Crystal Valley Blog

From Tom Papa to Dancing with the Stars, singer Richard Marx to cake master Duff, this weekend is FULL of things to do near Castle Rock, with athletic events to watch, entertainers to see and musicians to enjoy. Things are opening back up all over town, but some still require masks and vaccination proof, so be sure to check the guidelines before you go!

TODAY/TONIGHT: Thursday, March 3

TOM PAPA LIVE!
With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country finding success as an author, in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on the live stage. Tom recently released his second book, You’re Doing Great! – And Other Reasons To Stay Alive, which was the follow-up to “Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas” both making Summer Must Read”lists from Parade Magazine to The New York Post. Tom is also a contributing writer to the New Yorker Magazine.

Tom has four hour-long stand-up specials, the latest Tom Papa: You’re Doing Great! was a wildly successful Netflix Original. His other critically acclaimed specials include Human Mule, Freaked Out and Tom Papa Live in New York City, two of which were directed by Rob Zombie.

He is a regular guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and Tom’s own podcast, Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, features Tom and his guest for an hour of eating, drinking and enjoying life. Listeners are invited to take a seat at the table as Tom and his guests celebrate the true meaning of breaking bread with insightful, revealing and always funny conversations.

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

LONE TREE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Performing with the LTSO in this exciting program is the Principal Violist of the Colorado Symphony, Basil Vendryes. You will also enjoy Tchaikovsky’s “Marche Slave,” selections from Fiddler on the Roof, and more!

CLICK HERE FOR A PROGRAM FOR THIS PERFORMANCE. The Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra is a first-class community orchestra performing orchestral music in the city of Lone Tree and South Metro Denver.

At the request of the artist, masks are required at this performance. You must wear a mask to enter the building and masks must be worn in all spaces. Concessions will be open and drinks will be allowed in the theater, but masks must be worn at all times if not actively drinking.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $14-$26
Phone: 720-509-1000

AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN
Based on the Oscar-winning film, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN is the timeless love story that celebrates triumph over adversity. Zack Mayo has the raw talent and strength for the US Navy’s Officer Training School; but his arrogance is out of step. Graduating from the elite program will secure Zack’s career and future, but can he endure the relentless commands of Drill Sergeant Foley? On his journey of self-discovery, Zack finds comfort in the arms of a strong-willed local factory worker. When tragedy befalls a fellow candidate, Zack learns the importance of friendship and honor, finds the courage to be his best self and wins the heart of the woman he loves. The new musical features an iconic score including the Grammy and Oscar-winning #1 hit “Up Where We Belong” (Joe Cocker/Jennifer Warnes), and your favorite 80’s hits including:  “Higher Love” (Steve Winwood), “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (Yes), “Love is a Battlefield” and “Invincible” (Pat Benatar), “Lost In Your Eyes” (Debbie Gibson), “Right Here Waiting” (Richard Marx), “Venus” (Bananarama), “I Can’t Hold Back” (Survivor), “Never Surrender” (Corey Hart), “Do The Walls Come Down” (Carly Simon), “Fly By Night” (Rush), “Hold On to Your Dream (Rick Springfield), “Overkill” (Men at Work), “Renegade” (Styx), and more!

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m
Tickets: $48-$153
Phone: 719-575-9632

Thursday-Saturday, March 3-5

SYNCHRONIZED AND FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS!
We’re all familiar with figure skating – it’s one of the most popular-to-watch events of the winter Olympics. And while that’s super fun to watch, synchronized skating is even more fun. Synchro as it is called, is the fastest growing discipline of figure skating and combines athleticism and artistry of singles, pairs and ice dancing. This complex sport that originated in 1956 was first call “precision skating” because of the emphasis on maintaining precise formations and timing of the group. Much like synchronized swimming, synchronized skating brings teams together to perform formations and step sequences in perfect unison. Don’t miss a minute of figure skating action. Browse featured competitions or search for specific events below and find out how to attend events, watch on television or stream live and on-demand video.

