Our entertainment and events highlights this week include scares and laughs courtesy of everyone from Freddy Kreuger to Amy Schumer.
October 16 2015 6:21 PM EST
October 16 2015 2:22 AM EST
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Our entertainment and events highlights this week include scares and laughs courtesy of everyone from Freddy Kreuger to Amy Schumer.
Geek out, listen, watch, read, yaaaas, and scream with the 7 things that are everything this week.
Jem and the Holograms Cookie Cutters
Yes, you need these. Celebrate the release of the new Jem and the Holograms movie next week with these artful cookie cutters -- you'll be the envy of all your Gen X friends. Click here to order.
Room
Don't miss the powerful retelling of out author Emma Donoghue's best-selling novel, in theaters Friday. Donoghue also wrote Room's screenplay -- a dark and emotionally-wrought tale of a young woman being held hostage in a small shed, raising a son born to her through rape. The tiny space "Ma" and her child, Jack, occupy becomes the world in its entirety, and is one of safety and wonder to the little boy. Brie Larson portrays the wary Ma, who tries to shield her son from reality until, finally, it becomes unbearable. It's a difficult film, but there is catharsis. Excellent writing, direction, and acting, especially from Jacob Tremblay as Jack -- and Larson, who may deservedly get an Oscar nomination. If you're in Los Angeles, Larson and director Lenny Abrahamson host a Q&A on Friday and Saturday nights at the Arclight Hollywood theater.
Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street
Out Nightmare on Elm Street 2 star Mark Patton takes a deep dive into the queer subtext of the horror classic -- and the real-life nightmare he endured as a gay actor working in the homophobic realm of 1980s Hollywood -- in his upcoming documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street. A Kickstarter campaign is currently under way to offset some of the final costs associated with producing the film, and several fabulous rewards are available for those who support the project. Sink your claws into the video below.
READ: Welcome to Night Vale
Fans of Welcome to Night Vale -- a wildly popular podcast about a fictional desert town and its strange, supernatural occurrences -- love the series for its angels, aliens, ghosts, and government conspiracies. But they also its diversity. Its narrator, a radio host named Cecil, is dating a scientist named Carlos, and the town is populated with queer characters that often blur the lines of gender. At long last, a book inspired by events in the series will be released October 20, and its characters -- a questioning youth who shifts physical forms, a biracial mother trying to crack a conspiracy, Hooded Figures lurking in the dog park, and Old Woman Josie, who keeps the company of angels -- continue to prove that all, indeed, are welcome to Night Vale. Whether they like it or not. Find out more at welcometonightvale.com.
GO: We Are the Tigers
This world premiere musical about a rivalry-ridden cheerleading squad combines elements of mean-girls stories and teen horror movies to come up with a fresh, often hilarious, and sometimes moving tale of trying to survive high school. Wunderkind Rebekah M. Allen wrote the book, music, and lyrics, and a talented cast performs under the direction of Michael Bello. It's playing on weekends now through November 8 at Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles; click here for tickets and here for more info on the show.
GO: Athlete Ally Action Awards 2015
Michael Sam, Dr. Renee Richards, NBA's Grant Hill, and Salesforce are this year's honorees at the Athlete Ally Action Awards, a fundraiser that will "recognize those who took pioneering actions in 2015 to eliminate homophobia and transphobia in sports and champion LGBT equality." Held October 20 at the tony 40/40 Club in New York, the event will support the services of Athlete Ally, which works to make sports communities in schools, professional leagues, and the Olympics more inclusive. Get tickets here.
YAAAAAS! Amy Schumer: Live From the Apollo
The always provocative, supremely talented Amy Schumer headlines her first HBO stand-up comedy special, directed by Chris Rock and taped before an audience at New York City's famed Apollo Theater. Schumer's act romises to be wickedly insightful and uproariously funny. Premieres Saturday at 10 p.m. Eastern.