The Presidio District Experience: A Food Heritage & History Tour. So you’ve munched on a prickly pear and think you’re an expert on local foodstuffs, huh? Well this Presidio District Experience Tour is about to show you all you didn’t know. Stopping at several locations in the historic Presidio District downtown, this tour examines Tucson’s “complex food heritage and the fusion of Old and New World ingredients while hearing great stories of Tucson’s history in historic locations.” 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11. 196 N. Court Street. $65 for Presidio Museum Members, $75 for non-members. Register at TucsonPresidio.com. Details here.

Community Gardening Hour. Join The Garden Kitchen every Thursday morning for an hour of helping maintain the community garden. Learn how to garden at your own home and help grow a healthier community at the same time. Sounds like a win-win! The event is free. 8 to 9 a.m., 2205 S. 4th Ave. Details here.

UA Graduate String Quartet. Join the members of the University of Arizona string quartet as they perform melodies of  Beethoven, Dan Coleman and Debussy in their spring student recital. Members of the string quartet are doctoral and master's students who have been selected from a competitive international search. Sure to be a delightful evening! 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fred Fox School of Music, Holsclaw Hall, 1017 N Olive Rd. The event is free. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Bicycle Thief. In memory and honor of local cycling advocate Collin Forbes, the local non-profit Living Streets Alliance is hosting the inaugural “Collin Forbes Memorial Bike-In Movie Series,” beginning with this beloved Italian film. 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. 2275 N. Fourth Ave., located in the northeast corner between the tennis courts and swimming pool. Details here.

Animator Ron Campbell. Legendary animator of beloved cartoon characters such as Scooby Doo the Smurfs, Rugrats, Winnie the Pooh, Flintstones, Jetsons & Yogi Bear to name a few will be exhibiting Beatles cartoon pop-up artwork at the Arizona Picture & Frame Gallery. These cartoons encompass his 50-year career in Children's Television. 2-6 p.m. 4523 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Arizona International Film Festival. The oldest and longest-running independent film festival in Arizona is returning for its 28th year! With its opening night on Wednesday, April 10, and its closing night on Sunday, April 21, this festival has ample time to screen all sorts of indie cinema from across our state and world. Featuring both full-length and short films, AIFF will take over The Screening Room, hosting multiple events there every single day of its runtime. For a full list of events and films, visit filmfestivalarizona.com. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Miles of Portraits: L.A. to Santa Fe. Cyclists Annalisa and Erik rode their bikes across America and even around Alaska. Miles of Portraits is a magazine and film that captures the stories on their travels. Starting in March, they are cycling from L.A. to Santa Fe, New Mexico, stopping at REIs along the way to tell their story. They’ll stop by the REI at the Tucson Mall to screen their film and talk about the kind souls they’ve met across on their bike travels. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. 160 W. Wetmore Road. Free, reserve online. Details here.

Animator Ron Campbell. Legendary animator of beloved cartoon characters such as Scooby Doo the Smurfs, Rugrats, Winnie the Pooh, Flintstones, Jetsons & Yogi Bear to name a few will be exhibiting Beatles cartoon pop-up artwork at the Arizona Picture & Frame Gallery. These cartoons encompass his 50-year career in Children's Television. 2-6 p.m. 4523 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Fiddler on the Roof. It’s got romance, it’s got song and dance, and—of course—it’s got plenty of traditioooon (tradition!) That’s right: Fiddler on the Roof, the Tony award-winning tale about a Jewish family finding a balance between their cultural tradition and the influence of the outside world, is coming to Tucson. It’s got songs like “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “Sunrise, Sunset,” so you might already be more familiar with this musical than you realize. Tony award winner Bartlett Sher directs. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, through Thursday, April 11. 8 p.m. on Friday, April 12. 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. 1 and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 14. Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. $19 to $120+. Details here.

