Scene Stealers | May 2021

We shouldn’t be out doing much, so here’s a list of cool, safe things to do. This summer offers plays, festivals, and even a drive-in opera.

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Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks

If you had to pick one artist to “score” the lives of Generation X, a lot of folks would likely point at Pearl Jam or Nirvana. But the real answer is John Williams, whose themes have truly underscored more indelible moments in our lives than anyone, thanks to his prolific and peerless work. Star Wars. Superman. E.T. The Jurassic Park series. The Indiana Jones movies. Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Jaws. The Olympic Fanfare. The Harry Potter movies. And on and on. His themes are tied to all of the moments in our lives, whether we like it or not (and who doesn’t like his music?). Set against the backdrop of the majesty of Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and performed by the Colorado Symphony?

Make a beeline to redrocksonline.com and get tickets now, because seating is limited. Sunday May 23 and Tuesday May, 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $55.

Boulder Creek Fest Summer Sundays Market

In a normal year, the Boulder Creek Festival is the seminal “beginning of Summer!” event in Boulder County. However, we’re still a few feet short of “normal” and as such, the festival has been postponed until July 16–18. To tide us over until then, the folks at BCF has put together a slate of mini-festivals in the form of the new Creekside Summer Sundays Market, running every Sunday through June 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can expect live music, plenty of food and merchandise vendors, and a generally marvelous, family-friendly time. And it’s free to attend.

It takes place along Boulder Creek from 9th Street to 14th Street between Canyon Blvd. and Arapahoe Ave. in Boulder. For more info, head to eventbrite.com and search “Boulder Creek Fest” in Boulder.

See/Hear at the Dairy Center for the Arts

How about some drive-in opera? Opera on Tap Colorado is offering See/Hear — a “visual album” of four songs featuring live, local singers as well as video artists from across the country. The performances include Richard Strauss’ “Four Last Songs,” Robert Owens’ “Mortal Storm”, Nkeiru Okoye’s “Brooklyn Cinderella” and more, all streamed through your car’s FM radio. “We wanted to do something on a larger scale while responding to the limitations that COVID-19 has created for live performance,” says Eve Orenstein, Opera on Tap Colorado’s co-managing diva. “We came up with the concept of pairing video artists with song cycles – groups of songs that share a narrative theme – to create something that would be collaborative and also safe for singers and audience members. The videos will bring the music to life and can be experienced from home or in a socially distanced performance setting, like a drive-in.”

Tickets are just $10 per car at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder. Head to www.thedairy.org for more info.

Little Women at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse

Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown) has been one of the few live theatre organizations that has operated throughout the pandemic, and they’re currently offering the Broadway musical Little Women through June 6, 2021. Based on the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, the musical follows the story of four sisters growing up during the Civil War, backed by a beautiful soundtrack. Plus, when you attend a show at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, you’ll also enjoy a fabulous dinner delivered right to your table before the show.

Tickets range from $29.95 to $64.50 and are available online at coloradocandlelight.com or 970.744.3747.

Stonehenge at Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Though a visit to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver) may seem a little different these days – with timed entry, masks and social distancing in place – it’s still open and offering plenty of educational and entertaining opportunities. Currently, you can check out the popular temporary exhibit Stonehenge, which dives into the intriguing story behind one of the most mysterious places on Earth through hundreds of artifacts and scientific exploration. This exhibit is open through the summer, so you have plenty of time to secure your own timed-entry.

Tickets are $9 for adults or $7 for students and seniors. 303.370.6000 or www.dmns.org.