Missy rocks
HIP-HOP|It’s been a while since Missy Elliott visited Colorado, but the multiplatinum MC never has played a room as small as Lotus while in Denver. Promoting the excellent new disc “The Cookbook,” Elliott will cover the hip-hop spectrum by MCing a set and also possibly DJing a set. It could be a legit show, which would be amazing, but it could be an All Star Weekend-like show of celebrity gawking, which would be unfortunate. Let’s hope for the best.|9 p.m., Friday.|Lotus, 1701 Wynkoop St. in Union Station; $49; Ticketmaster; 303-718-6666
Orchestral classics
CLASSICAL MUSIC|The Colorado Music Festival concludes its season with two celebrated orchestral works. Conductor Michael Christie will lead the festival orchestra in performances of Ludvig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” and Igor Stravinsky’s kinetic ballet, “The Rite of Spring.”|7:30 tonight|Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder; $10-$45; 303-440-7666, ext. 2, or coloradomusicfest.org.
A dance for lunch
MODERN DANCE|Survey the community-based Speaking of Dance company’s innovative take on modern dance during a free lunchtime concert. The show includes such pieces as “The Puzzle and the Path,” “Taste Test” and “Prayer for Peace.”|11:45 a.m. 1:15 p.m. today|Skyline Park, corner of 15th and Arapahoe streets; free; 303-722-0902.
Interfaith festival
MUSIC OF FAITH|Singers, dancers and musicians from Front Range churches, mosques, temples and synagogues gather for the fifth annual interfaith Alliance of Colorado Music Festival. Highlights include the Denver Spirituals Project choir and the 200-member Unitarian Universalist choir. New participants this year include Hindu dancers and Yallah, a world-fusion band that plays Jewish and Sufi music. |7:30 p.m. Saturday|Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave.; $12, interfaithallianceco.org.
Hip-Hop Flix Series
MUSIC/FILM|The Colorado Hip-Hop Coalition continues its new independent film series with a weekend screening of “Beef,” the Peter Spirer documentary about historical animosities in the hip-hop industry. The series continues later this month with screenings of “Juice” and “Beef II.”|7:15 p.m. Saturday|Blackberries Ice Cream & Coffee Lounge, 710 E. 26th Ave.; free; 303-296-0966 or colorado hiphop.org.
Brassy in Buena
CONCERT|The American Brass Quintet has been featured on the Salida-Aspen Concert Series for more than 25 years. It’s back this year with another ensemble from the Aspen Music Festival – the Fellowship Brass Quintet.|7:30 p.m. Saturday|First Baptist Church, 608 S. San Juan Ave., Buena Vista; $8, available at the door at 6:30 p.m.; salidaaspenconcerts.org.
Multimedia
CONTEMPORARY BALLET|The David Taylor Dance Theatre teams with the Up Close and Musical Ensemble and the Museum of Outdoor Arts for a free outdoor performance, “Stairway to Heaven.” The concert explores conflict and resolution through art, dance, film and music.|6 p.m. Saturday|Englewood Amphitheatre, 1000 Englewood Parkway; free.
Classic onscreen
FILM|Paul Robeson stars as Brutus Jones in Dudley Murphy 1933 version of “The Emperor Jones,” Eugene O’Neill’s controversial play about a Pullman porter who flees America and proclaims himself a monarch on a West Indian island. Library of Congress film curator Mike Mashon has said that “The Emperor Jones” is perhaps the best 35mm black-and-white restoration the LOClibrary has done. thus far. The movie, also starring Fredi Washington, is the fourth and final installment in the Starz FilmCenter’s “Summer of Preservation II: Uncensored.” Denver Post film critic Lisa Kennedy will introduce the movie at the 7 p.m. screening Saturday.|4 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.|Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli on the Auraria Campus; $5.50-$8.50; 303-820-FILM.
Musical and artful GARDEN ART|Gardens have long been an inspiration to artists, and a new exhibition titled “Artful Gardens or Garden Art” continues that tradition with an array of indoor and outdoor works. As part of this weekend’s opening events, Celtic musician Christel Rice and her band will perform from 5:30 p.m. to dark Saturday in the garden of the Art Students League of Denver as artists paint and sculpt.|
Opening reception, 5:30-8 tonight.|Art Students League of Denver, 200 Grant St.; the opening reception is free, and Saturday’s concert is $8 general public, $5 members; 303-778-6990 or asid.org.
Lakewood Art Festival
FINE ART/FAMILY|More than 40 local and regional artists will show and sell work at this fifth annual juried festival. Music, kids’ activities and interactive art stations are part of the outdoor gallery event. |10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday|Lakewood Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St., 2 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under, 303-987-7850 or lakewood.org.
For young ballet fans
BALLET EDUCATION|A trunkful of ballet costumes, shoes, pictures, clothes and more is at the center of Colorado Ballet’s Balletomania. The children’s introduction to ballet program includes an explanation of the materials. Participants also will see an introduction to movement and ballet positions.|4-4:45 p.m. Tuesday|The Grange at The Meadows, 3692 Meadows Blvd., Castle Rock; free; 303-814-2358.