No Home Movie. Continuing the Feminist Jewish Cinema Series, this is a documentary screening of Chantal Akerman’s final film, a portrait of Akerman’s relationship with her mother, who is a Holocaust survivor. This event is co-sponsored by the Jewish History Museum, University of Arizona’s Gender & Women Studies and Hanson Film Institute. At Exploded View Microcinema. 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. 197 E. Toole Ave. Free. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Spring Awakening. If you don’t think you’ll enjoy a rock musical set in 19th-century Germany about teenagers learning about and exploring their sexuality—complete with strong language and partial nudity—then what kind of musical will you enjoy? This Tony Award-winning musical follows a group of teens caught between childhood and adulthood and learning how to cope with all of the unfamiliar desires, academic frustrations and loneliness that comes with it. It’s the type of show that breaks your heart and puts it back together again in a new way. Wednesday, April 10, through Sunday, April 28, with previews at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8. 7:30 p.m. shows Thursdays through Saturdays (and on Wednesday, April 10), and 1:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. $31 GA, $29 senior/military/UA employee. $15 students. $20 preview shows. Details here.

Animator Ron Campbell. Legendary animator of beloved cartoon characters such as Scooby Doo, the Smurfs, Rugrats, Winnie the Pooh, Flintstones, Jetsons and Yogi Bear to name a few will be exhibiting cartoon pop-up artwork at the Arizona Picture & Frame Gallery. These cartoons encompass his 50-year career in Children's Television. 2 to 6 p.m. 4523 E. Speedway Blvd. Details here.

Guitar in the Park. Join the Tucson Guitar Society as they host a night of music. Come to play or to listen! Either way it is free. All musical styles/levels are welcomed. Himmel Park Library, 1035 N. Treat Ave. 6:30-8 p.m. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

How cool is a rooftop pool overlooking Tucson? Now add Finding Nemo and you'll just keep swimming right up to free tickets!

The AC Marriott Hotel is hosting a series of Dive-In Movie nights and we have free tickets for one lucky winner to their event. Tickets include access to the pool, one free drink (alcoholic or not), fresh popcorn and Finding Nemo. Enjoy a movie under the stars on us!

Enter to win a free pair of tickets to the April 13 event here:


This is a family friendly event. To learn more about the Dive-In Movie series, check out their Facebook page. 

EXTRA: Before the event check out the Spring City Market happening in the hotel lobby. These seasonal markets are free and feature local vendors and artists selling seasonal goods. The market also features live music and a themed cocktail menu. For more information about the Spring City Market, visit their Facebook page.

Petey’s Big Sketch Show. Heads will lol at this sketch comedy event put on by some of Tucson’s funny people. How did things like Saturday Night Live and Monty Python get started? With a bunch of funny people getting together to make stuff happen. You don’t want to miss the start of the next big thing in comedy, do you? DO YOU? This may be Petey’s Big Sketch Show, but it’s your Big Chance to get in on the ground floor of comedy’s Next Big Thing. 9 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 5. Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. $10 at the door, or in advance through Venmo @peteysbigsketchshow. Details here.

Always… Patsy Cline. Speaking of theatre that tells the true story of a strong woman in history, Live Theatre Workshop has something for us this week as well. This musical revue, created and originally directed by Ted Swindley (and directed this time around by Annette Hillman), is based on a true story about Patsy Cline. Featuring hits like “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall To Pieces” and “Crazy,” it gives fans a chance to learn more about her story, which is in parts as tragic as it is inspiring. Preview shows 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, and Friday, April 5. Opening night Saturday, April 6. Then, shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays through Saturday, May 11 (with a special 3 p.m. show on that Saturday). No show Easter Sunday. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $20 GA, $18 military/senior/student, $15 Thursdays and previews. Details here.


Ann Boyd Wade Fine Art & Photography Show. The Art League of Willcox, which is dedicated to promoting interest in fine art and providing opportunities and activities for fine artists and photographers in the Willcox community, is hosting its 36th annual iteration of this celebration of art! Come enjoy food, demonstrations, an awards ceremony and lots and lots of lovely art over in Willcox this weekend. Fun for all ages and all people, because who doesn’t like looking at pretty things? 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 7. Willcox Community Center Park, 207 W. Maley St., Willcox. Free. Details here.

