Amid awards season, “Den of Thieves 2” won’t be seeking any but will instead try to reward audiences with shootouts, car chases, big scores and pulpy dialogue. 

A quartet of very different, but quite notable, new movies open in Memphis on Christmas Day.

One of the year’s best films mostly bypassed theaters and will be available on HBO’s streaming service, Max. It’s a little bit “12 Angry Men,” a little bit Alfred Hitchcock and a little bit John Grisham. 

“The Brutalist,” a nearly four-hour widescreen epic from a little-known filmmaker, hasn’t yet screened in Memphis, but it should get a wider release in the run-up to the Academy Awards. 

There are still a bunch of film award contenders on-deck, waiting to make their Memphis debuts, but only one is showing up in local theaters this week.

From Shakespeare to musicals to beloved Claymation action shows, there is a show for you, including one non-Christmas musical.

While “Wicked,” “Gladiator II” and “Moana 2” dominate screens, you can also catch Glinda, Elphaba, Dorothy and Toto on the big screen at the Pink Palace.

Plan your holiday fun with this guide to events around the Greater Memphis metro area. 

This twist on a classic is the tradition two performers have known for their entire lives. They’ve danced nearly every role in the show, from mice to toy soldiers.

Felix Cavaliere and The Rascals earned rock-and-roll fame with No. 1 hits like “Good Lovin’,” “Mustang Sally,” “Groovin’” and “People Got to Be Free.”

Opening this month: “The Wizard of Oz,” “A Motown Christmas,” “Peter Pan,” “Who’s Holiday,” “Parallel Lives” and more.

“We All We Got: A Binghampton Play” is the culmination of an inaugural Orpheum community playmaking program called Neighborhood Play.

Along with play performances, the festival will include panel discussions, talk backs and workshops.

Memphis October performances include Agatha Christie, Disney, “Moulin Rouge” and the music of Bob Dylan.

A new fund aims to help area artists through “catastrophic” emergencies that hinder their ability to perform and/or earn income. 

Good and bad. Right and Wrong. Sanity and madness. Ballet Memphis explores the link between opposing forces throughout its 38th season, starting with a classic. 

Coming soon: a prize-winning drama from a local playwright, a theater company’s first musical production and free Shakespeare performances around town.

With a variety of shows and entertainers, the Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center announces its new season opening later this month.

Whether it’s a 10-minute play, the story of jazz club in Detroit or a classic Shakespearean tale, Memphis theaters’ September lineup has a taste of everything. 

The Memphis theater community gathered for the 40th Ostranders annual local theater awards, where the Playhouse on the Square leader received a lifetime achievement honor.

“For almost 30 years, our community has benefited from its commitment to GPAC and the value it adds to our city’s culture, economy and quality of life,” City of Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo said.

The 40th Ostranders, which will be held Monday, Aug. 26, will honor Playhouse on the Square’s executive producer as well as other notable productions and performances.

The top 10 finalists in the 2024 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Contest returned for the final round of competition at the Graceland Soundstage on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024. Photographer Brad Vest captured the action. Who won? Read on! 

As a popular musical adds performances, our August theater will keep you up-to-date on all the shows around town. 

The Memphis theater group will present a series of free performances around Memphis and West Tennessee this fall. It will also host plays and other theatrical events at its newly renovated Tabor Stage throughout the year.