AURORA | Everyone is ready for some winter respite. No need to let continued cold, cloudy and snowy hold you down this weekend. There’s something near everyone to warm spirits and interests. Here’s a short list of events to consider as the perfect remedy for any cold and cloudy moods.
“Gee’s Bend” at the Aurora Fox
Building on a lauded Fox show from last season, “Gee’s Bend” runs through Feb. 23 at the venue’s main stage.
Written by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder and directed by local theater and documentary icon donnie l. betts, the show focuses on issues surrounding the Southern Freedom Movement.
Set in the isolated town of Gee’s Bend, Ala., the play spans the years 1939, 1965, and 2002, following Sadie and her family as they navigate segregation, family struggles, and the Southern Freedom Movement. At the heart of the story are the family’s extraordinary quilts, which serve as symbols of comfort, creativity, and resilience. Ultimately, the recognition of these quilts as art empowers the women and honors their legacy.
“Gee’s Bend” builds on the Fox Theater’s exploration Black American history, continuing the conversation begun with August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” in 2024.
Recommended for all ages, “Gee’s Bend” offers stories of perseverance, artistry, and the enduring power of family.
IF YOU GO
Event: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Through Feb. 23 with
Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
and Friday and Saturday curtains at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Aurora Fox Arts Center,
Tickets: $17-$52 with details at AuroraFoxArtsCenter.org or
call 303-739-1970
A new make on Medusa
At the start of this dynamic dramedy twist on the classical myth of Medusa, she is alone in a cave on an isolated island, surrounded by the stone bodies of men she has killed. Suddenly, the hero Perseus arrives, announcing that he has come to kill her. Despite Medusa’s pleas and demands for him to leave her alone, he declares that he has come equipped with the weapons required to safely slay her without being turned to stone. Medusa, however, is not quite the monster Perseus imagined. The Tragedy of Medusa tackles themes of queerness, consent, power, and allyship by interrogating the relationships between gods, mortals and monsters.
Produced by the resident Two Cent Lion Theatre Co., telling “stories that feed artists, audiences, and the community at large with LGBTQ+ theatre and film.”
IF YOU GO
Event: Medusa 7 p.m. curtains Feb. 8 – Feb. 22 Sunday curtains at 4 p.m.
Venue: The People’s Building, 9995 E Colfax Ave.
Details:
www.thepeoplesbuilding.com
Tickets: $15-$35
Breaking Boundaries: New Art Exhibition Explores Creativity in Aurora
Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA) invites art enthusiasts to experience “Breaking Boundaries: The Future of Creativity,” a group exhibition curated by Alyssa Williams. The show shines a spotlight on the collaboration between emerging artists and their mentors, offering a glimpse into the future of creative expression.
The exhibition features a lineup of creators working across a wide range of mediums. Ceramic artistry by Prisila Vazquez-Nava, Joey Kerlin, Jessica Gerome, and Bambi Hernandez brings a tactile exploration of form and texture. Alternative material experimentation by Erica Rawson, Kayli Cottonwood, and Jasmine Maldonado Dillavou challenges traditional art-making methods. Meanwhile, drawing, painting, and two-dimensional works by Sunny Zheng-Herb, Raymond Gabriel, Faith Williams Dyrsten, Mike Hanson, and Tim Ulrich deliver vivid reflections of personal and societal narratives.
The show also includes innovative approaches to jewelry and metalwork by Xtina Nelson, Madeleine Adair, and Dianna Miguez, alongside Macey Boren’s integration of technology and art, which blurs the boundaries between physical and digital mediums. “Breaking Boundaries celebrates the transformative role of collaboration between educators and emerging artists,” said Williams, a curatorial intern at DAVA and a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “It’s about innovation, pushing the limits of materials, and rethinking traditional approaches to art.”
DAVA, a cornerstone of Aurora’s art scene, is dedicated to engaging diverse youth in arts education that fosters creativity, opportunity, and community strength. The exhibition exemplifies this mission by encouraging dialogue and exploration among artists, educators, and audiences.
IF YOU GO
When: Gallery is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays. The show is on
exhibit through Feb. 24
Where: DAVA 1405 Florence St.
Tickets: The show and gallery are free
Details: www.davarts.org and 303-367-5886
She Kills Monsters, in Aurora
Action-packed board-game theater production? Critics say yes to “She Kills Monsters” opening this weekend at the Vintage Theatre in Aurora. Based on a episode of Dungeon’s and Dragons, “Qui Nguyen’s clever drama-comedy weaves together spectacular adventure with genuine emotional depth, using the framework of tabletop gaming to explore love, loss, and the parts of ourselves we hide from those closest to us,” Vintage officials said. “Through a blend of comedy, action, and heart, “She Kills Monsters” reminds us that sometimes the greatest quests are the ones that lead us home.”
“It will slash and shapeshift its way into your heart,” a New York Times critic said.
