Phamaly’s stunning ‘Pippin’
Through Sunday. This is the final weekend to see Phamaly Theater Company’s production of “Pippin” at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, which will be a revelation to anyone familiar with the beloved musical and a refreshing lift to anyone who isn’t. Stephen Schwartz’s story, which “follows the journey of young Pippin as he seeks happiness and fulfillment amidst a troupe of actors who may or may not have his best interests at heart,” comes to timely life with music, choreography and “themes that resonate across generations,” organizers wrote.
Notably, Phamaly is a multiple award-winning and nationally groundbreaking nonprofit that employs singers, actors and other theater professionals with disabilities, proving that high-level performing arts are accessible to everyone. Their show runs through Sunday, Aug. 24, at Kilstrom Theatre at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, at the corner of Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street in Denver. The Saturday, Aug. 23, performance includes ASL interpretation and audio. Shows at 7:30 p.m., except 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $47.20. Visit denvercenter.org/tickets-events/pippin or phamaly.org for more details.
Ghost Canyon Fest expands
Thursday-Sunday. Now that the Underground Music Showcase appears to be on ice, the Ghost Canyon Festival might just be the city’s most prominent DIY music fest moving forward. The third annual event, co-presented with Wax Trax Records, takes place Thursday, Aug. 21, to Sunday, Aug. 24, along South Broadway at the Hi-Dive, Skylark Lounge, and Mutiny Information Cafe, but also at Capitol Hill’s Wax Trax and What’s Left Records in Colorado Springs.
Expect diverse local and national sounds from Pink Lady Monster, The Milk Blossoms, Neptune (not to be confused with N3PTUNE), Denver Vintage Reggae Society, Church Fire, Nguyen, Prymeck and Shiroishi, and other notable touring acts such as Black Eyes and Still House Plants. The independent fest includes free shows, with individual paid events ranging from $10 to $25. Buy tickets and see the full schedule at ghostcanyonfest.com.
Unicorn Festival heads to Aurora
Friday-Saturday. Despite being held in Littleton since 2017, this year’s Unicorn Festival, the kid-friendly event that celebrates all things related to the mythical creature — is moving from its previous home in Littleton to Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora. That’ll allow it to expand to 50,000 square feet of indoor space for its live “unicorns,” mermaids, fairies and princesses, as well as food trucks, face painters, foam parties, live butterflies, “unicorn rescue derbies” and more, organizers said.
It takes place Friday, Aug. 22, and Saturday, Aug. 23, at 25690 E. Quincy Ave. All attractions and entertainment are included with festival admission of $25 (good for both days). Kids age 2 and under are free. Parking is free and on-site. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Visit unicornfestivalcolorado.com for more details.
An art-market bounty
Through Sunday. This weekend marks the 14th Affordable Arts Festival at Arapahoe Community College, which offers “artwork worth thousands of dollars … priced at $150.” That includes 165 local and national artists raising money for the Arapahoe Community College Foundation’s Scholarship Fund (it’s gathered more than $320,000 overall, organizers said), supported by the $12 tickets (kids 12 and under are free). Visit affordableartsfestival.com for more.
Also this weekend, it’s the 23rd Summer Arts Market from Art Students League of Denver, which provides another great opportunity to peruse affordable paintings and art from 175 artists across a variety of disciplines. The Friday, Aug. 24-Saturday, Aug. 24, family-friendly event takes place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day between East First Avenue, Sherman Street, East Fourth Avenue, and Logan Street in Denver. Tickets for the nonprofit market, which supports ASLD programming and education, are $7 in advance or $10 day-of (ages 12 and under free). Visit asld.org for more details.