Theater
The Bard is back
Today-Aug. 9. Plays old and new-ish. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival opens its 52nd season this weekend with “Hamlet,” perhaps the most psychologically complex and intensely debated play in literature. It’s the story of the deliberations of the doomed prince who’s compelled to avenge his father’s murder. Stephen Weitz stars. “Hamlet” will soon be joined in repertory by “Much Ado About Nothing,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Two Gentlemen of Verona”and “The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged).””Hamlet” is performed outdoors in the Mary Rippon Amphitheatre on the CU-Boulder campus. 8:30 p.m. today; times and dates then vary through Aug. 9. $14-$54, 303-492-0554 or . John Moore
Forever—and ever—plaid
Thursday. National simulcast. Since 1990, the retro musical “Forever Plaid” has had more than 400 stagings in Colorado alone. At 6 p.m. Thursday, the “Forever Plaid 20th Anniversary Special” will debut on movie screens across the U.S., including 10 in Denver. The debut screening includes members of the original cast live via simulcast, introducing the film and a singing a few live numbers never before staged in the play. The Denver host theaters are: Denver Pavilions, the Belmar 16 and Colorado Mills in Lakewood, Kerasotes Southlands in Aurora, the AMC Highlands Ranch, Greenwood Plaza in Englewood, the Kerasotes Castle Rock Stadium, Cinemark Century in Boulder, Cinemark Greeley Mall and Cinemark Fort Collins. Tickets $18. Go to . for info. John Moore
Classical music
American sounds
Saturday. Patriotic pops. The Colorado Symphony will celebrate July Fourth at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre with a light, patriotic program titled, “Sounds of America.” Joining the orchestra will be pianist Katie Mahan, who will be featured in Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” and jazz saxophonist Warren Hill. The 7:30 p.m. concert will climax with fireworks at 9:40 p.m. $17, $51 for four- person family packs. 800-745-3000 or . Kyle MacMillan.
Brooklyn strings
Tuesday.Chamber music. Following in the footsteps of the Kronos Quartet, Brooklyn Rider is bringing a contemporary and eclectic edge to chamber music. The Brooklyn-based string quartet is as home with Haydn as it is with such living composers as Shirish Korde. It recently recorded the complete string quartets of Philip Glass, and it is a regular participant in Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. Brooklyn Rider, along with pipa player Wu Man and bassist Jeffrey Beecher, will present a Colorado Music Festival concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Boulder’s Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road. Included will be works by Claude Debussy, Chen Yi and Colin Jacobsen. $12-$40. 303-440-7666 or . Kyle MacMillan
Family fun
Butte-tiful!
Monday-July 12. Flowers to the people. Explore the blooming mountain meadows of Crested Butte at the 23rd annual Wildflower Festival. Designated “the wildflower capital of Colorado” by the state legislature in 1990, Crested Butte will be filled with flower fans as they attend workshops, hikes, bike rides, wildlife outings and more. Young botanists will blossom at special activities for the age-6-and-up set, including photography workshops, craft classes and horse-drawn wagon rides. Events start daily in the early morning and end around dinner time, Monday through July 12. Festival headquarters is the Crested Butte Nordic Center, 620 Second St.; 970-349-1707. Registration is required for many activities — prices vary. Visit crestedbuttewild . for a full listing of event times, dates and prices, as well as registration forms. Kathleen St. John
The West’s best
Today-Sunday. Celebrating the West. Round up the young’uns for the Mile High Rendezvous, presented by cowboy musician Michael Martin Murphey. It’ll be an Independence Day treat for shop- aholics: An outdoor Western marketplace with all types of vendors will be open all three days. For everyone else, there are lots of rides, food and music. Performers include Fred Hargrove, Carin Mari and the Pony Express, Riders in the Sky and, of course, Michael Martin Murphey. Mosey on in tonight for a “cowboy chuck wagon” barbecue buffet and a fireworks display. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Mile High Marketplace Event Center, 7007 E. 88th Ave., Henderson; 303-289-4656. Admission is $3. Tonight’s barbecue is $20 for adults and $10 for kids age 12 and younger. Kathleen St. John
Labor daze
All summer. Kids at work. Little ones can beat the heat — and learn a lot — by checking out the latest exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Denver. The summer’s big draw is “Junior Jobsite.” Kids don hard hats and orange safety vests while they learn plumbing and electricity basics, read ” blueprints” and paint. Giant construction machines will park on the plaza once a month, too — this month’s “Mighty Machines” visit is on July 11. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive; 303-433-7444. Admission is $7.50 for visitors ages 2 to 59, $5.50 for seniors age 60 and older and 1-year-olds, free for infants under 1. Visit . for more information. Kathleen St. John
Insect respect
Through July. Rethinking bugs Shutterbugs of all ages are invited to enter the Butterfly Pavilion’s annual photography contest. Take a photo in the “Shrunk” exhibit and send in a 4-by-6-inch print and you’re entered to win a digital camera and other prizes. Serious snappers will want to check out the pavilion’s series of outdoor photography workshops, too. A great time to visit the pavilion will be during the July 11-12 “Insectival,” a circus-themed bug extravaganza. 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. daily. The Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster; 303-469-5441. Admission is $7.95 for adults, $5.95 for seniors age 65 and older, $4.95 for children ages 2 to 12. For more information, visit . or call 720-974-1864. Kathleen St. John
Clowning around
Today-Sunday. Mountain circus. Step right up for free family fun at the Three Ring Weekend at Copper Mountain Resort. Featuring concerts, movies, fireworks, a “Conscious Carnival” and lots of kids activities, it’s going to be a Fourth of July blast. On Saturday, Neil Diamond tribute band Super Diamond takes the solar-powered stage for a set of hip-shaking tunes. Sunday afternoon, the National Repertory Orchestra performs Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” followed by an “instrument petting zoo” for kids. There’s a lot more, so visit . for a full schedule. Festivities start at 6 p.m. today, and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Copper Mountain Resort, 209 Ten Mile Circle; 866-841-2481. Admission is free. Kathleen St. John
Visual arts
Ironton Open
Today. Art show and open house.Ironton Studios and Gallery, 3636 Chestnut Place, is marking its 10th anniversary with a party and open house from 7 to 10 p.m. today. Visitors can tour an exhibition featuring works by Ironton’s 13 artists and visit their adjacent studios. Among the participating artists are metal sculptor Mike Mancarella, painter Robin Schaefer and stone sculptor Andrew Sweet. An added draw is Ironton’s well-situated vantage point for watching fireworks a mile away at Coors Field. Free. 303-297-8626 or ironton . Kyle MacMillan
THE GLITZY NATURE OF MARY EHRIN
Denver artist Mary Ehrin is well known for luxuriant feather sculptures and other works that can be counted on to provide a sensuous blast of color and texture.
