Guess who’s back?
It’s been a number of years since Magenta Theater founder Jaynie Roberts has written a play, but her creative streak returns with “Dead Beats” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and 28. Roberts founded Magenta, 1108 Main St. in Vancouver, in 2002 as a vehicle for her comedy writing, but in the 15 years since, the theater has grown significantly, and, in turn, her time to write plays vanished. “Dead Beats” is a musical spoof that focuses on Professor Frankenvalley, who strings together a band from spare parts buried in a cemetery, to perform in the Transylvania Music Festival. The play features original music and renditions of Rocky Horror’s “The Time Warp” and Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science.” Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. 360-635-4358 or www.magentatheater.com.
Vancouver Community Theater will serve up its own seasonal performance with “Tea Party,” a play about King Charles II of England and Queen Catherine of Braganza, who helped introduce tea to England and fuel its popularity. King Charles’ courtier, Lord Ipswich faces a decision between marrying his crush — the queen’s lady-in-waiting, Mistress Jane Allen — or traveling to the West Indies to research tea plantations. Performances are 7 p.m. Oct. 27-28 and Nov. 3-4 at the Manor Grange, 17901 N.E. 72nd Ave., Battle Ground. Tickets are $7 or $5 for seniors and children 12 and younger. 360-690-5153.
Refresh your memory on last year’s best flicks before the 44th Northwest Film Festival kicks off in November. That’s the idea behind the “Best of the 43rd Northwest Filmmaker’s Festival,” which will feature narrative, documentary, animated and experimental films from Oregon, Washington, Montana and British Columbia. “Modern Dark,” “Canned Fit,” “Censored” and many more films from the 2016 fest will be screened. Screenings begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Northwest Film Center, Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 S.W. Park Ave., Portland. Tickets are $9, $8 for students and seniors and $6 for children. 503-221-1156 or nwfilm.org/films/best-of-the-43rd-northwest-filmmakers-festival.
Spice up reading by listening to a pro do it. Award-winning storyteller Christopher Leebrick has been captivating audiences with his storytelling abilities since he was 13, performing across the United States. All three of his spoken word CDs have received Storytelling World Awards. Leebrick will perform Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” along with other tales. The program, which is free, is recommended for those 12 years and older, and will be 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Cascade Park Community Library, 600 N.E. 136th Ave., Vancouver. 360-906-4720 or www.fvrl.org/events?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D124567302.
