A new rat musical on Mud Island, Sheree Renee Thomas at Novel, and free jazz at the Scheidt

Hey Memphis 👋 It's Tuesday. Sunny and near 76 with barely a breeze, and tonight only dips to about 52. Two nice days in a row, and we'll take it.

Rats the Musical: Immersive Reading — BVO (Baron Von Opperbean), 101 Island Dr., Mud Island, 6:30–9 PM, $13.73. Local actors read a brand-new musical about Memphis roommates who get turned into rats, while the audience roams BVO's walk-through adventure space. It opens with a champagne reception at 6:30. Details

Sheree Renee Thomas: The Tongue I Dream In — Novel, 387 Perkins Ext., 6 PM, RSVP requested. Thomas celebrates her new book in conversation with Robert Gordon. Details

Amina Figarova with the Matsiko World Orphan Choir — Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, University of Memphis, 7 PM, free tickets (paid reserved seats optional). The jazz pianist's group shares the stage with a touring children's choir and members of U of M's Southern Comfort Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Singers. The free seats are under "Other Categories" at checkout. Details

Fright-Tober: The VVitch — Crosstown Theater, 1350 Concourse Ave., 6:30–8:30 PM, free. This week's free October horror film is Robert Eggers' 1630s folk-horror debut, on the big screen. Details

Fathom, Sibyl & Slumberland — Growlers, doors 6, show 7, $10. A three-band metal bill on a Tuesday, early enough to be home by 11. Details

Dance Night with Gary Abbott — 7942 Church St., Millington, 6–9 PM (doors 5:45), $7, cash only. Millington Parks & Rec's Tuesday dance night is three hours on the floor for seven bucks. Details

👶 With the kids

Long Live the King! Chess Club — Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave., 6–7:30 PM, free, all ages. Beginners get taught the moves and regulars get a game, in the lobby behind the escalators. Details

Leo Rocket at the Pink Palace — Pink Palace Museum, 10:30 AM–5 PM, included with general admission. A Space Shuttle exhibit with a 1:15-scale shuttle, spacesuit parts, astronaut food and hardware kids can touch. Details

Heading onto I-55 from Third Street? The northbound Third Street (SR-14) ramp to southbound I-55 closes today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and southbound Third Street closes completely Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for a bridge-deck pour, with Thursday and Friday as backup nights. Overnight I-55 lane closures continue through Nov. 4. (via City of Memphis)

Crosstown Brewing has closed after nine years at 1264 Concourse Ave., Action News 5 reports. Regulars packed the taproom Saturday for one last round of its Traffic ale. (via Action News 5)

Legally blind veterans in Memphis are getting free AI-equipped smart glasses from Meta, plus training on using them to read menus and get around unfamiliar places. It's part of a national push to reach every legally blind veteran in the country. (via Action News 5)

$5 Pint Night at Wiseacre HQ — 398 S. B.B. King Blvd., 4–9 PM. Select pints are $5 every Tuesday at Wiseacre's downtown taproom. Details

Theatre Memphis has Million Dollar Quartet back on the Lohrey stage Thursday at 7:30, and the run goes through Nov. 7, so pick your night.

This weekend is the last for Little Women: The Broadway Musical at Germantown Community Theatre, which closes Sunday, Oct. 25, so get your seats now.

Four days out, the Memphis Symphony and Opera Memphis perform Verdi's Rigoletto in concert Saturday at 7:30 at the Cannon Center, so book your tickets.

In-person spots for the Memphis Zoo's Howl-O-Ween Hustle 5K closed Monday, but the $50 virtual run, with its own medal and T-shirt, stays open through Saturday, so run it from anywhere.

Sponsored

A note from Hey Memphis: Want your business in this list? We're booking spots now. Fill out our advertise form and we'll write back with what's open.

Grizzlies home opener — FedExForum, tomorrow (Wednesday, Oct. 21), 7 PM, vs. the Utah Jazz. The giveaway is a Big Memphis Growl Towel. Details

Postmodern Jukebox — Minglewood Hall, Thursday, Dec. 17, doors 7, show 8, all ages. Scott Bradlee's crew brings its Future Is Vintage tour to Midtown. Tickets are on sale, and the venue doesn't post a price. Details

Corey H. found us while searching for speed-puzzling contests in Memphis. We looked and couldn't find one on the calendar for the next two months. The closest thing is Cossitt Library's free Puzzle Party and puzzle-swap kickoff, Saturday, Nov. 7, 1–4 PM. If you run a speed-puzzle contest around here, reply and tell us.

Darlene T. told us she's into free classes, the arts and live music. Tonight has two for you, Darlene: free jazz at the Scheidt and a free horror film at Crosstown.

DJ Wes's dream booking is the Black Keys shooting a video at Hernando's Hide-A-Way. We can't make that happen, but we'd cover it.

The tip line never closes — a pop-up, a band, a Tuesday-night find we missed. No gatekeeping — send it to hey@heymemphis.co.

That's it for today — see you tomorrow at 6.

— Josh