The first time actor, director and Rincon High School drama teacher Maryann Green staged a play she’d written herself, she sold out the house. Twice. Those two shows were part of the 2013 Fringe Festival that hooked her on fringe for life.

Now she heads up a volunteer crew of 15 to produce the Tucson Fringe Festival 2019, from Thursday, Jan. 10, through Sunday, Jan. 13. The fest includes 50 performances in 12 local venues. Admission to each show is $10, but a range of multi-show options are available, from a $15, two-admission pass to a $95 all-access pass.

A growing phenomenon around the globe, fringe theater is unique in its artistic freedom. Fringe productions often radically disregard conventions of structure, space, physical language and audience engagement. Acts self-identify as Fringe, pay an artist’s fee and get their names drawn from a hat, or not, as luck will have it.

Green says, “The first week of September, we hold a party where guests take turns pulling shows out of the hat until we have a full line up.”

Tucson Fringe sometimes pays a price for that artistic freedom. “Comedy shows tend to do better, ticket-sales wise,” Green says. “But some of my favorite past shows have been thought-provoking, heavier pieces.

“I was also really happy to be able to offer The Esperanza Dance project a last-minute spot in the festival,” she adds. “They help victims of childhood sexual violence heal through dance and multi-media performance.”

For comedy, we especially look forward to the first entries we’ve seen whose subject matter is entirely about work life: Name Tag Blues, Shane “Scurvy” Spears’ send up of the ignominies along the path to a window office; and Moira Keefe’s, Life as An Associate ...AKA F**ing Cashier, about a retiree’s return to the workforce.

We also like the funny, full-frontal feminism of Mo Urban and Steena Salido’s C*nts vs C*nts Talking About C*nts variety show and Elaine Orion’s Delightfully Rude, winner of the “Best Comedic Performance” award at the 2018 Boulder Fringe Festival.

And we’re looking forward to the Tucson fest’s first straight-up stand up performance, Bill Santiago’s The Immaculate Big Bang, a parody of every deeply believed origin story of everything.
Complete descriptions and tickets for all performances are at squareup.com/store/tucsonfringe.

From 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, the Comedy Alliance of Tucson and the Tucson Fringe Festival co-host “What Are You Laughing At,” a free, audience-participation panel discussion about the comedy scene in Tucson. Details are at catcomedy520.org. 

Dan Heston runs absurdly long distances, but he does it for more than just the burn. For the past five years, Heston has teamed up with the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona to raise funds against food insecurity in a unique way—he gathers donations for every mile. This year is Heston’s sixth fundraising event for the food bank, and he plans to run 100 kilometers at once – just over 62 miles.

“He’s just our hero,” said Norma Cable, who manages public relations for the food bank. “It’s amazing to watch athletes at work. We’re all captivated by what the body can do.”

“Dan's 100 Hunger Run and Wellness Fair” gives the community an opportunity to join in on Heston’s efforts by taking the challenge to run alongside him during the event, and at the same time, donate money to fight hunger in the local community.  

But, why would someone volunteer to run 100 kilometers in 12 consecutive hours? For Heston, the answer is actually quite simple.

“It’s not as hard to answer as anyone might think,” Heston said. “I enjoy the solitude and the difficult nature of pushing your body beyond what most people can understand. I enjoy getting out there. The worries go away when you’re out there on your own.”

Heston started running marathons in 2009, but his toils took on a new meaning when he added charity to the runs. He first had the idea to run an ultra-marathon and to gather donations per mile as he ran. The first year turned out to be a hit, and he gathered roughly $1,300 from the community. Unprompted, he took the money into the food bank, and a bond immediately formed.

“I saw the sparkle, the genuine happiness in their eyes that someone would do that,” Heston said.

The following year was even more of a success, garnering four times as many funds. Every year’s marathon since the beginning has steadily increased in funds, with last year’s run earning some $22,000. In total, Heston estimates his five years of running have earned the food bank $45,000 to fight food insecurity. They’re hoping to break $20,000 in donations again this year.

“The more awareness we can raise about hunger, the better the community can be,” Heston said.

The community food bank is a nonprofit charity dedicated to getting in-need Arizonans access to healthy food. They estimate 1.6 million Arizonans do not have reliable access to adequate food. In turn, they offer community programs such as after-school snacks, community meals, community garden plots and farmers markets, and education programs.

