CARMINA  BURANA
You take control! These Colorado Springs Philharmonic musicians arrive with an armload of show-stopping favorites. But nothing gets played until YOU – the audience – choose the music. Includes selections from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, the Anvil Chorus, Star Wars, Aida, and so much more.

And the grand finale: O, Fortuna! from the roof-raising Carmina Burana. Directed by Thomas Wilson, with vocals provided by the Colorado Springs Chorale.

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $31-$160
Phone: 719-575-9632

NEXT WEEK: Monday, April 8

THE NATIONAL PARKS
The world’s first national park, Yellowstone, was created by an act of Congress in 1872. Today, the national park system includes over 400 units (63 national parks), over 84 million acres of land, and hosts over 300 million visitors per year. Join Active Minds as we tell the story of the development of our national parks system and highlight some of the more notable parks and their stories.

Castle Pines Library, 360 Village Square Ln., Castle Pines
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Admission: FREE
RSVP: 303-791-7323

Tuesday, April 9

SEEDLINGS: BIG BUBBLE CIRCUS
Mr. Guffaw (Jim Jackson) plays with soap bubbles in every size and form. Bubbles as big as the stage, a bubble containing an audience member or two, a window of bubbles, bubble sculpture, bubbles of glass and even balloon bubbles… add to these a hilarious mix of circus, magic and buffoonery and you have the spell binding chaos of Big Bubble Circus!

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

Thursday, April 11

NAT LOVE AKA DEADWOOD DICK
Renowned graphic novelist R. Allen Brooks presents his latest work, “Nat Love,” a compelling portrayal of the legendary African American cowboy, Nat Love, also known as “Deadwood Dick.”  Brooks will give a brief chat about the permanent exhibit that he created for The Denver Art Museum on Nat Love and the time he spent in Colorado. Brooks will discuss his research and work on creating this piece and take questions from the audience. 

Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock
7:00 p.m.
FREE
Phone: 303-814-3164

VINNIE MONTEZ
As a 20-plus-year veteran of law enforcement, (at least some of that tenure in Boulder) his experiences as a cop and his Mexican heritage are the foundation for his comedy: you just can’t make some of this stuff up. Vinnie got into comedy in 2007 as a means of addressing the stress and trauma of dealing with horrible situations. His first comedy special debut was on Dry Bar Comedy, released in 2019, Vinnie Montez: Armed & Hilarious. For anyone who appreciates cleaner comedy than the X-and-R rated variety – check Vinnie out. He makes fun of everyone from Subaru drivers to millennial cops. Seriously funny.

With a focus on telling funny stories about being a police officer and promoting better mental health for the men and women in blue, he is a favorite at events around the nation.

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Phone: 720-274-6800

Thursday-Sunday, April 11-14

THE MOUSETRAP BY AGATHA CHRISTIE
Murder mystery stories never go out of style and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is no exception! After a local woman is murdered, the guests and staff at Monkswell Manor find themselves stranded during a snowstorm. It soon becomes clear that the killer is among them, and the seven strangers grow increasingly suspicious of one another. A police detective, arriving on skis, interrogates the suspects: the newlyweds; a spinster with a curious background; an architect with chef skills; a retired Army major; a strange little man who claims his car has overturned in a drift; and a jurist who makes life miserable for everyone. When a second murder takes place, tensions and fears escalate. This record-breaking murder mystery features a brilliant surprise finish from Dame Agatha Christie, the foremost mystery writer of her time.

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: $38-$65
Phone: 720-509-1000

Friday, April 12

CHARLOTTE’S WEB
Charlotte’s Web is based on E.B. White’s loving story of the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte. Wilbur has a problem: how to avoid winding up as pork chops! Charlotte, a fine writer and true friend, hits on a plan to fool Farmer Zuckerman. She will create a “miracle.” Spinning the words “Some Pig” in her web, Charlotte weaves a solution which not only makes Wilbur a prize pig but also ensures his place on the farm forever.

This treasured tale, featuring madcap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love and the true meaning of friendship. Purchase the paperback Charlotte’s Web with your tickets! When you arrive at the PACE Center, pick up your book at the Books Are Awesome table before the show. With tax, the total cost of the book is $9.71. 

Parker Arts Center, 20000Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29
Phone: 303-805-6800

SPRING WINE TASTING AT THE CASTLE
Celebrate the arrival of spring with an enchanting wine-tasting experience. The Castle’s knowledgeable hosts, Mary Winkelmann and Natalie Toth, will guide you through a delightful selection of six exquisite spring wines. Sip, savor, and revel in the flavors of the season.

