November 9 - November 15, 1995

Thursday 9

ALUMNI ART. In previous years when the University of Arizona held an alumni art show, it was big, bountiful, often amateurish, and the whole show seemed to swarm ferociously in front of you. Often the good work got buried by the rest. This year, a trimmed-down, toned-up idea was to invite artists instead of having an all-out call to alumni. Six working artists, chosen by UA art faculty members, have been asked to participate. The exhibit, Tucson Views: Alumni Invitational, will show the work of Tucsonans Bobbette Gilliland, DeAnn Melton, Charles Pique, Tom Philabaum, Phil Lictenhan and Albert Kogel in an array of paintings, sculpture and glass. Tonight's opening reception is from 5 to 7 at the Student Union on the UA campus. The show runs through November 22. Admission is free. For more information call 621-5123.

SALOME. If only new morals meister William Bennett could be in town for this overtly sexual play written by Oscar Wilde and adapted by operaman Richard Strauss. Bennett would have been one of those righteous people who originally whined the work should never have been produced because of its effect on young people. Sorry, Bill. Salome, the luscious, highly sexual work with biblical origins, has had a long, successful history and will play Tucson thanks to a production by Arizona Opera.

The story swirls around Salome, teen-age step-daughter of powerful King Herod. When she hears the lovely voice of John the Baptist, who has been chained in the cistern by step-dad (don't you love it?), she insists he be brought out so she can see him, says Arizona Opera's Monica Barrows. "She falls in love--well, lust--with him, and wants to kiss him." The spoiled girl, used to getting her way, is ticked handsome John won't buss and schemes to get his lips on hers. Herod, who had promised her anything following one of her erotic dances, is horrified she would ask for J the B's head in payment. When she gets it, minus the body, "she pretty much starts making love to it," in all its bloody beauty, says Barrows. Be forewarned, in case you missed the drift, that this opera has lots of sex, violence and nudity. Ooh, somebody call the NEA.

The opera, with Deborah Raymond as Salome in tonight's performance, will be at 7:30 p.m., with a pre-show lecture by Dr. Kenneth Ryan at 7. Salome will show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday at the TCC Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Tickets are $14 to $56. Call 791-4836 to charge tickets.

Friday 10

NOEL AND COLE. Here's your chance to get a major dose of the American cabaret when the Invisible Theatre brings Steve Ross to town to perform in Noël and Cole--Let's Do It. Ross, called by the New York Times the "crown prince of New York cabaret," will perform with Tucson's own superb Nancy Davis Booth, as they sing some of the best-loved songs by Noël Coward and Cole Porter. Listen for the romantic "You Were There," "Mrs. Worthington," and "Mad About the Boy."

The show, directed by IT's high-energy Managing Director Susan Claassen, hits the stage singing at 8 tonight and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Invisible Theatre, 1400 N. First Ave. Tickets are $17.50 to $22.50. Call 882-9721 for tickets.

THE GOSPEL. The Gospel according to the Gospel Music Workshop of America is song, singing and song, in that order. And like their name, what they'll be putting out are gospel tunes in order to "perpetuate and advance gospel music," as they say. This delightful, cookin' group of interracial and interdenominational singers will lift you into the clouds as they sing some of the well-rooted gospel tunes this country has home grown for us.

Take in the music at 7:30 tonight and tomorrow night at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway. Tickets through Dillard's or at the door are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for those tall voices under 12. Call 721-9454 for more information.

Saturday 11

BENEDICTINE BLOWOUT. With all the praying for good weather, art and food that's been going on down at the Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David, you can bet this year's always wonderful Festival of the Arts is going to be another sanctified success.

The monastery building itself is a glorious rammed-earth structure of beams and buttresses that is a delight to visit and an extraordinary place to meditate. The festivals at Holy Trinity support the building projects; you'll be able to see the men's quarters in progress, with roof and walls rising to the heavens. Seventy exhibitors will display fine arts and crafts, including quilts, carvings, stained glass and jewelry. Bring your hungry soul, because you can feed it with a variety of Mexican, Asian and American food. There'll be photo books detailing the 21-year history of the monastery, on display in the library. The museum, art gallery, bookstore and thrift shop also will be open, and there's music all day long.

Take the day and drive two miles south of St. David, between mile markers 302 and 303 on route 80 between Benson and Tombstone. The festival goes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow. Heck, stay for mass at 5 p.m. and drive back with an angel on your shoulder. Call 720-4854 for more information.