Annual Sculpture Festival Show & Sale. Are you an art collector, or even just an art lover? We think there’s a little bit of a sculpture appreciator in all of us. This weekend, check out some of the best 3D art in town, including pieces that have been recognized at a national level and are available for purchase. Meet more than 60 artists who are both local and international work, enjoy art demonstrations and live music, and keep your belly as full as your artistic sensibilities at the food trucks. If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can attend a special patron’s event with gourmet hors d’oeuvres and cocktails for $50 from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 5. Otherwise, the free event is 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 E. River Road. Details here.

Packrat Programs. Packrats are pretty cute, but human children are oftentimes even more cute. If you’ve got some, they might enjoy this 30-minute activity led by the education staff at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, available Fridays and Saturdays throughout this spring and summer. This week, kids ages 2 to 5 years old get a chance to learn about music and make their own instruments while hanging out with a live animal on Friday, and kids 6 to 12 years old will get a more advanced version of the same activity. Then, attendees get some exclusive playtime in the Packrat Playhouse before it opens to the public. Younger kid activities are the second and fourth Friday of every month (April 4, this week) from 9 to 10 a.m. Older kid activities are the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. Both are $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Details here.

Baja Beer Festival 2019. The fourth annual Baja Beer Festival is back! And we hope you brought your exposed brick aesthetic and fixed-gear bike, because this year’s theme is IPAs. Hosted at Armory Park, this event features brewers competing in a state-wide IPA competition, live music, food and lawn games. Sample beers from Arizona’s best breweries, and food from Arizona’s best chefs. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6. 222 S. Fifth Ave. General admission is $40, VIP is $70, designated drivers are $10. 21+. Details here.
Cholla Buds and Nopalitos con Mole: A Cooking Workshop. In a celebration of Tucson’s City of Gastronomy and their new kitchen, Mission Garden is hosting a “fun morning of on-site harvesting wild cholla cactus flower buds and young prickly pear pads for culinary ideas” served with traditional Mexican sauces. At this event, you get to learn about traditional food harvesting, while sampling the local flavors. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6. 946 W Mission Lane. $50. Details here.

Mercado District Spring Bazaar. Celebrating their big 10-year anniversary, the Mercado San Agustin is hosting a gathering for the best shopping and eating west of the 10. But there’s just too much good stuff for one day, so this bazaar is lasting the whole weekend. Come on out, you’ve been meaning to check out the MSA Annex anyway! 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7. 100 S Avenida del Convento. Details here.
STEM Day at Reid Park Zoo. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics? How about robotics, rocketry, slime, oobleck making, paper airplanes and a Junior Shark Tank? At this event, kids can learn all about some of the fields STEM applies to and hear from zoo educators about how wildlife scientists use STEM to help protect wild animals and wild places. And don’t miss the moon lander experiment, where students will be given the mission of saving an astronaut (well, a marshmallow representing an astronaut) by creating a moon lander to keep the astronaut safe during landing. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Ct. Free with zoo admission, $10.50 for adults 15 to 61, $8.50 for seniors 62 and older, $6.50 for kids ages 2 to 14 and free for kids 0 to 1. Details here.
Blood Wedding. Those words don’t usually go together, do they? “Wedding bells are ringing and blood is flowing!” In this adaptation of a show by Federico García Lorca, a young bride receives a mysterious visitor from her past on the morning of her wedding, sending the day off in an unexpected direction of rekindled passions, ancient family feuds and the supernatural. Bryan Rafael Falcón directs and Melissa Alejandra Aguirre Fernandez does music direction for this magical realism/Gabriel Garcia Marquez-esque/dark and lovely show at The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4 through Saturday, April 6, and Thursday, April 11, through Saturday, April 13. 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, and Sunday, April 14. The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre at The Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Ave. $28 GA, $20 for those under 30 and $15 students and teachers. Details here.

