One thing Boulder is well known for is its robust arts community, particularly in the performing arts. For such a small city, we are constantly replete with live theatre and dance well worth the price of admission. Having two universities with acclaimed theatre and dance programs can’t hurt with that, I suppose…
What better activity to enjoy over the holidays than a holiday-themed performance? Boulder artists go beyond your basic Christmas Carols and Nutcrackers to bring you a variety of shows to celebrate all through the rest of December. Here are a select few (note: not all the shows are performing in Boulder, though all are Boulder-based groups):
Scrooge’s Holiday Flight: Frequent Flyers Productions
Frequent Flyers is a Boulder institution well known for the “other holiday” production they’ve shown over the past almost 20 years: Theatre of the Vampires for Halloween. They’re no stranger to December’s holiday themed shows either though, with past productions of Ratcracker showing to high acclaim. I have been on both sides of the performing experience with this group, and I can say that their shows are always fascinating, unusual, and full of immense talent.
This year, FFP is producing their other holiday favorite, a show which combines the strengths of both their students and professionals in Scrooge’s Holiday Flight. Join Scrooge as he meets three ghosts and mends his ways in an aerial dance theatre piece that is sure to turn the familiar story upside down (literally).
DATES/TIMES: 12/12 — 12/14: F/S @7:30pm, S/Sun @2pm
PLACE: the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder
TICKET LINK: Tickets On Sale Now!
A Toonful Christmas: Longmont Theatre Company (hey, it’s Boulder county…)
Longmont Theatre Company is best known for its big-production musicals, and this season is no different. A Toonful Christmas is a combination of two types of musical show perfect for holiday celebrations: the musical revue and the full musical A Charlie Brown Christmas. What could be more classic than that? Instead of watching the Peanuts cartoon special on television I think this year I’ll be getting the much more exciting live article, thank you very much…
LTC has a treat for their audiences this year, as their youth company is performing as well as the adults. To see the talented young performers dazzle with song, come to the matinees (as well as opening night).
DATES/TIMES: Dec. 11-14, 19-20: 2pm matinees on the 13,14, and 20, the rest @7pm
PLACE: The Longmont Theatre on Main St. in Longmont
TICKET LINK: Tickets are only $10, on sale now
Moulin Scrooge: The Band of Toughs and Catamounts
Two immensely creative and talented Boulder theatre companies have gotten together to put on Moulin Scrooge, a hilarious mashup of the musical and classic holiday story, written by one of Stephen Colbert’s writers (so you know it has to be hilarious). Read the Westword review for more details and praise. They also have community meals as part of the experience on select nights, which can only add to the holiday spirit.
DATES/TIMES: Dec. 12, 8:00PM, Dec. 13, 7:00 PM*, Dec. 19, 8:00 PM & Dec. 20, 7:00 PM*.
*Moulin Scrooge plus community meal
PLACE: The Bug Theater in Denver
TICKET LINK: get tickets here
The Santaland Diaries: Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company
Award-winning BETC is back with the (also award-winning) Santaland Diaries, written by famous essayist David Sedaris. This show is a perfect adults-only darkly comedic commentary on what it’s like for many over the holidays. This year the Boulder company is performing at the DCPA. Audiences have praised Santaland Diaries as a holiday delight not to be missed.
DATES/TIMES: Nov. 28-Dec. 24: Wed, Thurs, Sundays @7pm, Fri, Saturdays @8pm, Sat, Sundays @3pm
PLACE: Denver Center for the Performing Arts
TICKET LINK: get tickets here
Boulder Playback Theatre
This is theater improvisation at its best, and with a twist! For this show, people from the audience will be invited to come up and tell their holiday stories and the players will act them out. Will you be forced to come up on stage and tell a story? By the way, the players claim that nobody has ever been dragged onstage by the hair, or holiday neck tie! What a fun and unusual way to appreciate the holiday stories of many!
DATES/TIMES: Saturday, December 13, 7:30pm
PLACE: The Wesley Chapel in Boulder
TICKET LINK: get tickets here
A Broadway Christmas Carol: University of Colorado Theatre Department
CU-Boulder boasts one of the premier theatre training programs in the country (I can vouch for this–I got my theatre degree there), and their productions are always on par with the professionals if not better. A Broadway Christmas Carol presents the classic story with all the trappings (and the re-lyricized songs) of a Broadway musical. A fun way to get your Christmas Carol fix in a toe-tapping way.
DATES/TIMES: Dec. 12-13, 19-21: Fri, Saturdays @7:30pm, Sat, Sundays @2pm
PLACE: University of Colorado (Boulder Campus)
TICKET LINK: Tickets
Photo credit: University of Colorado – Boulder “A Broadway Christmas Carol”