• Event Highlights include: Wine Tasting: Explore a curated collection of wines that capture the essence of spring.
• Charcuterie Appetizers: Enjoy delectable charcuterie appetizers
• Castle Ambiance: Immerse yourself in the centuries-old art and antiques of our beautiful castle setting.
• Dress Code: Elevate your spring style! Think floral dresses, pastel hues, and a touch of elegance as you raise glasses amidst blossoms and vines. 
• A cash bar will be available to purchase additional glasses of wine, and, you may also purchase your favorite bottles to take home. Kindly secure your reservation with the link below. Space is limited, so don’t miss out on this memorable event.
• Cherokee Ranch & Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia 
  6:30 p.m. Doors Open/Cash Bar/Tours
  7:00 p.m. Appetizers
  7:30 p.m. Presentation
  Cost: $59.95 + 3.50 Fee (Reservations Required)
  CALL: 303-688-5555

Friday-Saturday, April 12-13

ROB SCHNEIDER
A household name and a bona-fide comedy star, Rob Schneider is well known for his trademark blend of character and comedic acting, and has become one of the most popular touring acts in comedy. Schneider created and stars in the Netflix docu-series Real Rob, which focuses on the day-to-day hijinks of Rob’s life. The series marks the first time any actor has ever written, produced, starred in, directed and financed an entire season of a television show.

Schneider first came to prominence on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, along with his SNL friends Adam Sandler, Tim Meadows, and David Spade. He starred in some of the top comedy features of the past 20 years including Grown Ups, You Don’t Mess With The Zohan, Big Daddy, and The Waterboy. Rob also starred in the movie Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, which was the second highest grossing DVD in the US in 2000, along with The Hot Chick and The Animal. Rob is also a three-time Emmy winner as part of SNL’s writing staff.

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
Fri., 7:15 & 9:45 p.m.; Sat., 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$55
Phone: 720-274-6800

Saturday, April 13

FOREST BATHING
We know what you’re thinking…it’s not that kind of bathing! Next time you need to relax and connect with nature, though, schedule one of these! A Mountain Walks for Wellness in guided forest bathing, inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin Yoku. Through a series of gentle sensory-awakening invitations, we will explore and share the wonders of Hudson Gardens. We will lead you through grounding meditation practices and finish with a tea gathering. All prompts, invitations, and sharing are open-ended and open to your interpretation.

Discover for yourself the many benefits of forest bathing. Studies have shown that immersing yourself in nature not only enhances your mental clarity, but also boosts your immune system. Forest bathing may help you unwind and relax and has even been known to promote a deeper, more restful night’s sleep. Come and experience Hudson Gardens with all your senses!

Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton
9:00 a.m.
Tickets: $20-$25
Info: 303-797-8565

KAREN MORGAN COMEDY
Born and raised in Athens, Georgia, Karen Morgan is a former trial attorney who began her professional comedy career as a finalist on Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America. Karen has had two Dry Bar Comedy Specials: Rub Some Dirt on It (2023) and Go Dawgs! (2020) and has appeared on comedy TV shows like Gotham Comedy Live. Her latest audio album, Cocktails in Pajamas is now available on streaming platforms. Karen’s clean comedy hits home for all audiences!

One review says it all — “Comedy through the perceptive eye of a wife and mother; prepared with the tenacity of an attorney; and tempered with a dash of southern charm.”

PACE CENTER, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29

Phone: 303-805-6800
NURSES OFF THE CHARTS
SPECIAL NIGHT OUT FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS and all those who love them! Get ready for a de-stressing, gut-busting BLAST with Award Winning Comedian, Nancy Norton, RN. This is a highly interactive show, and whether you work in healthcare or not, Nancy’s funny and outrageous healthcare stories are therapeutic humor at its best. It could be that freaky foreign body story, or a miracle you witnessed, or that shift that went so bad it turned laughable, or that time you actually saved a life or that time a healthcare worker saved YOUR life. 

Nancy Norton is a bi-coastal comedy champion. She is the first woman to win the Prestigious Boston Comedy Festival and is the Champion of the Seattle International Comedy Competition. Nancy’s comedy style is high energy, fast paced and intuitive. Nance is the producer/host of the Tromedy Podcast and has a Dry Bar Comedy Special: Super Dork.You may have seen her on A&E, Nick at Nite, Amazon Prime or on some of her popular TikTok and IG videos @nancynorton.tv

Parker Arts Schoolhouse, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $25
Phone: 303-805-6800

Saturday-Sunday, April 13-14

SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE
The Colorado Springs Philpharmonic Orchestrat presents its spring program with Symphonie Fantastique. The evenings’ program and artists will feature and include: 

• Coleridge-Taylor Danse Nègre
• Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2
• Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
• Earl Lee Conductor
• Stella Chen Violin

Come early for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Pre-Concert talks. Go behind the curtain and inside the score with these 30 minute pre-concert conversations.

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $39-$79
Phone: 719-575-9632

Monday-Tuesday, April 16-17

LITTLE WOMEN
Produced nationally and internationally, Little Women has been praised by critics for its ambition in bringing the timeless, captivating story to vivid musical life on stage. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March, each determined to live life on her own terms. Little Women embodies the complete theatrical experience, leaving audiences filled with a sense of adventure, joy, heartache, and a lifting of the spirit. The powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartbreak, hope, and everlasting love – the sounds of a young America finding its voice.

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $31-$91
Phone: 719-575-9632

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, and Richmond American Homes. Picture yourself in your very own dream house – ranch-style or two-story models priced from the $600s.