Theater openings
Aloft Productions’ “Bad Habits”
Through Aug. 25: At an expensive retreat for the unhappily married, Dr. Pepper advocates for complete indulgence in smoking, drinking and sexual promiscuity — which seems to work wonders for his patients. Dr. Toynbee’s approach is quite the opposite. He injects his straitjacketed charges with tranquilizers to calm such urges — with similarly comic results. 7287 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, 303-250-4635 or
Crested Butte Mountain Theatre’s “Dark of the Moon”
Through Aug. 11: Based on the legendary folk ballad “Barbara Allen,” this Appalachian folk tale set in the 1920s centers on a witch-boy from the mountains who falls in love with the all-too-human Barbara Allen. Accompanied by live bluegrass and gospel music. At the Mallardi Cabaret Theatre, 403 Second St., Crested Butte, 970-349-0366 or
TheatreWorks’ “Love’s Labor’s Lost”
Through Aug. 26: Four young men take cold showers, sleep on hard beds, study all night, and see no women. That’s the plan, anyway, in Shakespeare’s comedy, when the young king and his best friends vow to undergo three years of rigorous study. On cue, enter four lovely ladies from France. Performed in a tent at the Rock Ledge Ranch, 3105 Gateway Road, Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or
Dishwater Blondes’ “Scripov”
Through Aug. 11: This is a theatrical mashup in which A scripted scene is performed, then one actor steps out and an improv actor (who doesn’t know the scene) steps in and it’s run again. The result is a mix of written and made-up theater. Every show is different. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. At the Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or
Ignite Theatre’s “Spring Awakening”
Through Aug. 26: This is the first local staging of the 2007 Tony-winning best musical that faithfully re-creates Frank Wedekind’s banned 1891 German tragedy about teenagers discovering the often frightening passions and urges of adolescence in the absolute absence of real information from adults. This rock musical exists in two eras at once. The 118-year-old story is radically infused with a contemporary and joyful score by popular songwriter Duncan Sheik (“Barely Breathing”). Mature subject matter, partial nudity. At the Aurora Fox, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., 720-626-9796 or
Compiled by John Moore, Special to The Denver Post
