FILM
Selena – 7:30 PM, September 18-19: The true story of Selena Quintanilla-Perez, a Texas-born Tejano singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart topping albums on the Latin music charts. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena.
Welcome II the Terrordome – 7:30 PM, September 14: Vidiots is thrilled to welcome writer/director Ngozi Onwurah for a special 30th Anniversary screening of her visionary Afrofuturist gem Welcome II the Terrordome! Co-presented by our friends at Monkeypaw Productions and featuring a merch pop-up and limited giveaways!
Ngozi Onwurah’s radically ahead-of-its-time Afrofuturist vision Welcome II the Terrordome made history as the first theatrically distributed British feature directed by a Black woman. Nevertheless, it was largely dismissed upon its release by critics unable to see the urgency in its evocation of a gritty dystopia in which Black people have been relegated to living in a slum called the Terrordome, where simmering racial tension threatens to boil over in the wake of a young boy’s death. Over thirty years later, Onwurah’s fusion of political commentary and genre spectacle looks positively prescient, and her ability to build an entire cosmology that connects the history of slavery to present-day police brutality is nothing less than visionary. Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – 7:30 PM, September 16: Vidiots is easing our heartbreak over the loss of the eternal Goddess Dolly Parton with a special screening of her rootinest tootinest big screen musical extravaganza The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Texas has a whorehouse in it! Nothing spells big summer fun like a Dolly Parton musical about sex-workers fighting against the man! Dolly and Burt – two iconic caricatures of femininity and masculinity – star as the local madam and the local sheriff – and sometime lovers. When a big TV crusader Melvin P. Thorpe threatens to expose the Chicken Ranch to public scandal and close it down, Miss Mona doesn’t go down without a fight. Give in to the mesmerizing charisma of Dolly Parton singing such bangers as A Lil’ Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place, Sneakin’ Around, Hard Candy Christmas, and I Will Always Love You – not to mention the men’s locker room dance number – you will never look back! Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
Filipiñana – 7 PM, September 17-22: Join Vidiots in the microcinema for one of the best films of the year and a masterwork of international cinema – Rafael Manuel’s phenomenally composed deadpan social satire Filipiñana. Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
Pump Up the Volume – 7 PM, September 18: Long live Pirate Radio and long live this bangin’ early 90s cult classic starring Christian Slater as a teenage airwave bandit! In Arizona, an introverted and insightful teenager, Mark Hunter (Christian Slater), finds an outlet for his viewpoints through a shortwave radio. Broadcasting as Hard Harry, Hunter uses his pirate radio show to rant against the injustices and hypocrisies taking place in the area, and in society in general. After a tragedy, his principal seeks to get Hunter off the air once and for all. So get ready to stick it to the man, and the FCC with this banger as we pump the killer soundtrack through our dynamite speaker system! Co-presented by KPBJ. KPHJ is a Freeform LPFM radio station serving the east San Fernando Valley and streaming online at www.kpbj.fm. Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
Outerlands – 7:15 PM, September 19: Join vidiots in the microcinema for Elena Oxman’s festival darling, the beautifully touching triumph Outerlands starring Asia Kate Dillon in a stirring performance. Filmmaker Elena Oxman and Director of Photography Lucia Zavarcikova in person! Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
The Batman – 12 PM, September 19; 3 PM and 6 PM, September 20: Two years of stalking the streets as the Batman (Robert Pattinson), striking fear into the hearts of criminals, has led Bruce Wayne deep into the shadows of Gotham City. With only a few trusted allies—Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright)—amongst the city’s corrupt network of officials and high-profile figures, the lone vigilante has established himself as the sole embodiment of vengeance amongst his fellow citizens. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena.
Encanto Sing-a-long – 1:30 PM, September 20: We can’t talk about Bruno, but we can sing about him! Spend sunday singing along with this enchanted musical with your little ones, or your Pixar-loving adult besties! Vidiots, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles.
The Others in 4K – 7:30 PM, September 19: Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidman) keeps the curtains drawn at all hours of the day in her opulent manor to protect her children, Anne and Nicholas, from crippling photosensitivity. When three travelers appear in search of work, Grace hires them to tend to the home and the children, noting the previous… employees “vanished” just days ago. The arrival of the new workers seems to trigger paranormal incidents throughout the home. Set in 1945 Jersey, United Kingdom, this brooding psychological horror highlights the depths of Kidman’s range and Amenábar’s imagination. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles.
