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[2017 Fall A&E Guide]

2017 Fall A&E Guide: Cultural happenings

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Super Summer Theater: Young Frankenstein (Through September 23, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park) Mel Brooks adapted his 1974 comedy to the musical stage 10 years ago, but it’s getting a boost now thanks to a London revival. Try to get through this SST production without shouting “Blücher!” Or don’t.

Jennifer Kleven: Urban Naturalism, Again (Through October 12, Winchester Cultural Center Gallery) The last time Kleven tackled this subject matter, she gave us photographic studies of cell phone towers disguised as trees, covered with birds painstakingly painted on with correction fluid. Who knows where she’ll take us next?

Las Vegas Philharmonic: Don Juan (September 9, Reynolds Hall) Donato Cabrera conducts Strauss’ Don Juan, Adams’ Common Tones in Simple Time and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Opus 15. If you’ve never heard the Phil, this opening-night program is a great starting place.

Raymond Pettibon (September 14-November 3, MCQ Fine Art) If ever you’ve admired a Sonic Youth album cover or drawn the Black Flag logo on a denim jacket, you know the distinctive black-and-white work of this illustrator. Don’t miss this rare retrospective of his work.

Anthony Bondi: The Art of Anthony Bondi (September 15-November 11, Sahara West Library Studio) Bondi has played a vital role in building our city’s cultural identity—no wonder Anthony Bourdain had him speak for Vegas on CNN’s Parts Unknown. This true Vegas original does absolutely stunning collage work.

Broadway Las Vegas: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (September 19-24, Reynolds Hall) A brilliant young outsider is falsely accused and sets out to clear his name. War Horse director Marianne Elliott creates an immersive experience that puts the viewer inside the protagonist’s unique mind in this Tony award-winning play.

Matt & Mattingly’s Scoopfest Vegas ’17 (September 22-24, the Space) Local comedians Matt Donnelly and Paul Mattingly are expanding their hit podcast (Matt & Mattingly’s Ice Cream Social) into a three-day festival featuring comedy, variety shows, live podcasts and appearances by magician/podcaster Penn Jillette.

Preservation (September 29-January 20, Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art) This group show explores multiple aspects of preservation—of nature, of the man-made, of the intangible. It features a murderer’s row of great contemporary artists, working in mediums ranging from sound to sculpture to stereoscopic 3D.

Aces of Comedy: Tiffany Haddish (September 30, the Mirage) The rising star jokes about her experiences in foster care and with bullying and revenge. The late-night regular and star of The Carmichael Show just released an hourlong special on Showtime titled She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood.

Cockroach Theatre: Frankenstein (October 5-29, Art Square Theatre) This 2011 adaptation of Mary Shelley’s classic horror novel comes just in time for Halloween. Directors Gema Galiana and Anthony Nikolchev bring the monster story to life. Expect a harrowing tale that makes you think.

Cirque du Soleil & Nevada Ballet Theatre: A Choreographers’ Showcase (October 8, 14-15, Treasure Island) Once a year, these two Vegas institutions team for the ultimate creative collaboration. Their performers and choreographers have dreamt up magical new works for this 10th-anniversary edition.

Las Vegas Book Festival (October 21, Historic Fifth Street School) The LVBF isn’t just about appearances by name authors (though this year does bring Sharon Draper and Daniel “Lemony Snicket” Handler). It’s also a terrific family event—one that educates and entertains with the same deft touch.

Las Vegas Little Theatre: The Motherf*cker With the Hat (November 3-19, LVLT Black Box) Stephen Adly Guirgis’ 2011 play illustrates how tough it is to achieve redemption—and why you should always pick up after yourself. LVLT will show you just how much trouble a forgotten hat can cause.

The Believer presents: Chris Kraus (November 15, the Writer’s Block) The host Downtown book shop and Black Mountain Institute present a reading by Kraus titled Radical Art & Unraveling Legends. You know her from the groundbreaking Amazon show I Love Dick, based off her first novel.

Plus!

Black & White: Drawings, Prints, Photos (Through October 28, Priscilla Fowler Fine Art); Carolyn Walden celebrates Nina Simone (September 17, Cabaret Jazz); Dave Hickey art lecture (September 25, Barrick Museum of Art); Branden & James: From Bach to Bieber (October 8, the Space); Day of the Dead (October 18-November 8, Winchester Cultural Center Gallery); iLuminate (October 22, Reynolds Hall); Signature Productions: Oliver (October 24-November 18, Summerlin Library); Majestic Repertory Theatre: An Octoroon (November 2-19, Alios); Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival (November 4, Clark County Library); Sin City Opera: Mostly Mozart (November 4-5, Winchester Cultural Center); Nevada Ballet Theatre: Classic Americana (November 11-12, Reynolds Hall).

Crack a Book

You Can’t Spell America Without Me: The Really Tremendous Inside Story of My Fantastic First Year as President Donald J. Trump by Alec Baldwin and Kurt Andersen (November 7)

A Legacy of Spies by John Le Carré (September 5)

Gangster Nation by Tod Goldberg (September 12)

The Origin of Others by Toni Morrison (September 19)

I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street by Matt Taibbi (October 24)

Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffsby Rachel Jeffs (November 14)

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