A “Die Hard” parody, Nutcrackers galore and much more coming to arts venues
By the Thirst Team
Is “Die Hard” a Christmas movie? Well, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts certainly is taking a stand in the long-running debate. The newest addition to its beloved holiday lineup is “Yipee Ki Yay,” an acclaimed parody of the action classic. The comedic retelling debuted to high praise at Edinburgh Fringe, and toured the UK before coming stateside.
Even if you (incorrectly) don’t think of villain Hans Gruber as a Christmas icon, there is much more entertainment bringing joy to the holiday season. Today, we are thankful for Colorado’s talented artists, so we are showcasing upcoming shows at various performing arts venues.
Canyon Concert Ballet’s “Nutcracker”
So many Nutcrackers
“The Nutcracker” is a holiday tradition for many families. The Colorado Ballet’s beloved take on the Tchaikovsky classic opens this weekend and runs through Christmas Eve.
The Newman Center at the University of Denver hosts “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 2.
The ENT Center for the Arts at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs hosts a traditional performance with 60 young dancers at 4 p.m. Saturday. Next month, a reimagined version of “The Nutcracker” comes to the ENT Center, complete with martial arts mice and flying angels. The Center also hosts a variety of other holiday entertainment through December.
In Fort Collins, the Lincoln Center hosts three different “Nutcracker” productions: The Canyon Concert Ballet’s traditional performance Dec. 7-10, with the Fort Collins Symphony; the Mountain Dance Performance Company’s “Clara in the Land of Villains” Dec. 8-10; and the 13th annual full-scale production of “Clara & The Nutcracker” from Contemporary Dance Academy. Check the Lincoln Center website for more holiday entertainment, including classical music, improv comedy and more dancing.
“The Nutcracker” is coming to Pueblo’s Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center starting Nov. 30. The center also hosts the Out Loud Colorado Springs Men’s Chorus on Dec. 10, and a free holiday concert with the Pueblo Municipal Band on Dec. 17
For other families, the holiday season is incomplete without seeing “A Christmas Carol” at the Denver Center, which runs through Christmas Eve.
The creative DCPA team also put together the quirky and immersive Camp Christmas event at Stanley Marketplace through Christmas Eve. Stroll through “a 15,000-square-foot, 360-degree kaleidoscope of yuletide cheer with pun trees, nostalgia, bars and, of course, Santa Claus.
Celtic Woman
Boettcher Concert Hall will be full of tubas, carols, harmonious voices, precocious kids and oversized elves for the holiday season.
Denver singer Devin DeSantis will host a set of seasonal favorites for “A Colorado Christmas” Dec. 8 to 10. Irish vocal quartet Celtic Woman will join the symphony for a Dec. 12 performance. The Colorado Symphony Brass section takes center stage on Dec. 15 for the Holiday Brass show. The Symphony and Chorus will team up to perform Handel’s “Messiah.”
To bookend the season, the orchestra also will perform the score live while showing “Home Alone” (Nov. 24 and 25) and “Elf” (Dec. 22-23).
In addition to the aforementioned Nutcracker show, the Newman Center hosts the “Winter’s Eve” concert with new age composer David Arkenstone on Dec. 1; a Mexican Christmas dance celebration on Dec. 7; a Mile High Barbershop chorus collection of global Christmas carols on Dec. 9; a Carillon concert on Dec. 10 and comedian Matt Rogers’ Christmas variety show on Dec. 12.
Two holiday shows are coming to the historic Macky Auditorium at CU Boulder. The Holiday Festival runs Dec. 8 to 10, and brings together student choirs, bands and orchestras alongside faculty and guest performers.
On Dec. 13, Canadian Brass returns for a joyful holiday performance.
Canadian Brass
Canadian Brass also comes to Lone Tree Arts Center on Dec. 8, amid a series of holiday events at the south metro venue. Eileen Ivers’ Joyful Christmas concert of traditional Irish and American music is on Nov. 30. The Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra hosts a Festival of Lights on Dec. 2 and 3. “Home for the Holidays” is a mix of song and dance with an appearance by Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The show has been running for a decade, but will take a break after this year.
Traditional holiday entertainment doesn’t carry much weight with Wonderbound. The acclaimed Denver contemporary dance company always produces completely original and groundbreaking shows. With “Icy Haught” on Dec. 7 to 17, the troupe promises a “saucy new show” by Garrett Ammon and Sarah Tallman.
Singer Michael Martin Murphy has been touring with his Cowboy Christmas show for three decades. He blends his best-selling Christmas albums with his country and pop hits to capture the rustic essence of the story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The multimedia extravaganza comes to Colorado for four shows this year, starting on Sunday, Nov. 26, in Fort Collins. The tour also stops in Colorado Springs Nov. 28, Grand Junction on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Burlington.