TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening

Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News
·8 min read

This week in West Alabama, Oct. 19-25, the Monster Makeover holds its closing party Friday at Harrison Galleries; the musical revue "Some Enchanted Evening," featuring songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein, continues, as performed by Theatre Tuscaloosa in the Bama Theatre; Tech or Treat; Haunting at the Alabama Museum of Natural History; "Bram Stoker's Dracula" at the Bama, and more.

MUSIC

THURSDAY

The Tuscaloosa Big Band: 6:30-9:30 p.m., free, at the Venue Tuscaloosa on Watermelon Road. Chairs are available, or bring your own. The TBB comprises 18 retired and current musicians who enjoy performing big band jazz and swing, with both male and female vocalists. www.tuscaloosabigband.com. www.venuetuscaloosa.com/events.

FRIDAY

Reed Brake: 6-9 p.m., free, at the Venue Tuscaloosa on Watermelon Road. Chairs are available, or bring your own. www.venuetuscaloosa.com/events.

Liz and the Grand Tour: 7-10 p.m., Grandstand, 2209 Fourth St., downtown Tuscaloosa. www.lizgrandtour.com.

SUNDAY

Velcro Pygmies: 9:30 p.m., Rhythm & Brews, 2308 Fourth St., downtown Tuscaloosa. www.rhythmandbrewstuscaloosa.com.

The Get Down, with Cha Wa, Shaheed and DJ Supreme, students from the Firehouse Community Arts Center: 1-6 p.m., free, Avondale Park, 4113 Fifth Ave. S., Birmingham. Vendors, food and drink will be on-site. Sponsored by Seasick Records and Left Hand Soap Co.

LOCAL EVENTS

ONGOING-NOV. 9

"Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour": Concert film being shown at various times through Nov. 9, at Sidewalk Cinema, 1821 Second Ave. N., Birmingham. www.sidewalkfest.com/events/taylorswifttheerastour.

Druid City Brewing Company will host an F-Zero Grand Prix tournament Thursday night.
Druid City Brewing Company will host an F-Zero Grand Prix tournament Thursday night.

THURSDAY

Tecia McLaughlin for E&H Open Book Club: 5:30 p.m., virtual meeting with McLaughlin, discussing her debut novel, "Beseeched." Register via www.tinyurl.com/4ft6xc3r.

F-Zero Grand Prix tournament: 6-9:30 p.m., Druid City Brewing Co., 700 14th St., Parkview Plaza, Tuscaloosa. Practice on three systems will begin at 6. Qualifying races at 7, with the Grand Prix finals at 9.

The national touring company of the musical "Mean Girls," based on the Tina Fey movie, continues its run at the BJCC Concert Hall through Oct. 22
The national touring company of the musical "Mean Girls," based on the Tina Fey movie, continues its run at the BJCC Concert Hall through Oct. 22

THURSDAY-SUNDAY

"Mean Girls": Musical, presented by Broadway in Birmingham, BJCC Concert Hall, Birmingham. Tickets, $49 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.bjcc.org.

THURSDAY-FRIDAY, SUNDAY

"Some Enchanted Evening — The Songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein": Performed by Theatre Tuscaloosa, in a version of the musical revue it took to Schorndorf, Germany, in 2000 as part of Tuscaloosa's sister city festivities, in the Bama Theatre. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with a 2 p.m. closing matinee Sunday. Tickets $24 general; $20 for seniors 60 and up, military, and Shelton State employees; $16 children; $8 Shelton students. www.theatretusc.com.

FRIDAY

The Monster Makeover Halloween-themed art event returns for 2023, at the Harrison Galleries downtown. Closing party, with silent auction, will be Oct. 20.
The Monster Makeover Halloween-themed art event returns for 2023, at the Harrison Galleries downtown. Closing party, with silent auction, will be Oct. 20.

