Tucson Weekly: Theatre (May 17

THEATER
Opening This Week
ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY. Temple of Music and Art. 330 S. Scott Ave. 884-4875 (main stage). Performances of The Royal National Theatre's production of Shakespeare's great tragedy, Hamlet directed by John Caird with Simon Russell Beale in the title role run May 16 through May 20 7 p.m., with 1 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. Tickets range in price from $45 to $100 and are available at the Arizona Theatre Company box office.
ARTS FOR ALL, INC. Tucson Convention Center. 260 S. Church Ave. 622-1212. Arts for All, Inc. and the Third Street Kids Ensemble present The Voice of the Prairie by John Olive May 18 at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., May 19 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., May 24 at 7:30 p.m. and May 25 at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The play is a funny, touching tale about a young farmer named David. Tickets range in price from $5 to $10.
DAVID IRA GOLDSTEIN. St. Gregory College Preparatory School. 3231 N. Craycroft Road. 327-6395. What makes a classic play come alive to a contemporary audience? How do today's performing artists transform classic literature into stories that move and shape our lives in 2001? David Ira Goldstein, artistic director of the Arizona Theatre Company addresses these topics May 17 at 7 p.m. The lecture is free and all are welcome. Call Don Nickerson for more information.
LIVING COMMUNITY CENTER. 330 E. Seventh St. 623-0913. Catch a Falling Star is a quirky new comedy in which unconditional love is put to the test when TV star Ginny Wakely goes home to tell her parents a dark, desperate secret before they read it in People Magazine. Performances run from May 22 through June 10 at various times. Tickets range in price from $16 to $20. Tickets are $12 for the May 21, 7:30 p.m. preview performance.
RED BARN CHILDREN'S THEATER. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 622-6973. Performances of Frontier Frolics, a cowboy play, run May 17 at 7 p.m., May 19 at 5 p.m., May 24 at 7 p.m. and May 26 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for children under 13.
Continuing
HOW THE WEST WAS SUNG. Hidden Valley Inn Restaurant and Saloon. 4825 N. Sabino Canyon Road. 299-4941. 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 matninees. 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 for reservations.
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP. 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4242. The Workshop presents 1918 by Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Horton Foote. The play is set in the fictional town of Harrison, Texas and follows the story of the Robedaux family. The hopes and fears of a young married couple and their fellow townsfolk are played out against the tumultuous backdrop of WWI and the flu epidemic of 1918. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. and run through June 3.
NEW KIVA PUPPET THEATRE. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 887-5144. The Little Red Hen and Other Stories runs every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. throughout the month of May. This amusing and sometimes scary show is educational and fun. In addition, kids of all ages get up close and personal action with the puppets after the show and the audience gets a chance to make a puppet to take home. Tickets are $3 per person, $5 for two children and $2 with AHCCS card or low income bus pass. Reservations are not required.
THE BIANCO CHILDREN'S THEATRE. Gaslight Theatre. 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 886-9428. The Bianco Children's Theatre presents a musical comedy production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame where angry, patriotic, French peasants form the backdrop for love, laughter and song in the bell tower at Notre Dame May 19 at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., May 21 at 7 p.m. and May 26 at 11 a.m. Tickets are $8 and are available at the door or by calling 886-0860.
Out of Town
CRIMES OF THE HEART. Bisbee Repertory Theatre. 94 Main St. (520) 432-3786. Beth Henley's poignant and funny family drama about the plights of three Mississippi sisters opens continues Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 through May 20. There are Sunday matinees May 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.
Announcements
AUDITION NOTICE. Red Barn Theatre. 948 N. Main Ave. 622-6973. The Red Barn Children's Theater is holding auditions and rehearsals for the cowboy play Frontier Frolics Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 3 to 4 p.m.
AUDITION NOTICE. Auditions for young actors ages 8-12 who can sing and swing will be held May 19 at 1 p.m. and May 20 at 11 a.m. at the Bisbee Repertory Theatre in Bisbee. Kids will produce Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr. and participate in all aspects of the show including, acting, singing, dancing, painting sets and finding and decorating costumes. No experience is necessary. Rehearsals begin June 5 and continue through June 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. each Tuesday. Peformances take place July 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and July 8 at 3 p.m. Call (520) 432-3786 for more information.
CALL FOR DIRECTORS. Catalina Players is looking for directors for its 2002-2003 seasons and beyond. The non-profit community theatre company performs a wide range of classical, contemporary and local playwright plays. All are performed in dinner theatre style. Please submit resume to: 5874 E. Calle del Ciervo, Tucson, AZ 85750. For more information call Priscilla Marquez at 304-9171 or Sharon Lamanda at 440-6817.
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. The group, which meets Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the YMCA (2900 N. Columbus Ave.) at Fort Lowell Road and Columbus Avenue, utilizes a broad range of disciplines to enhance creativity. Admission is free and all are welcome. Call Dennis Williams at 235-7846 for more 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.
SUMMER ARTS CAMP. Zuzi's Little Theater. 738 N. Fifth Ave. 629-0237. A summer arts program for children ages 7-13 is offered daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from June 4-15. Learn aerial dance, creative movement, drumming, costuming, production and hands-on visual arts including mural and mask making. Cost of the ten-day program is $350 and includes snacks and supplies. For more information or to register call 481-3213.