AURORA | Here’s your chance to marvel at a couple who just mailed it in. Get out of the heat and into the Vintage Theatre before the end of the month to spend time with Jack and Louise, who build a love for each other through letters on opposite ends of the country during World War II. “Dear Jack, Dear Louise” opens this weekend. If the heat is your thing, check out the variety of outdoor shows this weekend and beyond as well. Scroll down for all kinds of fun and variety.
“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” at Vintage Theatre
Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig weaves a heartwarming romantic comedy inspired by his parents’ real-life WWII courtship. The play tells the story of Jack, a U.S. Army doctor stationed in Oregon, and Louise, an aspiring performer living in New York City. As they exchange letters back and forth across the country, their pen-pal relationship deepens into love despite the uncertainty, distance, and historical chaos surrounding them. Filled with Ludwig’s signature wit, warmth, and nostalgic charm, the production offers a moving look at resilience and connection.
IF YOU GO:
Date: Through Aug 30
Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.
Tickets: $20–$36
Information: vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830
“Midsummer Night’s Dream for Youth” Showcase at Aurora Fox Arts Center
Young performers take center stage as part of the Foxlight Theatre Lab series. Youth actors present their culmination showcase of Shakespeare’s classic whimsical comedy, featuring enchanted forests, mischievous fairies, and tangled love affairs. Under professional direction, the cast brings fresh energy to classic dialogue, showcasing local youth talent in standard theater craft, physical comedy, and ensemble storytelling.
IF YOU GO:
Date: Through July 31
Place: Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.
Tickets: Included with program enrollment / Free public showcase registration
Information: aurorafoxartscenter.org or 303-739-6591
“Howard Jones: Things Can Only Get Better Tour” at Fiddler’s Green
80s synth-pop icon Howard Jones headlines an evening of classic electronic music and new wave performance art. Joined by special guest acts Wang Chung, The English Beat, Modern English, and DJ Richard Blade, the concert blends live theatrical visuals with chart-topping synth hits.
IF YOU GO:
Date: July 30 Gates open 6:30 p.m.
Place: Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 S. Fiddlers Green Circle,
Tickets: $39.50–$125.00
Information: fiddlersgreenamp.com or 303-220-7000
“The Scarlet Pimpernel: An Old Time Radio Production” at ACAD / The People’s Building
Experience live audio drama staged in classic mid-century broadcast style. This production brings Sir Percy Blakeney’s daring rescues during the French Revolution to life through live sound effects, vintage voice acting, and period radio atmosphere in the heart of the Aurora Cultural Arts District.
IF YOU GO:
Date: July 31 through Aug. 6; July 31 at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 1 at 9:00 p.m., Aug. 2 at 2:30 p.m., Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Place: The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave.
Tickets: $20-28
Details: /www.thepeoplesbuilding.com
David W. Kincannon II: “Typed Out – Parts We Play” at Vintage Theatre
Vocalist and performer David W. Kincannon II takes the stage for a one-night-only musical event exploring identity, classic theater selections, and personal storytelling. The cabaret-style production offers an intimate musical journey inside the Bond-Trimble Theatre space.
IF YOU GO:
Date: Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.
Tickets: $24
Details:[vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830
“The 10½ Commandments” by One Night Stand Theater at Vintage Theatre
One Night Stand Theater presents a fast-paced evening of theatrical readings featuring short plays inspired by modern ethics, human vices, and everyday virtues. Local playwrights and actors collaborate to present diverse perspectives on moral dilemmas and contemporary life.
IF YOU GO:
Date: Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.
Tickets: $12
Details: vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830
Excision Live at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Electronic music producer Excision delivers a high-decibel audiovisual spectacle featuring massive visual production, lasers, and bass heavy-hitters. The two-night amphitheater engagement showcases cutting-edge stage engineering and electronic soundscapes.
IF YOU GO:
Date: July 31 and Aug. 1 at 5 p.m.
Place: Fiddler’s Green 6350 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle
Tickets: $55–$135 at www.axs.com
Details: fiddlersgreenamp.com or 303-220-7000
Lonestar at PACE Center
Award-winning country band Lonestar brings their repertoire of chart-topping hits to Parker’s premier performing arts venue. Featuring signature ballads like “Amazed” and “I’m Already There,” the concert highlights three decades of country storytelling and harmony.
IF YOU GO:
Date: July 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Place: PACE Center20000 Pikes Peak Ave.
Tickets: $49–$64
Details: parkerarts.org or 303-805-6800
“Beetlejuice JR.” Youth Musical at PACE Center
Parker Arts Presents a youthful stage adaptation of the Broadway musical based on Tim Burton’s classic film. The story follows eccentric teenager Lydia Deetz as she attempts to navigate a new home inhabited by deceased former owners and a mischievous demon named Beetlejuice.
IF YOU GO:
Date: Through Aug. 1; July 30, July 31, and Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Place: PACE Center20000 Pikes Peak Ave.
Tickets: $18–$24
Details: parkerarts.org or 303-805-6800
“Mozart Under Moonlight” with the Colorado Symphony at Arvada Center
The Colorado Symphony presents an outdoor evening of symphonic masterworks dedicated to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Conducted under the open night sky, the concert features famous overtures, concertos, and symphonic movements.
IF YOU GO:
July 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Place: Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheater 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.
Tickets: $25–$50
Details: arvadacenter.org or 720-898-7200
”Shadows & Secrets” at Vintage Theatre
Insight Colab Theatre presents *”Shadows & Secrets,” a staged multimedia mystery by playwright Nancy Wang that blends live theater with the style of a classic radio drama. Inspired by the real-life death of Wang’s grandfather, Chicago restaurateur Chin F. Foin, the play revisits a decades-old cold case set during the Prohibition era. As a live studio audience watches the fictional Mystery Radio Playhouse investigate whether Foin’s fatal fall down an elevator shaft was an accident—or murder—the story unfolds through suspense, historical intrigue and family memories. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Chicago, the production explores tong wars, corruption, greed and the search for long-buried truth. The 75-minute performance is recommended for mature audiences and is presented without an intermission.
IF YOU GO:
Date: Aug. 28-Aug. 30; performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.
Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.
Tickets: $25-$35; student discounts available.
Information: insightcolab.org or 303-437-8917
“Live Music at The Local Drive’ at Stanley Marketplace
This ongoing live music series transforms the Stanley Marketplace hangar into a vibrant performance space featuring local and regional musicians. The programming spans genres—from indie and folk to jazz and rock—creating an eclectic soundtrack for Aurora’s creative community.
IF YOU GO:
Date: Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m.
Place: Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St.
Tickets: Free admission