I’m sitting here at one of the best coffee houses in our fair city, sipping a wonderfully strong latte, and even in the presence of a pleasing atmosphere that includes a terrific java jolt, I cannot think of one reason why a theater of the stature of the Invisible Theatre would produce Coming Apart, a totally bland play suitable only for—well, maybe community theater, in its rawest.

Seriously, I’m trying to think of a reason. Artistic director Susan Claassen has a supporting role, but I don’t think that was reason enough, even for satisfying whatever yearning she has to tread the boards. Which, by the way, she does frequently anyway with her show, A Conversation with Edith Head.

Fred Carmichael’s play is lifeless, dull and empty. That sounds harsh, but there’s no way around it.
The piece gives us a couple, both writers, Colin (David Alexander Johnston) and Frances (Susan Kovitz), who after 21 years of marriage announce simultaneously one morning that each wants a divorce. The piece squanders whatever potential that synchronicity might contain. It’s downhill from there, and the distance isn’t a short ride.

What we are in for is a series of memories of their meeting and courtship, in which their accounts differ radically. Well, semi-radically, anyway, coercing from us a chuckle or two. They each have work to do, so they decide to share the house until certain deadlines are met.

The twilight of summer is here (womp womp).

Upsides? Walking out the front door will soon no longer feel like accidentally opening a pre-heated oven. And hey, here's a list of five awesome events to attend before the onslaught that is the first week of school descends upon our once empty, tranquil desert streets.  

1) Silversun Pickups at the Rialto
Although ideally we'd rewind back about a month and blast these driving rhythms through an iPod stereo on some beach in Mexico, we'll just have to enjoy them now at the Rialto when Silversun Pickups roll through on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. Full of sway-worthy, 90s-esque complex sound, the Pickups are the perfect act to celebrate the angst that comes with the last days of summer. Check them out here.    

2) Open Studios Under the Full Moon
The Metal Arts Village's (3230 N Dodge Blvd) monthly gathering of booze, food and art is happening this Thursday, Aug. 18 starting at 6 p.m. Wander around and meet local artists doing what they do best, followed by some food truck fare and perhaps a summery Hef from Tucson Hop Shop. Family friendly and free, check out the Facebook event page for more details.

3) Twilight Bicycle Mural Tour | COX Plaza Dance Party
This one's for the bikers and dancers out there looking for one more night of empty streets and breathable dance floors. The tour will start at MOCA (265 S Church Ave) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19 and will officially set off at 7:15 p.m. After a 2-hour, flat ride showcasing some favorite murals in the area, (and for the non-cyclists among us) the night will end with a dance party at Cox Plaza with DJs BayBay Ruthless + Illslur. Tickets are 5 bucks or free if you're a MOCA member. Here's the info.

4) Wild Style at the Loft 
This month's Staff Selects takes us to the hip-hop glory that was 1980s New York City, a docudrama that features the graffiti, freestyling, scratching and breakdancing that exploded onto the city scene on the heels of a new artistic culture. Even the actors were taken right from the neighborhoods featured in the film. The flick airs Sunday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Loft (3233 E Speedway Blvd). You can take a look at the trailer before heading out. 

5) Brew-HaHa Comedy Showcase
Coming in hot a few days after the first day of school, the Brew-HaHa Comedy Showcase at Borderlands Brewery (119 E Toole Ave) is promising an "amazing" show, with plenty of beers on tap just in case the laughs don't land for everyone. The latter shouldn't be too much of a problem with headliner Monte Benjamin at the comedy helm, with local AZians Randy Ford, Charles Engle and Dan Thomson also on the bill. The show, on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 8 p.m., has a $3 cover, here are the deets. 

The Desert Artisans' Gallery launched two new shows this week entitled Canvas Dreams and Summer Stillness.

Located at 6536 E. Tanque Verde Rd., the Desert Artisans' Galley is owned and operated by local Southern Arizona artists and features contemporary works in everything from photograph and jewelry to watercolor and and glass.
The exhibition "Canvas Dreams" features work by artists, Geri Bringham, David Brown, Gretchen Huff, Paddie Flaherty, Kathy Robbins and Terry Slonaker. 

Want to know a little more about the artists being showcased? Check out their bios on the Desert Artisans' website to see some of their work.

