Thursday, May 24, 2018
Performances
Sun Records: A Million Dollar Story. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but you can certainly have Old Tucson put on a brand new show, written especially for everyone’s favorite Wild West attraction. Michael Monroe Goodman’s show is all about the record label that brought the world rock ’n’ roll, by being the first to record artists like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. If you’re not All Shook Up with excitement about this show, you should be! This is the first in a trio of shows which will include a Marty Robbins tribute in June and an Everly Brothers show in September. If you buy all your tickets at once, you can use the promo code ALL3 to avoid paying three separate online convenience fees. Dinner at 6 p.m. and show at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 26. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. $48.95 includes the price of dinner.Terry Fator. Whether you’re into the fine art of ventriloquism or not, Terry Fator has a pretty cute little story of how he got so famous. He got his first dummy when he was in fifth grade, and spent years and years in a band and performing as a ventriloquist at county fairs. One time he performed for the ONE person who showed up in a 1,000 seat venue. Then, of course, he won season 2 of “America’s Got Talent,” and skyrocketed to success, along with his cast of characters, including the little girl with the big voice, the Impersonating Turtle, the Elvis Impersonator and the annoying neighbor. How does he do it? No one knows—his lips are sealed. Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. Saturday, May 26. Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road. $35 to $70.
John Philip Sousa in the Park. The Tucson Pops Orchestra is seeing off Memorial Day weekend with a tribute to the good ol’ American March King. Sousa, or JP to his friends, wrote such bangers as “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” “Semper Fidelis” and “The Liberty Bell,” all of which you’ve heard even if the names don’t sound familiar. (As a side note, Sousa also wrote three novels, and was a fantastic trapshooter.) At this event, you’ll hear just one piece by Sousa, and then a smattering of compositions including “Hymn to the Fallen” and “America the Beautiful.” You’ll also see the world premiere of “Fairy Tale, an Imaginary Ballet,” by composer Pete Fine. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 27. DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park, 900 S. Randolph Way. Free—but BYOFSOB (Bring Your Own Folding Chair Or Blanket).
The Wizard of Oz. If you were off to see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, what would you ask him for? To keep net neutrality safe? To have all the potholes in your neighborhood fixed? Or something simple, like an eegees now that it’s getting hot? You’d better get your answer ready for when you go to see the Academy of Ballet, Tap and Jazz Dance School’s presentation of The Wizard of Oz. Dancers of all ages will be dancing down the yellow brick road, past the flying monkeys and through the Emerald City. It sounds like it’s going to be totally wicked. 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27. Tucson Convention Center Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $16.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Performances
Cirque Italia. As if Cirque de Soleil wasn’t crazy enough, this show has all the acrobatics, contortionism, aerials and other impressive feats, but with a 35,000-gallon tank of water underneath it all. Who wouldn’t be impressed by one of those people flipping around on a piece of fabric hanging from the ceiling? Or someone doing a headstand on top of someone else’s head? And they’ve got some seriously good performers—the show held auditions in 25 countries to find the 30 artists featured in the show, and travels to about 50 cities per year. You’ll love it, the kids’ll love it, your in-laws’ll love it. What’s not to love? Showtimes at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30, depending on the day of the week. Friday, May 18 through Monday, May 28. Cirque Italia’s Big Top Silver, 5870 E. Broadway Blvd in the Park Place parking lot. Tickets range from $10 for the cheapest children’s seat to $40 for the most expensive adult seat.Voices Like Ours. The Reveille Men’s Chorus is offering up a friendly reminder of that most universal of truths: Music is for anyone and everyone, regardless of who they are, where they came from or what they enjoy. (Assuming there isn’t anyone who truly hates all music?) To do it, they’ll be singing songs that range from the 1960s to today, and combining music, comedy, dance and drama to explore more universal (or near-universal) themes, like aging and gender. Lift those voices, and those spirits! 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 20. Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Tim Allen. Which of the many faces of Tim Allen is your favorite? Is it the debonair, grunting man’s man from “Home Improvement?” The tricked-out, totally enviable Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story films? The grinchlike Scott Calvin-turned-Santa Claus in “The Santa Clause?” Face it: You can’t choose. And you don’t have to. Allen, who recently finished the sixth season of the sitcom Last Man Standing, is on a comedy tour across the country, including to Tucson and beyond! 8 p.m. Saturday, May 19. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $49 to $89+.
