Home Search

• Film

  Special Screenings

  American Graffiti (1973)

  One of the biggest myths in Hollywood is that George Lucas became a big deal with Star Wars. Well, only if you don’t count the massive critical and commercial success of his five-time Oscar-nominated ode to the teenage California car culture in which he grew up, all set to a diegetic soundtrack of the best of early Sixties American pop. Its seemingly aimless anti-structure, set across one night in Modesto, was a precursor to Slacker, and it matches Dazed and Confused for a packed cast of future stars, including Richard Dreyfuss, Harrison Ford, Suzanne Somers, Joe Spano, and Ron Howard in his first major “grownup” role after growing up onscreen in The Andy Griffith Show. But beyond the revving engines and that soundtrack, relayed to the world by legendary DJ Wolfman Jack, it’s Lucas’ most touching eulogy for the dying American dream. – Richard Whittaker

  May 28 - June 1

  Doc's Drive In Theatre

• Arts

  Dance

  Indonesian Angklung and Dance Performance

  Ah: the angklung! This Sundanese percussion instrument is formed by carving multiple bamboo tubes, which, after being attached to a frame, produce a particular pitch when struck. Each instrument is carved for one specific pitch, so often players form angklung ensembles in order to play multiple pitches. As AANHPI Heritage Month comes to a close, Indonesian cultural society Rumah Budaya Indonesia di Austin brings the instrument to the library where not only will you be able to enjoy the music that once honored rice goddess Dewi Sri but also take in traditional dance. – James Scott

  Sat., May 31

  North Village Branch Library

• Community

  Events

  Kerrville Folk Festival

  Since 1972, there’s only been one fest with the length (18 days!), the talent (Dale Watson! Fruition! Carsie Blanton!), and the craft-building (songwriting, guitar, and harmonica workshops all fest!) to bring everyone out into nature like Kerrville Folk Fest.

  May 22 - June 8

  Quiet Valley Ranch

• Qmmunity

  Nightlife & Parties

  Melanin Magic

  Join Austin's first all-POC drag show with elegant and extraordinary performers, hosted by the one and only Diamond Dior Davenport.

  Third Saturday of every month, 8-10pm and Sat., Nov. 25, 8-10pm

  Cheer Up Charlies

• Film

  Special Screenings

  Metropolis With Live Score by David DiDonato (1927)

  By playing original music live in a movie theatre to accompany the action onscreen, David DiDonato isn’t reinventing the wheel here; that’s just how things were done back in the silent film era. But they weren’t doing it on a double-neck electric guitar, that’s for sure. (Point DiDonato!) The Austin musician cycles through synthwave, dream pop, black metal, and more in his lively score for one of the all-time greats: Fritz Lang’s enduring sci-fi vision of a world where autocrats and automation conspire to keep the working class down. Hmm. If only there were some contemporary resonance there… – Kimberley Jones

  Sat., May 31

  Hyperreal Film Club

• Community

  Events

  Parish Presents: Butt Stuff Bingo

  No one is saying that traditional bingo is boring, but if you enjoy the bluer forms of (verbal) intercourse – and many do – Butt Stuff Bingo could be just right for you. BSB is an interactive game-show themed contest, but instead of grandma rules, with only one winner per contest, Butt Stuff gives multiple contestants the chance to win “novelty” prizes – dildos? – from “specialty” stores. Each night features an “adult re-imagined parody” of classic works like I Love Lucy, Dirty Dancing, or The Smurfs. – Brant Bingamon

  Every other Monday

  Parish

• Film

  Special Screenings

  Sunset Boulevard (1950)

  One of the best-loved Billy Wilder productions, Sunset Boulevard is a timeless tale of the greed and desperation Hollywood wreaks on its young acolytes as they age. It also set off a long practice of – to varying degrees performative and genuine – self-criticism among its elites. Gloria Swanson is glorious and tragic as the washed-up silent star Norma Desmond, atrophying in her mansion with her former director/husband and now faithful butler Max (Erich von Stroheim). Her quasi-exploitative relationship with young writer Joe (William Holden) lays bare the extent of her delusions, as crackling dialogue carries the viewer through the muck with Wilder and longtime collaborator Charles Brackett’s signature lightness. At the Paramount, it’s only fitting to see Norma the way she sees herself: “I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.” – Lina Fisher

  Mon., June 2

  Paramount Theatre

• Arts

  Theatre

  The Psych Ward and Other Misadventures

  I’m predisposed to enjoy comic Brian Dryer as he’s made jokes about Petoskey, Michigan – a place I assumed only existed to be where my nana got her heart surgery when I was 8. Nay, that mitten-set city also produced Dryer himself, whose Frontera Fest-featured solo stage show follows his mental health journey. A thrilling one-man march through “two unforgettable stints in the psych ward, an unexpected journey to Guatemala, and a whole lot of questionable choices,” Dryer’s comedic touches keep the mayhem from ever turning too melancholy. – James Scott

  Fri., May 30

  Sterling Stage

• Film

  Special Screenings

  Valley Girl (1983)

  Way back in 1983, Nicolas Cage had only one prior film credit in Fast Times at Ridgemont High – as Nicolas Coppola. A bold statement by AFS Cinema, then, that by his first starring role he “had achieved his final form already.” His Cage-ness is undeniable in this engaging Romeo & Juliet tale of a city punk enamored with a Valley girl (Deborah Foreman of Real Genius, April Fool’s Day), but was his final form really achieved four decades ago? See if you agree. – Kat McNevins

  May 26, 30-31 & June 1

  AFS Cinema