Sending Out an S.O.S.

It was a long-awaited banner day in Aurora's history when the Fox Theater opened on October 30, 1946. Admission was 55 cents, which bought not only a picture show run on the best sound and projection equipment, but also access to a modern oasis, with climate engineering and germicidal lamps to purify the air. A fire in the early '80s forced the Fox to close for a time, but the neighborhood rallied around the cause and created the Aurora Fox Arts Center, which is now in its 23rd season and is the hub of the city's East End Arts District.

Tonight, the historic theater premieres a whale of a tale: Moby Dick! The Musical. The hit revolves around a cast of preteen female students whose boarding school has fallen on hard times. In order to raise the funds to save their school, the girls and their headmistress set out to put on a musical version of the Melville classic. What follows is a high-energy revue for the twelve-and-older crowd. Directed by Nick Sugar, Moby Dick! The Musical is guaranteed to be totally sweet. The play runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through March 30. Tickets are $26 — group and student discounts are available — and can be purchased at the theater, 9900 East Colfax Avenue, or by calling 303-739-1970. For more on the show, visit http://mobydickthemusical.com.
Fridays, Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Starts: Feb. 29. Continues through March 30, 2008