Star Wars. You might not usually spend your weekends seeing shows put on by the City High School theater department, but the City High School theater department isn’t usually putting on one of the most beloved stories of all time. If watching the Star Wars movies makes you feel nostalgic, imagine how nostalgic you’re going to feel when you watch the show put on by people who were the same age you were when you first got really into the franchise. 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, May 18 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 19. Their dress rehearsal at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 17 is also open to the public and free. 47 E. Pennington St. Tickets are available at the door or at City High in advance. $5 or free for CHS and PFFS students. Email [email protected] to reserve tickets in advance.
Tags: voices like ours , music , theater , culture , bingo , history , performances , kids , children , house show , froggy fresh , stargazing , astronomy , cosmos , Image
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Shows and Performances
Miss Witherspoon. She may be with a spoon, but the main character in this show is without life. In fact, the play opens with Veronica Witherspoon waking up in the afterlife shortly after committing suicide. She’s not super stoked to hear that she’s supposed to be reincarnated and go right back to earth (exactly where she was trying to get away from!) but with a little guidance from Jesus, a Hindu spirit and Gandalf, she gets to take a look at what life and death are all about—and so do we! Thursday, May 10 to Saturday, June 9. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $15.Catalina Foothills High School Steel Band. Let’s get percussive! Did you know that this high school steel band, Falcon Steel, was founded in 1996, and today has more than 130 students of all levels? While it’s always wonderful to support local art and music efforts, this is an event that promises to be fun, with numbers like the “Tucson March,” selections from “Wildcat,” and the song from that incredibly sweet montage at the beginning of the movie Up. Bring folding chairs or a blanket, and heartstrings that are ready to be plucked. 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 13. DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center at Reid Park, 3400 E. Zoo Court. Free.
Mothers’ Day
Mothers’ Day at Old Tucson. Happy Mothers’ Day from Old Tucson, not just to mothers, but to all women and girls! Take your mom, take your daughter, take your girlfriend or wife, take yourself for free if you’re a woman or girl! Trust us, watching stunt and comedy shows, enjoying living history presentations, going on historic site tours and letting the little ones ride the train or the antique carousel is a great way to spend the weekend with Mom. Plus, there’s a dinner special where you can get a prickly pear chicken breast (if Mom’s not from Tucson, you have to give her the Old Pueblo prickly pear experience), corn on the cob, a side salad and a drink for $14.95. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 to Sunday, May 13. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. $19.95 for adults (anyone 12 and over) and $10.95 for kids 4 to 11. Free for all women and girls!Tags: afterlife , death , high school band , throat singing , mothers’ day , moms , mothers , women , woman , females , ladies , girls escape rooms , finding nemo , 5K , running , run , walking , walk , rodeo , motorcycle rodeo , vintage bicycle ride , locomotive saturdays , trains , train , cars , vehicles , hot rods , car show , art , 90s kids only , birds , birding , birders , happy hour , the great american read , reading , read , books , having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card , public gardens , music , Image
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Music and Shows
Beach Boys Tribute. The Beach Boys used to wonder, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we were older?” But now their loyal fanbase can’t help but sometimes wonder, “Wouldn’t it be nice if they were younger?” Enter Surf’s Up, one of the world’s first “true” Beach Boys tribute bands, made up of a couple brothers, their dad and their cousin who have spent the last 25 years working on their sandiest harmonies. 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, May 6. Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road. $30 adults, $29 senior/student/military, $13 children.
