See Hear Do: Great Scott!

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.

Laura Esbensen’s work isn’t for the faint of heart. Or stomach, spleen, or kidney. The San Diego- and Las Vegas-based artist’s paintings and sculptures put the organ in organic, juxtaposing pulpous, pulsating pink and red blobs with hard-edged, heavy construction materials, hinting at the vulnerability of a living thing, recently excised from its host. In this new show, Esbensen says, a study of mutilation and revival draws out the idea that the grotesque, before it is horror or alien, is simply and beautifully a sum of parts. Wondering what that means? Ask the artist at the opening reception, 6-8 p.m. on October 3.

Exhibit runs through December 13.

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.

Have you met ‘the one’? Your true love? Love of your life? If you have, but then lost them, and fear you’ll never find that special connection again — you’ll want to hear André Aciman reading from two of his books: the unapologetically heartbreaking novel Call Me By Your Name and the brand new memoir My Roman Year.

UNLV will be hosting something live and special for the Pixar classic Coco. With Miguel, Hector, and the whole cast singing and conversing, the Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México will handle the soundtrack live.

Head northwest to Big Dog’s and its beloved Dogtoberfest, complete with both (Nevada and out-of-state) beers and brats — and a costume contest for dogs and their owners.

Nuwu Art Gallery + Community Center and nonprofit Indigenous AF host Luis Varela-Rico for his first solo exhibition, which opened with a splash in September, as Varela-Rico’s huge skull-centric sculpture made the trek straight from Burning Man to downtown Las Vegas, just in time to serve as the show’s centerpiece. If you missed that, fret not. On Friday, October 18, at 6 p.m. the artist will be back at Nuwu for a closing reception and discussion of his evolution from skilled tradesman to celebrated metalworker. (Hint: Get there early, as gallery owner Fawn Douglas says the event will fill up. But also note, there will be overflow space with speakers outside.)

Exhibit runs through October 26.

Geek is king in pop culture, especially when it comes to the dominance of the Marvel Universe and Japanese animation at the global box office. So it’s no surprise that Las Vegas has its own event dedicated to comic/graphic storytelling, representations, and memorabilia. The offerings for this free event include discussions and demonstrations by various comic book authors, illustrators, and other media professionals devoted to the larger comic world; drawing/writing workshops; various film screenings and performances; and vendors hawking comics/graphic novels, collectibles, and food.

Discuss: If the Romanovs hadn’t been toppled by the Bolshevik Revolution, would Russia be better off today? They were dethroned, of course, after ruling Russia for three centuries. Was it their own fault, or proof of that axiom: Absolute power corrupts absolutely? Had they fostered the class division — depicted poignantly in 1925’s Strike by Sergei Eisenstein — that led to their own downfall? Even if those questions aren’t answered, considering the current geopolitical landscape, this lecture and conversation promises to be worthwhile.

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.