Broadmoor World Arena, 3185 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs
Detailed Schedule
Tickets: $38-$104

LAUGHS WITH OPEY, BINIAM AND ANDREW
Join LA’s rising stars Opey Olagbaju, Biniam Bizuneh, and Andrew Lopez for a weekend of comedy!

Opey Olagbaju  is a Nigerian-American stand-up comedian and writer. He is currently developing the series Bammas for Hulu and writing for Close Enough for HBO Max. Opey was a Story Editor on HBO’s Betty, as well as a writer on Kenya Barris’ Unrelated on Freeform, Hulu’s I Love You America with Sarah Silverman, and Comedy Central’s The New Negroes. Opey is noted for his observational humor, which stems from his personal experiences as an immigrant from Nigeria who assimilated into American society. 

Biniam Bizuneh is an Ethiopian-American writer, actor, and stand-up comedian. After gaining attention for his YouTube series Lie Guys, Biniam served as a staff writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live, performed stand-up on Viceland’s Flophouseand Comedy Central’s Stand Up Featuring. Biniam has also written and starred in several originals for Comedy Central including his own digital series, How To Be Broke. He created and will star in the upcoming series Bammas for Hulu, along with Opey. His recent writing credits include the Netflix series The G Word, Season 2 of Dave on FX, and Season 2 of the Peacock series, Resident Alien. 

Andrew Lopez is a first generation Filipino & Korean multi-hyphenate talent that writes, directs, acts, and is a stand-up comedian. He appeared in Universal’s movie Blockers. Andrew cut his teeth working as the writer’s assistant on the movies Universal’s Neighbors 2, Fox’s Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates, and New Line Cinema’s The House. He recently performed stand-up comedy on Netflix as one of the featured comedians on the variety show Jo Koy: In His Elements. Andrew has acted, written and directed content for Comedy Central that has amassed over one million views. 

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:30 p.m., Fri./Sat, 7:15 & 9:45 p.m.
Tickets: $15-$23
Phone: 720-274-6800

Friday, March 4

CAKE MASTER LIVE: DEMO WITH DUFF
Food Network show Ace of Cakes and Charm City Cakes’ Chef Duff Goldman speaks about his life and work, then performs a live demo showcasing some of his signature designs and delicious recipes.

Opening the night with a brief talk, Duff reveals how a classically-trained pastry chef and metal craftsman turned his unrelated passions into two internationally recognized cake shops, a bestselling cookbook, a wildly successful line of branded products, and eight network cooking shows.

Duff then turns the tables as he performs a live demo showcasing some of his signature designs and recipes. As Duff explains, he doesn’t just make “pretty sculptures,” but delicious cakes as well, with over 25 mouthwateringly unusual flavors. And it’s not all sugar flowers, marzipan and tubs of fondant in this demo. Duff reveals how a cake master wields mallets, metal cutters, latex gloves, boba straws, Gorilla Glue, power drills, painter’s tape and drywall screws to make true confectionary masterpieces. With his unique tips, tricks, and tastes of Charm City Cakes, Duff brings viewers into the kitchen to learn some of the best ways to turn basic ingredients into works of art.

Duff Goldman is a chef and artist known for his dazzling, creative approach to food and his awesome stories describing the simple science of baking. Duff now has cake studios in Baltimore and Los Angeles, hosts Food Network’s Duff Takes the Cake and mentors bakers on Kids Baking Championship. Duff believes we can discover our inner creativity and celebrate with each other through the fun of baking!

Parker Arts Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $54
Phone: 303-805-6800

Saturday, March 5

FAMILY DISCOVERY SERIES
Slue Foot Sue, Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan join forces to save the planet, but they need your help to make it happen!  So, pull up your bootstraps and join us for inventive storytelling, physical comedy and a great big, “YES WE CAN!”