Adrián Uribe and Omar Chaparro, Imparables, El Show. You know when you laugh so hard that your stomach hurts and you can’t breathe and it’s actually kind of scary for a minute? Buckle up, because two of Mexico’s favorite comedians are coming to Tucson with a comedy battle, featuring characters that include El Policia de Transito and La Litenciada. There will be wigs, there will be short-sleeved, button-up shirts paired with ties and there will be a lot of laughing until it hurts. 9 p.m. Saturday, May 5. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. $45 to $95+.
Sounds of Spring. Spring is upon us (if you didn’t notice based on the way it’s no longer borderline comfortable to wear a sweater outside), and what sounds more like spring than the sweet sound of a girls’ chorus? That’s right! Nothing! The more than 200 young women in the Tucson Girls Chorus, directed by Marcela Molina, will perform everything from traditional seasonal music to contemporary and folk pieces. 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6. Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. $15 to $18.
Tucson Folk Festival. Tucsonans, it’s time to get folked up. Here are just some of the bands who will be playing at this year’s festival: Pokey LaFarge (national headliner), Greg & Randal Morton Band & Special Guests (local headliner), Peter Alsop (children’s show headliner), Kay Miracle, Minute2Minute, Igor, Odaiko Sonora, The Cat Wranglers, Bobby Rondstadt and Baba Marimba. And that’s just a little slice of this deliciously acoustic pie. It’s taking place at several different venues downtown, so it’s kind of like Tucson’s own little SXSW. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 5. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 6. Historic Downtown Tucson. Free.
Art and Museums
Free First Thursdays at the Tucson Museum of Art. Happy First Thursday! TMA has an awesome lineup of events celebrating members of our community’s immigrant and refugee population along with their artistic and cultural contributions. They’ll be displaying Sanctuary Benches developed in tandem with local schools and other organizations, as well as a project documenting the stories of Tucson refugees, “Dismantling Fear: Voices of Tucson’s Refugee Community.” Artists from Syria, Bulgaria and Morocco will play live music, and museums exhibition tours will be offered in Spanish and Arabic. 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. Free.
Tags: babababababarann , barbara ann , comedians , comedy , shows , spring , chorus , choral music , folk festival , museums , refugees , exhibitions , art , local artists , history , art , sunsets , Cinco de Mayo , burritos , eegees , agave , agave is life , harley davidson , chihuahuas , make-a-wish , the centurions , splish splash I was takin’ a bath , lovepup , dogs , dog adoptions , stars around us , OSIRIS-REx , Bennu , Kentucky derby , derby hats , cmic books , Mercado , Jenny Don’t , Carter Winter , Entresol , Pink Mexico , Image
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Theater and Performance
Our Town. The Oro Valley Theatre Company is opening up their very first season with a bang—but maybe not exactly the kind of bang you’d expect. Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder, won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1938. It’s performed on a mostly bare stage, with actors miming their interactions with imaginary props, and the main character is a stage manager who narrates the story, speaks to the audience and plays several characters in the story. The play turns 80 this year, but it’s as fascinating and refreshing as ever, whether you’re a theater person or not. 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 29. Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road. $20 adults, $15 kids, $18 senior/student/military.
King Lear at the Rogue Theatre. Are you ready to be awestruck and inspired, if a little bit depressed? Pretty widely considered one of Shakespeare’s greatest achievements, and one of the greatest tragedies of all time, King Lear is just as revered as it is Lear-ed. This production is directed by Rogue Theatre co-founder and UA alumna Cynthia Meier, and musical direction and original composition is provided by Jake Sorgen. Each show will be followed by a discussion with the cast and director, so you can reflect on the play’s deeper meanings, or even clear up any confusion you may have had about the plot. Thursday, April 26 through Sunday, May 13, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday, plus 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays May 5 and 12. The Rogue Theatre at the Historic Y, 300 E. University Blvd. $38, or $28 for previews on Thursday, April 26 and Friday, April 27. $15 student rush tickets available 15 minutes before curtain, pending availability.