Letters from Zora. There’s not a lot of famous Zoras out there, but Zora Neale Hurston is really doing her part to give that name a place in the public. The author of books like Their Eyes Were Watching God and of phrases like “There are years that ask questions and years that answer,” the literary icon spurred conversations about race in America during the Harlem Renaissance. In this show at Invisible Theatre, her life and career are brought back to life. Directed by Anita Dashiell-Sparks and starring Vanessa Bell Calloway, the show only has two performances this weekend, so don’t miss it! 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7. The Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. $45. Details here.

Oracle Artist Studio Tour. If you’re going to spend your day touring art studios, we can’t think of a better place to do it than in a town full of artists. Just stop by the Welcome Center in Oracle for a brochure, then head on a self-guided tour to check out the oil, watercolor, jewelry, photography, woodwork, collages, acoustics, handmade bee houses and more produced by some of your fellow Arizonans. Purple signs throughout the town will guide you through the art studios, historic ranches, workshops and lovely weather of Oracle. As you peruse all 18 locations on the tour, you’ll even be able to meet some of the artists participating in the event’s 28th annual year. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7. Throughout Oracle. Welcome Center is at 1470 W. American Ave. Free. Details here.

Artists’ Pop-Up Show. The Desert Artisans Gallery is featuring a mini exhibit full of mini pieces of art. Lyle Rayfield makes nature-inspired jewelry with metal work and metal clay, creating delicate depictions of things like notebooks and dragonflies. Dikki Van Helsand creates small batik works, made by dying cloth with a wax-resistant clay. Come chat with the artists and see their work at this special little show on the east side. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Desert Artisans Gallery, 6536 E. Tanque Verde Road. Details here.

Tenth Copper City Classic Vintage Base Ball Tournament
Remember the 1919 World Series? Well, probably not firsthand, because that was a while ago. At this event sponsored by the Arizona Territories Vintage Base Ball League and the Friends of Warren Ballpark, they’ll be playing by rules that were adopted during the Lincoln administration, with players wearing period uniforms! So come cheer on your local team, the Bisbee Black Sox. This year’s tournament commemorates the Black Sox players who were kicked out of baseball for fixing the 1919 World Series. Tombstone Brewing Company will be serving local craft beer, too! Gates open at 9 a.m., with games played all day on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7. Warren Ballpark, 73-99 Arizona St. Bisbee. $10 for one day or $15 for both. Active military free on Sunday. Kids 12 and under free with an adult ticket. Details here.
Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-Along. Now you might not have heard of this little up-and-coming group out of Britain, but rumor has it their music can really stir a crowd. The Loft Cinema is hosting a sing-along of the recent biopic on Queen and Freddie Mercury, featuring tunes like “Another One Bites the Dust,” “We are the Champions,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” This screening even includes a pre-show “Queen Music Video Salon.” Get ready for a night at the opera! A portion of the proceeds from this screening will benefit the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6. 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. $12. Details here.

Rio Bravo (Outdoor Screening at Old Tucson). Everyone likes it when a story comes full-circle, so don’t miss the screening of this classic Western at the very studio it was filmed at. Shown on The Loft Cinema’s giant inflatable screen, this outdoor showing even includes a John Wayne trivia contest before the film. There will also be food and drinks, including a full bar. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Movie starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6. 201 S. Kinney Road. $5. Details here.
National Beer Day. So apparently every day isn’t National Beer Day. In light of this news, 1912 Brewing invites you in on the festivities. They’ll be celebrating all things beer, and even hosting a new release of a specialty beer for the day. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 7. 2045 N Forbes Blvd. Details here.

Sentinel Peak Crawfish Boil. Whether you call them crawfish, crayfish or crawdads, we can agree Cajun food is a great way to warm the body and heighten the spirits. In celebration of this food culture, Tucson’s only “midtown brewpub” is hosting a big, bad, beautiful boil, and serving some awesome craft beer and cocktails at the same time. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, April 7. 4746 E. Grant Road. Details here.
Zin, Blues & BBQ. It sure seems Tucson has an abundance of blues and barbeque these days, but who’s complaining about that? Hacienda del Sol is upping the B&BBQ game by adding a bit of wine to the mix. This 19th annual Zin Blues & BBQ event features more than 35 varieties of Zinfandel, plus plenty of great food and live music. 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 7. 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Road. $49 to $69. Purchase tickets online. Details here.

