Pop megastar Celine Dion brings her tour to Pepsi Center
Wednesday. Pop royalty. She’s the youngest of 14 children, but she’s ultimately made the most noise of all her siblings. Celine Dion crushed the 100 million album mark awhile ago, making her one of the biggest and most celebrated performers in the world. That said, she’s also one of the most maligned singers in the history of pop music. Fans’ and critics’ reactions are severe, but still, Dion’s success will go on. How else do you explain the fact that she has two records that have gone 11-times platinum in the U.S. alone? (That’s 11 million copies, each.) And what about those four sellout years she spent performing in Las Vegas at the theater built especially for her inside Caesars Palace? Dion is an international phenomenon. Her “Taking Chances Tour” is one of the largest outings of 2008, and it stops at Denver’s Pepsi Center on Wednesday. Good tickets are still available at , ranging from $41 to $135. More: . Ricardo Baca
Dance
Saturday. Ballet. Boulder’s Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet will welcome back Simone Messmer of the American Ballet Theater to dance the world premiere of Robert Sher-Mach- herndl’s “Liquid Space,” as well as the Denver premiere of his appropriately titled “A Strange Land.” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. 303-871-7720 or . John Wenzel
Pop music
Tonight. Eternal pop. After New Edition but before the Backstreet Boys, the New Kids on the Block ruled the roost. The Boston boy band engineered by producer Maurice Starr reigned at record stores the world over — especially in the malls of suburban America. And now Donny, Jordan, Jon, Danny and Joe are back and reunited and playing shows, including one tonight at the Broomfield Event Center. What’s more: They’re supporting a new record. “The Block,” their first CD of new material in 14 years, debuted at No. 2 in the U.S. An interesting dynamic: Usually it’s the kids dragging their moms to see boy bands, but this time it could go the other way around, Moms dragging daughters by their coatsleeves. Daughters rolling their eyes. Tickets, $57.50-$77.50, are available via . More: . Ricardo Baca
Tonight and Saturday. B-movie special. If you’re a Flaming Lips fan, you’ve heard of “Christmas on Mars,” the sci-fi flick the band has been working on for a number of years. You’ve seen the grainy black-and-white clips on YouTube, with the Lips’ trademark musical narration and the scenes featuring lead singer Wayne Coyne as a Martian, antennae and all. Yeah, it’s an arty B-movie. That’s the point. Will it make any sense? See for yourself, when the movie is screened tonight and Saturday at midnight at the Esquire. Added coolness: comedian Fred Armisen and musician Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) also appear in the film, alongside the Lips. Ricardo Baca
Sunday. Music and comedy. Gone are the days when stand-up comics are stuck playing a small number of comedy clubs. Now, they’re performing at rock clubs and art galleries and releasing records on hot indie labels like Sub Pop and Matador. The indie comedy scene is the focus of a new book by Post entertainment writer John Wenzel. “Mock Stars,” in fact, got its start as a Denver Post article that ran in late 2006. Publisher Speck Press will be celebrating the book’s release Sunday with a rock/comedy show at the Larimer Lounge. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Sunday with We Are! We Are!, Rabbit Is a Sphere, Everything Absent or Distorted and comedians Ben Kronberg, Adam Cayton-Holland and others from their Wrist Deep Comedy crew. Cover: $6. Ricardo Baca
Classical music
Today. Solo recital. With his groudbreaking transcriptions of the music of Radiohead and other pop performers, pianist Christopher O’Riley has taken classical piano in a whole new direction. At the same time, he has not abandoned the instrument’s traditional repertory. Audiences will hear both sides during a recital at 7:30 p.m. today in the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Macky Auditorium. The program, part of the CU Artist Series, will combine Robert Schumann with transcriptions of music by the late Portland, Ore., singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. $12-52. 303-492-8008 or . Kyle MacMillan
Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Baroque music. Though often overshadowed by the accomplishments of Vivaldi, Handel and Bach, French baroque music has it own riches. The Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado will delve in this bountiful world with a program by such composers as Jean- Philippe Rameau and Francois Couperin. Joining the the ensemble will be mezzo-soprano Jennifer Lane. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. today in the First United Methodist Church, 1421 Spruce St., Boulder; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, University of Denver, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., and 4 p.m. Sunday, Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S. Colorado Blvd. $22. 303-889-1012 or bcocolorado . Kyle MacMillan
Family fun
Tonight-Sunday. Ballet. Roald Dahl’s children’s classic, “Matilda,” gets the ballet treatment in Boulder this weekend. Produced by Boulder studio Danse Etoile, “Matilda” uses original choreography set to jazz and contemporary music for this story about a bright girl with idiots for parents. Bored to death at school one day, she discovers a secret ability: She can move objects with her mind. 7 tonight, 4 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder; 303-440-7826. $19 for adults, $16 students and seniors, $15 for Boulder County Arts Alliance members and $10 for children under 12. Call 888-512-7469 or visit . Kathleen St. John
Saturday. Crafts and Santa. The Center for the Arts Evergreen presents its 28th annual Winterfest Arts and Crafts Festival. Kids are welcome, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. they can play in Santa’s Workshop while their parents make the rounds. Everyone swears they’ll get their holiday shopping done early, so here’s a chance to make good on that promise. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Evergreen High School, 29300 Buffalo Park Road. Admission is $2 for adults, students and children under age 12 are free. A $5 donation is suggested for kids hanging out in Santa’s Workshop. For more information, visit . or call 303-674-0056. Kathleen St. John
Tonight. Theater. Prepare for a showdown at the “I’m OK, You’re OK” Corral in Northglenn Youth Theatre’s production of “Wagon Wheels West.” The Old West spoof sends up all the cliches, from the hero, Chuck Wagon, to Wild Bill Hiccup. Expect singing, dancing and some rip-snortin’ action to boot. The show runs through Nov. 23. 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. D.L. Parsons Theatre, 11801 Community Center Drive, Northglenn; 303-450-8800. $6 for adults, $5 students and seniors, with group rates available. Kathleen St. John
Visual art
Today. Photography. Sometimes the old can become new. So it is with collodion photography, which was developed in 1851 and almost forgotten. Using an antique camera, noted Denver photographer Mark Sink has collaborated with Kristen Hatgi on a group of images that make use of the venerable process. These works go on view today with a public reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Rule Gallery, 227 Broadway. The exhibition runs through Jan. 10. Simultaneously on view will be “The Untold Story,” Sink’s candid photos of Andy Warhol from the 1980s, when the two became friends. Free. 303-777-9473 or . Kyle MacMillan