The Parlor Show at Pinnacle Peak. Steak is a kind of magic unto itself, and it’s the kind of magic you can get all year at Pinnacle Peak. But the parlor show, with its mindreading magic led by magicians Nate Anderson and John Redmon, is more rare. Before you watch the wonder unfold before you, enjoy a three-course dinner of chicken, filet mignon or salmon; a baked potato or fresh vegetable; a garden salad; a dessert sampler (why should you have to choose just one dessert?); and either a glass of house wine, a draft beer or a golden margarita. Doors at 5:30, dinner at 6 and show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26. Pinnacle Peak, 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road. $55 per person or $100 for two people.
Music and Sound
Tags: our town , no props , pantomime , community theater , gaslight , king lear , Shakespeare , parlor show , magic , Arizona Repertory Singers , King David , Bach , Gregorian chants , Tucson Women’s Chorus Spring Concert , sing , sung , singers , singer , singing , sings , tucson noise symposium , noisy , noise , whale , Miss Olivia and the Interlopers , Kyklo , variety show , anthropology , Diane Bombshelter , art , agave festival , tequila! , indigo days , ladies night , ladies day , ladies , may flowers , april showers , speed dating , artists , Catalina Wildflower Park , Gaston , Urban Garden Festival , Tucson Botanical Gardens , bird , birding , beast of birdie’ , rodders days , car show , May Day , Museum of Miniatures , Buddhist Ethics , Tucson Bird Expo , Autism Walk , Ugly God , Leon the God , Paper Foxes , Tyson Motsenbocker , Image
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Earth Day
Buffalo Exchange $1 Day Sale. In honor of Earth Day, Buffalo Exchange is hosting this event to turn the tide on plastic pollution. Bring your own bag (you know, preferably not a plastic one), make a purchase (or two or three) from a selection of $1 clothing and know that all the proceeds from the $1 clothing sales will go to the 5Gyres Institute. 5Gyres conducts research on ocean plastic pollutions and runs outreach and education programs on how to properly dispose of plastics. You deserve a shopping spree anyway—might as well go on one for a good cause. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21. At all Buffalo Exchange locations, excluding outlets! The Tucson location’s address is 2001 E. Speedway Blvd.
Party for the Planet–Bike to the Zoo. What better way to celebrate the Earth and everything on it than by heading to the zoo for an afternoon of displays on conservation and activities involving bees, seed bombs and plenty of animals? And what better way to show the Earth how much you love it than to ride your bike instead of driving? More than 100 zoos and aquariums across the United States are participating in 12th annual Party for the Planet, during which anyone who bikes to the zoo and shows their bicycle at the front gate gets in for free until 3 p.m. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crafts and activities from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, April 22. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. Free for bikers, but otherwise $10.50 adults, $8.50 seniors 62 and up and $6.50 for kids 2 to 14.
Tucson Earth Day Festival. It’s been 23 years since the first Tucson Earth Day Festival, but the simple, beautiful core of the event hasn’t changed much: It’s a celebration of the environment and a chance to make sure we’re doing our part to help it. Exhibitors will provide info on wildlife and soil conservation, alternate modes of transportation, renewable energy, pollution prevention, waste reduction and other ways to keep an eye out for Mother Nature. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21. Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 S. Sixth Ave. Free.
