Tucson Weekly: Theatre (March 1

THEATER
Opening This Week
ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE. University of Arizona Marroney Theatre. 621-1162. Angels in America is a sweeping, epic story that focuses on eight main characters--from married couples to gay lovers--as they deal with sex, religion, drugs, politics, life and death. Performances run from March 4 through April 1. Tickets range in price from $12 to $18 and are available through the UA fine arts box office.
BANG ON A CAN ALL-STARS. Centennial Hall. University of Arizona. 621-3341. Sponsored by UApresents. Equal parts rock band and classical ensemble, Bang On A Can-All Stars present Brian Eno's electronic anthem Music for Airports, and Eugene 1, a piece by jazz composer Don Byron that is accompanied by an episode of the 1950s Ernie Kovacks Show. One performance only takes place March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $16 to $28. A free Arts Encounter is held 45 minutes before the performance in Room 102 of the Center for English as a Second Language, 1100 E. North Campus Drive.
BLACK BOX THEATRE. PCC Center for the Arts. 2202 W. Anklam Road. Fefu and Her Friends by Maria Irene Fornes invites the audience into Fefu's house to meet eight delightful women as they gather to plan a program for their educational society. The play runs March 1-3 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $7 at the Pima fine arts box office and at the door.
SHAKESPEARE ADAPTATION. Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre. 330 S. Scott Ave. Green Thursday presents the vibrant and hot-blooded Shakespeare's R&J by Joe Calarco Thursdays through Saturdays March 1-17. The raw emotion, adolescent lust and psychotic violence at the heart of Shakespeare's play blaze brightly in this adaptation, in which four boys at a Catholic boarding school escape their highly regimented and repressed world by acting out the forbidden script of Romeo and Juliet. Tickets cost $8 and $10. Call 795-4322 for reservations.
SHAKESPEARE COMPETITION. University of Arizona Marroney Theatre. Speedway Boulevard east of Park Avenue. Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by the Shakespeare Competition, which features students from 23 high schools around Southern Arizona performing monologues from Shakespeare's plays March 3 at 9 a.m. Admission is free.
SICK COMEDY FESTIVAL. Centennial Hall. University of Arizona. 1020 E. University Blvd. 621-3341. The show, hosted by David Cross, features sketch and improvisational comedy from a variety of college troupes March 3 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $9 for Catcard holders and $13 general in advance, $15 the day of the show.
Continuing
ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE. University of Arizona Laboratory Theatre. 621-1162. Crimes of the Heart teems with humanity and humor as it examines the plight of three young Mississippi sisters betrayed by their passions. It plays through March 4. Tickets range in price from $10 to $18 and are available through the UA fine arts box office.
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY. Temple of Music and Art. 330 S. Scott Ave. 622-2823. How the Other Half Loves takes place in London in 1969, where the Beatles are hot, fashion is mod and the city is swingin', baby! Three mild-mannered couples are caught in the crossfire of the sexual revolution when they're unwittingly brought together by a steamy affair. Performances continue through March 17. Tickets range in price from $22 to $35.
BUCKAROOS ON BROADWAY. Hidden Valley Inn. 4825 N. Sabino Canyon Road. 299-4941. The Crystal Palace Players salute Broadway's bronco-bustin' showstoppers in a spur-studded revue about Western-themed musicals. The show continues through March 22 at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $8.95 and $13.95. There are also a special show menu and low-priced children's menu.
INVISIBLE THEATRE. 1400 N. First Ave. 882-9721. The Exact Center of the Universe is a comedy that tells the tale of a small-town Southern matriarch, Vada Love Powell, and what ensues when her much-beloved son selects a bride not to his mother's liking. Performances continue through March 18. Tickets range in price from $16 to $20. A special seminar follows the March 7 performance. Tickets for the preview are $12.
NEMO PROJECT PUPPETS. Tucson Puppet Works. 111 E. Congress St. 770-1533. Join Raice and Jeremiah for an hour of stories and puppet fun every Saturday at 2 p.m. Shows are not rated and may contain anti-fascist content. Open to kids of all ages. $3 for big kids, $2 for little ones.
NEW KIVA MOTIONS PUPPET THEATRE. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 887-5144. The theater presents Coyote Stories, a collection of three Southwestern folktales (Mexican, Anglo/cowboy and Tohono O'odahm). Performances take place every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 per person, $5 for two children, and $2 per person with AHCCCS card or low-income bus pass.
