Roamin' the Range for April 2016

The Colorado State University School of Music, Theatre and Dance presents Reefer Madness, a 1930s musical, opening April 20, showing through May 7, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St. Evening showings will be held on April 20, 21, 22, 23, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m., matinees, 2 p.m. April 24 and May 1. Not appropriate for audiences under 18. Tickets at www.CSUArtsTickets.com.

Experience the stunning digital paintings of world renowned artist Andrew “Android” Jones like never before with SAMSKARA at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 9 or 10 p.m., Friday April 8. This show penetrates the viewer’s subconscious, pushing the boundaries of imagination through specially designed animations and soundscapes. Before and after the show, enjoy live art demonstrations from local artists, sponsored by the Downtown Artery. Cash bar available. Tickets at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.

Bas Bleu Theatre, 401 Pine St., Fort Collins presents Love, Loss and What I Wore, by Delia and Nora Ephron. Six women reminisce about bittersweet, intimate, sometimes hilarious memories of families, friends and loved ones through the prism of their closets. Features popular essays by the late Nora Ephron. The show is an alchemy of poignant sentiment, satire, nostalgia and hilarity funneled through memories of clothes and accessories. April 2 to May 1. Bas Bleu also features Women Playing Hamlet, April 10 and 11, 7:30 p.m. and April 16 and 30, 2:30 p.m. Clever comedy featuring an all-female cast spoofing Shakespeare. See basbleu.org or call 970-498-8949 for tickets.

Friends of the Symphony will hold its annual Musical Zoo on Sunday, April 10, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Timberline Church, 2908 Timberline Road, Fort Collins. This program of musical education and entertainment is designed especially for children 3-12 years of age and features short instrumental and choral performances by youth groups in 2 auditoriums between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.; a “Petting Zoo” where children can touch and play a variety of orchestral instruments one-on-one with music mentors between 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.; and, a grand finale performance by the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra of Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals” and Copland’s rousing, foot-stomping ballet “Hoedown” between 3:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. in the main auditorium. “Carnival” is fantastical music emulating various animals from the lion to the swan portrayed in costume by the Canyon Concert Ballet Youth Ensemble, theatrically narrated, and featuring two young international piano competition winners. Copland’s short “Hoedown” is sure to have children dancing in the aisles and in front of the stage. This memorable afternoon of musical enjoyment provides a fun family experience. Tickets are $2 for adults and children and can be purchased at the Timberline Church beginning at 1:30 p.m. on the day of the event, or in advance at Boomer Music, the Learning Express and Clothes Pony stores in Fort Collins. The Musical Zoo 2016 is being put on by more than 200 volunteer musicians and others, and is supported by generous grants from the Fort Collins Fort Fund, Mawson Lumber and Hardware, Friends of the Symphony, Bohemian Foundation, Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, and the Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary. More information is available at friendsofthesymphony.org.

The Masks Exhibition, an eagerly anticipated fundraising event for the Fort Collins Museum of Art, opens during First Friday Gallery Walk on April 1 and continues through May 6. Admission is free and visitors bid on their favorite masks created by local artists. The Masks Gala, Carnevale di Venezia, takes place 6:30-10 p.m. on April 22. For details about the exhibition and gala tickets visit ftcma.org.

Larimer Humane Society’s 26th annual Fire Hydrant 5 will be bigger and better than ever this year as it combines with the Paws on the Promenade Expo at Centerra. The largest outdoor fundraiser for homeless pets in Northern Colorado, this year’s 5k walk/run event will take place at the Promenade Shops at Centerra in Loveland on Saturday, June 4. After 25 years at Edora Park in Fort Collins, Fire Hydrant 5 is excited to call Centerra its new home and expand the event by absorbing the Paws on the Promenade event. Thanks to the tremendous support of the community, Fire Hydrant 5 outgrew its previous venue and needed to find a new location in order to accommodate the 1,000 runners and 600 dogs who will participate. Space at the new location means more vendors and more fun.

