Talking Art (September 3-December 3, Barrick Museum) The UNLV Art Department’s every-Thursday fall lecture series kicks off with LA’s Allison Miller, followed by Hyperallergic’s editor in chief and co-founder Hrag Vartanian a week later.
Viva Verdi! (September 9, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall). Opera Las Vegas delivers an evening of Verdi arias and ensembles (Aida, La Traviata, Rigoletto and Il Trovatore), featuring Metropolitan Opera baritone Daniel Sutin.
Beethoven & Brahms (September 12, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall) The Las Vegas Philharmonic opens its season with Dan Visconti’s “Breakdown,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73.
The Book of Mormon
P3Studio (At the Cosmopolitan) London-born/New York-based artist Shantell Martin brings her drawing skills to the Cosmo (September 16-October 11) for a residency, followed by Las Vegan Jesse Carson Smigel (October 14-November 8) and the Weekly’s own Mikayla Whitmore (November 11-December 6).
The Book of Mormon (September 22-October 18, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall) Back by demand. Irreverent, brilliant and kooky, Trey Parker’s and Matt Stone’s take on a pair of Mormon missionaries spreading the Good Word returns to Las Vegas for a second run.
Vegas Valley Book Festival (October 15-17, multiple locations) Journalists, novelists, critics, poets and storytellers of all types celebrate and discuss the literary arts, featuring local and national writers, including keynote speakers Brad Meltzer and Colum McCann.
Kveck, Russ & Stellmon: Breaks Ups & Tear Downs (October 23-January 23, Barrick Museum) A not-to-miss exhibit featuring the dynamic works of Las Vegas artists Wendy Kveck, JK Russ and the recently moved-away Erin Stellmon.
Well-Strung (October 24, UNLV’s Artemis W. Ham Hall) This hunky NYC string quartet romps it up on vocals and strings in performances of classical and contemporary pop.
A Balanchine Celebration (November 7-8, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall) Nevada Ballet Theatre presents an evening of Balanchine (“Serenade,” “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,” and “Who Cares?”) set to music by Tchaikovsky, Rodgers & Hart and Gershwin.
Simply Ella (November 13, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall) Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater celebrates Ella Fitzgerald with dance and vocal performances, including a duet from Clint Holmes and Reva Rice.
Pick to Click
Lula Washington Dance Theatre (September 16, Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall) The revered dance company is a worthy attraction on its own, but with Washington’s nephew and on-the-rise saxophonist Kamasi (and Marcus L. Miller) providing musical accompaniment, it’s a must-see cultural event. –Mike Prevatt