This year, the hunger run will take place Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mountain View High School track, the smallest track people have been able to run alongside Heston on.

“With the new year, we all challenge ourselves to take better care of our bodies,” Cable said. “He’s a very practical and humble athlete. It really is inspiring to the rest of us, to set the bar that high.”

Of course, the public isn't expected to run the full distance alongside Heston. Anyone can participate in a mile, a lap, or just to cheer the runners on. According to CFBSA, “Dan’s Challenge is about getting on your feet and making a difference.”

For the previous fundraiser, Heston ran the 106-mile route of El Tour de Tucson. This year, on an enclosed track, will be more accessible for the public to join in.

“He cut it down this year from last year,” Cable said. “Now he’s only—only—running for 12 hours.”

For more information, visit communityfoodbank.org

Former state lawmaker Steve Farley, fresh from last year's unsuccessful gubernatorial run, tells The Range he'll formally announce his entry into Tucson's mayoral race tonight.

"I want to serve the city I love," Farley said.

Farley will make his opening argument tonight at the Democratic Party's Nucleus Club, which meets at 5:30 at Viscount Suites, 4855 E. Broadway.

Farley will be live-streaming his speech on his Facebook page if you can't make it to the meeting.

It's been a busy week for potential candidates who want to replace Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, who is stepping down after two terms. Yesterday, Ward 1 Councilmember Regina Romero announced she was jumping into the race.

A graphic designer whose photographic tiles grace the walls of the Broadway underpass at the eastern entrance of downtown, Farley made his first political run in 2005, when he lost a Democratic primary for the Ward 6 Tucson City Council race to former TV newscaster Nina Trasoff.

The following year, he won election to the Arizona House of Representatives. In 2012, he won a seat in the Arizona Senate, where over three terms, he rose to Senate assistant minority leader.

He also played a key role in bringing the modern streetcar to downtown Tucson through his work in developing the Regional Transportation Authority's transportation plan.

Find more Claytoonz here.

Freak'N Brewery Beer Dinner. It's a wondrous melding of the minds! Hailing from Tucson and Peoria, Brother John's Beer, Bourbon & BBQ teams up with Freak'N Brewing Company for one heck of a dinner. One takes care of the food, the other takes care of the beer—and you take care of the eating and drinking. What more could you ask for? 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. 1801 N. Stone Ave. Details here.


Reel Tucson. If you're in the mood for some locally sourced, homemade movies, check out this latest episode of Strada's Reel Tucson at The Screening Room. The evening is only $5, and if you're brave enough, it's free to submit your own film. The hosts refer to this as an "open mic night" for filmmakers. Social hour begins at 6:30, screenings start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. 127 E. Congress St. $5. Details here.

Stage Kiss. Sometimes you end up having to interact with your ex, like when you need to call them to figure out how to separate your phone bills, or when you see them at a gathering of mutual friends, or when you're cast as romantic interests in a 1930s melodrama. You might not have experienced that last one personally, but that's what this show is about. How many times can you kiss a person for your job before you start to actually kind of enjoy it, or actually kind of enjoy the person? This duo will find out in Live Theatre Workshop's next show, the rehearsals for which have had director Sabian Trout laughing so hard he can't breathe. Preview shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 and Friday, Jan. 11. Opening night is 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12. Runs through Feb. 16 with shows Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. $20 GA, $18 military/senior/student, $15 Thursdays and previews. Details here.

Cloud Soup. Does it ever just really hit you how full of awesome artists this town is? Case in point: Wolfe Boward, a playwright/performer whose productions have won awards and played to packed theaters all over the world, is based here in Tucson, and this production will mark his first performance here in seven years. Cloud Soup uses circus, multimedia, comedy and magic to tell the story of a tailor who learns some tough life lessons. Between their belly laughs, both kids and adults will probably learn some important lessons from this thought-provoking show as well. If you missed his December shows, this is the perfect chance to see him in action! 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 and Friday, Jan. 11. 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12 and Sunday, Jan. 13. Scoundrel & Scamp  Theatre at The Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Ave. $28 GA, $20 for people under 30, $15 students and teachers, $12 kids 10 and under. Details here.

