Theater Openings
Theatre Aspen’s “Avenue Q”
Through July 21: “Avenue Q” isn’t your typical Broadway musical. Or is it? The laugh-out-loud story follows a college grad who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets his lovable and kooky neighbors, who help him finally discover his purpose in life. But it also has “Sesame Street”-inspired human and monster puppets that are the heart of “Avenue Q.” Rated R. Hurst Theatre, 400 Rio Grande Place, 970-925-9313 or
Creede Repertory Theatre’s “Is He Dead?”
Through Sept. 20: In this newly discovered Mark Twain comedy and recent Broadway hit, the original master of American humor dishes out a sly critique of the art world with acerbic wit and social commentary well ahead of his time. Cleverly adapted for modern audiences by David Ives, “Is He Dead?” is a fast-paced farce about a struggling artist who stages his own death to drive up the price of his paintings. 124 N. Main St., Creede, 719-658-2540, 1-866-658-2540 or
The Edge’s “It’s Just Sex”
Through July 22: With the kids away, three married couples get together for an evening of relaxation and laughs. But as the liquor flows and secrets are revealed, trust is tested and boundaries are broken. Playwright Jeff Gould will conduct post-performance talkbacks this Friday and Saturday. 9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, 303-232-0363 or
Little Theatre of the Rockies’ “Master Class”
Through July 21: Terrence McNally’s award-winning musical play about Maria Callas takes us to one of her famous master classes during which we see what made her the most celebrated, most reviled and most controversial singer of her times. At the Norton Theatre in Gray Hall on the University of Northern Colorado campus, 19th Street and 8th Avenue, Greeley, 970-351-2200 or
Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s “Noises Off”
Through Aug. 5: Perhaps the most celebrated modern farce ever written, this uproarious comedy follows the stage antics — on and off — of an inept acting troupe as they stumble from awful dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night. Everything that can go wrong does. University of Colorado mainstage theater (indoors), Boulder, 303-492-0554 or
Buntport’s “Tommy Lee Jones Goes to Opera Alone”
Through Saturday: Buntport reprises its unusual audience hit for one, fundraising weekend, during which a near life-size version of Tommy Lee Jones waxes poetic about cowboy boots, his life as a movie star and his love of opera — particularly Puccini’s “Turandot.” Operated by three actors and voiced by a fourth, this Tommy Lee lookalike sits in a café, enjoying a good slice of pie, taking the audience on a journey, aided only by his waitress and the odd salt shaker or two. A puppet show unlike any you have ever seen. 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or
Compiled by John Moore, Special to The Denver Post