"Monster Makeover": The Halloween-themed art event, featuring monsters drawn by 25 first- through third-graders from The Capitol School, alongside grown artists' reinterpretations of the student's work, has returned for 2023. Created by The Tuscaloosa News in 2010, the Monster Makeover alternates between public and private schools in the county, and features a wide range of local and regional artists working in paint, sculpture, fabric and more. The exhibit is on display in Harrison Galleries, Inc. 2315 University Blvd., downtown Tuscaloosa, during Harrison's regular hours, through Oct. 20. There'll be a closing party 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday. Funds raised from the silent auction of art works will be used to continue funding the Arts in Education Grant portion of the Community Foundation of West Alabama.

Mermaids are among the myriad cryptids rising into view as the Monster Makeover art exhibit and auction returns for 2023. The closing party, with silent auction of both kids' and adults' artwork, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, in Harrison Galleries downtown.
Mermaids are among the myriad cryptids rising into view as the Monster Makeover art exhibit and auction returns for 2023. The closing party, with silent auction of both kids' and adults' artwork, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, in Harrison Galleries downtown.

Matthew Minicucci book launch and signing: 5:30-7 p.m., Ernest and Hadley Booksellers, 1928 Seventh St., downtown Tuscaloosa. Minicucci will be launching his latest book of poetry, "Dual." RSVP on eventbrite to help organizers provide chairs and snacks, at www.tinyurl.com/jmhmn3hs. www.ernestandhadleybooks.com.

SATURDAY

John Ryland author signing: Noon-4 p.m., Barnes and Noble, Midtown Viallage, 1938 McFarland Blvd. E., Tuscaloosa.

University of Alabama Crimson Tide plays the Tennessee Volunteers: 2:30 p.m., Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa. Broadcast on CBS; streaming through Paramount+ and fubo.tv.

MONDAY

This Could Be You: Comedy show with open-mic, 8-11 p.m., Black Warrior Brewing Co., 2216 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa. Signup at 7:30. Hosted by Stand-Up Tuscaloosa and Compton Smith.

TUESDAY

Tech or Treat: 6-8 p.m. Tuscaloosa Gateway, 2614 University Blvd. E. Similar to trunk or treat, families collect candy at tables that also introduce STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) interactive events. Free and open to all. Children must be accompanied by an adult. www.tuscaloosa.com/techortreat.

Gary Oldman stakes out the title role in "Bram Stoker's Dracula."
Gary Oldman stakes out the title role in "Bram Stoker's Dracula."

"Bram Stoker's Dracula"(1992), rated R: 7 p.m., Bama Theatre. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on Stoker's novel "Dracula" (1897), in which the centuries-old vampire travels to England to court new blood. Starring Gary Oldman as the head bloodsucker, Winona Ryder as Mina Murray, Anthony Hopkins as Professor Van Helsing, Keanu Reeves as Jonathan Harker, Richard E. Grant as Dr. Seward, Sadie Frost as Lucy Westenra, Cary Elwes as Lord Holmwood, and Tom Waits as Renfield. Rotten Tomatoes score: 78% Fresh, from 67 reviews; 79% audience score, from 250,000 plus ratings. The doors, box office and Bama Bar open at 6. Admission is $10 general, $9 for students and seniors, and $8 for Arts Council members. Season pass punch card tickets will be on sale for $70, good for any 10 films in any upcoming Bama Art House film series.

12th Annual Night of the Living Drag Tour: 7:30 p.m., Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N., Birmingham, with Angeria, Denali, Icesis Couture, Jaida Essence Hall, Jorgeous, Plastique, Rosé, Tayce, and host Yvie Oddly as Rod Serling. Doors at 6:30, show at 7:30. Tickets, $42 and up, through www.ticketmaster.com. www.alabamatheatre.com.

WEDNESDAY

Haunting at the Alabama Museum of Natural History: 5-7 p.m., free, Smith Hall, UA campus. Appearance by Big Al, costume contest, "Mad Scientist Experiments," crafts and other activiites. During weekdays, from Monday-Oct 27, the museum will have candy, a scavenger hunt, and specially designed lighting by Lyndell McDonald. Though the after-hours event is free, during the week, general admission is $5 general, $3 for K-12 students, and free for children 5 and under. Families with kids in costume will also be admitted free during the week.

