“I Can Tell the World” documentary tells the story of the roots of American Music

Rocky Mountain PBS Offers a Free Screening of “I Can Tell the World”

A new documentary feature film by Larry Bograd and Coleen Hubbard

February 9, 6:300-pm

Davis Auditorium, University of Denver
2000 E Asbury Ave
Denver, CO 80208

Rocky Mountain PBS presents a unique opportunity to experience the first documentary about the original American music.

Without spirituals, there would be no gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, or hip-hop and rap. And though many of us are familiar with some of the songs, few of us fully understand the deep history, complex origins and coded messages of the music born in slavery.

Produced and co-directed by Coleen Hubbard and Larry Bograd for Denver's Roundtable Media, the film follows members of The Spirituals Project Choir, an interracial, multigenerational ensemble committed to the preservation and performance of African American spirituals.

This diverse group of men and women share their stories of transformation and offer lessons in racial reconciliation. In addition to following choir members, the documentary includes rarely seen performances by Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson, and the observations of African American scholars.

“I Can Tell the World” is the first completed production by Roundtable Media, LLP, which has two other documentaries in production.

There will be a post-panel "talk back," featuring the filmmakers Larry Bograd and Coleen Hubbard and founder Art Jones.

MORE INFORMATION:

• Learn more about the event at the Rocky Mountain PBS Community Calendar
• View the trailer at the I Can Tell the World documentary website

The film airs on Rocky Mountain PBS on Feb. 11 and will be released commercially on April 20, 2010.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Rocky Mountain PBS invites the 1.3 million people throughout Colorado we reach each month to experience the world of award-winning local, national and international programming; hear diverse viewpoints; take front row center seats to world-class drama and performances; and enjoy lifelong learning services for children and adults.

Rocky Mountain PBS is celebrating its 53rd anniversary on the air this year. The network began in Denver in 1956 as Colorado’s first public television station. It is now Colorado’s only statewide television network, with stations in Denver (KRMA), Pueblo/Colorado Springs (KTSC), Steamboat Springs (KRMZ), Grand Junction (KRMJ) and Durango (KRMU). To learn more, visit the Rocky Mountain PBS website.

THE SPIRITUALS PROJECT

The Spirituals Project is a non-profit organization based at the University of Denver dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the music and teachings of the sacred folk songs called spirituals, created and first sung by enslaved Africans in North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Through research, education and performance, The Spirituals Project explores the many, varied dimensions of African American spirituals as art form, tradition and tool, and invites all people to experience the joy and power of this dynamic music and gift from African Americans to the world, thereby ensuring that the spirituals will be passed on for many generations to come.

"Lives Lived in Dance" with Ana Claire and Peter Davison, Feb. 3

"LIVES LIVED IN DANCE" interview series continues at the Boulder Public Library with Ana Claire and Peter Davison of Boulder Ballet.

"Lives Lived in Dance" is a film and interview series highlighting local dance luminaries. This series is designed to show the interested dance public how professional dancers arrived at a career in dance and what they felt as they navigated this difficult path.

This evening's guests are Ana Claire and Peter Davison, the Artistic Directors of Boulder Ballet and the Boulder Ballet School. While Ana Claire has always been involved in dance, Peter Davison has had a more varied path as juggler, street performer and founding member of the well-known ensemble, Airjazz. Come and hear for yourself!

Moderated by Jim LaVita, artistic co-director of 3rd Law Dance/Theater, the series is sponsored by the Boulder Arts Commission's Dance Bridge and 3rd Law.

Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Canyon Theater, Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO

This series is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the library Arapahoe Avenue lot.

Educate's! "Annual Ball" For the Future of Uganda with special musical guest FACE, Feb. 6

Saturday, February 6th
5:30-11p.m.
Rembrandt Yard Art Gallery & Event Center, Boulder, Colorado

Educate!, a Uganda and Boulder-based organization, will hold their Annual Ball to raise money for students in Africa. The money raised from the Ball will go directly to empower Educate!¹s 830 Scholars in Uganda to transform their communities.

The Ball is for all ages with dancing, live music by the nationally-recognized Boulder-based band FACE, a great silent auction and speech scheduled by Congressman Jared Polis. Also enjoy wine from Superior Liquor, beer tastings from Asher Brewery (Colorado's 1st all organic brewery) and food provided by Whole Foods, Bay Window Catering and BJ's Pizza Grill and Brewery. Besides being a wonderful time, the Ball is a benefit event to empower youth across Uganda to transform their communities by addressing poverty, disease, hunger and ignorance.

