Friday
Concert series
MUSIC/WRITING|Got a coffeehouse jones? The “Telling Stories” concert series takes a unique approach to making classical music and writing more accessible: It combines them. With chamber music and David Sedaris-like essays by local writers, the next event will feature viola, cello, trombone and marimba music and essays by Jennie Dorris, Jeanine Fritz, Paul Salamone.|7:30 p.m. Friday|Laughing Goat Coffeehouse, 1709 Pearl St. in Boulder, free, thelaughinggoat.com.
Saturday
Olga Kern sonatas
PIANO|The University of Colorado’s artist series brings back pianist Olga Kern for an evening of expertly rendered sonatas. Kern’s extensive resumé includes a gold medal from the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and tours on five continents with today’s brightest conductors and orchestras.|7:30 p.m. Saturday|Macky Auditorium, CU-Boulder campus, $10-$50, 303-492-8008, cuconcerts.org.
Sunday
“Vanishing Point”
“STILTED” THEATER|The Carpetbag Brigade Physical Theater Company, a touring ensemble based in Oakland, presents “The Vanishing Point,” on stilts, at the University of Colorado-Boulder. An original score composed and performed by CU music students will accompany the performance. The show is described as “a spectacular and dreamlike physical poem composed around themes of evolution, extinction and the riddle of grief underlying history.”|8 p.m. Sunday|Atlas Institute black box theater northeast of the University Memorial Center, free, open to the public, 303-492-8523
The weekend
Louis CK
STAND-UP COMEDY|Talk show regular, writer and Emmy-nominated HBO star Louis CK finds exquisite humor in the mundane. His show “Lucky Louie” mines a common-sense vein of comedy, skewering day-to-day absurdities. Catch him this weekend when he performs a handful of dates at Comedy Works, our city’s best stand-up venue.|Various times Friday-Saturday|Comedy Works, 1226 15th St., $25, 303-595-3637, comedyworks.com
Off-road show
RECREATION EXPO|If you just can’t stay within the lines, the Colorado Off-Highway Expo might be for you. All types of 4X4s will be celebrated at the motorized recreation show. Check out the latest motorcycles and snowmobiles, watch the 4-wheel-drive rock crawl competition or teach kids the basics of ATV riding safety.|10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday|National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St., $8, 303-892-6800, bigasalloutdoors.com.
The week
Retro Raiders
FILM|”Raiders of the Lost Ark” is a top-flight action movie meant to be seen on the big screen, and you get your chance this week with the Giant Screen Flashback series, from 950 the Fan sports radio. The current series concludes next week, same time, same place, with “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.”|9 p.m. Wednesday.|Continental Theatre, East Hampden Avenue and South Monaco Street, $5.
IMAX fiddle prodigy
FILM & MUSIC|The screen comes to life next week when one of the stars of “Hurricane on the Bayou” appears at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Fifteen-year-old fiddle prodigy Amanda Shaw, a main character in the stunning new IMAX documentary, will perform her jaunty Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans-style music to help reinforce the cultural and environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina.|7 p.m. Monday|Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., $18-$25, 303-322-7009 or dmns.org.
“Elephant,” “Working”
“MASTERS” THEATER|The Denver Center’s National Theatre Conservatory graduating class of masters students is presenting public performances of Bernard Pomerance’s “The Elephant Man” and the Stephen Schwartz musical “Working” in repertory through April 28. “Elephant” is the true story of John Merrick, a deformed 19th-century Brit struggling with what it means to be normal. “Working” is adapted from the Studs Terkel novel and includes songs by James Taylor.|Times vary|”Elephant” next plays at 8 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; “Working” at 8 p.m. tonight, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tramway Theatre, 1301 Arapahoe St. Tickets $16, 303-893-4100.
Going, going…
Catch these events before they disappear after this weekend:
“Seascape”
THEATER|A troubled older couple discussing their problems while walking on the beach are accosted by human-sized, talking lizards. It’s an Edward Albee play – with a happy ending! |ENDS SUNDAY|Final performances 8 p.m. today through Sunday at the Bug Theatre, 3654 Navajo St. $18-$20 (303-780-7836; modernmusetheatre.com).
“Benjamin Franklin, Printer”
THEATER|An original solo show written and performed by Burdette Parks celebrates Franklin’s 300th birthday.|ENDS SATURDAY|Final performances 7:30 p.m. today and Saturdays at the Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave. $20-$22 (303-329-6242, avenuetheater.com).
