PACE Center announces collaboration with Aurora Fox for inaugural season

Photo courtesy of the city of Parker.

A new arts complex in Parker will draw creative help from the Aurora Fox theater soon after it opens its doors in October.

Officials from the new Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center, or PACE, announced a collaboration that will see the Fox contributing two theater productions for the coming season. The PACE Center’s 500-seat theater will host productions of “A Christmas Story” in December and “Annie” in April, both co-produced with the Aurora Fox.

“The shows offer very satisfying entertainment, especially for people who aren’t accustomed to going to the theater regularly,” said Aurora Fox Executive Producer Charles Packard. “The primary advantage for me is that I’m finally going to be able to serve citizens of south Aurora who aren’t regularly coming up to the Fox. They’ll come to the PACE Center.”

A production of “A Christmas Story” was a part of the Aurora Fox’s 2009-10 season.

The center’s inaugural theater season will also include a production of an original show, “Country is ... the Music of Mainstreet” in January.

The shows will be part of a much wider menu of attractions for the PACE Center’s debut season, one that will include classical music concerts, dance exhibitions and a custom light show by the Luma performance company for the center’s opening in October. In addition to its theater, the PACE Center at 20120 E. Main Street in Parker will include a 250-seat amphitheater, an art gallery, an event room, a dance studio, culinary kitchen and classrooms.

Visiting artists for the center’s first season include the Vienna Boys Choir, the Irish music ensemble Celtic Nights and the Lefthand Trio classical ensemble.

“There is so much to enjoy in the season and we are happy to bring some of the world’s best artists to Colorado,” said PACE Center Cultural Director Jeannene Bragg in a statement. “It is a wonderful opportunity, especially for the local choir students, to see and hear the renowned Vienna Boys Choir in person.”

The center will also offer family friendly entertainment, with acts that range from stunt dogs to marionette puppets. The “Sign Stage’s Stuart Little” show in April will feature onstage performances delivered entirely in sign language.

The opening of the PACE Center will align with the opening of the new 43,000-square-foot Lone Tree Arts Center off E-470 and Yosemite Street, which is set to offer its first production in September. While the Lone Tree complex will feature touring shows from local and national companies and performers, the PACE Center will keep local talent a primary part of its mission, officials say.

“PACE is going to have a little bit more of a community center feel to it. There are more often going to be locals performing on stage and great opportunities for local groups to be able to use the facility,” Packard said. “It appears more homegrown and serving the community, not only as audience members but also as performers.”

Tickets and season subscriptions will be available in August at 303-805-6800 or through the center’s website, www.PACEcenteronline.org.

The Parker Arts, Culture and Events 2011-12 season, by category

Featured Performers: Luma (season opener), Oct. 28-29; Cashore Marionettes, Nov. 5; Vienna Boys Choir, Nov. 11; “Direct from Ireland Celtic Nights: Journey of Hope,” Feb. 17; “Defending the Caveman,” June 1-2.

Theater: “A Christmas Story” presented in partnership with Aurora Fox, Dec. 2-4 and 9-11; original musical “Country is ... the Music of Mainstreet,” Jan. 27-29, Feb. 3-5, Feb. 10-12; “Annie” presented in partnership with Aurora Fox, April 12-15 and 19-22.

Family Entertainment: “Garry Krinsky: Toying with Science,” Feb. 25; “Stunt Dog Experience,” March 25; Sign Stage’s “Stuart Little,” April 28.

Music: Denver Municipal Band “Tribute to Veterans,” Nov. 10; Parker Chorale “Holiday Concert,” Nov. 26; Parker Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 7; Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado “Italian Sojourn,” Jan. 6; Colorado Wind Ensemble “It’s a Small World,” Feb. 18; Parker Symphony Orchestra, Feb. 24; Parker Symphony Orchestra, April 27; Parker Chorale, April 28; Colorado Wind Ensemble “Carmina Burana,” May 18.

Classical Series: Lefthand Trio — Classical Guitar, Flute and Viola, Jan. 19; Musicians of the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado playing Music of the 17th and 18th Centuries on period instruments, Feb. 16; Fuchs Trio — Piano, Violin, Cello: Music of Mendelssohn, Dvorak, and Piazzolla, March 22;  The Confluence Quartet - Violin, Violin, Viola and Cello, May 31.

Dance: Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre’s “A Children’s Show,” Nov. 18-19; “Nutcracker of Parker” produced by Colorado School of Dance, Dec. 15-18; Ballet Ariel’s “Cinderella,” March 23-24; Apex Contemporary Dance Theatre’s “Imagine - Dancing Beyond the Edge of Technology,” April 4-5.