Wheeler Opera House Announces Full Roster Of Events Coming To Winter Season In Aspen

The Wheeler Opera House is pleased to announce the full roster of its jam-packed winter season, featuring theatrical events, concerts, comedy and films for the entire family to enjoy. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 25 at noon at the Wheeler Box Office (970.920.5770/ aspenshowtix.com). The Wheeler Opera House is located at 320 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, CO.

These newly announced shows join a busy "December Delights" season that already includes, among others, A Very Electric Christmas (December 8), Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas (December 19), 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Live On Stage (December 22), ABBA Mania (December 25), Best of SNL Featuring Alex Moffat and Mikey Day (December 27), a New Years Eve celebration featuring Yonder Mountain String Band (December 31) as well as next year's Aspen Laugh Festival (February 18-22).

"Year after year, we strive to bring the best line-up to our community," says Wheeler Opera House Executive and Artistic Director Gena Buhler. "This year is no different - a combination of the types of programming you know and love, mixed in with (what we hope will be) new favorites like Aspen Mountain Film Festival Winter Edition, and a Tony award-winning Broadway musical! So, we hope to see some familiar faces at all of our programs this year, whether it's our annual New Year's Eve party, or at a magic show featuring a dragon (yep, Piff the Magic Dragon will be here this winter!)"

2019-2020 WHEELER WINTER SEASON

On The Rise: Lucky Chops

Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm; $18
Lucky Chops has been unleashing high-energy brassy funk on the world since forming in NYC in 2006. The intensity of the band's energy is fueled by their desire to share the healing and inspirational power of music with others. That power has resonated with audiences around the globe, giving the band hundreds of millions of views on their online videos and leading to live performances in more than 25 countries. Lucky Chops maintains a busy schedule touring across several continents. The band members are also committed to music education, regularly performing clinics and educational outreaches to help train and inspire the next generation of musicians.

A Very Electric Christmas

Sunday, December 8 at 5:30pm; $28 child/$40 adult
Toy soldiers, classic carols and a universe of beautiful lights come together in this charming new yuletide story! Lightwire Theater sets your holidays aglow with the tale of a lost bird spending Christmas at the North Pole.

The Two Popes

Co-presented with Aspen Film
Thursday, December 12 at 6:30pm; $20
From Fernando Meirelles, the Academy Award-nominated director of City of God, and three-time Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten, comes an intimate story of one of the most dramatic transitions of power in the last 2,000 years.

Aspen Mountain Film Festival presents Heavy Water

Directed by Michael Oblowitz, 2019, 84 mins)
Sunday, December 15 at 6:30pm; $15
HEAVY WATER follows big wave surfer Nathan Fletcher through the evolution of surfing and his relationship with big waves. Tracing his lineage back to his grandfather, one of the pioneers of Oahu's North Shore, Fletcher and other fellow surf and skateboard legends share insights from the pursuit of their passion. A voyage through the eyes of the surfing community that delves deep into the mind-set of the board sports culture and its roots, culminating in a spectacular, never-before-performed stunt, which ones again raises the bar of what is possible. A Q&A with Director Mike Oblowitz will follow the film. Parental Advisory: This documentary film contains language, death, drug use, and suicide.

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas

Thursday, December 19 at 7:30pm; $25 child/$55 adult
An unforgettable holiday show featuring two violin virtuosos: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, and their entire musical family! You'll hear Christmas classics performed in brand new ways - a show for the young and the young at heart!

The Polar Express

Co-presented with Aspen Film

Friday, December 20 at 5:30pm; FREE

Canned and dried food donations will be accepted to benefit Lift-Up

Celebrate the season with this modern holiday favorite! On Christmas Eve, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure to the North Pole on the Polar Express, while learning about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas Live on Stage

Sunday, December 22 at 6:30pm; $35 child/$55 adult
Ken Ludwig's Twas the Night Before Christmas Live on Stage is a new holiday tradition and wild adventure, where the whole family can help solve a Christmas mystery. When Santa's naughty and nice list goes missing, a few dancing mice, a little girl and a wacky elf need to save the day before Santa boards his sleigh.

ABBA Mania

Wednesday, December 25 at 6:30pm; $60 General Admission Floor/$75 Reserved Balcony
Come see the number one touring ABBA production! Relive the glory days when ABBA ruled the airwaves - ABBA Mania brings ABBA fans old and new together for an unforgettable night! Dig out those platforms and flares and come hear ABBA favorites like 'Mamma Mia', 'Voulez Vous', 'Dancing Queen', 'Winner Takes It All', 'Super Trouper' and many more!

