ONSTAGE
Black Elk Speaks Curtains at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 10. The Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave. Tickets start at $28. Visit aurorafoxartscenter.org or call 303-739-1970 for more information.
This weekend marks your last chance to catch the historical drama, “Black Elk Speaks” at the Aurora Fox. Based on the 1932 book by John G. Neihardt, “Black Elk Speaks” relays the story and vision of Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota healer who witnessed much of the U.S. government takeover of tribal lands in the late 19th century. The story was adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel in the early 1990s and shortly thereafter made its worldwide debut at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. The Fox production stars Doug Good Feather as the lead orator and a slew of other talented onstage personages, including Moses Brings Plenty.
The Emperor’s New Clothes 1 p.m. April 10, Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave., Golden. Tickets are $10. The show is intended for children ages 3 and up. Call 303-935-3044 or visit minersalley.com for more information.
Emperors — so hot these days. After the blogosphere blew up in December over the true heir to the Star Wars Empire — what’s up with this Snoke guy? — Emperors were back in the game like a hierarchical Brett Favre. And it seems like the folks at the Miners Alley Children’s Theatre got the memo — well, sorta. Chock full of endearing messages for the tykes — including the golden rule and all of the moral high ground that comes with it — “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is an admirable, adorable reason to make the trek to Golden. And, well, the fact that the free Coors Brewery tour starts just up the road certainly doesn’t hurt.
Steel Magnolias Curtains at 7:30 p.m., April 8 & 9; 2 p.m., April 10. The John Hand Theater, 7653 E. 1st Pl., Denver. Tickets start at $12. Call 720-530-2596 or visit thisisspotlight.com for more information.
Billed as “the funniest movie that will ever make you cry” leading up to its 1989 box office release, “Steel Magnolias” is storming into the metro area theater scene this month — hair curlers and all. Centered on a sextet of southern belles who live to rib one another inside of a communal beauty salon in a small Louisiana town, the script penned by playwright Robert Harling took on a new life after Julia Roberts and Sally Field starred in the Herbert Ross-directed film nearly 30 years ago. The production at the John Hand marks local actress Emma Messenger’s directorial debut. The show runs through April 30.
AROUND TOWN
Write Aurora 1 p.m. April 10, Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Pkwy. Free, but registration is required at apm.activecommunities.com/cityofaurora
Writer’s block is a fickle thing. But there are ways, good friends, to avoid that mental iron maiden and spew out delightful prose on command. The first, and perhaps simplest way, is coffee. The second, and perhaps most enjoyable way, is taking a stroll through time. Well, sort of — no, Doc Brown here, however. Employees of the city’s Art in Public Places Commission, along with bad-ass rhymester and poet laureate Jovan Mays, will be leading aspiring scribes through the Aurora History Museum this weekend as part of a new, month-long series called Write Aurora. Developed in honor of National Poetry Month, the series of writing workshops — slated for every Sunday afternoon in April — will offer advice and inspiration for local wordsmiths to hone their craft. And, sure, Aurora’s some 125 years of happenings are inspirational and all, but bringing a thermos of joe along probably wouldn’t hurt.
