Equal parts musical revue and live documentary, “Sondheim on Sondheim” walks the audience through the famed composer’s life with live choreography as well as archival footage of the man himself. Pat Payne directs. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 & 17, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18, at The Shaver-Ramsey Showroom, 2414 E. Third Ave. Denver. Tickets are $34. www.cherrycreektheatre.org or 303-800-6578.
AROUND TOWN
Vinyl Night 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 21, Mu Brewery, 9735 E. Colfax Ave. Free. Call 720-446-8273 for more information.
There’s just something about those crackles and pops. Despite the widespread proliferation of the digitization of music in recent years — from 160-GB devices that can be hidden within a deck of cards to the latest spat over streaming services — that soothing, clear-yet-masked timber of vinyl records has stared Father Time in the face and asked, “What, is that beard supposed to scare me or something?” And luckily, for longtime supporters of the medium and embracers of its recent renaissance alike, Aurora’s Mu Brewery has decided to dedicate two hours a week to those lovable black discs. Dubbed “Vinyl Wednesdays,” Mu asks music-lovin’, beer-guzzlin’ patrons to bring their favorite LPs starting at 6 p.m. each Wednesday. The first eight to show up get to play one side of their chosen record, and after all As and Bs are accounted for, the populous votes for that week’s best/weirdest/grooviest tunes. The Chosen One is then awarded free tickets to local theater productions, gift cards, free festival entry or whatever bone the Mu folks are kind enough to dish out that week. Beer, yellowed album covers and free stuff? Check, check and check, please.
Castlewood Canyon’s Haunted Trail 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 16 &17, Castlewood Canyon State Park, 2989 S. State Hwy 83, Franktown. $7 day pass or $70 annual pass is required to enter the park. No pets allowed.
It’s no often that we get legitimately spooked by a nonpolitical press release, but the one sent from Colorado Parks & Wildlife detailing the organization’s annual haunted walk in Castlewood Canyon is straight up grizzly. The kind folks at CPW really aren’t messing around when they tell walk-goers to look out for “Conrad Moeschel haunting the park as he searches for his missing scalp,” or “the ghost of Jim Reynolds with … a bullet-hole in his head,” and finally, “the screams of the unfortunate Roger Floth whose ghoulish dismembered body was thrown off the highway bridge.” Seriously, we think someone in the media office has watched “The Jinx” one too many times.
Haunted House Hunt Starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 16 & 17, The Lumber Baron Mystery Mansion, 2555 W. 37th Ave., Denver. Tickets start at $50, which includes a performance, dinner and beverage. Visit lumberbaron.com or call 303-477-8205 for more information.
If you can’t decide between hitting the tables at Blackhawk or getting into the jack-o’-lantern spirit around town this weekend, kill two ghouls with one candy corn and check out The Lumber Baron Mystery Mansion. The seasonal favorite allows Halloween lovers the chance to dine on honey smoked salmon while listening to the “true” ghost stories set in the mansion that have accumulated over the years. A crew of costumed characters, including, but not limited to, Stephanie Bruce, Matt Brandt, Sara Kerlin and Gwenelle Buzick, spin tales, play live music, perform magic and even through in some comedy, too. While running the entertainment gamut, the show offers a kitschy slice of Halloween-flavored life. It’s appropriate for all ages.
ONSTAGE
Baby with the Bathwater 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 16, 17 & 19 and 2 p.m. Oct. 18. The Avenue Theater 417 E. 17th Ave., Denver. Tickets are $21.50. Visit phamaly.org or call 303-321-5925 for more information.
Since 1989, Phamaly Theatre Company has consistently produced dozens of heady productions, and this fall’s “Baby with the Bathwater” promises to be no exception. Penned by Christopher Durang and directed by Warren Sherrill, “Baby” focuses on oblivious parents John and Helen. The pair means well, but haven’t the faintest clue on how to raise a child — like, give-an-infant-Nyquil oblivious. It’s an absurdist comedy with a pure heart that harkens back to hints of Al Bundy and Amelia Bedelia. A sensory friendly performance for patrons with autism, Down syndrome and sensory processing disorders is scheduled for Oct. 15. A separate, audio described performance with accompanying ASL-signed show is slated for Oct. 19.