The Wheel Deal

While all of Boulder ramps up for the January National Cyclo-Cross Championships, the Dairy Center for the Arts is right in step: Its huge Bike Art exhibit opened earlier this month, and there’s plenty of bike-centric programming to go with it at the multidisciplinary venue, from art to films to theater. The musical comedy The Bicycle Men, which premieres tonight at 8 p.m. for a weekend run, fills the theater slot in that cycle of events. The story of an American cyclist stranded among the strange inhabitants of a small French town, the play, by Mark Nutter and Mark Lewman, gained popularity on the fringe-fest circuit, including stops in Edinburgh and New York, where it won an award for Excellence in Overall Production in 2004. “This is a very special show for Boulder,” says Dairy programming director Deven Shaff. “So many Boulder bikers have biked all over the world, and they will certainly have a great appreciation of this show.” And the musical’s pointed Franco-phobic bent will appeal to everyone’s funny bone.

Performances of The Bicycle Men continue through Sunday at the Dairy, 2590 Walnut Street in Boulder, featuring a national cast; for tickets, $24 to $26, go to thedairy.com or call 303-444-7328.

Dec. 20-21, 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 22, 2 p.m., 2013