Hitching Post Theater: A Play in a Day - TODAY!

Love the theater but short on time? Then you’ll love the play-in-a-day concept recently launched in Boulder by Erin Kelly and Jesse McDonald. As the Hitching Post motto states, "If you love organic, edgy and uninhibited entertainment, then you've got to come and experience Hitching Post Theater."

The idea started in 2004 in Los Angeles, but when Kelly and McDonald moved their company, Rock Rose Entertainment, to Boulder in fall 2009, they were eager to get their feet wet in Colorado’s entertainment industry, and Hitching Post was born.

The concept is simple: At 9 a.m. five writers randomly choose two actors from their headshots. Producers unveil the theme of the day. The writers have until 1 p.m. to draft short plays of seven to 10 pages for their two actors. At 1 p.m. the producers collect the scripts and rush them to the waiting actors and directors. The first performance is at 7 p.m.

Hitching Post Theater opened Oct. 11 and produced plays Nov. 8 and Dec. 13, when more than 130 people attended the two shows. Each month features new themes and new artists. Performances are on the second Sunday of the month. January's productions are today, January 10 at 7 and 8:30pm.

Nobody gets paid, but “you get your play produced for you, you are given a stage on which to create. With the investment of one day, your work is showcased. The artist gets a chance to work and test their craft,” Kelly says.

The plays are currently produced at the Kelly Barn, 1360 Sumac Ave., but Kelly and McDonald plan to move them to the Nomad Theatre later in 2010. For more information or tickets, visit Rock Rose’s website. You can also become a fan on Facebook.
—Kay Turnbaugh

Pictured: Katie B. Jarvis in the opening performance. Photo by Kimberly Wyatt

Oatmeal and Horses

The National Western Stock Show opens tomorrow (January 9) at the National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver.

“Find your Western spirit” at this annual event, running Jan. 9-24. Kids are free opening weekend, Jan. 9-10, and the show runs through Jan. 24. Admission to the grounds lets you view sheep shearing, cattle judging, the Coors Western Art Exhibit and much more, and special ticketed events include PRCA Rodeo competitions, the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza and bull riding. See complete schedule at the website.

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The Lafayette Quaker Oatmeal Festival, Health Fair and 5k Walk/Run is also tomorrow at various locations throughout Lafayette.

The annual Festival is a unique family event that focuses on healthy lifestyle. Events on Jan. 9 include an oatmeal breakfast, certified 5k walk/run, health fair and oatmeal baking contest. The festival runs 7:30am-1pm. Pre-register for the Quicker Quaker 5K Walk/Race online or register on race day from 7:30-9am. Visit the website for a complete schedule.

Voices V: Perspectives of the Artistic Soul

"Voices V: Perspectives of the Artistic Soul," the City of Boulder's Joint Youth-Adult Juried Art Exhibition, is at the Rembrandt Yard in Boulder, 1301 Spruce, January 8-15. The opening reception is tonight, 6:00-8:30pm.

Says the City of Boulder’s Youth Opportunities Program/ YOAB, "By placing juried pieces of both high school students and adult artists together, the sponsors hope to make a statement to the community: Art can be our opportunity to connect and catalyze relationships among all generations."

Come by inspired by Boulder's artistic community!

SINGING WITH THE BROADWAY STARS CONTEST

at Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway
Saturday, January 23
Boulder Theater


Boulder Theater is giving the public a chance to win the opportunity to sing on-stage in an all-star Broadway review and win a pair of tickets for family and friends to Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway on January 23. The winning entry to the Singing with the Broadway Stars Contest will get to sing a solo part in the show finale.

To enter the online auditions, you need to upload a 90-120 second video of yourself singing a Broadway show tune to YouTube, MySpace, or Facebook. A panel of industry professionals will choose up to two winner(s) and up to 10 runner(s)-up to participate in the show.

All runners-up and winners will receive a pair of tickets, a free CD of the show and the opportunity to perform with five of the finest voices on Broadway, stars of such hit shows as Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll and Hyde, Fiddler on the Roof, and many more.

100 Years of Broadway recreates the finest moments from the greatest musicals of the century, featuring the actual stars of shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Aida, Jesus Christ Superstar and Jekyll & Hyde. 100 Years of Broadway is a jubilant revue of Broadway's most beloved songs, including treasures from Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Contest details are on the Singing with the Broadway Stars Contest website.

Contest Ends: Tuesday, January 12, 5pm
Winners Announced: Friday, January 15
Performance Date: Saturday, January 23, 8pm

Presented by Daily Camera

2nd Annual Snowdown/Pro-am Homebrew Competition

Ska Brewing announced the return of the Snowdown Homebrew Competition for 2010. The event will take place on January 30th at the Ska Brewing World Headquarters in Durango, during “Snowdown”—Durango’s annual winter festival. The event is also a preliminary for the 2010 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Pro/Am category, and will be an AHA/BJCP certified competition. Entry opens December 15th, and closes on January 15th. Beer entries must be in Ska’s possession no later than January 18th. You can register and find competition details at the Snowdown Homebrew Competition’s website.

The winning recipe will be brewed in a Ska “Local Series” batch, to be sold at the brewery and in stores around Southwest Colorado. The homebrewer who submits the winning beer will also help oversee large scale production of the brew at Ska’s state-of-the-art brewing facility in Durango. In addition, the professionally-brewed version of the recipe will be entered into the Pro/Am category at the 2010 GABF in Denver. GABF is the nation’s largest beer festival and competition.

2008 marked the inaugural Snowdown Homebrew Competition, and according to Ska Co-Founder and President Dave Thibodeau, its success ensured that it would become an annual event. “Last year Chris Vest of the Mesa Verde Mashers won this competition with Merlo Stout, which went on to become a very popular release in our Local Series (#12).” Thibodeau also notes that this is not Ska’a only collaboration with homebrewers. “We started out as homebrewers, and we strive to keep that spirit alive, even in a professional craft-brewing operation. Between this event and our recently announced beer blogger collaboration, we hope to support the homebrewing community and stay close to our roots.”

Ska Brewing recently announced another collaboration—perhaps a first in the craft-brewing world—with two local Durango beer bloggers. “Soggy Coaster”, the blogger behind beerat6512, and Jeff Hammett of bikesnbeer, have each been invited to collaborate with Ska’s Head Brewer Thomas Larsen on a recipe of their choosing, brew a batch of the beer on Ska’s pilot system, and document the experience in their blogs.

Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and now produces over a dozen award-winning beers including the Pinstripe Red Ale, True Blonde Ale and Steel Toe Stout. Three Ska beers are now widely available in cans: ESB Special Ale, True Blonde, and Modus Hoperandi India Pale Ale.