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The Queen’s Cartoonists Holiday Hurrah Yule

Keenly aware of all things holiday-oriented and completely ridiculous, musical ensemble The Queen’s Cartoonists have set out to find the best of the best (and best of the worst) holiday-related cartoons, films and jazz. Playing music from classic cartoons and contemporary animation synchronized with video projections of the original films, the band leads the audience through a world of virtuosic musicianship with multi-instrumental mayhem and comedy. Expect the unexpected from repertoire that includes the Golden Age of animation, cult cartoon classics, modern animation and elements of a musical circus!

Bring the entire family to this hilarious holiday concert!

EARLY JULY

Full season announcement and subscriptions on sale.

AUGUST 1

Single tickets on sale.

All performances are hosted at the Lakewood Cultural Center . Artists and programs are subject to change .

2023 Festival

JUNE 24 - AUGUST 6

ROMEO & JULIET

KISS ME, KATE OTHELLO

TICKETS ON SALE NOW centralcityopera.org

Creative Forces Behind the Programs

Behind the scenes at the heritage, culture and arts facilities of Lakewood, the programming staff brings vast experience, unending creativity and a resolute passion for creating diverse, meaningful and engaging programs for patrons of all ages .

Bringing the Past Present

Steve Luebke

Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park

An internship in museum education brought Steve Luebke to manage school programs, overnight camps and field trips for the History Colorado Center and then to the museum programs specialist position at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park.

At Heritage Lakewood since 2019, Steve facilitates ways to explore the dynamic history of the 20th century. An amazing team of instructors and volunteers creates programs centered around history and artistic expression, ranging from calligraphy to skateboard decoration. Youth camp programs introduce campers to a variety of activities, ranging from pickling vegetables to crafting board games.

The summer of 2023 is looking bright with topics such as “illumination” at our History Happy Hour, throwback entertainment at our Belmar Base Ball Bout and inspiring stories like that of local legends, the Beers Sisters, at our popular Historical Luncheon series. Get your hands dirty in a blacksmithing workshop and clean up again in a soapmaking class.

Top-Notch Classes

Lauren Hegge

Washington Heights Arts Center

With a top-notch pottery studio, an expanding collection of fibers classes, a selection of drawing and painting courses, and introductory workshops to advanced courses across an array of mediums, the Washington Heights Arts Center has a wide spectrum of programming to meet the interests of the creative community. Lauren Hegge, cultural programs and studio coordinator, strives to offer new techniques while staying true to the core values of providing accessible and inviting programs. Her background coordinating offerings at the Denver Art Museum and teaching photography as an adjunct professor has contributed to her longevity of nearly five years with the City of Lakewood.

This summer, Washington Heights will offer a selection of new classes and workshops, including a workshop on painting pet portraits, a summery introduction to botanical printing on fabric and an expanded class on relief printmaking for beginners.

Diverse Disciplines

Nathalie Renfroe

Lakewood Cultural Center

At the Lakewood Cultural Center, art, dance, music, and theater classes from funk to classical ballet, fine art painting to theater, the humanities and culinary appeal to all ages. Nathalie Renfroe, cultural programs coordinator, continually seeks new trends and offerings across multiple arts disciplines to keep programming fresh. Nathalie has been coordinating classes, events, camps and school-oriented outreach programs for youth art and performing arts at the Cultural Center for the past nine years. She brings experience programming for the City of Austin, Texas, at the Dougherty Arts Center, and she also taught graphic design as an adjunct professor in San Antonio, Texas.

Summer camp season fills the Cultural Center with the sounds of children enjoying camps centered on printmaking and magic, duct tape art and more. Offerings for 2023 expand to Beat Making, Baking Bootcamp, Miniature Creations and Let’s Dance Funk!

The Dividing Road

Iluminar Aerial

6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 6 3:30 p.m., Sunday, May 7

Journey with us as high-flying aerialists go on a quest to rid the world of monsters

Will the heroine find the key and return unscathed from the creatures in the Underworld?

Tickets are Adults $25; Seniors $20; Youth (under 18) $18; Children (3 & under) are free IluminarAerial.com/Shows

The Spirit of the Dragon

Iluminar Aerial

2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 6

12:30 p.m., Sunday, May 7

The state of the world lies in the hands of a group of misfit aerialists who must learn to trust each other and believe in the power of the last dragon

Tickets are Adults $25; Seniors $20; Youth (under 18) $18; Children (3 & under) are free IluminarAerial.com/Shows

Cody Rocks the Rockies with Cody Ray Slaughter, Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist

Mount Evans Home Health Care & Hospice Benefit

7:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday, May 12-13

3 p.m., Sunday, May 14

Cody returns for the seventh year with new songs and new outfits Over the past six years, Cody has sold out every concert and is expected to do so once again in 2023!

Tickets start at $45

CodyRaySlaughter.com and MtEvans.org

‘80s Mix-Tape on Ukulele!

Rocky Mountain Ukulele Orchestra

7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 16

Hey Gen-X! And you other Gens . Remember your Walkman? Remember girls wanting to have fun? Parentaladvisory stickers? Let’s mix up the ‘80s on 60+ ukuleles Come rawk with us!

Tickets start at $10

UkuleleOrchestra.org

“Cipollino”

Ballet Melange

2 p.m. & 7 p.m., Saturday, May 20 “Cipollino” tells the story of the Little Onion Boy who fights the unjust treatment of his fellow vegetables by the fruit aristocracy . This enchanting ballet is ideal for all ages .

Tickets are Adults $35; Children (12 and under) $15; Seniors (65 and up) $25 ($5 off each level for groups of 15 or more) BalletMelange.org

Awaken

Ballet Melange in collaboration with Classical Ballet Academy

4 p.m., Sunday, May 21

Enjoy excerpts from well-loved classical ballets performed alongside exciting contemporary works by regional choreographers

Tickets are Adults $35; Children (12 and under) $15; Seniors (65 and up) $25 ($5 off each level for groups of 15 or more) BalletMelange.org

Nature’s Favorite Lakewood Symphony

7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 1

Journey to Bohemia with Smetana’s “Má Vlast ” Celebrate our Young Artist Competition winners Concert is preceded by a delicious catered celebration dinner

See the website for separate dinner tickets

Tickets start at $12

LakewoodSymphony.org

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”

Performance Now Theatre Company

June 9-25

Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays & Sundays, 2 p.m.

Winner of 10 Tony Awards, this musical is about two fraudsters who try to outdo each other and are given a taste of their own medicine with many twists and laughs along the way

Tickets start at $20 PerformanceNow.org

“Princess Ida”

by Gilbert & Sullivan

Empire Lyric Players

7:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday, July 21-22 2 p.m., Sunday, July 23

Ida doesn’t have time for marriage – she has a university to run! How will Prince Hilarion win her over? Serenades? Drag? A topsyturvy fairy tale, set to exquisite music!

Tickets are $30

ELPS.org

My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy

Written by & starring Brad Zimmerman

August 3-20

Thursdays, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Fridays, 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sundays, 2 p.m.

This hilarious and poignant story is universal in its message: The journey to follow one’s dream, and the parents who SUFFER through it!

Tickets start at $45

MySonTheWaiter.com

2023-2024 Season

Lakewood Cultural Center Presents

Single tickets on sale August 1. See page 14 for season highlights . Watch for additional show announcements and schedule details at Lakewood org/ LCCPresents

Receive updates by email when you sign up for our newsletters at Lakewood org/ Newsletters