Nosferatu, More @ Culture of Fear

Tonight at the Open End Gallery, 2000 W. Fulton, Scary Bodega Productions and Tense Forms present a screening of the 1922 silent vampire classic Nosferatu with a new plunderphonic score comprised of audio sampled from more than a dozen other Dracula films by Chicago composer Chris Fuller.
The event will also feature:
The Lovecraft Syndrome, a short film by David Schmidt
Animation by Kate Raney
An exhibit of art and photography from the Tense Forms collective.
Doors at 6:30pm, show at 7:30pm sharp. $7 donation. Check here and here for more info.

Fast Forward Film Festival

The Fast Forward Film Festival kicks off its latest competition tonight at Atomix (1957 W. Chicago). Thirty film-making teams will converge at 7:30 PM to receive a topic for a film they have to complete by tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 PM (less than 24 hours!). Meet up with everyone tomorrow at Wesley Kimler's studio (2046 W. Carroll) at 8:00 PM to view the films. $5 suggested donation for the screening. BYOB. More information at the Website.

Rhino Theater Fest: POWER brecht-down 2004

A new Bertolt Brecht revue, adapted by Stefan Brün. Part of the Rhinoceros Theater Festival. "Jenny Magnus and Beau O'Reilly break down power for you in a new revue devoted to this, unfortunately, so timely poet and playwright. POWER brecht-down 2004 includes texts and songs never before translated into English as well as The Beggar or the Dead Dog, Money Medley and an excerpt from Brecht's Training Manual for War. Part of Curious’s Rhino ’04 look back at the masters who influenced us." 7pm, Curious Theatre Branch, 7001 N Glenwood. $12 or pay what you can. Call 773-274-6660 for reservations.

The Manson Family @ Music Box

The big story at this year's Chicago Underground Film Festival was the premiere of The Manson Family, Jim Van Bebber's dramatic recreation of the Tate-LaBianca killings. The film had been in production for years and years, and only now has been screened in a completed form. The film finally gets an official run on a Chicago screen tonight, as it opens at the Music Box Theatre. The director will be at the premiere tonight; check local listings for showtimes. Music Box: 3733 N. Southport. (773) 871-6604.

Rhino Theater Fest: White Suit Science

A new piece written and directed by Shawn Reddy for the Rhinoceros Theatre Festival. "From the mind that brought you last year’s Rhino and PAC/Edge hit, My Name is Mudd, comes a super-scientific-y investigation into one of America’s great literary mysteries. Why did Mark Twain wear a white suit out of season? Complete with Mark Twain impersonators, Kentucky Fried Chicken conspiracies, dry cleaning techniques, God’s experiments on little animals, Silas Phelps’s penis, and much, much more in the way of irrelevant supporting material, White Suit Science finally reveals the greatest ancient Chinese secret this side of the Mississippi!" 9pm, Curious Theatre Branch, 7001 N Glenwood. $12 or pay what you can. Call 773-274-6660 for reservations.

43 Plays for 43 Presidents @ Neo-Futurarium

For two nights only "43 Plays for 43 Presidents" returns to celebrate the upcoming election with a new ending and a few new plays in-between. The piece is a chronological, biographical survey of the lives and presidencies of each of the 42 men who have held the office to date, with a company of performers portraying both their mistakes and successes. The scenes shift frequently between the comic and the tragic, beginning with George Washington, continuing through the grim onset of the Civil War, moving through a Nixon dance number, and arriving at a WWF-style wrestling match of the 2000 election. Tickets are available at the door for $10, curtain time is 8 p.m. The Neo-Futurarium is located at 5153 N. Ashland (at Foster). For more information call 773-878-4557.

George Carlin Book Signing

What a great way to spend your lunch break! This afternoon, comedian George Carlin will discuss and sign his new book, When Will Jesus Bring the Porkchops? at 12:30 p.m. at Borders Books and Music at 150 N. State Street downtown. For more information call (312) 606-0750. This event is Free.

Registration closes for South Side Blues Class

The University of Chicago's Graham School of General Studies has begun a collaboration with the DuSable Museum of African-American History, part of which involves co-sponsoring adult education courses open to all who want to register. The class below "South Side Blues and Jazz" meets Oct. 30 thru Nov. 6 (10:30 a.m.--12:45 p.m.) and is a true bargain at $30. Registration closes on Oct. 22, so if you’re interested, act soon. The class is taught by David Ramey. According to the class listing: "The South Side of Chicago is world famous as home to some of the most innovative jazz and blues music in history. Join us for a discussion of this legacy that will bring together academics and musicians for a unique perspective on Sweet Home Chicago. Prospective guests will include the legendary Honey Boy Edwards, the last of the great Delta bluesmen." For more information, contact Bart Schultz at 773-702-8821.

Haunting History in Evanston

This Halloween, Evanston’s Charles Gates Dawes House will once again take on a spectacularly spooky atmosphere as magician and Halloween expert David Parr returns to lead visitors on eerie interactive tours of the historic mansion. From Oct. 22 through 31, at 7 and 8 p.m. nightly, Parr will lead small groups on dramatic tours of the mansion during which each room offers an encounter with the uncanny and supernatural. Objects move on their own accord, cryptic messages are written by invisible hands, and shadowy forms lurk in hallways. Equal parts history and mystery, Parr’s spooky tours offer visitors a side of the historic home that few ever encounter. The Dawes House, built in 1896, is an essential part of the show. The three-story historic mansion, once the home of U.S. Vice President Charles Gates Dawes, is distinguished by its dark oak woodwork and majestic stained glass. Chosen because of its massive, foreboding appearance to be the home of mob boss John Rooney (portrayed by Paul Newman) in the feature film Road to Perdition, the house’s vast spaces, dim lighting, and shadowy corridors make it the perfect setting for Parr’s type of eerie Halloween event. The Charles Gates Dawes House is located at 225 Greenwood St., Evanston. Performances are at 7 and 8 p.m. nightly, with additional performances at 9 p.m. Oct. 28–31 and at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31. Spectators attending performances at 8 p.m. or later should park only on Greenwood Street. Tickets are $20 per person. For reservations or more information, call 847-475-3410, email evanstonhs@northwestern.edu or visit Parr's website.