One of the best things about living in Bend is the bottomless number of cultural events that happen on an almost daily basis. One of the worst things about living in Bend is that there are only so many hours in a day to go on these cultural adventures. Still, it’s a pretty good problem to have coming into 2025 when every new year seems to bring more brilliant artists to our community. Here are just a few of the things I’m looking forward to over the next few months.
Night of the Witch: A Grindhouse Double Feature
Presented by Jesse Locke’s Unlocked Films, we have the world premiere of the music video of “Darkness Marching” from local group Witch Eyes (who will also be playing a set of music). There are also intuitive tarot readings from Kylie Motley, dance performances from Model Citizens and a screening of the Grindhouse classic “Mark of the Witch.”
“I love witches and I love a good celebration,” says Locke. “‘Night of the Witch’ is a celebration of individualism and badassery. The music video follows four time-traveling witches played by some of the most badass women I’ve ever met: Miss Charlotta Love, Judith Faustima, Siren Slade and Miranda Rose. It’s going to be a night of creativity, community and especially witches. Dress up, bring that big witch energy and let’s celebrate.”
Musicals are pretty dang hot right now (I’m looking at you, “Wicked”), and “The Prom” sounds like an absolutely delightful night of musical theater. The plot description goes like this: “Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue… and themselves. The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow — but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens, and the result is love that brings them all together.”
Director Samantha Korich gives you another reason if you need one: “This musical is inspired by true events and follows a theme still felt by so many all across the world. This heartfelt comedy will have you laughing, crying and dancing all the way through.”
Scarlet Envy’s: Bad Advice Tour
From “RuPaul’s Drag Race” comes Scarlet Envy. With 500K followers on socials, a 36-city U.S. tour, a performance of “Evita” with Katy Perry and a 90-minute live cabaret, Envy now brings her brilliance to Bend. “It’s awesome to have a Ru girl come to Bend and grace The Greenhouse stage as part of their 2025 tour!” says John Kish, the owner/artistic director of The Greenhouse Cabaret. “Scarlet is known as being ‘the drama’ of their season, but really they are a sweetheart and a talented force.”
If you’ve ever been to Liza’s Lounge then you know exactly how special these events are, combining upscale dinner theater cabaret vibes with amazing food from Foxtail Bakery and music from brilliant local artists. It’s always a singular experience that transports you out of Bend and into a secret speakeasy of yesteryear. “We are back, back, back again!” says Kish. “This year we plan on doing three different shows throughout the year. This one is themed ‘Love & Foreplay,’ perfect for a couples dinner theater night out.”
Tower Theatre 85th Anniversary Film Festival
The first six days of March will mark the celebration of the Tower Theatre’s 85th anniversary, and there will be screenings of “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (with a “Captain America” serial from 1944), “The Maltese Falcon,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “North by Northwest,” “The Graduate,” 1968’s “Planet of the Apes,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Forrest Gump,” all hosted by Kelly Cannon-Miller, executive director of the Deschutes County Historical Society, and Jared Rasic, watcher of movies.
Ray Solley, executive director of the Tower Theatre, explains the idea: “We kick off the celebration March 1 with a throwback to 1940 Saturday matinees, serials and double features — including vintage newsreels and cartoons — all for 25 cents. We top off the anniversary party March 6 with complimentary birthday cake and a ‘life is like a box of chocolates.'”
There’s so much more going on over the next few months — there isn’t enough room for it all. There’s a screening of the great documentary “Space, Hope and Charity” at the Tower on Jan. 18. TMP presents the musical “Annie” from Feb. 7 to 16 at the Tower. The Tower also has the Mountainfilm festival on Feb. 21 and 22 as well as the Women’s Adventure Film Tour on March 8. Big Sexy Movie Night is screening “Edward Scissorhands” (at Silver Moon on Feb. 5) with local troupe The Menagerie supplying drag, burlesque and pole dancing. Or how about Central Oregon Symphony’s Winter Concert Series beginning Feb. 22, High Desert Chamber Music’s 17th season continuing on Valentine’s Day with Frank Almond and a thousand other amazing things?
This article appears in The Source Weekly January 9, 2025.
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