Geri Bringham
David Brown
Gretchen Huff
Paddie Flaherty
Kathy Robbins Terry Slonaker

The exhibit which will be running through Nov. 6, is having an opening reception this Friday, Aug. 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. that's open to the public.

For more information visit the Desert Artisans' Gallery's website or call 722-4412. 

Author and film maker Dinesh D’Souza’s latest film opened nationwide last Thursday. It is a history lesson in two parts.

It starts with a short and somewhat creepy sequence of swirling cartoon representations of different Democrat politicians to the tune of “Happy Days are Here Again”. The movie then begins with a re-enactment of the sentencing phase of D’Souza’s trial for violation of campaign finance laws. This was the beginning of part one.

Yes, it’s true, Dinesh D’Souza had a friend who was running for office to whom he donated $20k. So far, so good, but he then had a third party donate another $20k which was reimbursed by D’Souza. He was charged with a felony. His lawyer said that this sort of case is common and that nobody suffers a felony and that he would get it reduced for him. After some time, his lawyer told him that the court was not budging, he could not get the charge reduced, and that somebody must really want to get him. This took place after the D’Souza movie 2016: Obama’s America which was critical of the president. He pleaded guilty to the felony and was sentenced to five years probation, eight months in a "community confinement center," eight hours a week of community service during the probation, and a thirty thousand dollar fine. It was sort of a “Lite” version of G.Gordon Liddy’s sentence of 20 years in prison (commuted to eight years by President Carter) for a first offense breaking and entering where nothing was stolen—his punishment for not co-operating with Democrats after the Watergate fiasco.

After the courtroom scene, there was a humorous sequence showing his induction to the "community confinement center" and getting used to the company of hardened criminals. He began to learn about the criminal subculture which had been totally foreign to him. Through speaking with his fellow inmates, he distilled the four major aspects of the criminal enterprise: 1, Develop a plan; 2, Recruit; 3, Make the pitch; 4, If caught, always deny, never give up the con. He uses his newfound understanding of criminality as a framework for explaining the success and ultimate goal of the Democrat Party.

D’Souza dived back in history to the presidency of Andrew Jackson, the Democrat president who drove Native Americans off their land onto reservations, then sold the land cheaply to buy votes. The Republicans fought against the plan, but the Democrats got it passed. He proceeds through history to the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Ku Klux Klan, lynching, big city political machines, Margaret Sanger, and finally debunking the claim that Republicans under Nixon decided to appeal to Southern racists and that is why black people turned to the Democrats after the racists in the party became Republicans. It was given the term, “The Southern Strategy.”

Celebrate the J. Knox Corbett House all month long with the Tucson Museum of Art. 

From Tuesday, July 26 to Friday, Aug. 26 the TMA will be holding events to celebrate a local treasure and significant part of the TMA and Historic Block.

An elegant stucco covered brick two-story structure built in mission revival style, the J. Knox Corbett House was completed in 1906 and inhabited by the Corbett family for 56 years. 

Completely refurbished, the house now features an extensive collection of unique and decorative objects from the arts and crafts era.

Know as a social hub in Tucson, the Corbett House Days will not only bring the property to life again by celebrating it's history, they will also bring funds to the Museum's Historic Block Restoration Fund.

The Corbett House Days program and events are as follows:

Daily tours, Tuesday, July 26 to Friday, Aug. 26
Tuesday through Sunday, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Free with museum admission

Free First Thursday, Corbett House by Twilight
Thursday, Aug. 4, 5 to 8 p.m.
Enjoy a special twilight tour of the house at 6 p.m. and then relax in the gardens and enjoy live music on the Corbett house porch at 7 p.m.

In a proclamation worthy of a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, the Arizona Theatre Company Board of Trustees has announced in a release that fundraising efforts to save the 2016-17 season has succeeded, and the 50th Anniversary season will indeed launch with Kind Charles III as previously scheduled. Arizona audiences will have their shows, and ATC company and staff will keep their jobs.

The number capped at 448 Tucson donors and 320 from Phoenix. Mike Kasser, Tucson business leader and stalwart ATC patron sent a heartfelt thank you to the generosity of Arizona's loyal theatre-goers:

 “I’m so happy that this effort came together and reached the goal. With over 700 small-to-medium size donors, It was like a crowd-funding campaign without the Internet. I also very much appreciate the support from Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild as well as several large donors. We know that this does not represent the end of our fund-raising focus, but now ATC can move forward with a very exciting season and plan for the future.”

