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Aspen Times Weekly: Can’t-miss Aspen Arts Events, Winter 2014-15

compiled by Andrew Travers
Published: Alex Irvin Courtesy photo

AT Most Anticipated: Art

Marcel Brookthaer’s art installation “Décor: A Conquest” was originally created for the Institute of Contemporary Art, London’s inaugural show in 1974. It presents period rooms that mix weaponry with furniture. The installation will be recreated at the Aspen Art Museum, and will be on display from Dec. 19-March 1, 2015.

And don’t forget: Christmas week is packed with openings including Forre Fine Art’s Art Fashion Show (Dec. 20), Dean Bowlby at Aspen Grove Art (Dec. 22), Adam Fuss at the Baldwin Gallery (Dec. 26) and Wayne Thiebaud at Galerie Maximillian (Dec. 27) … A career-length selective survey of work by Agnes Martin at Aspen Art Museum (Through March 1) … Daniel Dallabria’s show at Anderson Ranch Arts Center (Feb. 2-28).



AT Most Anticipated: Music




Unsurprisingly, Umphrey’s McGee’s two-night run at Belly Up in March sold out instantaneously when tickets went on-sale this fall. But lucky for local fans, the hard-edged jam band is also playing a free outdoor show at the corner of Galena Street and Cooper Avenue, on March 13, as part of the annual Spring Jam festivities.

And don’t forget: Hot Jazz revivalist Bria Skonberg at the JAS Café (Jan. 16-17) … The A-list run of X Games concerts at Buttermilk including Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Chromeo and Skrillex (Jan. 22-25) … Band on the rise Bad Suns at Belly Up (Feb. 3) … Breaking electronic music duo Odesza at Belly Up (Feb. 20) … Child star turned chanteuse Molly Ringwald at the Wheeler Opera House (Feb. 27) … Latin jazz legend Poncho Sanchez and New Orleans piano maven Jon Cleary at the JAS Café (March 13-14 & 20-21) … What promises to be an epic closing weekend show by Twin Shadow at Belly Up (Apr. 19).

AT Most Anticipated: Classical Music

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein grew up in the Aspen Music Festival and School, where her parents were on the faculty for 25 years, and she has frequently graced stages here as she has developed into a world-class, Macarthur “genius” grant-winning performer. She returns for an evening of unaccompanied cello at Harris Concert Hall on Feb. 12.

And don’t forget: Pianist Orli Shaham at Harris Hall (Feb. 19) … The University of Colorado Opera at the Basalt Regional Library (Feb. 27) … Pianist Vladmir Feltsman performing Schumann at Harris Hall (March 14).

AT Most Anticipated: Film

You can’t miss at Aspen Film’s Academy Screenings, running Dec. 23 to Jan. 2 at the Wheeler Opera House, showcasing the year’s top films and Oscar contenders. If you haven’t caught them yet, don’t miss “Boyhood,” “Whiplash” (both Dec. 28) and “Birdman” (Jan. 2). For family fare, mark your calendar for “Into the Wood” (Dec. 21) and, for cinephiles and Thomas Pynchon fans, don’t skip Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Inherent Vice” (Dec. 30).

And don’t forget: The DVD release of “Another Good Road,” chronicling Woody Creeker John Oates’ latest collaborative project … “Hollywood’s Big Night,” the annual Aspen Film Oscar-viewing party at the Caribou Club (Feb. 22) … “The Future Yesterday” at the Aspen Art Museum (March 20-29) and the Sunday Cinema presentations at the museum on the last Sunday of every month.

AT Most Anticipated: Comedy

“Saturday Night Live” alum and “Half Baked” star Jim Breuer has taken a mature — but still hilarious — turn in his career over the last few years, writing a memoir and launching a podcast. He headlines the Aspen Laff Festival at the Wheeler Opera House on Feb. 19. The festival, running through Feb. 21, also includes the return of Aspen favorite Christopher Titus and NPR host Ophira Eisenberg.

And don’t forget: “Best of the Fests” at the Wheeler, bringing back favorites from past Aspen Laff Festivals (Dec. 20) … Lewis Black at the Wheeler (Jan. 30) … Gay Ski Week’s comedy night at Belly Up, featuring the Lezberados (Jan. 16).

AT Most Anticipated: Theater

Carbondale’s Thunder River Theatre Company is celebrating its 20th anniversary season by scaling what its founder, Lon Winston, calls “the Mount Everest of theater.” That would be William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” David Pulliam, who has been doing stand-out work at Thunder River in recent years, stars in the weighty role. Running Feb. 27 through March 15, this show is the best reason to go past the roundabout this winter.

And don’t forget: Thunder River’s “The Lion in Winter” (Dec. 11-21) … Theatre Masters’ “Take Ten” (Feb. 1-3) … Aspen High School’s “Singin’ in the Rain” at the Aspen District Theatre (March 6-8) … Hudson Reed Ensemble’s “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” at the Black Box Theater (March 19-29).

AT Most Anticipated: Books

Perennial best-selling journalist Michael Lewis, author of the investigative look at high-frequency Wall Street trading “Flash Boys” and instant non-fiction classics like “Liar’s Poker,” “Moneyball” and “The Blind Side,” comes to Paepcke Auditorium for Winter Words on March 12.

And don’t forget: The season’s Winter Words series is filled with literary luminaries, including U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey (Jan. 6), New Yorker staff writer and National Book Award winner George Packer (Feb. 10), and “A Tale for the Time Being” novelist Ruth Ozeki (Apr. 14).

Aspen Times Weekly

Bar Talk: sway Thai

sway opened its Aspen doors at the beginning of February with nine cocktails on the menu including some options not offered in Austin, such as a Thai coffee martini, fitting in with this mountain town’s espresso martini infatuation.



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