Winner

2032 14th St., Boulder, 303.786.7030
www.bouldertheater.com

There’s a fine balance between holding on to a rich history and pushing forward to appeal to modern tastes. The crew at the Boulder Theater seem to have found just the right mix. First opened in 1906 with a lineup of silent movies, operas and musicals, this century-old theater has a certain lived-in vibe that is impossible to replicate in Boulder. However, while the art deco style, murals and fresco ceiling create a cool atmosphere, an aging balcony seating and older sound system does not a spectator-friendly joint make. So in July the Boulder Theater replaced the upper deck with comfy new seats and added a state-of-the-art sound system. Change is good—in more ways than one. Just off a merger with Boulder’s Fox Theatre, talent buyer Kirk Peterson says the Boulder Theater lineup of shows—music, comedy, benefits and more—are better than ever. Two solo shows with Jeff Tweedy kicked off this year. “It’s nice to be able to focus on putting on the right show in the right room in Boulder instead of constantly competing,” he says. With two complementary venues, “We can schedule like-minded shows on different nights and it’s helped us stabilize ticket prices.” As for variety, Boulder Theater booked the Disco Biscuits, The Decemberists, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Ice Cube, Iron and Wine and an African acoustic show this year. B.B. King just played a sold-out show, and the theater kicked off its first-annual Boulder Roots and Blues Summit Festival (with Cheryl Crow and Lucinda Williams, among others). Stand-up has ranged from Seth Meyers to Canadian act the Trailer Park Boys. Leveraging its storied past with a bright outlook for the future, this multi-faceted venue has only just begun.

Runner Up

The Fox Theatre
1135 13th St., Boulder, 303.443.3399
www.foxtheatre.com