Acrobats of Cirque-Tacular: Shimmer

Thursday, December 26 at 7:30pm; $28 child/$45 adult
Journey to a shimmering winter wonderland of circus spectacle and derring-do! Marvel at the bendy ballerina in her glistening snow globe. Find yourself aglow as the aerial snow ballet mesmerizes your senses. Astonishing acrobatics, dazzling specialty acts, and glittering costumes abound in a warm and whimsical world the whole family will enjoy!

Best of SNL feat. Alex Moffat and Mikey Day

Friday, December 27 at 7:30pm; $68
What's better than one SNL comic? Two! A Chicago native, Alex Moffat has performed with Second City (like so many iconic SNL greats). He starred in the indie film Uncle John and has been an SNL cast member since 2016. Mikey Day was a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe in Los Angeles and was a cast member on Nick Cannon's MTV comedy series "Wild 'n Out" for seven seasons. Day has also been on Saturday Night Live since 2016.

Adam Trent: Holiday Magic

Saturday, December 28 at 4:30pm & 7:30pm; $35 child/$50 adult
"Seeing is dis-believing!" - New York Times
Direct from Broadway, Adam Trent, the break-out star of the world's best-selling magic show The Illusionists, brings his signature brand of magic and illusion to a Holiday themed spectacle perfect for the entire family.

New Year's at the Wheeler: Yonder Mountain String Band

Co-presented with Belly Up Aspen
Tuesday, December 31 at 9:30pm; $130 GA/$175 reserved

Ring in the New Year with our annual New Year's Eve party! For the past 20 years, Yonder Mountain String Band has redefined bluegrass music, expanding the traditional acoustic genre beyond its previously established boundaries by steadily pushing the envelope into the realms of rock n' roll and improvisation.

The Great DuBois: Masters of Variety

Friday, January 10 at 6:30pm; $17.50 child/$25.00 adult

Recently featured in Hugh Jackman's hit movie, The Greatest Showman, The Great DuBois: Masters of Variety is a fast-paced, high energy circus show for all ages...showcasing incredible feats of juggling, hula hoops, unicycle, aerial, circus stunts, contortion, magic and audience interaction all wrapped up in a blanket of comedy. Simply put...the most unique 2-person circus show you will ever see!

Aspen Laugh Festival presents Fortune Feimster

Wheeler Wins Benefit Show

Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm; $35/Free for Wheeler Wins members

A stand-up comedian, writer and actor, Fortune first made a name for herself on Chelsea Lately. Feimster currently stars in the NBC series, Champions, as a series regular and is known for her role of 'Nurse Collette' on Hulu's The Mindy Project. You may also know her from appearances on Conan, Comedy Central's @midnight, Drunk History, Workaholics, Office Christmas Party and more!

Met in HD: Puccini's Madama Butterfly

Thursday, January 16 at 5:30pm; $5 child 12 and under/$20 adult
Co-Presented with Aspen Music Festival & School
Hui He stars as Cio-Cio-San, the devoted geisha who gives everything for American naval officer Pinkerton, sung by Bruce Sledge, in Anthony Minghella's beautiful, atmospheric production. Elizabeth DeShong is her devoted companion Suzuki, and Paulo Szot sings Sharpless.

Crystal Palace Review

Friday, January 31 & Saturday, February 1 at 7:30pm; $50

The wildly talented cast of the iconic Crystal Palace is back at it again. Lampooning the headlines and creating laughter out of the crazy! You can be sure to hear some favorites with lots of new material as well.

The Doo Wop Project

Saturday, February 8 at 7:30pm; $45 General Admission/$50 Reserved Balcony

Featuring stars of Broadway's hits Jersey Boys, Motown: The Musical, Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale, and more The Doo Wop Project takes audiences on a journey from foundational tunes of groups like the Crests, Belmonts and Flamingos through their influences on the sounds of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons all the way to DooWopified versions of modern musicians like Michael Jackson, Jason Mraz and Maroon 5!

Village People

Saturday, February 15 at 7:30pm; $98 General Admission/$128 Reserved Balcony

"It's fun to stay at the...." just those six little words and everyone knows it's time to DANCE! With hits like San Francisco/In Hollywood, Macho Man, Y.M.C.A., In the Navy and Go West, Village People has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and continues to break records. For the 40th anniversary of the group, Victor Willis is back at the helm. Backed by a live band, Village People continues to thrill concert-goers around the world - just like they did back in the day. So grab your favorite costume and get ready to boogie!

Cirque Zuma Zuma

Sunday, February 16 at 4:30 & 7:30pm; $28 child/$45 adult

Cirque Zuma Zuma cradles all African cultures and is the ultimate celebration of music, dance and rituals from the continent. Made up of professional acrobats from Nairobi, Kenya, and featuring limbo, juggling, contortion, comedy and more, Cirque Zuma Zuma will leave audiences breathless!

Aspen Laugh Festival 2020

Single tickets for Aspen Laugh Festival will go on sale January 3.

