Aspen and Snowmass Performing Arts
Exciting Dance and Ballet
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet (ASFB) is an American contemporary dance company with eleven classically trained dancers. In addition to its domestic and international performances, the organization has a presentation program called “Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Presents”, with summer and winter seasons that brings touring dance companies from around the world to both Aspen and Santa Fe. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet has two official schools, one in Aspen, one in Santa Fe, and a year-round Mexican Folk Dance outreach program in both Colorado and New Mexico.
Current Theater, Plays and Musicals
Theatre Aspen is located in Rio Grande Park, along the Rio Grande Trail, just next to The John Denver Sanctuary and the river. Theatre Aspen’s professional productions feature the best of Broadway talent, as well as local performers. Their offerings include musicals, plays, new works and family-friendly shows that are perfect for a vacationing family or business person. In 2012, the Hurst Theatre and lobby were renovated, complimented by sumptuous gardens and ponds, designed by the City of Aspen Parks Department.
Aspen Community Theatre was founded in 1975 for the purpose of educating the valley in all aspects of the performing theatre. They produce an annual fall musical and occasionally a spring production. They are involved with valley schools with guest artists, instructors and reduced ticket prices. They have offered classes in Shakespeare, dance, acting, voice, audition skills and technical arts.
The Wheeler Opera House opened in 1889 as part of the “Silver Circuit”, a mining era collection of venues that brought internationally renowned performers to the silver and gold mining camps and towns of Colorado’s high country. Destroyed by fire in the early part of the 20th century, the Wheeler underwent one renovation in the late 1940s and a more recent overhaul in the 1980s and today is Aspen’s premier performing venue. The Wheeler hosts numerous year round music and entertainment acts. In February each year the Wheeler Theater hosts the Aspen Laff Festival, a stand-up comedy festival that focuses on
finding the fastest, funniest, and brainiest comedians out there. The fifth Aspen Laff Festival will be in February 2015.
Performing Arts Organizations in the area:
- Aspen Ballet Company and School
- Aspen Choral Society
- Aspen Historical Society
- Aspen Music Festival & School
- Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival
- Jazz Aspen/Snowmass
- Living Arts Studio-Foundation
- Red Brick Council for the Arts
- The Aspen Center for Physics
- The Aspen Institute
- Theatre Aspen
- Wheeler Opera House