1912 Does Karaoke. What's better than going out to a Tucson brewery on a Thursday night, where you can pretend it's a Friday night and drink some local brews? How about combining it will all of the stress-relieving wonders offered by karaoke? Get $1 off pints from 6 to 9 p.m. during reverse happy hour so you can build up the courage to get up there. And hey, maybe 1912 will inspire you to sing a song named after a year as well, like Bowling For Soup's "1985," or the Jonas Brothers' "Year 3000," or the Smashing Pumpkins "1979." Break a leg! 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10 and Jan. 24. 1912 Brewing Co., 2045 N. Forbes Blvd. Free entry. Details here.

Events compiled by Tirion Morris, Emily Dieckman, B.S. Eliot and Jeff Gardner.

Tucson City Councilmember Regina Romero is announcing this afternoon that she is running for mayor of Tucson.

Jonathan Rothschild, who has served two terms atop City Hall, announced that he would not seek reelection last month.

Romero has represented Westside Ward 1 since winning election in 2007.

The other big-name Democrat talking about a campaign is former state lawmaker Steve Farley, but others may well join the crowd in the coming months.

Here's the press release from Romero:

Regina Romero is a Southern Arizona native and a University of Arizona graduate with a post graduate certificate from Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She has served on the Tucson City Council representing Ward 1 for eleven years.

“I am running for Mayor of Tucson because I am prepared to fight for what is right for working families, provide a safe, clean and environmentally sustainable city with access to economic opportunity for everyone.”

As Mayor of Tucson, Romero will focus on developing an economic incentive program that will help small businesses thrive in the City, work with experts to craft a citywide climate resiliency plan and push for higher wages to improve the quality of life for city workers and those that contract with the city.

“I was first elected to the Tucson City Council just as the Great Recession was beginning to affect our city. Since then, we have seen unprecedented economic growth because of the many incentives and continued work that I and my colleagues on the Mayor and Council have done. I look forward to Tucson’s continued economic growth and will work in partnership with the business community, nonprofits, neighborhoods and other jurisdictions to make sure we honor Tucson’s rich history and retain our unique character while continuing our path towards prosperity.”

Key accomplishments for Romero on the Tucson Council include drafting the City’s Primary Jobs Incentive Program that has created hundreds of high wage, long term jobs and pushing for the creation of an Economic Initiatives office. As a mother who understands the needs of working families, she fiercely protected the City’s KIDCO program from being eliminated during the recession. Pushing forward sustainable practices, she helped develop Tucson’s Water Service Area policy that safeguards Tucson’s future water supply while protecting hundreds of acres of pristine desert in our region..

Understanding that protected open space is critical for the health of our community, Regina was instrumental in protecting Painted Hills and Tumamoc Hill as permanent open space. She also led the Tucson effort against Arizona’s racist SB1070 law and pushed for the creation of a paid Cesar E. Chavez holiday for the city.

Knowing how critical infrastructure investments are for the City, Romero supported and advocated to pass initiatives that have invested millions of dollars on our roads, public safety and our parks. She has been a force for downtown redevelopment with her advocacy for federal funding for the modern streetcar and for the development of the Westside. She has pushed for millions of dollars in public and private investment including the Cushing Street bridge, Mercado San Agustin, West End Station, Monier Apartments and facilitating the relocation of Caterpillar in partnership with the Rio Nuevo Board and the State of Arizona. She also fought to bring the streetcar to the Westside and helped protect the Tucson Origins Heritage Park, the birthplace of Tucson. As Mayor, Romero will bring her vision and ability to get things done to the whole city.

Romero feels strongly that dark money should be kept out of politics and will be participating in the City’s Clean Elections program. Her campaign will be co-chaired by businessman Cody Ritchie and environmentalist Carolyn Campbell. To learn more about Council Member Romero’s campaign, visit her website at http://www.votereginaromero.org

Representative Pamela Powers Hannley (D, LD-9) was named "The Most Valuable State Legislator" on The Nation's 2018 Progressive Honor Roll. She's not one of the most valuable. She's the only state legislator on the 2018 list.

[Full disclosure: I've known Pam for years. We both wrote on Blog for Arizona until I moved to The Range. She's also one of my state representatives.]

