Sean Christopher Lewis and Tim Budd in Riverside Theatre's True WestAs of this writing, area venues have announced the titles to a collective 70 plays and musicals opening between August 31 and November 30. You wanna know my favorite title? Theatre Cedar Rapids' The Time When Presley and Mrs. Luther Took a Stand in the Alley, Kinda Sorta. It's the Kinda Sorta that makes it priceless.

Posing Beauty in African-American CultureExhibit

Posing Beauty in African-American Culture

Figge Art Museum

Saturday, September 8, through Sunday, November 4

 

According to the famed English poet John Keats, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." According to its Web site, the Figge Art Museum's new exhibit Posing Beauty in African-American Culture runs from September 8 through November 4.

Such a dirty, rotten liar, that Keats.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Michael Shannon in Premium RushPREMIUM RUSH

Anyone who's ever wanted to perfect an imitation of Michael Shannon - fearless, ferocious, crazy-as-a-shithouse-rat Michael Shannon - is advised to catch the action thriller Premium Rush, because director David Koepp's movie finds the familiar character actor doing a pretty spectacular imitation of himself.

Rodney Swain, Brad Hauskins, Jennifer Diab, Andrea Moore, Sara Nicks, Bret Churchill, Jan Schmall, Marc Ciemiewicz, and Laura Hammes in The World Goes 'RoundThe fleet, funny noir opening to the Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse's Bootlegger revue The World Goes 'Round is actually quite misleading, as it bears almost no resemblance to the show that follows. Yet rarely have I been so happy to be misled, because the show that follows is a real beauty - thoughtful and nuanced and serious, and oftentimes boasting a gravity and sadness that, coming from the Circa '21 stage, feels legitimately shocking.

Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Terry Crews in The Expendables 2THE EXPENDABLES 2

If home viewings of The Expendables 2 are one day turned into a drinking game, and I pray that they are, one of the rules has to be that you chug every time the film employs a thudding cliché from the '80s, either directly or indirectly. A plot involving stolen weapons-grade plutonium? Drink! A team of he-men astonished that a new female recruit can actually do something? Drink! Dolph Lundgren wrestling with a Rubik's Cube? Drink twice!

Sara King and Kelly Lohrenz in Next to NormalTheatre

Next to Normal

District Theatre

Friday, August 24, through Sunday, September 9

 

Occasionally, I'll recommend an emotionally wrenching movie or play to friends and family members, and invariably, after they've sobbed their way through the entertainment, they'll hit me with "Why didn't you tell me I'd need tissues for that thing?!" Well, the District Theatre is opening Next to Normal on August 24, and while I haven't yet seen this musical on-stage, its Broadway soundtrack is also emotionally wrenching. If you listen to the CD, though, I'm here to tell you that it doesn't require tissues. It requires a freakin' squeegee.

Zach Galifianakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dyan McDermott, and Will Ferrell in The CampaignTHE CAMPAIGN

As the movie's trailers have been running since what feels like the last presidential campaign, it's understandable if viewers enter the Will Ferrell/Zach Galifianakis political spoof The Campaign worried that all of the hilarious bits have already been spoiled for them. The wonderful surprise of director Jay Roach's comedy, however, is that they haven't - not unless viewers have somehow been privy to a trailer that lasts 85 minutes.

Colin Farrell in Total RecallTOTAL RECALL

Beyond its rather stunning scenic design, the best thing about director Len Wiseman's new Total Recall update is Kate Beckinsale, which is pretty surprising, considering that this admittedly capable, inarguably gorgeous performer really hasn't been the best thing about any of her previous movies.

Zac Brown BandMusic

The Zac Brown Band

i wireless Center

Friday, August 3, 7 p.m.

 

The country-music superstars of the Zac Brown Band will play the i wireless center on August 3, and among the group's output is the 2012 CD You Get What You Give. Considering what the band has been giving over the years, it's no wonder they've been getting so much!

Richard Ayoade, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill in The WatchTHE WATCH

A buddy and I caught a Friday-morning screening of The Watch along with roughly a dozen others, and before the end credits rolled, only four of us were still in the auditorium. Professional obligations were keeping me at director Akiva Schaffer's comedy and I was my friend's ride, but for the life of me, I can't fathom what prevented those other two patrons from bolting. Lethargy? Politeness? Morbid curiosity?

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