Arts news: High-level annual summit has a chill vibe; SeriesFest taps ‘Four Seasons,’ Rateliff teams with Symphony; Opera Colorado and more

The 78th annual Conference on World Affairs returns to CU Boulder from April 13-16, and it’s being billed as a kickoff to the university’s upcoming 150th anniversary celebration.

Since 1948, this free gathering has brought global leaders, journalists and innovators to Boulder for high-level public panels that often intersect with art and culture. The conference’s famously chill vibe fosters critical, interdisciplinary dialogue in an open, non-partisan atmosphere.

The University of Colorado is planning a whole fancy lecture, panel conversation and live-music performance exploring America’s history and identity through its folk traditions. “The America of Folk Music” takes place at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday (April 14) at eTown Hall, 1535 Spruce St., with David Howley performing live. It’s free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

A few other artsy events of note:

• “Ebert Uninterruptus” is a signature annual event that pairs a film screening with a discussion led by a renowned filmmaker. This year, that’s Charles Burnett, whose first feature film, “Killer of Sheep,” from 1977, has been named one of the 100 essential films of all time by the National Society of Film Critics. This year’s chosen film is “Namibia: Struggle for Liberation,” starring Danny Glover. It all goes down, with Skinner Meyers moderating, from 3-7 p.m. Monday (April 13) in the Chancellor’s Auditorium (in the Case Building).

• We already told you that Colorado Public Radio’s Ryan Warner will lead a conversation on the impending Colorado arrival of the Sundance Film Festival and the future of independent filmmaking in general. That’s at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (April 15) at the Limelight Hotel, 1295 University Ave.

• “Art in the Open: A Catalyst for Community” will be a panel exploring how public art fosters connection and can spark dialogue at 9 a.m. Wednesday (April 15), also at the Limelight. Speakers will include Guillermo Galena Galindo (a Mexico-born experimental composer known for blending contemporary music with social justice); Seth Shafer (a composer whose hybrid work focuses on algorithmic art); and Lynn Warshafsky (a nonprofit consultant). This one, you can watch online on youtube.

• A 45-minute teaser from an upcoming documentary reflecting on CU Boulder’s 150th anniversary will be shown at 9 a.m. Thursday (April 16) in the ATLAS Film Studies Theater. The full-length doc will be released in early 2027. Note: Space is limited to 75.

• The closing speaker will be Malala Yousafzai, who began her activism at age 11 by anonymously blogging about life under the Taliban in Pakistan. After surviving an assassination attempt at age 15, she founded the Malala Fund to champion education for all girls worldwide. In 2014, she became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize recipient in history. Alas, this event – and its wait list – are full.

Of course, the conference takes on larger topics of a global scale, including this year, among many others: AI, population decline, women’s perspectives on the conservative movement, the demise of the free press, the politics of nationalism and CU Boulder’s military legacy. I’m guessing Monday’s kickoff event featuring John Bolton and Susan Rice debating the U.S.’ superpower status at 7 p.m. in the Glenn Miller Ballroom will be a banger. More info at colorado.edu/cwa.

SeriesFest is in ‘Season’

For one week each May, SeriesFest makes Denver the center of the television universe. It’s an annual multi-day film festival, only for television shows. It features screenings, panels, awards and more, all to bring attention to shows that are just about to drop, or are looking for a home. It always brings a robust lineup of creators, actors, industry professionals and fans together to celebrate TV storytelling.

Now we know a little about the programming slate for May 6-10 at the Sie Film Center. The opening-night screening will be a new episode of Tina Fey’s “The Four Seasons,” which returns to Netflix for a second season on May 28. Other high-profile screenings will include Hulu’s “The Testaments” (6:30 p.m., May 7); Peacock’s “Ponies” (1:30 p.m., May 8); “My Father, Dick Allen” (6:30 p.m., May 9) and “Rainbow Socks” (noon, May 10).

Tickets and info at seriesfest.org.

Rateliff on the Red Rocks

I could listen to Nathaniel Rateliff singing whatever Nathaniel Rateliff wants to sing pretty much anytime, anywhere. On Aug. 18, that will be Nathaniel Rateliff again performing with the Colorado Symphony to the music of Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson … and Nathaniel Rateliff, who has been collaborating with our local symphony in a variety of ways for the past several years. Only this time, it will be at Red Rocks. Rateliff performed Nilsson with the Symphony in 2023 and Cohen in 2024. Tickets go on sale at 10. a.m. Friday (April 10) at axs.com.