Quirkus Circus & the Missing Ringmaster. Tyler West, longtime performer with Live Theatre Workshop and recent UA theatre grad, wrote this original story for Live Theatre Workshop’s Family Theatre. When Quirkus Circus sets up their tent to do a show at LTW and raise the curtain to reveal their ringmaster, they realize he isn’t there! What are they to do? Turn to the audience for help, of course! Bring your talents, bring your silliest attitude and bring your belly laugh, because at this show, you’re not just a spectator—you’re a star! 12:30 p.m. on Sundays from April 7 through June 9 (except April 21 and May 12). Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $7 kids, $10 adults. Details here.
Members of the Handel and Haydn Society. Formed in 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society is the nation’s oldest arts organization. In 1980, the then-music director transformed it into a period instrument ensemble, and now the group is a leader in historically informed performance. Don’t miss your chance to see some of their members play the works of Biber, Schmelzer and Vivaldi. Aisslinn Nosky and Susanna Ogata are two of the most sought-after baroque violinists in the U.S., and Guy Fishman, principal cellist and Ian Watson, principal keyboardist and associate director, are also critically acclaimed musicians. Hosted by the Arizona Early Music Society. 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7. Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St. $25. Details here.

Spring Awakening. If you don’t think you’ll enjoy a rock musical set in 19th-century Germany about teenagers learning about and exploring their sexuality—complete with strong language and partial nudity—then what kind of musical will you enjoy? This Tony Award-winning musical follows a group of teens caught between childhood and adulthood and learning how to cope with all of the unfamiliar desires, academic frustrations and loneliness that comes with it. It’s the type of show that breaks your heart and puts it back together again in a new way. Wednesday, April 10, through Sunday, April 28, with previews at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8. 7:30 p.m. shows Thursdays through Saturdays (and on Wednesday, April 10), and 1:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tornabene Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Road. $31 GA, $29 senior/military/UA employee. $15 students. $20 preview shows. Details here.

A New Heaven. The 40 members of the Arizona Repertory Singers are performing this spring concert named for the Edgar Bainton piece they’re performing, And I Saw to New Heaven. They’ll also be singing the Tucson premiere of The Fruit of Silence by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks, a meditative setting of texts written by Mother Theresa. Most of the music is a cappella, but organist Kevin Seal will play along with some songs on the Wicks organ the church had installed just last year. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7 at the Episcopal Church of the Apostles, 12111 N. La Cholla Blvd., Oro Valley. $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Details here.
“The Music of Living.” The Arizona Choral Society is dedicated to excellence in singing and in performing joyful music, so it’s only fitting that they’re bringing us this vocal extravaganza, accompanied by harp and piano, to help us celebrate spring. Featuring music by composers like John Rutter, Michael John Trotta and Timothy Takach, the program emphasizes themes like love, joy and world peace. Founder and conductor Jonathan Ng directs—all you have to do is sit back and enjoy. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7. Catalina Methodist Church, 2700 E. Speedway. $20. Details here.

