Trust Us

[Trust Us]

Dam Short Film Festival, Pod Tours America and other stuff to do this week

Image
The Dam Short Film Festival runs February 8-11 in Boulder City.
Illustration: James Adams / Courtesy Dam Short Film Fest
  • TV Party Tonight at Double Down Saloon

    Storied punk DJs, vinyl enthusiasts and human rock ’n’ roll encyclopedias Atomic and Fish host the punk-related film event TV Party Tonight, and they’re celebrating three successful revolutions around the sun with a birthday edition of the monthly Double Down screening. For February, the guys have chosen the 2016 Jim Jarmusch-directed documentary Gimme Danger, which chronicles the rise of formidable ’60s punks The Stooges and the band’s fearless leader, Iggy Pop. That’ll be followed by a performance by Vegas three-piece, The Pluralses. February 8, 9 p.m., Free. –Leslie Ventura

  • Dam Short Film Festival at Boulder Theatre

    Now in its 14th year, Boulder City’s Dam Short Film Festival has grown into one of the country’s preeminent showcases for the underrated art of the short film. This year’s edition will bring more than 120 shorts to the historic Boulder Theatre over the course of four days.

    The festival has always been a strong supporter of local filmmakers, and this year will feature two programs highlighting homegrown talent (February 9, 7:30 p.m.; February 10, 7:45 p.m.). They’ll feature new work from veteran local filmmakers including Eric West, Robert Shupe and Hunter Hopewell, along with documentaries on subjects like the Moulin Rouge, the Mount Charleston ecosystem and rural fireworks sales.

    This year also sees the return of the new music video program (February 9, 9:15 p.m.), plus reliable favorites including the edgy Underground (February 10, 9:15 p.m.), the diverse animation block (February 10, 1:45 p.m.) and genre programs for horror (February 8, 9 p.m.) and sci-fi (February 9, 5:15 p.m.). If you can only make it to one screening, hold out for the Best of the Fest (February 11, 8 p.m.), which distills the award-winners into a single program that will make you want to come back for the entire festival next year. February 8-11, $10 per screening; $35-$100 passes, damshortfilm.org. –Josh Bell

  • Sounds from Twilight at Reynolds Hall

    No, the Las Vegas Philharmonic isn’t paying tribute to Edward and Bella. This Smith Center concert celebrates the “magic” of dusk with Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Opus 92,” Robert Schumann’s “Violin Concerto” and “Sylvan,” composed by Las Vegan Michael Torke. February 10, 7:30 p.m., $30-$109. –Spencer Patterson

  • Pod Tours America at The Joint

    This is the true story of four former aides to President Barack Obama—Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer and Tommy Vietor—who, in the wake of the election of Donald Trump, decided to put their funny, freewheeling weekly discussions about national politics into a podcast called Pod Save America. A quick look at the episode titles indicates both how they feel about the current administration (“Paul Ryan’s Sh*t Sandwich,” “A Human Centipede of Obstruction,” “An Insult to Banana Republics”) and the lengths to which they’ll go to wring humor from this slow-motion apocalypso. Now they’re coming to Vegas to have their conversation live onstage—and we’ll find out what happens these four human flamethrowers stop streaming time-shifted and start getting real. February 11, 8 p.m., $60-$70. –Geoff Carter

  • Lisa Ko at UNLV

    Eleven-year-old Deming lives with his mother in a cramped NYC apartment—until she’s deported, leaving a family to adopt the boy. In the timely, acclaimed novel The Leavers, Lisa Ko explores the immigrant experience and identity issues—which she’ll surely discuss Monday evening. February 12, 7 p.m., Free, Beverly Rogers Literature and Law Building, Room 101. –Mike Prevatt

  • 3 Plays to catch this month

    Throughout February, three of Las Vegas’ premiere theater companies explore questions posed by war, racism and fear.

    He should’ve been a pro baseball player, but Troy Maxson was held back by segregation. A sanitation worker with an athletic son, Tony and his family navigate their relationships, regrets and opportunities in Fences. Nevada Conservatory Theatre brings August Wilson’s Pulitzer- and Tony-winning play to UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theater. “It’s an important opportunity to see a piece of American history onstage,” director Harry Waters Jr. says in a promotional video. February 9-18, $28-$33.

    Las Vegas Little Theatre presents Time Stands Still by Pulitzer-winning playwright Donald Margulies. Journalists Sarah and James have returned home from the war in Iraq. Now they must navigate their relationship while licking their wounds. The New York Times describes Margulies as “gifted at creating complex characters through wholly natural interaction, allowing the emotional layers, the long histories, the hidden kernels of conflict to emerge organically.” February 9-25, $15.

    Majestic Repertory Theatre will host the premiere play produced by Aces High Productions, a theater company founded and run by UNLV students. Senior Myles Lee directs This Is Our Youth, a play about three people coming of age in 1982. It’s still fresh today. “The play speaks powerfully about the issues facing youth culture—from social, political, and emotional places,” Lee says. February 8-11, various times, $15. –C. Moon Reed

    Share
    Photo of Las Vegas Weekly Staff

    Las Vegas Weekly Staff

    Las Vegas Weekly Staff

    Get more Las Vegas Weekly Staff
    • The Tony Award-winning musical “Follies” will take the stage at Access Showroom at Aliante Casino & Hotel for six performances starting on April 11.

    • Since opening at the Linq Promenade in March 2014, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas has been a destination for some of the best and most under-appreciated ...

    • Sagittarius, for your own selfish sake, you need to pour out more adoration and care and compassion than you ever have before.

    • Get More A&E Stories
    Top of Story