About a dozen people were selected for this year's honor roll, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar. It's quite an honor for Powers Hannley to be in the company of such a high profile collection ranging from newcomers to old timers. It's also an indication that Arizona is on the radar as a state with a significant number of progressive office holders.

According to the blurb on the Honor Roll, Powers Hannley has spent "years as a blogger and activist." She ran for office because "she wanted to help fight for women’s rights, criminal-justice reform, strong unions, public banking, and her vision for democratic renewal."

The Nation is a highly respected weekly progressive magazine. It was founded in 1865, making it the oldest continuously running weekly in the country.

Find more Claytoonz here.

King Tuff at Club Congress. King Tuff's music is more than a simple garage rock throwback. The bright guitars and catchy vocals rope you in, but all of the music sounds trapped, encompassed by a grainy lo-fi filter that just adds more to his wonder and mystique. I suppose music distorts a bit when you pull it right out of the '70s. A listen to King Tuff's newest album, The Other, reveals a more psychedelic and modern sound palette as compared to his previous works. Experience King Tuff's reign at Club Congress. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9. $15-$17. All ages. Details here.

Ladies Night at Cobra Arcade Bar.  Peach, Samus, Bayonetta, Yuna: what do all these names have in common? (Other than the fact that you'd probably disappoint your parents by recognizing them.) They're all badass video game heroines! And Cobra Arcade Bar is celebrating ladies both digital and analog by giving out free tokens to ladies all night. And not just this Wednesday, but every Wednesday! Now all that money you're saving on gaming can go into game fuel (alcohol). Happy hour 4 to 7 p.m. Ladies night all night long. Wednesday, Jan 9. 63 E. Congress. No cover charge. 21+. Details here.

Master Gardener Presentation: Tomatoes for the Desert. Have you always wanted to grow the best tomatoes in town? Well here is your chance to learn how. Learn from the masters how to cultivate these juicy fruits in our dry desert. With the right techniques you can grow a variety of tomatoes in Tucson. Set yourself up for success this spring with help from the experts. Presented by Pimaa County Natural Resources Parks and Recreation and located at the Woods Memorial Library. 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Details here.

The January 8th Anniversary Ceremony began with a prayer. About 100 people gathered on the steps of the Tucson Fire Department headquarters to remember the lives lost and harmed by the mass shooting that shocked Tucson and the nation.

On this day eight years ago, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was in front of a northwest Safeway store for a “Congress on Your Corner” event when a gunman opened fire in the busy parking lot. Six people were killed and 13 were wounded.

At precisely 10:10 a.m., which was when the shooting began, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild rang the fire station’s bell as their names were announced one by one:

click to enlarge

Kathleen Kunz

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild rings the bell at the Tucson Fire Department headquarters.

Victims Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, Judge John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard and Gabriel Zimmerman. Survivors Bill Badger, Ron Barber, Ken Dorushka, James Fuller, Randy Gardner, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, Susan Hileman, George Morris, Mary Reed, Pam Simon, Mavanell Stoddard and James Tucker.

It was an emotional day for those involved in the tragedy. A group of Moms Demand Action members were present in their signature red t-shirts. Many of them joined the gun-reform advocacy group after the mass shooting happened.

“It’s important to us because it affects our hometown, many of our group are survivors of gun violence and some of our group are survivors of this particular event,” said Kelly Ireland, a Moms Demand Action member. “So we wanted to come and pay respects and homage to those people and all of the people who are affected by gun violence.”

“We respect the Second Amendment, we’re not gun grabbers, it’s just that we want safe communities and we don’t want our kids to have to go through all the lockdown drills,” said Carol McMillan, another member. “I have five grandchildren and I don’t want to leave the country in this shape, because it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.”

McMillan said after meeting people who were deeply affected by the shooting, she wanted to do more. She is one of the organizers of BEYOND, an annual series of city-wide events that focus on exercise, outdoor recreation and connecting with other community members. It was created by the family of Gabriel Zimmerman after his death as a way to pay tribute and create something meaningful in the wake of a tragedy.

This year, BEYOND will take place on Saturday, Jan. 12 with special events scheduled all day in various Tucson locations. Visit their website for more information.