Jan. 28-29 King Lear symposium @ DCPA & CU Boulder

From the Denver Post:
Former United Nations ambassador Ken Adelman, who originally said the war with Iraq would be a "cakewalk" but now thinks it has been "grossly mishandled," is the featured speaker of a symposium surrounding the opening of the Denver Center Theatre Company's King Lear. Led by artistic director Kent Thompson, panelists include Colorado Shakespeare Festival artistic director Philip Sneed.

Sunday
Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom, Denver Performing Arts Complex; 1-3 p.m.; free, RSVP 303-446-4881 (Call 303-492-1423 to learn of additional events)

Jan. 27 Welsh Fest @ Wash Park UCC

Hoo-boy, is this one busy weekend! This Saturday night the Colorado Welsh Society is celebrating St. Dwynwen's Day with a mini-festival of music, dancing, poetry, and a potluck at the Washington Park United Church of Christ. According to the website, it's free and open to the public, although members are asked to bring a dish for the potluck.

Jan. 27 "Flicka" @ Starz FilmCenter

This just in: there will be two free showings of the recent movie version of "Flicka" starring Tim McGraw at Starz FilmCenter on Saturday as part of the Kids First! series. Recommended ages are 8-15, but I think this falls under the heading "fun for the whole family."

I just took a look through the Denver Film Society's calendar for February, and it looks like the Kids First! series will be featuring animated straight-to-video type movies, such as Dora the Explorer and Strawberry Shortcake (is she really still around?). There's nothing posted for March yet, so you may want to take advantage of the live action "Flicka" on the big screen.

Jan. 27 Master Class with Evelyn Glennie @ DU

Just as the Thomas Hampson master class earlier this month was a big deal for singers, I have to imagine that Evelyn Glennie's master class this Saturday is a big deal for percussionists. She is perhaps the world's pre-eminent solo percussionist, and one of the only ones to do it full-time. This master class is in conjunction with concerts she is performing this weekend with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

Title: Evelyn Glennie, percussion. Master-Class.
Date: Saturday, January 27, 2007
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Calendar: Lamont Music Events
Contact: Victoria Brandys

Complete Description
Room #130. Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. Free and open to the general public (to observe the class only.) Lamont Master-Classes and Worksop Series. Lamont Concert Line (303) 871 6412

Jan. 27 Yoga Day USA @ various studios

If you missed last Sunday's World Yoga Day class at Samadhi Center for Yoga (as I did -- stupid snow), this coming Saturday offers more opportunities to take yoga classes for free as part of Yoga Day USA. Most studios are accepting donations for various charities and causes.

In Denver at Pearl Street Yoga

In Centennial at Skin Rx and Body Wellness

In Centennial at 24 Hour Fitness; contact Laura Clarke LClarke@24hourfit.com for more info.

In Parker at one branch of Inner Connections Yoga

In Castle Rock at the other branch of Inner Connections Yoga

Jan. 27 Free Day @ Denver Zoo

As I mentioned before, this weekend has a lot to offer. First up: Saturday, January 27 is an SCFD-funded day of free admission to the Denver Zoo.

Jan.26-27 RiNo Art District Tour

I heard about this for the first time on KCUV as I was pulling into my office parking lot this morning. The River North area has declared itself an arts district, and this weekend marks its first anniversary. The birthday party starts on Friday night with gallery tours, and continues into Saturday with tours, free shuttles, an iron pour demonstration, a raffle, and... well, perhaps you should just check the website for full details.

This is just one more option for what's shaping up to be a full weekend for the cash-strapped who simply want a little cul-tcha in their lives. More to come...

Jan. 26 Winter Closing Party @ BMOCA

I've passed the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art quite a few times as it's right next door to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, one of my favorite local places and a required stop on the tour for out-of-town visitors. I've never gone in, though, because of time and money constraints. It seems that this Friday would be a great chance to check it out -- maybe I can persuade the guitarhero (aka the husband) to come along.

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
Winter Exhibit Closing Party
Friday, Jan. 26 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Free

One last chance to view Jimi Billingsley's photographs, Terry Maker's wallsculptures and DJRABBI's video installation.

The evening will feature a live VJ performance by DJRABBI, food and drinks.

Jan. 24 King Lear @ DCTC

The final free performance of January at Denver Center Theatre Company is this Wednesday, Jan. 24. On tap is King Lear, which I've never seen on-stage, or even read all the way through, come to think of it.

King Lear
Jan 24, 2007 · 6:30pm · Stage Theatre (box office opens at 4:30)

King Lear’s plan to test the love of his three daughters goes tragically awry and hurtles his kingdom into chaos, pushing Lear towards madness. An epic tale of political intrigue and family dysfunction, King Lear is Shakespeare’s harrowing look at the inevitability of death amid the conflicting values of love and duty, friendship and betrayal, leadership and loyalty, and good and evil. A Shakespearean masterpiece.

Jan. 22-26 365 Days/365 Plays @ Naropa U

Again, my plans to attend a performance in the Colorado 365 Days/ 365 Plays festival have been thwarted by my day job. This week's set of plays is being performed at Naropa University in Boulder during the lunch hour, Monday through Friday only. It's too bad, because it sounds very interesting.

The format here will be a contemplative, improvisational practice called 'The Red Square,' which involves calling upon audience members to help create each piece. The technique was developed by Barbara Dilley.

The only place I was able to find details regarding Naropa's performances was on John Moore's MySpace page, as the main Colorado page hasn't been updated in a few weeks.

Jan. 23 Concert: Mostly Douglas @ CU Boulder

Tuesday, January 23, 7:30 p.m.
Mostly Douglas: A Musical Feast
Clarinetist Daniel Silver joins Boulder’s own pianist/composer/master-musician Bill Douglas, with colleagues Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, bassoon, and Christina Jennings, flute. Bill Douglas has continued to enrich the chamber music literature with works for winds and piano, lending his distinctive jazz and world music influenced voice to the genre. Some of his signature tunes (Feast and Begin Sweet World) are mixed in with some Schumann, Mozart and Debussy.

Faculty Series recitals showcase CU-Boulder College of Music faculty performances. Faculty Series recitals are held at 7:30 p.m. on most Tuesdays and at 4 p.m. on selected Sundays in Grusin Music Hall in the Imig Music Building. Recitals are free and open to the public.