Breakin’ Convention, the international celebration of hip-hop dance theatre, returns to the Denver Center Nov. 3-4.

There’s plenty to ‘Carol’ about this holiday season, but first we break you in on other intriguing theatregoing options heading to a stage near you

If it’s November, that means most Colorado theatre companies are gearing up to fill you with the holiday spirit. In fact, there are at least 15 offerings opening this month with the words Carol, Scrooge or some variation of Holiday in their titles. (And they are listed in full below.) But because it is becoming more of an anomaly to stage non-holiday themed plays on Colorado stages at this time of year, we are going to use this month’s “10 intriguing titles to watch” feature to highlight a few that caught our attention:

Denver Center master’s graduate Anne F. Butler, who played a ferocious Vi Weston in Creede Rep’s ‘August: Osage County’ in 2015, makes her Curious Theatre debut in ‘The Humans.’

1. Curious Theatre’s The Humans: Denver’s Curious Theatre is about to become the first company to stage the 2016 Tony Award-winning Best Play in Colorado. And while the story does take place in real time over a Thanksgiving dinner, we’re putting Stephan Karam’s big-buzz play at the top of our curiosity list because the holiday itself is fairly incidental to the family dynamics that provide the real (turkey) meat of this play. It’s a reunion of three generations of a quintessential family who love each other while still wrestling with basic human fears such as old age, abandonment, poverty and death. Directed by Dee Covington and featuring Kathryn Gray, Anastasia Davidson, Denver Center master’s graduate Anne F. Butler, Kevin Hart, Susannah McLeod and Antonio Amadeo. November 3-December 22 at 1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org

2. Breakin’ Convention, the world’s biggest festival of international hip-hop dance theatre, returns to The Buell Theatre this weekend with performances from world-champion bboy crews and cutting-edge street-dance companies. The event is curated and hosted by U.K. hip-hop pioneer Jonzi D, but Breakin’ Convention, as he likes to say, is not only about dance from around the world. It’s also about dance from around the corner. Toward that end, eight curated local acts have been selected to perform on the mainstage alongside the international headliners. November 3-4 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Missy Moore

3. And Toto Too Theatre Company’s The Pink Unicorn: Acclaimed local actor Missy Moore has been charming  – and freaking out – local audiences for a long time now. But this regional premiere is her first stab at a one-woman play. The Pink Unicorn tells the story of a conservative Christian widow whose life is thrown into turmoil when her teenage daughter announces she is “gender queer” and starting a chapter of the Gay and Straight Alliance at her local Texas high school. Written by Elise Forier Ediea and directed by Susan Lyles, whose enduring theatre company exists to tell stories by women writers. This play is supported by the city of Denver’s Next Stage NOW initiative to enliven, diversify and sustain the Denver Performing Arts Complex through public performances. November 1-17 at The Commons on Champa, 1245 Champa St., 720-583-3975 or andtototoo.org

4. Millibo Art Theatre’s The Tap: This new play written by busy Colorado Springs and Denver actor Steve Emily captures the world of four regulars at a run-down, north-side Chicago bar as they stave off the cold, the loneliness and the threat of encroaching change coming to the neighborhood to form a kind of family that has grown together within the walls of their beloved tavern. Directed by directed by Jim Jackson and featuring Michael Miller, Lisbeth Splawn and Lynn Jacobs. November 8-25 at 1626 S. Tejon St. Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321,themat.org

Brian Landis Folkins

5. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s Church & State: Three days before Charles Whitmore’s Senate re-election, he decides to finally tell the public exactly what’s on his mind – no filter. What could possibly go wrong? Jason Odell Williams’ 2016 look at how religion, guns and social media influence our political system is simultaneously funny, heartbreaking and uplifting. The cast includes DCPA Teaching Artist Brian Landis Folkins, Sally Lewis Hybl, Jewel Christian, and Nathaniel Bourn. November 2-25 at 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