SOCIAL GATHERING. Called the first annual Tucson Arts and Social Change Gathering, this event has its work cut out for a two-day get-together. And they're ready. With over 15 workshops, cultural workers, activists and artists are being called to "network, brainstorm, develop strategies and celebrate an emerging cultural change movement." They'll also show you how powerful the arts can be in this society, if we'd only let them. Quick somebody, call a few presidential candidates over to this group. Workshops, interactive arts projects and events for kids will all be part of this exciting cultural call to the community. Look for organizations like Third Street Kids, The Nuclear Resister, Tucson Peace Center and Food Not Bombs to lend their influential voices.

Registration starts at 8 a.m. today. A suggested donation of $15 includes breakfast, lunch and an evening performance. Gather at the Institute for Creative Studies (formerly known as the Downtown Performance Center), 530 N. Stone Ave. For more information e-mail Cdemocracy @ aol.com., or call 791-9359.

Sunday 12

MEGALOMARIACHI. With Reyes meaning "kings," this musical name leaves no room for humility. Mariachi Los Reyes del Presidio is, according to Casas Adobes Concerts, "an all-star collection of the finest mariachi musicians performing in Arizona today." Now that's quite a band we're talking about, given the huge breadth of mariachi talent in this state. You may recognize some of the mariachis from other local groups, but they get together once in a while to form this popular ensemble, all under the direction of Juan de Dios Noperi.

The performance takes place at 3 p.m. at Casas Adobes Congregational Church, 6801 N. Oracle Road. Admission is free, but a donation would be lovely. For more information call 292-0562.

Monday 13

POTTERY PORTRAITS. One of the nice things about Portraits of Clay: Pottery in Mata Ortíz, on display at Tohono Chul Park through January 14, is its intimacy and expansiveness, both at the same time. Through the 41 photographs by Sandy Smith, you can see the details of how the people of the small village of Mata Ortíz in northern Chihuahua create their pottery based on ancient traditions. Smith says they build pots with clay they dig themselves and decorate with brushes made from children's hair. The pots are then fired under cow manure. "It is unimaginable that such primitive methods can have such sophisticated results." On display will be pottery by 15 members of the small community, including Juan Quezada, who revived the ancient process by examining old shards and experimenting with techniques.

The show, and the companion exhibit Christmas for the Park '95, which always features intriguing tree ornaments by Tucson artists, are both up at Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte. For more information call 742-6455.

Tuesday 14

Etherton ENERGY. Terry Etherton says the show that will run through the holidays at his gallery is a "lighthearted, upbeat, very colorful show by three very accomplished artists," and we might add, some very popular ones, too. Gail Marcus-Orlen, who has shown at Etherton every other year for 10 years, will once again have her paintings on display--you know, the ones that just seem to glow with color and light from both inside and out. Etherton says he's also showing the "absolutely wonderful paintings" of Eriks Rudans who makes his third appearance at the gallery. Ex-Tucsonan Vicki Ragan presents photographs from her just-released The Edible Alphabet Book, which features some very funny studio set-ups with characters like the cucumber cowboy, says Etherton. He adds the accompanying limericks are of the "just barely lewd" variety, enough for an adult to get a charge out of them, and subtle enough so that a kid won't. The show hangs through January 13 at Etherton Gallery, 135 S. Sixth Avenue. The opening reception for the artists is from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, November 18. For more information call 624-7370.

Wednesday 15

ANDY M. STEWART. We don't know what the "M." stands for, but how do you say "mahvelous" in Scottish? That's what this outstanding songwriter and singer is. His previous concerts in Tucson have always been jammed with Celtic-happy crowds and everybody else since the word got out on Stewart, at one time the lead vocalist of Silly Wizard. Besides his singing, he'll carry you off with his funny and masterful storytelling skills. Stewart, who wrote the incomparable ballads like the "Valley of Strathmore" and "Banks of the Lee," will be backed up by Irish musician and songwriter Gerry O'Beirne, who promises to sing a few tunes as well.

Stewart and O'Beirne play the Southwest Center for Music, 2175 N. Sixth Ave., at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance at Hear's Music, Piney Hollow and Loco Records, $1 more at the door, with discounts available. Call 327-4809 to charge tickets.

Add your Home Page to the Tucson Weekly
The Citizen's Forum
Microsoft Access and Foxpro Information and Links
The Kenney Family Home Page
John Reid's Home Page

November 9 - November 15, 1995

		© 1995-97 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth