Entertain. Inspire. Educate.
What
do the performing arts mean to you?
We believe in the power of LIVE PERFORMANCE, in MAKING MEMORIES TOGETHER, and that the arts TRANSCEND GENERATIONS and UNITE US ALL.
Did you know?
• We are a NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION that relies on our community’s financial support to operate
• TICKETS ONLY COVER 27% of the actual cost of shows
• Over 8,000 kids enjoy free programming each year through our STARS program
• Over 1,200 tickets given to community members through the Community Arts Access Program
Mariachi Los Camperos, September 15, 2023. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
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31 The Second City 65th Anniversary Show JAN. 3, 2025 32 The Infamous Stringdusters JAN. 9 – 10, 2025
33 Richard Bona and the Asanté Trio JAN. 12, 2025
34 Trio Bohémo JAN. 15, 2025
35 Live from Laurel Canyon presents “James & Joni: Their Stories, Their Songs” JAN. 18, 2025
36 Ballet Hispánico JAN. 21, 2025
37 Marcus King: An Intimate Acoustic Evening featuring Drew Smithers JAN. 24, 2025
38 Billy F Gibbons JAN. 28, 2025
39 JJ Grey & Mofro: Olustee Tour
JAN. 31, 2025
40 Steep Canyon Rangers with Peter Rowan FEB. 1, 2025
41 Brian Regan FEB. 2, 2025
42 Jesse Cook FEB. 5, 2025
43 DOG MAN: The Musical FEB. 6, 2025
44 Cirque Kalabanté: “Afrique en Cirque”
FEB. 12, 2025
45 Ekep Nkwelle Quartet
FEB. 13, 2025
46 John Craigie & Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket)
FEB. 15, 2025
47 Conrad Tao & Caleb Teicher: Counterpoint FEB. 16, 2025
48 An Evening with Paul Reiser FEB. 19, 202 5
49 Colin Cloud: MASTERMIND FEB. 22, 2025
50 Dear Evan Hansen FEB. 25 – 26, 2025
MARCH
51 Daniel Hope with the Polish Chamber Orchestra of Sinfonia Varsovia: ‘Journey to Mozart’ MAR. 2, 2025
52 Dirty Dancing in Concert MAR. 4, 2025
53 Michael Feinstein in Because of You MAR. 6, 2025
54 Hubbard Street Dance Chicago MAR. 8, 2025
55 Yacht Rock Revue MAR. 11, 2025
56 Anjelah JohnsonReyes: The Family Reunion Tour MAR. 12, 2025
57 Kevin Nealon MAR. 21, 2025
58 Old Crow Medicine Show MAR. 26, 2025
59 Matt Nathanson: King of (un)simple Tour MAR. 27, 2025
60 Mania: The ABBA Tribute MAR. 28, 2025
61 Voctave: The Corner of Broadway & Main Street MAR. 30, 2025
62 Quatuor Debussy: A Celebration of Maurice Ravel 150 Years After His Birth MAR. 31, 2025
APRIL
63 CIRCA: Humans 2.0 APR. 1, 2025
64 Bill Frisell Trio featuring Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston APR. 2, 2025
65 Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable APR. 6 – 7, 2025
66 AJ Lee & Blue Summit and The Fretliners APR. 10, 2025
Managing Editor
Ruthie Hamrick
Associate Editor
Wren Bova
Design
Shannon Muench, Open Mind Studios
Sales Managers
Sandie Aveil
Mark Bricklin
Content & Direction
Kristen Dudding
Owen Hutchinson
Cameron Morgan
Contributors
Brenda Himelfarb
Ross Leonhart
Kimberly Nicoletti
Photographers
John-Ryan Lockman
Jon Resnick
Distribution Manager
David Hakes
Cover Photo
John-Ryan Lockman
Printing
Publication Printers
Vail Daily Publisher
Mark Wurzer
VILAR COMMITTEE CHAIR ALEXIA JURSCHAK
Dear friends,
Welcome to the Vail Valley Foundation’s Vilar Performing Arts Center, where we inspire, educate, and entertain our community through the transformative power of the performing arts. As a non-profit theater relying on the generous support of patrons like you, we are thrilled to embark on our 27th season with unprecedented momentum and excitement.
As we begin this new season, we invite you to experience the unparalleled beauty and intimacy of our one-of-a-kind theater. We are continuing to invest in the future through ongoing facility and technical improvements, ensuring the highest quality experience for our patrons. We are particularly excited to expand our local youth programming, furthering our commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists and art lovers. Through these initiatives, we continue to fulfill our mission of making the performing arts accessible and enriching for all ages in our community.
As we look ahead to many more seasons of artistic excellence, we are profoundly grateful for your continued support. Your patronage enables us to operate, grow, and remain a vital cultural institution in the Vail Valley. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey as we continue the legacy of this special place on earth.
Warm regards,
Vilar Committee Chair
ticket packages
WINTER 2024–2025
ticket
4-PACK
Receive a discount if you buy tickets in a group of 4 to select performances.
Time for Three –
A Time for Three Holiday
SUNDAY, DEC. 22 // 6:30PM
The Second City 65th Anniversary Show
FRIDAY, JAN. 3 // 7:00PM
Live from Laurel Canyon presents “James & Joni: Their Stories, Their Songs”
SATURDAY, JAN. 18 // 7:00PM
Ballet Hispánico
TUESDAY, JAN. 21 // 7:00PM
DOG MAN: The Musical
THURSDAY, FEB 6, 2025 // 6:30PM
Cirque Kalabanté: “Afrique en Cirque”
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12 // 6:30PM
Colin Cloud: MASTERMIND
SATURDAY, FEB. 22 // 7:00PM
Dear Evan Hansen
TUESDAY, FEB. 25 & 26 // 7:00PM
Dirty Dancing in Concert
TUESDAY, MAR. 4 // 7:00PM
Circa: Humans 2.0
TUESDAY, APR. 1 // 7:00PM
Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable
SUN., APR. 6 & MON., APR. 7 // 6:30PM
SHOW LISTING AVAILABLE IN PACKAGE SUBJECT TO CHANGE*
*Must be purchased in increments of 4.
*NOT available in all price zones
3 | 5 | 8
Create your own series and save big!
PICK 3 Shows – Save 10% // PICK 5 Shows – Save 15% PICK 8 Shows – Save 20%
Time for Three –A Time for Three Holiday
SUNDAY, DEC. 22 // 6:30PM
Authentic Unlimited –An Authentic Christmas
MONDAY, DEC. 23 // 7:00PM
The Second City 65th Anniversary Show
FRIDAY, JAN. 3 // 7:00PM
Richard Bona and the Asanté Trio
SUNDAY, JAN. 12 // 5:00 & 7:30PM
Live from Laurel Canyon presents “James & Joni: Their Stories, Their Songs”
SATURDAY, JAN. 18 // 7:00PM
Ballet Hispánico
TUESDAY, JAN. 21 // 7:00PM
Steep Canyon Rangers with Peter Rowan
SATURDAY, FEB. 1 // 7:00PM
Jesse Cook
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5 // 7:00PM
DOG MAN: The Musical
THURSDAY, FEB 6, 2025 // 6:30PM
Cirque Kalabanté: “Afrique en Cirque”
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12 // 6:30PM
Ekep Nkwelle Quartet
THURSDAY, FEB. 13 // 5:00 & 7:30PM
John Craigie & Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket)
SATURDAY, FEB. 15 // 7:00PM
Conrad Tao & Caleb Teicher: Counterpoint
SUNDAY, FEB. 16 // 7:00PM
Colin Cloud: MASTERMIND
SATURDAY, FEB. 22 // 7PM
Daniel Hope with the Polish Chamber Orchestra of Sinfonia Varsovia: ‘Journey to Mozart’ SUNDAY, MAR. 2 // 6:30PM
Michael Feinstein in Because of You
THURSDAY, MAR. 6 // 7:00PM
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
SATURDAY, MAR. 8 // 7:00PM
Matt Nathanson: King of (un)simple Tour
THURSDAY, MAR. 27 // 7:00PM
Voctave: The Corner of Broadway & Main Street
SUNDAY, MAR. 30 // 6:30PM
Circa: Humans 2.0
TUESDAY, APR. 1 // 7:00PM
Bill Frisell Trio featuring Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston
WEDNESDAY, APR. 2 // 5:00 & 7:30PM
Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable
SUNDAY, APR. 6 & MONDAY, APR. 7 // 6:30PM
AJ Lee & Blue Summit and The Fretliners
THURSDAY, APR. 10 // 7:00PM
SHOW LISTING AVAILABLE IN PACKAGE SUBJECT TO CHANGE* Show tickets are transferable to friends and family.
To learn more and purchase visit vilarpac.org/packages
Event listing & availability subject to change at any time.
VILAR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CAMERON MORGAN
Welcome to the Vilar Performing Arts Center!
As we usher in this winter season, we are delighted to unveil a new look for the Vilar – a refreshed logo that embodies our commitment to excellence and aligns with an updated strategic plan that will carry us to our 30th Anniversary in 2027. Our new logo captures the bold spirit of our mission to provide performing arts leadership, engagement and education for our mountain community, visitors and partners.
Although the “VPAC” acronym has been part of our brand since 2008, embracing the simplicity of “Vilar” and “Vilar Performing Arts Center” reflects how our audiences and partners naturally refer to us. Stylistically, the vibrant red accent color pays homage to our mainstage curtain, and the clean, strong design adapts seamlessly with the diverse programming we present.
This new identity symbolizes our vision for the future of the Vilar Performing Arts Center – a future where we build on our legacy as a beacon of live entertainment and cultural enrichment, inspiring a love and appreciation of the performing arts.
We invite you to join us in this exciting new chapter as we continue to enrich the cultural fabric of our community through the transformative power of the performing arts, together.
With gratitude,
Vilar Executive Director
parking & transportation
What to know — before you go.
Beaver Creek Village Parking Structures
Four hours of free parking is available in both the Villa Montane and Ford Hall parking garages for each Vilar winter performance. Parking is subject to availability and free with a valid Vilar ticket. Access this benefit by following these easy steps:
1. Tell the parking attendant in the booth that you are attending a Vilar event. Be prepared to present a copy of your ticket or order confirmation.
2. Scan your credit card (you will not be charged). This step opens your “parking session.”
3. Scan the same credit card on your way out (you will not be charged). This step closes your “parking session” and the gate will open, letting you exit free of charge. Have questions or concerns?
Contact: Beaver Creek Parking Office 970.754.5849
BCParking@vailresorts.com
Park at a Local Lodge
Many of our Beaver Creek lodges including The Beaver Creek Lodge, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, and The Charter at Beaver Creek, will offer free or discounted valet parking when you enjoy
cocktails or dine at their restaurants, all of which are a short walk to the Vilar.
Free Shuttle Services
Beaver Creek Shuttle From Lower Lots Park, walk or take the CORE TRANSIT bus to the lower Beaver Creek Village lots (Elk and Bear) and hop on the complimentary Beaver Creek Village shuttle, which runs every 10 to 20 minutes during the winter season. Both Elk and Bear lower lots are free for entry after 1 p.m. daily.
Village Connect Shuttle Service This complimentary doorto-door, shared ride transportation is available within the Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch Villages. To arrange transportation anywhere within the resort, download the Village Connect App, or ask your concierge.
Staying in Beaver Creek?
The Vilar is a short walk from anywhere in the
and is
Village
located just beneath the ice rink.
frequently asked questions
When is the box office open?
Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as two hours prior to show time on Saturdays and Sundays. We will remain open until intermission on any performance evening.
Where is the Vilar located?
The Vilar is located directly below the ice rink, in the heart of Beaver Creek Village. Just look for the escalators by The North Face store.
What should I wear?
Audiences wear anything from mountain casual to theater semi-formal. It’s totally up to you!
Is there a bar?
The Vilar upper lobby bar features beer, cider, wine, liquor and seltzer. There is also a bar in the lower lobby featuring premium and house wines, spirits and beers on draft. Additionally, an assortment of snacks and candies are available. Our bar service opens one hour prior to each show and remains open through intermission.
Where can I eat before the show?
Please come early and visit our official restaurant partners, The Dusty Boot, Aritza and Alpine + Antlers, for top-notch pre-show dining offerings. The theater is also walking distance to all of the dining options offered in Beaver Creek Village.
Directly with your
take a seat
Get the best seats in the house! Contact the box office with questions on seating and tickets.
“Older kids will enjoy mountain biking and hiking to Beaver Lake, while parents relax with a concert at the Vilar Performing Arts Center.”
“Some popular destinations have a vibrant cultural scene such as Beaver Creek, Colo., which is home to the Vilar Performing Arts Center, which hosts highcaliber plays and music performances.”
“No need to travel for worldclass theater, concerts, comedy, and dance performances. The Vilar Performing Arts Center hosts a steady lineup of internationally acclaimed acts throughout the winter.”
Big Head Todd & The Monsters with support from The Runaway Grooms
40th Anniversary Tour
SATURDAY, DEC. 7, 2024 // 6:30 P.M.
For close to four decades, the members of Big Head Todd and The Monsters – Todd Park Mohr (vocals, guitar, keys, sax, harmonica); Brian Nevin (drums); Rob Squires (bass, vocals); and Jeremy Lawton (keyboards, lap pedal/steel guitar, vocals) – have continued to both throw down in the studio and light up stages worldwide. Rallying around a core vision, the platinum-selling Colorado quartet kicks out the kind of blues-drenched rock ‘n’ roll bangers that make you want to rev the engine a little louder, sing along like no one’s looking and live a little freer. Big Head Todd and The Monsters are a tight, well-oiled machine that prove what’s possible when a band sticks together for the long haul. This performance is part of the Stifel Birds of Prey festivities.
Elephant Revival
Colorado band, Colorado sounds
THURSDAY, DEC. 12, 2024 // 7:00 P.M.
Elephant Revival is a unique collection of multi-instrumentalists blending elements of Celtic, Americana, folk and indie art rock. The band consists of Bonnie Paine (vocals, cello, djembe, washboard and musical saw); Bridget Law (fiddle, vocals); Dango Rose (upright bass, mandolin, vocals); Charlie Rose (banjo, pedal steel, mandolin, vocals); Darren Garvey (drums, percussion, vocals); and Daniel Sproul (guitars, vocals) of Rose Hill Drive. The music they create together is like weather systems meeting in the sky. Perhaps part of this unique musical experience derives from the band’s members playing off one another – the audience able to sense when they improvise and allow intuition to take over. Bonnie Paine transports the audience as well with a warmly haunting voice either merging with the rhythms and melodies of the band or providing a counterpoint. This performance is part of the Stifel Birds of Prey festivities.
Grace Potter with support from Paul McDonald & the Mourning Doves
Powerhouse vocals, high-energy performance
SATURDAY, DEC. 14, 2024 // 6:30 P.M.
An acclaimed singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and rock ‘n’ roll performer, Grace Potter is all that! After weeks of traveling, crashing in roadside motels and taking time each night to transcribe ideas the artist dreamed up behind the wheel – scrawling those notes onto the backs of postcards and notepads – Potter flew to Nashville to record Mother Road. The record fuses elements of soul, blues, country and rock ‘n’ roll with masterful abandon. Equal parts fearlessly raw memoir and fable, Mother Road is a body of work that goes far beyond the typical album experience. “Mother Road is a reframing of my understanding of my history,” says Potter. “It’s an important and powerful perspective I’d never had until this record and the heart of it is my journey to self-reliance and a sense of worthiness.” And it has allowed Potter to find the kind of creative freedom that leaves both artist and audience indelibly altered. This performance is part of the Stifel Birds of Prey festivities.
Time For Three –A Time for Three Holiday
Pushing creative boundaries
SUNDAY, DEC. 22, 2024 // 6:30 P.M.
Renowned for its charismatic and energetic performances, Time For Three (TF3) is a Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble that defies convention and boundaries by showcasing excellence across different genres. Whether it be classical, Americana or singer-songwriter, the trio’s unique sound simply captivates audiences, becoming a musical experience as they merge various eras, styles or traditional Western music. Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals) and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals) combine their instruments and listeners worldwide. TF3 has won two awards for Best Classical Instrumental Solo and Best Contemporary Classical Composition – the former for the album Letters for the Future and the latter for the triple concerto. For this special performance, the ensemble will bring their enthralling holiday program. It’s hard not to be swept up in the force of their contagious energy.
Program selections will be announced from the stage for this performance.
Photo by Shervin Lainez.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Holiday Series Presenting Underwriters Patricia & Peter Kitchak, and Classical Series Presenting Underwriters Alexia & Jerry Jurschak and the David and Molly Pyott Foundation
Authentic Unlimited –An Authentic Christmas
A heatwarming holiday experience in five-part harmony
MONDAY, DEC. 23, 2024 // 7:00 P.M.
Just in time for the holidays, Authentic Unlimited will present an evening filled with your favorite Christmas classics along with other tunes that embody the spirit of the season. These veteran musicians will bring their toe-tapping bluegrass sound – their musicianship and vocal prowess making them one of the most sought-after bluegrass groups in the country. This group has garnered accolades for their chart-topping hits and stellar harmonies that capture the essence of traditional bluegrass, all while adding their own unique twist. These seasoned musicians have captivated the hearts of listeners, creating lifetime fans and they are no strangers to the bluegrass genre. And they bring it!
2024 INTERNATIONAL BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Holiday Series Presenting Underwriters Patricia & Peter Kitchak, and Performance Underwriters Cheri & Roger Gardner
The Silhouettes: The Light of Christmas
Celebrate the holidays with ‘America’s Got Talent’ stars
FRIDAY, DEC. 27, 2024 // 6:30 P.M.
The spirit of Christmas comes alive in this outstanding theatrical performance for the entire family. Known for their Golden Buzzer Act on “America’s Got Talent” and other AGT performances, The Silhouettes invite you to experience the magic as they bring light to the darkness. This world-renowned shadowdance company, under the direction of creator and owner Lynne Waggoner-Patton, travels the world spreading light and love through inspirational storytelling. This professional theater company uses shadow work, dance, music and acting to tell brilliant stories and convey powerful messages. Through light, color, video, dance, acting and mime, celebrate the holiday season with The Silhouettes!
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Holiday Series Presenting Underwriters Patricia & Peter Kitchak
Mountainfilm On Tour –Beaver Creek
A co-presentation with the Vail Symposium
THURSDAY, JAN. 2, 2025 // 6:00 P.M.
Join emcee Jim Butterworth for an evening of captivating films handpicked from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, Colorado. Founded in 1979, Mountainfilm is one of America’s longest-running film festivals. The annual festival is held every Memorial Day weekend in Telluride. The lineup will feature a collection of culturally rich, adventure-packed and engaging documentary short films that align with Mountainfilm’s mission to use the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. Butterworth will guide the audience through the program to provide insight on the films, filmmakers and subjects.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Holiday Series Presenting Underwriters Patricia & Peter Kitchak
The Second City 65th Anniversary Show
Showcasing favorite sketches, songs and characters
FRIDAY, JAN. 3, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
The Second City is celebrating 65 years of legendary laughs! Showcasing favorite songs, sketches, and characters written on by some of their illustrious alumni, including Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Tim Robinson, Joan Rivers, Eugene Levy, Adam McKay and so many more… With material handpicked from the iconic comedy archive and brought to life by the all-star ensemble, see for yourself why The Second City continues to be the world’s most influential name in comedy for sixty-five years and counting.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Holiday Series Presenting Underwriters Patricia & Peter Kitchak
The Infamous Stringdusters with special guests The Last Revel
The best in bluegrass for two nights!
THURSDAY & FRIDAY, JAN. 9 – 10, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
The Infamous Stringdusters, a Grammy Award-winning Americana quintet — Andy Falco [guitar], Chris Pandolfi [banjo], Andy Hall [dobro], Jeremy Garrett [fiddle], and Travis Book [double bass] — have musical influences that truly run the gamut. The group’s common denominator is certainly bluegrass, the sound that has in essence defined the course of their career. They stand out as the rare group who can team up with contemporary artists on late night television one night and headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre or perform alongside The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh the next. Manifesting an actual flock of impassioned fandom, much like those who paved the road before them. The Stringdusters, 2017’s Grammy-winning “Best Bluegrass Album,” Law of Gravity, along with a number of international music awards has attracted a faithful audience that continues to grow, bringing an urban, polished and pop-oriented sound that’s embraced by all.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Performance Underwriters Betsy & Jesse Fink
Richard Bona and the Asanté Trio
Live in the May Gallery
SUNDAY, JAN. 12, 2025 // 5:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M.
Cameroonian multi-instrumentalist Richard Bona, internationally lauded an ambassador for global music and culture, is one of the most accomplished international bass players, composers and multi-instrumentalists. A Grammy-winner who has worked with the likes of Bobby McFerrin, Wynton Marsalis, and Pat Metheny, Bona possesses an unparalleled versatility across multiple musical styles. His knowledge of African musical traditions inflects much of his work, and his parallel interest in European musical history allows him to seamlessly blend disparate elements together—in his words to “combine everything with everything.” The Asanté Trio, is testament to Bona’s philosophy of cultural collaboration. Joining Bona is pianist Jesus Pupo, who pays tribute to the “piano Cubano” style and percussionist Harvel Nakundi who provides the groove and layered rhythmic complexity inherent to the many styles that influence the group’s sound. In their collective fusion of jazz, Afro-Cuban, and African styles, Asanté Trio embodies the transatlantic musical affinities that trace their roots back to the African continent.
Richard Bona, bass & vocals
Jesus Pupo, piano
Harvel Nakundi, drums
Photo by Leesa Richards.
Trio Bohémo
Live in the May Gallery
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15, 2025 // 6:00 P.M.
The Trio Bohémo’s talent and deep musicality cannot be measured! Acclaimed for their synergy and interpretive brilliance, the trio simply brings works to life, offering captivating and dynamic performances that showcase the rich versatility of each member. After winning the Gianni Bergamo Award in Switzerland, the trio was accepted into the Le Dimore del Quartetto network, which later awarded them the Ensemble of the Year prize in 2021. That summer, they received several special prizes at the ISA Festival in Austria and days later, the first prize in the International Filippo Nicosia Award in Italy. Trio Bohémo has continued to achieve success on the international competition circuit with debuts that include the Vienna Musikverein in Austria; Wigmore Hall in London; and Stoller Hall in Manchester, England. They’ve also performed at numerous festivals including the Prague Spring; Schwarzwald Musikfestival; and in Gent at the Festival van Vlaanderen. As one critic wrote, “They are the music the world needs.”
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Classical Series Presenting Underwriters Alexia & Jerry Jurschak and the David and Molly Pyott Foundation
Matouš Pěruška, violin
Kristina Vocetková, cello
Jan Vojtek, piano
This evening’s program:
DVOŘÁK: Piano Trio in E Minor, op. 90 ‘Dumky’
HAYDN: Piano Trio in C Major, Hob.XV:27
REJCHA: Piano Trio No. 2 in A Major, op. 101
LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9
‘Carneval de Pest’
(60 minutes, no intermission)
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6:00pm. Wine & cocktails will be available for purchase.
Live from Laurel Canyon presents “James & Joni: Their Stories, Their Songs”
Chronicling two songwriting icons
SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Live From Laurel Canyon – “James & Joni: Their Stories, Their Songs” chronicles the careers of two songwriting icons: James Taylor and Joni Mitchell presented in the style of Live from Laurel Canyon with narrated stories about their lives and the songs you know and love. Bringing a vast selection of songs from their incredible careers; from the early days to their later hits. Live from Laurel Canyon not only performs the music you love, it shares the stories that inspired them.
DANCE Ballet Hispánico
Renowned cultural treasure boasts 50 years of innovative artistry
TUESDAY, JAN. 21, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Ballet Hispánico, recognized “one of America’s cultural treasures” by the Ford Foundation, was born from a bold vision to transform the world through the power of dance, quality dance training, and innovative performances that reimagine how Latino/e culture is celebrated on the global stage. Founded in 1970 by recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Tina Ramírez, and under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director & CEO, Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico has been breaking barriers and reshaping expectations, using dance as a dynamic force for cultural expression, empowerment, and meaningful change. The Company has now performed for more than 2.5 million people across three continents and is proud to engage audiences with the joy and celebration to be found in Latinidad. Praised by The New York Times as “always vibrant and richly textured,” this is a performance you won’t want to miss!
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Performance Underwriter Beaver Creek Property Owners Association
This evening’s program: ARABESQUE by Vicente Nebrada
SOMBRERISIMO by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
CLUB HAVANA by Pedro Ruiz
Photo by Benjamin Rivera Photography.
Marcus King: An Intimate Acoustic Evening featuring Drew Smithers
Fourth-generation guitar phenom hails from South Carolina
FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Marcus King faces heartache, addiction, and mental health head-on in his music. Logging thousands of miles on the road as “The Marcus King Band,” he established himself with unparalleled performance prowess. A guitar phenomena and innovative songwriter, Marcus King can simultaneously switch from swaggering rock to supersonic soul, having written songs and performed on stage for half his lifetime. King learned guitar at an early age and was playing professionally by the time he was 11 years old. A fourth-generation musician, King has followed in his family’s footsteps – his grandfather was a country guitarist and his father still performs live. From the start, King at age 20, earned rave reviews for his kinetic musicianship with The Washington Post describing him as a “guitar phenomena.” At the age of 16, Drew Smithers attended his first Allman Brothers concert – at one of their famous Beacon Theatre shows. Eventually, he enrolled in Columbia College in Chicago to study music and played guitar for a blues group that went on to open for B.B. King.
Billy F Gibbons
ZZ Top founder brings the tone, taste and tenacity
TUESDAY, JAN. 28, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
With his signature beard and African headgear, Billy F Gibbons is instantly recognizable and best known as the centerpiece of ZZ Top – he was the band’s founder, frontman and guitarist. Gibbons is widely regarded as one of the world’s finest guitarists working in the blues-rock idiom, a sound that originates from the uncanny knack to squeeze unheard-of-sounds out of the electric guitar with the blues, pop, rhythm and blues, country, gospel, western, hillbilly and West African rhythms. It’s a sound so iconic that musicians throughout the world have regularly tried to dissect and emulate it. In fact, Gibbons was named by Rolling Stone as the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time. His solo album releases, the Afro-Cuban flavored Parfectamundo, the bluesy The Big Bad Blues and the hard-rockin’ Hardware all represent what Gibbons refers to as the Three Ts – Tone, Taste and Tenacity.
“Impassioned singing, riff-based Southern rock, cold blooded swamp funk and sly Memphis soul. Rich, funky blues celebrate life’s most fundamental joys. Grey is a singer-songwriter with unforced talent and deep feeling.”
The New York Times
JJ Grey & Mofro: Olustee Tour
Rich, funky blues celebrating life’s fundamental joys
FRIDAY, JAN. 31, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Back by popular demand! According to musician, singer and songwriter JJ Grey, “The best songs I’ve ever written, I never wrote. They wrote themselves. The best show I ever played, played itself and had little to do with me or talent. To me, those things come from the power of an honest moment, and I guess I’m trying to live in that power and not force life to cough up what I want.” From his early days playing cover music behind chicken wire at a westside Jacksonville juke joint to playing sold-out shows at some of the largest venues and music festivals in the world, JJ Grey has always delivered his soul-honest truths. Now, with Olustee, JJ Grey & Mofro will bring their music directly to fans. AllMusic says JJ Grey’s music is “as authentic as the ground under your feet because that’s where it comes from – just before it moves, simply and directly, through the body of the listener, into the human heart.”
Steep Canyon Rangers with Peter Rowan
Exploring generations of bluegrass lore
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
No other genre is more invested in the preservation of musical tradition or more suffused with nostalgic pining for the old home place than bluegrass. But that doesn’t mean that bluegrass lifers like the Grammywinning Steep Canyon Rangers find the genre’s tried-and-true conventions to be artistically limiting or inevitably hew to a single career model. The band’s execution tends to be melodic, conversational and precise. The Rangers, out of North Carolina, started as a college bar band with a fairly straight-ahead bluegrass attack that grew increasingly refined and nimble. Eventually, the scope of their music expanded to encompass modern singer-songwriter sensibilities. Spotlighting this performance will be another Grammy-winner, Peter Rowan, who is a major cult figure among progressive bluegrass aficionados. As one writer put it, ”Bluegrass proved perfect for Rowan with its compelling blend of power and poignance and punch and precision in the instrument.”
Brian Regan
‘Your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian’
SUNDAY, FEB. 2, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Critics, fans and fellow comedians agree: Brian Regan is one of the most respected comedians in the country with Vanity Fair calling him “the funniest stand-up alive,” and Entertainment Weekly calling him “your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.” Having built his career on the strength of his material alone, Regan’s nonstop theater tour continuously fills the most beautiful venues across North America. In his career spanning over 30 years, he’s known to be goofy, insightful and playful with the audience, watching his jokes land or not. He’s willing to see where he is and where he can take it, and just show that he is one of the best in the business. A regular on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Regan is the rare guest who the show invites on for two segments: a performance segment and a segment on the couch to chat with Jimmy.
Photo
CONCERT Jesse Cook
A world music master with his ensemble
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
A virtuoso guitarist, Jesse Cook is renowned for his captivating fusion of world music, where contemporary melodies blend seamlessly with ancient tones. Cook’s musical journey began with his discovery of the album Friday Night in San Francisco by Paco de Lucía, Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin. Enthralled by the album’s virtuosity and artistic freedom, he found himself drawn to the fluid intersection of jazz and flamenco. Exploring the roots of flamenco and its diverse branches – spanning from India to Spain and on to Cuba and Latin America – Cook crafted his unique synthesis of world music. With 10 groundbreaking albums to his credit, including Libre, which was the 2021 Album of the Year by JazzTrax, A master of multiple genres he seamlessly blends flamenco, world and jazz creating a unique brand of rhythm and rumba.
Photo by Matt Barnes.
DOG MAN: The Musical
A hilarious, heartfelt family adventure!
THURSDAY, FEB. 6, 2025 // 6:30 P.M.
Based on the worldwide bestselling hit series by Dav Pilkey, DOG MAN: The Musical is a hilarious and heartwarming production following the chronicles of Dog Man, who with the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey, the world’s most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder? And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime?? Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of beloved characters from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants and Cat Kid Comic Club. Featuring an exciting book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila, music by Brad Alexander, and original direction and choreography by Jen Wineman.
“A howling good time. This show is perfect for everyone.”
Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
Cirque Kalabanté: “Afrique en Cirque”
A musical circus showcasing African culture
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12, 2025 // 6:30 P.M.
Inspired by daily life in Guinea, Yamoussa Bangoura created “Afrique en Cirque,” a performance that shares the beauty, youth and artistry of African culture. A colorful show beyond its scenery, costumes and staging, it makes any theater vibrate with energy and represents the strength, agility and life’s joys of young Africans. Acrobats will execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, accompanied by the contemporary sounds of live Afro-Jazz, percussion and kora. Prepare for an unforgettable journey – it’s truly like a musical circus that includes drumming and kora – a stringed instrument –dance, acrobatics and more. Best described as an exciting musical circus, it’s able to establish an intimate connection with the audience, bringing laughter and sounds that bridge that gap between performers and spectators, making everyone feel like an integral part of the show. Welcome to the universe of Kalabanté Productions, and prepare for an unforgettable journey.
Ekep Nkwelle Quartet
Live in the May Gallery
THURSDAY, FEB. 13, 2025 // 5:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M.
Cameroonian-American Ekep Nkwelle, is a New York-based jazz vocalist who trained at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University and The Juilliard School. She’s worked alongside jazz masters including as Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, and Peter Washington. She was also featured at Radio City Music Hall with renowned pianist Lang Lang in collaboration with Disney. She has performed at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center and Newport and Montclair jazz festivals, but most notably, she was featured in 2022 on NPR’s Tiny Desk singing her arrangement of Geri Allen’s “Timeless Portraits and Dreams.” Nkwelle is one of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s rising stars, and with her artistry, she strives to display her passion for music worldwide.
John Craigie & Glen Phillips (of Toad
the
Wet Sprocket)
Two talented musicians, one musical outlook
SATURDAY, FEB. 15, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
During his years as lead singer and main songwriter of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips helped to create the band’s elegant folk-pop sound with honest, introspective lyrics that forged a close bond with their fans. When Toad went on hiatus, Phillips launched a solo career with his album, Abulum, and stayed busy collaborating with other artists on various projects. Known as being introspective, he is said to be one of the most talented singer-songwriters of this era. John Craigie, who feels that “much like community, music nourishes us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually,” the two musicians will come together under the same roof in a shared evening. Both musicians have a similar outlook – a closeness around music anchored by their expressive and stirring songcraft, emotionally charged vocals, lively soundscapes and uncontainable spirit. This concert is certain to make your soul sing.
John Craigie photo by Bobby Cochran. Glen Phillips photo by Chris Orwig.
Conrad Tao & Caleb Teicher: Counterpoint
Presented by the Vilar and Vail Dance Festival
SUNDAY, FEB. 16, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Music and movement push, pull and come together in this thrilling collaboration between pianist-composer Conrad Tao and dancerchoreographer Caleb Teicher who explore harmonic, rhythmic and theatrical counterpoints through a striking blend of sound and movement. Built around music both magnificent and idiosyncratic, including work by Johann Sebastian Bach, Arnold Schoenberg, Art Tatum, Maurice Ravel and more, Counterpoint is threaded together by George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, itself a union of styles with threads through the program’s other musical selections. In this dynamic duet performance, the artists engage in a mesmerizing dialogue of harmonic, theatrical and rhythmic interplay, bridging their disparate traditions and creating a collective experience that fires the imagination and opens the heart. Through it all, Tao and Teicher will dazzle you with their virtuosity and audacity, and will surprise you with the magic they find in the dialogue between their art forms. “Together Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher create magic onstage,” states The New York Times
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Classical Series Presenting Underwriters Alexia & Jerry Jurschak and the David and Molly Pyott Foundation
“Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher are extraordinary artists individually, and together they will bring a thrilling alchemy to the Vilar Dance Series with Counterpoint. I can’t wait to share their brilliance with our audiences in the Vail Valley with this not to be missed performance”
—Damian Woetzel, Artistic Director of the Vail Dance Festival
An withEvening Paul Reiser
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19, 2025 //
7:00 P.M.
Voted by Comedy Central as one of the Top 100 Comedians of All Time, Reiser regularly performs soldout standups at venues nationwide. Comedian, actor, television writer, author and musician Paul Reiser is one of Hollywood’s most prolific creatives. On the heels of his new comedy The Problem with People, which he wrote, produced, and starred in alongside Colm Meaney and Jane Levy, Reiser has upcoming projects across a multitude of media formats. Reiser co-wrote What a Fool Believes, the candid, freewheeling memoir of his friend and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Michael McDonald which was released in May of 2024. Reiser is widely celebrated for his roles in two hit shows for Netflix: Stranger Things—the company’s biggest series of all time—and Chuck Lorre’s The Kominsky Method, for which he received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Mad About You, the longrunning Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe-winning comedy that Reiser created and starred in with Helen Hunt returned as a limited series on Spectrum Originals. The veteran actor has also garnered praise for notable performances in many films. As an author, Reiser’s first book, Couplehood, reached the number one spot on The New York Times bestsellers list. His subsequent books, Babyhood and Familyhood, were best sellers as well. In November, Paul Reiser released his first standup special in over 30 years, “Life, Death and Rice Pudding,” which is now streaming across multiple platforms.
Colin Cloud: MASTERMIND
Mentalism, comedy and mystery
SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Direct from his headlining show in the Las Vegas Strip! Ever wondered what’s really on your partner’s mind? Or what your friends are really thinking? Then you’re in luck. Described by the media as being the closest thing to the “real-life Sherlock Holmes,” Colin Cloud, with his uncanny ability to read you like a book, has been astonishing audiences from London’s West End to Broadway for over 20 years. It’s a magic show like no other that combines mentalism, deduction and a touch of comedy. From the moment the curtain rises, Cloud will engage you with his incredible ability to manipulate reality and delve into the depths of the human psyche. He begins with a series of mind-boggling tricks that demonstrates his ability to deduce thoughts and influence decisions. And as the performance progresses, you’ll witness a seamless blend of humor and astonishment and impressive mental feats, leaving audiences to question the limits of their own minds. As seen on America’s Got Talent (NBC), Ellen, The Today Show, Good Morning Football and millions of online views, Colin Cloud guarantees to blow your mind.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Performance Underwriters Beaver Creek Property Owners Association
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25 – 26, 2025 // 7:00 P.M. THE TONY AND GRAMMY-WINNING BEST MUSICAL SENSATION. Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by The Washington Post, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the first musical to take a groundbreaking look — from the point of view of both the parents and young people — at our complex, interconnected, and social media-filled lives. Evan Hansen is a high school student who always feels like he’s on the outside looking in. Evan finally gets what so many of us are searching for—the chance to finally fit in. What follows is a poignant, funny, and powerful musical. Including some of the most iconic musical theatre songs from the last decade, including “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever,” DEAR EVAN HANSEN features an uplifting score by the Tony®, Grammy®, and Oscar® winning team behind The Greatest Showman, La La Land, and “Only Murders in the Building” Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
Daniel Hope with the Polish Chamber Orchestra of Sinfonia Varsovia: ‘Journey to Mozart’
SUNDAY, MAR. 2, 2025 // 6:30 P.M.
Daniel Hope has enjoyed a thriving international solo career for more than 30 years. Celebrated for his musical versatility and dedication to humanitarian causes, the violinist has been recognized with a string of honors including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the 2015 European Culture Prize for Music. Besides undertaking solo recitals, he performs chamber concerts and concerto collaborations with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors. Classic FM describes Hope as “one of the most charismatic violinists in the world.” Today he is a familiar face at the most prestigious international venues from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and from Tanglewood to Salzburg, SchleswigHolstein. Gramophone has praised Hope’s tonal palette as well as his fresh, spontaneous sound and his ability to bring character and color to music. As the last protégé of legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin, Hope will be joined by the ensemble with which Menuhin performed the most, the Polish Chamber Orchestra of Sinfonia Varsovia.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Classical Series Presenting Underwriters Alexia & Jerry Jurschak and the David and Molly Pyott Foundation, and Performance Underwriters Susan & Albert Weihl
This evening’s program:
Journey to Mozart
GLUCK: “Dance of the Furies” from Orfeo ed Euridice
HAYDN: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G Major, Hob. VIIa/4
KILAR: Orawa
Intermission
MOZART: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major
HAYDN: Symphony No. 49 in F Minor “La Passione”
Daniel Hope photo by Photo by Daniel Waldhecker. Photo by Bartek Barczyk.
Dirty Dancing in Concert
Have the time of your life
TUESDAY, MAR. 4, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Join us for Dirty Dancing in Concert, the classic film’s first live film-to-concert experience. Enjoy the digitally remastered hit film like never before on a full-size cinema screen, with a live band and singers performing the film’s iconic songs. With a soundtrack that marked a generation, Dirty Dancing in Concert promises to bring a thrilling new and unique experience to the 80s classic. Directly following the film, the band and singers will throw an encore party that will surely take you back to the time of your life as you sing and dance along to your favorite Dirty Dancing songs. Immerse yourself in the timeless romance and experience one of the most memorable movies of the past 35 years – now live!
Michael Feinstein in Because of You
My Tribute to Tony Bennett featuring the Carnegie Hall Ensemble
THURSDAY, MAR. 6, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Michael Feinstein brings to life the Tony Bennett legacy supported by the Carnegie Hall Ensemble. Feinstein pays a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett, bringing his iconic songs to life in a symphony of sound. Feinstein’s dynamic interpretation will feature legendary hits such as “Because of You,” “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and many more coupled with the grandeur of the Carnegie Hall Ensemble. He’ll create an unforgettable night that honors the Tony Bennett in all its glory – a body of work surpassed by none. Feinstein’s close friendship with Bennett adds a profound layer to this tribute, as their camaraderie brings authenticity and depth to each note performed. Not only does Feinstein’s masterful interpretation of Bennett’s timeless repertoire pay homage to an era of classic songwriting, but it also preserves the rich cultural heritage that these songs represent. The show also brings to bear the history of Carnegie Hall.
“Tony Bennett is one of the most enduring icons of the 20th century. He has created a body of work surpassed by none.”
—Michael Feinstein
Photo by Steven Sorokoff.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Awaken the human spirit
SATURDAY, MAR. 8, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
For 47 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been one of the most original forces to awaken the human spirit through contemporary dance, envisioning a dance landscape that is relevant and accessible to all. Under the artistic direction of Linda Denise Fisher-Harrell, the company consistently brings new work while honoring classic contemporary roots. Its ever-evolving repertory, created by today’s leading choreographic voices, makes it a company that dancers aspire to join. The support the dancers give one another is evident by their strong camaraderie. And as the Boston Herald put it, “Hubbard Street is proof that contemporary choreography can be joyous, readily understandable and thoroughly engaging.” The New York Times shares that the dance company “ought to bottle itself as a cure for the ills of the era.”
This evening’s performance is generously supported by
Performance Underwriters
LaDonna & Gary Wicklund
This evening’s program:
Echoes of our Ancestors by Maria Torres
Show Pony by Kyle Abraham
Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch
A Duo by Aszure Barton return to patience by Aszure Barton
Photo by Michelle Reid.
Yacht Rock Revue
Embark on a nostalgic voyage
TUESDAY, MAR. 11, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Since their humble beginnings in 2007, Yacht Rock Revue has emerged as a pivotal figure in revitalizing yacht rock, sharing stages with icons and garnering a devoted following of “Anchorheads.” Whether performing in intimate venues or rocking arenas, their concerts promise an immersive musical journey that celebrates the timeless allure of smooth groove hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band.” The band invites listeners on a nostalgic voyage through the sun-soaked melodies of the ’70s and ’80s. Based in Atlanta, this dynamic 10-piece ensemble blends impeccable musicianship with a deep reverence for the yacht rock genre. Shows tend to be unabashedly joyous affairs inspired by the golden era of soft rock. From the sun-kissed melodies of Steely Dan and Michael McDonald to the harmonies of Hall & Oates, their repertoire spans an ocean of beloved hits that evoke memories of palm trees, ocean breezes, and carefree summers.
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes: The Family Reunion Tour
Laugh out loud with hilarious stand-up comedian
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 12, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
With six comedy specials streaming on various platforms and selling out theaters across the world, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is one of today’s most successful stand-up comedians. Born and raised in San Jose, California, and of Mexican and Native American descent, Johnson-Reyes has guest starred on shows such as Life & Beth, Superstore, The Shield, Ugly Betty, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
As one reviewer commented, “Johnson-Reyes is a seasoned pro and knows how to string together a mix of sly – if not very edgy –observational humor and subtle satire with lively storytelling, her hopscotching agility generating momentum, keeping an assembly line of laughs going.” She just goes with the flow and makes it all look totally effortless. Johnson-Reyes waxes about religion, married life, travel and food, among other topics, with laugh-outloud moments throughout. Her priceless “manicurist” bit as well as her special Say I Won’t, which debuted with over 3.8 million views, can be found on YouTube. Johnson-Reyes’ humor seems to be simply tongue-in-cheek and she brilliantly performs with an ease that draws you in and leaves you wanting more.
Kevin Nealon
SNL alum returns to the Vilar stage!
FRIDAY, MAR. 21, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Kevin Nealon is an Emmy and SAG-nominated actor and comedian who sets himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit and likable demeanor. He simply has a towering, energetic presence in person that draws you in with his mixed bag of old and new storytelling while still keeping an edge. Best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, Nealon received critical acclaim for his role in the hit Showtime series Weeds. You never know what to expect from this comedic genius. It might be his hilarious stories from his SNL days, navigating the world of celebrities or, perhaps, his pre-fame era. Nealon has found great comedic success in his extensive film career. In Anger Management, he played opposite Jack Nicholson and fellow SNL comedian, Adam Sandler. He and Sandler also teamed up in Eight Crazy Nights, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, Just Go With It, Blended, and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. In Joe Dirt, Nealon joined another SNL alumnus David Spade. The bottom line is that he makes you feel like you’re chillin’ with a seriously funny friend at a laid-back house party. So happy you could join us!
Old Crow Medicine Show
WEDNESDAY, MAR. 26, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Old Crow Medicine Show got their start busking on street corners in 1998, winning audiences along the way with their boundless energy and spirit. They eventually found themselves in North Carolina where they caught the attention of folk icon Doc Watson while playing in front of a pharmacy. He invited the band to play at his festival, MerleFest, and the rest is history. It’s been over twenty years since these humble beginnings. The band has gone on to receive the honor of being inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry and have won two Grammy Awards: “Best Folk Album” for Remedy (2014) and “Best Long Form Music Video” for Big Easy Express (2013). Additionally, their classic single, “Wagon Wheel,” received the RIAA’s Double-Platinum certification in 2019 for selling over 2,000,000 copies while the band’s debut album O.C.M.S. has been certified Gold (500,000 copies).
“If this is any indication of what Old Crow Medicine Show still has in store so many recordings in its career, we should count ourselves lucky.”—NPR Music
Photo by Chris Wood.
Matt Nathanson: King of (un)simple Tour
with support from KT Tunstall
THURSDAY, MAR. 27, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Matt Nathanson is an American singer-songwriter whose work is a blend of folk and rock ‘n’ roll music. Over his almost 30-year career, Nathanson has evolved into one of the most applauded songwriters and engaging performers on the music scene today. In addition to singing, he plays acoustic and electric guitar, and he’s played both solo and with a full band. His work – considered very telling – includes the platinum-selling song, multi-platinum hit, “Come on Get Higher.” KT Tunstall burst onto the music scene with her 2004 multi-platinum debut, Eye to the Telescope, which spawned the global hits “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” and “Suddenly I See.” These songs established Tunstall as a captivating, must-see performer, as well as a songwriter with a singular knack for balancing introspective folk and propulsive rock. A dynamic and captivating evening is in store.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Performance Underwriters Beaver Creek Property Owners Association
CONCERT Mania: The ABBA Tribute
From London’s West End
FRIDAY, MAR. 28, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
ABBA fans will bask in the magic of Mania: The ABBA Tribute, a celebration of the iconic Swedish pop group that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the breakthrough hit single, “Waterloo.” Mania is sharing the joy of this monumental milestone with an extraordinary tribute, and continues its mission to bring the timeless music of ABBA to millions of fans, both old and new. Featuring an extraordinary cast of talented musicians and performers, this ABBA Tribute delivers an authentic and unforgettable tribute to the legendary Swedish band that has captured the hearts of fans for generations. The evening promises to be an unforgettable experience not only for fans, but for music lovers alike. If you’re looking for an excuse to party, reminisce or simply enjoy some of the best music ever, then put your dancing shoes on and be transported back to the disco era of the 1970s.
Voctave: The Corner of Broadway & Main Street
A special evening of a cappella
SUNDAY, MAR. 30, 2025 // 6:30 P.M.
Voctave is an a cappella group that specializes in, among other things, covering music from Broadway musicals and Disney classics. With over 160 million social media views of their videos, their albums frequently debut in the Top 10 on the Billboard and iTunes charts. Formed in 2015 by producer and arranger Jamey Ray, the voices that bring their arrangements to life represent a wealth of diverse backgrounds and musical experiences. Voctave members have roots in musical theater, contemporary Christian music, barbershop, pop and choral music. Hailing from Central Florida, the 11 members of Voctave have performed across the globe and appear on countless recordings. A cappella at its finest.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Performance Underwriters Vilar Volunteers
Quatuor Debussy: A Celebration of Maurice Ravel 150 Years After His Birth
Live in the May Gallery
MONDAY, MAR. 31, 2025 // 6:00 P.M.
For the last 30 years, the Debussy String Quartet has been acclaimed throughout the world, continually sharing the same passion in its musical interpretations on the world’s most prestigious stages. Thirty years of evolution have made the group a key player on the international music scene, with numerous awards, including a first prize in the Evian String Quartet competition as well as a Victoire de la Musique “Best Chamber Music Group” competition. Today, the professional recognition of the group, which has been praised for its fresh and urgent style, is indisputable. Driven by values of sharing and a renewal of artistic forms, the Debussy String Quartet continues to surprise and arouse the curiosity of all audiences and of all professionals in their field. And the serene ambiance in the May Gallery is the perfect place for this performance.
This evening’s performance is generously supported by Classical Series Presenting Underwriters Alexia & Jerry Jurschak and the David and Molly Pyott Foundation
Christophe Collette, violin
Emmanuel Bernard, violin
Vincent Deprecq, viola Cédric Conchon, cello
This evening’s program:
DEBUSSEY: Préludes (Bruyère, Minstrel, Des pas sur la neige, Les sixtes alternées)
RAVEL: Ma Mère l’Oye
RAVEL: String Quartet in F major (60 minutes, no intermission)
Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6:00pm. Wine & cocktails will be available for purchase.
CIRCA: Humans 2.0
A symphony of acrobatics, sound and light
TUESDAY, APR. 1, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Ten bodies appear in a flash of light. They move in harmony for a fleeting moment and then descend into a sinuous trance. Towers grow and decay, bodies leap and are caught, as physical limits are pushed to their extreme. It’s Circa: Humans 2.0, a symphony of acrobatics, sound and light. And it’s on the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus, pioneering how extreme physicality can create powerful and moving performances. It pushes the boundaries of the art form, blurring the lines between movement, dance, theater and circus. Circa is leading the way with a diverse range of thrilling creations, fueled by the question “What is possible in circus?” They consistently redraw the limits to which circus can aspire. Circa: Humans 2.0 is intimate, primal and deeply engaged with the challenge of being human while featuring a tightly woven choreography of bodies. A breathtaking performance, pulsing with music.
Humans 2.0 is commissioned by The Mondavi Center, UC Davis Circa acknowledges the assistance of the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Photo by Amos Adams.
Bill Frisell Trio featuring Thomas Morgan & Rudy Royston
Live in the May Gallery
WEDNESDAY, APR. 2, 2025 // 5:00 P.M. & 7:30 P.M.
Guitar icon Bill Frisell’s career has spanned more than 40 years and many celebrated recordings, most recently on the Blue Note label. He has a GRAMMY Award and six nominations to his credit, among a very long list of honors. Frisell has repeatedly been voted Guitarist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and he’s won the DownBeat Critics Poll several times in the past three decades. He was also recognized by the Doris Duke Foundation as one of America’s 21 most vital and productive performing artists. Bill has been dreaming about his new project, In My Dreams. A new group with long-standing collaborators. He thinks of it as a family gathering. A reunion… getting together with his closest friends. Their history goes back decades, but never before in this particular configuration. Bill exclaims, “I’m coming up on a half century with Hank! I’ve spent so much time with these folks. Traveled many miles. But that doesn’t mean we’re done. There’s still much unfinished business. We’re just getting started.”
“Frisell has had a lot of practice putting high concept into a humble package. Long hailed as one of the most distinctive and original improvising guitarists of our time, he has also earned a reputation for teasing out thematic connections with his music... There’s a reason that Jazz at Lincoln Center had him program a series called Roots of Americana.”—The New York Times
Bill Frisell, guitar
Thomas Morgan, bass
Rudy Royston, drums
Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable
Spreading the wonders of magic
SUNDAY & MONDAY, APR. 6 – 7, 2025 // 6:30 P.M.
Following a decade touring the world as one of the most successful magic shows in history, the Champions of Magic team is back with an explosive show featuring thrilling and mind-bending illusions. Fusing their skills in grand scale magic, a flair for spectacle and undeniable showmanship, this interactive, high-energy show is sure to entertain the entire family. Combining their signature humor with groundbreaking magic, the world’s only team of illusionists presents a brand-new production unlike anything that has come before. Each performer has a talent that complements the other’s. Many times they make magic together to make one amazing and hilarious show, interacting with the audience from reluctant dudes to curious children. They are also light-hearted and friendly, their joy spreading the wonders of magic are almost infectious. In the end, you’ll be left to wonder, “How did they do that?”
AJ Lee & Blue Summit and The Fretliners
One night, two incredible bluegrass bands
THURSDAY, APR. 10, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Award-winning, energetic, charming and technically jaw-dropping is the best way to describe AJ Lee & Blue Summit, a four-piece bluegrass band that met as teenagers, picking and jamming as kids in California. Then one day they decided they would be a band. “Our roots go really deep,” explains the de facto band leader, Lee. “We met when we were young kids and we definitely decided to choose each other as a chosen family band later on in life.” The band carries a youthful, festival-parking-lot energy that’s apparent and, at once, you’ll notice a genuine ease and confidence to their music making – made firstly for the joy of making it and primarily for each other. The Fretliners are a genuine and powerful bluegrass quartet recognized for their songwriting and undeniable chemistry. Their newfound camaraderie produces an energy that is as infectious on stage as it is on record. So much so that in 2023, they won both band competitions at Telluride Bluegrass and Rockygrass Festivals, a feat that had only been accomplished once before.
Entertain. Inspire. Educate.
Vilar’s Support the Arts Reaching Students (STARS) program provides youth from 15 schools from Eagle County and surrounding areas with the opportunity to attend specially programmed daytime performances in the theater, or directly at their school. Reaching nearly 8,000 students annually with approximately 20 shows a year, STARS programming is educational, entertaining, often integrates with teachers’ lesson plans and provides a platform for cultural awareness. STARS provides the basis for a life of enjoyment and understanding of diverse performing art disciplines, often for youth who would not otherwise have the opportunity. All STARS performances and transportation are provided free of charge to students in grades K–12.
Founded in 1998 by Pat and Pete Frechette, the Vilar’s STARS program is funded by individual contributors and a generous endowment from the Frechette Family Foundation.
“Our parents wanted all children to have an opportunity to experience the theater, arts, music and other cultural activities. STARS continues to do just that, bringing joy and learning to
children while creating access for those who may not have had it, were it not for this program,” note Kathy Frechette Tenhula and Kristy Frechette Woolfolk, Pete and Pat’s daughters who carry on their parents’ legacy through their work with the Frechette Family Foundation.
Experiencing the arts is a powerful way to start new conversations and to establish a shared appreciation for the arts. “The performing arts are a true connector, a binding thread of our collective humanity. We are honored to share these moments of community with our young audiences,” says Vilar Executive Director, Cameron Morgan.
STARS not only serves Eagle County classes but also independent schools and homeschool groups. This provides an opportunity for students from these smaller groups to interact and learn with their peers. One teacher recently commented “I really love coming to the performances with students. We are a small online public school, so seeing each other and the rest of the community in person is a highlight. Thanks for all you do to make this accessible to all student groups in the area.”
“Every artist was first an amateur.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
2024-2025 STARS SERIES LINEUP
Puppy Pals Live!
MONDAY, SEP. 9 // 10AM & 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: K-5 TH GRADE
Hot Peas ‘n Butter
THURSDAY, SEP. 12 // 10AM & 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: PRE-K – 2 ND GRADE
La Santa Cecilia
WEDNESDAY, SEP. 18 // 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: 3 RD GRADE & UP
Wild Wolves of Yellowstone National Geographic Live!
MONDAY, SEP. 23 // 10AM
AGE RANGE: 5 TH GRADE & UP
Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch
FRIDAY, NOV. 1 // 10AM & 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: K-5 TH GRADE
123 Andrés
MONDAY, NOV. 11 // 10AM & 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: K-5 TH GRADE
Journey To Oz
TUESDAY, DEC. 3 // 10AM & 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: K-5 TH GRADE
Ballet Hispánico
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22 // 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: 3 RD GRADE & UP
DOG MAN: The Musical
FRIDAY, FEB. 7 // 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: K-5 TH GRADE
Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable
MONDAY, APR. 7 // 12:30PM
AGE RANGE: 2 ND GRADE & UP
“STARS is amazing, and this was something that most, if not all, my students have never seen. A live performance and in such a wonderful space! Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
—2024 Eagle County Teacher
Deeply Invested in an ELEVATED FUTURE
Vilar Performing Arts Center continues to upgrade its facility to benefit guests and artists alike
by Kimberly Nicoletti
To celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2023, the Vilar Performing Arts Center ushered in significant upgrades, including a new sound system and an elegant, contemporary glass chandelier crafted by Dale Chihuly. Now, and over the next five years, it is investing $5.5 million to ensure the facility remains a state-of-the-art venue, providing exceptional experiences to audiences, artists and staff.
A large portion of these investments revolve around lighting upgrades, which benefit both the audience and artists. New elements including LED wash fixtures over the stage provide a beautiful glow, akin to bathing the stage in light. The latest upstage cyc lights, comprised of 6-foot long LED illumination, are key in dance performances but also can be employed in creative ways during concerts — or even to create geometric patterns for comedians like Colin Jost.
Styx, February 24, 2023. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
Josh Turner, January 17, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
“We asked ourselves, ‘How do we make the venue so stateof-the-art that no artist, band, corporate client, or community partner could say no to performing at the Vilar?’ That’s a big piece of it,” says Cameron Morgan, Vilar’s executive director. “As we look to the future, we must continue to enhance the venue. We’re setting the stage for excellence.”
Though the Vilar already upgraded its sound system in 2023 to fulfill requirements of well-known artists like Styx and Lee Brice with such particulars as interfacing equipment and more subwoofers, just recently, it added systems to facilitate a higher number of audio inputs for larger bands.
or back-of-house team. This translates to stronger, better-quality coverage throughout the venue with fewer blackout areas, as well as direct communication and reduced chatter between uninvolved members relating to a specific issue.
“We asked ourselves, ‘How do we make the venue so state-of-the-art that no artist, band, corporate client, or community partner could say no to performing at the Vilar?’
“It’s been a substantial quality of life improvement for both our Vilar production team and visiting crews that come in with the acts we present. The quality of sound leads to an easier, better experience for them, so they can focus on the executing the technical elements of each production,” he says.
Ultimately, that results in superior experiences for the audience and performers.
On the crew side, a new wireless communication system allows for more seamless, clear and direct communication between production managers, audio engineers and the front-
“Everything we do is intended to make someone’s visit more entertaining, inspiring and convenient,” says Owen Hutchinson, Vilar’s artistic director.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
This spring, renovations in the upper lobby will play a significant role in guest experience. A new, permanent bar will replace the temporary one on the upper level, reflecting the sophistication of the Dale Chihuly designed chandelier. Once renovated, it will offer the full range of food and beverage that the lower bar does.
“The temporary bar was intended to test the viability of an upper lobby bar, and it confirmed our suspicion that the quality and speed of service would be improved,” Morgan says. “The new bar will be a transformative element with an organic shape that ties together the elements of nature found throughout the venue. There will be a curvature to the bar, which will be a wonderful design element in the lobby. The goal is for it to complement the space, with the Chihuly remaining the primary attraction.”
Further improvements in the upper lobby will be a dedicated coat check room, eliminating the need for guests’ jackets to be stored out in the open, which will create new opportunities to activate the space where coat racks are currently located.
“When artists are out on tour, providing a beautiful and comfortable working space for them goes a long way,” Morgan says, “Thanks to a very generous gift from the Peed family as underwriters of the green room and dressing room renovation, we’ll be able to make the Vilar feel like a home away from home for artists.”
Additionally, the elevators and fire safety system will benefit from upgrades.
This spring also brings a fresh green room and dressing rooms for artists, each of which will include live stage feeds.
“We want the green room spaces to align with the beauty of the rest of the theater,” he says. “Currently, there are no defining elements in those spaces, and that’s not the experience we want our artists to have. We want the artists to feel as special as our audience.”
Pierce Austin Architects and Holtz Design Studio, both in Vail, are partnering for the functional layout, lighting, interior design and color scheme.
After spring 2025, the team will turn its attention toward the entrance. They plan to create a more welcoming, comfortable entry by enhancing ambient lighting in the front of the building and adding specific lighting features in the bus turnaround circle. They will also work with Beaver Creek Resort to renovate the cover above the escalators that transport guests between the plaza level and the Vilar.
“We want to create a real sense of arrival when you’re coming to the theater,” he says.
Other behind-the-scenes projects include improving staff workspaces to better fit their needs.
“It’s critical to our day-to-day operations, and, when you make the team feel special, that translates to the guest experience.”
Hundreds of artists throughout the years have already commented on how special the theater is. Béla Fleck called it “magic,” Trace Bundy, aka The Acoustic Ninja, called it top-notch and a highlight of his tour, and Art Garfunkel said: “This is the No. 1 house for sounds and beauty. It’s better than fabulous.”
And, it just keeps getting better and better.
“We’re really being proactive in a lot of this work,” Morgan says. “We’re having conversations with agents and managers and artists to ensure we can continue to present artists at the highest level.”
As the Vilar team continues to focus on making the venue stand out, there are literally hundreds of exciting encounters awaiting on the horizon.
The Rippeto Family Chandelier, officially unveiled December 22, 2022.
Rendering of the new upper lobby bar.
plan a night out
Official Lodging Partners
The Pines Lodge, A Rock Resort
Beaver Creek Resort
888-598-4314
BEAVERCREEK.COM/PLAN-YOURTRIP/STAY/THE-PINES-LODGE
The Osprey, A Rock Resort
Beaver Creek Resort
888-598-4314
BEAVERCREEK.COM/PLAN-YOURTRIP/STAY/THE-OSPREY
The Beaver Creek Lodge Marriott Autograph Collection
970-845-1728
MARRIOTT.COM/EGEAK
Official Restaurant Partners
The Christie Lodge — All Suite Property
970-845-4500
CHRISTIELODGE.COM
Sonnenalp Hotel
866-284-4411
SONNENALP.COM
Don’t miss these show night offers!
The Dusty Boot
Show your ticket on a show night to receive a 10% discount off your check!
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INNATRIVERWALK.COM
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970-949-7071
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DUSTYBOOTBEAVERCREEK.COM Aritza
Show your ticket on a show night to receive a 25% discount off your check! 970-763-5398
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Alpine + Antlers
Show your ticket anytime during the day of your show (valid all day!) to receive a 15% discount off your check! 970-949-1300
ALPINEANTLERSBEAVERCREEK.COM
thank you sponsors
Facility Sponsors
Lodging & Transportation Sponsors
annual contributors
$1,000,000 and Above
Beaver Creek Resort Company
$250,000–$999,999
Beaver Creek Metro District
Peed Family
$50,000–$249,000
Tom Grojean
Sara Friedle & Michael Towler
$20,000–$49,999
Beaver Creek Property Owners Association
Susan & Jeff Campbell
Nancy Gage & Allan Finney
Fredman Family Foundation
Cheri & Roger Gardner
Genessee Mountain Foundation
Doe Browning & Jack Hunn
Alexia & Jerry Jurschak
Patricia & Peter Kitchak
Amy & Eugene Lee
Peed Family
Jill & Kevin Plancher
David and Molly Pyott Foundation
Brooke & CP Smith
Janet & James Stanard
Kristy & Bill Woolfolk
$10,000–$19,999
Anonymous
Brian Addy
Ric Almas
Steve & Lori Angel Family
Karen & John Arnold
Bacca Foundation
Sharon & William Bernardo
Kathy Cole
Colorado Creative Industries
Catherine & Michael Demane
Susan Vick Dinges
Debra & James Donahugh
Rebecca & Scott Etzler
Betsy & Jesse Fink
Diane & Tom Gates
Elizabeth & David Ginsberg
Elizabeth Borow & Andrew Gittle
Lisa & Bruce Goldman
Sheika Gramshammer
Linda & Milledge Hart
Jennifer & Don Hazell
Martha Head
Amy & Mike Kazma
Shelby & Scott Key
Anne C. Kubik
Kathy & Frank Kyle
Frances & Gary Little
Elaine & Jeffrey Lovell Foundation
Sacha & Josh McGraw
Sarah Malloy Millett & Peter Millett
Jody & Jeff Morgan
National Endowment for the Arts
Lisa & Mark Neporent
Kimberley Pelyk
Karen & Marc Peperzak
Shirley & Thomas Day
Jane DeNunzio
Pam & Ernie Elsner
Jamie & Galen Faulconer
Ann & Gary Fish
Cynthia & Philip Pillsbury
Gretchen & Bob Ravenscroft
Jan Vessa & Ed Schimweg
Mary Sue & Michael Shannon
Marcy & Gerald Spector
Marilyn & James H. Steane II
Jarona & Bill Stevens
Jodi Carter Jones & Benjamin Swig
Catherine & James Tobin
Teresa Tsai
LaDonna & Gary Wicklund
$5,000–$9,999
Anonymous (2)
Dot Ahuja
Cat & Todd Amacher
Robyn & Glenn Anderson
Jane & Robert Berry
Stacy & Jonathan Berstein
Cathy & Bill Bethke
Catherine & Thomas Borbone
Dawn & Scott Brady
Ronda & Greg Brenneman
Priscilla Brewster
Lisa & Ronald Brill
Cathleen & Dave Bullen
Amy & Alec Burger
Jeffrey D. Byrne
Charlotte & Bryan Chaney
Betsy & J. Donald Childress
Janet & Curtis Clark
Brenda & Charles Clinton
The Sherrill Family Foundation - Debbie & Skip Courtney
Paige & Chris Cumming
Laura & Kevin Fitzpatrick
Aleene & James Fraser
Paula & Gerald Friesen
Kathleen & Boyd Gentry
Laura & Tommy Gilbreath
Donna Giordano
Gary & Bonnie Goldberg
Mollie & Bill Grojean
Jan & George Grubbs, Jr.
Kari Gyde
Jennifer & Kyle Hansen
Kathy & Jim Haymaker
Helga & Michael Heidingsfelder
Jane & Ray Heller
Catherine & David Herr
Scott Herz
Herzog Family
Betsy & Gareth Heyman
Paige & Michael Hill
Tricia & Kevin Hillgren
Kris & Bob Hodge
Debra & Chris Hynes
Susan Kasser & Daniel Kah
Sarah & Paul Karon
Amy & Bruce Karpas
Claudia & Bruce Kiely
Marisa Tank & David Kochel
Margaret & Frank Krasovec
Marlene & Ben Krell
Jennifer & Curtis Krizek
Kristine Kennedy & Daniel Labs
Janet & Peter Lebovitz
Elizabeth & Lawrence Lenke
Mr.& Mrs.Thomas M. Lippincott
Laura & Jeffrey Malehorn
Manhart Foundation - Drs. Chris & Andrea Manhart
John Manning
Tara Marsh
Ann & John Martin
DeAnn & Dan Maurer
Marcia & Thomas McCalden
Robin & Joe McClanathan
Hilary & Patrick McDonald
Carolyn & Rollie McGinnis
Dori & David Meyers
Bob Miller
Olivia & Rod Miller
Jan & Rusty Minkoff
Wendy & Ben Moreland
Kay & Bill Morton
Rob & Bev Ruiz-Moss
Sherry Sunderman & Tom Mueller
Melanie & Allan Nelkin
Louise & Tradd Newton
David, Sammi & Dori Meyers in their finest Safari attire at the 2024 Summer Patron Party.
Andrea, Max & Chris Manhart with The Eli Young Band.
“Vilar is such an important part of our very special mountain community, we are happy to support the Holiday Series. It is wonderful opportunity for families and friends to gather and enjoy high quality, live performing arts.”
—Peter & Patricia Kitchak
Denise & Ray Nixon
Ginny & Ron Nixon
Suzi Hill & Eric Noreen
Jody & Mark Nyquist
Debbie & Gary Packer
Paula & William Verity
Pamela Kross & Michael Watters
Kelly & Brad Weber
Susan & Albert Weihl
Joanne & Morris Wheeler
Gerry & Edmund Palmer
Sandra & Winn Parker
Pam & Ben Peternell
Lori & Warren Pierce
Sharmi & Kent Plaster
Carolyn & Steve Pope
Suzy & Phil Quigley
Jennifer Smith & Peter Ragauss
Lynn & Brian Ranelle
Lisa & BJ Reid
Linda & Richard Ritholz
Debbie & Ian Sacks
Carole Schwartz
Marilyn & David Scott
Charleen & Randall Scott
Susan & Carlos Sepulveda
Shaeffer Hyde Construction
Cassie & Wesley Sinor
Debbi & Charles Smith
Nancy Smith
Donna & W. Randolph Smith
Carolyn & Art Swanson
Oscar Tang & Agnes Hsu-Tang
Douglas Traina
Richard & Pamela Tyre
Barbara & Kyle Vann
Amanda & Andrew Veit
Michelle & Nick Ventura
Gena Whitten & Robert Wilhelm
Toni & Michael Williams
Linda & Donald Winter
Betty & Michael Wohl
$2,500–$4,999
Anonymous
Hennessy-Allen
Cheryl & Bill Jensen
Marlene & Robert Josefsberg
Betsy & Mark Kogan
Barbara & Richard Massman
Jane & Marcus McCarthy
Wendy & Skip Nichamin
Priscilla O’Neil
Mindy Peckar
Steven Schenbeck
Mandy & Mark Sladden
Western States Arts Federation
Margaret & Glen Wood
$1,250–$2,499
Reg & Michelle Del Ponte
Elevated Dental
Sheree & Jeff Fleming
Sandra & Scott Gaffner
John Gaither
Edwin Jones
Irene & Gasper Lazzara
Nancy & Ron Marshall
George Nimmo
Patricia & Drew Rader
Joyce & Robert Rankin
Michele & Jordan Scharg
Kristen Main & Darrell Songer
Susan & Gordon Swanson
Betti & Michael Tiner
Brigid O’Connor & Kevin Vollmer
Nina & Ken Wise
Deborah & Stephen Yurco
$500–$1,249
Anonymous
Cat & Todd Amacher
Stephen Arent
Barbara & Anthony Binsfeld
Marianne Bokan-Blair & David Blair
Karen Shupe & Norman Bowles
Wendy Rudolph & Graeme Bush
Colorado Gives Foundation
Steven Corneillier
Barbara & Laurance Dobrot
Bob Ebert
Anne Ekstrom
Jeffrey Embry
Lisa & Alan Engel
Alison & Michael Greene
Neal Groff
Kelly Hamman
Gina Browning & Joe Illick
Shelly & Chris Jarnot
Vicki & Emil Jensen
Alberta C. Johnson
William Kucharski
Ann & William Lieff
Kristi Loverde
Kim Nottingham & Terry Nolan
Tiffany & David Oestreicher
Drs. Meg & Michael Racenstein
Nina Saks
Lisa & Kenneth Schanzer
Lynn & Raymond Siegel
Robert Spahr
Caroline Zug & Steven Szymanski
Sandra & Thomas Thomas
Renee & Warren Wettlaufer
$250–$499
Thomas Andrews
Collins Canada
Barbara & Charles Clark
Suzy & Jim Donohue
Mary & Kevin Fitzpatrick
Tobie Funte
Lisa Gallagher
Doris & Matt Gobec
Julia & Grant Godbersen
Sharon & Brett Helphenstine
James Incledon Jr
Judith & Jay Inglis
Leslie Ives
Alice Leeds
Leslie & John Manes
Gregory Merrell
Laura & William Nack
Jeff Rector
Sandy Saul
Lawrence Steiner
Jeanne & Jeffrey Thatcher
Gena Buhler & Keith Theodore
JoAnna & Alan Wallenstein
$100–$249
Suzanne & Michael Bailey
Rachel Bronson
Mike & Wendy Carey
Pamela Comfort
Lee DePaolo
Scott Drath
Kenneth Dunn
Mikki & Morris Futernick
Lonetia & Henry Gerken
Mary & J. Bruce Harreld
Vicki & Eric Horne
David Johnston
Ryan Kindt
Janet & Thomas Kleinhardt
Trisha & Alan Lewis
Sheila Mossman
Susan & David Mott
Suzette Newman
Deborah & Shawn O’Neil
Genevieve Peirce
Sandra & Timothy Powell
Jeri Powles
Laura Jean Rathmann
Tess Reinhold
Victor Rabinowitz, Janet & Curtis Clark, Chris & Debra Hynes, Randy & Charlene Scott, Jody & Mark Nyquist embracing the safari theme at the 2024 Summer Patron Party.
Chris Ribordy
Debra & John Roeland
Charles Sherwood
Michael Stewart
Sydney Touchstone Lawder
Mara & Richard Weissmann
Amy & Leonard Wessell
Renee & Miah Wheeler
$25–$99
Anonymous (2)
Terry Abernathy
Jestene Ahn
Christopher Allwin
Damian Altman
Rayanna Anaya
Susan & Louis Armitage
Shannon Ball
Susan Baran
Shelly Belknap
Lori & Kevin Bernet
Ulrich Bernier
Frances Bickerton
Linley & Brian Biffle
Karen & Brent Biggs
Angela & Steve Bileca
Leann Billups
Jilly Blackett
Winslow & Ross Blankenship
David Bloch
Teryl Boedeker
Lisa Bonner
Michael Boro
Diane & Jim Bosek
Leslie & Matthew Braksick
Brooke Bremer
Shan & Caleb Burchenal
Melanie & Rod Buscher
Kristi Campbell
Laurie Campbell
Scott Campbell
Oscar Cardona
Suzanne Chandler
Theresa Chavez
Tommy Chen
Susan & Edward Chipman
Molly & Perry Churchill
Cory Chylik
Mark Cisneros
Lisa & Richard Clubine
Claire Clurman
We give each year to the Vilar because it’s truly a special place for our community to gather and the programming brings us such joy. We want to ensure that future generations have the ability to access and enjoy the performing arts!”
—Kristy & Bill Woolfolk
John Cochran
Brenda Collins
Comerford Insurance
Denneane Conn
Gordon Cox
Hunter Craft
Laura & James Crenshaw
Bill Crown
Wendy Culp
Kathryn & Harold Dahl
Zora Daniels
Ginny Darbeloff
Carl Dean
Jenifer Brandeberry & Dominic DelPapa
Paul Desjardins
Joan Dieter
Alejandro Diez Barroso
Leslie Dinauer
Jim Dolphin
Richard Doran
Chad Dubea
Jeannine Dubreuil
Debra & Richard Durben
Christopher Eby
Robert Egizi
Jeffrey Eisenman
Janet El-Bitar
Angela Elefsiades
Holly & William Elliott
Gary Elzweig
Linda Ensley
Darla & Charles Feese
Paul Feldman
Megan Fielding
Suzanne Finch
Eleanor Finlay
Gabrielle Fix
Shawnna & Graham Frank
Robert Freimarck
Makayla Garza
Helen & Donald Gerstein
Alden Globe
Kristin Glover
Jose Gochoco
Mary Green
Charles Grossman
Michael Hachtman
Donna Hall
Cheryl & Fred Halpern
Rita & David Hankins
Heidi Hanson
Jared Harvey
Chris Heflin
Miguel Hernandez
JoAnn Hickey
Mindy & Dwight Hilson
Brandy & Ken Hoeve
C. Leslie & Peter Hoffman
Joel K Holland III
Heather & Chad Holleman
Courtney Holm
Noel & Andy Honkamp
Steven Horsman
Tim Howard
Jerry Hu
Carla Huebner
Amy Huette
Liz & Kyle Huff
Stanton Humphries
Melissa Jones
Edgar Joyner
Michael Kandrack
Barry Katz
John Kelly
Keric Kennedy
Pamela Kennedy
Alan Kenwood
Tanya Kessenich
Andrea Keyo
George Kidwell
Pamela Kiel
John Kirschner
Wendy Klein
Richard Koon
John Kudner
Pia & Tomasz Jablonski
Johanna & Don Jensen
Sidney Jessup
Margaret & Arvin Johnsen
Charles Johnson
Douglas Johnson
Robert Johnson
John Kust
Jacquelynn Laman
Marsha Landesman
Melinda & Keith Landsness
Mark Lange
Lindsay & Roark Lanning
Debby & Alan Larson
Jan Vessa & Ed Schimweg at Clint Black.
“The Vilar has such a family friendly environment with not a bad seat in the house! We have attended events for over 30 years starting with taking my children and now my grandchildren and it just keeps getting better!”
—Tom & Rhonda Peed
Christina & Joshua Lautenberg
Lori Lecocq
Larry Lenick
Steve Levine
Richard Lieberman
Dyann & George Linger
Julie & Scott Lingle
Jane & Tod Linstroth
Mark Little
Diana Liu
Paige Lorimer
Kerry & William Lott
Shannon Lujan
Elizabeth Ann Luttig
Daniel Lyons
Daniel Malagoli
Michelle & Brian Maloney
Tammy & John Nordstrand
Robyn Norton
Robert Oberg
Stacey & Trey Odom
Michael Offutt
Michelle Olsen
Doug Olson
Pamela Olson
Diane Canepa-Olson & Paul Olson
Stephen O’Neal
Maria Diaz & Thomas Owen
Ellen Parker
Ruscell Pavlin
Antonio Perez
Martha & Kent Petrie
William Petty
Stacy Phillippe
Karen Tibbetts Manns & Randall Manns
James Markus
Michael Maronge
The Maurer Family
Steven May
Barry McCarthy
Tim McCormick
Timothy McGraw
Brad McKenzie
Theresa McManus
Sheryl & David McMillan
Duncan Mendelsohn
Donna & Lee Merkel
John Merritt
David Mertens
Elizabeth & Robert Meyers
Russ Meyers
Cheryl Miles-Vieth
Elizabeth G. Chambers & Ron Mooney
Brad Morein
William Moretz
Courtney Moriarta
Elisabeth Mullen
Laurie & Thomas Mullen
Thomas Murphy
Anne Nagle
Molly Neifert
Duyen Nguyen
Elizabeth Nickles
Pamela & Daniel Piro
Brett Pitcairn
Frank Pittser
Freddy Pixtun
Jillian & Lawrence Pohly
Lamuriel Poulsen
Michal Powell
Thomas Pridonoff
David Raff
Louise Reiter
Maggie DeDecker & Bill Rey
Connie Rhoden
Amanda Richheimer
Bradley Richter
Terry Robbins
Erica Roche
Joanne Rock
Parker Rodeen
Kathleen & William Roe
Clark Rogers
Matt Rogers
Randy Ross
Teri Ross
Kristin Roy
Jim & Bobbie Ruh
Sue & Michael Rushmore
Sandy Ryan
Lou Samara
The Santambrogio Family
Robin & Jerry Santoro
Beau Sartin
Ted Schlaebitz
Carol & Gary Schlessman
Christina Schneider
Larry Schoeler
Roberta & Jonathan Schwartz
Arthur Schwartzstein
Pamela Seals
Ed Segaul
Monica Shelton Reusch
Ricki & Steve Sherlin
Sarah Shirley
William Simon
Ruth Smet
Rachel & David Smiley
Peter Smith
Sandy Smith
Diane Wagener & Brent Snow
Bonnie Sockel-Stone
Tj Sonne
Sean Sono
Martin Sosland
Dimitri Souvorin
Bryan Sowers
Betty Speir
Gina & Stephen Spessard
Tera Springman
Walter Stabell
Ronald Starr
Mary Beth & Michael Stickel
Gail Stone
Ron Stone
Sarah & Steve Stratton
David Sule
Andrew Swartz
Dean Taimuty
Michael Taylor
Stacy & David Thibedeau
Karen Thiel
George Tholke
Dominic Thomas
Jay Thomas
Michael Thomson
David Tofilon
Aileen Tormon
Stephanie Trotter
Eric Turmel
Kelly Tyler
Holly Upper
Kathryn & Robert Valleau
Laurie & Mark Van Grack
Tina & Steve Vardaman
Bonnie Vesey
Kelly Wahl
Laura Waller
Stefanie Warmuth
John Watters
Cynthia & Douglas Wax
Michael Weaver
Allison Krausen & Kyle Webb
Krista Weisman
Susan Weissman
Amanda Welch
Matthew Welke
Angie & Jack Welter
Britton White
Rebecca & Rick White
Helene Wieting
Malena Wiggin
Claudia & Michael Winkleman
Julie Wojtal
Kevin Wolfe
Cynthia & Timothy Wollaeger
Linda & Dean Wolz
Ben Woodruff
Leslie & Casey Wyse
Julie Zaveral
April Zuiderveen
This list represents donors who have made gifts between November 1, 2023 and October 25, 2024. If you have been listed incorrectly, please accept our sincere apology and notify us so that we may properly acknowledge you in the future. Comments and corrections may be sent to Director of Philanthropy Miah Wheeler at mwheeler@vvf.org.
Gary Packer & Jerry Jurschak watching Joss Stone perform from the aisle August 23, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
Vilar Staff
Erik Brown, Director of Special Projects & Infrastructure
Justin Brown, Director of Operations
Andie Cott, Box Office Manager
Dean Davis, Facilities Manager
Lauren Gary, Director of Ticketing
Elizabeth Gihle, Box Office Manager, GRFA
Board of Directors
Andy Arnold
John Arnold
Sam Bronfman
Jeffrey Byrne
Susan Campbell
Will Cook
Steve Coyer
Johannes Faessler
Carlos Gardea
Margie Gart
Paul Gordon
Nadia Guerriero
Carrie Besnette Hauser
Beth Howard
Al Hubbard
B.J. Hybl
David Hyde
Mike Imhof
Chris Jarnot
Cheryl Jensen
Alexia Jurschak
Anne-Marie Keane
Mike Krupka
Donna Lynne
Sarah Malloy Millett
Alejandra Cortés de Milmo
Ellen Moritz
Kaia Moritz
Bobby Murphy
Dan Pennington
Jill Plancher
Deborah Quazzo
Chris Romer
David Salvin
Ken Schanzer
Ann Smead
Hap Stein
Kristin Tang
Fred Tresca
Melina Valsecia
Tina Vardaman
Nick Waugh
Gary Woodworth
Kristy Woolfolk
Life Trustees
Adam Aron
Judy Berkowitz
Marlene Boll
Bjorn Erik Borgen
Andy Daly
Bill Esrey
Tim Finchem
Harry Frampton
John Garnsey
George Gillett
Donna Giordano
Sheika Gramshammer
Steve Haber
Martha Head
Mike Herman
William Hybl
Elaine Kelton
Kent Logan
Peter May
Eric Resnick
Doug Rippeto
Mike Shannon
Stanley Shuman
Oscar Tang
Betsy Wiegers
In Memoriam
President Gerald R. Ford
Berry Craddock
Jack Crosby
Pete Frechette
Steve Friedman
John Galvin
Pepi Gramshammer
Rod Slifer
Stew Turley
Vilar Committee Members
Alexia Jurschak, Chair
Jim Clancy
Laureen Hopkins
David Hyde
Chris Jarnot
David Kochel
Bobby Murphy
Philip Pillsbury
Doug Rippeto
William Verity
Gary Woodworth
Kristy Woolfolk
Riley Goossen, Lighting Designer
Ruthie Hamrick, Director of Marketing
Kenneth J. Howell, Food & Beverage Manager
Shane Huebner, Sr. Production Manager
Owen Hutchinson, Artistic Director
Cheyenne Mendoza, Technical Director
Cameron Morgan, Executive Director
Tess Reinhold, Programming & Artists Relations Manager
Kae Twichell, Arts Education & Community Engagement Manager
Miah Wheeler, Director of Philanthropy
Vail Valley Foundation mission statement
To provide leadership in arts, athletics, and education and address community needs to enhance our Valley as a place to live, work, and visit.
Vilar Performing Arts Center mission statement
To provide performing arts leadership, engagement and education for our mountain community, visitors and partners.
Vilar Performing Arts Center vision statement
To be a beacon of live entertainment and cultural enrichment, inspiring a love and appreciation of the performing arts.
become a Vilar donor
Donors help support bringing vibrant programming to our community and enjoy an elevated theater experience. Please see below for giving levels and benefits.
GIVE TODAY AT VILARPAC.ORG/SUPPORT
DONOR GIVING LEVELS
Acknowledgment in Summer & Winter Season Programs
Receive Special Donor Updates and Show Information
Private Backstage Tour (Upon Request)
Invitation to Special Receptions in the May Gallery Patrons Lounge
Personalized Ticket Purchasing
Recognition on Wall of Honor and May Gallery Patrons Lounge Membership Plaque
Access to Premium Seating
Ticket Transfers and Exchanges
Membership to the Exclusive May Gallery Patrons Lounge
Invitation to Patron Appreciation Dinners (Summer & Winter)
Backstage Meet & Greet and Photo Opportunity with Artists (When Available)
Named Box Seats (As Available)
Verbal Recognition from Stage for Underwritten Performance
Access to Box Seats or Premium Seats of Your Choosing
Reserved Table in the May Gallery Patrons Lounge
Complimentary Round of Drinks for Your Party
* Recognition on Wall of Honor only ** Benefit included only on night of underwritten performance
ways to support
Become a Donor
Becoming a Donor is a great way to access special experiences and exclusive benefits. Depending on your level of support you can enjoy Presale Ticketing, Premium Seating, access to the beautiful May Gallery Patrons Lounge, invitations to special donor receptions and other unique offerings.
Underwrite a Performance
Celebrate your passion for a specific artist or art form by underwriting a performance or series. Your experience will begin with a complimentary round of drinks and a reserved table in the May Gallery Patrons Lounge, followed by an exclusive Backstage Meet & Greet and Photo Opportunity with the artist (upon artist approval).
Support STARS (Support The Arts Reaching Students)
Support free attendance for youth from 15 schools from Eagle County and surrounding areas. Over 8,000 students attend approximately 20 shows a year. STARS places an emphasis on providing an array of performing art genres from dance and theater that integrates into the core curriculum.
Thank you to our generous supporters
Our extraordinary lineup this winter is made possible through the generosity and support of our donors, partners and supporters.
The Vilar Performing Arts Center is a cultural treasure in the heart of the Vail Valley serving to educate, inspire and bring joy to both residents and visitors year-round. The arts play a significant role in any vibrant community and your support allows us to serve this community through extraordinary artistic programming for all. We invite you to join the Vilar's long-standing legacy of philanthropy. Individual donors and grants make up 44% of our overall funding.
Your Support Funds
• Diverse programming across 135+ events annually
• Opportunities for 1,200+ students and community members to attend performances through the Community Arts Access Program
• 20+ free performances for 8,000+ local youth through STARS
• And more!
For more information on supporting the Vilar, please visit vilarpac.org/support or contact Miah Wheeler, Director of Philanthropy, at mwheeler@vvf.org.
Volunteer
Donate your time and join this devoted group of community members who enhance the guest experience. Our ushers, ticket scanners, coat check and special event volunteers keep the Vilar running smoothly while celebrating new friendships and community.
Planned Giving
Create a lasting legacy for future generations of theatergoers by including a gift in your will or trust.
Community Arts Access Program
“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination”
—PLATO
The arts are a fundamental component to a healthy community.
The Vilar’s Community Arts Access (CAA) program ensures that residents from every corner of Eagle County have the chance to be inspired by world-class performances on our stage, free of charge. The program partners with local nonprofits, emphasizing education, arts and health/human services, to distribute complimentary tickets to families who otherwise would not or could not attend.
“Art has the ability to broaden our horizons, inspire new possibilities and enrich our lives. Through our everexpanding Community Arts Access Program, we have the great opportunity to welcome audiences who may have otherwise not attended.”
—Cameron Morgan, Executive Director
This program was formally introduced in 2020 to further the Vilar’s commitment to accessibility, inclusivity and community engagement, eliminating barriers and providing local families with a chance to share in the joy and inspiration that the performing arts can offer us all.
For opportunities to become a part of or contribute to this critical outreach program, please contact Miah Wheeler at mwheeler@vvf.org.
Over the past year the Vilar’s Community Arts Access Program provided over $63,480 worth of tickets — that’s 1,210 tickets to local community members!
The Community Arts Access Program is supported in part by the Frechette Family Foundation
SUNDAY, DEC. 22, 2024 // 6:30 P.M.
Time for Three –A Time for
Three Holiday
Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble, Time For Three, defies conventions with genre-bending excellence.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15, 2025 // 6:00 P.M.
Trio Bohémo
Live in the May Gallery
First prize winners at the 2023 “International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition” for the best interpretation of Joseph Haydn.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2025 // 7:00 P.M.
Conrad Tao & Caleb Teicher: Counterpoint
A stunning collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher as they explore the dichotomy of their different artistic practices.
SUNDAY, MAR. 2, 2025 // 6:30 P.M.
Daniel Hope with the Polish Chamber Orchestra of Sinfonia Varsovia: ‘Journey to Mozart’
One of today’s most prolific classical recording artists, Violinist Daniel Hope has more than 30 albums to his name.
MONDAY, MAR. 31, 2025 // 6:00 P.M.
Quatour Debussy: A Celebration of Maurice Ravel
150 Years After His Birth
Live in the May Gallery
In 30 years of activity, the Debussy String Quartet has been acclaimed throughout the world, continually sharing the same passion in its musical interpretations on the world’s most prestigious stages.
Classical music has a wonderful future in the Colorado Rockies, thanks to a $350,000 gift from longtime Beaver Creek resident and Vilar Performing Arts Center patron, Thomas (Tom) Grojean, made in memory of his late wife Therese (Terri).
“From illustrious British violinist, Daniel Hope to the leader of a new generation of classical music, pianist Conrad Tao, the Therese M. Grojean Classical series continues to feature thrilling artists and sensational programs.”
—Owen Hutchinson, Artistic Director
For more than two decades, the Grojeans enjoyed wide-ranging performances together at the theater. Their legacy of giving has made a significant impact on Vilar’s programming to date, and Tom’s gift will allow the venue’s classical programming to evolve further to feature the genre’s most illustrious soloists, stunning chamber ensembles and orchestras. Today, all classical performances are encompassed under the Therese M. Grojean Classical Series.
“This amazing gift to the Vilar is a wonderful expression of Therese and Tom’s shared love of classical music, and a continuation of their many years of support,” said Mike Imhof, President of the Vail Valley Foundation. “We are honored and privileged to be entrusted by Mr. Grojean with this opportunity to bring the greatest classical artists to Beaver Creek, in tribute to Therese.”
This winter the 2024-2025 lineup will bring astounding classical artists from a wide range of disciplines.
BEAVER CREEK EXPERTS
Pushing the Limits of Programming
Vilar’s wide variety of shows connect generations and span across genres
by Kimberly Nicoletti
Vilar Performing Arts Center constantly stretches the bounds of programming, presenting everything from rock legends to emerging artists, as well as comedians, dance companies, films, Broadway tours, chamber music, kids’ shows and more. It’s difficult, if not nearly impossible, to find so much variety anywhere in one venue, especially in such a small town.
The fact that Beaver Creek draws visitors from across the globe and also caters to Vail Valley residents who are both sophisticated and family-oriented requires appealing to a wide demographic.
“Our audiences demand incredible shows, and we deliver them at every level,” says Owen Hutchinson, artistic director. “We are consistently fine-tuning our programming to meet — and exceed — our audience’s expectations and take advantage
of the unique flexibility, capacity and capabilities that we can offer at the Vilar. I think you would be really hard-pressed to find a theater that is reaching in so many directions, serving local families and visitors from around the world.”
The number of annual shows has increased from about 80 to 100 or more. Last summer was the biggest season yet, with 31 shows offered from June through October, as opposed to the previous summers’ 12 to 15. It tested both the Vilar team’s capacity and what the market could bear, and both passed with flying colors — even amidst one of the most intensely competitive seasons, due to robust lineups at other local and regional venues.
“We saw some of the strongest summer attendance we’ve ever seen while doubling the amount of programming,” he says.
Last summer’s lineup extended into October’s shoulder
“The Vilar is always going to be reaching to welcome the most significant artists it can accommodate, and, simultaneously, we must provide a diverse offering of performers that encourage you to explore a wide range of arts and entertainment”
season and included the star-studded, sold-out The Last Waltz ’24 tour. Vilar was one of only 17 of its stops throughout the nation.
“Dropping a major star or few very special shows into off-season, not just peak season, is a winning recipe for the Vilar, and it’s something we will look to do more of,” he says, adding that the venue is “elevating what’s possible during those off-peak weeks.”
Last fall also featured the beloved Underground Sound Series, which showcases emerging artists.
“The Vilar is always going to be reaching to welcome the most significant artists it can accommodate, and, simultaneously, we must provide a diverse offering of performers that encourage you to explore a wide range of arts and entertainment,” he says. “We are equally as excited to
present icons as we are to introduce important new artists in any particular genre. We are always encouraging our audience to be curious to explore something new. For every show that you know and love, we ask that you see something that you’ve never heard of because we are intentionally presenting artists who are meaningful, every night the curtain opens.”
This winter, the venue presents one of the largest Broadway tours to date: the Tony Award-winning best musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” which requires modifications to the theater’s lighting and projection systems to set backdrops from a variety of angles and to accommodate such a large show.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to test the theater’s capabilities,” he says.
That includes bringing in artists who combine film and live music, or blend other mediums.
Josh Turner, January 17, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
Michael Fabisch as Evan Hansen ‘24-’25 National Tour of DEAR EVAN HANSEN. Photo by Evan Zimmerman.
Mariachi Los Camperos, September 15, 2023. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
“It’s one of our most cherished spaces. It’s up-close and personal in the greatest sense of the words”
“We want to utilize the facility in as many ways as possible, while not shying away from its original intent — as a very sonorous, resonant space for classical and other acoustic music that you might expect from world-renowned venues,” Owen says, adding that they continue to draw virtuoso musicians within those genres. “Our audience for major artistic programming is looking for something truly worldclass that measures up to an international caliber of artistry.”
In addition to a refined appreciation for classical music, a large portion of the mountain community “has a unique sensibility in what they’re looking for,” he says. “Colorado, in general, is on a fairly independent cultural wavelength. It’s a unique tastemaker in arts and culture, and our mountain community has its own extension of that Colorado scene. The local community at large is looking for something very genuine and authentic in rock and bluegrass and roots music. They’re quick to spot something too contrived or campy. It has to be the real deal.”
The audience also loves to dance, so Vilar has opened more of its shows to tickets in the pit.
“We’ve seen how our audience loves to engage with artists in that up-close and personal way,” he says.
The Vilar also has extended its programming into the May Gallery, for even more intimate shows that transport audiences into the likes of a New York City jazz club or a classical salon.
“It’s one of our most cherished spaces. It’s up-close and personal in the greatest sense of the words,” he says, adding that within the cozy and contemporary lounge, audiences hear every key stroke, every note and every embellishment of an artist’s performance. “With only 50 to 80 people, there’s nothing to hide. You’re hearing that instrument in all its glory.”
All of the positive feedback garnered from a variety of ages and genre-tastes proves that Vilar is serving the widest audience possible through its diverse mix of shows.
“At the Vilar, you get this quality and diversity of programming in a rural mountain community, where it’s (otherwise) difficult to get these artists to visit,” he says. “From rock ’n’ roll and classical music to family programming like magicians and cirque performers, we are highly invested in each of our audience groups.”
Whether you love classic rock or classical music; enjoy Broadway shows, dance, jazz, country, folk or Latin American rhythms; get a kick out of magic, circus acts or comedy; or want to remain up to date on more niche, or emerging, artists, Vilar delivers emotionally satisfying, visceral experiences within its intimate, state-of-the-art theater.
BalletX Presents Sidd: A Hero’s Journey, a World Premiere Ballet, March 25, 2023. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
Bob Reynolds Group, Live in the May Gallery, July 9, 2024. Photo by Chris Kendig.
what a year
1 3 5 6 7 2 4
A look back at past Vilar Shows!
1. Burning Spear, July 5, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
2. Penn and Teller, March 12, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
3. TOTO, April 9, 2024.
Photo by Jon Resnick.
4. Grace Potter, February 23, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
5. Let’s Sing Taylor, April 12, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
6. Eli Young Band, September 21, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
7. MOMIX, January 28, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
“scene” at the Vilar
8. Ray Chen, March 19, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
9. Josh Turner, January 17, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
10. Shaggy, July 20, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
11. Rodrigo y Gabriela, September 10, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
12. Cheap Trick, September 9, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
13. Life Is a Carnival: Last Waltz Tour ‘24, October 26, 2024.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
14. Clint Black, August 9, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
Shine Bright, YOUNG STARS
Performing arts positively impact youth and community
by Catherine Hayes
If you ever stood on the hearth as a child and commanded your family’s attention while singing, dancing, or performing, you were born to perform. However, if limited arts opportunities existed in your community, the curtain may have never risen on your dreams.
In the Vail Valley, children have numerous opportunities to perform, from theater to dance to music.
“Involvement in performing arts is incredibly beneficial for children,” says Cameron Morgan, Vilar’s executive director. “I’m living proof of that. Access to the performing arts allowed my childhood passion to develop into a fulfilling
career, and now I get to watch young performers pursue their own big dreams.”
Why is this so important for kids? Researchers have studied the effects of the arts on children; even just watching performances has a positive effect!
Research shows that young performers are four times more likely to be academic achievers compared to nonperformers. Children in the arts are also likelier to have advanced cognitive, motor, and social development. Young thespians are better communicators and listeners and have higher self-esteem than non-performing peers.
94 SHINE BRIGHT Vail Performing Arts Academy performs their 30th Anniversary Show, November 9, 2024 on the Vilar stage. Photo by Rex Keep.
“Every child standing on the Vilar stage is filled with the power, wonder, and awe of the majestic space … free to express themselves through singing, dancing and quickthinking acting skills”
Colin Meiring of the Vail Performing Arts Academy (who hosted their 30 year anniversary show in November 2024 at the Vilar) has shepherded young performers onto the stage for years. “Every child standing on the Vilar stage is filled with the power, wonder, and awe of the majestic space … free to express themselves through singing, dancing and quick-thinking acting skills,” while also learning technical skills like microphone handling.
Attending performances as an audience member is also extraordinarily valuable, from improved mental health to increased concentration and patience. Children who watch theater are more empathetic and more easily consider multiple perspectives as they watch actors perform different roles. With the Vilar’s wide array of programming, many of the performance offer cultural awareness demonstrating traditions, diverse backgrounds and new ideas.
Jonathan Windham grew up in the Vail Valley performing and attending shows at the Vilar. He still recalls being absolutely captivated by a performance of Chicago, telling his mom, “That’s what I want to do.” Windham now performs in and choreographs shows around the globe.
Tess Johnson was raised in Edwards and participated in local theater. Now a professional skier and Olympian, Johnson sees a direct link between the arts and her career. “Participation in [the arts] was the perfect platform to express myself artistically. I had so much confidence knowing I could perform before hundreds of people … this translated perfectly to my competitive athletic career, and now I use my platform to elevate my voice and my peers in any way possible.”
These success stories are exactly why Robert Buckman and Red Blount created the Buckman Blount Community Fund in 1997, enticing the next generation of performing artists and increasing attendance and engagement at the Vilar by youth
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
“Participation in [the arts] was the perfect platform to express myself artistically. I had so much confidence knowing I could perform before hundreds of people … this translated perfectly to my competitive athletic career, and now I use my platform to elevate my voice and my peers in any way possible.”
and families. The fund underwrites most production costs for youth and children at the theater, believing that increased access to the arts will “enhance our community and our world.”
Vail Valley Arts Academy founder Annah Scully was an early user of the fund and passionate arts proponent. “Giving young performers the opportunity to perform on a stage like that is life-changing!” she asserts. We couldn’t agree more.
Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
APRÈS AT THE TIKI BAR
FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS | 3:30-5:30PM | STARTS DEC. 20 TH LIVE DJ | CHAMPAGNE & SEAFOOD SPECIALS
a gastronomic café & market
It ' s a place where gastronomy meets community, culture, and sustainability, all under one roof.
A gastronomic café and market offers more than just eating or shopping; it provides an immersive experience into the world of cuisine. Every element, from sourcing to serving, is transparent, educational, and delicious.
thank you to our volunteers
Volunteers
Mary Abbett
Susie Armitage
Edgar Arroyo
Kathryn Birch
Jilly Blackett
Suzanne Chandler
Rece Chilton
Linda Cirrincione
Terry Copeland
Randi Davis
Jennifer Dean
Barbara Dobrot
Debbie Durben
Richard Durben
Dana Erickson
Denise Erhart
Tom Erhart
Dana Erickson
Karen Eyrich
Kristin Fawcett
Eleanor Finlay
Jonathan Frank
Colleen Gauron
Netia Gerken
Donald Gerstein
Helen Gerstein
Julie Graham
Amy Guercio
Molly Haley
Timothy Haley
Margaret Hamil
Patricia Helt
Tamara Higgins
Eric Johnson
Amy Karpas
Bruce Karpas
Lori Katlein
Kristi Keil
Pamela Kennedy
Wendy Klein
Janet Kleinhardt
Tom Kleinhardt
Alexandra Kluttz
Taylor Kluttz
Jim and BJ Knez
Keith Knudsen
Patricia Lauer
Cindy Lenzmeier
Sherry Lewis
Trisha Lewis
Dyann Linger
Marsha Landsman
Lucia London
Lyn Loria
Karen Mans
Nicolas Mans
Diana Marshall
Frederick May
Yinlai Meng
Lynda Meshkov
Mark Millar
Victoria Millar
Joe Morrill
Susan Morrill
Dave Mott
Sue Mott
Suzette Newman
George Nimmo
Michael (Chris) Offutt
Catherine Oliver
Pamela Olson
Stacey Osborne
Stephanie Paris
Janet Perdzock
John Perdzock
Dave Peterson
Kim Porter
Sandy Powell
Timothy Powell
Jeri Powles
Alisa Rader
Joanne Rock
Teri Ross
Barbara Ruh
James Ruh
George Saunders
Nancy Saunders
Gary Scanlon
Linda Scanlon
Christine Schlichting
Lois Schwager
Jon Schwartz
Anne Shatas
Ricki Sherlin
Steve Sherlin
Charlie Sherwood
Barry Skolnick
Betty Speir
Gail Stone
Richard Tatara
Volunteers Ricki Sherlin and Alexandra Kluttz
Photos
Susenne Telage
Anne Marie Tellefsen
Cynthia Thrall
Betsy Van Beek
Steve Van Beek
Marta Vastagh
Stephen Vastagh
Debbie Vernell
Hank Vernell
David Wilson
Linda Wilson
Julie Winters
Carole Wolff Sowers
Dean Wolz
Linda Wolz
Geoffrey Wright
Nancy Wright
Volunteers Emeritus
Nancy Alexander
Doris Beitling
Rick Beitling
Chuck Bunting
David Carson
Judy Carson
Joan Chambers
Robert Gouterman
Shiela Gouterman
Sherry Houston
George Linger
Mary Anne Metternick
Bobbi Morrison
Marvin Morrison
Jim Nielsen
Joyce Nielsen
Nancy Nottingham
Herb Rubinstein
Thelma Rubinstein
Gwen Scalpello
Bernie Schwartz
Bobbie Schwartz
Stephanie Schwartz
David Staat
Margot Welch
Norm Welch
Bruce Williams
Mary Clare Williams
Bob Willoughby
Joan Willoughby
Allison Wright
Diane Ziegler
Michael Ziegler
House Managers
Earl Hartman
Russ Jones
Alan Lewis
John Merritt
George Nimmo
Tom Russo
Street Team
Kelly Conley
Loren Dumont
Janet El Bitar
Linda Gilles
Tom Griffin
Marcia McCalden
Tom McCalden
J. M. Mueller El-Bitar
Jeri Powles
Bonnie Vesey
David Watson
Sarah Watson
Charlene Whitney
Jessica Williams
In Memoriam
Together with our volunteers, the Vilar Performing Arts Center mourns the passing of David Carson, James J. Kleckner Sr., and Kim Porter. David, Jim, and Kim’s dedication and contributions to the Vilar were innumerable, and they will be remembered as friends and steadfast supporters of the theater.
House Managers George Nimmo and Alan Lewis
Volunteers Joe Morrill and Eleanor (Ellie) Finlay
Volunteers Hank Vernell, Wendy Klein and Chris Offutt
Volunteer Susan Morrill
high praise
Artists and performers who graced the Vilar stage often signed the guest book in the green room before departing. Nearly every note included a nod to the venue’s beauty, the amazing staff, a welcoming audience and perhaps the best indicator of the venue’s universal appeal: the desire to return.
This place feels more like a small group going out for a coffee than a show!”
—Howie Mandel, 2019
“This hall… these sounds… it’s like candy for me playing here. Few halls of this size are as warm and generous.”
—Chris Thile, 2021
That (Vilar) is a really great venue… a tight little room, really cool.”
—KEB’ MO’, 2021
Amazing crew and gorgeous theater. We love you!”
—BalletX, 2018
So happy to be back performing and spreading the love here at one of my favorite venues.”
—LeAnn Rimes, 2021
“I love this room”
—Smokey Robinson, 2013
Vilar Center rocks!”
—Chris Isaak, 2016
The Vilar is a beautiful venue. The staff and management made it a beautiful experience.”
—Michael McDonald, 2014
IN 2007, RAITMAN ART GALLERIES OPENED WITH A UNIQUE BELIEF. ART SHOULD MAKE US SMILE. ART SHOULD BE UPLIFTING. INSPIRING. FUN.
GALLERIES SHOULD BE A PLACE FOR DISCOVERY, PLACES WHERE WE CAN GET LOST IN A WORLD OF INTERESTING, ORIGINAL ARTWORK.
THE RAITMANS’ REFINED COLLECTION SHOWCASES OUR REGION’S MOST MASTERFUL ARTISTS. THEIR EXPERTISE AND FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS MAKE FOR A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE. THE MUSEUM-QUALITY ARTWORK MAKES YOU FALL IN LOVE.
LET’S EMPOWER POSSIBILITY
The Vail Valley Foundation is a champion for the Vail Valley that creates life-enriching experiences and opportunities for the entire community and those who visit. With each world-class arts, athletics, education, and communityenhancement program it brings to life, including the Vilar Performing Arts Center, the VVF broadens perspectives, empowers untapped potential, and fills the valley with vibrant possibility today and far into the future.
Learn more about everything the VVF does to empower possibility at vvf.org.
Dawes & Lucius, March 17, 2024. Photo by John-Ryan Lockman.
