Of course, there are more benefits to attending “live arts” events than just fun.

1.  Your ticket purchase goes back to funding small community arts.

Buy a ticket to an upcoming performance of “Evita,” “The Crucible” or “Seussical™” at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, for example, and you’re helping to ensure that its community arts programs will continue. Though the Center receives funding from other sources, nearly 50 percent of its funding comes from ticket sales and class registration. For ticket information, call 720-898-7200 or visit www.arvadacenter.org

2.  You are introduced to national and world-renowned performances.

Not everyone has the means to fly to New York City to see a real Broadway performance. Some of Colorado’s leading venues, however, can bring Broadway to you. The Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, for example, is welcoming several major live shows this season, including Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” (starring Ted Neeley), “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” (starring 2003 American Idols Ruben Studdard and Frenchie Davis). Call 719‑520‑SHOW (7469) or visit www.pikespeakcenter.com for ticket information.

3.  Your money comes back to you.

Some public venues are actually owned by the town, city or county where you reside. The Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, for example, is owned by Larimer County. All revenue received by the Center is public money. So part of the ticket price you pay to see “Sesame Street Live” in November or Wynonna Judd in December could come right back to improving your county. For ticket information, call 970-619-4100 or visit www.beclive.com.

4.  Live arts can have a positive physiological impact on your well-being.

If laughter is the best medicine, you’re sure to stay healthy by attending shows like “Girls Only -- The Secret Comedy of Women” and “Noises Off” at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts this season. Of course, any performance that helps you relax in general can improve your mental and physical health. “Stress management isn’t something you practice only when you’re stressed,” explains Sandra Thébaud, Ph.D. of Paramount Transitions. “It’s most effective if it’s part of your daily life. When you listen to music, your brain waves begin to resonate with the beat -- so upbeat music can stimulate you while slower music can calm you.” For ticket information, visit www.denvercenter.org or call 303-893-4100.

5.  Attending live arts can build an  emotional  community tie.

Whether you’re listening to jazz outside at the town park or attending the local college’s Shakespeare Series, being surrounded by like-minded locals can help you feel like part of something bigger. And events that encourage families to come out together or neighbors to catch up while tapping their feet to the beat of the nearby orchestra can certainly increase a sense of closeness. “Socialization is also a major way of reducing stress because of the healing power of human connection,” says Thébaud. “And what better way to forget about your problems and have fun than to get together with others who are having fun?” The University of Colorado at Boulder is hosting an excellent selection of live performances this year. From the CU Opera’s “La Boheme” and “Candide” to the Soweto Gospel Choir and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, there’s something for every taste this season. For ticket information, call 303-492-8008 or visit www.cuconcerts.org.