IF YOU GO
She Kills Monsters runs
weekends through Feb. 23
Tickets: $20-$36
At the Vintage Theatre,
1468 Dayton St, inside at the
Bond-Trimble Theatre
Details and sales:
www.vintagetheatre.org
Black History Month Music Series
Stanley Marketplace is collaborating with a variety of local Black artists for Black History Month. The Stanley is hosting a Black History Month Music Series with live performances by every Saturday. Guests include Catch Kid Astronaut, Jae Wes, Kayla Marque, and DNA Picasso.
IF YOU GO
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on
Saturdays in February
Venue: The common area at the Stanley Marketplace.
2501 Dallas St.
Tickets: Free
Details:
https://stanleymarketplace.com/
To Not Be Afraid: A Journey Towards Light and Love
Kol Nashim, the women’s choir of the Colorado Hebrew Chorale, in collaboration with Art Against Antisemitism, presents an immersive concert of music and art.
The candle-lit event, entitled “To Not Be Afraid: A Journey Towards Light and Love,” will feature a concert by Kol Nashim under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Jessie Flasschoen Campbell. A visual presentation of artwork from artists from around the globe, curated by Art Against Antisemitism under the direction of Lisa Link, will enhance the experience. The event will include active audience engagement.
IF YOU GO
Time 4 p.m. Feb. 23
Where: Hebrew Educational Alliance, 3600 S. Ivanhoe St.
Tickets: $10-$25
Details: 303-355-0232 and https://coloradohebrewchorale.org
Candlelight Concerts: A Tribute to Coldplay
Candlelight string quartet concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Denver. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Coldplay at the Kirk of Highland under the gentle glow of candlelight.
IF YOU GO
Time: 6:30 pm Feb. 21
Where: Kirk of Highland,
3011 Vallejo St.
Tickets: $38.50
Details: https://feverup.com/m/122492?srsltid=AfmBOookqanFe_EHm2A2XoZnht5tyn6pk7nUDGI3IS5WU6y8eF0-Eptq
MARO X NASAYA
Maro is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer from Lisbon. Graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2017, the Portuguese artist officially debuted her career in 2018, having released five albums. She later joined Jacob Collier on his 2019 DJESSE World Tour, as a part of the band. Most recently, MARO has won the Festival da Canção and represented her country at Eurovision 2022 with “saudade,”
IF YOU GO
Time: 7 p.m. Feb. 22
Venue: Lost Lake Lounge 3602 E Colfax Ave.
Tickets: $29-$32
Details: https://lost-lake.com/
Martin Gilmore Trio
Martin Gilmore, a soaring troubadour of modern folk, weaves tales with strings that resonate through time. He finds harmony in the tapestry of folk and country, blending tradition with innovation. Born on the prairies of Nebraska, he now lives in Denver. A poet with a guitar, Martin’s lyrics dance between heartache and hope, painting vivid portraits of the human experience. The Martin Gilmore Trio includes acclaimed mandolinist and guitarist Nick Amodeo and bassist extraordinaire Ian Haegele.
IF YOU GO
Time: 8 p.m. Feb. 22
Venue: Swallow Hill,
71 E. Yale Ave.
Details:
https://swallowhillmusic.org/
Tickets: $25
Tyler Hilton
A huge fan of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters, Hilton spent several years performing at open mic nights and clubs, and playing blues and jazz covers for tips in coffeehouses and restaurants. “I did pretty well with the older clientele because they loved that stuff,” Hilton says.
IF YOU GO:
Time: 7 p.m. Feb. 23
Venue: Swallow Hill, 71 E. Yale Ave.
Details: https://swallowhillmusic.org/
Tickets: $30-$50
Alexa Wildish and Connor Garvey
Colorado singer-songwriter Alexa Wildish grew up in a musical family in the horse country of Southern California, where her father collected vintage guitars and she studied classical voice from age seven. Wildish released her self-titled debut EP in 2020, staking her claim as one of Americana’s most compelling new voices and making it easy to see why she took home first place at Planet Bluegrass’s emerging singer-songwriter competition in 2019. Connor Garvey is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Portland, Maine, with the amiable presence of an entertainer, the lyrical depth of a poet, and the enchantment of a storyteller.
IF YOU GO:
Time: 8 p.m. March 1
Venue: Swallow Hill, 71 E. Yale Ave.
Details: https://swallowhillmusic.org/
Tickets: $25
The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra: A Night in New Orleans with Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield
The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra Ensemble brings the spirit of the Big Easy to Northglenn in A Night in New Orleans with Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield. This performance will transport audiences to the birthplace of jazz, celebrating one of America’s most iconic musical traditions. Soulful melodies, infectious rhythms, and top-tier musicianship as Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra pay homage to the city’s legendary jazz scene.
IF YOU GO
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21
Where: Parson’s Theatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway Entrance
Tickets: $25-$30 online at NorthglennARTS.org or call the box office at 303-450-8888