Hailey Henderson first appeared on the stage of Star Hall when she was 12 years old in 2003 where she left many of us wondering how such a big voice (Jailhouse Rock) could be contained in such a small package. Nearly two decades later, the accomplished actor, playwright and teacher returns to Star Hall to close out a West Coast tour of her acclaimed work; Blackout: A One Woman Show.

Hailey Henderson is a Seattle-based actor, teaching artist and singer. Self described as a small town girl by way of the magical red rock country of Moab, Utah—her love for performing began with howling at the moon and story-telling around the campfire. With a bit of red dirt ground into her small-town soul, she left Moab to study theater in Salt Lake City, graduating from Westminster College with her BFA in Acting. Hailey has performed with theatres in Buenos Aires, Eugene and Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, where she earned her MFA in Acting from the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Washington. Hailey’s solo show, Blackout, has been in development since 2019 and received its debut at the Salt Lake Fringe Festival in 2020.

This autobiographical solo play by Hailey Henderson explores the destructive nature of sexual and emotional abuse and the cost of blending in to survive. Henderson embodies her mother, her ex-boyfriend, her abuser and herself in a funny, edgy, radical reclaiming of her true story. This Summer, Blackout is on tour for a series of intimate Porch Performances, hosted in private residences, as well as in select theatres, in all the cities Henderson has called “home.” Blackout: A One-Woman Show is a journey out of hiding and into the light.

“Theatres have been dark, life has been dark, and I believe it is my job as an Artist to bring communities together. The Porch Tour is a COVID-safe way to do that. And I think the places we gather and tell the truth, even hard truths, are really sacred and special. I decided to tour the places I’ve called home because I want my communities to meet the real me.”

The play is directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, head of Directing at the University of Washington School of Drama and Founding Artistic Director of the Hansberry Project. Curtis-Newton and Henderson collaborated on several productions through the UW School of Drama, and have continued their friendship and this collaboration after Henderson’s graduation.

Tickets Available: Advance tickets available at Back of Beyond Bookstore. PLEASE NOTE - Blackout contains strong language, details of sexual assault and violence. Price: $15.00

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats will perform at Las Colonias Amphitheater in Grand Junction Saturday, August 21 – a couple of days before a three-night run at the renowned Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado.

While the pandemic altered Rateliff’s tour plans in 2020 to promote his new album “And It’s Still Alright,” the record debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Chart for eight consecutive weeks. National Public Radio’s World Café ranked the lead single and title track as #1 on their list of Public Radio’s Most Popular Songs Of 2020.

In September 2020, Rateliff and his ten-piece folk band performed before reduced-capacity, socially-distanced crowds during a six-night run at Red Rocks Amphitheater where the Denver-based artist recorded the live album “Red Rocks 2020” which was released July 16.

This past year, Rateliff has been the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and CMT Crossroads. Rateliff performed for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert in April.

Additional shows coming up in August at Las Colonias Amphitheater include the high-energy, always joyful Hazel Miller, on August 7. Known for her jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, and popular music, this Colorado-based artist performs a benefit concert each year in the Grand Valley – for Mesa County Partners. The Beach Boys (rescheduled from 2020) perform the following night (August 8).

On August 14, Wüffstock Music Festival will perform a benefit concert for the Roice-Hurst Humane Society in Grand Junction. This show features the 2019 Telluride Bluegrass Festival winning band Bowregard, Denver’s Leon & The Revival, and the Grand Valley’s popular Stray Grass.

The Happy Together Tour closes out the month (there’s more shows in September) with a performance August 28. This act is comprised of six classic rock legends, including The Turtles, Chuck Negron (of Three Dog Night), The Association, Mark Lindsay (of Paul Revere and the Raiders), The Vogues, and The Cowsills – all of whom join forces to create a 1960s and 70s soundtrack.

Las Colonias Park Amphitheater is located near downtown Grand Junction, just north of the Colorado Riverfront Trail. Bring a chair or a blanket for the lawn for an evening of live music under the stars! There’s also premium seating available that includes a tented area with chairs and private bar lines.

While outside food and beverages are not allowed, there will be food trucks at the concert, as well as cold beer, wine, canned cocktails, soda and water for sale. There will also be a water station where you can refill your container.


For more information visit: www.theampgj.com or 970-263-5757 and be sure to mention you read about it in Moab Happenings.

Not only are there plenty of natural wonders to see in Moab, there’s also lots of fun entertainment available right downtown. Moab hosts a thriving music scene. If you’re looking for something totally different, there’s the Moab Backyard Theater, located right in the heart of downtown. It’s open to all ages and great fun for grown-ups and kids alike.

The Backyard Theater is one of the only open-air entertainment venues in the west, a throwback to the old west days when traveling shows entertained culture-starved pioneers on the dusty streets of the frontier towns. Located just a half-block off Main street in downtown, The Backyard Theater features Magic and Music four nights a week. The stage sits beneath a giant cottonwood tree that is older than the town itself. In its fifth year of operation, the theater has entertained thousands of people from all over the world. They come to see an old-fashioned type of American entertainment that has all but vanished in the rest of the country.

Every Wednesday, traditional bluegrass music returns to the theater. The band Quicksand Soup performs old-time standards and unique originals starting at 8 pm. The free show has become a downtown fixture over the last few years and it’s common to see both locals and tourists alike tapping their toes.

Thursday, Quicksand Soup sings Gospel, Western and classic country. Friday is honky-tonk fusion with Juniper Drive. On Saturday, The Four Corner’s only downtown Magic show returns with the award-winning magic of Rick Boretti. Rick’s hilarious routine changes constantly, but always involves lots of wisecracks and mystifying magic tricks. Folks have been known to return year after year for the show. Kids love Rick’s magic, but adults are often amazed at how much they love it too. If you haven’t caught a real magic show in a while, then you might have forgotten how fun they can be. Shows start at 8. Music is always free. Magic Prices are 10 dollars for folks over 12 and 5 dollars for kids over 3. 3 and under are free. There is a food truck serving Southwestern fare open most nights, and the theater allows outside food and drink as well. It is located just behind Zax at 56 W. 100 South.