There are some musicals that are just made for the summer, and “Rock of Ages” certainly falls into that category. The show not only captures some of that wild freedom of the best summer days, but also is full of quintessential 80s songs.
“The show is all about bigger and better. It embraces the big hair of the time and has all the great music,” said Leslie Bonnell, marketing coordinator at the Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center, which is staging the show to close its season. “It brings out all the elements of the 80s that people find so nostalgic and fun.”
Produced with Veritas Productions, “Rock of Ages” runs at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave. in Parker, through Sunday, July 20. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Directed by Kelly Van Oosbree (who also does the choreography), the show takes place at one of the Sunset Strip’s last venues and features a group of music fans coming together to chase their dreams and save the soul of the strip.
“I love a good, smart comedy, and that’s what this is,” Nancy Evans Begley, co-founder and producing artistic director with Veritas Productions. She is the executive producer, assistant director and production manager for “Rock of Ages.” “My producing work started with putting together a team and we have an incredible one for this show.”
In addition to a top-notch crew, the show also features performers guaranteed to blow audiences away with their musical skills. Most of the cast is new to the PACE Center, which adds an extra level of excitement for both performers and audiences.
Many theaters end their season during the spring, so having the opportunity to see a show during the summer makes for a special treat. And the PACE Center leans into this fact.
“The season is a little off-set from everybody else’s, which gives patrons the opportunity to experience shows at different venues and then come here during the summer,” Begley said. “This is the kind of show that is perfect for people who don’t like musicals, because they can still sing-along and laugh at the dialogue.”
The show is recommended for those 14-years-old and older, but Begley sees this as an opportunity for parents to have a night out where they’re able to just enjoy themselves.
“We say leave the HOA, leave the board, leave the student council stuff behind and come relive your favorite decade and favorite music,” she said. “In a time when our day-to-day is filled with tension and negativity… you can escape that for two-and-a-half hours. We hope you walk out of the theatre saying, ‘That was really fun. Let’s do more of that.’”
Information and tickets are available at https://parkerarts.org/event/rock-of-ages/#event-description.
FAN EXPO Denver Brings the Pop Culture World to Fans
It’s time for the Mile High City to get its fandom on with the annual FAN EXPO Denver, held at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6.
This year’s event will play host to some top-tier guests, ranging from Star Trek’s William Shatner and Mae Whitman to a slew of Superman performers (a role very close to my heart) like Brandon Routh, Tyler Hoechlin and Tom Welling. In addition, there will be plenty of cosplaying, collector’s items to buy and panels to watch.
Go celebrate the best of pop culture by visiting https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpodenver/.
Independence Day Goes Big at Northglenn
If you don’t want to head to downtown Denver for your July 4th festivities, the City of Northglenn has you covered with events that last for most of the day and provide attendees of all ages with something to do. Held at EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park, 11800 Community Center Drive in Northglenn, activities begin at noon with a car show.
Throughout the day, attendees can take part in a duck derby, listen to music from performers like Skool Daze, Chicano Heat and Jacob Larson, and pick up food from vendors (if they don’t bring their own picnics). Fireworks will close out the evening at about 9:15 p.m.
For full details, visit www.northglenn.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Wu-Tang Clan at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
I can think of no better group to listen to on the day we celebrate our independence than the Wu-Tang Clan, Staten Island’s legendary rap group. They are, after all, for the children. And they represent the collective power of a range of voices when they come together while maintaining their individual perspectives. They’re responsible for some of the genre’s most important music and are the best kind of American success story.
Their final tour is coming to Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. in Greenwood Village, at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 4. For the opener, the Wu-Tang will have Run the Jewels, the best modern rap duo. This has all the makings of a legendary concert, so get tickets at www.axs.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.