ZERRO RIDES AGAIN. Gaslight Theatre. 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. Zerro Rides Again or Arrest for the Wicked, written and directed by Peter Van Slyke with musical direction by Lisa Otey, runs through March 24. Don Diego joins the battle for liberty and justice in his beloved Capistrano while hiding his identity under black cape and mask. Join him as he finds romance and adventure as El Zerro. Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets range in price from $6 to $13.95. Call 886-9428 for reservations.
Upcoming
FOSSE. Centennial Hall. University of Arizona. 621-3341. Sponsored by UApresents. March 27-April 3.
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP. 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4242. The Gin Game, March 30-April 22.
ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE. Laboratory Theatre. University of Arizona. 621-1162. King Lear, April 1-22.
Out of Town
CRIMES OF THE HEART TRYOUTS. Bisbee Repertory Theatre. 94 Main St., Old Bisbee. (520) 432-3786. The theater is holding auditions for Beth Henley's Crimes of the Heart March 17 at 1 p.m. and March 18 at 11 a.m. Actors will read from the script, which is available at the Copper Queen Library.
DON VOLPONE. Bisbee Repertory Theatre. 94 Main St., Old Bisbee. (520) 432-3786. An adaptation of Ben Jonson's Don Volpone, by Bisbee playwright Steve Bovee, opens March 9 at 7:30 p.m. and continues through April 8. This rollicking farce tells the tale of an old man who tries to con his greedy friends into giving him their valuables in trade for being included in his will. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and are available at the Bisbee Chamber of Commerce and Tombstone Pharmacy.
DON JUAN IN HELL. Bisbee Repertory Theatre. 94 Main St., Old Bisbee. (520) 432-3786. George Bernard Shaw's witty play is a spirited dream debate between Lucifer and the legendary Don Juan. The play opens March 10 at 7:30 p.m. and continues through April 1. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door and are available at the Bisbee and Sierra Vista chambers of commerce and Tombstone Pharmacy.
Announcements
ARIZONA REPERTORY SINGERS. Auditions for tenors and basses take place Tuesday evenings in March. Sopranos and altos are invited to let the choir know of their interest for future openings. Prospective members should be able to read music and have choral experience. For more information and/or to schedule an audition call Kathleen Santo at 529-1502 or e-mail ksanto@aol.com.
AUDITION NOTICE. Red Barn Theater. 948. N. Main Ave. 622-6973. Auditions take place Mondays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. for William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor. There are roles available for six men and four women. Performances take place March 30 and 31 and April 6 and 7.
AUDITION NOTICE. Rio Nuevo Productions is auditioning performers/acts for its weekly talent showcase. Clean, fun and interactive magicians, comedians, cabaret entertainers, Western revues, murder mysteries and gangster/flapper shows may apply. Call Kelley at 325-4114 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. any day except Wednesday to set an appointment.
AUDITION NOTICE. The Desert Players seek a male actor, 45-60, for a part in its production of Breaking Legs, which is currently in rehearsal. Call director Dave Sewell at 888-5815 for an appointment.
AUDITION NOTICE. Trail Dust Town is auditioning for continually running, action-oriented Western theater. A head shot, résumé and prepared monologue are required. For information, call Wayne at 296-4551 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
COMEDY SUMMIT. The group Stand-Up, Sit Down offers aspiring comedians a forum for material and constructive criticism from its members. Call or e-mail Mike at Comedy Summit, 290-6600 or ghost_writer72@hotmail.com, for information.
IMPROV WORKSHOP. International Arts Center. 516 N. Fifth Ave. Explore creative methods at 7 p.m. every Wednesday. All disciplines are welcome at this free workshop. Call Dennis Williams at 235-7846, or call 557-9121 for information.
MASTERWORKS CHORALE. Catalina United Methodist Church. 2700 E. Speedway Blvd. Love to sing the works of the masters? The Tucson Masterworks Chorale is looking for new members as the group prepares for its April 29 concert. The Chorale meets Monday nights from 7:30 to 9:30. All singers are welcome. For more information call 884-3506.
SCRIPT MEETINGS. Professional and aspiring writers for the stage, screen, radio and other performance media are invited to join Old Pueblo Playwrights, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the creation of new scripts by Arizona authors. OPP meets for readings and critiques at 7 p.m. every Monday in the rehearsal hall of the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Call 615-8980 for information.
TEMPLE FOR RENT. The Temple of Music and Art and the Tucson Center for the Performing Arts have rental spaces available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Call 884-8210 for more information.
TEMPLE TOURS. See the Alice Holsclaw and Cabaret theaters and all the behind-the-scenes areas with free guided tours at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays through April 28. Tours begin in the courtyard of the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Reservations are not required, but calling ahead to confirm tour availability is suggested. Call 884-8210 for information.