Tucson Weekly: Theatre (March 15

THEATER
Opening This Week
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY. UA Social Science building, Room 100. Joojeh Haji Firooz in the Year 2222: A Futuristic Celebration of the Arrival of Spring and Renewal of Life is a bilingual (English/Persian) comedy for children of all ages. It tells the 5,000-year-old story--with futuristic noise, song and dance--of the Persian/Iranian New Year, which begins on the vernal equinox. There is one performance March 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets, which cost $3 and $5, go on sale at 1 p.m. on a first come first served basis.
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE. Randolph Arts Center auditorium. 200 S. Alvernon Way. 791-4683. The Tucson Teen Community Theatre presents this comedy revolving around two charming and innocent ladies who populate their cellar with the remains of socially and religiously acceptable roomers. Performances run March 15-17 and 22-24 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.
PLAYBACK THEATER. Center for Expressive Arts Therapy Studio. 3838 E. Ft. Lowell Road. 327-9078. Share the magic of an interactive improvisational performance that invites the audience to tell stories from their lives, and then watch them come alive as they are "played back" March 17 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is $7 at the door.
Continuing
ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE. UA 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 through April 1. Tickets range from $12 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 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 from $16 to $20. Additionally, watercolorist Deanna Thibault exhibits her work in celebration of the theater's 30-year history. The lobby exhibit continues throughout the play's run.
NEW KIVA MOTIONS PUPPET THEATRE. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 887-5144. The theater presents Coyote Stories, a bilingual collection of three Southwestern folktales (Mexican, Anglo/cowboy and Tohono O'odahm) throughout the month of March. After the show kids may get up close and personal with the puppets and the audience gets a chance to make a puppet to take home. 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.
THE RELUCTANT GUN FIGHTERS. Trail Dust Town. 6541 E. Tanque Verde Road. 296-4551. Enjoy the Dragoon Street Wild, Wild West stunt shows every night at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. with an additional 6 p.m. show Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are "pay what you want."
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 until March 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.
TUCSON PUPPET WORKS. 111 E. Congress St. 770-1533. TPW and Praboo Productions present Hallelujah, I'm a Bum, an urban springtime tale, Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. $3-5 donations will be accepted. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
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
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY. Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre. 330 S. Scott Ave. Quicksilver Productions. March 22-April 7, 3 and 8 p.m.
JEKYLL AND HYDE. TCC Music Hall. 260 S. Church Ave. 321-1000. March 23-25, 2 and 8 p.m.
OKLAHOMA! Canyon del Oro High School Fine Arts auditorium. 25 W. Calle Concordia. 696-5560. March 29-31, 7 p.m.
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.
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY. Temple of Music and Art. 330 S. Scott Ave. 622-2823. Hamlet, May 16-20, 7 p.m.
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 plays 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 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
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.
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.
DRAMA CLASSES. Casas Adobes Fine Arts Academy. 6801 N. Oracle Road. Classes for preschool and elementary age children take place March 28 through May 2 and March 31 through May 26. Participants learn pantomime, theater games, improvisation, acting and more. Classes cost $25 and $40. For more information call 531-8074.
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.