What to do in Colorado this week: Shakespeare in the Park in Denver

Catching a Shakespeare play outdoors has become a summer tradition for some in Colorado. This weekend, find “The Comedy of Errors” between two trees in Centennial.

We’ve also got a fine arts fair in Golden, a free concert in Aspen and a photography exhibition with more than 100 photos of the American West.

Aug. 13-19

Shakespeare in the Wild. Every summer at deKoevend Park in Centennial a stage appears at the edge of a dried grass field. It’s a magical place that was part of Leigh Miller’s running route for about a decade. In 2020, Miller, now the artistic director of Shakespeare in the Wild, called up South Suburban Parks and Recreation and asked what he’d have to do to host a show between two prominent trees.

“They said, ‘go ahead,’” Miller said. “I guess it never hurts to ask.”

On Friday, the group opens their fifth season with “The Comedy of Errors,” a slapstick farce following the misadventures of identical twins separated during a shipwreck. It’s a very physical comedy — they brought in a professional clown to train the actors — and the company’s most family-friendly show to date.

“Our name is Shakespeare in the Wild, but ironically, in Colorado, it’s difficult to find a space that’s both wild and accessible,” Miller said. That’s part of what made the space so perfect — while it’s far from the rush of nearby boulevards, the parking lot is only 300 yards away, and they have a golf cart for anyone who needs help along the gravel path.

The show is “always free,” Miller said emphatically. Just bring a chair, some food, “and some bug spray,” he added. “Bug spray might not be a bad idea.”

Free; Aug. 14-16, 20-23, 27-30; deKoevend Park, 6301 S. University Blvd., Centennial

Other events to consider

• “Latingrass” concert. A free, ticketed concert in the bar of the Wheeler Opera House, featuring the musical duo Larry & Joe, who blend the folk song traditions of Venezuela and Appalachia into a cross-cultural night of musical storytelling. Free; 4:30 p.m., Aug. 13; The Vault at the Wheeler Opera House, 320 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen 
• Photography exhibition. Opening receptions for “VIEWFINDERS,” an exhibition of more than 100 contemporary and historical photographs that capture the landscapes, mythology and “visual identity” of the American West. Free; 5-8 p.m., Aug. 14; Madden Gallery, 6363 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Ste 110, Greenwood Village
• Golden Fine Arts Festival. The 36th annual juried arts fair in Golden, featuring live music, free admission and work by 100 hand-selected artists from all around the country. Free; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 15-16; Parfet Park, Golden

Note: This is a curated list by the reporter to give readers a sense of arts and culture events happening across Colorado that they may not have otherwise known about. This is not meant to be an exhaustive account of things to do.