An Evening with Mike Mills – Beginners and C’mon C’mon – September 20:
- Beginners – 4:30 PM: Vidiots is thrilled to welcome Indie legend Mike Millsfor an incredible night of cinema starting with the lovable modern classic Beginners followed by a conversation with Mills.
- C’mon C’mon – 7:30 PM: An endearing and all-too-human treasure of cinema from the always charming and understated Mike Mills. Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) and his young nephew (Woody Norman) forge a tenuous but transformational relationship when they are unexpectedly thrown together in this delicate and deeply moving story about the connections between adults and children, the past and the future. With remarkable performances, graceful and nuanced direction, and lovely black and white cinematography, C’mon C’mon is yet another precious delight from the master of the soft touch!
MUSIC
Talib Kweli & Friends Residency – 7 PM and 9:30 PM, September 16: Back by popular demand The Brooklyn-based MC returns to Blue Note. He has earned his stripes as one of the most lyrically-gifted, socially aware and politically insightful rappers to emerge in the last 20 years. Blue Note LA, 6372 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles.
COMEDY
All Out!: An LGBTQ+forward Open Mic – 6:30 PM, September 15: All Out! is UCB’s brand new LGBTQ+ focussed monthly stand-up open mic here to cultivate a safe, supportive space for queer-identifying comics (and allies!) to take risks, build community and have fun! Come through every 3rd Tuesday to see some of L.A.’s funniest comics-on-the-rise as they try out new material, fine-tune their tight five and let those pride flags fly. Comic sign-ups are in person on the day of lottery style, so arrive 5-10 minutes early to throw your name in the bucket for a 5 minute set (10 slots total). Hosted by Koschka Bahr. Upright Citizens Brigade Annex, 1925 N Bronson Ave. Los Angeles.
Taskmistress – 7 PM, September 16: Taskmistress challenges your favorite comedians to complete absurd, confusing, and hilarious tasks all to please the Taskmistress, Silver Lake Drag Icon Tony Soto. Watch live as Joel Kim Booster, James Adomian, Rock M Sakura, and Lara Marie Schoenhals compete on stage and beg the Taskmistress for precious points. Only one will be crowned the champion.Taskmistress is similar but legally distinct from a popular BBC Three panel show, but as we all know, plagiarism is okay if you are a drag queen. And if we’re going to steal from someone, why not the British? Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 W. Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.
Bad Drag Race! – 10 PM, September 19: GRAND FINALE! This season’s crunchiest drag performer WILL BE CROWNED! This is a comedy-first drag competition like nothing you’ve seen before! Poise? Polish? Glamour? NO, BITCH- this is Bad Drag Race! Get your tix now, because this sh*t will absolutely be SOLD OUT. Hosted by Basic Bitch (Mano Agapion), Ozma (Oscar Montoya), and Nicole Byer! Dynasty Typewriter, 2511 W. Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.
Happy Hour Saturdays with Jenny Yang, 6 PM, Saturdays: Work-in-progress stand-up comedy shows at a reasonable hour. Comedian Jenny Yang will work out new material about her Chinese medicine fertility experiences in Taiwan, the necessity for women to be single, childless and moisturized, and what it means to be more gay, Mexican and immigrant every single day in 2026. These work-in-progress standup comedy shows feature a pay-what-you-can suggested ticket price of around twenty bucks, a 5PM pre-show happy hour, 6PM comedy show AND you can be on your way home or to dinner by 7:30PM. Outside In, 5317 York Blvd., Los Angeles.
BOOKS
Rachel Brodsky discusses “Lessons & Lace: Everything I Know about Dreams, Heartbreak, and Magic I Learned from Stevie Nicks” – 7 PM, Septmber 15: Immerse yourself in Stevie Nicks’s incredible life to learn invaluable pearls of wisdom from this portrait of one of today’s most resilient music icons. Written by music journalist Rachel Brodsky and illustrated with gorgeous full-color line drawings, Lessons & Lace draws on Stevie’s remarkable story and notable quotes to inspire life-changing lessons, delivered with a unique style of truth-telling that’s both down to earth and filled with otherworldly vision. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood.
