Drained by the heat of summer? Take a seat in a cool theater and get refreshed at one of the rousing musicals opening this week at Denver theaters. What else is up? Try the Colorado Theatre Guild’s annual Henry Awards at 7 p.m. Monday, July 18, at the PACE Center in Parker. For tickets, $23 to $50, visit the PACE Center online or call 303-805-6800.
Phamaly, Evita
Byron Theatre, Newman Center
July 14 through August 7
Previews July 14 and 15
7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
2 p.m. Sundays
Industry Night, 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 25
Sensory-friendly performance, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 4
Audio description available, 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24
Tickets: $20 to $35
It hardly matters that Phamaly cast member Jenna Bainbridge, who has lived with partial paralysis since a childhood accident, drags her feet across the stage. That's just part of who she is. With her big voice, talent and love of the stage, she glides through Evita in the role of controversial figure Eva Peron, who is forever immortalized in the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Weber musical. And while that's more than enough reason to see Evita, you can also pick up raffle tickets for a trip to Argentina in the lobby ($25 or five for $100). Or bypass the line and buy yours online.
Little Shop of Horrors
Miners Alley Playhouse
July 15 through August 21
7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
6 p.m. Sundays, except 2 p.m. Sunday, August 21
Tickets: $19 to $30
Have some summer fun at Miners Alley, which is putting on the cheeky Alan Menken/Howard Ashman musical Little Shop of Horrors, about a flesh-eating plant and the nerd who loves her.
Beautiful — The Carole King Musical
Buell Theatre
July 19 through July 31
7:30 p.m. daily except Mondays
2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Tickets start at $25
303-893-4100
DCPA Broadway brings Beautiful, a romping revue of pop-music classics entangled in a biography of singer-songwriter Carole King, to the stage of the Buell Theatre. Go back in time and follow King from her Brill Building songwriting roots with partner Gerry Goffin to her brilliant solo career, rocking all the way through her boomer Cinderella story and enduring musical canon.
Find a stage near you: Check out Westword's online listings for more theater events.