Tucson Weekly: Theatre (April 26

THEATER
Opening This Week
BILLY WILLIAMS MAGIC SHOW. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 622-6973. Enjoy an evening of magic and comedy April 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $3.50 and $2.
BRINGING IN THE BREATH. Mat Bevel Institute. 530 N. Stone Ave. 622-0192. Ned Schaper, a.k.a. Mat Bevel, a.k.a Dr. Paradox, gasps from the ironic lung for four nights of breathtaking "Surrealistic Pop Science Theater" in Bringing in the Breath April 26-29 from 8 to 9 p.m. Each night's performance is followed by live music. Tickets are $8 for the performance and music and $3 for the band only.
INTERACTIVE MURDER MYSTERY. Hidden Valley Inn. 4825 N. Sabino Canyon Road. Act One Theatre Corporation presents Poker Face Pete Packs It In April 26 at 5:30 p.m. Poker Face Pete has been found dead and the audience must solve the mystery. Call 299-4941 for reservations and information. Tickets cost $13.95 for adults and $8.95 for children 12 and younger. Dinner and drinks are optional.
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 28 and May 5 at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $3 for adults and $2 for children.
PUCCINI DOUBLE BILL. 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 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. Preceding the April 28 matinee, Robert Yassin, Executive Director of the Tucson Museum of Art, will present a free lecture, An Earful of Van Gogh, on the art and intriguing personality of Van Gogh. The talk begins at noon. 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.
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 through April 28 at 8 p.m. with a matinee April 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 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.
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. through the month of May. Stories include Indian and Hindi folktales and some surprises. After the show, kids get up close and personal with the puppets. In addition, the audience gets a chance to make a puppet to take home. Tickets cost $3 per person, $5 for two children, and $2 per person with AHCCCS card or low-income bus pass.
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.
PATAGONIA PLAYERS. Tin Shed Theater, Patagonia. (520) 394-9115. The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail is a play in two acts by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Performances run May 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and May 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person and $15 per family.
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.
NO SEX PLEASE, WE'RE BRITISH. Trinity Presbyterian Church Grand Hall. 400 E. University Blvd. Catalina Players. July 20-August 4, 7:30 p.m.
Announcements
AUDITION NOTICE. Trinity Presbyterian Church Grand Hall. 400 N. University Blvd. The Catalina Players will hold auditions for the comedy No Sex Please, We're British May 7 and 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. Roles are available for actors ages 18 to 80. Please bring a résumé and picture to the cold read. Call Sharon Lamanda at 886-7546 for more information. Performance dates are July 20-28 and August 3-4.
CALL FOR DIRECTORS. Catalina Players is looking for directors for its 2002-2003 season and beyond. The non-profit community theater company performs a wide range of classical, contemporary and local-playwright works. All are performed in dinner theater style. Submit a résumé to 5874 E. Calle del Ciervo, Tucson, AZ 85750. For more information call Priscilla Marquez at 304-9171 or Sharon Lamanda at 440-6817.
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 THEATER 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.
THEATRE WORKSHOP. Center For Expressive Arts Therapy Studio. Join the Playback Theatre Troupe to explore and participate in the magic of playback Theatre. Learn the basic precepts and practices of Playback and more. No experience needed. The workshop takes place April 28 from 9 a.m. to noon and costs $30. Call 887-6484 to register and for more information.