Other leaders within ATC, including Artistic Director David Ira Goldstein and Board of Trustees Chair Lynne Wood Dusenberry, expressed their deep gratitude for the outpouring of support, but qualified the statements by reminding the community of all the fundraising and reorganizing that still needs to be done to ensure company sustainability. 

"And to those who so generously donated to the effort, at whatever level they could afford, we can only offer our deep thanks and a promise to take every necessary step to ensure that ATC is in a position to produce 50 more seasons," Dusenberry said. "At the same time, as wonderful as this day is, there is still much work to be done on both the fund-raising side and organizationally to ensure ATC’s long-term financial and artistic stability.”

You can now, finally, check out the ATC website for more information on tickets and dates for the upcoming season of shows. King Charles III will open in September, followed by An Act of God in October, and closing with Fiddler on the Roof at the end of the year. 

Experience romance and disillusion in the atmosphere of a 1920s dance by heading over to the Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd, to watch a live production of Tales of the Jazz Age this weekend.

Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short story, the show is a collaboration between the Rogue Theatre and Artificial Dance Project. 

Performances run through Sunday, July 26. Catch a show Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. or on Sunday at 2 p.m.   

Tickets are $35 for all performances, with a $15 student rush option available 15 minutes before all performances. 

For more information or to buy tickets, head to www.roguetheatre.org.

The Loft Cinema (3233 E. Speedway Blvd.) is hosting A Hard Day’s Night Sing-A-Long on Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. featuring the film that typifies the height of the Beatles' revolutionary career. The movie follows John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they prep for a London TV gig in the midst of shenanigans and screaming fans. Directed by Richard Lester, A Hard Day’s Night includes some of the Beatles' most famous tracks like, “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better,” “Tell Me Why,” and “If I Fell."

The 87-minute film will have all the lyrics to your favorite Beatles tunes displayed on screen for the optimal sing-a-long experience, and pre-show entertainment includes Beatles music videos and a costume contest. 10 bucks won't 'buy you love' but it is the general admission price, and children under 12 get in for $8. 

Experience the photographic work of Dave Carter at the Porter Hall Gallery this July.

Carter, who is originally from California, has been practicing his craft for more than 30 years and is now based in Arizona. His exhibit showcases his journey of finding the elusive spirit of places and things.

The exhibit opened July 1 and will continue through July 31 in the Tucson Botanical Gardens' Porter Hall Gallery.

The botanical gardens' website says:

 He believes that this essence is always given as a gift, for it can never be taken from the subject unwillingly. He also believes this spirit is fleetingly offered only when the artist’s consciousness is free and open, regularly enough to keep one drawn to the place where its presence is strongest.

The show will feature Carter's vibrant photography detailing moments in passing. 

There is an open artist's reception this Thursday, July 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 

Interested in seeing a moment in passing? Check out the Tucson Botanical website or Carter's website for more information. 

Last we heard, Arizona Theatre Company had two weeks to come up with two million dollars, otherwise the theatre would be forced to close its doors for its next season. The announcement came last week in a press release, saying the company needed the cash or an entire year of reorganizing in the hopes they could raise the curtain the year after.

On July 8, ATC sent out another press release to announce that nearly 360 donors from Tucson and Phoenix have pledged a quarter million ($220,000 to be exact) in a fundraising effort to save the 2016-17 season. In addition to the 213 Tucson donors and 145 from Phoenix, an anonymous donor pledged a separate $100,000 donation to have the deadline for closure extended to July 15. Mike Kasser, board member at ATC, has also agreed to match the funds if one million can be raised before the deadline.

Members of ATC's governing bodies said in the release that the support from the Tucson and Phoenix communities is cause for hope, but they are reaching a critical timeframe that needs to be met otherwise "options are very limited," according to  ATC Managing Director Billy Russo. 

"Either we go on temporary hiatus to restructure the business model or close our doors," he said. "We are hopeful that the people of Arizona won’t let that happen.”

To donate to the cause or for more information, visit www.arizonatheatre.org.