6. Buntport Theater’s Coyote. Badger. Rattlesnake. The countdown is on to a major milestone in Colorado theatre: Buntport’s genius ensemble of collaborating old college buddies is closing in on creating its 50th completely original play. No. 47 is billed as a behind-the-scenes look at a museum nature diorama. Two scientists painstakingly re-create a moment in the lives of three animals, making for an intersection of science, art and their own humanity. Being alive among the dead – or real among the fake – can be taxing. This new work is being created in collaboration with busy local playwright Ellen K. Graham, founder of Feral Assembly.  November 30-December 22 at 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

Full ‘Xanadu’ cast (with understudies), from left: Lauren Shealy, Seth Dhonau, Aaron Vega, Leiney Rigg, Sarah Rex, Sheryl McCallum and Marco Robinson. Photo by John Moore.

7.  DCPA Cabaret’s Xanadu follows the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse named Kira who descends from the heavens of Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California, in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist named Sonny to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time – the world’s first roller disco. (Hey, it’s 1980.) It’s based on the Universal Pictures cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Director Joel Ferrell’s production features five local actors – on roller skates. November 9-April 28 at the Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org MEET THE CAST

8.  Bas Bleu’s The Flea and the Professor: Jordan Harrison has been breaking the playwriting mold for more than a decade. Here he and Richard Gray adapt a classic Hans Christian Andersen tale as a musical odyssey that follows a young professor who loses just about everything in the world – except for the flea who lives in his vest. Starting over again, the professor and the flea become the best of friends. They start a circus act and set off to tour the world. Together they must overcome shipwrecks, cannibals – and tickling. November 29-December 23 at 401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org

9.  Dangerous Theatre’s Pain is My Vice: Denver’s enduring industrial warehouse theatre is living up to its name. Pain is My Vice, according to its website, “is a brutally honest look at single parenting, alcoholism, bondage and knowing when to keep your mouth shut.” There are four scheduled weekend performances of the play between November 9 and 17 at 2620 W. 2nd Ave.  720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

Carolyn Lohr

10.  Vintage Theatre’s Mary Poppins: Based on the original story by P.L. Travers story and adapted from the beloved Walt Disney film, this is the first attempt by a metro-area company to stage this traditional Broadway musical spectacle. The score includes the songs “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” Let’s Go Fly a Kite” and, of course, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” It’s the story of a proper English family that doesn’t know it’s broken until a nanny and chimney sweep sweep in and fix them. Starring Carolyn Lohr as Mary and Kalond Irianda as Bert. November 23-January 6 at 1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

NOTE: At the start of each month, the DCPA NewsCenter offers an updated list of upcoming theatre openings, spotlighting work being presented on stages statewide. Companies are encouraged to submit listings and production photos at least two weeks in advance to the DCPA NewsCenter at jmoore@dcpa.org

John Moore was named one of the 12 most influential theater critics in the U.S by American Theatre Magazine in 2011. He has since taken a groundbreaking position as the Denver Center’s Senior Arts Journalist.

NOVEMBER THEATRE OPENINGS IN COLORADO:

November 1-17: And Toto Too Theatre Company’s The Pink Unicorn
At The Commons on Champa, 1245 Champa St., 720-583-3975 or andtototoo.org

November 2-25: Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College’s Church & State
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

November 2-18: Counterweight Theatre Lab’s Antigone
At Springs Ensemble Theatre, 1903 Cache La Poudre St., counterweighttheatre.com

November 2-10: Platte Valley Players’ You Can’t Take It With You
At The Armory at the Brighton Cultural Center, 300 Strong St., Brighton, 303-227-3053 or plattevalleyplayers.org

November 3, 2018-April 28, 2019: DCPA Cabaret’s Xanadu
Garner Galleria Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

November 3-4: Denver Center’s Breakin’ Convention
Buell Theatre,  Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

November 3-December 22: Curious Theatre’s The Humans
1080 Acoma St., 303-623-0524 or curioustheatre.org

November 8-17: 5th Wall Productions’ Hamlet
The Bakery Arts Warehouse, 2132 Market St., 720-771-8826 or ticketleap.com

November 8-25: Millibo Art Theatre’s The Tap
1626 S. Tejon St. Colorado Springs, 719-465-6321 or themat.org