UPCOMING

Tusk calendar
Tusk calendar

OCT. 27: Kidz Bop, 7 p.m., Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Tickets for $65, $55, $45, $35 and $25, through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater box office. For more, see www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com.

A celebration of all things Chukker will be held Oct. 27-28 at Druid City Brewing Company, 20 years to the weekend after the city's long-running oldest bar closed its doors, Oct. 31, 2003. Numerous bands will play, including some reuniting just for the event.
A celebration of all things Chukker will be held Oct. 27-28 at Druid City Brewing Company, 20 years to the weekend after the city's long-running oldest bar closed its doors, Oct. 31, 2003. Numerous bands will play, including some reuniting just for the event.

OCT. 27-28: Chukker Weekender two-day celebration, Druid City Brewing Co., featuring live music, poetry, comedy, visual arts, yoga and more. Among the bands playing/reuniting: Club Wig, the Penetrators, the Irascibles, Model Citizen, Sweat Bee, the Crying Jags, Henri's Notions, the Dexateens, the DTs, Instant Karma, Blip, Hooper, Che Arthur, Tommy Sorrells and more. The event will celebrate the late lamented Chukker, home to artists, musicians, writers, and other oddballs from 1956 until a forced closing, Halloween night 2003. There's an online fundraiser set up to keep the weekender free, and to help pay for some pre-show artists' costs and setup, at www.gofundme.com/f/support-chukker-weekender-2023.

OCT. 28: Pink Box Burlesque's 16th annual "Rocky Horror" show, 8 p.m., Bama Theatre. Doors at 7, costume contest at 8, interactive show with movie 8:30 p.m. Prop bags will be available while supplies last and include Bama-approved props. Outside prop bags are not allowed in the historic Bama. General admission is $22; admission plus prop bag is $28. www.pinkboxburlesque.com.

NOV. 7: Foreigner, Loverboy, 7 p.m., Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Tickets for $119.50, $99.50, $79.50, $59.50, and $39.50, plus fees and taxes, through www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Amp box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more, see www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com.

NOV. 13: "Moonlit Melodies," the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra's annual chamber-music concert, 7 p.m., $30 to $40 (students free), First Presbyterian Church, 900 Greensboro Ave., downtown Tuscaloosa. www.tsoonline.org.

NOV. 24: Holidays on the Plaza opens. Ice-skating rink and the Tinsel Trail (decorated trees) in Government Plaza, 618 21st Ave., downtown Tuscaloosa. Runs through the holiday season, and into the new year. Schedule, prices and more will go up at www.holidaysontheplaza.com.

DEC. 4: 47th Annual West Alabama Christmas Parade, "A Hometown Christmas," and county courthouse tree lighting, free and family-friendly. Tree lighting at 5:15; parade begins at 6:30, featuring floats, walking groups, marching bands, horse groups, and decorated vehicles.

DEC. 5: Dickens Downtown, 5-8 p.m., downtown Northport. The free, family-friendly event is a Victorian-style Christmas celebration inspired by Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The event will include decorated storefronts, costumed performers, an appearance by Father Christmas, snow machines, a tree lighting and more.

DEC. 7-10: Tuscaloosa Community Dancers will perform "The Nutcracker," Bama Theatre. www.tuscaloosadancers.com.

DEC. 10: Holiday Singalong, caroling in Capitol Park, free and family-friendly, returns after pandemic-driven hiatus. 1-2:30 p.m., with lyrics, song leaders and accompaniment provided.

DEC. 11: "Home for the Holidays," 7 p.m., tickets $30 to $40 (students free), Moody Concert Hall, UA campus, concert featuring the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, Alabama Choir School, UA Choral Department and Tuscaloosa Community Dancers. www.tsoonline.org.

APRIL 28, 2024: Riley Green, Tracy Lawrence and Ella Langley, 7:30 p.m. Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.com, and at the Amp box office, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway, for $89.50, $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, and $39.50, plus fees and taxes.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: TUSK CALENDAR: Who's playing and what's happening