The event will be held at Rembrandt Yard Art Gallery & Event Center, Boulder, Colorado on Saturday, February 6. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Ball goes until 11 p.m.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

7-7:45 - Educate! presentation with co-founder, Eric Glustrom, Educate! staff, and Congressman Jared Polis
8-845 - FACE performance
915-945 FACE performance

VISUALS: Colorado Educate! supporters socializing, learning about Educate! and working to create a better future for students in Uganda; dancing and performance by FACE.

ABOUT EDUCATE!:

Educate!, founded in 2002, empowers students across Uganda to drive the social, political and economic development of their communities. We teach a two-year curriculum on how to lead social change, provide long term mentoring, and create a life-long, national network that equips students with the skills and confidence necessary to transform their communities. Educate! students create locally-grown, market based initiatives that solve the challenges of poverty, disease, and environmental degradation. Today, Educate! is empowering 830 young leaders at 24 high schools across Uganda and has impacted over 10,000 people. A recent winner of the Champions of Quality Education in Africa competition, a collaboration between Ashoka¹s Changemakers and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Educate! was also recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as one of 100 Brilliant Companies in 2009, by DoSomething as an organization started by one of America's top five change-makers under 25 and by the Echoing Green fellowship, recognizing the highest potential startup social change ventures worldwide.

GET MORE:

• Visit the Educate! website
• Follow Educate! on Twitter
• View the Educate! Flickr Stream



Educate! Scholars at Mbale High School hold seedlings that they will be planting at their school compound.

February is "Red Dress" Month at the Bob Burger Recreation Center

Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear!

Only 57 percent of women know that heart disease is their leading cause of death and most fail to make the connection between risk factors-such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol—and their personal risk of developing heart disease.

The Lafayette Recreation Department wants to be a part of changing this disturbing reality by bringing The Heart Truth -- a campaign that is raising public awareness about women and heart disease -- to the Boulder County community.

Why the Red Dress?
The Heart Truth features a Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness. This symbol links a woman’s focus on her “outer self’ to the need to also focus on her “inner self” and her heart. What’s a Red Dress got to do with it? A simple Red Dress works as a visual red alert to get the message heard loud and clear: “Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear—It’s the #1 Killer of Women.”

The Recreation Department’s goal is to build awareness of women’s heart disease and empower women to reduce and prevent their risk. We will bring this awareness to the Lafayette community by hosting educational lectures, providing educational hand outs, and identifying specific heart-healthy classes via a week-long contest.

Friday, Feb 5: Kick Off at the Bob Burger Recreation Center
WEAR RED and receive a free adult admission to the Bob Burger Recreation Center! Stop by the lobby display table to pick up free educational materials, enter for prize drawings, and purchase your Red Dress Pins and Heart Healthy Cookbooks.

Friday, Feb 5: Exempla Hospital’s Heart Healthy Luncheon and Health Expo at the FlatIrons Crossing Mall
Wear Red and $5 of your $25 luncheon cost will be donated to the American Heart Assn. Luncheon is at 11:30; the FREE Health Expo runs from 11-2. Lower Level in front of Macy’s. Call 303-689-4595 for luncheon reservations.

Wednesday, Feb 10 @ 6pm: Amy Kreeger, Exempla Good Samaritan Nurse Practitioner, will present on Signs & Symptoms of the Female Heart Attack and How These Differ From Men’s Symptoms. Held at the Bob Burger Recreation Center. Call the front desk to reserve a seat: 303-665-0469.

Wed, Feb 17 @ 6pm: Dr. Martin Fejka with Exempla Front Range Cardiovascular Assoc, will present on Peripheral Artery Disease(PAD). Held at the Bob Burger Recreation Center. Call the front desk to reserve a seat: 303-665-0469.

Week of February 21-27: After every heart-healthy fitness class you attend this week at the Bob Burger Recreation Center, register for great prize giveaways. Qualifying classes are listed on the Drop-In Fitness Schedule.

February 1-28: Purchase an item with proceeds benefitting the American Heart Assoc Heart Healthy Cookbooks $5; Red Dress Tack Pin $3;

A special thank you our 2010 event sponsor, Exempla Good Samaritan Hospital.