November 9-December 1: Equinox Theatre Company’s ATOMIC: The New Rock Musical
At the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St., 720-984-0781 or equinoxtheatredenver.com

November 9-December 23: Town Hall Arts Center’s A Christmas Carol, the Musical
2450 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-794-2787 ortownhallartscenter.com

November 9-17: Dangerous Theatre’s Pain is My Vice
2620 W. 2nd Ave, No. 1, Denver, 720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

November 10-December 30: BDT Stage’s A Christmas Story
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com

Read more about ‘Come From Away.’ Photo by John Moore.

November 13-25: National touring production of Come From Away
Buell Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

November 16-December 22: Iron Springs Chateau’s Have a Very Merryville Christmas…or…Kris & Jingle to the Rescue
444 Ruxton Ave., Manitou Springs, 719-685-5104 or ironspringschateau.com

November 20-December 23: Arvada Center’s ELF, The Musical
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

November 21-December 24: DCPA Theatre Company’s A Christmas Carol
Stage Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

November 23-December 24: Off-Center and Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s The SantaLand Diaries
At The Jones Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex, Speer Boulevard and Arapahoe Street, 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

November 23-December 23: Aurora Fox’s Twist Your Dickens
9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, 303-739-1970 or aurorafox.org

November 23-December 31: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Scrooge, The Musical
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com

November 23-December 16: Lake Dillon Theatre Company’s Constellations
At the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center, 460 Blue River Pkwy, Silverthorne, 970-513-9386 or lakedillontheatre.org

November 23-December 24: Midtown Arts Center’s Heart of the Holiday
3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, 970-225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com

November 23-January 6: Vintage Theatre’s Mary Poppins
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

November 23-December 8: Longmont Theatre Company’s A Christmas Carol
513 Main St., Longmont, 303-772-5200 or longmonttheatre.org

November 24-December 23: Miners Alley Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol
1224 Washington St., Golden, 303-935-3044 or rminersalley.com

November 24-December 22: Firehouse Theatre Company’s The Christmas Spirit
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-562-3232 or firehousetheatercompany.com

November 25-December 23: Dangerous Theatre’s The Perfect Gift
2620 W. 2nd Ave, No. 1, Denver, 720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

November 29-December 23: Bas Bleu’s The Flea and the Professor
401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org

November 29-December 24: TheatreWorks’ A Christmas Carol
Ent Center, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-255-3232 or theatreworkscs.org

November 29-December 15: Thunder River’s Kimberly Akimbo
67 Promenade, Carbondale, 970-963-8200 or thunderrivertheatre.com

November 30-December 22: Buntport Theater’s Coyote. Badger. Rattlesnake.
717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

‘Santa’s Big Red Sack.’

November 30-December 24: The Avenue Theater’s Santa’s Big Red Sack
417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or avenuetheater.com

Nov. 30-Dec. 31: Vintage Theatre’s A Christmas Carol: The Radio Show
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

November 30-December 30: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s Scrooge
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

CONTINUING PRODUCTIONS:

Through November 3: BDT Stage’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
5501 Arapahoe Ave., 303-449-6000 or bdtstage.com

Through November 4: Dangerous Theatre’s The Last Castrato
2620 W. 2nd Ave, No. 1, Denver, 720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

Through November 4: Dangerous Theatre’s Sex. Now! Confessions of a Sexual Deviant
2620 W. 2nd Ave, No. 1, Denver, 720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

Through November 10: Firehouse Theatre Company’s Love Alone
John Hand Theatre, 7653 E. 1st Place, 303-562-3232 or firehousetheatercompany.com

Through November 11: Arvada Center’s Educating Rita
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

‘Paper Cut.’

