Theatric Therapy
That Time of the Month. A Comedy News Show. Period.
11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12
Beowulf Alley Theatre Company
11 S. Sixth Ave.
622-4460
Created by a semi-satirical group of local standup performance artists, the new That Time of the Month comedy show will offer a comedic slant on contemporary news topics—offering audience members a chance to laugh it out.
The show's producer, Bob Paluzzi, also known as DJ Odious, wanted to create an outlet for people to laugh at the news, including topics which can be bleak. He compared the performance style to that of popular news-commentary shows like The Colbert Report, Saturday Night Live and Onion News Network—but with a sketch-comedy twist and, of course, some local flavor.
"Laugh at the world, even though the news is so dismal," Paluzzi said.
According to Paluzzi, the show was conceived after the Jan. 8 shootings, when Tucson received a lot of unfortunate and negative national attention. He wanted to create commentary on the ways news affects us—including the ways we are altered or manipulated by the news, sometimes unknowingly.
"We can deal with these issues in a healthy way—turn it around, regenerate and refocus yourself," he said. "I think that's what we can do, even in a small way."
Ultimately, it's all about the laughs. The cast will use a theatrical approach to address issues ranging from trending news topics to conspiracy theories. No topic is safe, and skits may turn humorously improvisational; the cast may even break into song.
This weekend marks the second visit of That Time of the Month, a show that Paluzzi hopes to establish as a regular event.
Admission is $8 on the night of the performance. Tickets can also be purchased online at beowulfalley.org or acomedynewsshow.com. —J.B.
Show Me the Pics!
Phone-ography cell-phone photography exhibit
9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, through Wednesday, Nov. 30
3550 E. Grant Road
325-0260
Cell phones aren't just for communicating anymore: ArtsEye Gallery has a new exhibit that shows camera phones are serious artistic business.
Phone-ography is about "the idea of creating art everywhere and anywhere with a tool that's always with you," said Rachel Castillo, of Photographic Works, the photo lab in which ArtsEye is located. These photos "kind of push that boundary, and start using the cell phone beyond that snapshot," Castillo said.
Earlier this year, Photographic Works put out a call for submissions, and had only one rule: Submitted photos had to come from a cell-phone camera. Castillo was surprised by the variety and quality of the results, which came from all over the world. The folks at ArtsEye were looking for photos that said, "Wow, that looks like art."
"All of the images, you would never believe that they came from cell phones. They're so beautiful," Castillo said.
The art is for sale, too, with print prices ranging from $45 to $125.
Castillo said the cell-phone pictures often had a unique candidness.
"What also stood out was how familiar those images were, because they came from those intimate or spontaneous moments when you have your cell phone, but not your camera," Castillo said. "You got those shots that you probably wouldn't get if you were setting up your camera."
The exhibit attempts to "show the power of this small device that allows you to make art anywhere and everywhere," Castillo said. "It's not just for snapshot-shooting—but is for serious art making."
Admission is free, and the exhibit will be on display through November. —K.M.
A Trip to Cuba
Kings of Salsa
8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12
1020 E. University Blvd.
621-3341
Think you can handle hot salsa? How about sexy salsa?
The Cuban-based dance-performance show Kings of Salsa is coming to Tucson this weekend to dish up some mambo, rumba, cha-cha, hip hop and—of course—salsa.
The show's choreographer, Roclan Gonzalez Chavez, described the show as a melting pot of the current dance movements in young Cuban culture. He created the show based on inspiration from young Cubans who are producing new styles of dance.
Chavez said the Kings of Salsa show offers homage to "people who are at the base of Cuban culture—the real kings."
With original music performed by nine-piece band Cuba Ashire, the show includes five men and four women who dance an eclectic mix of styles while incorporating props such as broomsticks, drumsticks and wooden sandals.
Chavez said the reaction from crowds across the world has been unanimous. "They are going crazy! It's unbelievable; it's beautiful. We have this situation in every country."
And how could the audience not get excited? With shirtless men flashing their rippling abs and women shaking their behinds in cutoff shorts, the performance has been making a name for itself as sexy, flirtatious and sensual.
Stylistically, guests can expect a combination of both street and traditional salsa, with influences from Afro-Caribbean and other Cuban styles. Chavez said the experience is "like going to Cuba—without paying to fly."
General admission is $18 to $38, with discounts for seniors, groups, military members, UA students and UA staffers. Tickets are available online or in person at Centennial Hall, the UA Student Union Bookstore, the UA Visitor Center and the University of Arizona stores at Park Place and Tucson Mall. —J.B.
Biking for Treasures
Eighth Annual Bicycle Scavenger Hunt
10 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 13
439 N. Sixth Ave.
Pack your saddlebags, and head over to El Grupo's Eighth Annual Scavenger Hunt, where you'll get a map, 10 riddles to solve and 10 secret locations to find within a 2-mile radius.
Devoted to "developing a love of bikes for a lifetime," El Grupo has added a family version of the scavenger hunt to accommodate little ones who still want a piece of the action, said Daniela Diamente, co-founder and executive director of El Grupo Youth Cycling.
"It's a different way of seeing Tucson, on a bike," Diamente said. "The (scavenger hunt) locations are intentionally sort of cool, hidden spots that we seek out all year—something that maybe you travel by every day, but maybe don't stop to look."
The hunt is occurring amid a slew of other bike-related events. For example, scavenger-hunt packets can be picked up at the bike swap meet on Fourth Avenue that's happening the morning before, or the night before at Borderlands Brewing Company, 119 E. Toole Ave., during a bike-themed art show called The VelociPrint Show.
There's also a chance to win prizes through a raffle, with tickets for $1 or six for $5.
"All the proceeds from the scavenger hunt and raffle go to getting more kids on bikes and empowering them through bicycles," said Diamente.
Diamente emphasized that the event is open to riders of all ages and abilities.
"I don't want people to think that it's a race," she said. "Even if you get to three stops and come back, that's fine. It's really about having fun and riding your bike around town."
Registration is $10 online before Saturday, Nov. 12; and $15 at one of the bike-related events the day before, or at the Sunday event before 9:30 a.m. —K.M.