Nicole Levin’s “Diary of a Mad Girl: Me vs. The Oil Industry Vs. My Nonprofit” 7 PM, September 15: Author Nicole Levin talks about her book “Diary of a Mad Girl” with Sierra Katow. The book follows, Joelle, a thirty-something climate organizer living in Los Angeles, thinks she has it all: a hot musician boyfriend, a nonprofit job fighting the oil industry, and a parasocial relationship with her Adeline, an online yoga instructor. But something is off… the collapse of society, maybe? Yes, that. Through illustrated diary entries, poetry, and psilocybin-induced trips to parallel universes, Joelle explores what it means to fight for climate justice when all signs point to dying alone. Skylight Books, 1818 N Vermont Ave., Los Angeles.
Josh Silver discusses “Fruit Fly” – 7 PM, September 16: A washed-up author will stop at nothing to claw her way back to relevancy—even if it means appropriating a young gay man’s tragic story. Mallory Maddox is buried under seven years of writer’s block. With her status as a literary sensation fizzling, she’ll do anything she can to resurrect her career. Inspiration needs to strike—and fast. Enter Leo. He’s a struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for. Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. The world needs Leo’s story right now, and Mallory believes she deserves to tell it. Really, it’s her story—she’s the one who wrote it, after all. But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must decide how far she will go to pen the perfect story. First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles.
COMMUNITY
ALOUD in Community: The LAPL Mixtape, On Wax – 2 PM, September 19: Eighty-five years after the Second Wave of the Great Migration, Black Angelenos transformed Los Angeles into a hub of musical innovation, from gospel and jazz to hip-hop. Across neighborhoods and generations, these sonic traditions carry memory, migration, and cultural authorship.
In partnership with ALOUD and the Library Foundation of Los Angeles, LAPL Mixtape, On Wax celebrates this living archive through a series of genre-focused Stack Sessions, vinyl listening experiences hosted in library branches. Participants gather among the stacks to share records, read liner notes, and explore how Black Southern sound traditions took root in Los Angeles and continue to influence the nation’s cultural landscape. Exposition Park, Los Angeles Public Library, 3900 South Western Ave., Los Angeles.
Gay Ass Trivia at Precinct – 7 PM, Thursdays: Queen Sheeba hosts this weekly trivia night with prizes including bar tabs, shots, and bar apparel. Maximum team sizes of six people. No cover! Precinct, 357 S Broadway, Los Angeles.
May the Balls be with You: Drag Queen Bingo 7 PM, Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Legendary Bingo is LA’s most popular Drag Queen Bingo & charity event! Come play at Hamburger Mary’s every Tuesday and Wednesday! Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.
THEATRE
Before It’s Too Late – September 15 – October 6: A clock counts down as Christopher Moncayo-Torres, a habitually late Ecuadorian-American live-storyteller, rushes to make up for lost time with his born and bred Ecuadorian parents, Nancy Moncayo and Abel Torres in this heartfelt, comedic solo-ish show. Showing up for Christopher as best they can, Abel, his once estranged, 82-year–old father, will fly in from Queens, NY, and Nancy, his 78-year-old mother, will video call in from her home in Ecuador.
Making their performance debut as a duo (yes, really), Abel and Nancy will co-parent Christopher for the first time and unpack their complex relationship throughout this epic evening of attempted belated bonding despite their language barrier- Christopher only knows so much Spanish, his parents only know so much English. This recovering no sabo kid ( a Latino or Hispanic individual living in the U.S. who does not speak Spanish well or at all) from Queens will need your support as Christopher juggles translations, true stories, too many boxes, hopefully-reliable video calls, a pair of backup moms (his eldest sisters, Natalie & Catherine might make a cameo) while actually preparing delicious Ecuadorian food from his mother’s recipe book. Despite the cultural, geographical and linguistic chasms between them, can these two aging immigrant parents and their child experience forgiveness, empathy and generational joy while actually understanding one another before time runs out? Outside In, 5317 York Blvd., Los Angeles.