Through November 11: Local Theatre’s Paper Cut
The Carsen Theater at The Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-379-4470 or localtheatercompany.org

Through November 11: Phamaly Theatre Company’s Harvey
At the The Olin Hotel Apartment in partnership with Senior Housing Options, Inc., 1420 Logan St., 303-575-0005 or phamaly.org

Through November 11: Cherry Creek Theatre’s My Name is Asher Lev
At the Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., 303-800-6578 or cherrycreektheatre.org

Through November 11: Evergreen Players’ The Dining Room
At CenterStage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, 303-674-4934 or evergreenplayers.org

Through November 11: Midtown Arts Center’s West Side Story
3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, (970) 225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com

Through November 11: Candlelight Dinner Playhouse’s Mary Poppins
4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown, 970-744-3747 or coloradocandlelight.com

Through November 11: Vintage Theatre’s Boston Marriage
1468 Dayton St., Aurora, 303-839-1361 or vintagetheatre.com

Through November 12: Over The River and Through the Woods
Louisville Center for the Arts, 801 Grant St., 303-665-0955 or www.cctlouisville.org

Through November 18: BItSY Stage’s Aloha: Postcards from Polynesia
1137 S. Huron St., 720-328-5294, bitsystage.com (Admission is always free)

Through November 18: Midtown Arts Center’s The Roy Orbison Experience
In The Ballroom, 3750 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, (970) 225-2555 or midtownartscenter.com

Through November 18: Off-Center’s Bite-Size: An Evening of Micro Theatre
At BookBar, 4280 Tennyson St., 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org READ MORE

Through November 18: Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s The Wolves
Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-440-7826 or boulderensembletheatre.org

OpenStage’s ‘Frankenstein’

Through November 24: OpenStage Theatre Company’s Frankenstein
Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins, 970-484-5237 or openstagetheatre.org

Through November 25: Jesters Dinner Theatre’s Annie Get Your Gun
224 Main St., Longmont, 303-682-9980 or jesterstheatre.com

Through December 16: DCPA Education’s Corduroy
Conservatory Theatre, 1101 13th St., 303-893-4100 or denvercenter.org

Through December 29: Arvada Center’s Seussical
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org

ONGOING, MONTHLY or SPECIAL EVENT PROGRAMMING

Aquila Theatre’s ‘Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.’ Photo by Richard Termine.

Aquila Theatre’s Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
November 8-9: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the first true science-fiction novel, tells the tale of a driven Swiss scientist who succeeds in creating an artificial human being, only to abandon the life he created. To marking the 200th anniversary of the novel’s publication, the touring Aquila Theatre reimagines this gothic tale as a bold and modern reinterpretation. Aquila Theatre, one of the foremost producers of touring classical theater in the United States, has been the permanent company-in-residence at the Center for Ancient Studies at New York University since 1998. Tickets start at $20. 7:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, 303-987-7845 or Lakewood.org

Avenue Theater

• Weekends: Comedy Sportz
• Every first Monday: Denver Magic Show

417 E. 17th Ave., 303-321-5925 or avenuetheater.com

Bas Bleu Theatre’s Of Monsters and Mountains
October 31-November 2: What happens when you procrastinate with laundry? What do you wish for when you catch a magical golden fish? How did the Horsetooth Rock obtain its unique shape? Local puppet master Brett Sylvia brings to life the answers in a one-hour avant-garde puppet play presented in three parts over three nights at 401 Pine St., Fort Collins, 970-498-8949 or basbleu.org

The Bug Theatre Presents The 24^th Annual Save The Bug Theatre Fundraiser
Saturday, November 3: The neighborhood around the Bug Theatre has been going through a lot of change, and while the plan is for The Bug to stick around forever, its future is far from certain. The Bug, one of the last standing old-school theaters of its kind, is home to theatre, film, comedy, dance, music and other artistic outlets. This benefit’s entertainment will include comedy from Andrew Orvedahl (The Grawlix, TruTV’s Those Who Can’t) and Rachel Weeks (First Look, High Plains Comedy Festival); burlesque from Ann Vieux; magic from Max Mago; several selections from The Emerging Filmmakers Project; a musical number from Equinox Theatre Company; live music and more. Don’t let The Bug be turned into condos. Silent auction and bake sale begin at 6 p.m.; entertainment at 7:30 p.m. at 3654 Navajo St. Tickets $20 in advance; $25 at the door. bugtheatre.org

