Celebrating Summer with Community, Creativity, and Connection

The Wheeler Opera House continues its role as Aspen’s civic gathering space with a summer lineup of free programming that reflects the spirit of community, artistic excellence, and shared experience. This season features a special America 250 edition of the Changemaker Speaker Series, Independence Day performances that transform the building itself, a groundbreaking artistic collaboration, and the debut of a new music series designed to reshape the late‑afternoon rhythm of downtown Aspen.

All events are free, with advance reservations encouraged for select programs.

Changemaker Speaker Series: Deanne Fitzmaurice A250 Portrait of a Nation
Thursday, July 2 at 7 PM
Pulitzer Prize–winning photographer Deanne Fitzmaurice brings nearly four decades of photojournalism to the stage in a powerful illustrated talk marking America’s 250th anniversary and Colorado’s 150th. Her work spans defining moments in modern history, from the AIDS crisis and the Loma Prieta earthquake to global conflict and cultural milestones.
A longtime San Francisco Chronicle photographer whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN, Fitzmaurice combines striking imagery with personal reflection. Her Pulitzer Prize–winning essay documenting the recovery of a young Iraqi war victim anchors a broader exploration of resilience, empathy, and the role of visual storytelling in shaping collective memory.

BANDALOOP
July 4 at 1 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM
Internationally recognized vertical dance company BANDALOOP transforms the Wheeler Opera House façade into a site of movement and possibility this Independence Day. Following the Aspen July 4 parade, performances animate the historic building with immersive choreography suspended in air.
Under the artistic direction of Melecio Estrella, BANDALOOP merges climbing technology with dance to reimagine public space. With performances across more than 40 countries, the company’s work celebrates the relationship between human bodies, architecture, and the natural world—offering a shared visual experience rooted in wonder and perspective.
No reservations required. All ages welcome.

Aspen Historical Society History Tours
Wednesdays 1:30 PM, July 8 – September 30
Enjoy a guided tour inside the center of Aspen’s arts and cultural scene since it was built in 1889. This free tour led by the Aspen Historical Society and in partnership with the City of Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House offers an insider’s look at the iconic building, including its recent renovations and storied past. Meet in the box office lobby.
No reservations required. All ages welcome.

Commedia dell’arte by Camille Henrot
Thursday, July 30 at 6:30 PM
More information: airaspen.org
Camille Henrot presents the world premiere of Commedia dell’arte, marking her first live stage performance. Co-commissioned by Performa, Aspen Art Museum / Wheeler Opera House, and LYRA Art Foundation, the work reimagines the Italian theatrical tradition within a contemporary New York City apartment setting. Blending visual art and performance, Henrot constructs a tragi-comedic narrative sparked by the delivery of a package, unraveling into a sequence of uncanny and layered interactions.
Advance registration for this event opens on June 29 at 12 PM.

Traffic Jams in The Vault at the Wheeler
August | Monday–Thursday, 4:30–6 PM
Traffic Jams introduces a new kind of late‑afternoon experience—one that replaces congestion with connection. Presented in partnership with the City of Aspen Transportation Department, this August concert series invites audiences to step out of their commute and into The Vault for live music, light refreshments, and time to linger.
Spanning two weeks, the series features full sets from visiting artists with space for improvisation and collaboration. Each week culminates in the premiere of a new song inspired by Aspen.

Featured Artists:
Bandits on the Run (Aug 3–6): Bandits on the Run is a Brooklyn‑based indie‑folk‑pop trio formed through busking in New York City subways. Comprised of Adrian Blake Enscoe, Sydney Shepherd, and Regina Strayhorn, the group is known for three‑part harmonies, theatrical storytelling, and inventive instrumentation including cello, accordion, and suitcase drum. Their collaborative approach extends beyond the stage, with work spanning albums, musical theater projects, and collaborations with Netflix. Blending folk traditions with pop sensibility and performance‑driven energy, Bandits on the Run create music that feels intimate, imaginative, and deeply human—well suited to close‑up spaces like The Vault.

Larry & Joe (Aug 10–13):

Larry & Joe is a Venezuelan‑Appalachian musical duo formed in North Carolina in 2023, featuring Larry Bellorín and Joe Troop. Blending Venezuelan música llanera with Appalachian bluegrass, they describe their sound as “latingrass.” Their performances feature banjo, harp, cuatro, fiddle, vocals, and other traditional instruments, highlighting both musicians’ deep roots and shared spirit of collaboration. Drawing from distinct cultural traditions, Larry & Joe create music that celebrates migration, connection, and cross‑cultural unity—using folk music as a bridge between histories, communities, and lived experience.

Larry & Joe es un dúo musical venezolano‑apalachense formado en Carolina del Norte en 2023 por Larry Bellorín y Joe Troop. Su música fusiona la música llanera venezolana con el bluegrass de los Apalaches, un estilo que ellos llaman “latingrass”. Utilizando instrumentos como banjo, arpa, cuatro, violín y voz, el dúo destaca sus raíces culturales y un fuerte espíritu colaborativo. A través de tradiciones musicales distintas pero complementarias, Larry & Joe celebran la migración, la identidad y la unidad cultural, utilizando la música folklórica como un puente entre comunidades e historias compartidas.

Este es un evento comunitario gratuito con entrada requerida; se recomienda reservar con anticipación para asegurar su lugar.