2026 LA Writers’ Workshop Reading Series – through September 27: Since 2005, CTG has invited a cohort of local playwrights to spend a year researching and writing new works with feedback from the artistic staff and their fellow writers. The program is designed to foster important voices, inspire playwrights to create their best work, encourage bold writing, and build relationships among local playwrights, CTG, and the Los Angeles theatre community. CTG’s growing list of LA Writers’ Workshop alumni is currently comprised of more than 100 playwrights. Various locations.
Antigone: In the Language of Kings – through October 3: Set in the vibrant world of pre-conquest Tenochtitlan, Mexico, this powerful reimagining of a classic tragedy confronts themes of loyalty, familial duty, and the clash between divine law and state edict. Weaving in pre-Hispanic music and poetry, this timeless story brings Aztec mythology to life in a rich historical tapestry that resonates across cultures, pitting love and defiance against tyranny. Adapted from Sophocles by Evelina Fernández, Directed by José Luis Valenzuela, Co-produced by Latino Theater Company. Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades.
The Visit – through October 4: A DESPERATE TOWN. A DETERMINED WOMAN. AN IMPOSSIBLE OFFER. When the richest woman in the world returns to her struggling hometown, she’s ready and willing to rescue it from ruin… on one condition. In this haunting, twisted, and truly grotesque comedy, an entire community is forced to confront an unthinkable question: how far are you willing to go for a billion dollars? Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena.
Into The Woods – through October 18: When the Baker and his wife venture into the forest to break a witch’s curse, they encounter Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack (of beanstalk fame)—and familiar tales take on clever new lives. But be careful what you wish for, because “happily ever after” is never the whole story. With a Tony Award-winning book and score, this poignant musical comedy masterpiece celebrates its 40th anniversary with a fabulous new SCR production. South Coast Repertory, Emmes/Benson Theatre Center, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.
MUSEUMS AND ART
Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind – through October 11: Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind traces more than seven decades of Yoko Ono’s groundbreaking career, from her early text-based works in the 1950s and ’60s to recent large-scale installations informed by her ongoing campaigns for world peace. Organized in collaboration with Tate Modern, London, the exhibition—Ono’s first solo museum exhibition in Southern California—explores her radical approach to art, language, and participation, challenging conventional ideas about the roles of artist and audience. The Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.
Willie Birch: Stories to Tell – through October 21: The first-ever career retrospective of renowned artist Willie Birch, this exhibition brings together groundbreaking works from 1968 to the present that chronicle his unique vision of Black American life and the interconnected nature of global art forms. Born and raised in New Orleans and trained in Europe, Baltimore, and New York, Birch often speaks about “retentions,” a term he uses to describe evidence of one culture’s narratives and traditions within another. Throughout his career, Birch has explored particularly how African traditions have been retained in music, art, and culture in America as part of the Black experience and beyond. California African American Museum, 600 State Dr, Los Angeles.
Free and Queer: Black Californian Roots of Gay Liberation – through February 28, 2027: Free and Queer: Black Californian Roots of Gay Liberation presents California as a pioneering site of sustained, Black-led struggles for LGBTQ equality, civil rights, and recognition. The exhibition recovers histories largely excluded from existing narratives and exposes powerful ways that print culture, artistic practice, and performance styles shaped, advanced, and interpreted Black queer social movements alongside political and legal activism. California African American Museum, 600 State Dr, Los Angeles.
Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon – through February 28, 2027: Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon celebrates Marilyn Monroe—born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926—as a visionary actor and image-maker, examining how she created and shaped her public image in the context of the classical Hollywood studio system. Presenting hundreds of original objects, including posters, portraits, photographs, production documents, letters,… and rarely seen personal materials—many on display for the first time—the exhibition offers unique insight into her agency in becoming a Hollywood icon. The exhibition also features an extensive array of Monroe’s screen-worn costumes, ranging from a dress featured in Love Happy (1949) to items from her final and unfinished film, Something’s Got to Give (1962). Major highlights include two costumes by Orry-Kelly from Some Like it Hot (1959), as well as the rarely exhibited famous pink dress by William Travilla from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures ASL Interpreted Tours: American Sign Language (ASL) tours of select galleries are always offered at noon on the same day as the museum’s monthly Calm Morning program and accommodative Family Matinee film screening. Join a museum educator and ASL interpreter to experience cinema’s wide-ranging contributions to the world. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles.
