Sometimes the most powerful love stories are the least complicated. You don’t need a lot of games and obstacles—just two people trying desperately to connect.
That simplicity is what makes “Once,” one of the best and most unique musicals to come around in some time. And now its elegant beauty is coming to the Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 Main St. in Littleton, through Sunday, April 27. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Based on the cult 2007 Irish film by John Carney, the show tells the story of a young Czech woman and an Irish busker who meet on the streets of Dublin and form an unlikely connection. What starts out as a kind of musical collaboration slowly and achingly blossoms into something more as they work to record an album of originals.
“There’s nothing else like ‘Once,’” said director Carrie Colton. “It doesn’t feel like a normal musical and doesn’t feel quite like a film, either. It’s more of a show about what music means to individuals.”
Colton’s most recent work at Town Hall has been as a choreographer and fight director, but she’s long been a director who is drawn to pieces that are more unconventional or risky. What makes “Once” challenging is the performers have to blend acting with playing their instruments and sing and dance at the same time.
“We have the most incredible cast in this show, most of whom are musicians first and actors second,” Colton said. “I come from more of the dance world and our actors come from the singing and music realm, but we all have the connective tissues of artists.”
The key for “Once” to succeed is to make it as intimate and musical as possible, and that’s just what Colton and the cast strived for. They built a community within themselves and invite the audience to be a part of it.
“As artists we make our art and music and eventually, we want to share it with people,” Colton said. “That’s part of what it is to be a performing artist — you feel the energy and it feeds us.”
Music may well be the main character of the show, as it’s not only what brings the two leads together, but also what sweeps the audience away.
“One of the reasons the movie is so successful is the music. It’s so lovely and simple, especially when placed into the context of the story,” Colton said. “We so often forget to enjoy the little things and this show encourages us to stop and enjoy the simple, beautiful things in life.”
Information and tickets are available at https://townhallartscenter.org/event/once/.
Vote for ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ at PACE Center
For a certain generation of movie watchers, “Napoleon Dynamite” is one of those movies that was a genuine cultural moment when it first appeared on the scene in 2005. It still has a place in the culture thanks to memes and the internet and I can happily report that the film still brims with low-key delights.
For fans of the movie, the Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., is hosting Napoleon Dynamite LIVE! A Conversation with Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25. The evening features a screening of the film and then a discussion with cast members Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), Gries (Uncle Rico) and Ramirez (Pedro).
The live show is a blend of Q&A, comedy improv, game show and more, so get tickets at https://parkerarts.org/event/napoleon-dynamite-live/ so you don’t miss it.
Get Your Water Garden Ready for Summer
Spring means its time to get your gardening on, and those looking for information on water gardens won’t want to miss the special “Get Wet – Water Gardening Fun in 2025!” event at the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Gates Hall, 1007 York St. in Denver.
Co-Sponsored by Colorado Water Garden Society (CWGS) and Denver Botanic Gardens, the free event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday, April 21. Attendees will participate in a discussion of all types of marginal plants, including iris, cannas, taros and cattails, and see how they can enhance your water feature.
Details are available at www.colowatergardensociety.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Sam Fender at the Fillmore Auditorium
England’s Sam Fender makes the kind of rock music that’s hard to quantify. It walks the line between singer/songwriter earnestness and Oasis-style Britpop, and he appeals to a wide breadth of rock appreciators. He’s made fans of peers as far-ranging as Elton John and Bruce Springsteen to Gang of Youths and Noah Kahan. His most recent album, this year’s “People Watching,” is another solid entry in a discography that remains incredibly strong.
In support of the album, Fender is coming to the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St. in Denver, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 24. He’ll be joined by alt-rock greats Young Jesus for a night of fantastic music.
Information and tickets are available at www.livenation.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.