Visual arts
Graffiti art. Talk about your underappreciated art forms. Graffiti and stencil art get no love in this town, but Newspeak is trying to change that. Newspeak — a collaboration between screen-printing designers Indy Ink and tattoo shop Brave New World — will host an art opening at 2 p.m. Saturday for the West High School Mural Club. Free. 2907 E. Colfax Ave. 303-355-2171.Through the week.Photography. In conjunction with the national conference of the Society for Photographic Education March 13-16 in Denver, more than 50 photo exhibits will take place in galleries and other art spaces across the metro area. This celebration of the medium is titled “It’s a Beautiful Place: A Month of Photography.” A few offerings are already underway, but most open this weekend or next. For a complete list of shows, consult .
Through the week. Photography. Mortality has fascinated artists for centuries. Three widely recognized photographers who have probed this temporal realm — Slater Bradley, Sally Mann and Nigel Poor — are featured in “Still.” The exhibition runs through April 30 at the Center for Visual Art, 1734 Wazee St. An opening reception is set for 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Free. 303-294-5207 or . .
Theater
Friday-Sunday. Percussive Theater. Bust out the earplugs — it’s “Stomp” time again. The long-running percussive dance show will take over the Buell Theater at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts through Sunday with its colorful costumes, overcaffeinated performers and, of course, lots of exquisitely timed clanging and banging. $20-$62. 303-893-4100 or denver .
Ongoing. Premiere. The University of Colorado at Boulder theater department presents the world premiere of the musical “Beneath the Surface,” written by 1999 Denver School of the Arts grad Brett Macias. He teamed with co-writer Caroline Murphy to create this musical about a down-and- out young man’s journey to the center of the Earth. As the boy digs (from Hawaii to Botswana), the underground world reveals startling clues about what has really led him below. 8 p.m. today and Friday, March 12-15 and 2 p.m. March 15-16 at the Loft Theatre. $10-$15. 303-492-8181 or . For a list of this weekend’s theater openings, see Page 17D.
Music
Saturday Pops. To call an appearance by vocalist Bobby McFerrin a concert doesn’t do it justice. The term is too limiting. His artistry — a mix of scat, vocalisms and sound effects — might better be characterized as a sound spectacular — more vocal theater than mere singing. McFerrin will join the Colorado Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Boettcher Concert Hall for a pops concert titled, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” $15-$69.50. 303-623-7876 or . Sunday. Country music. Keith Urban pairing up with Carrie Underwood for a goliath North American tour makes for one of country music’s best pairings in recent years. Urban is the hunky Aussie also known as Nicole Kidman’s slightly lesser half. Underwood is on fire as her second record is exploding with the pop firepower of her first LP. When the two bring their co-headlining venture to the Pepsi Center on Sunday, music fans will get their money’s worth. $30.50-$71. . or 303-830-8497. Thursday. Music and art. Brand- spanking-new Denver artistic collective Win Wear will hold its second themed event next week under the banner of Duos. The show asks six pairs of local musicians to compose tunes based on a work of art, which they will present on Thursday at Object + Thought gallery. Gourmet food and beer will be provided. 7 p.m. $7-$10. 3559 Larimer St. .
Television
Tonight. Drama. A typically smart hour of Fox’s “House” is replayed tonight at 8 p.m. on KDVR-Channel 31. The 2006 third-season opener, “Meaning,” finds the doctor (Hugh Laurie) returning to work after healing from gunshot wounds. Movies
Thursday.Documentary. It’s hard to resist the lessons of moonwalkers. And we don’t mean Michael Jackson. In “The Wonder of It All,” director Jeffrey Roth taps an even deeper vein than that of the very impressive “In the Shadow of the Moon” when he talks to seven of the Apollo astronauts. Roth will discuss his movie at DocNight, Thursday at 7 p.m. Starz FilmCenter at the Tivoli, Ninth Street and Auraria Parkway, $6-$9.50. 303-820-3456. Saturday.Documentary. Jasmine Dellal’s popular documentary, “When the Road Bends: Tales of a Gypsy Caravan,” which follows five music groups from four countries on their travels in the U.S., returns to the International Film Series in Boulder. Saturday at 7 and 9:15 p.m. Muenzinger Auditorium, 18th Street and Colorado Avenue in Boulder; $4-$5. Tickets on sale 30 minutes before the show. 303-492-1531.
Dining
Ongoing. Continental. The Belle Epoque meets 2008 in Cherry Creek North at French 250,where the all- French menu features classics like coquilles St. Jacques and escargots. Not an express ticket back to the Paris of Escoffier, but a lovely room with a lovely wine list to indulge your francophilic fetishes. 250 Steele St. 303-331-0250.
Dance
Friday-Saturday. Modern Dance. Boulder’s Schiff Dance Collective has always maintained an organic, community-oriented approach with its Whole Person Training Method and youth outreach programs. This weekend the 4-year-old company presents “Unsilenced,” which explores notions of free expression through movement. Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder. $15-$17. 303-444-7328 or .
Festival
Friday-Sunday. Festival. The fifth annual BaoBao Festival continues through this weekend, celebrating West African traditions of drumming, dancing and storytelling. The brainchild of Ghana National Dance Ensemble’s Adjei Abankwah, the festival offers diverse classes, performances and more. Various locations and times in Boulder. 303-449-2671 or
