Scene Stealers: Dec. 2017

Annie at Boulder’s Dinner Theatre

Boulder’s favorite dinner theatre is offering up one of Broadway’s favorite classic musicals. The story of the spunky red-headed orphan, her dog Sandy and her trip to live with Daddy Warbucks is now playing at BDT Stage. Your whole family will love Annie as you get to introduce an entirely new generation to this beloved family-friendly musical. Be sure to arrive early when you visit BDT Stage so you can enjoy your meal before the show, served to you by one of the actors in the show. Leapin’ lizards, what a fun time you’ll have. Now playing through Feb. 24, 2018. Tickets range from $39 to $67, and includes your meal. 5501 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder. 303. 449.6000 or www.bdtstage.com.

Hot Rize at Boulder Theater

It’s the 40th Anniversary for Colorado’s most influential bluegrass band, and they’re kicking off the celebration in rare form with a host of top notch special guests. Founded in 1978 by Pete Wernick, Tim O’Brien, Nick Forster and Charles Sawtelle, Hot Rize fathered the grass genre in the Centennial State, and have etched their names in the canon across the world. Help them ring in the occasion, along with luminaries like Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Del McCoury, and Stuart Duncan on Jan. 12 at the Boulder Theater. Doors open at 7 p.m., tickets start at $45, www.bouldertheater.com for more information.

Ferata at Theatre Company of Lafayette

The Theatre Company of Lafayette has teamed up with Denver’s Theatre Esprit Asia for an exciting new work titled Ferata by Maria Cheng. It tells the story of three generations of westernized Chinese women. They’re all brilliant musicians and two of them have become world-class virtuosos while the third has given up a music career to become a neurosurgeon. All of them gather together for their Grandmother’s 80^th birthday in Italy because the matriarchal figure wants to see the Pope before she dies. As Cheng’s sixth full-length play, this is an exciting new partnership that should prove to be an entertaining and enlightening evening of theatre. This one runs Jan. 12 – 28 at The Theatre Company of Lafayette, 300 E. Simpson Street, Lafayette. Tickets range from $10 to $16 at www.tclstage.org.

Face at Nissi’s

There’s a timeless quality to vocal acapella groups that — when they’re good — puts them squarely in a beloved if niche space. And no such group has endured longer and endeared themselves to Colorado audiences than hometown heroes Face. For more than 15 years, they’ve been cultivating a surprisingly devoted fan base that stretches around the globe now, thanks to their high-energy performances, tight harmonies and charming demeanor. Catch them Jan. 23 at Nissis in Lafayette, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door, www.nissis.com for more information.

Steel Magnolias at Longmont Performing Arts Center

The timeless classic about a young beautician who moves to a small Louisiana town to find work in a local beauty shop is headed to the stage at Longmont Theatre. The perennial favorite, Steel Magnolias, tells stories of life, love and loss as the women of the beauty shop laugh through the stories of their lives together. It’s always a powerful show to highlight the tremendous female talent in Colorado and Longmont Theatre Company is sure to present another great reason to make the trip to this beautiful local theatre. Steel Magnolias plays at the Longmont Performing Arts Center from February 2 through 18. Tickets range from $18 to $20. 513 Main Street in Longmont. 303.772.5200 or www.longmonttheatre.org.

Boulder Ballet at the Dairy Center for the Arts

If you’re anything like some of us philistines around here, you might not necessarily jump at the chance to go to the ballet, as visions of stuffy suits and those little binoculars on a stick leap to mind. But you really should stow that stereotype and get over to the Dairy Center for the arts on Feb. 16, 17 or 18, where the Boulder Ballet’s 2018 Stepping Out series debuts. Featuring live electronic music composed and performed by Michael Shulze, Teaching Associate Professor, Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, and choreography by Amy Earnest and dancer/Associate Artistic Director Lance Hardin, this is a great opportunity discover you’re totally into ballet now. More information at www.thedairy.org.

Evil Dead: The Musical at the Bug Theatre
North Denver’s Equinox Theatre Company is back with their most requested show of all time – Evil Dead: The Musical. The hilarious (and very campy) musical combines elements of all three famous movies into one 2-hour musical-deadite-bloody-extravaganza, complete with a splatter zone for the audience. Here, the latest addition to the Evil Dead family, Derek Helsing, talks about what it’s like to step into the shoes of one of the most famous horror film icons of all time.

Yellow Scene: You’ve just been cast as Ash, one of the most iconic characters in film history, made famous by the incomparable Bruce Campbell. How does it feel?

Derek Helsing: It’s an honor. Ash is a character people dream of getting to play! He’s gotta be the most bad-ass role I’ve taken on, and I’m so excited to bring him to life.

YS: What are you most looking forward to doing in this show?

DH: Getting immersed in the mind and emotions of Ash as he goes on this mental rollercoaster. And of course, the blood… having copious amounts of fake blood on stage will be interesting.

YS: What is your favorite horror movie?

DH: SAW. Call me a bad cinema junkie, But those movies always left me on the edge of my seat.

YS: How about your favorite horror villain?

DH: IT. I was flicking through TV channels when I was a kid and happened to catch his iconic sewer scene. I didn’t sleep too great for a while.

YS: How would you survive the zombie apocalypse?

DH: Get the hell outta town! I’d grab the essentials and head straight to the Mountains.

Equinox Theatre’s Evil Dead: The Musical runs Jan. 26 – Feb. 17 at The Bug Theatre in Denver, 3654 Navajo Street. Tickets are $20/$25 for splatter zone at www.EquinoxTheatreDenver.com.