Events

Desert ants suddenly form a collective intelligence and begin to wage war on the inhabitants. It is up to two scientists and a stray girl they rescue from the ants to destroy them. Acclaimed graphic designer Saul Bass’s only feature film is a visually striking curiosity that, originally a box office flop, garnered cult status a year after its release. Interpreted by some as an ecological commentary, by others as political, and by others as a runoff of the anxieties of the time, Phase IV is as spellbinding as the movie posters and title sequences for which its director is known. Featuring an otherworldly score by composer Brian Gascoigne and starring Michael Murphy and Nigel Davenport as the scientists.

Longtime Memphis musician Paul Taylor is returning home to play his first show back in the Bluff City in over three and a half years!

He’s bringing his brand new band, Three Springs, along with him all the way down from his new home of Door County, Wisconsin, to help him perform material he’s written during those last few years, which has been greatly inspired by the vastly different northern environment.

The Crosstown Strictly Jazz Series, presented by Crosstown Arts in collaboration with Strictly Jazz Entertainment, is designed to salute classic jazz music as contemporary musicians perform the work of the legends.

John Scofield’s guitar work has influenced jazz since the late 70’s and is going strong today. Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity, Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk-edged jazz, and R&B.

The first film in Abbas Kiarostami’s sublime, interlacing trilogy of films set in the northern Iranian village of Koker takes a premise of fable-like simplicity — a boy searches for the home of his classmate whose school notebook he has accidentally taken — and transforms it into a miraculous, child’s-eye adventure of the everyday. 

Lukah has set himself apart as a powerful voice in Memphis hip-hop. Whatever the format—whether it’s through sellout records, acclaimed locally in The Commercial Appeal and nationally in NPR, Bandcamp Daily, and The New York Times; commanding live performances that have won audiences in The United States and Europe; or on the big screen in his three visual collaborations with Studio 143, all selected by the Indie Memphis Film Festival—Lukah is a undeniable giant of deep, meaningful storytelling. Back from his first international headlining tour and a recent performance opening for Noname, Lukah continues to push the envelope and challenge himself creatively by preparing this bold concert.

On the first Friday in December, from 5 to 7 pm, Crosstown Concourse will host a festive event in the Central Atrium! The holiday atrium lights in the Central Atrium will turn on at 6 pm.

Kortland Whalum returns to The Green Room for an evening of sophisticated style and music. Kortland is an intriguing, bold performer, whose repertoire includes original compositions and covers of classic jazz, soul, and R&B tunes. Kortland, the product of an age of popular and gospel music, is a storyteller, blessed with the power to marshal all at once a batch of skills that includes timing, phrasing, pronunciation and acting ability to make the listener feel myriad emotions, particularly on ballads. Spend an evening with Kortland, where he shares his life, his story, and his voice.

Come help us celebrate the end of another fun year with the return of our annual Shoot & Splice Movie Trivia! Test your film knowledge against returning Trivia Masters — John Beifuss of The Commercial Appeal and Chris McCoy of the Memphis Flyer. The trivia masters will take full advantage of the theater so be prepared for some fun video rounds!

As part of the second night of Season of Delight, Crosstown Arts and Crosstown Concourse will collaborate to screen a holiday feature in Crosstown Theater. The feature-length Home Alone will be screened for free. Theater doors open at 6 pm, and the films begin at 6:30 pm. There will also be the Resident Artists Open Studio event, and more! Artists in residence will have their studios open on Friday, December 8, from 5 to 6:30 pm; and musical artists OutPastMidnight and danieljmorrow will perform in The Green Room from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

Crosstown Arts presents the Open Studio Night. The East Atrium, The Green Room at Crosstown Arts Friday, December 8, 2023...

The renowned TUBACHRISTMAS! celebrates its 50th anniversary with a free performance in the Central Atrium at Crosstown Concourse! If you’re not quite sure what TUBACHRISTMAS! is, come see for yourself. But since it’s the season of giving, we’ll give you a hint: it involves tubas.