A roundup of some yuletide stuff going on around Colorado
With a few exceptions, most of the holiday shows this season have moved online. Here’s a roundup of some of them, and we’ll update this as we go.
The Twelve Dates of Christmas
Miners Alley Playhouse
After seeing her fiancé kiss another woman at the televised Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mary’s life falls apart — just in time for the holidays.
Over the next year, she stumbles back into the dating world, where “romance” ranges from weird and creepy to absurd and comical. It seems nothing can help Mary’s growing cynicism, until the charm and innocence of a 5-year-old boy unexpectedly brings a new outlook on life and love. This heartwarming one-woman play offers a hilarious and modern alternative to the old standards of the holiday season.
| For those who want to experience a bit of holiday nostalgia, Miners Alley is offering an On-Demand recording of our annual tradition: Josh Hartwell’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol, starring Jim Hunt as Ebenezer Scrooge, and five other Miners Alley favorites! |
Camp Christmas
DCPA Theatre Co. — Through Jan. 5
Camp Christmas is officially open for business! Last year, we welcomed nearly 70,000 people to Camp Christmas as an in-person installation at Stanley Marketplace, but things look very different this year. Creator Lonnie Hanzon has packed the joy, sparkle and magic into an interactive holiday experience that delivers curated crafts, activities, and adventures directly to your home and imagination.
Starting at $10 with Base Camp, campers receive an intro package in the mail and access to the Camp Christmas online world, where you can explore the virtual campgrounds and earn badges for participating in holiday activities, daily camp events, and “D.I.T.” (Do It Together) crafts.
| A Moon Merry Christmas Moon Theatre — Dect. 15 Join Moon Theatre Company for a special holiday treat — a YouTube Christmas Variety Show for the whole family. Tune in to Moon Theatre Berthoud YouYube Channel December 15 to enjoy music, acts, and readings highlighting your favorite Christmas memories. Some of the acts that you can look forward to are: An original story for children written by Kay Green, read by podcaster and author K. Lori; Christmas stand up spectacular by Jeanne Nott; Fibber McGee and Molly radio play directed by Peg Bolan; Gift Of The Magi interpreted by Maris Westrum; Jim Valone’s “Yes Virginia , There is a Santa Claus”; comedy Reading by Kurt Keilbach; Rick Padden with “It’s A Wonderful Life”; a special message from Mayor Will Karspeck, and an extra special visit with Mister and Missus Santa — plus songs of the season by some of your favorite Moon performers. A Christmas Carol Open Stage — Through Jan. 3 Experience A Christmas Carol unlike any other — past, present or future. The timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge has been given new life thanks to the haunting vision of one of Broadway’s most imaginative directors, Michael Arden (Tony-winning Best Revival – Once on this Island), and the Tony-winning virtuoso, Jefferson Mays (I Am My Own Wife, Gentleman’s Guide…), starring in 50 roles of a lifetime. Staged exclusively for this production and captured live with breathtaking clarity, this must-watch streaming event conjures the powerful spirits of Christmas and brings all the magic of live theatre home for the holidays. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher Springs Ensemble — Through Dec. 20 Directed by Taylor Geiman and featuring a mixture of performances from David Corder, Cyndi Parr, Max Ferguson, Matt Radcliffe, Allyson Hackworth, Amanda Trostad, Dalton Watson, and Bethany Kuçana, this show is certain to surprise and excite you. Making Merry Stories on Stage — Dec. 13 Stories on Stage presents Making Merry – Greatest Hits, virtual live-streaming at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, December 13. Ticket holders will receive a link to the performance. Give a warm welcome as award-winning, Denver Center Theatre Company veterans Jamie Horton, Candy Brown and Gabriella Cavallero join Stories on Stage for this very special holiday show! Music is provided by award-winning composer/pianist David Nehls. Audience members were asked to submit favorite and fondly remembered stories from past seasons to make up this years’ Greatest Hits version of Making Merry, celebrating the company’s 20th Anniversary. Stories include A Christmas Memory, A Fruitcake Recipe and Who Can Retell, a Hanukkah story. Stories on Stage has teamed with Nomad Playhouse and Earth Coast Productions to create shows that will be professional multi-camera productions with the actors performing from the stage. Glenwood Springs Vaudeville Revue’s Holiday Show Live show, through Jan. 9 This is a two-hour family fun show with professional talent performing a variety of holiday themed skits, jokes, high energy dance numbers and unique songs that are guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit. And this season we are having some fun with COVID, while also doing our part to social distance. Because we have limited seating capacity due to COVID restrictions, shows are selling out early, so please reserve well in advance. Masks will be required for all patrons when not actively eating. The Hip Hop Nutcracker Denver Center — Dec. 22, 7 p.m. A holiday mash-up for the whole family, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, The Hip Hop Nutcracker recorded live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center is a contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music. A unique and joyful event, this evening-length production is performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. The Family Tree Family gatherings can be stressful under normal circumstances. But what happens when the family can’t be in the same place and traditions are suddenly upended? The Family Tree is a heartfelt holiday comedy about how one Colorado family comes together to find the joy of the season in extraordinary circumstances. The at-home audience will be a fly on the wall and have the opportunity to choose which characters to follow throughout the story as secrets come to light, traditions are questioned, and the quirks of virtual interactions bring everyone closer together. This live, virtual play written by Jessica