Arts news: Denver Alamo set to strike; historic Bright Eyes concert; what’s next for City Park Jazz?; dog days at Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Viewers who tuned in for Denver7 News around 6 p.m. Tuesday night were in for a rude surprise when the feed went dark, soon replaced by an ominous message that the entire channel has been at least temporarily yanked.

It was not an early April Fool’s joke.

A few minutes later, Xfinity customers were sent an email titled: “Some of your channels are unavailable.” (One being the channel scheduled to air the Avs vs. Stars hockey game on Saturday afternoon.) The message read:

“Our contract with E.W. Scripps Company has expired. Scripps is a local broadcasting group that owns many TV stations across the country. Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to reach a new agreement. This means that some of your local channels and On Demand content are currently unavailable with Xfinity.”

The email did not have the decency to lay out which channels were affected, instead forcing customers to follow a link that revealed Colorado’s affected channels as:

• Denver – KMGH: ABC, Laff TV, ION Mystery
• Denver – KCDO: IND, Grit
• Denver – KPXC: Bounce TV HD, ION+
• ​​Colorado Springs-Pueblo: KOAA: NBC, Court TV HD, Grit

“We know unexpected changes to your channel lineup can be frustrating,” the message said in a staggering understatement. “Scripps has refused our reasonable offers and is making demands that would significantly increase what you pay for TV service. Thanks for your patience as we work to keep your TV package affordable. If we reach a new agreement and the channels are restored to your lineup, we’ll email you again.”

Scripps said it had been bargaining in good faith. In a statement on its website, the company expressed hope that Comcast would quickly restore the signals “so we can continue to serve their customers.”

In the meantime, so long “Abbott Elementary,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “20/20,” “The Ten Commandments,” and a lot more, including poor old “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” (Remember, he got yanked for – other reasons – last Sept. 17-22.) At least on cable. Xfinity subscribers can still watch local news and sports on Denver 7’s denver7.com website and streaming apps, or with other cable and satellite providers.

Alamo strike set to start Friday

About 75 union workers at the Alamo Drafthouse’s Sloan’s Lake location say they will go on strike starting Friday to protest the chain’s implementation of a QR code digital ordering system.

In a case of truth being stranger than fiction, Alamo – whose entire identity was built around the concept of being a distraction-free movie experience – is rolling out a cost-cutting measure allowing (and in some cases requiring) customers to order food and beverages throughout the movies using their phones.

Workers have said the system has created friction between employees and customers. Others say the company’s ultimate goal is to streamline ordering so that worker hours and labor costs can be cut.

The walkout is timed to begin with the opening weekend of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”

Photo: Family, friends remember Judi Wolf

Fire believed to be arson

Denver Fire Department officials are treating the fire that destroyed the 100-year-old City Park bandstand as potential arson, but no arrests have yet been made. Officials are investigating the incident, which broke out at about 2:30 a.m. on March 26, as suspicious. The structure was declared a total loss. “But that doesn’t mean our 40th Anniversary season is (a loss as well),” said spokesman Dave Flomberg.

The bandshell was the focal point of City Park Jazz, a now 40-year-old tradition that officials are vowing to continue this summer. We just don’t know exactly how that will look yet. The City of Denver estimates that rebuilding costs, after insurance, will be at least $250,000, according to 9News’ Kyle Clark, whose Word of Thanks nonprofit will boost all donations by $40,000. The charity has designated 304 causes as weekly community microgiving projects, raising $18 million for nonprofits across Colorado.

The City Park rebuild will be extremely difficult because the entire structure is anchored in water. 

“The Board of Directors is already working through our options,” Flomberg said. “We’re evaluating our options for mobile stage set-ups, power needs, and how we’ll adjust our footprint in City Park accordingly.”

One way or another, Flomberg said. The milestone 40th season will start with the DJ Williams Band on June 6. Each Sunday session brings out up to 12,000 music fans. Info and how to donate at cityparkjazz.org.

Turn around, Bright Eyes

Like always, there will be be another show every night at Red Rocks. But if you’re me, the show of the summer will be Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes6 celebrating the 21st anniversary of the Nebraska band’s seminal albums “I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” and “Digital Ash in a Digital Urn” on May 6.

Both were released on the same day in January 2005, announcing the band’s arrival in fully unexplored musical terrain, catapulting the trio of Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott from heartfelt acoustic folkers into maximalized heartland opus rockers, with contributions from Emmylou Harris and members of My Morning Jacket, The Faint, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Postal Service and Rilo Kiley. Singles like “Lua” and “Take It Easy (Love Nothing)” became instant classics.

Now Bright Eyes have announced that they will play both albums, in their entireties, but only on three nights in three iconic venues: Red Rocks on May 6, the Hollywood Bowl on May 23 and Forest Hills Stadium (New York) on June 6.

“I have always hated my birthdays, but I love parties,” said Oberst. “So when the idea came up to celebrate the 21st anniversary of these two records who were born on the same day, Nate, Mike and I took a long look in our full-length mirror and finally said, “(Bleep) it, why not?’”

At Red Rocks, Ben Kweller will play between Bright Eyes’ two album performances. Kweller replaces the originally announced Tilly and the Wall.

Tickets from $87-$500 at thisisbrighteyes.com/tour.

What about Fiddler’s Green?

This is the time of year when all eyes turn to Red Rocks for an unending stream of high-profile concert announcements, but a fair number of big shows are coming to Fiddler’s Green as well. The lineup includes Lord Huron (June 11); The Guess Who (Aug. 12); Muse (Aug. 18); The Dave Matthews Band (Aug. 28-29); Jack Johnson (Sept. 2-3); Sublime, Slightly Stoopid and 311 (all Aug. 7), The Black Crowes (Aug. 2); and my fave, Mt. Joy (Aug. 15). See the whole lineup at fiddlersgreenamp.com/calendar

Dog Day Afternoon

Auditioning actors for stage roles can be cutthroat. Auditioning dogs is just a doggone day at the park.

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival hosted all-comers auditions on March 28 in search of the two dogs who will share the role of the boringly named character of “The Dog” in the company’s upcoming production of “Shakespeare in Love.” The staging will mark the company’s return to the renovated Mary Rippon Theatre on the CU Boulder campus after a two-year absence.

I can say with good authority that the days of the casting couch are long over. But based on available photos, I cannot say the same is true of the casting lap. Or lick. “Shakespeare in Love” director Timothy Orr can be seen getting up close and personal with any number of the 23 eager canine show-biz hopefuls. Shameless, I say. Shamelessly adorable. 

“So many amazing pups auditioned,” said Orr, also the company’s producing artistic director. “This will be a tough decision.”

Whichever pups are picked will have big (actually tiny) paws to follow. Back in 2010, actor Geoffrey Kent won a Denver Post Ovation Award for his comedic performance in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” And he did it largely on the 7 1/2-pound back of his Long-Haired Chihuahua, an audience favorite named Titus.

Kent carried Titus in his codpiece. That’s essentially a flapped sack located at the crotch. Easily one of the funniest moments on this or any other stage.

The new winning wee dogs will be announced in April. Tickets are available at coloradoshakes.org.

John Moore is the Denver Gazette’s Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at [email protected].