

The world-renowned Takács Quartet performs its irresistible blend of virtuosic technique and innovative programming at the Lakewood Cultural Center (LCC) at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 4.
Boulder-based, Grammy-winning ensemble, Takács Quartet is hailed as “chamber music royalty” by Bachtrack and continues to move audiences with a compelling dynamic and supreme artistry. The evening program at LCC will include notable compositions for strings by Haydn, Schubert and Britten.
Best Cities for Football Fans | Worst Cities for Football Fans |
1. Pittsburgh, PA | 240. Boulder, CO |
2. Green Bay, WI | 241. Davidson, NC |
3. Dallas, TX | 242. Columbia, SC |
4. Boston, MA | 243. Knoxville, TN |
5. Los Angeles, CA | 244. Waco, TX |
6. New York, NY | 245. Lawrence, KS |
7. Miami, FL | 246. Louisville, KY |
8. Cincinnati, OH | 247. Fort Collins, CO |
9. New Orleans, LA | 248. Easton, MA |
10. Kansas City, MO | 249. Valparaiso, IN |
When RuPaul’s Drag Race first premiered in 2009, the series was classic counterculture, providing a groundbreaking platform for queer artists and entertainers. Thirteen years, over 400 drag queen contestants, and 27 Emmys later, the series has become a cultural phenomenon and instantly recognizable fixture of the zeitgeist.
“AND DON’T F&%K IT UP” will follow RuPaul’s Drag Race over its first ten years, encompassing the show's first 14 seasons and its rise from industry outsider to award-winning, international franchise. Through the narrative of Drag Race, “AND DON’T F&%K IT UP” tells a unique social history by way of stories from the people who lived it: the creators of the show, the contestants, the crew, the judges, and even some key (famous) fans.
Written by seasoned entertainment reporter Maria Elena Fernandez in collaboration with World of Wonder, the story begins with RuPaul's 34-year friendship and business relationship with Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato and their production company World of Wonder. Together, Bailey, Barbato and World of Wonder helped to launch RuPaul into superstardom, and later talked him into giving a drag reality show a chance. From there, “AND DON’T F&%K IT UP” traces the evolution of the show—and its queens—through a decade of gag-worthy seasons, serving up behind-the-scenes realness rangingfrom Ongina's decision to reveal her HIV+ status to the story behind Asia O'Hara's butterfly finale fiasco.
"One thing that has always been true about RuPaul's Drag Race is that it takes a village, people.” Said World of Wonder co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. “We are so excited that those people have shared their stories and anecdotes, and cannot wait to take readers behind the curtain of Drag Race. The result of all these voices is a tale that is every bit as fascinating as the show itself; joyous, uplifting, honest. We hope readers will both laugh and cry - and laugh again."
““Before Drag Race premiered, I was drawn to the artistry and entertainment value of drag but I had never considered the bravery behind the transformation process or spent much time thinking about the person behind the makeup and wig,” shared author Maria Elena Fernandez. “Drag Race opened me up and made me a better human, so when I was approached about working on an oral history of this cultural juggernaut’s first decade, the answer was a resounding Yas, Queen! Come for the tea, stay for the shade.””
With a history as shady and funny as it is dramatic and inspiring, RuPaul's Drag Race serves as a mirror reflecting the cultural and political shifts of our time. Its meteoric rise as an once-in-a-generation success story is explored here as never before, in intimate, exuberant, unfettered detail.
“AND DON’T F&%K IT UP” is being published by Grand Central Publishing and releases in hardback, Audiobook and ebook on June 6, 2023 in the US. Pre-ordering is now available HERE and wherever books are sold.
With over 200 anti-LGBTQIA bills introduced in 2022 across our country, many Americans are feeling overwhelmed, saddened, and scared, but we refuse to go down without a fight. The MMAA team worked tirelessly in 2022 to stand up for LGBTQIA service members, military families, and veterans.
To give our community a peek into our advocacy work — and to remind everyone there is still good news out there — we wanted to share some of our accomplishments in 2022. We put together a long list in a brand new blog post, but here are a few of the highlights:
Make sure to read the full blog post on our website for even more highlights from 2022. MMAA’s small but mighty team, our supporters, and fellow advocates have a lot to be proud of.
We continue to be dedicated to our mission as we kick off big plans for 2023, and we’re grateful for your continued support. Onward and upward!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dane, CEO and Executive Director, and the MMAA team
The legendary Nat King Cole recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts and his trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed. The talented CJRO musicians will create an evening of Cole’s music with audience favorite, Robert Johnson and his smooth as silk voice. Familiar songs will include “Unforgettable,” “Route 66,” “Nature Boy” and more. A long-time Denver resident, Robert continues to display his talents not only as a vocalist, but as a songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer. His latest recording, “So the Story Goes” was released in 2021 featuring all original music.
Join the CJRO Quartet on Friday, February 10 at 7:30 p.m. as we continue our jazz series at the Parsons Theatre in Northglenn by presenting an evening of the legendary Nat King Cole with Denver favorite Robert Johnson. A second concert will be performed at Lakewood Cultural Center on February 26 at 3:00 p.m. In addition to vocalist, Robert Johnson, both concerts feature some of the finest jazz musicians in the area including Eric Gunnison (piano), Mike Marlier (drums), Bijoux Barbosa (bass), and Mike Abbott (guitar). For concert details and purchase go to the CJRO website, www.coloradojazz.org/