Critic’s pick
25th year for Kim Robards Dance
Saturday-Sunday. Denver dance mainstay Kim Robards Dance will kick off its silver-anniversary celebration this weekend. It begins with the return of the “3D: Dance, Design, Desserts” benefit on Saturday and the unveiling of some new works — and a reprise of some old favorites — at Sunday’s 25th-anniversary premiere show. “It is unbelievable to me that we are celebrating 25 seasons,” said Robards, whose acclaimed company has traveled the world performing at festivals and other events. The programs repeat Nov. 11 for the premiere show and Nov. 12 for the “3D” benefit. $15-$30. KRD Theater, 1387 S. Santa Fe Dr. 303-825-4847 or .
Family Fun
An engaging twist on “Alice in Wonderland Jr.”
Through Saturday. Youngsters follow Alice down the rabbit hole in “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.”at the Parker Mainstreet Center. Presented by Inspire Creative Kids, the show is based on Disney’s 1951 animated feature, but with a 2011 twist: The production uses “4-D” sensory techniques, like engaging the audience’s sense of smell, to tell Lewis Carroll’s classic tale. With familiar and updated tunes from the movie, including a rap by the Caterpillar. 7 p.m. tonight, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. Parker Mainstreet Center, 19650 E. Main St., Parker. $15 each. 303-790-0875 or visit .
In motion in Lakewood
Sunday. Hang out with the Cashore Marionette sin “Life in Motion”at the Lakewood Cultural Center. Puppeteer Joseph Cashore designs and performs with his own marionettes; in “Life in Motion,” he and his menagerie explore the richness of everyday life through a series of vignettes. The scenes are set to classical works by composers like Beethoven, Vivaldi, Copland and Strauss. Keep this in mind: Though the show is open to the whole family, it’s not geared toward young children. 2 p.m. Sunday. Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Pkwy.; 303-987-7845. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for students, seniors and children.
Kids get into Arts Week
Through Nov. 12. The Children’s Museum of Denver celebrates Denver Arts Week with special programming all week long. Kids can visit the “Room of Clay” every day to create their own works of art, or stop in for guest events: Saturday, Cherry Creek Dance presents a performance of “Alice in Wonderland,” starring the studio’s young dancers. Colorado Ballet takes the stage Sunday with “From the Page to the Stage,” a collection of excerpts from classic ballets. Join in Swallow Hill Music’s ukulele party at Wednesday’s Strum-A-Long, and harmonize with the Colorado Children’s Chorale in “Coo Coo Cachoo” on Nov. 12. The Children’s Museum will also be open for free during Saturday’s “Night at the Museums” event. Cherry Creek Dance: 2 p.m. Saturday. Colorado Ballet: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Swallow Hill Strum-A-Long: 6 p.m. Wednesday. Colorado Children’s Chorale: 11 a.m. Nov. 12. Children’s Museum of Denver, 2121 Children’s Museum Drive; 303-433-7444. Admission: $8 for guests ages 2 to 59; $6 for 1-year-olds and seniors age 60 and older.
Free concert to salute United States’ veterans
Saturday. The Highlands Ranch Concert Band leads an early-Veterans Day salute in “A Nation’s Strength: A Salute to America’s Veterans, Past and Present.” The free concert features rousing, patriotic tunes like “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Armed Forces Salute.” The band will be joined by the Highlands Ranch Community Chorus and an elementary school choir — this year’s kids are from Prairie Crossing Elementary. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. South Suburban Christian Church, 7275 S. Broadway, Littleton. Admission is free.
Catch last weekend of Day of the Dead exhibit
Through Sunday. It’s the last weekend to catch the annual Dia de los Muertosexhibit at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center. Guests are invited to join in the holiday’s remembrance of ancestors by bringing along photos of loved ones, which will be added to a community altar. Artworks by Zarco Guerrero and Laurie Zuckerman, hands-on activities, too. The museum’s also promoting a free display of altars at the Consulate General of Mexico, at 5350 Leetsdale Drive. It’s open to the public through today. Museum events: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Longmont Museum and Cultural Center, 400 Quail Road; 303-651-8374. Free.
Art
“Five-Zone System” showcases Clark Richert
T oday. Clark Richert, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, could well be Colorado’s top painter. In conjunction with the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver’s upcoming “West of Center: Art and the Counterculture Experiment in America, 1965-1977,” in which he is prominently featured, Richert’s latest works will be showcased in a solo exhibition at Rule Gallery, 3340 Walnut St. The show, titled “Five-Zone System,” opens with a public reception from 6 to 9 p.m. today and runs through Jan. 7. Free. 303-777-9473 or .
Classical music
Pianist Paremskiagain teams with CSO
Today-Sunday. Russian-born pianist Natasha Paremski made her debut with the Colorado Symphony in 2004 as a 17-year-old, and she has been a favorite in Denver since. This first-rate artist returns to the orchestra this week as soloist for Antonin Dvorak’s Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33. Also on the Dvorak program are his Notturno in B and Symphony No. 8. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. today (newly added date) and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $34-$82. 303-623-7876 or 877-292-7979 or .
Theater
“Frost/Nixon” gets first Colorado staging
Today. The venerable Longmont Theater Company has landed an unusual coup: the first Colorado staging of the recent acclaimed Broadway hit, “Frost/Nixon.” British talk-show host David Frost has become a lowbrow laughingstock and Richard M. Nixon has just resigned the presidency in disgrace over the Watergate scandal. Determined to resurrect his career, Frost risks everything on a series of in-depth interviews in the hope of extracting an apology from Nixon. The cagey president, however, is equally bent on redeeming himself in his nation’s eyes. The result is the interview that sealed a journalist’s career — and a president’s legacy. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; also 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at 513 Main St., 303-772-5200 or .
Opera offers side action in “Sideshow!”
When Opera Colorado decided earlier this year to consolidate its main production season into four months in the winter and spring, that left it largely out of the public eye in the fall.
To offset that absence and give the company at least some onstage presence now, it is presenting “Sideshow! An Opera Cabaret,” a semi-staged, informal evening of short works and art songs.
Included will be Leonard Bernstein’s one-act 1952 opera, “Trouble in Tahiti,” a duet about a circus knife-thrower and his wife and songs by Kurt Weill and Benny Andersson of ABBA fame.
“The whole theme ends up being about relationships not being black and white and cut and dried like a sitcom,” said director Brad Trexell.
Taking part will be the Opera Colorado Young Artists, five emerging singers who are in-residence with the company for seven months, along with pianist Allan Armstrong and Denver actress Jessica Robblee.
“Sideshow!” debuts at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Studio Loft, a flexible black-box theater that opened in May on the top story of the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. ($40 and $45, 303-468-2030 or . )
The final two performances will be held at 8 p.m. Nov. 12 and 1:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St. ($35 and $45, 720-509-1000 or ). Kyle MacMillan
