Scene Stealers: August 2019 – Yellow Scene Magazine

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Cheryl Strayed and Nia Vardalos

Tiny Beautiful Things at Dairy Center for the Arts

Boulder’s Ensemble Theatre Company is always at the forefront of compelling new works and its upcoming production of Tiny Beautiful Things is no exception. This new play, which is based on the best-selling book by Cheryl Strayed, was adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos (of My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding fame.) The play is based on the true story of an online magazine writer who was asked to take over an unpaid, anonymous advice column. Tiny Beautiful Things is all about reaching out when you need help, healing when you’re broken, and finding the strength to tackle questions which might not have any real answers.

Sept. 12–Oct. 12 at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder.
Learn more at 303.444.7328 or online at www.betc.org.

Playwrights’ Showcase at Louisville Center for the Arts

It’s not often you get an inside look at the development and creation of a new play. There is a whole process of writing, staged readings and workshops involved as burgeoning writers hone their scripts and strive to make them audience-ready. Thanks to Coal Creek Theater of Louisville, you can get a chance to see three new short works by Colorado Playwrights long before any other audiences get to. The Front Range Playwrights’ Showcase was selected by a committee from submissions and will be presented as staged readings. Following each reading, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with the playwrights, offer feedback, or ask questions about their script and process. Friday, Aug. 23 at the Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant Avenue, Louisville.

Call 303.665.0955 or head to www.cctlouisville.org for more information.

Noises Off at StageDoor Theatre

Mistaken identities, slamming doors, pratfalls, infidelities and more are all common themes within any traditional farce, and one of the best and most reliably funny farces ever written is headed to Conifer’s StageDoor Theatre. Noises Off by Michael Frayn is an ingenious play-within-a-play that follows the antics (both on stage and backstage) of actors appearing in an awful production of a play called Noises On. The audience gets to enjoy the action from both sides of the curtain as this clever theatrical comedy unwinds before them.  If you enjoyed last year’s hilarious National Tour of The Play That Goes Wrong, then you’ll love Noises Off, which essentially paved the way for the “backstage farce” genre. Sept. 6–22.

Tickets range from $23 to $25, at StageDoor Theatre, 25797 Conifer Road, Conifer. Tickets and more info available at 303.838.0809 or www.stagedoortheatre.org.

Reptiles and Samurai:  Back To School at The Oriental Theatre

There’s a reason there are so few Oingo Boingo tribute acts around — Danny Elfman is a mad genius composer. His arrangements — which feature shifting time and key signatures, sometimes in the space of a single measure of music —  require top-notch musicians and a truly transcendent lead guitar player to bring to life. And now, Colorado has a band that’s up to the challenge: Reptiles and Samurai. The Oingo Boingo tribute act is bringing a special “Back to School” show to the Oriental Theater (4335 W 44th Ave, Denver) on Aug. 31, and has added a multimedia element to the event: a vee-jay will be ‘scratching’ video clips from the movies Back To School and Weird Science (both of which featured Oingo Boingo) and other clips while the 9-piece band plays all your favorite New Wave, post-punk hits from the legendary California group. Electric Violinist-and-dance-trio Gracie G’night and the Go-Go Delightst are on the bill as well.

Tickets start at only $15, (limited reserved seating is available) and are available online at www.theorientaltheater.com.

Body Language: Picturing People at CU Art Museum

The Art Museum at the University of Colorado Boulder is always offering fascinating exhibitions from a variety of artists from all over the world. If you have never taken the time to check out this local gem, there are some great reasons to stop by right now. Currently running through June of 2020 is an exhibition titled Body Language: Picturing People and it explores how artists’ use of pose, gesture and the body in motion convey meaning. A variety of works from the CU Art Museum’s collection represent these works from many different eras and cultures. Admission to the University of Colorado Boulder Art Museum is free; 1085 18th Street, Boulder.

Call 303.492.8300 or find them online at www.colorado.edu for more information.