Her latest creations, on view in a solo exhibition that has been extended through Saturday at the Rule Gallery, 227 Broadway, are no exception.
Ehrin imaginatively marries art and fashion design, creating eye- catching sculptures that take the shape of rocks and boulders but are fabricated like a handbag.
The pieces, in an array of shiny and shimmering colors, are covered in such materials as patent and holographic leather and adorned with tiny handles and tie-up seams.
Like everything Ehrin does, these new works are clever and chic — a fascinating, unexpected marriage of nature and high-style glitz.
The show will be on view from noon to 5 p.m. today and Saturday. Free. 303-777-9473 or .
Kyle MacMillan
SOPRANO MCNAIR VERY MUCH “STILL HERE”
“Good times and bum times, I’ve seen them all.
“And, my dear, I’m still here.”
Those opening lyrics from Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” could hardly be more apropos to soprano Sylvia McNair.
Since 2002, she has walked away from an international operatic career, gotten divorced, turned 50 and survived a pernicious attack of breast cancer.
But in the 11 months since her last cancer treatment, McNair is not only still here, she is starring in Central City Opera’s production of Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music,” which opens Saturday afternoon for 11 performances.
“It’s been a helluva six or seven years, but I’m still here, as the song goes,” she said. “Grandma used to always tell me that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.
“I used to always want to smack her when she said that, but it is true. I’m a different person for having my life shaken to the ground, basically.”
McNair, who sang at the Metropolitan Opera and has more than 70 recordings to her credit, abandoned opera in 2002, making her final appearance in Central City Opera’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“I got my 20 years in, and I was tired,” she said. “I was just burned out. I just decided I wanted to spend the next 20 years of my singing life doing music theater and singing concerts of the great American songbook.”
But McNair admitted during a recent break in rehearsals that despite her experience and recognition, it has not been easy making the transition. She is still frequently pigeonholed as an opera singer.
“Broadway producers aren’t exactly storming my front door, I’m sad to report,” she said.
Nonetheless, she has had her share of success, including runs in major cabaret rooms in New York, including the Algonquin Hotel and Feinstein’s at Loews Regency. And earlier this summer, she appeared in a semi-staged version of “Camelot” during the opening night of the Ravinia Festival in suburban Chicago.
“I had to learn how to sing opera,” she said. “But when I’m doing the great American songbook, I’m living in my own skin. I’m singing who I am and being who I am, and it’s a very liberating thing.”
McNair is returning to the Central City Opera because she long dreamed of playing Desiree Armfeldt, one of the main characters in “A Little Night Music,” a 1973 comedy of misguided relationships.
“It’s one of those pieces where the more hours you spend doing it, the better it is, the better it gets,” she said. “It never gets old. I’m captivated by this music.”
Pat Pearce, the company’s artistic and general director, said he and McNair discussed the role during her previous visit to Central City, and the company was finally able to make the production a reality.
“She is the right age, and she has the right life experience to do this role, which I’m finding extremely telling when she is doing it onstage so far,” he said.
A major setback in the singer’s move to Broadway musicals and cabaret came in April 2006. She was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer, and in the first week of July, she was told she had six months to live.
McNair never gave up, enduring chemotherapy, radiation and five operations. She managed to still intermittently perform, and even complete a move to Bloomington, Ind., where she joined the faculty at Indiana University’s prestigious music school.
To keep her spirits up, she celebrated various milestones in her treatment. At a dinner party before her first chemotherapy treatment, for example, she served vodka martinis with symbolic pink sugar around the rims.
“You just go on with your life,” she said. “You get tired a lot more easily, but there was only one of three drug regimens that I was on that just laid me low. The other ones — I kept going. You just do.”
“I’ve run the gamut, A to Z . . .” Sondheim’s lyrics conclude, “Look who’s here, I’m still here,”
Yes, McNair’s still here.
Kyle MacMillan: 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com