Art
John Nieto: American Icon. It’s been more than two decades since John Nieto, the artist known for his fauvist depictions of the Native American images and themes, has displayed his work in Tucson. And now his work is coming, including his very first painting of a wildcat, done especially for this show. (Bear down!) The painting will be auctioned off live at 11:30 a.m. Nieto himself can’t attend due to health restrictions, but his son Anaya, president of the family art business, will be there. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22. Madaras Gallery, 3035 N. Swan Road. Free.Tags: Earth Day , buffalo exchange , planet , conservation , John Nieto , Madaras Gallery , Ventana Gallery , Ann Boyd Wade , Willcox , The Diary of Anne Frank , Finding Neverland , we can fly , tinkerbell , wendy , peter pan , the lost boys , Mr. Goldberg’s prodigal son , theater , theatre , giant fish , glowing fish , the fisher’s wish , Zocalo , Mercado district , Flam Chen , MS Annex , Aurelia , aerials , circus , astronomy festival , stars , planets , asteroids , constellations , turquoise trail walking tour , Pima County Fair , the fairest fair , record store day , wooden tooth , vinyl , indie , vintage , Japanese Gardens , Cultivate Tucson , Image
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Festivals
Old Pueblo Playwrights New Play Festival. Have you ever written a play? If you have, you know it’s not easy, and if you haven’t, you can probably guess that it’s not easy. Take this opportunity to give some props to local playwrights while also enjoying their work. With six original plays showing over four days, you’ll see big plays, small plays, some the size of your head, with titles as relatable as “Dirty Laundry” and “The Stuff in the Garage” and as intriguing as “Kitchen, Spaceship, Chinese Restaurant.” Thursday, April 12 through Monday, April 16, with plays showing at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. $7 per day or $21 for an all-festival pass. Day passes available at the door, both available online.
Marana Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival. Isn’t it beautiful how sometimes a whole can be greater than the sum of its parts? Like two people falling in love, or when paints come together on a canvas to create a gorgeous work of art, or when you combine “blue” and “grass.” At Marana’s festival, they’ll be highlighting tons of local artists (such as The Sonoran Dogs, the Dust Devils and the Heather “Lil Mama” Hardy Band) throughout the festival, particularly in the free singer-songwriter showcase on Friday. Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, a bluegrass band that does a combination of only the best covers and original songs, will serve as the headliner. The venue at Gladden Farms Community Park includes lots to do for families and kids as well, such as sports fields, a playground area, a Ramada with a grill and a picnic area. 4 p.m. on Friday, April 13, 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 14 and 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 15. Gladden Farms Community Park, 12205 N. Tangerine Farms Road. $30 for a weekend pass, $20 for a pass to the Saturday or Sunday shows and free for the Friday concert. Kids 12 and under are free with a paid adult.
Fest on Fourth. To gear up for the big event in May, the folks at the Tucson Folk Festival are throwing this outdoor music bash on Fourth Ave. with four stages at Magpie’s, BOCA Tacos y Tequila, Taggerty Plaza and Lindy’s on Fourth. Then, stay tuned for the acoustic lottery, in which 16 musicians will come together to create four brand new bands just for the night. Saturday, April 14 with Fest on Fourth from 6 to 9 p.m. and acoustic lottery from 9 p.m. to midnight. Various locations downtown and then at the Flycatcher, 340 E. Sixth St. $5 for acoustic lottery, with proceeds benefitting the Tucson Folk Festival.
Bicycles
GABA Spring Bike Swap. At the Greater Arizona Bicycling Association, Inc. their motto is “where cycling is more than just riding a bike.” These are people who celebrate the activity they love and the group of friends they’ve made doing it in equal parts. In keeping with this spirit of community, they like to throw the largest bicycle swap in the Southwest biannually, attracting more than 5,000 attendees and dozens of vendors. Head on down to sell or buy bikes and bicycle parts from others in the community. Even if you just have one bike you want to sell, feel free to bring it down, slap a price on it and walk it around the event (though if you’ve got more to sell, hopefully you’ve already reserved a vendor space). 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15. 311 E. Seventh St. Free entry.Tags: theater , music , bluegrass , poetry , biking , bicycle , cycling , cyclists , farmers market , cookies , cello , chorus , orchestra , HoCo , Hotel Congress , Club Congress , spring fling , Trevor Noah , Comedy Central , Earth Month , Earth Day , conservation , sustainability , gardening , children , kids , fun for kids , local genius awards , Noam Chomsky , Uncle Noam , Pokemon Go , I wanna be the very best , yoga , drag queens , alcohol , food , Image
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Shows
The Pajama Game. “7 1/2 cents doesn’t buy a helluva lot, 7 1/2 cents doesn’t mean a thing. But give it to me every hour, 40 hours every week, and that’s enough for me to be living like a king!” Tony Award-winning musical The Pajama Game is chock full of the sort of songs that will be stuck in your head for years to come. It’s a love story and laborer uprising story and a knife-throwing story all rolled up into one, and the Arizona Repertory Theatre is putting it on for your viewing pleasure. Previews at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 8 and 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 9. Full shows run Wednesday, April 11 through Sunday, April 29, with a varied selection of matinee and evening shows. Marroney Theatre on UA campus, 1025 N. Olive Road. GA $31, seniors/UA employees/alumni/military $29, students $15, preview $20.