Cyclovia Tucson. Who wouldn’t support the mission of an organization that wants to “Create great street for all of us,” through things like street murals, demonstration projects and—eventually—play streets and neighborhood-scale block parties? That’s just what the Living Streets Alliance aims to do with this biannual event. Cyclovia is a Spanish word that signifies the temporary closure of streets so they can become open to the people for biking, walking, skating and various free activities. Take your chance to experience some of Tucson’s roads without cars, and with extra fun! 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7. Banner–University Medicine to Warehouse Arts District. Free. Details here.
Ryan David Orr. An Oregonian transplant now living in Arizona, Ryan David Orr’s past is as full and varied as his influences. A look at this folk singer’s favorite albums shows he pulls inspiration from some unlikely sources, but a listen to his music makes sense of the jumble. Intimate vocals, hypnotic song structures, lush instrumentation and some modern production make his music stand out from other songwriters. But one aspect remains solid and clear: Orr’s lyricism. His lines are lucid and affecting like only introspective poetry can be. These powerful lines being delivered by Orr’s weathered, melancholic voice is simply the cherry on top. Catch Ryan David Orr performing at La Cocina Old Town Artisans as part of the Tucson Folk Festival. 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7. 201 N. Court Ave. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Usually when a collective gasp takes over the crowd at the Tucson Arena, a hockey stick is smashing into the glass or a player is sent to the penalty box. Last night the oohs and aahs came instead because of high-flying acrobats, agile jugglers and magic floating bicycles. Cirque du Soleil's Corteo is in town for the weekend.


Written and directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, both the storyline and the acrobatics captured the audience seated on either side of the see-through stage.

A hula-hooping gypsy performer dazzled the audience by spinning more hoops that seemingly possible on her neck, waist, arms and ankles all while dancing and contorting herself into shapes that just look like they have got to hurt.

Next, a tiny "clowness" floated onto the stage held up only by a bouquet of giant helium balloons. She then garnered huge applause by floating out into the audience and walking across viewers' outstretched hands.


The show was never short on audience participation with Mauro the Dreamer Clown bantering with the crowd throughout each act.

Sixteen acts total, each of which told their own small story, worked together not only to entertain but to capture the audience's imaginations. Two hour-long sets were split with a 20 minute intermission to refill on popcorn for the jaw-dropping show.

Corteo got its start in 2005 in Montreal as a Big Top show. In 2016 it transformed into an arena show and has visited more than 60 cities in 19 different countries.The cast is as diverse as the places the show has traveled to, with performers representing 18 nationalities.


For an entertaining evening that leaves you asking, "How do they do that?!" over and over again, check out Corteo before it packs up and moves to the next arena.

The show is in Tucson for one weekend only, and has show times through Sunday, April 7. Find more information about Cirque du Soleil's Corteo here.

Sculpture Resource Center artist Joshua Woodhall says he’s been doing art ever since he had the motor skills for it. He has this memory of checking out a library book in middle school and drawing something lewd on its pages.

“The silly librarian took it all over looking for who drew it,” he says. “Everybody got to see my boob drawing.”

This weekend, Tucsonans will have their own chance to see Woodhall’s erotic pieces at the ninth annual Tucson Erotica opening reception at the Sculpture Resource Center, 640 N. Stone Ave., 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. Past iterations of the festival have included pieces ranging from traditional nudes to the type of sculpture you really can’t resist walking around to see from every angle to arguably over-the-top depictions of orgies. But that’s the thing: Nothing is over-the-top at this sex-positive festival. This year, the event will include literary art for the first time as well.

Event organizer Inna Rohr met two burlesque performers at last year’s event, and was so impressed by their sexual energy that she created a series of paintings featuring them.

“They were both really strong an powerful, and the had this absolutely magnificent presence about them,” she says. “The series addresses same-sex relationships and intimacy and how it doesn’t matter who you are because love is still love.”

This is Rohr’s fifth year being involved with the festival. Last year, her featured pieces were playfully positioned bananas and donuts. But she spent much of her last year traveling the world, including visiting family in Estonia. In some places she visited, same-sex relationships aren’t yet normalized.

“The work I was inspired to do there inspired some conversations, and inspired some mind changing,” she said. “That was a cool conversation to have… It’s such a beautiful thing to be in love and to express your feelings and to be okay with it and not worry about what other people would think.”

The cover art she created for the festival also features two women. One of them (the one holding the whip), who goes by the stage name Fiametta Mink, is in charge of organizing the performers for this year’s event. Mink didn’t find her way to burlesque until her 40s, and she said last year’s Tucson Erotica was a particularly good place to perform – she and the other dancers weren’t on a stage, so they were practically face-to-face with audience members who were as respectful as they were enthused.

