“Wicked” is a boffo hit in Denver. The show, which received a four-star review from The Denver Post, is sold out throughout its run.
You can show up 2 1/2 hours before showtime and put your name in a lottery. Thirty minutes later, they draw 12 names – you can buy two $25 tix, limited views, cash only.
Or you can see the cast in a cabaret show Monday night at the Garner Galleria Theatre. These troupers are giving up their night off to perform “The Ozdust Variety Show” – with proceeds going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Denver’s Project Angel Heart. The night is a homage to the variety shows of the ’50s. Look for Victoria Matlock (Elphaba), Christina DeCicco (Glinda), P.J. Benjamin (The Wizard), Cliffton Hall (Fiyero), Deedee Magno Hall (Nessarose), Tom Flynn (Dr. Dillamond), Josh Lamon (Boq) and the rest of the cast.
And that night, they’ll auction off a walk-on role in the show and a chance to watch Elphaba get painted green – not to be mistaken for a tanning session. Tix $75-$150; call 303-893-4100.
Jessica and Carmelo
Maxim giveth – and Maxim taketh away.
The lad-mag gives a shout-out to Boulder babe Jessica Biel as No.5 on the “Hot 100 Girls 2007” roster.
And it names Carmelo Anthony No.1 in the roster of the “15 Most Notorious Nancies in Sport!”
“Girl Fight!” proclaims Maxim. “Melo threw a snake-lick jab at New York’s Marty Collins and frantically backpedaled to half court. He earned a 15-game suspension … and the number one spot on the list!”
Book ’em
An exciting roster of authors will be bringing books to the various Tattered Covers in June.
Anna Quindlen with “Rise and Shine” on June 8.
Joyce Carol Oates with “The Gravedigger’s Daughter” on June 11.
Denver’s biggest kid, Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly, brings in “Hate Mail From Cheerleaders and Other Adventures From the Life of Reilly” on June 12.
John Burdett continues the adventures of Sonchai Jitpleecheep, Bangkok’s devout Buddhist and Royal Thai Police detective, with “Bangkok Haunts” on June 14.
“Traveling Pants” author Ann Brashares with her first book for adults, “The Last Summer (of You and Me)” on June 15.
Back-rubber Mike Jones with rushed-to-print “I Had to Say Something: The Art of Ted Haggard’s Fall” June 18.
Armistead Maupin revisits the hero of “Tales of the City” 20 years later with “Michael Tolliver Lives” on June 22.
Martin Cruz Smith with “Stalin’s Ghost” on June 26.
City spirit
Sushi Den is spreading the word that it’ll open The Den across the street on Old South Pearl by late summer – serving up traditional robata-and izakaya-style Japanese food. … Twelve of Denver’s top female chefs served more than 4,000 nibbles to about 400 supporters of Work Options for Women at the third annual Women Cook! event Monday night at Temple Emanuel. … Sez who: “I remember my prom – the limo, the dancing until dawn. It would have been even better if I’d had a date.” David Letterman
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-954-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at denverpost bloghouse.com/husted.
