Pic Hits for the week

thursday
february 29
Cactus League Baseball: They struck out in 1995, but the real boys of spring return for this year's slate of preseason games, which starts with a couple of games at 1:05 p.m. Thursday, February 29: the California Angels host California State University at Fullerton at Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2525 South 48th Street, and the SanDiego Padres play the Seattle Mariners at the two teams' dual training site, Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 North 83rd Avenue. Games continue daily, through Friday, March 29, at these and other venues; for this week's schedule and other information, see the "Cactus League" subsection in the Sports listing. Tickets for Angels, Padres, Mariners and San Francisco Giants home games are available at Ticketmaster; call 784-4444. Tickets for Angels, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers home games are available at Dillard's; call 678-2222. For tickets to Colorado Rockies home games in Tucson, call 1-800-388-7625.

"The Masters": Ballet Arizona continues its tenth season with a trio of 20th-century works, including George Balanchine's "Serenade," Paul Taylor's "Esplanade" and Antony Tudor's "Lilac Garden." Final performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 29; 7:30p.m. Friday, March 1; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, in Center Stage at Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe. Tickets range from $17.25 to $27.25, available at the ballet box office and Dillard's. For details call 381-1096 or 678-2222.

The Night of the Iguana: Arizona State University theatre professor and New Times contributor Marshall W. Mason directed this student production of the Tennessee Williams work about the relationship that develops between a former minister, fallen from grace and on the skids, and a lonely artist; see the review on page 59. Final performances are Thursday, February 29; Friday, March 1; and Saturday, March 2. All shows start at 8 p.m. at Paul V. Galvin Playhouse inASU's Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tenth Street and Mill in Tempe. Tickets are $11, $8.50 for ASU faculty and staff, $6 for students. For reservations and details, call 965-6447.

Phoenix Symphony: Pianist Caio Pagano joinsthe orchestra, conducted by James Sedares, in an all-Russian program of works, including Borodin's Overture to Prince Igor; Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.3; and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 29; and 11a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, March 1, at Symphony Hall, 225 East Adams. Friday morning's program is a "Coffee Classics" concert; tickets are specially priced at $11 and $15, and the Borodin piece will not be performed. Regular tickets range from $12 to $36, available at the symphony box office and Dillard's. For details call 264-6363, 262-7272 or 678-2222.

friday
march 1
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: The 22-member Windy City troupe is good enough in its own right, but it's been darned near untouchable since 1990, when choreographer Twyla Tharp hand-picked Hubbard to premiere a series of her works. The company previews Tharp's latest piece, "I Remember Clifford," in performances at 8 p.m. Friday, March 1; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2; and 7p.m. Sunday, March 3, at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, 7380 East Second Street. The program alsoincludes Daniel Ezralow's "Read My My Hips" and Mauricio Wainrot's "Perpetuum Mobile (Perpetual Motion)"; a discussion follows Friday's show. Tickets are $20 and $27, available at the center and all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information, call 994-2787 or 784-4444.

Three Hotels: Playwright Jon Robin Baitz's darkly satirical dismantling of the ugly-American dream centers on an amoral corporate executive's campaign to hawk baby formula in Africa. This week's performances are at 8p.m. Friday, March 1; and the same time Saturday, March 2, at St.George Actors Showcase, 4700 North Central, Suite 112. The production continues through Saturday, March 30. Tickets are $12, $9 for students and seniors. Forreservations and details, call 956-9168 or 264-8488.

Phoenix Suns: The Suns host the Detroit Pistons at 7 p.m. Friday, March 1, and the Indiana Pacers at the same time Tuesday, March 5, at America West Arena, First Street and Jefferson. The team's next home game is at 7 p.m. Friday, March 8, versus the Los Angeles Lakers. If tickets are available, they're at the arena and Dillard's. For details call 379-7867, 379-7800 or 678-2222.

The Marriage of Figaro: Arizona State University's Lyric Opera Theatre continues itsseason with Mozart's opera-buffa take onthe play by Pierre Augustin Caron deBeaumarchais. Final performances areat7:30p.m. Friday, March 1; and the same time Saturday, March 2, at ASU Music Theatre, Milland Gammage Parkway in Tempe. Tickets are $11, $8.50 for ASU faculty and staff, $6for students and seniors, available at ASU and Dillard's box offices. For reservations and details, call 965-6447 or 678-2222.

Cactus League Baseball: See Thursday.
"The Masters": See Thursday.
The Night of the Iguana: See Thursday.
Phoenix Symphony: See Thursday.

saturday
march 2
John Prine: Prine, a folkie for whom that term is far too limiting, can bust your gut with his goof-ball humor--"Sour Grapes," "Linda Goes to Mars"--and then knock you on your butt with a work of quiet power like "Mexican Home." On a good night, Prine's one of the greats. Touring in support of his latest OhBoy disc, Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings, herenews his long-standing relationship with Celebrity Theatre, which had been dark for years before recently reopening, on Saturday, March 2. Heather Eatman shares the bill. Showtime is 8 p.m. The venue's located at 440 North 32nd Street. Tickets are $24.55 in advance, $26.75 the day of the show, available at the scene and Dillard's. For details call 267-1600 or 678-2222.