Opera Colorado in action

Opera Colorado will be back at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House from May 2-10 with its first production of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in more than a decade. You know the tragic story: It’s about a 15-year-old Japanese geisha who naively marries an American Naval officer in 1904 Nagasaki who abandons her, only to return years later to claim their son. This production, directed by Mo Zhou, is said to shine new light on the lengths we go to fight for something better in this life. Limited remaining tickets available at operacolorado.org. …

Opera Colorado then moves over to the Historic Elitch Theatre in northwest Denver to present Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic masterpiece “The Pirates of Penzance” for one night only on May 16. It’s been exactly 135 years since “Pirates” was last performed on the famed northwest Denver stage at 4600 W. 37th Place. That’s why it’s being cleverly marketed as “a return engagement,” but, sadly, we’re fairly certain – without the original cast intact. Tickets for that one at historicelitchtheatre.org.

Let’s make a summer date

If you’re like me, summer comes in like a locomotive, and passes in a puff of smoke if you’re not prepared. Here’s a handy list of a few notable upcoming dates (thanks in part to Visit Denver) for your planning purposes:

• Through Sunday: Boulder International Film Festival
• Through Sept. 7: “World’s Largest Dinosaurs” at Denver Museum of Nature and Science
• May 2-3: Cinco de Mayo Festival
• May 6: Demi Lovato at Ball Arena
• May 28-31: Fan Expo Denver
• May 29-30: Morgan Wallen at Mile High Stadium
• May 29-31: Outside Days
• May 30-Aug. 2: Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Boulder
• May 30-June 21: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” at the Buell Theatre
• June 13-Aug, 2: Colorado Renaissance Festival, Larkspur
• June 13: Red Bull Soapbox Race
• June 20: Juneteenth Music Festival
• June 28: Denver PrideFest
• July 3-5: Cherry Creek Arts Festival
• July 4: Rugby Nations Cup at Dick’s Sporting Goods
• July 23-26: Blucifer’s First Rodeo music festival in Baker
• July 24-26: Underground Music Showcase at LoDo
• July 28: AC/DC at Mile High Stadium
• Aug. 13-14: Zach Bryan at Mile High Stadium
• Aug. 14-15: Savannah Bananas vs. Indianapolis Clowns at Coors Field

2026 Legends of Dance class

Janice Guy-Sayles, who has been an acclaimed dancer, choreographer and educator in the Colorado theater community for decades, has been named to The Dance Archive at the University of Denver’s 2026 Legends of Dance class. Also honored:

• Allie Coppeak: Philanthropist and arts administrator
• Bobbie Jaramillo: Co-Director of Littleton Ballet Academy
• Amy Kenney: Owner of Boulder Body Wear
• Namita Khanna Nariani: Creator of Mudra Dance Studio

Briefly …

It was a big week for theater majors at Denver School of the Arts, who just made their annual trek to New York to see Broadway shows, take classes and visit with gainfully employed DSA alumni. And, this year, classmates. Yes, our travelling thespians took in a performance of “MJ the Musical,” which since February has featured DSA 12-year-old Blake Channing Taylor as young Marlon Jackson – and understudying Michael himself …

Platte Valley Theatre Arts is teasing its upcoming staging of “Much Ado About Nothing” with free pizza and performance selections from 6-7:30 p.m. Monday (April 13) at the Anythink Library in Brighton, 327 E Bridge St. It’s free but you must register ahead of time at anythinklibraries.org. The play runs May 8-16 …

The College of Fellows of the American Theatre will be conducting their 61st annual membership weekend on Saturday and Sunday at the Curtis Hotel. The Fellows are a distinguished, autonomous non-profit society made up of about 140 acclaimed artists, scholars, educators and leaders. Their task is to honor those making significant, lasting contributions to the American theater. This annual gathering is usually held at the Kennedy Center, but, you know. … Its present dean is David Grapes, who long ran the undergraduate theater program at the University of Northern Colorado. He’s asked me to lead a roundtable conversation on Saturday titled, “What’s Next for the American Theatre?” with three local artistic directors: Chris Coleman of the Denver Center Theatre Company, Anthony Garcia of Su Teatro; and Ben Raanan of the disability-affirmative Phamaly Theatre Company.

John Moore is the Denver Gazette’s Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at [email protected].