Best Wishes For Worst Times. Presented by the University of Arizona Museum of Art, this screening takes the audience on a fictional art tour. Led by fictional art critic Maria Denolt, this film introduces viewers to six artworks which demonstrate principles central to art history (and time travel). Since 2012, Tucson-based artist and archivist Dani Lamorte has performed as Maria Denolt, an “an art critic, lecturer, lofty person who engages contemporary art as an open-ended adventure into the absurd.” 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 4. 1031 N. Olive Road. $8. Details here.

Blood Wedding. Those words don’t usually go together, do they? “Wedding bells are ringing and blood is flowing!” In this adaptation of a show by Federico García Lorca, a young bride receives a mysterious visitor from her past on the morning of her wedding, sending the day off in an unexpected direction of rekindled passions, ancient family feuds and the supernatural. Bryan Rafael Falcón directs and Melissa Alejandra Aguirre Fernandez does music direction for this magical realism/Gabriel Garcia Marquez-esque/dark and lovely show at The Scoundrel and Scamp Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4 through Saturday, April 6, and Thursday, April 11, through Saturday, April 13. 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, and Sunday, April 14. The Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre at The Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Ave. $28 GA, $20 for those under 30 and $15 students and teachers. Details here.

Always… Patsy Cline. Speaking of theatre that tells the true story of a strong woman in history, Live Theatre Workshop has something for us this week as well. This musical revue, created and originally directed by Ted Swindley (and directed this time around by Annette Hillman), is based on a true story about Patsy Cline. Featuring hits like “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall To Pieces” and “Crazy,” it gives fans a chance to learn more about her story, which is in parts as tragic as it is inspiring. Preview shows 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, and Friday, April 5. Opening night Saturday, April 6. Then, shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays through Saturday, May 11 (with a special 3 p.m. show on that Saturday). No show Easter Sunday. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $20 GA, $18 military/senior/student, $15 Thursdays and previews. Details here.

Packrat Programs. Packrats are pretty cute, but human children are oftentimes even more cute. If you’ve got some, they might enjoy this 30-minute activity led by the education staff at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, available Fridays and Saturdays throughout this spring and summer. This week, kids ages 2 to 5 years old get a chance to learn about music and make their own instruments while hanging out with a live animal on Friday, and kids 6 to 12 years old will get a more advanced version of the same activity. Then, attendees get some exclusive playtime in the Packrat Playhouse before it opens to the public. Younger kid activities are the second and fourth Friday of every month (April 4, this week) from 9 to 10 a.m. Older kid activities are the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road. Both are $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Details here.

Events compiled by Briannon Wilfong, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

On the West side of town there are many places to pull off the road and enjoy the scenery. One such pull off is the Painted Hills trailhead. Currently connecting to a small system of trails, Pima County is looking for volunteers to expand the hiking options.

Located on the edge of Tucson Mountain Park, plans are to create four miles of new trails in the Painted Hills trail system and seven miles of new trails throughout the Enchanted Hills area.

Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation trails staff need help to make the new hiking haven a possibility. No previous trail work is needed and volunteers will help in new trail construction and revegetation efforts.

There will be multiple opportunities at the two locations to help build the new trails:

Painted Hills Trailhead, 3590 W. Anklam Road

• Saturday, April 6: 8 a.m - noon
• Sunday, April 14: 8 a.m. - noon
• Saturday, April 27: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 4: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 11: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

To register for an event at Painted Hills, contact Neil Stitzer – [email protected] or 520.724.5239.

Enchanted Hills Volunteer Events

Location: 36th Street Trailhead (western end of 36th Street, west of S. Mission Road)

• Sunday, April 7: 8 a.m. - noon
• Saturday, April 13: 8 a.m. - noon
• Saturday, April 20: 8 a.m. - noon
• Sunday, April 28: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 4: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• Saturday, May 11: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.

To register for an event at Enchanted Hills, do so through Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists.

For more information about the volunteer opportunities or new trails, click here.