This affordable series is designed to introduce your little ones to the incredible world of arts and culture. These family-friendly events are low cost and 60 minutes or under, allowing kids to explore and engage with the arts. A lifetime of the arts starts one discovery at a time!

The Schoolhouse, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker
10:00 a.m. 
Tickets: $10
Phone: 303-805-6800

ILLUSIONIST RICK THOMAS
Rick Thomas performs the most intriguing, innovative and mind-blowing grand illusions in the world with a style unlike any other magic al entertainer. His stage presence is unmatched as he weaves magic, music, comedy and dance into a seamless spectacle. Now after five world tours performing in over 50 countries, Rick Thomas prepares to take his mastery of special effects and the art of magic to an extraordinary new level. Simply said. few entertainers have succeeded in Vegas like Rick Thomas. His show has run consecutively for 15 years in Las Vegas, performing a staggering 600 shows a year. He is honored to have received the Key to the City of Las Vegas and also titled the most successful show for families in its history!

Parker Arts Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $44
Phone: 303-805-6800

Sunday, March 6

RICHARD MARX LIVE!
Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Richard Marx (“Hold on to the Nights,” “Don’t Mean Nothing,” “Satisfied,” “Right Here Waiting,”) has sold over 30 million albums since the 1980s. He has scored 14 No. 1 singles, both as a performer and as a songwriter/producer (including Keith Urban’s “Long Hot Summer”), revealing him as a true multi-talented performer who continues to challenge himself and his fans.

For Richard Marx, his 12th studio album, Limitless, came as a surprise for several reasons. The chart-topping, Grammy-winning artist, whose last solo album Beautiful Goodbye was released in 2014, didn’t sit down to create new music with a specific set of goals. Instead, Marx found himself reconnecting with that innate love for songwriting that set him on his successful career over 30 years ago.

“I’ve been concentrated so much on touring – that’s been the main focus of my career for the past few years,” Richard says. “But I started out as a songwriter and I had to remind myself how important that is. When I was young the impetus for me to write a song was because I loved it and because it brought me great joy. I wanted to come back to that. I had lost sight of the purpose, but I started focusing on writing again. I’ve never really stopped writing – I always have little snippets and voice notes in my phone – but this time I started to finish songs and collaborate more. The next thing I knew I had an album’s worth of music.”

Parker Arts Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Starting at $74
Phone: 303-805-6800

Wednesday, March 9

DANCING WITH THE STARS LIVE!
America’s favorite dance show is coming to your town with “Dancing with the Stars – Live Tour 2022!” Your favorite dancers from this iconic television series hit the stage this winter with an ALL NEW SHOW. Starring Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Artem Chigvintsev, Sasha Farber, Daniella Karagach, Pasha Pashkov, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Britt Stewart and more to come! Fans will see time honored dancers like the Cha Cha, Foxtrot, Salsa, Tango- and everything in between. Join us for a theatrical dance show, you can’t miss! 

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m
Tickets: $39-$100
Phone: 719-575-9632

Tuesday-Wednesday, March 8-9

HEROIC TALES OF SHACKLETON, CREAN & SCOTT
“Aidan Dooley gives a compelling solo performance in this ripping good yarn about real-life adventurer Tom Crean…the charismatic Dooley recounts the riveting tale of an ordinary man who showed extraordinary courage.” – New York Daily News 

Set during The Golden Age of Antarctic Exploration (1901–16), discover the riveting true stories of Shackleton and Scott through the eyes of Tom Crean, who was at the center of three of the most daring and challenging expeditions to the great white continent – including Shackleton’s ill-fated Endurance expedition. This one-man production is an intimate piece of theater that reenacts the heroic endeavors with a blend of drama, humor, and a rich Irish storytelling style that takes you to the edge of your seat… and beyond! 

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$35
Phone: 720-509-1000

Tons of Fun In and 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, Richmond American Homes, D.R. Horton, Century Communities, and coming soon – Taylor Morrison! Picture yourself in your very own dream house —  ranch style or two-story models priced from the $500s.