Colorado Comedy Night

Hosted by Rebecca Robinson
Tuesday, February 18 at 6:00pm; FREE
Kick off Aspen Laugh Festival with a free night of comedy! Hosted by Aspen Laugh Festival favorite Rebecca Robinson, sit back and enjoy a full evening of Colorado comedy!

The Second City

Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30pm; $45
Since making its dynamic debut in 1959, The Second City has proven to be the premiere launchpad for comedy legends from John Belushi, Bill Murray, Martin Short and Gilda Radner to Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Keegan-Michael Key & Stephen Colbert. Don't miss your chance to see the world's most talented up-and-coming comedians on stage now. It's like watching your favorite late-night TV show, live and in person!

Norm Macdonald

Thursday, February 20 at 7:30pm; $68
Norm Macdonald is best known for his 4-year stint on Saturday Night Live where Chevy Chase noted he was the best anchor to ever grace the chair. Although he is known for tv and film appearances, Norm Macdonald is first and foremost, a stand-up comic.

Vir Das at Limelight Lounge

Friday, February 21 at 5:30 & 8:00pm; $30
Vir Das has cemented himself as one of the biggest Bollywood stars in India, and now is one the fastest rising actor/comedians in America. Fresh off a global stand-up tour, Das has also been featured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival and has been a repeat guest on TBS' Conan.

Triple the Laughs with Taylor Tomlinson, Adam Ray, Dusty Slay

Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm; $45

Taylor Tomlinson

Taylor Tomlinson has been featured on Conan, MTV's Safe Word, Comedy Central's Adam Devine's House Party, was a top ten finalist on season 9 of NBC's Last Comic Standing, and her stand-up special is currently streaming on Netflix.

Adam Ray

Adam's standup has been featured on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Adam Devine's House Party on Comedy Central. In addition to tv and film appearances, Adam is a regular on The Adam Corolla Podcast, but also co-hosts the popular About Last Night podcast, welcoming guests such as Melissa McCarthy, Whitney Cummings, Marc Maron, and Kevin Nealon.

Dusty Slay

You can take the boy out of the trailer park, but you can't take the trailer park out of the boy... Dusty Slay's observational comedy and eternally optimistic outlook is peppered with ironies: growing up poor, a love for both hard-core country and classic rock, a career history peppered with jobs like waiting tables and selling pesticides, and what counts as fashion-forward thinking in his world.

Nancy Norton at Limelight Lounge

Saturday, February 22 at 5:30 & 8:00pm; $30
Nancy Norton began touring as a stand-up comedian in 1991 and tours nationally and internationally. Norton is known for delivering high energy, face-paced shows that connect with universal truths through her in the moment and intuitive style. You may remember her from her hilarious appearance opening for Tig Notaro during the 2019 Aspen Laugh Festival!

Trevor Noah

Saturday, February 22 at 7:00 PM & 9:30pm; $150
Trevor Noah is the most successful comedian in Africa and is the host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Trevor has written, produced, and starred in 8 comedy specials, including Afraid of the Dark on Netflix.

Wheeler Associates presents
Robert Earl Keen

Wednesday, February 26 at 5:30pm; $50
"The road goes on forever..." It's not always easy to sum up a career - let alone a life's ambition - so succinctly, but those five words from Robert Earl Keen's calling-card anthem just about do it. You can complete the lyric with the next five words - the ones routinely shouted back at Keen by thousands of fans a night ("and the party never ends!") - just to punctuate the point with a flourish, but it's the part about the journey that gets right to the heart of what makes Keen tick. Some people take up a life of playing music with the goal of someday reaching a destination of fame and fortune; but from the get-go, Keen just wanted to write and sing his own songs, and to keep writing and singing them for as long as possible.

Met in HD: Porgy and Bess

Thursday, February 27 at 5:30pm; $5 child 12 and under/$20 adult
Co-Presented with Aspen Music Festival & School
"America's 'folk opera,'" with timeless melodies like Summertime, returns to the Met for the first time since 1990, telling the tale of disabled beggar Porgy, sung by Eric Owens, and his love for the drug-addicted Bess, portrayed by Angel Blue.

Aspen Mountain Film Festival: Winter Edition

Friday, February 28 & Saturday, February 29 at 6:30pm; $20
Sponsored by Ute Mountaineer

Two evenings of adventure-filled films! Come off the slopes and into the Wheeler for your adventure fix this winter.

Guster: An Evening of Acoustic Music and Improv

Co-presented with Belly Up Aspen

Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30pm; $39

Guster leave their amps at home for an evening of acoustic music at the Wheeler Opera House. Joined by a string section and some special guests, the band will perform a collection of fan favorites and beloved deep cuts.

