A pre-Fringe musical, #LoveWins, mazes and brain games, and more to do in Denver this week

A free, pre-Fringe Fest premiere at DSA

Friday. Before the group heads to Edinburgh, Scotland, to perform at this year’s Fringe Festival, students from Denver School of the Arts will premiere their original musical “re:ACTION” on Friday, May 20, at 7111 Montview Blvd.

The pair of free performances begin at 6 and 7:45 p.m., with a suggested donation of $10 to cover the overseas expenses. The original show makes good on DSA’s delayed, every-four-years trip to Fringe with themes that explore the last few years of lockdown and social decay. It’s created by and starring students under the direction of DSA theatre director Shawn Hann. dsa.dpsk12.org/performances

Whoop it up at Denver Silent Film Fest

Friday-Sunday. The 9th Denver Silent Film Festival, this year held at Denver Botanic Gardens, is another chance to see how lusty, tawdry, gorgeous, poignant and thrilling these early works of art and commerce are, despite often seeming distant in space and time.

After a two-year hiatus, the 2022 event — again lovingly programmed by Colorado film critic and radio veteran Howie Movshovitz — is themed “We Need to Laugh” and features 11 short and feature-length comedies from the silent era, each with live scoring. The kickoff is 7 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the Sturm Family Auditorium.

The event runs through Sunday, May 22. Individual screenings are about $15, after fees, and all-access passes are $75. See the full schedule and more details at denversilentfilmfestival.eventive.org.

The science behind “Mazes & Brain Games”

Friday. With immersive experiences all the rage, Denver Museum of Nature & Science is dunking visitors into a world of signs and symbols with their new “Mazes & Brain Games.” Opening Friday, May 20, it’s being dubbed an “experience,” not an exhibition or play area, although it’s thankfully one aimed at the littlest scientists.

“Through dozens of puzzles and mazes, you’ll discover surprises around every corner and new methods of problem-solving through improvisation, trial and error, observation and testing, and logic and reasoning,” organizers wrote. In other words: family-friendly activities, 3-D puzzles and “full-body games,” including a giant Maze of Illusions, Junior Explorer Music Maze, Web Maze, Puzzle Maze, Colorado Maze and more.

“Mazes & Brain Games” is included with museum admission, $14-$20, and free for kids under 3. It runs 9 a.m-5 p.m., and most Fridays 9 a.m.-9 p.m., at 2001 Colorado Blvd. 303-370-6000 or dmns.org

Against the biggest odds, #LoveWins

Friday and Saturday. Despite recent and deeply depressing news coming out of Washington about women’s health, a different group of women — namely, Denver Women’s Chorus — is looking back positively with “#LoveWins,” the story of LGBTQ victories “and the work we still have to do.”