NYC summer calendar

AUGUST

Inglourious Basterds

August 1-7

Merce Cunningham Dance Company
As part of Evening Stars, the Joyce Theater presents the splendid Cunningham company in three Event performances—a mix of material taken from past and current repertory. Location to be announced (joyce.org). Aug 1, 2.

Louis C.K.
A veteran comic at the pinnacle of his career articulates everyday frustrations in a candid, profoundly funny way. Carolines (212-757-4100, carolines.com). Jul 30–Aug 1 8pm, 10:30pm; Aug 2 7:30pm, 10pm. $46.25 plus two-drink minimum.

Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice
The chain stores open at midnight whenever a new Stephanie Meyer book hits the shelves, but at St. Marks, Thomas Pynchon draws the real crowd. At midnight, you can enter the store and fight off other metafiction maniacs as you try to cop TP's new psychedelic California noir, Inherent Vice. St. Mark’s Bookshop (212-260-7853, stmarksbookshop.com). Aug 4 midnight.

Happy Ending Reading Series
We're a little baffled by the title of tonight's HE reading, "Progress and Process." But the lineup, which features arts writer and eccentric chaser Lawrence Weschler and music critic Brandon Stosuy, promises a killer mix of braininess and entertainment. Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater (212-539-8778, joespub.com). Aug 5 7pm; $15.

Thursday Night Twilight Tours at Prospect Park
Wine! Cheese! Bats? Head to the Boathouse on selected Thursdays this summer for a light reception, followed by boat tours on the park’s Lullwater and an Audubon-led bat walk. Prospect Park (718-287-3400, prospectpark.org/calendar/event/twilight). Aug 6, 13, 20 6:30pm; $30.

The CollisionWorks
Downtown mad-scientist-auteur Ian Hill directs four plays in a month of craziness at the Brick. Case in point: Blood on the Cat’s Neck “in which a beautiful, blonde, vampiric Amazon of a space alien is dropped into a bourgeois cocktail party.” The Brick Theater (bricktheater.com) Aug 7–30, $15.

August 8-14

TV on the Radio at Celebrate Brooklyn
If you missed the sold out show in Central Park you also missed one of the rainiest SummerStage performances ever. The sun is sure to shine on the experimental art-rockers in their native borough. Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell. Aug 8 5:30pm; $30.

The Bacchae
FREE Director JoAnne Akalaitis and composer Philip Glass team up for this musical adaptation of the Euripides tragedy about a priggish king and some ladies who had a bit too much to drink. Delacorte Theatre (publictheater.org). Aug 11–30.

New York International Fringe Festival
You cannot see all 200 plays over 16 days, nor would you want to, but amongst the experimental and just plain bad productions are some theatrical gems. Various venues and times, see fringenyc.org for more information. Aug 14–30.

The Sklar Brothers
The comedic twins began their careers in New York before heading to LA for TV success. Catch them playing their sardonic, observational senses of humor off of one another’s. Comix (212-524-2500, comixny.com). Aug 14–15 8pm, 10:30pm; $27, advance $22, plus two-item minimum.

The Del Close Marathon
The 11th annual celebration of long-form improv and of Del Close, the man credited with creating its current incarnation, promises to be the best one yet. Popular reunions, perennial late-night party shows and celebrity appearances keep multiple venues packed throughout almost 60 straight hours of improv. You’ll have to arrive far in advance of the popular shows in order to get a good sight line—just as for the players, success requires full commitment. Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (212-366-9176, ucbtheatre.com); other venues TBA. Aug 14–16 at various times, weekend pass $25.

August 15-21

Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company
This summer, Christopher Wheeldon gives nature an injection of ballet with two nights at SummerStage, featuring a new work set to music by Martha Wainwright (August 14 and 15 at 8pm), and another at East River Park (August 16 at 4pm). Central Park SummerStage, Rumsey Playfield (summerstage.org). Aug 14, 15. • East River Park, Grand Street Playground (cityparksfoundation.org/arts). Aug 16.

Madonnathon: The Eighth Annual Birthday Tribute to Madonna
Live and breathe Madge all night. B.B. King Blues Club (bbkingblues.com) Aug 16

Far
Novelist and radio personality Kurt Andersen joins forces with singer Regina Spektor to create a siren song for the smart set. Barnes & Noble, 33 East 17th St between Broadway and Park Ave (212-253-0810, bn.com). Aug 18 7pm, free.

Bouncing Souls 20th Anniversary shows
The Jersey institution celebrates two decades of DIY rocking. They’ll also be premiering a 20th anniversary TV special complete with jugglers, ventriloquists, dancers and two music videos. Webster Hall (212-353-1600, websterhall.com); Aug 20–21 6:30pm; $22.

Project Runway returns
At long last, Project Runway will again grace our televisions with catty critiques, Tim Gunn’s Dalai Lama–like wisdom and the audacity to create bustiers out of bok choy. Will the switch to Lifetime and Los Angeles rob the show of its bite? Well, at least tanaholic Michael Kors may look more natural in a sunny state. Meanwhile, Mad Men will return for a third season on AMC in August, and its delicious fashions make it a good match for Runway—use your TiVo to create a doubleheader. Aug 20 at 10pm on Lifetime

The Bad Plus
The inventive jazz trio will be playing without their recently recruited vocalist Wendy Lewis, but they’re still be reinterpreting classic rock in their inimitable style. Highline Ballroom (212-414-5994, highlineballroom.com); Aug 21 8pm; advance $22, day of show $25.

Inglourious Basterds
Nazis…Quentin Tarantino hates those guys. So he’s commissioning an SS-killing battalion—led by Brad Pitt—to go get medieval on their asses. Local theaters; opens Aug 21.

August 22-31

The Last Days of Disco
New DVDs of this out-of-print film about the urban haute bourgeois in early-‘80s disco Manhattan (starring Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny) have been selling for more than $100 on Amazon. Those days are over: Criterion is releasing a Whit Stillman-approved special edition. Released Aug 25; SRP $39.95.

Britney Spears
Move over Ringling Brothers, there’s a new circus in town: Ms. Spears brings her OTT show to the Garden. Madison Square Garden (212-307-7171); Aug 25–26; $39.50–$499.50.

Final Destination: Death Trip 3D
The Grim Reaper returns for the latest installment of the horror franchise…now in three blood-splattering dimensions. Local theaters; opens Aug 28.