Met in HD: Puccini's Turandot

Thursday, March 5 at 5:30pm; $5 child 12 and under/$20 adult
Co-Presented with Aspen Music Festival & School

Christine Goerke sings the title role of the icy Chinese princess in this revival of Franco Zeffirelli's celebrated production. Roberto Aronica sings the famous aria, Nessun dorma, as Calàf, the suitor who risks his head for Turandot's hand.

Million Dollar Quartet

Friday, March 6 at 7:30pm; $65
On December 4, 1956, four young musicians - Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins - gathered at Sun Records in Memphis for what would be one of the greatest rock 'n' roll jam sessions ever. This Tony Award-winning smash-hit musical brings that unbelievable musical moment to life. Don't miss your chance to experience this red-hot moment in rock 'n' roll history!

Wilde Creatures (from Tall Stories of London, England)

Saturday, March 7 at 5:30pm; $17.50 child/$25 adult

A motley crew of storytelling musicians bring Oscar Wilde's classic fairy tales to life in Tall Stories' magical new show, direct from London's West End and Sydney Opera House. Hauntingly beautiful tales for everyone aged 5 to 105 told with original live music and a generous dash of comedy.

Aspen Laugh Festival presents
Paula Poundstone

Thursday, March 12 at 7:30pm; $48
Paula Poundstone is a humorist, author and comedian known for her clever, observational humor and spontaneous wit. Paula's stand-up credentials are endless as are her numerous television appearances including The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Late Show with David Letterman.

Aspen Laugh Festival presents
Piff the Magic Dragon

Friday, March 13 at 7:30pm; $40

After earning national acclaim as the standout star of NBC's America's Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, Piff The Magic Dragon continues to win over audiences across the globe with his mythical mixture of wizardry, wit and sarcasm that ignites a one-of-a-kind comedy magic show you must see to believe.

Enchantment Theatre Company's Peter Rabbit Tales

Thursday, March 19 at 5:30pm; $17.50 child/$25 adult

From the beloved tales of Beatrix Potter. Peter Rabbit, his sister Flopsy and his cousin Benjamin are all grown up! Flopsy and Benjamin are married with bunnies of their own when the nasty badger, Tommy Brock, decides to steal the babies. Peter and Benjamin set off on an adventure to rescue them, and along the way, relive their childhood misadventures with Mr. McGregor and his cat.

Aspen Mountain Film Festival presents
The Longest Wave

Friday, March 20 at 6:30pm; $15

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger travels the globe with legendary windsurfer and pioneering waterman Robby Naish, a 26-time world champion whose quest to master the world's longest waves unexpectedly reveals his vulnerabilities as a competitor, mentor and father.

Justin Willman: Magic for Humans

Saturday, March 21 at 7:30pm; $40

In 2018, Willman premiered his six-episode magic series on Netflix entitled Magic For Humans with Justin Willman. In the series, Willman brings his skills as a magician to the strange and misunderstood subcultures of America, while incorporating his disarming demeanor into street magic and social experiments that will boggle the mind. The L.A. Times exclaimed that Willman is, "A new breed of magician who's making magic cool again for grown-ups." Playboy Magazine dubbed him, "The freshest and funniest magician working today," and Time Out hailed that his show, "Has to be seen to be disbelieved."

An Evening of Ocean Film

In partnership with Adventure Entertainment
Sunday, March 22 at 6:30pm; $15

In partnership with the Wheeler Opera House, Adventure Entertainment presents its annual tour with an evening of the finest ocean adventure and conservation films of the year!

Classic Albums Live: Abbey Road 50th Anniversary

Wednesday, March 25 at 7:30pm; $45

From the opening bass line of "Come Together", in September 1969 the world knew they were in for "Something" special with the release of Abbey Road. Classic Albums Live is recreating the magic of Abbey Road note for note, cut for cut, exactly the way they sound on the album. Celebrate 50, yes 50, years of Abbey Road with a live performance unlike any other.

Killer Queen

Friday, March 27 at 7:30pm; $50 General Admission/$65 Reserved Balcony

They will ROCK YOU! Formed back in June 1993, Killer Queen has been embodying the spirit of Queen for decades. Paying tribute to everything Queen from Freddie Mercury's striking outfits to Brian May's stunning guitar solos, experience the majesty of Killer Queen on stage at the Wheeler!

Steel Betty

Wheeler Wins Benefit Show

Sunday, March 29 at 7:30pm; $15/Free for Wheeler Wins members

Steel Betty lives at the crossroads of what makes Austin, Texas the engine driving traditional music in America. Flavors of bluegrass, folk, blues, Tex-Mex, Old Time music, and classic country, are a reflection of today's American music scene. Steel Betty, the hip, virtuosic trio, embraces Austin's eclectic culture and brings this lively music out of Texas for the rest of the country to experience.