Austgen for the Arvada Center runs December 2 through 20. Plus, from our friends at Visit Denver …Five Ways to Shop & Stay Local This Holiday Season 1) Get Cultured. The challenges of 2020 have turned theaters dark and significantly impacted in-person visits to the city’s cultural facilities – but that does not mean cultural aficionados and newcomers alike cannot still enjoy them! Some of the most unique holiday gifts can come from Denver’s arts and cultural attractions. A membership to a favorite location both supports the attraction and keeps giving all year long. Annual memberships are available at most museums and cultural attractions – including Denver Art Museum, which is offering two extra months for the price of its 12-month membership; and Denver Botanic Gardens, which is offering a discount code for ten percent off your online purchase from Shop at the Gardens with the purchase of a gift membership. Tickets are also available to this season’s virtual performances, future shows, as well as virtual classes from painting to music lessons and more. The holidays are a great time to skip a night of streaming and catch a streamed performance from local theaters. Denver Center for the Performing Arts has gift certificates available in any amount for classes, virtual and future shows and annual subscriptions. Museum gift shops are also a top place for truly unique gifts – and many of them are online or in-person, no admission necessary. For the first time, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art has launched an online store; or, for a distanced, in-person experience, Children’s Museum at Marisco Campus is offering a private shopping experience. History Colorado Center has opened its own Etsy store, and Clyfford Still Museum also has an online gift shop with curbside pickup available. Denver Zoo has also collaborated with local and national brands to create a co-branded collection of gifts whose proceeds help care for the animals and support the partner businesses. 2) Buy boutique. Denver is home to many unique neighborhoods, all with their own vibe and plenty of boutiques to showcase it. At Denver Pavilions, the I Heart Denver Store is full of gifts created by local artists that highlight everything there is to love about the city. And from the upscale shops in Cherry Creek North and Larimer Square to the independent bookstores, clothiers, galleries and more throughout Denver’s arts districts and cultural neighborhoods like Tennyson Street Cultural District, Art District on Santa Fe and RiNo Art District, small local businesses really illustrate the character of The Mile High City and offer the perfect, found only-in-Denver, gifts.
3) Dine Out…Side The Box. The restaurant industry has been hit especially hard throughout this pandemic, and the current closure of in-person dining has all but halted their typically busy holiday season. But the creative spirit of Denver’s culinary industry is shining brighter than ever, and many restaurants are offering holiday ideas ranging from gift card specials (extra $20 when you spend $100 at TAG Restaurant Group locations) to chef-curated boxes from local purveyors (Italian Pantry boxes from Milk Market) and make-at-home meals. Local breweries and wineries are also offering discounted merchandise, growlers, tasting kits and more to pair with the to-go meals of choice. Of course, if all this shopping makes you hungry, many restaurants are still offering to-go and delivery options, as well as someinventive outdoor dining options, for a little “treat yourself” moment along the way.
4) Make Merry. There are several artisan markets taking place throughout the city this season, and many of them feature handmade gifts perfect for everyone on the list. From the hand-painted crafts and delicious traditional German food at the Christkindl Market (in its new location at Civic Center Park) to the local wares at the brand-new Cherry Creek Holiday Market, the makers and artisans Denver has become known for have created the perfect gifts for the locavores in your life.
5) Make a Night of It. Denver’s hotels are open – and they have some magical deals for Mile High Holidays. Whether you need some R&R after a shopping mission or plan to gift a staycation to the one you love or the whole family, Denver’s hotels have you covered. From deals starting at $89 a night to unique activities like rooftop curling at HALCYON, a Hotel or Avant Ski acclimation at The Source Hotel to shopping packages in Cherry Creek and Downtown, there is an ideal hotel stay for everyone this season. And with New Year’s Eve right around the corner, it’s never too soon to plan safe and fun ways to leave 2020 behind. Please let us know if you would like further details about specific gift ideas, hotel packages or more ways to keep the holidays local; or for more information on how to keep things local this year, visit MileHighHolidays.com.
Santa’s Big Red Sack Rattlebrain Productions – through Dec. 19 2020 may have shut down live venues for the foreseeable future, but it won’t stop Rattlebrain Productions from continuing their annual holiday tradition of Santa’s Big Red Sack for the 14th year. This year the actors and writers have been hard at work filming the very best Santa sketches over the years to create a full-length holiday special that will be delivered as a digital download beginning December 11. In addition, the cast and writers will be hosting four live streaming watch party events. Hear the back stories about the sketches and ask the actors questions using the live stream chat feature.
Santa’s Big Red Sack The holiday show you shouldn’t take your kids to. Digital download on sale now and delivers beginning December 11th. Live Streams are December 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th at 7:30pm Mountain Time Digital download $39.50 Live Streams $10 303-218-7315 www.SantasBigRedSack.com
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Alex Miller is editor and publisher of OnStage Colorado. He has a long background in journalism, including stints as the top editor at the Vail Daily, Summit Daily News, Summit Country Journal, Vail Trail and others. He’s also been an actor, director, playwright, artistic director and theatre board member and has been covering theatre in Colorado since 1995.
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