Buntport Theater

• Tuesday, November 20: The Great Debate pits teams of non-experts head-to-head, toe-to-toe, and often dumb-and-dumber in lively debates of the inconsequential. Last month: Pumpkin spice or the Spice Girls?
• Wednesday, November 21: The Narrators is a monthly live storytelling show and podcast held every third Wednesday

717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
Thursday, November 1: An Evening with Paula Poundstone. 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719-634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org

Dangerous Theatre

• Every Friday in November: The [SIC] and Twisted Comedy Hour. 9:30 p.m.
• November 9 and 25: The Messy Hour with Shiksa Mess is Denver’s only drag talk show. Every second Friday at 11 p.m. and every fourth Sunday at 6 p.m. through Jan. 27
• Sunday, November 11: Playoffs: A Playwriting Slam is held every second Sunday

2620 W. 2nd Ave., Denver, 720-989-1764 or dangeroustheatre.com

Denver Actors Fund Film Series Presents: Xanadu
Monday, November 12: The Alamo Drafthouse at Sloan’s Lake hosts a regular film series in partnership with the Denver Actors Fund featuring films inspired by musicals that are currently being performed by a Colorado theatre company. Next up is the campy cult classic roller-skating film Xanadu, with live pre-screening entertainment from the cast of the Denver Center’s upcoming updated musical adaptation of the film. There will be captions for you to sing along. Cast members from the Denver Center’s upcoming production will be making a special live appearance Nov. 12 at Alamo Drafthouse Denver before a screening of the hilariously stupid cult-classic film. 4255 W. Colfax Ave. Tickets at drafthouse.com

Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ First Mondays

DCPA Education has instituted two new ongoing, rotating First Monday programs, one for playwriting and the other a play-reading series. Both are free and open to the public:

• Playwriting: This cold-reading series encourages local playwrights to bring 10 minutes of a work-in-progress for an opportunity to hear it read off the page and help them develop it further. Plays  will be read on a first-come basis each evening.  Upcoming dates: November 5, January 7 and February 4.
• Read a Play: DCPA Education will host readings of known plays as an opportunity for actors and enthusiasts to read, listen and enjoy. Interested readers will be “cast” at the beginning of each session on a first-come basis. Scripts will be provided to readers on the evening of each event. The first play of this new program will be Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill at 7 p.m. December 3. The next session after that will be March 4.

All events 7-10 p.m. at the Newman Center for Theatre Education, 1101 13th St., third floor. Info: 303-446-4892

The Dinner Detective
The Dinner Detective is America’s largest interactive murder mystery dinner and comedy show with performances select Saturday nights at the following locations:

• Embassy Suites Denver, 1420 Stout St.
• Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect Road
• Great Wolf Lodge, 9494 Federal Drive in Colorado Springs (beginning Oct. 20)

Tickets and more information available online at 866-496-0535 or thedinnerdetective.com

Source Theatre’s Monday! Monday! Monday! Cabaret
Monday, November 19: Sheryl McCallum, a cast member in the DCPA Theatre Company’s Oklahoma!, is the host for this final monthly installment of a cabaret program that promises “singers who will stir your soul! Poets who will lift your spirit and artists who will blow your mind.” At Su Teatro, 721 Santa Fe Drive, 720-238-1323 or thesourcedenver.org

Stories on Stage’s Magic for Beginners
Saturday, November 17: Now in its 18th season, Stories on Stage presents professional actors reading and performing entertaining short stories. This month: Kate Gleason, Gareth Saxe and Greg Ungar read mystifying tales that run the gamut from, “Why you don’t bring a magician to school,” to, “A visit from a super-pervy goat,” to, “Beware of things that are too good to be true.” Master illusionist Erica Sodos joins in for this special event. For more than 25 years, Sodos has been entertaining audiences as one of the few female mentalists in the world. 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive. $15-$28. 303-494-0523 or storiesonstage.org

More Colorado theatre coverage on the DCPA NewsCenter

Email any additions or corrections to jmoore@dcpa.org