FREE
Week of March 23, 2023
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 40
Arvada Center announces five theater National productions for 2023-2024 season award comes to Sampson, RVHS grad and swimmer BY STEVE SMITH SSMSITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When: Sept. 8 to Oct. 8 What: A jukebox musical based on the life and career of Carole King, who grew up a shy Jewish girl from Manhattan and later became one of the most renowned singer-songwriters in the world. The Tony and
Colorado Mesa University’s Ben Sampson is this year’s College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association NCAA Division II Men’s Swimmer of the Year. Sampson, a redshirt sophomore who graduated from Ralston Valley High School, was one of 21 Mavericks’ swimmers (12 women, nine men) who earned at least one, firstteam all-American honor, according to a statement from CMU. Sampson is the first Mavericks swimmer to receive the honor. Sampson led the way for the Mavericks, winning the national title in both the 200-yard individual medley and 200-backstroke. He is the first male swimmer in CMU history to win a title after Lily Borgenheimer became the first women’s swimmer to do so last year in the 200-breaststroke. He had also set the NCAA Division II record of 1:40.73 (1:39.53-altitude adjusted) in November during the TYR/CMU Invitational. Swimming and head diving coaches from around the nation voted on the CSCAA’s major awards. Firstteam, all-American status goes to the top eight finishers in each event. Second-team picks go to the ninththrough 16th-place finishers. Sampson was also an all-American
SEE THEATER, P3
SEE AWARD, P3
Radio. The following five “The Laramie Project,” “Cinderella,” “Beautiful: The Carole Public shows will come to the Arvada Center stage over the next 18 months. King Musical” and more coming to Arvada stage BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Arvada Center recently announced its upcoming slate of theater productions, unveiling five shows that will be put on by the theater company during the 2023-2024 season.
Season tickets went on sale on March 13, while individual tickets will go on sale on July 1. Tickets for three-to-four shows are also available. Last year, the Arvada Center put on six productions, but scaled back this year in an effort to support the stage’s staff, according to Colorado
FUN FASTFOOD OPTIONS FOR NIGHT OWLS P14
T S E B F THE O T S E B
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
2023
VOTE NOW through APRIL 15th ArvadaPress.com