Tucson Weekly: Theatre (April 19

THEATER
Opening This Week
ARIZONA CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY. Temple of Music and Art. 330 S. Scott Ave. 622-2759. Performances of the classic tale of Rumplestiltskin take place April 21 at 11 a.m. Tickets are $3 at the door.
BILLY WILLIAMS MAGIC SHOW. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 622-6973. Enjoy an evening of magic and comedy April 20 and 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $3.50 and $2.
BREAKING LEGS. Temple of Music and Art Cabaret Theatre. 330 S. Scott Ave. 733-1076. The worlds of the Mafia and theater clash hilariously when a New England university professor/playwright seeks funding from the "family" of a former student. "Break a leg," a traditional good-luck wish actors bestow upon each other on opening night, gets new meaning in Tom Dulack's Breaking Legs. Performances run April 20-28 at 8 p.m. with matinees April 22 and 29 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10.
HOW THE WEST WAS SUNG. Hidden Valley Inn. 4825 N. Sabino Canyon Road. The rootin' tootin' Crystal Palace Revue stars Miss Crystal, the "Songstress of the Sagebrush," and her Crystal Palace Players. Performances run from April 22 through July 22 at 7 p.m., with 3 p.m. Sunday matinees. Tickets cost $13.95 for adults and $8.95 for children 12 and younger. A separate optional show menu offers appetizers, entrées, desserts and more starting at $7.95. Call 299-4941 for reservations.
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Red Barn Theater. 948 N. Main Ave. 622-6973. The play, which features musical and dance interludes, is an introduction to Shakespeare for children. Performances are April 21 and 28 and May 5 at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $3 for adults and $2 for children.
NEW KIVA MOTIONS PUPPET THEATRE. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 887-5144. The theater presents The Little Red Hen and Other Stories every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. starting April 21. Tickets cost $3 per person, $5 for two children, and $2 per person with AHCCCS card or low-income bus pass.
TALENT SHOW. Salvation Army Amphi Corps. 218 E. Prince Road. The Army hosts a talent show April 21 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The extravaganza features a wide variety of entertainment from singing to dancing to skits, mime and comedy and more. Admission is free and all are welcome. All those interested in performing should contact Dooley at 888-1299.
TUCSON COMMUNITY THEATRE. Himmel Park Outdoor Amphitheatre. 1000 N. Tucson Blvd. 791-4663. Performances of Molière's The Miser, a classic farce of deep love, great greed and riotous laughs, run April 19-22 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
TWO ONE-ACT OPERAS. UA Crowder Hall, at the south end of the pedestrian underpass on Speedway Boulevard east of Park Avenue. 621-2998. Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini involve the tragic story of a nun who must deal with a great personal tragedy, and the broad comedy of a greedy family that is humiliated by the crafty Gianni Schicchi. Each opera runs less than one hour and is sung in Italian and presented with supertitles. Performances run April 26-28 at 7:30 p.m. and April 29 at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $12.
Continuing
ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE. UA Laboratory Theatre. 621-1162. Harold Dixon stars in King Lear, Shakespeare's towering tragedy of pride, anger, love and forgiveness, through April 22 at 7:30 p.m. with 1:30 matinees April 21 and 22. Tickets range from $10 to $18. A pre-show discussion will be held April 19 at 6:45 p.m. in Directing Studio 116.
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY. Temple of Music and Art. 330 S. Scott Ave. 622-2823. Inventing Van Gogh is the story of a young, struggling artist blackmailed by an art authenticator to produce a fake Van Gogh--a replica of a famous "lost" self-portrait that possibly never existed. Performances run through April 29. Tickets range in price from $22 to $35 and are on sale at the ATC box office. Half-price adult rush tickets are available for all performances one hour prior to the curtain.
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP. 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4242. The Gin Game visits two residents of a nursing home as they play gin rummy and reminisce about their lives and the human experience. Performances run through April 22. Tickets cost $12.
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP. 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. The company's Sunday Afternoon Children's Theatre series presents The Firebird, a charming Russian folktale with magical creatures, a prince and princess. Performances continue through April 22 at 1 p.m. Call 327-4242 for ticket information.
RELUCTANT GUNFIGHTERS. 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."
ROBIN HOOD. Gaslight Theatre. 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 886-9428. The classic tale told Gaslight-style features silly songs, comical melodrama and the usual antics of the Gaslight actors. Performances run through June 2 at various times. Tickets range in price from $6 to $13.95. Dinner is also available in the theater.
Out of Town
CRIMES OF THE HEART. Bisbee Repertory Theatre. 94 Main St., Old Bisbee. Beth Henley's poignant and funny family drama about the plights of three Mississippi sisters opens April 27 at 7:30 p.m. and continues Friday and Saturday evenings through May 20. There are Sunday matinees April 29 and May 13 and 20 at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 at the door and are available at Atalanta's Music and Books, the Chamber of Commerce in Old Bisbee, the Tombstone Pharmacy and by calling (520) 432-3786.
Upcoming
CABARET 2001. Berger Performing Arts Center. 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. Variety showcase benefit. May 5, 7:30 p.m.
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP. 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4242. The Trip to Bountiful, May 11-June 3.
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY. Temple of Music and Art. 330 S. Scott Ave. 622-2823. Hamlet, May 16-20, 7 p.m.
Announcements
AUDITION NOTICE. Gaslight Theatre. 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 886-9428. The theater is holding open auditions for Gnatman!, written and directed by Peter Van Slyke with musical direction by Lisa Otey, April 21 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. There are roles available for five men and three women. Please bring two contrasting songs (16 bars only) to perform. An accompanist is provided and scripts are on hand for cold readings. Rehearsals begin the first week of May and are scheduled on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons. Performance dates are June 7 through August 18.
CALL TO PERFORMING ARTISTS. T/PAC is accepting applications from performing arts groups for week-long residencies that take place in July at various Pima County Parks and Recreations sites. For an application and more information call Maryjane Dorofachuk at 624-0595, ext. 19. The deadline for applications is May 4.
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 are offered 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.
MUSICAL THEATRE SUMMER CAMP. Arizona Onstage Productions is conducting a summer institute for students in grades 4 through 9 June 4-29, Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All activities take place at Basis School on East Second Street. The course focuses on the basics of musical-theater technique including singing, movement, character development and set and costume design. The course ends with a month-long workshop with a fully staged and costumed production of the musical Annie. For more information call Kevin Johnson at 270-3332 or e-mail AMTheatre@aol.com.
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.