This years’ event will kick off with a 5k walk/run around Chapungu Sculpture Park at The Promenade Shops at Centerra in Loveland. The Paws on the Promenade Pet Expo will feature more than 70 booth vendors, dog demonstrations, contests, a kid’s fun zone, adoptable pets and more. “We are excited to provide a broader range of Larimer County residents and their pets with an unforgettable experience, that is not only fun for the whole family but is also helping to save the lives of thousands of pets in need,” Judy Calhoun, director of Larimer County Humane Society said.The Humane Society hopes to raise $85,500 to help them care for the 6,000 homeless, abused, neglected, unwanted and abandoned animals that come through their doors each year.

Support Larimer Humane Society by participating as an individual or forming a team for the 5k walk/run and competing in team fundraising challenges (online registration is now open at www.fh5.kintera.org/2016). Registration for teams of five is $30 per person. Individual early-bird registration through April 29th is $30 per person.

The Ralph Opera Center at Colorado State University presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most famous comic opera, The Marriage of Figaro! at Griffin Concert Hall, University Center for the Arts 1400 Remington Street in Fort Collins at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 3. Free for CSU students, $1 for youth (under 18), and $19.50 for the public, available at the University Center for the Arts ticket office in the UCA lobby Monday through Friday, 3:30-5:30 p.m. and 60 minutes prior to performances, by phone at 970-491-2787, or online at CSUArtsTickets.com. Youth tickets must be purchased in person at the ticket office. Online and at-the-door tickets are subject to a $1 ticket fee. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended to avoid lines and further at-the-door fees.

The action unfolds at break neck speed as an elaborate web of interrelationships and schemes is punctuated by instances of people hiding behind furniture and characters in disguise as the valet, Figaro, attempts to make his beloved Susanna his wife, much to the chagrin of the Count Almaviva, who is determined to bed her before she is wed.

Often performed at universities, including fully staged productions at CSU in 2006 and 2010, as well as a premiere of a modern-performance edition for chamber winds by CSU’s Dr. Richard Frey in 2012, the classic is a must for both vocal and instrumental students’ repertoire. The production is in Italian with English super-titles, making this classic performance not only requisite to the performers but easily accessible to youth and first-time opera goers.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III and local artists Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore will perform together on April 12 at the historic Fort Collins Armory, 314 E. Mountain Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets $25 at bohemiannights.org/purchase-tickets, or at the door pending availability. For concert information, call 970-472-7656.

Asian textiles and Chinese philosophy take center stage in April with presentations at the Global Village Museum by two esteemed and renowned experts. The programs are in conjunction with the Museum’s main exhibit, China’s Imperial Treasures: Art and Artifacts.

Judi Arndt, who has lived abroad and traveled extensively in Asia, will discuss and display textiles from China’s ethnic minorities at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 at Global Village Museum. Todd Cornell, associate director of the Confucius Institute at Colorado State University, will analyze major Chinese philosophies at 7 pm on Thursday, April 21.

“Some of the minorities’ textiles have not been seen in Western culture,” Arndt said. “There are many excellent examples of costumes made by these ethnic groups.” With a specific interest in natural dyes and complex weaving techniques, Arndt has collected over 300 Asian garments, costumes, and cloths.

The textile aficionado received her degree in interior design with a focus on textiles from the University of Wisconsin. She is a quilter, dyer, and weaver and plans to donate her authentic artifacts — among the finest available — to CSU’s Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising.

Cornell, who grew up in Fort Collins and lived and studied in China for over 20 years, will touch on major philosophies such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. “I hope to offer insight into a vastly different worldview and contemporary cultural value set,” he said. “I’ve personally experienced and pursued the understanding of Chinese classical philosophy as a hobby and personal interest.” Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Cornell received his bachelor’s degree in Mongolian language and literature from Inner Mongolia University in China. He has studied over 10 languages and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Admission to each presentation is $5 for adults and free for museum members. China’s Imperial Treasures runs through June 18 at the museum, located at 200 W. Mountain Avenue. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. For more information, please visit globalvillagemuseum.org or call 970-221-4600.