Tags: choral music , pajamas , pajama labor union , Monty Python , Spamalot , Beetven’s Ninth , Odyssey storytelling , odyssey , arts festival , sculpture festival , home show , patio show , SAHBA , rose parade , Kartchner Caverns , Cyclovia Tucson , bikes , bicycles , Akido , martial arts , Humane Society , dog , cats , adopt a pet , pet adoption , first Fridays , Arizona History MuseumEarth Month , Biosphere 2 , Biosphere 1 , Boneyard Safari , planes , Native Seeds , The Gauntlet , trial running , running , race , horses , mustangs on a mission , Nightcrawler , tragically boring post-Foo-Fighter rock bands , Image
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Easter
Good Friday Cross Procession & Easter Sunday Sunrise Service. If you’re looking for a truly reverent way to spend Easter weekend, consider joining the Los Dorado Orphan League as they conduct the 51st annual procession up Sentinel Peak Friday evening. They’ll meet in the lower parking lot of Sentinel Peak at 4 p.m., and start the journey up the mountain to mount the cross at 5 p.m. Pastor Marvin Temple from Calvary Chapel leaders the procession, and the group will keep vigil through the night and through Saturday. Around 6 a.m. on Sunday, Pastor Temple will hold a sunrise service atop the mountain, in both English and Spanish. The son will rise with the sun! 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 30 and 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 1. Free.Easter ExtravaganZOO. Maybe your favorite part about Easter is the animals—the little Easter eggs laid by special Easter hens, the Easter bunny, Peep candies shaped like chicks. If so, then head over to the Reid Park Zoo on either Saturday or Sunday. Kids can meet the Easter Bunny, hunt for eggs (you get special prizes if you find a gold one!), learn about the zoo’s animal ambassadors and turn their eggs in for a special treat bag at the end. And no need to fear, parents of egg-crazy 10-year olds and less coordinated 3-year-olds! There will be age-specific egg hunting areas to ensure fun for everyone. Enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham and fresh fruit, then visit the zoo and watch the animals enjoying their Easter treats. Mimosas and bloody Marys will also be on-deck for purchase. 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. $35 adult nonmembers, $30 adult members, $25 child non-members, $20 child members. Register online at reidparkzoo.org.
Easter Weekend at Old Tucson. Old Tucson is special every weekend, but this weekend it’s especially affordable, with buy-one, get-one-free admission all weekend. Kids can enjoy the petting zoo, adults can enjoy musical revues that come complete with saucy can-can girls and every one can enjoy train rides, a vintage carousel, live stunt shows and living history tours. If you really want to get into the Easter spirit, head over early on Easter Sunday to catch Cowboy Church from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1. Old Tucson, 201 S. Kinney Road. Normal prices are $19.95 for adults and kids 12 and up, and $10.95 for kids 11 and under, with discounts for seniors, military, Pima County residents and groups. This weekend is buy one, get one free!