Go further:

• Download the list of Heart-Healthy Fitness Classes
• FREE Activities for Feb's Red Dress Month!
• Follow Lafayette Rec on TWITTER
• Check out Upcoming Classes and Activities
• Sign up for The Buzz at Bob's monthly e-Newsletter

Fritz the Mascot

Brock Media's mascot, Fritz, is featured in today's USA Today's Paw Print Post. The article "Working like a dog: Pets brighten up the biz for owners" by pet reporter Sharon L. Peters introduces four four-legged (in most cases) friends from around the country who bring their own spark of joy to the work-place.

Only one year ago, Brock Media's Fritz was a desperate doggie at Humane Society of Boulder Valley. Read his touching tale!

Actor Alec Baldwin to be Honored at BIFF on Feb 14

Famed Actor, Comedian and Philanthropist to Receive Award of Excellence in Acting

As Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross, actor Alec Baldwin said: "I'd wish you good luck, but you wouldn't know what to do with it if you got it." It's more than luck that brings that famous actor to the Rocky Mountain state.

The Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) announced that the Emmy award-winning television, stage and film actor, will be honored with an Award of Excellence in Acting at Closing Night of the 2010 festival on Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colo.

"We are thrilled to have Baldwin attending the Boulder International Film Festival," said Kathy Beeck, festival co-founder and director. "He's a magnificent actor who has influenced many young actors and comedians, and we're honored he will join us at this year's festival."

The evening's tribute to Baldwin will include a film retrospective of his work followed by a question and answer session hosted by BIFF Executive Producer Ron Bostwick. Tony Bennett's pianist, Ralph Sharon, will provide the entertainment for the evening before Baldwin's tribute.

Three weeks following BIFF, Baldwin will co-host the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony with his It's Complicated co-star Steve Martin. Baldwin stars with Tina Fey on NBC's "30 Rock", winner of the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for the past three years. He's received three SAG Awards, two Golden Globes, the Television Critics Award, and two Emmies for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He appears in the film It's Complicated opposite Meryl Streep, which is still running in theatres. Baldwin was nominated for a Tony award for his role in A Streetcar Named Desire. He's appeared in over forty films, including Beetlejuice, The Hunt for Red October, The Aviator and The Departed. Baldwin's performance in The Cooler earned him a National Board of Review Award and an Oscar nomination.

Baldwin is a supporter of numerous causes related to public policy and the arts. He serves on the boards of People For The American Way, the Hamptons International Film Festival, and The Actors Studio. He supports the Radiation and Public Health Project, the Roundabout Theatre and the Water Keeper Alliance.

The four-day Boulder International Film Festival, sponsored at the gold level by Premier Members Federal Credit Union, will feature an Opening Night event to be announced later in January and the "Tribute to Alec Baldwin" on Valentine's Day at 7 p.m., at the Boulder Theater, at 2032 14th St. Tickets for the Feb. 14 tribute are $40 and are on sale now at the BIFF website.

Photo Courtesy: Brigitte Lacombe

Community Artist Showcase, and affordable gourmet dinner, at BREADWORKS

Breadworks in Boulder hopes to "provide a space to come together as a community, to enjoy great music, and to support local art."

To this end, Breadworks presents a community artist showcase featuring the art of Mary Mac, the music of Lisa Haney & Cynthia Taknanian (cello and piano duo), and the art of Chef Colleen Duran––a four-course, gourmet prix-fixe Spanish-inspired dinner, plus desert––on Friday, January 15 from 6-9pm.

This affordable evening cost only $14/adults and $7/children. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Breadworks office, or by calling 303-444-5667, ext 3.

Mary Mac’s paintings will be for sale throughout the month, beginning on January 15.

Breadworks is located at 2644 Broadway Boulder, CO 80304.

Help Larkburger Help Haiti!

25% of today's Larkburger sales will go to aid the 3 million people affected by the quake in Haiti. All donations will benefit the World Food Program and Doctors Without Borders. We hope you will join us!

Larkburger will be open today from 11am-9pm at both its Edwards and Boulder locations.

World Food Program:
The food assistance agency's main focus is to fight hunger worldwide. The organization is working to bring food to Haiti. DONATE NOW on the World Food Program website.

Doctors Without Borders:
The humanitarian organization delivers medical care to people caught in crisis. Donations to its Haiti relief efforts will go toward repairing the obstetrics and trauma hospitals in Haiti that were damaged in the earthquake. They also will go to transporting an additional 70 doctors and medical supplies to the island in an effort to set up makeshift emergency medical response centers. DONATE NOW on the Doctors Without Borders website, or call 1-888-392-0392.

Larkburger locations:

2525 Arapahoe Road, Boulder CO
105 Edwards Village Boulevard, Edwards CO

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.

*

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.