Scene Stealers

You Can’t Take It With You at Colorado Shakespeare Festival
The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is always a fantastic exploration of the Bard and many of his works, but did you know that they also present at least one non-Shakespearean classic each season? This year’s classic is the perennial favorite You Can’t Take it With You by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The story revolves around an eccentric family and their daughter’s new relationship with a man from a more conservative and straight-laced family. Her concern grows as she plans to bring her new love’s family over for dinner, fearing what crazy shenanigans her own family might create. The script is all about embracing individuality and marching to the beat of one’s own drum — well, make that one’s own entire marching band. Catch this hilarious classic from July 21 through Aug. 12 at the University of Colorado’s Department of Theatre and Dance. Tickets start at $20, www.ColoradoShakes.org for more information.

Jack White at 1st Bank Center

Although he broke into national consciousness as one half of The White Stripes duo, Jack White’s legacy has rocketed well past the already fantastic contributions of that one act. As a solo artist and along with plenty of other musical collaborations, White amassed no less than 12 Grammy Awards, and all three of his solo albums topped the Billboard charts. And get this: his second solo outing, Lazaretto (2014, Third Man Records), not only debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts — it holds the record for most vinyl sales in its first week since 1991. Not only is he single-handedly saving rock and roll — he’s saving the vinyl industry as well. Catch him on tour supporting his recent release Boarding House Reach (2018, Third Man Records) Aug. 8 at 1st Bank Center in Broomfield. Tickets start at $65, doors open at 7 p.m., www.1stbankcenter.com for more information.

Cry-Baby The Musical at The Bug Theatre

John Waters is best known for some truly wacky and colorful flicks (with some much deeper messages hidden throughout) like Hairspray, Pecker, Polyester, Pink Flamingos and the 1990 Johnny Depp film Cry-Baby. While Depp’s original Cry-Baby didn’t win any major awards, it garnered a huge cult following and even spawned a hit Broadway musical. The musical version did well on the Great White Way, as it was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Book, Best Score and Best Musical. That was in 2008, and it has taken 10 long years to finally bring this hit show to Colorado. Denver’s Equinox Theatre presents the regional premiere of Cry-Baby the Musical from July 27 through Aug. 18. Re-live this rockabilly score and jumpin’ jivin’ dance at The Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo Street. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, www.EquinoxTheatreDenver.com for more information.

David Cross at the Boulder Theater

The HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show — which ran from 1995–1998 — is credited with helping raise the profiles of a number of great comics, including Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Jack Black and Brian Posehn, but it never even airs if it wasn’t for the brilliant mind of David Cross. Since then, he’s turned in fantastic performances as the video store owner in Men In Black I and II, recurring roles on News Radio, The Colbert Report, Modern Family and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, to name a fraction of his lengthy resume. And don’t forget his trio of side-splitting albums, Shut Up You F**king Baby! (2002, Sub Pop Records), It’s Not Funny (2005, Sub Pop Records) and Bigger and Blackerer (2010, Sub Pop Records). Catch him on his Oh Come On 2018 World Tour on Aug. 23 at the Boulder Theater. Tickets are $39.50, doors open at 7 p.m., www.bouldertheater.com for more information.

Miss Holmes at Creede Repertory Theatre

Colorado has a rich and vibrant mountain arts community, and the summer months bring loads of amazing work to several beautiful theaters spread all over the state. One of the best is Creede Repertory Theatre in Creede, Colorado. Among the many fantastic offerings this summer is a unique production titled Miss Holmes. The show is a gender-swapped version of the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mysteries. Instead of the traditional sleuths you know so well, this version features Miss Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Dorothy Watson as your guides on the twists and turns of this winding plot. Creede Repertory Theatre is nestled in beautiful Creede, Colorado at 124 North Main Street. The show runs July 17–Sept. 15; tickets range from $20 to $35 and are available at www.creederep.org.

Connections at the Dairy Center for the Arts

Boulder’s Dairy Center for the Arts is a wonderful spot to take in a live production of a play, musical or opera, but it’s also home to a vibrant visual arts scene and features many different exhibitions throughout the year. Running Aug. 3 through 19 in the McMahon Gallery is a new exhibition created by Imagine! and its CORE/Labor Source department, titled Connections. The mission of this important organization is to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find ways to participate in the local community, and their upcoming art exhibition is the perfect example of this wonderful mission. The artwork exhibited is all created by the individuals who work with Imagine! and is completed solely by them, offering their own creative expressions about who they are, what they feel and what it means to be part of their unique community. A $5 suggested donation is requested. 2590 Walnut Street. www.thedairy.org for more information.