Fall Culture Guide 2024: Theater and Dance

In a city known for its big budget, on-Strip productions, it’s refreshing to find something smaller, friendlier, and local-er. Don’t get it twisted, however — that description of Majestic Repertory’s Scream’d musical only refers to the theater in which it’s held. The show itself is a viral sensation, which has drawn national acclaim for its irreverent take on the 1996 cult horror film of a similar name. Company director Troy Heard and the rest of the Majestic Rep team hope to keep the spooky, goofy, gory fun — now in its second year — going gangbusters for another season.

It’s often said that dance is universal. After all, there’s very little barrier — language or otherwise — between dancing partners performing a pas de deux or tango. Together 8 embodies this idea, as a celebration of the 16-year-long relationship between UNLV Dance and Korea National Sport University in Seoul. Catch the performance, whose ensemble features half UNLV and half KNSU dancers, here in Vegas, before it travels to South Korea.

Those familiar with Southern Nevada’s dance scene know to expect Contemporary West Dance Theatre’s “Fall in Love” series each autumn. In a city like Las Vegas, where acts tend toward burning hot and bright before fizzling out, CWDT’s revue has been a community mainstay. This year, the show’s marking its 17th anniversary with featured works such as Bradley Shelver’s Babel, Thang Dao’s Liminal Flux, and artistic director Bernard H. Gaddis’ Valse.

A classic take on a romantic mainstay, Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Cinderella promises to be a very demure, very mindful take on fairy tale love. It’s choreographed by the famed Ben Stevenson, who imparts a certain American practicality and straightforwardness to the ornate music by Sergei Prokofiev.

Representations of female friendships in media can be a mixed bag: Sometimes these portrayals are framed as catty and vapid, other times they’re shown to be empowering. Lauren Gunderson, playwright of The Half-Life of Marie Curie, opted for the latter route in her depiction of the relationship between famed scientist Marie Curie and inventor Hertha Ayrton. As rumors of an alleged affair on Curie’s part spread, she decides to weather the storm with Ayrton. Cue: an emotional saga marked by antisemitism, sexism, and grief.

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I like my nostalgia strong. Mega-dosed. Over the top. So, I will be early in line for tickets to the musical rendition of 1985’s Back to the Future, which proffers all this and more. Rounding out a decent score and top-notch cast will be a special element of fun for fans of practical stage effects (think, the helicopter in Miss Saigon): the iconic flying DeLorean, whose scenes almost steal the show. (AD) Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center, times vary, $40-200, thesmithcenter.com 

Politics fatigue this time of year is palpable, so you’re forgiven for feeling hesitant to see a play about a municipal council meeting. But A Public Fit’s performance of The Minutes, Tracy Letts’ Tony and Pulitzer award nominated dark comedy, injects a much-needed dose of levity into the travails and frustrations of small-town politicking. It may not quite cure the election cycle blues, but dang it if it won’t come close.

With Dita Von Teese’s oh-so-glamorous strip tease arriving, slaying, and then closing earlier this year, burlesque is certainly in the Sin City zeitgeist. But before Dita took Vegas, Tease: A Burlesque Revue had been regularly honoring the burlesque craft (and providing a stage for new artists) for years. This performance features Charlie Quinn Starling, the comic book-inspired diva herself.

It's quarterly fundraiser for the nonprofit Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum, which works to preserve, celebrate, and share the art of burlesque...and inspire future performers!

Picture this: You’re the proud new owner of a country home, soon to be a cozy little B&B. Unfortunately, it becomes obvious that you’re not the only occupant. Naturally, paranormal podcasters are called in to suss out the spooky happenings.

They end up unearthing disturbing secrets both in the home’s past, and in themselves. If this tale sounds familiar, you’ve probably seen A Skeptic and a Bruja before. If not, the NCT production this Halloween season promises to be roller-ghoster of emotion.

Few may know that comedian and Netflix favorite Jo Koy attended UNLV briefly and even cut his comedy teeth in Las Vegas playing at the Huntridge Theater and the MGM. Now, he’s bringing his “Just Being Koy” tour back home, as he adds two-time T-Mobile headliner to his already impressive résumé. His brand of raunchy, honest, self-deprecatory comedy might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those with whom Koy’s humor resonates, this show should be as good as live comedy gets.

Scratch your romcom itch with something more erudite than flipping on E! or the Hallmark Channel: See a live performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Why? The Rainbow Company Youth Theatre’s version of the show has mistaken identity, puns (and lots of them), gender bending, enduring love, strong female leads, and iconic lines such as “If music be the food of love, play on.” Because it combines so many classic Shakespearean tropes, it’s a representation of the rest of the playwright’s comedy folio, making it a good place to start for those who are Bard-curious.

Only 60 minutes — that’s the amount of time an audience member needs to get well-acquainted with CSN’s dance program, especially if those 60 minutes are spent watching the college’s Fall Dance Festival, which showcases the best folklorico, ballet, contemporary, West African, and modern dance performances students and their mentors have to offer. The celebration of artistic movement packs heavy-hitting choreographers this year, from faculty members such as Denise Darnell to former Cirque du Soliel choreographer Kishema Pendu Malik.

Shrek: The Musical has stood the test of time since its 2008 debut, when it first told audiences to “let their freak flags fly.” Based on the earlier, eponymous DreamWorks film, the musical has so many key elements of good theater: complex characters with compelling arcs, a lively plot, an incredibly solid musical score, and (not as crucial, but still nice to have) plenty of snappy one-liners. Consider this your best chance to see Lord Farquaad in real life, kneepads and all.

Disclaimer: As an Annie myself, I recognize the importance of curbing my enthusiasm for this recommendation. But, to be fair, my excitement goes beyond mere bias. The character of Little Orphan Annie is celebrating her 100th birthday this year, and there’s a reason why she and her story haven’t lost their appeal to me and generations of other fans: themes of overcoming adversity, the importance of kindness, and an optimistic message are evergreen.

The rumor has persisted for centuries that Good Queen Bess commissioned Shakespeare to pen The Merry Wives of Windsor, desiring to see the affable Sir John Falstaff (of Henry IV fame) get his own love story. And love story it sort of is, as the two Windsor wives whom Sir John has set his heart upon decide to out him as a lecher. This is one of the Bard’s less well-known works, so it’s a treat to see it staged by any company, let alone the always-entertaining Nevada Conservatory Theatre.