Easter Event and Egg Hunt at the Children’s Museum. Maybe Easter Sunday doesn’t work too well with your schedule. No worries! The Children’s Museum of Tucson is doing Easter a day early, and they’re packing it to the gills with fun activities. Decorate your own bunny ear headband, take a photo with the Easter bunny, try out bunny bowling, compete in egg and spoon races, play with chick and bunny puppets, make Easter scratch art and—of course—participate in an egg hunt. If you’re lucky, the kids will be so worn out from this event that they won’t wake you up at the crack of dawn on Easter morning. 10 a.m. to noon. Saturday, March 31. Children’s Museum Tucson, 200 Sixth Ave. $9 for adults and children.
Shows
Women in Jeopardy. It’s the divorcee power hour in Live Theatre Workshop’s latest show—but hold the wine and ice cream. When Liz gets a creepy new dentist boyfriend, her friends (and fellow divorcees) Mary and Jo are suspicious. The guy’s not just weird. In fact, once his hygienist mysteriously disappears, they start to suspect he might be a serial killer. The mishaps and pratfalls that follow in this Wendy MacLeod play are nothing short of hilarious. Opens Thursday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. and runs Thursdays through Sundays through May 5. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $18 to $20, or $15 March 29 and 30.
Tags: music , shows , theater , outdoors , MLK , Easter , eggs , bunnies , records , beer , mind , labyrinth , wine , wineries , art exhibit , book of mormon , irreverence , Image
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Art
Star Wars “Stormy Night” Painting. Finally! A mash-up that lets you combine our love of Van Gogh with our love of Star Wars. Tipsy Picassos hosts this event where they’ll walk you through a painting and—if you’re over 21 and so inclined—you can drink your way through the experience. Painters under 21 are welcome, as long as they’re accompanied by parents or guardians. Wear something you don’t mind getting paint on, and don’t stress about making your painting perfect. It’s supposed to be fun, and besides, “Do or do not. There is no try.” 6 p.m. Friday, March 23. HighWire Lounge, 14 S. Arizona Ave. $35.
Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon. This could be an oversimplification, but there are pretty much two types of people in the world, right? The people who are strictly readers of Wikipedia, and the people who actually make edits and contributions to the site. Now’s your chance to move into the second camp for a good cause, especially if you’re a woman, or identify as a woman—only 10 percent of all editors on the site are!—but people of all gender identities are welcome. Art + Feminism and the UA Poetry Center are partnering to improve the coverage of transgender women, feminism and the arts on Wikipedia by updating and expanding bibliographies on poets’ Wikipedia pages. Easy, fun and important! Noon to 3 p.m. Friday, March 23. University of Arizona Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen St. Free.
Spring Festival of the Arts. It’s finally here! The Spring Festival of the Arts is one of the largest regional art events in Southern Arizona, and is so big that it has to be held twice annually and spread across two days each time. Check out art from up to 150 artists, and enjoy the classic double whammy of supporting local artists and picking up some new pieces to decorate your home. Plus, enjoy lots of food trucks, live music and hands-on family art activities. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 24. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 25. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. Free.
Music
Frida. The Artifact Dance Project has put together this performance piece, filled to the brim with different forms of art, to honor one of the most iconic female artists in history. With original music by Lane Harmon and Roger King and original choreography by artistic director and choreographer Ashley Bowman, the piece tells the story of Kahlo’s complicated relationship with her partner, Diego Rivera, of her boldness, of her playfulness and of the art that was born of it all. Claire Hancock dances as Kahlo, and David Alexander Johnston dances as Rivera. The group of talented musicians will be joined by the Tucson Girls Chorus in a special appearance. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22 through Saturday, March 24. 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 25. Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. $31.Tags: art , gourd vessels , Frida Kahlo , artifact dance project , Emily Sings! Emily Dickinson , Garry Winogrand , egg hunt , Easter , spring festival of arts , spring home tour , the desert in springtime , Japanese archery , Kyudo , fast cars , lightning mcqueen , vroom , speed racer , Chicago , Tucson Premium Outlets , Split Decision , Art+ Feminism , Wikipedia Edit , Middle Ages , dragons , Star Wars , Stormy Night , Van Gogh , Image
